# Ron Hess

> Ron Hess is the co-founder and chief architect of Propel Software, a Los Gatos-based software architect whose career runs from early Silicon Valley systems work through Salesforce and Kenandy to a wager that product lifecycle management belonged in the cloud. His technical validation helped turn Propel from a prototype and a set of conversations into a funded company, and his writing since has focused on flexible enterprise systems, product data and the changing role of IT.

- **Role:** Co-Founder and Chief Architect at Propel Software
- **Organizations:** Propel Software, Kenandy, Salesforce, Neoforma, Lightspeed Semiconductor, Chromatic Research, Santa Cruz Operations, Truckee Tahoe Soaring Association, Bay Area Soaring Association
- **Education:** Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, California State University, Chico
- **Known for:** Co-founded Propel Software and helped validate its original architecture on the Salesforce platform., Spent more than seven years at Salesforce across product management, developer evangelism and architecture roles., Helped build next-generation cloud ERP as principal application architect at Kenandy.

## Career timeline

- **1987-1993** — Worked as an escalation manager at Santa Cruz Operations.
- **1995-1999** — Served as a program manager at Chromatic Research.
- **2000-2003** — Worked as a program manager at Lightspeed Semiconductor.
- **2003-2005** — Served as CRM program manager at Neoforma.
- **2005-2012** — Held product management, developer evangelism and Force.com architecture roles at Salesforce.
- **2012-2015** — Worked as principal application architect at Kenandy, helping build cloud ERP on Salesforce.
- **2015** — Co-founded Propel after validating the technical premise of building cloud PLM on Salesforce; the company formally launched on April 22.
- **2016** — Propel announced a $4.2 million Series A financing round.
- **2018** — Propel announced an $18 million Series B after reporting more than 500 percent revenue growth and a 300 percent increase in customers in the prior fiscal year.
- **2023** — Propel announced Hess's appointment from CTO to chief architect.
- **2024** — Propel marked nine years since Hess, Ray Hein and the other co-founders formally launched the company.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Propel Software and helped validate its original architecture on the Salesforce platform.
- Spent more than seven years at Salesforce across product management, developer evangelism and architecture roles.
- Helped build next-generation cloud ERP as principal application architect at Kenandy.
- Authored public explainers on flexible enterprise release cycles, digital twins, blockchain in manufacturing, supply-chain technology and the evolving role of IT.
- Helped guide Propel from its 2015 launch through multiple venture rounds and the expansion of its cloud product platform.
- Is listed as an inventor on a multi-tenant wealth-management system patent publication from his Salesforce years.

## Latest updates

- **2025-04** — Propel marked its tenth anniversary and publicly thanked co-founders including Hess for setting the company's foundation.
- **2024-04** — Propel celebrated nine years since Hess, Ray Hein and the other co-founders formally launched the company on April 22, 2015.
- **2023-12** — Propel announced Hess's appointment as chief architect and credited his continued influence on the company's technology direction.
- **2023-02** — Hess published an article arguing for ready-to-adopt product releases, flexible timing and customer-controlled rollout mechanisms.

## Links

- Website: https://converged.propelsoftware.com/author/ron-hess
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronhess/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/vnehess

---

Profile page: https://yespress.io/ron-hess
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-09-27