Fractional CIO & IT Strategist

Senior IT Leadership,
Without the
Full-Time Cost.

Over three decades of IT leadership — from manufacturing floors to distribution centers — delivering the strategy, systems, and results that growing companies need right now.

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35+
Years IT Experience
25
Years Manufacturing & Distribution
25
Years as CIO / IT Director
3+
Years Leveraging AI to transform Business
The Gaps I See in Almost Every Engagement

Two Problems Costing
Your Business Right Now.

01
🤖

Everyone's Asking About AI.
Most Companies Don't Know Where to Start.

Your competitors are already exploring how AI can reduce labor costs, surface insights, and automate decisions. If you don't have a clear AI strategy, you're already behind — but the good news is most implementations are simpler than you think with the right guide.

Let's build your AI roadmap →
02
📋

If Your Warehouse Still Runs on Paper, You're Leaving Money on the Floor.

Pick errors, slow receiving, lost inventory, and training headaches — they're all symptoms of the same problem. Modern warehouse technology pays for itself quickly, and there are more options available today than most operators realize.

Let's fix your warehouse operations →
About

The IT Leader Who Has
Done It, Not Just Advised It.

Eric Caldwell

I'm Eric Caldwell, founder of Cornerstone Technology Partners and a seasoned IT executive with over 30 years turning operational complexity into competitive advantage for manufacturers and distributors.

My career spans the full arc of modern business technology — from hands-on hardware support in the early days of the PC era to serving as CIO for a medical device manufacturer where I built a custom ERP system from the ground up, and most recently as IT Director for a large regional food distributor where I scaled an IT department from 2 to 10 people and implemented voice-picking technology that transformed warehouse operations for 55+ workers.

Today, as a Fractional CIO, I bring that executive-level depth to companies that need strategic IT leadership but aren't ready for a full-time hire. I embed as part of your leadership team, own outcomes, and get things done.

Built and led an ISO 13485-certified IT infrastructure for a medical manufacturer, serving as an internal auditor.
Designed a full custom ERP — from inventory and lot tracing to accounting and online ordering — replacing entirely manual, paper-based workflows.
NetSuite administrator with hands-on ERP and WMS implementation experience across manufacturing and distribution verticals.
Experienced in Power BI, MS SQL Server data warehousing, and building reporting infrastructure that drives decisions.
What I Do

Services Designed for
Operators, Not Committees.

Every engagement is hands-on. You get a decision-maker who understands both the technology and the business reality behind it.

🧭
Fractional CIO

Strategic IT leadership embedded in your business — without the full-time executive price tag. I own your IT roadmap, vendor relationships, and technology decisions so your leadership team can focus on growth.

📦
Warehouse Optimization

From paper-based picking to voice-enabled, automated workflows — I have implemented real warehouse transformation at scale. I'll evaluate your current operations and build a roadmap to measurable efficiency gains.

🔍
ERP & WMS Selection

I've lived on both sides of ERP implementations — as the buyer and as the builder. I'll guide your selection process with real-world experience to help you choose the right system and avoid costly mistakes.

⚙️
Custom Software Development

When off-the-shelf software doesn't fit your workflow, I design and oversee the development of custom solutions that integrate with your existing ERP — built for how your business actually operates.

Career History

Three Decades of
Real-World IT Leadership.

2025 –
Present

Founder & Fractional CIO
Cornerstone Technology Partners
  • Providing strategic IT leadership, ERP/WMS selection, warehouse optimization, and custom software development for manufacturing and distribution clients.
  • Specializing in helping mid-market companies modernize their operations and technology without the overhead of a full-time executive hire.
2022 –
2025

IT Director
Purple Crow Foods — Large Regional Food Distributor (Hispanic Foods)
  • Grew the IT department from 2 to 10 employees, including a 3-person software development team.
  • Implemented a data warehouse using MS SQL Server and Power BI for operational reporting and business intelligence.
  • Deployed voice-picking technology for 55+ warehouse pickers, dramatically reducing errors and increasing throughput from a fully paper-based process.
  • Served as NetSuite administrator.
2001 –
2022

CIO
Carolon Company — Medical Compression Hosiery Manufacturer
  • Sole IT executive for 21 years; responsible for all technology infrastructure decisions, vendor relationships, and IT strategy.
  • Designed and implemented a custom ERP system covering lot tracing, inventory management, order entry, accounting, and online ordering — replacing entirely manual, paper-based processes.
  • Led ISO 13485 certification effort and served as an internal auditor for the medical device quality standard.
  • Managed both local and remote project and development teams.
1995 –
2000

District Manager
Intrex Computers — Retail Computer Stores
  • Managed multiple retail locations, hired and developed teams, and led new location scouting and openings.
1988 –
1995

Tech Support & Sales
Piedmont Airlines / Computer & Software Outlet
  • Started career in IT support at Piedmont Airlines; built foundational hardware and software expertise.
  • Moved into retail PC sales and hardware support, developing broad technical and customer-facing skills.
Core Competencies

Skills Earned on the Job,
Not in a Classroom.

Software design and implementation to streamline business practices and replace manual workflows
Microsoft ecosystem: Windows Server, Active Directory, Office 365, MS SQL Server, Power BI
ERP systems: Custom ERP design, NetSuite administration, ERP/WMS selection and implementation
Warehouse management: Voice picking, barcode systems, inventory optimization, WMS configuration
Database design and reporting: Crystal Reports, MS Power BI, SQL Server data warehousing
Team building and management: Grew teams from 2 to 10 employees; local and remote project management
Broad hardware and networking knowledge: Infrastructure design, vendor management, enterprise security
Quality and compliance: ISO 13485 certified internal auditor for medical device manufacturing
Custom software development: Led development teams building integrations and workflow automation systems

Ready to Talk About
Your IT Challenges?

Whether you're evaluating an ERP, struggling with warehouse efficiency, or simply need a senior IT perspective — let's have a straightforward conversation.

Get in Touch
Or email directly: eric@ericcaldwell.us  ·  cornerstonetechnologypartners.com