Ray Thompson

President & Chief Operating Officer (COO) (NASDAQ: KERN) at Akerna Corp. - - Build Transform Scale - Turn-Around Executive - Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) - SaaS - MBA - Public, Private, Non-profit Executive Leader

Ray Thompson is a seasoned executive with extensive experience in leadership roles, particularly in high-growth technology companies. He currently serves as the President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Akerna Corp., a NASDAQ-listed cannabis software company.1

Professional Background

Ray Thompson joined Akerna Corp. in November 2018, becoming the first COO of a cannabis software company to be listed on NASDAQ in June 2019.1 His role at Akerna involves:

Optimizing customer-facing processes
Streamlining sales contracts and processes
Consolidating systems into a unified sales and delivery operation
Implementing talent management systems
Overseeing the sales team

Previous Experience

Before his role at Akerna, Ray held several notable positions:

Senior Vice President at VisionLink (CommunityOS): From October 2008 to October 2016, he worked on a multiagency humanitarian software platform used by large nonprofit and governmental organizations.1
Vice President of Sales at ViewMyLife: In 2008, he worked for a web portal combining various online tools and social networking features.1
Partner/Co-Founder at NewGuard LLC: From 2001 to 2002, he started an eBusiness consulting company that secured clients such as the Kentucky Derby and Churchill Downs.1
Strategic Account Manager at XOR: From 1996 to 2000, he was a top salesperson for a fast-growing company, personally representing 40-60% of the company's regional annual revenues.1

Education and Skills

Ray Thompson holds an MBA and describes himself as a public, private, and non-profit executive leader.1 He specializes in:

Translating strategic vision into operational scale
Driving both revenue growth and cost reduction
Creating strategic insights from operational and financial data
Building high-performance teams

Location and Personal Brand

Based in Boulder, Colorado, Ray Thompson positions himself as a dynamic executive with a unique ability to handle both revenue and operational roles.1 He emphasizes his passion for creating a culture of continuous improvement and helping teams thrive both personally and professionally.