Kenny Mullican serves as Chief Information Officer at Paragon Films, a leading stretch film manufacturing company redefining sustainability in the plastics industry. With a career that began in software development during the early 90s video conferencing boom, Kenny’s tech roots run deep—from developing tools for the first QuickCam to building enterprise-grade AI and cybersecurity infrastructure today. His passion for building efficient systems—be it software, manufacturing, or people—has allowed him to lead Paragon through a massive digital transformation. Today, he oversees IT strategy across multiple locations and is a vocal advocate for leveraging AI to empower individuals, not replace them.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
- Why Paragon Films is focused on reducing virgin plastic while increasing product strength
- How Kenny’s experience in video tech and software development helped shape his CIO role
- Why foundational cloud architecture is critical to AI readiness
- How AI is reshaping hiring practices and job qualifications in IT
- Why now is the best time for motivated newcomers to enter the cybersecurity field
- What Kenny sees as the future of AI-first startups and one-person billion-dollar companies
- Kenny’s personal view on retirement, entrepreneurship, and doing what you love
In this episode…
Kenny Mullican’s journey begins in software development but quickly takes off when his startup gets acquired by Connectix—the original makers of the QuickCam webcam. He soon transitions from California tech to remote work in Tulsa, working for Logitech and managing video tools long before Zoom was a household name. His early passion for problem-solving through code paved the way for his future leadership in business systems and IT strategy.
When Kenny joined Paragon Films as CIO, the company's IT infrastructure was outdated, with decades-old ERP systems and minimal digital tooling. In his words, “It was about getting the company out of the Stone Age.” Under his leadership, Paragon transitioned from Lotus Notes to Office 365, then from on-premise data to Azure cloud platforms. That investment in cloud transformation turned out to be a foundational move—positioning the company to take full advantage of the AI explosion.
Kenny emphasizes that effective AI adoption isn’t just about plugging in new tools—it’s about building a clean, governed, secure data ecosystem first. By aligning Paragon’s infrastructure with Microsoft Fabric and curating structured Power BI datasets, he ensured that the company's transition into AI would be seamless. Whether it’s cybersecurity posture, ERP system migration, or adopting co-pilot tools, Kenny's story shows the value of preparing for tech trends before they arrive.
The conversation also dives into hiring practices in an AI-driven world. Kenny believes that with the right mindset and AI fluency, recent grads can outperform veterans—provided they’re hungry, driven, and curious. He challenges the traditional emphasis on years of experience, arguing instead for aptitude, motivation, and cultural fit.
Kenny closes the episode with a hopeful vision of the future: one where AI removes mundane tasks, empowers individuals to launch startups, and enables people to do meaningful work they actually enjoy. He doesn’t dream of retirement—he dreams of creation.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Matthew Connor on LinkedInCyberLynx
Kenny Mullican on LinkedIn
Paragon Films Website
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