IT firm appoints COO

IT firm appoints COO

Barry Rice. Courtesy Worksighted

A local IT firm has selected a new chief operating officer.

Holland-based Worksighted promoted Barry Rice to the COO role, effective Jan. 1.

Rice was most recently the firm’s director of strategic growth.

He will lead firm’s operations to ensure growth, team alignment, increased efficiency and financial strength.

“An important focus for me will be to create opportunities for the people of Worksighted to grow in their careers and find their passion,” Rice said. “If we want to grow as a company, we need to identify what drives each employee and allow them the space to excel in their roles.”

Rice was the fifth employee to join Worksighted. He started as a business development associate and transitioned to business development manager, director of sales and marketing and director of strategic growth.

“Barry has been instrumental to our growth since joining us in 2003,” said Mat Nguyen, co-founder and president, Worksighted. “He understands what it takes to expand and has the insight to lead our teams on an aggressive path of strategic growth.”

Rice co-founded Holland Young Professionals and serves as a head coach with USA Soccer Holland.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in management and communications from Hope College and an M.B.A. from Western Michigan University.

Worksighted uses a business management model called Entrepreneurial Operating Systems, or EOS, which focuses on goals and processes to support company growth. Under the EOS Model, Rice will now also serve as the firm’s “integrator,” taking over both the COO and Integrator roles from Nguyen.

Nguyen, who co-founded Worksighted with Mike Harris, has transitioned to the "visionary" role for the firm.