Jonathan Vanderford

Co-Founder

Louisville, Kentucky, United States13 yrs 11 mos experience

Key Highlights

Over 10 years in engineering leadership and startup life.
Founder of innovative AI-powered tools.
Expert in building cross-functional teams.

Stackforce AI infers this person is a SaaS-focused engineering leader with a strong background in product development and team management.

Contact

Skills

Core Skills

Cross-functional Team LeadershipSystems DesignSoftware Development

Other Skills

.NET CoreAWS CloudFormationAgile MethodologiesAmazon Web Services (AWS)Angular MaterialAsp.net MvcAzure SentinelBusiness DevelopmentBusiness Process ImprovementC#Call CentersCoachingConsultingData SourceDevOps

About

I help engineering leaders build better teams and solo founders build better products. Currently: Building AI-powered tools (Unfold Stories, Benny Rewards) + sharing what I've learned from 10+ years in engineering leadership and startup life I post about: → Engineering leadership that actually works → Founder lessons learned the hard way → Creative intersections that drive innovation → Building products with AI Background: Engineering leadership across startups and growth companies, founder, immersive theater and escape room junkie. Connect if you're building something that matters or want honest insights about the entrepreneurial journey. P.S. - I'm a credit card "churner" and Dave Ramsey's worst nightmare. Ask me about how Benny is optimizing financial rewards.

Experience

Unfold stories

Founder

May 2025 – Present · 10 mos · Louisville, Kentucky, United States · On-site

Stories worth remembering. Comics worth keeping.
Unfold Stories transforms real-life memories into custom comic books that families can hold onto for generations. We combine interviews, writing, and illustration to turn personal experiences into compelling, full-color narratives.
Currently focused on refining our storytelling process, launching our first direct-to-consumer offerings, and building a system that blends human creativity with AI efficiency—without losing the soul of the story.

Cross-functional Team LeadershipSystems DesignSoftware Development

Rxlightning inc.

2 roles

VP of Engineering

Feb 2024 – Feb 2025 · 1 yr

Cross-functional Team LeadershipSystems DesignSoftware Development

Director of Engineering

Aug 2023 – Feb 2024 · 6 mos

Cross-functional Team LeadershipSystems DesignSoftware Development

Upfront healthcare

Principal Platform Architect

Oct 2021 – May 2023 · 1 yr 7 mos · Remote

DockerCross-functional Team LeadershipMicrosoft DefenderSystems DesignAzure SentinelSoftware Development+1

Slingshot

Senior Developer

Feb 2021 – May 2022 · 1 yr 3 mos

AWS CloudFormationAmazon Web Services (AWS)Cross-functional Team LeadershipSystems DesignSoftware Development

Humana

Full-stack Developer

Jan 2020 – Feb 2021 · 1 yr 1 mo

Systems DesignSoftware Development

Kizan technologies

2 roles

Product Development Manager

Apr 2018 – Dec 2018 · 8 mos

Cross-functional Team LeadershipSystems DesignSoftware Development

Intellectual Property Consultant

May 2015 – Apr 2018 · 2 yrs 11 mos

Worked with startups, primarily healthcare software companies, to develop concepts to MVP and bring to market.
Authored and delivered presentations designed to secure strategic partners and gain new business.
Conducted user discovery and user experience interviews. Designed and delivered user training materials.
Participated in 10 week entrepreneurial course, LaunchIt, which provides coaching in Lean Startup methodologies.
Worked as part of a team using AGILE methodology and following SOLID design principles to design and built web apps.

Cross-functional Team LeadershipSystems DesignSoftware Development

Agent ally

Founder

Apr 2018 – Dec 2024 · 6 yrs 8 mos · Louisville, Kentucky Area

Creating tools and services that make shopping for and selling Medicare plans faster, and easier.

Cross-functional Team LeadershipSystems DesignSoftware Development

Unitedhealth group - optum (formerly connextions)

Sales Trainer

Oct 2010 – Jan 2014 · 3 yrs 3 mos · Jeffersonville, In | Denver, Co | Phoenix, Az

Trained and supervised 7 of top 10 agents site-wide (out of over 200) for 2013 season, including the number one agent company-wide (of over 1000).
Completed over 500 hours of management training and trainer certification courses.
Trained and supervised team of licensed health agents in a call center environment.
Led the team with highest sales percentages of over 50 teams company-wide. Provided support for and evaluation of other trainers and supervisors. Instructed operations managers on the use of reporting tools and applications.
Created a tool to allow agents to visually confirm credentials resulting a reduction in number of non-compliant sales.
Produced additional curriculum and supplemental material. Coordinating scheduling of all client mandated up trainings.
Redesigned and maintained an existing system for tracking agent performance. Created a tool to allow agents to visually confirm credentials resulting a reduction in number of non-compliant sales.

Cross-functional Team Leadership