EDUCATION:
Ed.D. in Educational Technology Minor: Business Administration
GPA: 3.96 Dissertation Topic: An Expert System of Effective Schools
M.S. degree in Educational Psychology Field of Interest: Instructional Design
GPA: 4.0
B. S. Elementary Education/Special Education Double Major
Graduated Magna Cum Laude
Teaching Experience:
Kutztown
University: 2004 – present.
Currently Associate Professor in the department of Accounting and
Finance in the
Klee Associates Mastery Series: Managing Information Technology, a two day workshop for CEOs and senior executives.
Lehigh University. 1986-1990, and 2003-4. Taught in the Iococca Institute's Global Village Program on Technology Leadership: How to Make The Right Decisions At The Right Time. During work on my doctorate, (Expert Systems for Effective Schools) consulted for a variety of projects including, Artificial Intelligence and robotics, CD-I applications, Instructional Design, Expert Systems used in System Configuration, LISP, PROLOG, and SMALLTALK programming, Completed several projects on instructional design in CBT.
Albright College. 1987-1991, and 2001 -2002. Instructor for various Accelerated Degree courses including Hardware and Software, Advanced Database Concepts, Systems Analysis and Design. In prior years, taught Continuing Education courses on DOS, UNIX, Novell, Project, Windows, Word, Excel, WordPerfect, Lotus 123 (including advanced level Macros, @Finances, and other special topics), DisplayWrite, Harvard Graphics, Symphony, dBASE III+ & IV, R:Base, Nutshell, DacEasy and OneWrite Accounting.
Drexel University. 2000- 2002. Instrumental in development of Strategic Internet Management Certification program. Taught the following courses: Getting IT: Understanding Information Technology, Databases: Design and Applications, Essentials of Network Technology, Project Management for Information Technology.
Penn State University (1995) in partnership with T. Max Devlin in Enterprise Network Management.
Bay Networks (now Nortel Networks) Certification (1994-1995) to teach a variety of technical courses including Networking Basics, Token Ring, Ethernet, Optivity Network Management, and Managing Your Network with OpenView.
Lebanon Valley College. 1993-1994. Adjunct instructor for Entrepreneurship (MBA program), Microcomputers in Business (Management program) and various continuing education seminars on computer applications in business.
Alvernia College. 1991- 1992. Adjunct instructor for Microcomputers in Business.
Reading Area Community College. 1985-1990. Adjunct instructor for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, a special program for gifted students. Also: instructor for various microcomputer courses.
Related Presenting Experience:
Speaker on August
5, 2006 for Pacem In Vita: Assessment
sponsored by Pacem In Terris in Wilmington, DE
Speaker on July 15, 2006 on Pacem In Vita: Leadership Curriculum that Works at the International
Taijiquan Forum: Academic Conference at Lakehead University & Confederation
College, in Thunderbay, Canada
Speaker on July 9, 2006 on The Power of Soft at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
of Pottstown in Pottstown, PA
Speaker on May 26, 2006 Taiji & Qigong: 18 Therapies for the UUFP in Pottstown, PA
Speaker on April 4, 2006 Smashing the Glass Ceiling to Bits for the American Business Women's Association in Chef Alan's at Fairground Square Mall, Reading, PA
Organizer on March 23, 2006 Pacem In Vita for Pacem In Terris in Wilmington, DE
Panelists on March 23, 2006 The Importance of Networking for the Kutztown University Alumni Association in Kutztown, PA
Speaker on March 14, 2006 Opportunities at the College of Business, Kutztown University for Educational Talent Search College Bound Conference at the Jewish Community Center in Reading, PA
Presenter on March 8, 2006 Impact of the Decision Maker on Use and Perceived Value of Internet Technologies for the National Business and Economic Society in Los Cabos, Mexico
Panelists on February 24, 2006 Monetizing Amateur Content for the Wharton Tech Conference in Philadelphia, PA
Speaker on January 31, 2006 Deciding on Marketing Technology for the CEO Forum; Manufacturer Resource Center, Ben Franklin Technology Center, Bethlehem, PA
Mentored Students for the November 11, 2005 Business Women in Leadership for the Women's Leadership Institute in Alumni Auditorium, Kutztown University
Presenter on October 20, 2005 Impact of the Decision Maker on Use and Perceived Value of Internet Technologies for the Association of Pennsylvania Business and Economic Faculty in Penn State University in State College, PA
Presenter on June 20, 2005 Technology Decisionmaking for Educators & Administrators for the Kutztown University Continuing Education in Kutztown, PA
Featured Guest on June 17, 2005 for Technology Leaders Radio Show for the WWDB 860 AM Radio in Philadelphia, PA
Organizer for May 7, 2005 Taijiquan Club Festival for the Taijiquan Club in Philadelphia, PA
Moderated a panel on Sox: What is Real? on May 5, 2005 at the CIO Forum & Executive IT
Organized a panel on
Compliance and Good Governance: The
Alphabet Soup of Technology in the Technology
Leadership Breakfast Series hosted by the Technology Committee from the
Berks County Chamber of Commerce. CEOs and CIOs discussed the challenges of
dealing with the requirements of legislation like Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) and the
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA or HIPPA). The event was held on April 15, 2005 at the
Penn State Berks Campus. The panelists
were Edward Barrett, CFP of Leesport Financial Corp; Jay Raman, CIO of The
Reading Hospital and
Keynote speaker on March 2,
2005 at the BizTECH Technology Forecast
and Technology Recognition hosted by the Berks County Chamber of Commerce
at the Sheraton in
Spoke on February 23, 2005
at the Association for Information
Technology Professionals (AITP) dinner on How To Keep Up With Technology.
Spoke on Dec 10, 2004 at
the
Moderated the final panel in the Technology Leadership Breakfast Series hosted by the Technology Committee from the Berks County Chamber of Commerce on November 12, 2004 at Penn State Berks Campus. The topic was How to Make Sure Employees are Getting the Most from Technology in the Technology. The networking event included a Case Study authored by Dr. Rhoads.
Presented Overwelmed and Invaded: How to Deal with Spam, Viruses and Spyware at the Small Business Alliance breakfast on Oct. 13, 2004
Presented Portrait of Business Technology
on October 1, 2004, at the Association of
Pennsylvania Business and Economic Faculty conference in
Moderated a panel on Sept 24, 2004 and led a Case Study on What Technology Will be Like in Five Years at the second Technology Leadership Breakfast Series for the Technology Committee of the Berks County Chamber of Commerce at Penn State Berks Campus. Panelists were John Weidenhammer, CEO of Weidenhammer Systems; Edith Ritter, Executive Director of Manufacturers Resource Center; G. William Ruhl, CEO of D&E Communications; Don Gould, Director of IT, Godiva Chocolatier.
Panelist at
Panelist
at CIO Forum in
Presenter at several AITP meetings and Business Associations on Technology Decision Making and Optimizing Technology for Business
Presenter at the
CFO Forum in September, 2000 on Increasing
Shareholder Value through E-Business.
Presenter at the CIO Forum for Financial Services in May, 2000 on Getting Clarity from the Business Side … and CEOs who get “IT”.
EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE
Founding Principal & CEO
ETM Associates is a unique consulting company comprised of former and current CIOs and senior level executives of major corporations serving Fortune 500 companies. ETM Associates concentrates on enterprise-wide technology-based projects that significantly increase sales or decrease costs. Some of the accomplishments of the company to date:
·
Developed and implemented data security program
to meet government regulatory requirements for over 70 applications and
third-party service providers for the third largest financial institution in
· Collaboration project uniting the CIOs of 40 subsidiary companies of the largest electrical and mechanical construction and facilities services provider in the world. Standards and procurement procedures agreed upon will save millions for the company in the coming years.
· A reorganization of all local IT departments for a major research firm. Project included standardizing and consolidating systems from 20 countries (including 50 sites, 12 mainframes, and 7000 desktops) into a globally led Data Services Group.
I was fully responsible for all aspects of the business including recruiting technology and project management talent, assuring client deliverables, and providing overall management of the company.
CommerceLinks.Net 8/00– 3/01
Chief Operations & Technology Officer
Recruited to serve as CTO to CommerceLinks.Net - a startup company that developed a new technology for Live Video Customer Service. In November I was promoted to COO as well. With the exception of sales and marketing, fully responsible for all aspects of the company. Under my direction, the company accomplished quite a bit:
· completed a competitive analysis
· developed and published a business plan
· developed business requirements and demo of Customer Collaboration Platform (CCP)
· led team in assessing technical requirements for CCP
· developed business requirements for Video Communication Network
· wrote patents on the Live Video Customer Service technologies
· established operational processes for proposing, closing, and billing customers
Millstar Corporation 2/00– 8/00
Chief Technology Officer
Millstar is a Business to Business E‑commerce software development company that specializes in medium to large manufacturers and distributors of equipment and supplies. Brought in to stabilize/build a technology team, establish controls, and implement a new direction for the company.
As part of the senior management team, introduced a new business model - publishing software. We developed an easy-to-implement-fully-featured e-commerce software with the ability to print personalized catalog of items in full color. The change improved gross margin and increased employee motivation. Among our successes:
· Established "startup" vision & culture to attract employees.
· Stabilized development team.
· Increased retention rate from 40% to 91%.
· Increased employee satisfaction. 95% employees identified "very satisfied with job" in a survey compared to less than 20% (prior to my joining).
· Identified missing skills and successfully hired to obtain key skills.
· Increased accountability in all areas, leading to increased productivity.
· Applied job costing analysis to customer accounts.
· Increased potential gross profit margins from 25% to 63%.
· Refocused sales and marketing on more profitable accounts.
The focus of the development team turned to re-usable components, repeatable processes, and an SEI level 5 (Optimizing) of the Capability Maturity Model.
First
Vice President-Information Technology
One of the
world's largest credit card issuers ($63 billion in managed loans in
1999). Recruited to lead Project
Management Initiatives. Responsible for
all major infrastructure projects including Y2K, Data Warehouse, MVS
Conversion, Oracle Conversion, Data Center Relocation, Firewall Architecture
and Backup Architecture. On time/on budget projects jumped from one (out of
102) to 85 (out of 130) by September 1998.
In 11/98 promoted to lead the global strategic initiatives in Information Services Operations. Recognized issues immediately with work management & customer service, and implemented actions to improve. Compliancy rate went from 64% to 81%, and early fulfillment rate went from 59% to 83%.
In 3/99 promoted to lead initiatives in company-wide Program Office. Implemented many projects to increase efficiency and increase productivity. Spearheaded Root Cause Analysis program. Identified top recurring issues, including
·
Internet
Stability and Capacity
·
Release Testing
·
Network
Proactivity
·
Server
Ownership, Maintenance & Build
·
Problem Ticket
Diagnosis
Defined success criteria, and empowered five multidisciplinary teams to resolve. Fully responsible for program implementation involving over 200 people. Also initiated Time Tracking project to enable managers to effectively guide resources.
MBNA 1/96– 5/98
Vice President-Finance
MBNA is also one of the world's largest credit card issuers ($71 billion in managed loans), and a pioneer in affinity marketing. Served as the internal consultant to executive management on all enterprise-wide technology projects such as Y2K, Enterprise Network & Systems Management, Call Center Workstation Implementation, & NT Enterprise Upgrade. Translated technical descriptions into more easily understood terms for financial & business executives. Coached teams seeking funding on doing financial projections and presentations.
Also
recognized issues with $600 million capital budget procedures. Streamlined approval and forecasting process
through teamwork and technology.
Designed and implemented new software for tracking capital and project
budgets. Improvements included
elimination of reconciliation issues, time reduction for major expenditures from
18 days to less than 2 days, and from 41 days
to 2 days for minor projects. Also
increased accuracy (see chart).
Chosen by senior management to lead a team of eighty people to design & develop process and system to meet the drastically changing planning needs. Fully responsible for all aspects including developing the business requirements and choosing the software.
Hi-TECH Connections, Inc. 6/86
– 1/96
Managing Director/President Hi-TECH Educational Services
Hi-TECH Connections purchased the company I built in 1993. I became one of four key executives in parent company and grew from 30 employees and sales of $13 million to 62 employees and $50 million in sales. Responsibilities included:
· P & L accountability for consulting & training of
Enterprise Network Management (ENM) services to Fortune 100 companies.
· Internal computer systems of Reading main office, two
training rooms & three branch offices (
· Purchasing (including vendor relationships,
shipping, warehouse, and inventory control).
· CAD & networking documentation staff.
· Supporting services for field engineers.
Initiated major initiatives to improve internal processes. Spearheaded integration of the Internet into vendor processes. Oversaw major upgrade to finance and inventory control software. Streamlined warranty processing. Created a process for software shipments. Evaluated and installed a company-wide sales contact database system. Inaugurated a time and expense tracking system.
Special challenges: increase margin on consulting and training, navigate the transition from product distribution to a services focus, increase speed to customer, and decrease slow moving inventory.
Results:
· Net margins for consulting and training increased to 47%
·
Services Income increased from 3% to 15% of
revenues
· Fill rates increased to 86%
· "Dead" inventory cut by 73%
Computer Educational Services - Founder
Started CES after many attempts at finding high quality computer training as a teacher. Blossomed into successful full service computer training and consulting firm with five employees and two full-time training facilities. Expanded business each year with top two years showing 66% and 75% growth.
·
Developed
and conducted courses in more than 90 software programs.
·
Authored
manuals in over 75 computer-related topics.
·
Developed
and documented a research-based method for microcomputer applications training;
the OPIRTSM Method,
·
Empowered
instructors to use OPIRTSM Method and provide high quality
training.
·
Using
database and spreadsheet programs, built many sophisticated small business
systems, including every conceivable aspect of accounting, cash flow, and
profitability.
·
Specialty:
integrating Executive Information Systems with legacy technology.
Approached by Hi-TECH in 1991 for joint ventures. Enabled the CES team to quickly master physical, data link, & network layers (first 3 layers of OSI model) and come up to speed on Enterprise Network Management Consulting. Successfully managed the sale and merger into the parent company. Extremely smooth merger, with multiples of return on original investment for founders.
Technology-related Publications and White Papers:
Currently working on two books invited to write: Microsoft Word 2007 In Business. (a textbook for Prentice-Hall) and An Entrepreneurs Guide To Managing Information Technology for Greenwood-Praeger, expected to be completed in August 2007.
Vendor Partnerships: How to Make a Good One JDEtips Journal, September 23, 2006 Vol. 7, Issue 5, Pgs 54-56.
Older Owners Need to Listen to their
Children on Technology, Eastern Pennsylvania Business Journal,
September 11, 2006, Vol. 17, Issue 36,
Pgs 10-11.
There are Many Reasons Why Resume Software
Won't Work, Eastern Pennsylvania Business Journal, August 28,
2006, Vol. 17, Issue 34, Pg. 10.
What's the Problem With Banking Information
Security?, Eastern Pennsylvania Business Journal, August 14,
2006, Vol. 17, Issue 32, Pgs. 14,18.
Are Better Relationships Possible with
Technology Vendors?, Eastern Pennsylvania Business Journal, July
31, 2006, Vol. 17, Issue 15, Pg 30.
Technology Risk: How Much Can You Afford?, JDEtips
Journal, July 19, 2006, Vol. 4, Issue 7, Pgs 54-58.
Quality Still Unacceptable in
Videoconferencing, Eastern Pennsylvania Business Journal, July
17, 2006, Vol. 17, Issue 28, Pg. 12.
Reading Makes 'Huge Progress' In Use of
Technology, Eastern Pennsylvania Business Journal, July
03, 2006, Vol. 17, Issue 26, Pg. 14.
Decisions, Decisions! Five Things CIOs' Often Forget, Oratips
Journal, July 01, 2006, Vol. 3, Issue 2, Pgs 58-60.
Insurance Firms Leave Paper Trail That
Wastes Time, Money, Eastern Pennsylvania Business Journal, June 12, 2006, Vol. 17, Issue 23, Pgs 11,16.
Why CIOs Should Not Make Technology
Decisions, The Sterling Report, Vol. 2006, Issue June, Pg 2.
Whether to Invest in Technology can be
Generational Divide, Eastern Pennsylvania Business Journal, May
29, 2006, Vol. 17, Issue 21, Pgs 15.
Impact of Decisionmaker on Use and Perceived Value of Internet Technologies National Business and Economic Society’s Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference, May, 2006
Decisions, Decisions! Five Things CIOs' Often Forget, JDEtips Journal, May 1, 2006, Vol. 7, Issue 3, Pg 51-53.
Persistence, Patience Key to Learning About Technology, Eastern Pennsylvania Business Journal, May 1, 2006, Vol. 17, Issue 17, Pg 12.
There
are Some Technologies That Startups Should Ignore, Eastern
Caution: Discarded Computers Can Poison
Mother Earth, Eastern
Getting Value to the Max - After the Fact, OraTips Journal, Apr 1, 2006, Vol. 11, Issue 2, Pg 50‑52.
Student-Organized Tech Conference Tackles Many Topics, Eastern Pennsylvania Business Journal, Mar 13, 2006, Vol. 17, Issue 10, Pg 13.
Stretching Out Maintenance, JDEtips Journal, Mar 1, 2006, Vol. 7, Issue 2, Pg 66-70.
Getting Value to the Max - After the Fact, SAPtips Journal, Feb 28, 2006, Vol. 6, Issue 1, Pg 57.
Seniors should make the most of technology in
retirement, Eastern
Getting Value to the Max - After the Fact, JDEtips Journal, Jan 1, 2006, Vol. 7, Issue 1, Pg 63.
Business Stay Efficient Even With Lack Of Technology, Eastern Pennsylvania Business Journal, Nov 28, 2005, Vol. 16, Issue 47, Pg 11.
Business PCs, Personal PCs - What's The Difference?, Eastern Pennsylvania Business Journal, Nov 21, 2005, Vol. 16, Issue 46, Pg 10.
What The News Media Doesn't Say About
Technology, Eastern
Does Added Mobility Equal Increased
Productivity, Eastern
Smaller Can Be Better When Gauging
Technology's Impact, Eastern
Impact of Decisionmaker on Use and Perceived Value of Internet Technologies APUBEF Proceedings of the Twenty-Eighth Annual Conference, Fall, 2005
The Secrets of Matching Employees Strengths to Technology Eastern Pennsylvania Business Journal, 9/5/2005, Issue 35, Pg. 14
Podium: Why CIOs Should Never Make Decisions Alone CIO Decisions 9/1/2005, Issue 6 Pg. 62
Mind the GAAP: Use Caution in Facing ROI of
Technology
Here's a Helpful Way to Identify Top
Technology Vendors
To State the Obvious, Most Businesses Now
Use the Internet,
Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics: Don’t Let Vendors Misrepresent Network Speeds ,Unitof1 (web site for independent consultants) ,4/30/2005.
Assessing Essential knowledge, Eastern Pennsylvania Business Journal,4/25/2005, Issue 16,15
Why does IT drive up the cost of health care?, Eastern Pennsylvania Business Journal,4/11/2005, Issue 14,18
Portrait of Business Technology in a Typical
American Town APUBEF
Proceedings of the Twenty-Seventh Annual Conference, Spring 2005, pgs
115-121
Workers Who Are Technology-savvy Need to Keep on Learning, Eastern Pennsylvania Business Journal,,5/2/2005, Issue 17, p13
Differentiating Between Hype And Actual Technology Why Hi-tech Decision-makers Can't Admit They Don't Know, Eastern Pennsylvania Business Journal,5/9/2005, Issue 18,p25
Rules of Capitalization can Impact Technology Decisions, Eastern Pennsylvania Business Journal,,6/13/2005 Issue,23,p28
How Much Should Small Business Owners Spend on IT?, Eastern Pennsylvania Business Journal,,5/30/2005, Issue 21,p18
Vision is a Key Factor in Successful Technology Planning, Eastern Pennsylvania Business Journal,,7/4/2005, Issue 26,p26
Does
Here's a
VOIP May Be Coming, But It’s Still 20 Years Away, Eastern Pennsylvania Business Journal on January 24, 2005
Ways for Gauging, or Guessing, Where Technology’s Going, Eastern Pennsylvania Business Journal on December 13, 2004
Guessing Game: What Will Technology Be Like
in Five Years?,
Technology Can Improve Efficiency, Savings,
Technology As A Business Branch National Association of Seed and Venture Funding News on September 28, 2004
Professional Email Series: Avoid
Confidential Matters in Writing Email,
Professional Email Series: Misusing Email
Can Make Sender Look Unprofessional, Eastern
Professional Email Series: What Is SPAM and Why Can’t You Eliminate it, Eastern Pennsylvania Business Journal on September 6, 2004
Professional Email Series: There are Special Rules for Sending Business Email, Eastern Pennsylvania Business Journal on September 6, 2004
RX for Success -
Great Hospital Safety Systems are all about
Getting the Basics Right - and Knowing What Motivates Doctors was published in ComputerWorld,
August 23, 2004
Six Phases of a Successful Internet Strategy Computerworld (April 12, 2001), reprinted by TechRepublic, ITWorld, ZDNet, ZDNet China, and The Know.
Measuring Hype published by ComputerWorld Executive Suite (February, 2002)
The Pressure’s Off – Or Is It published by ComputerWorld Executive Suite (April 2001)
Take Aim at Your IT Expenses
published in CIN Journal (May 1999)
Should You Do Windows ‘95? (Spring 1996) Whitepaper
System Management in a Client-Server Environment (Spring 1994) Whitepaper
Influencing Factors for Enterprise Network Management (Spring 1993) Whitepaper
Top Ten Ways to Save Money with Computers (Jan 1992) Whitepaper
Interactivity in Computer Assisted Instruction, published in Research & Theory: AECT-RTD Newsletter 12(1) Fall 1987, pp 11-24. Co-authored with H. Rubenstein, F.A. Harvey, J.J. Freeh, J.W. Kauffman, J.J. Kline, I.J. Locke, L.K. Milet, and C.Y. Shultz.
How Can Teachers Get Information Needed to Select Courseware? AERA session Teachers and Technology Proceedings, Washington, DC April 20-24, 1987 with G. Snelbecker.
What Do I Do? Using Computers in Secondary Special
Education. Presentation given at Beyond Equity and Access:
Quality and Accountability, the 27th Annual State Convention for PFCEC,
Desktop Publishing for the Computer Illiterate. Berks County Biz, August 3, 1990, p. 16.
Managing Editor of the quarterly newsletter MicroTrain from 1986 to 1989. Executive editor from 1989 to 1993.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS AND HONORS:
Society for Information Management. An organization for senior Information Services professionals. Serve on the Communications Committee and the Collaboration Task Force.
Association of Computer Technology Professionals. Previously known as DPMA (Data Processing Management Association). Member of local chapter since 1987.
National Association of Corporate Directors. A professional organization for directors of both for-profit and non-profit boards of directors.
Association of Pennsylvania University Business and Economics Faculty. A professional organization that holds academic conferences and sponsors a peer-reviewed journal for state universities.
Decision Sciences Institute. An academic research and professional organization focusing on decision making in the business environment.
American Academy of Business Disciplines. An academic research and professional organization focusing on interrelated business disciplines in the Unites States.
International Academy of Business Disciplines. An academic research and professional organization focusing on interrelated business disciplines around the world.
National Business and Economics Society. An academic research and professional organization focusing on business and economic topics.