I'm Richard Sonnen, Director of AI Innovation & Consulting at Sentinel Technologies. For 25 years I've shaped technology strategy, figuring out not just how to implement technology, but what to do with it and why.
What I Do
I help organizations make strategic technology decisions. I've done cloud migrations for multinationals, built IT organizations from the ground up. Now it's AI: helping companies figure out where it fits and what it can actually deliver.
The interesting work happens in the gap between what technology can do and what organizations actually need. That's where most initiatives fail, and it's what I focus on.
Technical Depth
I know the technology because I use it. I train models, run Kubernetes clusters, write code. That means I can tell when a vendor is bullshitting. I know which "simple integrations" turn into six-month projects.
Beyond Work
I've been building things since I could hold a soldering iron. Literally, since I was seven. My shop currently has three FDM printers, two resin printers, and two large-scale laser cutters.
- Furniture — Industrial aesthetic, combining welding and woodworking. I've been a certified welder (MIG and TIG) since the mid-2000s.
- Model railroading — Driven by an interest in western mining history. Also a good excuse to tinker with microcontrollers and electronics.
- Random builds — Like the industrial gauges on my desk that show real-time internet traffic. I built them because it was interesting.
Get in Touch
I'm always interested in talking with people working on interesting problems. The best way to reach me is email.