Tim Courtney

CV and LEGO® Ecosystem Impact

Community-Driven Innovation and Consumer Engagement Leader

San Francisco, CA 94103 • 860-967-2468 • tim@timcourtney.net • linkedin.com/in/timcourtney

Executive Summary

As a 28-year pioneer in the LEGO ecosystem spanning roles as LEGO fan community leader and LEGO Group employee, I bring unique expertise in understanding, building, and scaling fan engagement and digital platforms. My journey from co-founding LDraw.org in 1999 (LDraw is an open standard for fan-created LEGO CAD programs for creating virtual LEGO models, scenes, and building instructions) to architecting LEGO IDEAS (2011-2018) demonstrates proven ability to transform community initiatives into significant business value. At LEGO IDEAS, I helped scale the platform to over one million members and established frameworks for community governance and engagement that continue to shape the LEGO Group’s approach to open innovation. Since 2021, as senior consultant for LEGO BrickLink, I’ve guided strategic initiatives including the $100M+ BrickLink Designer Program and led a comprehensive segmentation study reaching 37,000 respondents.

Beyond the LEGO Group, I have served as advisor and co-founder to an early-stage marketplace startup offering licensed, premium 3D spatial environments, VC-backed by Gradient (Google AI fund) and co-founded with Zaha Hadid Architects. This experience has deepened my strategic capabilities, expanded my technical expertise in emerging platforms, and broadened my professional network. These additional competencies further position me to contribute to the LEGO Group’s digital transformation and strengthen deep fandom and creator economy programs.

Future Vision & Value Proposition

I am passionate about contributing to the growth and continued relevance of the LEGO brand into its second century through strategic digital transformation and community-led product development. To do this I will leverage my 28-year history across the entire arc of the LEGO Group engaging its online fan community, my practical experience contributing to LEGO IDEAS and LEGO BrickLink, and my early-stage platform startup experience. My vision centers on evolving our approach with current AFOLs, engaging high-affinity 18+, and nurturing the next generation of teen builders and brand evangelists, driving measurable increases in lifetime engagement and value.

Professional Experience

Treasury – San Francisco, London (2022-present)

Director of Ecosystem & Founding Team Member

Led ecosystem development and community engagement for pre-seed spatial computing startup developing marketplace for premium licensed 3D environments, VC-backed by Gradient (Google AI fund) and co-founded by Zaha Hadid Architects.

Strategic Leadership & Development

  • Contributed to $400k seed extension raise through strategic relationship development
  • Led product implementation process from CEO vision to technical requirements
  • Developed pre-listing catalog of 16,000 scenes to seed spatial marketplace

Event Production & Community Engagement

  • Produced two successful event series reaching key industry stakeholders:
    • High-level panels (20-200+ attendees)
    • Hands-on technology showcases (30-40 qualified participants per event)
  • Managed comprehensive event operations including technical production, venue management, and guest experience across San Francisco and London offices

LEGO BrickLink – Remote (2021-present)

Senior Consultant, Community Expert

Provide strategic insights, communication, and engagement for marketplace serving 1M+ members with $100M+ annual peer-to-peer sales revenue.

Platform Strategy & Research

  • Led communications and engagement for BrickLink Designer Program, driving $100M+ in crowdsourced product revenue
  • Co-authored comprehensive Segmentation Study surveying over 1M members with 37k responses
  • Analyzed and authored detailed report examining user demographics, platform engagement patterns, community participation, and LEGO building preferences

Strategic Communications

  • Guided communication strategy for LEGO Digital Designer sunset and BrickLink Studio transition
  • Leveraged deep understanding of LEGO fan community and early experience with LEGO CAD software development to inform platform evolution

Roundabout - San Francisco (2023)

Principal

  • Delivered series of strategy workshops for global pet food brand
  • Provided consultation on community engagement and platform development

VIVERO – Remote (2019-2020)

Head of Community and User Research

Led community strategy and user research for venture studio focused on digital consumer products.

  • Led qualitative consumer research that developed interview and insights methodology
  • Mentored UI/UX designer and collaboratively developed interfaces and screen flows
  • Established research frameworks for product development and testing
  • Conducted user interviews and synthesized findings for stakeholder presentation

LEGO IDEAS – Enfield, Billund (2011-2018)

Community and Experience Manager, LEGO IDEAS

Established and grew crowdsourcing platform from private beta to 1M+ members, yielding a $90M community-led product business.

Platform Development & Governance

  • Built and executed user engagement model for LEGO CUUSOO / LEGO IDEAS program
  • Established and evolved submission guidelines, quality standards, and user conduct policies
  • Product manager and lead user for platform tools, shaped both user-facing and administrative functionalities
  • Scaled platform to 1M+ members, managing quality pipeline of 1K+ monthly UGC submissions

Community Engagement & Communications

  • Defined and executed communication, moderation, and engagement model including blog strategy, video announcements, and in-store signing events
  • Co-authored the AFOL Engagement department Participation Promise
  • Served as voice of customer, developing key stakeholder relationships with Legal, PR, and Licensing
  • Trained and mentored community engagement team across global offices

SocialDevCamp Chicago – Chicago (2008-2011)

Co-Founder & Director

  • Founded and led annual tech conference with 400+ attendees and speakers from major tech companies
  • Grew revenue year-over-year, reaching $40K+ for 2011 non-profit, volunteer-run event
  • Launched Chicago’s first large-scale hackathons, catalyzing local tech community growth
  • Managed comprehensive event operations including programming, marketing, sponsor relations, and guest experience
  • Built and led volunteer team responsible for all aspects of conference execution

KeyLimeTie – Chicago (2009-2011)

Director of Marketing and Brand Strategy

Led regional brand development for 35-person web development agency serving B2B insurance and financial service clients.

Strategic Leadership

  • Overhauled company website, brand identity, and content strategy
  • Secured four major clients through relationship building efforts
  • Managed high-profile client relationships including Allstate, AAA, and Jameson Irish Whiskey
  • Developed and executed comprehensive PR and trade event strategy

XNet Information Systems – Naperville, IL (2006-2009)

Marketing Specialist

Managed marketing and communications for regional IT services provider.

  • Responsible for marketing strategy, copywriting, and content production
  • Managed corporate communications and client relationships
  • Developed and executed marketing campaigns for IT services
  • Handled customer service, Level 1 tech support, and monthly billing for 400 customers

Bradley Wiltjer Marketing Group – Aurora, IL (2006)

Account Executive

Conducted research, wrote press releases, and pitched media outlets on behalf of clients.

LEGO Fan Community Leadership

Almost three decades of LEGO Fan community leadership:

  • Co-founded LDraw.org (1999), developing the foundation for today’s BrickLink Studio
  • Authored “Virtual LEGO,” a 450-page technical guide to LDraw tools (2003)
  • Co-founded Northern Illinois LEGO Train Club (2001)
  • Active in rec.toys.lego newsgroup since 1996, present when “Adult Fan of LEGO” was coined

Core Competencies

Brand & Community Excellence

  • Deep understanding of LEGO brand heritage and future vision
  • Strong LEGO builder who knows the assortment and fan taste
  • Strategic community building expertise
  • Program and platform development for loyal fan engagement
  • Global network across LEGO Group, fan community, and industry

Innovation & Platform Leadership

  • Platform strategy & creator economy development
  • Strategic partnerships & enterprise stakeholder management
  • Cross-functional leadership & international project management
  • Analysis & reporting with focus on measurable outcomes
  • Risk management & compliance in creative communities
  • Product strategy & vision development

LEGO Fan Community Knowledge

  • Understands and appreciates fan culture and practice
  • Knows the depth and breath of the LEGO Fan Ecosystem
  • Institutional memory of the full history of LEGO company fan engagement, from inside and out
  • Classic Space and airplane collector, early LEGO Train Club founder