Staff Directory
- Title:
- IT Consultant
- Email:
- Phone:
- 847-467-0550
Eric Winchester is a seasoned IT professional with over 15 years of experience delivering tailored technology solutions in high-stakes, fast-paced environments. For more than a decade, he has served as the Senior Technology Consultant, IT/AV Systems Manager, and Sports Performance/Medicine Data Strategist for Northwestern University’s Department of Athletics and Recreation, where he is the go-to technical expert supporting 300+ staff members across 19 varsity sports programs and 18 athletic facilities.
Winchester’s role is both expansive and mission-critical. He provides high-level, white-glove technical support 24/7 to coaches, physicians, administrators, and staff. His responsibilities range from direct user support and infrastructure analysis to full-scale project management for AV systems, biometric security, EMR platforms, and large-scale facility transitions. Whether troubleshooting issues with essential software, configuring digital signage for 60+ displays, or supporting high-visibility live sporting events with complex scoreboard systems, Winchester is relied upon to ensure technology works flawlessly under pressure.
Among his most impactful contributions is his leadership in migrating Northwestern Sports Medicine operations into the Northwestern Medicine system. He guided this acquisition by assessing and executing technology needs, optimizing workflows, and preserving the continuity of student-athlete care. He also led the design, rollout, and ongoing management of Teamworks Smartabase—Northwestern’s web-based electronic medical records platform used across all sports.
Winchester was instrumental in the complex migration of over 150 staff and 1,000+ devices into the new 600,000 sq. ft. Walter Athletics Center and Ryan Fieldhouse—one of the department’s largest technical transitions to date. He helped implement and currently manages biometric security systems in partnership with IDEMIA Morpho to modernize facility access. He also developed custom AV solutions, including a looped recording system for the NU Diving Team, and upgraded conference room and Zoom environments for leadership meetings. Additionally, he helped design and deploy golf swing analytic technologies using high-speed video and data tools to improve coaching and performance. Winchester oversees all digital signage, interactive displays, and multimedia systems across Northwestern Athletics—including a 40-foot dynamic lobby display—ensuring seamless operation and consistent branding across 60+ endpoints.
As a former collegiate club lacrosse midfielder, Winchester brings firsthand experience as a student-athlete to his role, which deepens his understanding of the demands, culture, and urgency within collegiate athletics. This perspective allows him to build trust with coaches and staff while delivering solutions that align with the unique pace and priorities of sports performance environments.
His approach is data-driven, strategic, and focused on long-term stability and user empowerment. Over the years, Winchester has identified and implemented cost-saving strategies that have preserved hundreds of thousands of dollars in departmental resources, often through vendor negotiations, procurement analysis, and thoughtful lifecycle management of equipment.
Before joining Northwestern, Winchester worked in ophthalmology and healthcare IT roles, where he provided both front-line clinical support and backend technology administration. His early career included roles as an Information Technology Administrator and Ophthalmic Technician at Advanced Retina Center in Virginia and as IT Coordinator at Chicago Glaucoma Consultants. He also supported clinical research efforts at NorthShore University HealthSystem, contributing to database design and workflow optimization for oncology studies.
Winchester holds a B.A. in Interdepartmental Studies: Health Science/Pre-Medicine from the University of Iowa, after completing his first two years of undergraduate study at Pepperdine University. His formal training in understanding complex systems is complemented with his proficiencies in Active Directory, Windows Server, Microsoft 365, JAMF, MECM, PowerShell, Smartabase/Teamworks, EMR/PACS imaging, BrightSign, NovaStar, Cascade CMS, TeamViewer, CrowdStrike, Zoom, and many others. His experience spans both Mac and PC ecosystems, and he is adept at managing IT environments that require security, reliability, and precision.
Known for his calm under pressure, collaborative mindset, and relentless drive to solve problems before they escalate, Winchester continues to be an indispensable asset to Northwestern Athletics—trusted by coaches, administrators, and medical staff alike to keep operations running smoothly and securely.
Winchester and his wife Kristi reside in Highwood with their two children, Gemma and Luke.
