Bio

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

  • 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

Books

  1. Agile Java Development with Spring, Hibernate and Eclipse, Pearson: May, 2006 (360-page book, available in 5 languages, ~15,000 copies sold)
  2. Contributing author for Special Edition Using Java, 2nd Edition, Que Publishing: Nov, 1996

Articles

  1. How to Build a High-Functioning Remote Team for Your Edtech Company: EdSurge, May, 2019
  2. Thinking About Selling Your Edtech Startup? Here’s What to Expect.: EdSurge, Apr, 2019
  3. Four Years to Profitability: Hard Lessons Learned in Edtech: EdSurge, Mar, 2015
  4. Navigating the K-12 Sales Channels: EdSurge, Jan, 2014
  5. Build Robust Security into a Rails-Based Wiki System: DevX.com, Jul, 2007
  6. Build a Wiki System with Rails, DevX.com, Apr, 2007
  7. Agile Java Development with Spring, Hibernate and Eclipse, Java Developer's Journal: Jul, 2006
  8. Agile Draw, Agile Alliance AgileDevelopment: Jul, 2006
  9. Using Agile Processes and Modeling To Build Enterprise Applications, BEA Dev2Dev: May, 2006
  10. Free Access to your PC from Anywhere (using Real VNC), PC Magazine: Jan, 2006
  11. Working Together With Wikis, PC Magazine: Aug, 2005
  12. Methodology madness, JavaWorld: Sep, 2001
  13. Which app server suits you?, JavaWorld: Aug, 2001
  14. Javaware: The challenge of staying current, JavaWorld: Jul, 2001
  15. Java against the (Microsoft) world, JavaWorld: Jun, 2001
  16. Does Sun understand GUI design?, JavaWorld: May, 2001
  17. How many times do you restart your server during development?, JavaWorld: Apr, 2001
  18. What makes a good Java Web site?, JavaWorld: Mar, 2001
  19. Are you still using print statements for debugging?, JavaWorld: Feb, 2001
  20. Java developers: High in demand, low on loyalty, JavaWorld: Jan, 2001
  21. Applets: Still essential to Java, JavaWorld: Dec, 2000
  22. The new infrastructure for software building blocks, java.sun.com: Nov, 2000
  23. Freeware: Is it really worth it?, JavaWorld: Nov, 2000
  24. Do you really need Enterprise JavaBeans?, JavaWorld: Oct, 2000
  25. Introduction to the Java Mail API, JavaWorld: June, 1999
  26. The State of Java Middleware: Part 2, JavaWorld: April, 1999
  27. Writing Your Own Java I/O Stream Classes, Java Developer Connection: Jan, 1999
  28. Programming with Java I/O Streams, Java Developer Connection: Nov, 1998
  29. Java Provides Common Ground Across Heterogeneous Environments, JavaWorld: Aug, 1997
  30. Multi-Panel Applet Design, JavaWorld: May, 1997
  31. How To Develop Commercial-Quality Java Programs, JavaWorld: Jan, 1997
  32. Networking With Java, Dr. Dobb's SourceBook: Oct, 1996
  33. Java Abstract Window Toolkit, Dr. Dobb's Journal: Sep, 1996
  34. The Java And C Connection, C/C++ Users Journal: Sep, 1996
  35. Examining Symantec's Cafe, Dr. Dobb's Journal: Aug, 1996

Speaking/Panels

  1. The SF Edtech Meetup, San Francisco: August, 2013
  2. Content in Context, Washington DC: June, 2013
  3. SIIA Ed Tech Business Forum, New York: November, 2010
  4. AEP Content in Context Conference, Washington DC: June, 2010
  5. School Library Journal Leadership Summit, Florida: November, 2008
  6. JavaOne, San Francisco (Moscone Center): May, 2008
  7. Netherlands Java User Group, Bussum: October, 2007
  8. New England Java User Group, Boston: October, 2006
  9. SD Best Practices Conference, Boston: September, 2006
  10. DF Java User Group, Brasilia, Brazil: August, 2006
  11. Princeton Java User Group, New Jersey: July, 2006
  12. SpringOne Conference, Antwerpen, Belgium: 16 June, 2006
  13. Netherlands Java User Group, Ede: 15 June, 2006
  14. Switzerland Java User Group, Zurich: 13 June, 2006
  15. Java Special Interest Group, London, UK: 9 June, 2006
  16. SOA Web Services Edge Conference, New York: 6 June, 2006
  17. (Various private seminars for companies in China and India): May, 2006
  18. Hong Kong Java User Group: May, 2006
  19. Northern Virginia Java and BEA User Group, Reston, VA: April, 2006
  20. Omaha Java User group, March, 2006
  21. Northern Virginia Java and BEA User Group, Reston, VA: January, 2006
  22. Seminars sponsored by BEA Systems, Richmond, VA (June, 2001) and Baltimore, MD (April, 2001)
  23. Northern Virginia Java User Group, Chantilly, VA: March, 2001
  24. (Launched local) WebLogic User Group, Vienna, VA: January, 2000
  25. Association of Internet Professionals (DCAIP Java SIG), Washington D.C.: April 1999
  26. Baltimore Harbor Java Users Group, Baltimore, MD: March 1999
  27. Java Internet Business Expo, New York: August 1997
  28. Networld + Interop '97, Singapore: April, 1997
  29. Washington, D.C. Linux Users Group, Bethesda, MD: March, 1996
  30. (Several private seminars in US, Asia, etc.)

Teaching

  1. Database Programming in Java: Networld + Interop '97, Singapore: April, 1997
  2. Web Site Development (Hands-On), Learning Tree International: 1996
  3. Java Programming (Hands-On), Learning Tree International: 1996

Awards

  1. Outstanding Contribution to the Growth of the Java Community (Group/Organization) by Sun Microsystems
  2. Best Java Client at JavaOne for BackOnline, a Java-based online backup client/server product
  3. Nominated by Scott McNealy, Sun Microsystems for a Computerworld-Smithsonian award for a free online file storage service web site (freeback.com)
  4. MCI Ace Award

Education

Bachelor of Science, Computer Science, University of Maryland.