Brian Gorham

Status: active — SVP, IT infrastructure @ Valeris

Brian Gorham

Technology Executive — Cloud, M&A Integration & Enterprise Transformation

Driving scalable IT strategy and measurable business outcomes across infrastructure, cloud, and security. 20+ years leading enterprise infrastructure, cloud transformation, and IT operations across multi-state environments.

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20+ Years in enterprise IT leadership
6 Organizations led IT for
5 Acquisitions integrated

About

Enterprise technology leadership, grounded in operations

Technology executive with over 20 years of experience leading enterprise infrastructure, cloud transformation, and IT operations across multi-state organizations. I currently serve as SVP of IT Infrastructure, Operations & Security at Valeris, where I lead a team driving enterprise-scale transformation focused on scalability, resilience, and cost optimization.

My work spans hybrid cloud migration, M&A technology integration, DevOps automation, and enterprise risk management — always with an eye toward translating complex technical challenges into clear, actionable business strategy. I'm particularly passionate about helping organizations modernize legacy environments and adopt cloud-native, automation-driven approaches that accelerate growth without sacrificing stability.

Leadership philosophy

Transformation is a people problem first

Across five acquisitions and two decades of infrastructure transformation, I've learned that the technical roadmap is rarely what determines success. What determines it is whether the team implementing it trusts the plan, understands the reasoning behind it, and has room to raise concerns before they become failures.

I build teams the way I build infrastructure: for resilience, not just performance. That means investing in mentorship early, creating space for people to own outcomes rather than just tasks, and being direct about tradeoffs instead of managing around them. Culture isn't a slide in a kickoff deck — it's what a team does when I'm not in the room.

Experience

Career history

SVP, Information Technology

Valeris — Mooresville, NC — Feb 2024 – Present

Senior technology leader responsible for enterprise infrastructure, operations, and security strategy, aligning technology capabilities with business growth objectives.

  • Led transition from on-premises data center to hybrid cloud architecture, achieving a 20% cost reduction
  • Directed IT strategy and integration for 5 acquisitions, enabling rapid onboarding and synergy realization
  • Implemented DevOps and Infrastructure as Code (Terraform) to automate infrastructure delivery and improve scalability
  • Partner with executive leadership to define technology roadmap, investment priorities, and risk management strategy
  • Lead and develop a team of IT professionals across infrastructure, operations, and security

VP, Infrastructure, Security and Operations

Mercalis — Morrisville, NC — Jul 2021 – Jan 2024

Progressed from managing day-to-day infrastructure operations into shaping the company's long-term technology and M&A integration strategy, partnering directly with functional leaders on multi-year planning.

  • Directed infrastructure and operations across three data centers, ~200 physical and 2,500 virtual servers, and 3,000 end-user workstations, while shifting budget and capacity planning toward long-term strategic alignment
  • Developed and executed M&A integration strategy for two acquisitions, completing both integrations early and under budget
  • Led the shift from on-premises infrastructure to a hybrid, multi-cloud model, growing the strategy across all business areas of operation
  • Trimmed operating budget by 10% while continuing to deliver on the company's growth strategy
  • Built and mentored teams across Compute, Storage, Network, Desktop Support, and DevOps, driving CI/CD adoption and a strategic shift toward containerized infrastructure

VP of Information Technology

Principle LTC — Kinston, NC — Oct 2014 – Jul 2021

Advanced from hands-on network engineering into leading the full technology program and enterprise IT organization for a multi-site skilled nursing facility operator — owning budget, regulatory compliance, and board-level strategy.

  • Owned an $8M+ annual operating budget and $5M+ capital budget, presenting proposals and monthly updates to the CEO, CIO, and Board of Directors
  • Served as HIPAA Security Compliance Manager across an environment spanning three data centers, 7,800 end-user workstations, and 3,500 mobile devices
  • Modernized the network backbone with the company's first MPLS deployment (60+ nodes across the Southeast) and a Cisco SD-WAN active/active strategy
  • Led migration to Microsoft's cloud ecosystem — Azure Active Directory, Intune, and Office 365 — and designed the company's first formal disaster recovery plan
  • Championed a SIP VOIP initiative and video collaboration rollout that reduced annual operating and travel costs while improving service redundancy
  • Built and mentored a senior IT leadership team around a customer-service-focused culture

Director of Information Technology

Principle IT Services — Kinston, NC — Oct 2013 – Oct 2014

  • Oversaw technical projects in alignment with organizational goals
  • Directed the effective delivery of networks, development, and disaster recovery systems and processes
  • Partnered with information engineers to develop solutions supporting core business operations
  • Supervised a team while working closely with management, external vendors, and advisors
  • Prepared financial budgets and presented capital project proposals to senior executives
  • Researched and recommended new products and identified new market opportunities
  • Led initiatives to improve IT processes

Senior Network Engineer

CenturyLink — Jun 2006 – Oct 2013

  • Led project teams supporting CenturyLink's largest customers
  • Assisted clients with developing and implementing disaster recovery plans
  • Prepared plans and cost estimates for large, multiphase projects
  • Provided leadership to the product implementation team

Director of Information Technology

Neil Medical Group — Kinston, NC — Mar 2000 – Jun 2006

Built early IT leadership experience directing technology for a mid-size distributor and long-term care pharmacy operator.

  • Directed IT for two business lines — medical supply distribution and long-term care pharmacy operations — managing a $2M+ annual budget and IT support team
  • Led migration from QS1 to FrameworkLTC pharmacy management system
  • Introduced scanning technology for order fulfillment across both the pharmacy and medical supply divisions
  • Led a two-year ERP replacement project spanning both lines of business
  • Facilitated build-out of a new distribution facility, including IT and OT network infrastructure
  • Implemented the company's first VOIP solution and established its first eCommerce presence

Community & board leadership

Service beyond the org chart

I serve as an Operations Advisor on the board of The Carying Place, a nonprofit providing no-cost transitional housing while teaching life skills and financial literacy to families working toward self-sufficiency. In this role, I evaluate expansion opportunities to help the organization extend its reach to more families in need.

Skills & credentials

Skills, certifications & honors

Strategic leadership

M&A IT integration & due diligence Private equity portfolio operations Enterprise cloud & infrastructure strategy Technology roadmap & investment planning Risk management & security governance Cost optimization & synergy realization

Strategic accomplishments

20% infra cost reduction via cloud migration 5-for-5 M&A integration track record Hybrid cloud migration, on-prem to cloud-native DevOps & Infrastructure as Code (Terraform) adoption

Honors & awards

Circle of Excellence Award Beta Gamma Sigma Member ECU Chancellor's List

Additional technical credentials: Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) · Cisco Certified Voice Professional (CCVP) · Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) · CS50, Harvard

Education

Academic background

Master's Degree, Business Administration

East Carolina University — College of Business

Bachelor's Degree, Business Administration & Management Information Systems

East Carolina University — College of Business