Chad Priest

Hands-on technology executive with 20+ years building and scaling software companies from 0 to 1, including three founder technology sales under NDA and two patents in AI security and social platforms. Leads teams of up to 36 engineers and manages multi-million-dollar budgets, shipping SaaS, cybersecurity, marketplace, and AI-platform products for SMB, enterprise, and Fortune 500 clients. Currently CTO building a local-first agentic AI operating system (Rust/TypeScript, MCP, persistent memory).

Chief Technology Officer at Vodou (2025-05 – Present)

• Lead product architecture, core engine, technical roadmap, and positioning for a local-first agentic AI operating system unifying chat, CLI, IDE, browser, and messaging around one orchestration and memory model.
• Architected the Rust application core (routing, scheduling, persistence, auto-update, runtime execution) with TypeScript gateway services and SQLite data planes; shipped integrity-checked, multi-architecture release distribution.
• Built MCP-based tool orchestration with multi-server discovery, parallel execution, health monitoring, and governed skills and workflows for repeatable, auditable agent behavior.
• Designed the memory and continuity layer to maintain canonical identity, turn attribution, and cross-surface persistence so context follows the user.
• Set the security model for tool execution on user machines, including local-first data, scoped credentials, secure token handling, explicit tool boundaries, and user-controlled automation.

Chief Innovation Officer at Verae (2024-05 – 2026-01)

• Owned the innovation roadmap and commercialization strategy for blockchain-authenticated DataCubes™ targeting regulated, audit-heavy industries.
• Co-founded with blockchain co-inventor Stuart Haber.
• Partnered with CEO on fundraising, investor narrative, strategic partnerships, product positioning, and monetization.

Chief Technology Officer at SpaSpace (2023-01 – 2024-03)

• Led the complete rebuild of a B2B wellness marketplace and operating platform matching luxury spas with vetted 1099 professionals in real time.
• Built and led a 36-person global engineering organization across in-house, offshore, and agency teams; reduced turnover 34% through stronger collaboration and accountability.
• Increased operational efficiency 41% by automating marketplace matching, scheduling, provider, and administrative workflows.
• Implemented Agile delivery and operating cadence, cutting delivery times 20% and supporting 4x user and transaction growth in 12 months.
• Managed a $5M annual technology budget, delivering 18% cost savings through vendor decisions and resource allocation.

Vice President of Software Engineering at Judy Security (2019-06 – 2023-01)

• Architected and scaled AI-powered cybersecurity SaaS for SMBs, including DNS filtering, endpoint protection, threat remediation, and password management.
• Led engineering growth from 1 to 18 across backend, frontend, infrastructure, and DevOps.
• Delivered cross-platform suite embedding AI to reduce customer security vulnerabilities 97%.
• Introduced Agile and DevOps practices, cutting development cycles 26% and improving release quality.
• Helped secure $8.5M in early-stage funding by aligning roadmap, technical narrative, and diligence materials.
• Inventor of patent WO2021262680A1: AI-Powered Distributed Endpoint Security Architecture.

Founder & Chief Technology Officer at Linkies (2014-01 – 2019-12)

• Co-founded and scaled a B2B SaaS platform for real-time social media aggregation and rights-managed UGC, serving enterprise campaigns including NFL, X Games, Reebok, T-Mobile, Jaguar, and GM.
• Built a 20-person cross-functional team and executed the technology roadmap with 100% on-time delivery and 32% faster release cycles.
• Launched the first legal rights-management workflow for UGC, purchase-sentiment tracking, and embeddable social walls; drove 50% year-over-year revenue growth.
• Negotiated the sale of the technology to a major industry player under NDA and led asset transition.
• Inventor of patent WO2013131061: Social Media Aggregation Platform.

Founder & Chief Technology Officer at Black Lab Science (2017-01 – 2018-12)

• Built an IoT router-based system correlating in-store foot traffic with digital ad exposure for real-time attribution; sold technology under NDA to a marketing analytics firm.

Founder & Chief Technology Officer at LIVIN11 (2010-01 – 2015-12)

• Founded and scaled a digital production agency serving Fortune 500 brands and agencies.
• Built and led a 29-person engineering and delivery team; shipped over 100 B2C and B2B web and mobile applications for Chevrolet, Jaguar, Nissan, Budweiser, Federal-Mogul, and Henry Ford Innovation Institute.
• Owned architecture and delivery for custom CMS, loyalty, and real-time engagement platforms, improving efficiency 35%.
• Managed over $500K annual PPC budgets at 423% ROI.

Emerging Tech Lead / Senior Software Engineer at Campbell-Ewald (2001-02 – 2009-10)

• Led development on Chevy.com Build Your Own configurator, Navy.com and NavyForMoms.com, and OnStar.com relaunches, driving approximately 40% engagement lift.
• Led emerging-technology MVPs and pitch prototypes contributing to roughly 15% new client acquisition growth, including early mobile-first prototypes and Yahoo! homepage takeovers.