Ian Purcell

Background

About Ian Purcell

i began my 26-year career in the service industry at the ground level—checking ids and washing dishes at the blue iguana restaurant & bar. those early roles shaped how i lead today: with humility, resilience, and a deep respect for the people doing the work. that foundation has guided my progression from frontline hospitality to business ownership and senior leadership. over the years, i worked through nearly every role in hospitality—server, bartender, operator—eventually owning and operating multiple restaurants in northern virginia. i later co-founded and serve as vice president (biz dev) of a top-rated virginia distillery, where i helped build the business from concept to execution, leading operations, growth strategy, and cross-functional teams during critical scaling phases. that operator-first background ultimately led me into technology and saas, where i now lead client experience at bartrack, a hospitality technology startup. in this role, i manage complex, multi-disciplinary teams across customer success, onboarding, support, service coordination and training—building departments from the ground up and scaling them through data-driven insights. i work directly with the ceo and c-suite, influencing company priorities, aligning cross-functional initiatives, and delivering high-impact projects in fast-paced, high-growth environments. my work centers on creating structure where none exists—designing scalable processes, establishing clear ownership, and building systems that improve collaboration between product, engineering, sales, and client-facing teams. i specialize in translating customer voice into actionable insights that support product development, operational efficiency, and long-term growth. data, accountability, and people development are core to how i lead. across startups and founder-led organizations, i’ve consistently partnered with senior leadership to guide strategic decision-making, launch new products, measure success, and scale teams without losing focus on the customer experience. i’m particularly effective in volatile environments, where alignment, clarity, and motivation are critical to execution. from washing dishes to owning businesses to leading startup growth alongside executive teams, my career has been defined by progression, adaptability, and a commitment to building teams and systems that last. i remain passionate about helping hospitality and technology organizations grow through strong leadership, thoughtful processes, and a relentless focus on people and outcomes.