Raven Howard

Raven Howard

SaaS, Cloud & LLM Expert · AI Builder

Seeking my next challenge

$475M+
SaaS & cloud spend managed
1,000+
deals closed
$18.6M+
saved for customers

AI-Enabled Solutions & Operations

Solutions engineering, deployment strategy, and AI operations. Turning capability into systems that actually get deployed and adopted.

Customer Success & Account Management

Strategic customer success, account management, and relationship management for complex, high-value accounts.

FinOps & Procurement

FinOps and LLM/AI spend, plus SaaS and cloud procurement. I know where the leverage and the cost really sit.

2020 – 2026

Vendr

Principal SaaS Consultant

Employee #23 and part of the early team that grew Vendr from seed through a $1B valuation. Advised enterprise buyers on their hardest software and cloud purchases ($475M+ across 1,000+ deals) and led AI enablement for the consulting team.

$475M+total spend managed
$18.6M+savings for customers
~$500Kavg deal ACV
$150Knet-new/month via pre-sale
3 logosclosed/month via pre-sale
  • Built and deployed an internal AI tool that broke down complex contracts and pricing, cutting a 2-hour analysis to about 15 minutes
  • Led AI enablement for the consulting team, putting context engineering, Claude Code, and MCP workflows into daily practice
  • Strategic sourcing, RFPs, and negotiation across infrastructure and data vendors (AWS, Datadog, New Relic, Splunk) with VP, Director, and CTO stakeholders
  • Founded the onboarding SaaS Consultant team and built standardized procurement processes adopted company-wide
  • Cross-functional work with IT, InfoSec, Finance, Legal, and Operations to drive approvals through complex buying committees
  • Escalation point for strategic enterprise accounts across fintech, consumer, and developer-tools
  • Contributed supplier analysis to Vendr's SaaS Trends Report
  • Pre-sale buying support for new business: $150K net-new and 3 logos per month
  • Among the first consultants hired, and partnered with enablement to build SaaS Consultant training for the whole buying organization
🏆 Most Deals Closed, All Time 🏆 2022 Most Dollars Saved 🏆 2021 One Team One Dream
2019 – 2020

Ceterus

Account Executive

High-growth fintech startup on Inc. Magazine's fastest-growing companies list, raised a $10M Series B. Sold a done-for-you accounting platform to multi-location small businesses.

  • Top SDR on a team of 12 at 139% to quota, and the fastest promotion to AE
  • Oversaw growth in fitness/wellness segment, responsible for brand strategy
  • Part of management team for hiring and recruiting key talent
2016 – 2019

ScanSource

Account Manager → Sales Operations Manager

NASDAQ-listed global technology distributor. Grew from account management into sales operations for a $1B+ business unit.

  • Developed sales processes and reporting frameworks for a $1B+ business unit
  • Managed regional account portfolio, consistently driving growth quarter over quarter
Live

Training Stack

iOS · watchOS · App Store

Run and strength tracking in one app. Plans, analytics, heart rate zones, share cards, Apple Watch, and Live Activities. Solo built from scratch.

SwiftUI HealthKit WeatherKit MapKit WatchKit
App Store →
Live

Aiden MCP

Open Source · Model Context Protocol

MCP server that lets Claude control a Fellow Aiden coffee brewer through natural language: start a brew, tune a profile, and read device state. Proof I build with AI, hardware included.

Python MCP Claude Tool Use
GitHub →
In progress

Remain

iOS · macOS · watchOS

A contemplative app for intentional spiritual practice. Scripture reading, meditation, breathwork, journaling, and prayer woven into one space for the whole person.

SwiftUI HealthKit CloudKit Multi-platform
Expert source

Vendr Blog

How to Evaluate AI Software Purchases (and the mistakes to avoid). Quoted as a named expert on pricing and buying AI software.

Read →
Expert source

Vendr Blog

Cloud FinOps strategy. Featured for how enterprises should manage and reduce cloud spend.

Read →
Contributor

Vendr Insights

SaaS Trends Report. Contributed supplier and pricing analysis to Vendr's flagship industry report.

View →

Persuasive & direct

Gets to the point. Brings people along with a perspective rather than just presenting options.

Curious before certain

Opinionated, but genuinely wants to know what you think. Comfortable sitting with complexity.

Reflective, then decisive

Prefers to think before acting. Finds the optimal process first, then moves with conviction.

Deep over broad

One long, useful conversation over ten surface ones. Invests in the people and problems worth investing in.

Builds for the long game

Drawn to systems, processes, and tools that actually work, not just what ships fastest.

Needs clear metrics

Works best with a scorecard. Wants to know how things are going and where the bar is.

FinOps Foundation

FinOps Certified Practitioner

Issued Dec 2024 · Expires Dec 2026

Clemson University

BA, Psychology · Religion Minor

Class of 2016 · Graduated in 3 years

Core Expertise

SaaS & Cloud Negotiation Cloud FinOps LLM / AI Spend AI Enablement Claude Code & MCP Context Engineering Procurement Strategy Vendor Management Solutions & Deployment
2023 – Present

Grace City Church

Non-Staff Pastor

Preach and teach weekly to a congregation of about 600. Lead church finance and HR: ran the Bill.com to Ramp and Rippling to Gusto migrations and helped negotiate a roughly $3M building purchase.

Nov 2024 – Present

Forest Park Neighborhood Coalition

Vice President

Lead neighborhood initiatives and represent residents as VP of the Forest Park Neighborhood Coalition in Charleston, SC.

2019 – 2020

SC Dept. of Social Services

Foster Parent

Licensed foster parent through the South Carolina Department of Social Services.

Jan 2014 – Jan 2016

Young Life

Leader

Youth ministry leader with Young Life, investing in the lives of high school students. · 2 yrs

RH ravenhoward.org