Abraham Ralph Wilcox holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Fire & Emergency Services from the University of Florida/USA, a programme to which only around 20% of applicants are admitted. He also holds Firefighter I & II certifications from the Florida Medical Training Institute/USA as well as an Associate of Arts degree in Business Administration from the Santa Fe College/USA. These training programmes taught him crisis management skills, operational resilience and a disciplined approach to problem solving, as well as strengthening his commitment to community safety – principles that he has carried over into his professional life.
With over 20 years in the fields of IT, technology and communications, Abraham R. Wilcox has gained extensive expertise in various specialist and management positions. As a Business Developer at Phenetics Inc. in Silicon Valley/USA, e.g., he led a team of eight researchers from the University of Florida who pioneered early large language models (LLMs) and natural language processing. He was heavily involved in developing the network architecture for a social media-optimised search engine that outperformed conventional text-based systems – a precursor to modern ChatGPT – meaning he was involved in early initiatives in the field of artificial general intelligence (AGI).
Another career milestone was his role as Managing Director and Co-Founder of Apricot Computers Inc. in Middletown/USA, where he developed cost-effective, high-performance computer solutions for East African markets and angel investments. He established strategic partnerships with the Ministries of Education in Rwanda, Kenya and Zambia, thereby creating a sustainable technology ecosystem for a financeable and scalable education reform that includes organisational resilience, the creation of employment opportunities in the regions and the recruitment of well-educated local talents. This also included the expansion of wireless network solutions for Airtel, the leading telecom provider in India and Africa.
His career also includes positions as Technical Consultant and lead App Developer, as well as Business Developer and Project Manager for various tasks. Abraham R. Wilcox has a wealth of experience gained from decades of practical work as a hands-on specialist and manager in Africa (Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia) and the United States (Florida, California, Texas).
Thanks to his IT experience in the United States and his in-depth knowledge of the East African market, he is able to combine innovation and risk mitigation for clients. His skills in fundraising and market expansion initiatives enable him to navigate volatile markets and foster sustainable growth.
His dual citizenship in the United States and Kenya, as well as his extensive experience in emergency management, also enable him to leverage international trade relations and digital ecosystems. By integrating crisis management capabilities and technology-driven strategies, Abraham R. Wilcox supports the development of resilient operations, improved compliance and the exploitation of new opportunities in various regions, including Africa and the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe, as well as the United States.
- Bachelor of Science in Fire & Emergency Services, University of Florida, Gainesville/USA
- Firefighter (I & II) Certifications, Florida Medical Training Institute/USA
- Associate of Arts Degree in Business Administration, Santa Fe College, Gainesville/USA
- Emergency Medical Services Certification, University of Florida
- Emergency Medical Services First Responder Certification, Sante Fe College
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Certifications: IS-1, IS-22, IS-100, IS-200, IS-2404, IS-247, IS-275, IS-800, IS-914, Washington D.C./USA
- Business Development in telecommunications and IT (> 12 years of experience), as well as provision of strategic Growth Solutions.
- IT and Digitalisation in e-commerce (retail and trade), design of customised websites, progressive web apps (PWAs) and Android software applications.
- Sales and Marketing for emerging/frontier markets (> 9 years of experience), as well as implementation of effective Online Strategies.
- Project Management for remote distributed teams, management of mission-critical IT projects, especially in the context of the challenges in East Africa.
- Consultant in the fields:
- Business Development in telecommunications and IT (> 12 years of experience), as well as provision of strategic Growth Solutions.
- IT and Digitalisation in e-commerce (retail and trade), design of customised websites, progressive web apps (PWAs) and Android software applications.
- Sales and Marketing for emerging/frontier markets (> 9 years of experience), as well as implementation of effective Online Strategies.
- Project Management for remote distributed teams, management of mission-critical IT projects, especially in the context of the challenges in East Africa.
- Managing Director and Co-Founder of Apricot Computers Inc. in Middletown, USA:
- Development of cost-effective, high-performance computer solutions for East African markets and angel investments.
- Development of strategic partnerships with the Ministries of Education in Rwanda, Kenya and Zambia for affordable education.
- Establishment of high-speed internet infrastructure for urban and rural schools to improve the digital literacy of thousands of students.
- Building a sustainable technology ecosystem for a financeable and scalable education reform: organisational resilience, creation of employment opportunities in the regions and recruitment of local, well-educated talents.
- Business Developer and Project Manager for LUO Naturals in Nairobi/Kenya:
- Launch of new cosmetic products for global distribution.
- Development of a fully interactive e-commerce website.
- Development of a logistics system to support the distribution of cosmetics to consumers.
- Establishment of contacts with various investors and business brokerage.
- Technical Consultant and lead App Developer for USAID/Pact World in Lusaka/Zambia, specifically for the DREAMS project:
- Use of IT solutions and graphic design tools (Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Suite) to support the Ministry of Health's goals in combating HIV/AIDS.
- Optimisation of data processing systems.
- Training of staff in Microsoft Office automation.
- Optimisation of workflows to improve healthcare for the population.
- Development of efficient, scalable solutions for life-saving programmes.
- Business Developer and Co-Founder of Phenetics Inc. in Silicon Valley, Austin/USA, responsible or jointly responsible for:
- Leading a team of 8 researchers at the University of Florida who pioneered early large language models (LLMs) and natural language processing.
- Developing the network architecture for a social media-optimised search engine that outperformed traditional text-based systems – a precursor to modern ChatGPT.
- Developing scalable business models and social media technologies to assist Facebook and Google.
- Combining natural language processing and big data analytics into a single web page that intelligently replaced database query matching.
- Established contacts with venture capitalists in Silicon Valley.
- Facilitated the transition of team members to companies such as Amazon, Apple, and IBM.
- Technical Assistant in the IT department at the University of Florida in Gainesville, USA, support in:
- Controlling the use and tracking of funds from a foundation with an endowment worth of over 2.4 billion US dollars.
- Developing visual media presentations.
- Optimising administrative processes using the university's customised database tools (Eagle/IBM DB2).
- Improving the efficiency across the entire campus infrastructure.
Reading, empowerment, education, Africa, technology, human rights, innovation, community, culture, entrepreneurship, humanitarianism, poverty alleviation, traveling, studying, finance, basketball, football and tennis.
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