Experience

Jan 2011 - Present
VP, Product Strategy & Design
CQG, Inc. Denver, Colorado

  • Drive strategy, design, and development as product owner for entire software platform lifecycle from concept to customer for next generation, performance intensive, mission-critical software used by customers to trade millions of dollars each day.

  • Conceptualize and deliver innovative product solutions by synthesizing user research, business intelligence, and design.

  • Champion design-thinking, process change, new collaborative tools, agile product development and knowledge management across the company.

  • Lead, inspire, and collaborate with globally distributed, cross functional teams.

  • Plan go-to-market strategies with global teams: software engineering, testing, operations, sales, marketing, and support for mobile and traditional software platforms.

2013-2015
Business School Center for Information Technology Innovation (CITI) Advisory Council
University of Colorado Denver

Jan 2013 - Jun 2014
Head of Marketing
CQG, Inc. Denver, Colorado

  • Lead small team of marketing managers and specialists to establish strategy, messaging, brand, events, public relations, content marketing, digital and user research.

  • Drive marketing strategy and execution and create touch points for customer engagement.

  • Increase online conversion rates and customer interaction points through automating customer communications with sales and support.

2012-2014
Steering Committee
iXDA, Denver Chapter

Sep 2004 - Dec 2010
UX Director, Creative Director
CQG, Inc., Denver, Colorado

  • Drive user-centered, collaborative processes and transparency throughout the organization and product.

  • Develop staff to work directly with CEO and business drivers and users to establish product vision and to work with developers to ensure quality implementation.

  • Set direction and tone for integrated strategic messaging and marketing and product design.

  • Designed UX and marketing for CQG Spreader to generate a new $2 millon/year business.

2009-2012
Co-Founder, VP Design
ContexTV, USA   

  • Drive user experience for innovative video sharing and context platform virtual startup.

  • Creative direction for brand identity, marketing materials, and iOS app.

2006-2011
Co-Founder
Tyndareus  

  • Co-founded design consultancy engaging with boutique design firms, and specializing in ruby on rails website development.

  • Manage offshore partners to create technically beautiful websites for clients such as RVCA/Boost Mobile, Scion.

  • Creative direction and design for various branding projects.

Dec 2003 - Sep 2004
Product Design, Windows Platform Group
Microsoft, Redmond, Washington

  • Design lead for user experiences serving hundreds of millions of customers.

  • Design lead for Windows Internet Explorer: anti-phishing and security, tabbed browsing; Sharing and Search.

2002
Co-Founder
SocialDynamx, Austin, TX

  • Co-founder and co-creator of Experience Development Kit (XDK) platform for enhancing and customizing the user experiences of social computing applications.

  • Co-creator of FMRadio, an integrated weblog publisher and news aggregator that improves the consumer weblogging experience.

2002-2003
Customer Advisory Council Member
Microsoft Office Macintosh Business Unit

1998 - 2003
Senior Designer
frog design, Austin, Texas

1995-1998
Art Director
MM Productions, San Antonio, Texas

  • Transformed company-wide business direction and image of national marketing firm by targeting new client base, establishing strategy, brand and collateral.

  • Marketing, branding and design consulting for clients ranging from large corporate accounts (i.e. Advanced Micro Devices, Tivoli Systems, American Funds) to design agencies and channel marketing firms (i.e. Sibley-Peteet Design) to sporting events (i.e. San Antonio Spurs and the Builder’s Square Alamo Bowl).

  • Oversaw formulation and production of comprehensive marketing kits combining point-of-purchase displays, print, and three-dimensional marketing materials.

  • Designed and maintained two eCommerce solutions for a major computer chip manufacturer, including product selection, website design, contracting database programming, order processing and fulfillment.

1993-1995
Founder, Principal
Marcus Kwan Communications, San Antonio, Texas

  • Marketing, branding and design consulting firm 

Publications

Kwan, Marcus. "Big Data: Manage it, don't drown in it." Futures Magazine, Jul. 2012.
Kwan, Marcus. "Big Data's Impact on Trading and Technology." Journal of Trading, Winter 2014, Vol. 9, No. 1: pp. 54-56.

 

Honors, Associations, Awards

ID Magazine Bronze Award for Outstanding Design for Microsoft Windows XP Media Player Skin, 2002.
NewMedia Invision Bronze Award for Intellution CD-ROM, 2000.
International Festivals & Events Association Gold Pinnacle Award for Single Display Ad, 1996.
IFEA Pinnacle Award for Direct Mail Piece, 1996.
Trinity Permanent Collection of Outstanding Student Art, 1991.

 

Education

B.A. Communications, Magna Cum Laude, 1993
Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas