Bio
Skills Overview
Skills Overview
I'm a serial entrepreneur and award-winning technology leader with executive and hands-on level experience in software development, distribution, partnerships, finance, services, and more. I founded and sold two successful technology companies and am a recognized expert with dozens of publications, presentations to thousands of technology professionals worldwide and awards for building online communities. For decades, I've built highly scalable software applications using emerging technologies, for Fortune 500 and startups, from concept to profitable models.
Professional Experience
Professional Experience
- 2017 - 2019: K12 Inc., Vice President of Innovation
- 2006 - 2017: Big Universe, Inc. (acquired by K12 Inc.), CEO & Founder
- 2005 - 2006: Visual Patterns, Inc., Developer (Consultant), Author and Speaker
- 1996 - 2004: Isavix Corporation (acquired by Inscope), CEO, CTO & Founder
- 1990 - 1996: AT&T, Fannie Mae, IBM, and Freddie Mac, Software Developer (Consultant)
- 1986 - 1990: MCI Communications, Data Center Supervisor
Published Work
Published Work
Books
Books
- Agile Java Development with Spring, Hibernate and Eclipse, Pearson: May, 2006 (360-page book, available in 5 languages, ~15,000 copies sold)
- Contributing author for Special Edition Using Java, 2nd Edition, Que Publishing: Nov, 1996
Articles
Articles
- How to Build a High-Functioning Remote Team for Your Edtech Company: EdSurge, May, 2019
- Thinking About Selling Your Edtech Startup? Here’s What to Expect.: EdSurge, Apr, 2019
- Four Years to Profitability: Hard Lessons Learned in Edtech: EdSurge, Mar, 2015
- Navigating the K-12 Sales Channels: EdSurge, Jan, 2014
- Build Robust Security into a Rails-Based Wiki System: DevX.com, Jul, 2007
- Build a Wiki System with Rails, DevX.com, Apr, 2007
- Agile Java Development with Spring, Hibernate and Eclipse, Java Developer's Journal: Jul, 2006
- Agile Draw, Agile Alliance AgileDevelopment: Jul, 2006
- Using Agile Processes and Modeling To Build Enterprise Applications, BEA Dev2Dev: May, 2006
- Free Access to your PC from Anywhere (using Real VNC), PC Magazine: Jan, 2006
- Working Together With Wikis, PC Magazine: Aug, 2005
- Methodology madness, JavaWorld: Sep, 2001
- Which app server suits you?, JavaWorld: Aug, 2001
- Javaware: The challenge of staying current, JavaWorld: Jul, 2001
- Java against the (Microsoft) world, JavaWorld: Jun, 2001
- Does Sun understand GUI design?, JavaWorld: May, 2001
- How many times do you restart your server during development?, JavaWorld: Apr, 2001
- What makes a good Java Web site?, JavaWorld: Mar, 2001
- Are you still using print statements for debugging?, JavaWorld: Feb, 2001
- Java developers: High in demand, low on loyalty, JavaWorld: Jan, 2001
- Applets: Still essential to Java, JavaWorld: Dec, 2000
- The new infrastructure for software building blocks, java.sun.com: Nov, 2000
- Freeware: Is it really worth it?, JavaWorld: Nov, 2000
- Do you really need Enterprise JavaBeans?, JavaWorld: Oct, 2000
- Introduction to the Java Mail API, JavaWorld: June, 1999
- The State of Java Middleware: Part 2, JavaWorld: April, 1999
- Writing Your Own Java I/O Stream Classes, Java Developer Connection: Jan, 1999
- Programming with Java I/O Streams, Java Developer Connection: Nov, 1998
- Java Provides Common Ground Across Heterogeneous Environments, JavaWorld: Aug, 1997
- Multi-Panel Applet Design, JavaWorld: May, 1997
- How To Develop Commercial-Quality Java Programs, JavaWorld: Jan, 1997
- Networking With Java, Dr. Dobb's SourceBook: Oct, 1996
- Java Abstract Window Toolkit, Dr. Dobb's Journal: Sep, 1996
- The Java And C Connection, C/C++ Users Journal: Sep, 1996
- Examining Symantec's Cafe, Dr. Dobb's Journal: Aug, 1996
Speaking/Panels
Speaking/Panels
- The SF Edtech Meetup, San Francisco: August, 2013
- Content in Context, Washington DC: June, 2013
- SIIA Ed Tech Business Forum, New York: November, 2010
- AEP Content in Context Conference, Washington DC: June, 2010
- School Library Journal Leadership Summit, Florida: November, 2008
- JavaOne, San Francisco (Moscone Center): May, 2008
- Netherlands Java User Group, Bussum: October, 2007
- New England Java User Group, Boston: October, 2006
- SD Best Practices Conference, Boston: September, 2006
- DF Java User Group, Brasilia, Brazil: August, 2006
- Princeton Java User Group, New Jersey: July, 2006
- SpringOne Conference, Antwerpen, Belgium: 16 June, 2006
- Netherlands Java User Group, Ede: 15 June, 2006
- Switzerland Java User Group, Zurich: 13 June, 2006
- Java Special Interest Group, London, UK: 9 June, 2006
- SOA Web Services Edge Conference, New York: 6 June, 2006
- (Various private seminars for companies in China and India): May, 2006
- Hong Kong Java User Group: May, 2006
- Northern Virginia Java and BEA User Group, Reston, VA: April, 2006
- Omaha Java User group, March, 2006
- Northern Virginia Java and BEA User Group, Reston, VA: January, 2006
- Seminars sponsored by BEA Systems, Richmond, VA (June, 2001) and Baltimore, MD (April, 2001)
- Northern Virginia Java User Group, Chantilly, VA: March, 2001
- (Launched local) WebLogic User Group, Vienna, VA: January, 2000
- Association of Internet Professionals (DCAIP Java SIG), Washington D.C.: April 1999
- Baltimore Harbor Java Users Group, Baltimore, MD: March 1999
- Java Internet Business Expo, New York: August 1997
- Networld + Interop '97, Singapore: April, 1997
- Washington, D.C. Linux Users Group, Bethesda, MD: March, 1996
- (Several private seminars in US, Asia, etc.)
Teaching
Teaching
- Database Programming in Java: Networld + Interop '97, Singapore: April, 1997
- Web Site Development (Hands-On), Learning Tree International: 1996
- Java Programming (Hands-On), Learning Tree International: 1996
Awards
Awards
- Outstanding Contribution to the Growth of the Java Community (Group/Organization) by Sun Microsystems
- Best Java Client at JavaOne for BackOnline, a Java-based online backup client/server product
- Nominated by Scott McNealy, Sun Microsystems for a Computerworld-Smithsonian award for a free online file storage service web site (freeback.com)
- MCI Ace Award
Education
Education
Bachelor of Science, Computer Science, University of Maryland.