Ask the most influential people in high-technology in this state what the most
critical issue they face is, and they’ll tell you it’s finding qualified employees.
That’s the conclusion of many of the 31 people included on our first Who’s
Who in Technology directory. It is by no means the definitive list of the most
influential techies, but it includes many of the significant players. We will
be adding to this list from time to time, and suggest you consult the Providence
Business News Web site (www.pbn.com) to keep abreast of the latest additions.
Call us (401-273-2201, extension 215) if you think someone should be added to
the list.
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Those who are on this list are have been the biggest newsmakers over these
last several months, and some have been suggested by many within the technology
community. This was a difficult, but very rewarding project. Each member of
our news staff helped compile the information.
We asked some specifics about who they are, what they considered the most important
issue in the last five years in their particular field, and the biggest issue
they expect to encounter over the next 12 months.
The biggest issue looming for technology is clearly finding qualified employees,
according to most on our list. “Time and time again I hear of job openings in
the technology field that are not filled,” said Kenneth Kirsch, CEO of Network
Six. “We’ve gone international as an industry to make up for the shortfall here
in the U.S. However, to remain a world leader, we need our own captive workforce
and need to get more people trained and interested in IT.”
Others were concerned about controlling intellectual property on the Internet,
managing growth, or taxation on the Internet. Thorne Sparkman, executive director
of the Slater Center for Interactive Technology, observed that “there are going
to be several hundred Internet companies running out of cash and going out of
business, and it’s going to seem pretty dire, but the survivors are going to
be fabulously useful companies.”
The biggest development over the last five years was the Internet explosion,
although some mentioned other interesting areas. Our Who’s Who is listed alphabetically,
since we’re not prepared to rank these individuals in order of influence. All
have considerable influence at their companies or organizations and upon the
entire high-tech industry.
We’ve include techies, Web designers, lawyers and venture capitalists, all
people who have significant impact on the growth of technology in Rhode Island.
And while we’re loathe to rank the who’s who, we feel comfortable in observing
that maybe the guru of technology in Rhode Island is Andries van Dam, a founder
of the technology program at Brown University, and a teacher there for 35 years.
He has won numerous awards, written numerous books, published volumes of articles.
But when asked about his greatest contribution it came back to teaching, “educating
thousands of students in computer science” and helping “found multiple Rhode
Island start-up businesses.” Others on our list, like Alan Hecht of Mesa Systems,
called van Dam an inspiration for his own career.
Besides the 31 listed here, we were unable to reach some others (some were
traveling and others unreachable) who we also thought belonged. Among those
are Marc Davis, Unicom; Robert Petrocelli, Heartlab, Inc.; W. Bruce Turner,
GTECH; Graham Allen, Textron; David Lim, Computopia; Sharon E. Slaso, Vertere;
Hal Tovin, Citizens Bank; and Jeffrey Stibel, Simpli.com. Here’s our Who’s Who
in Technology:
Donna C. Cupelo
Position: President of Verizon Communications of Rhode Island
Professional Background: Cupelo began her career with New England Telephone
in 1978 as a market administrator.
Education: Bachelor’s degree from Providence College in 1978 and masters
in business administration from Babson College, Wellesley, Massachusetts in
1982.
Age: 43
Why she is on the list: In this technological revolution, there is nothing
more revolutionary than what’s happening in telecommunications. For Rhode Island,
Cupelo is center stage. She is also active in many business, civic and charitable
organizations.
Why did you choose a career in high technology?
Soon after joining New England Telephone (now Verizon Communications), I was
asked to make a decision regarding a career in technical, data communications
versus. one in traditional telephony. I chose the career path toward technology
in the area of data communications because it was challenging, fast moving and
provided an opportunity to learn through educational experiences throughout
the country and a program supported at MIT. Once you are involved with technology,
you are hooked!
What do you think is the most significant development in your field over
the last five years?
Over the last five years, industry groups such as communications providers
(like our company. Verizon), the cable TV providers, the computer manufacturers
and other “information service providers” started focusing on end-user customer
applications and dramatically changed, in many cases, the type of technology
used to deliver those services to their customers. The role of bandwidth requirements
to service customer applications drive technology decisions. And the major application
that continues to demand greater bandwidth for the business and residential
consumer is the Internet. The Internet has changed the way we think about our
customers, our business internally and our short and long-term business strategies.
What do you think is the most important issue facing your industry or field
over the next 12 months?
The government of our country has to decide what its appropriate role should
be in a new age information services industry which must be allowed to progress
at lightening speed and maintain its leadership internationally. We have the
people, financial and capital resources to lead the way in advancing technology
as industry players throughout the world. The answer is not to add regulation
and restrictions to those companies and industries that were not traditionally
regulated either by the federal or state government. The marketplace must be
the force that determines products, prices, services and providers.
Jeffrey Deckman
Position: President and CEO Synet, Rhode Island Technology Council,
Chairman of the RITech Board of Directors
Professional Background: Started in cable television in 1974 as a construction
worker; started a contracting business in 1981 and ran that until 1987 when
he started Synet.
Education: High school
Age: 44
Why he is on the list: Deckman is the newest and third president of
the Rhode Island Technology Council. He hopes to stabilize and spark the growth
of an organization that is just over two years old.
What do you think is the most significant development in your field over
the last five years?
The Internet. It changes the way businesses gather information and distribute
information. It eliminates the barriers of geography and time from communications
and speeds up the entire business world.
What do you think is the most important issue facing your industry or field
over the next 12 months?
Workforce development because without trained people you can’t further ideas
and business. In business you are nothing without your people.
Ruby Roy Dholakia
Position: Director, RITIM (Research Institute for Telecommunications
and Information Marketing) at the University of Rhode Island, and Professor
of Marketing.
Professional Background: Engaged extensively in research projects on
telecommunications and information technologies for the home and the workplace,
she has chaired several conferences and special sessions on related topics.
Her books include Marketing Strategies for Information Technologies, and New
Infotainment Technologies in the Home: Demand-Side Perspectives. An edited book
on Electronic Commerce incorporating international experiences will be published
shortly by Quorum Books.
Education: Bachelor’s and master’s in business from the University of
California at Berkeley and Ph.D. in marketing from Northwestern University.
Why she is on the list: A pioneer in the academic world investigating
research issues regarding new technologies and marketing. Conducted marketing
research studies in the U.S. and abroad on various high technology related topics
and presented her work to business and academic audiences in the U.S. and abroad.
What do you think is the most significant development in your field over
the last five years?
The Internet and the Web and the expectations they have created in revolutionizing
every sphere of life including the home and workplace. While the expectations
are enormous, there are many challenges to be worked out in detail and it is
the detail that will determine whether the revolutionary potential will be realized.
What do you think is the most important issue facing your industry or field
over the next 12 months?
Developing and distinguishing models and theories of marketing — both for
suppliers and customers — for the changing environment and training future
business leaders to function in that environment.
Tracey Dodenhoff
Position: Executive Director, Slater Center for Design Innovation
Professional Background: Product Development Manager, Butler Home Products
in Holliston, Mass.; headed Lifedance, a start-up that designed and sold products
for pain management during childbirth.
Education: Rhode Island College, bachelor of science; The Pratt Institute
of New York. masters of industrial design; Babson College, Wellesley, Mass.,
masters of business administration
Age: 37
Why she is on the list: Each of the Slater Centers, administered by
the Rhode Island Economic Policy Council and funded by the General Assembly
under the state’s Slater Technology Fund, addresses a promising cutting-edge
field in which Rhode Island has a particular niche. Dodenhoff’s Center for Design
is loosely affiliated with the Rhode Island School of Design, but operates independently.
What do you think is the most significant development in your field over
the last five years?
I think it is the rapid prototyping that is available now. People are seeing
their concepts three-dimensionally like they never have before.
What do think is the most important issue facing your industry or field
over the next 12 months?
Definitely environmental concerns. And as I mentioned the potential for positive
social impact of high technology, I would be concerned about the potential negative
impact.
Rodger B. Dowdell, Jr.
Position: President, CEO and Chairman of the Board, American Power
Conversion Corporation
Professional Background: Dowdell joined APC as a consultant in January
1985 and six months later was appointed president and chief executive officer.
In 1990, Ernst & Young and Merrill Lynch named Dowdell “Entrepreneur of the
Year.” Prior to joining APC, Dowdell was president of Independent Energy, Inc.,
and had held positions at Texas Instruments, Brown & Sharpe, and the Naval Underwater
Systems Center.
Education: Dowdell graduated Cum Laude from Brown University in 1971
with a BSEE and then earned a MSEE from the University of Rhode Island.
Age: 51
Why he is on the list: Under his leadership APC has become the state’s
dominant high tech company. APC is also a leader in providing computer and Internet
connections to area schools. (Note: APC was preparing for its earnings report
and therefore, Rodger Dowdell did not answer the other questions included in
our survey)
Ann Driscoll
Position: Internet Marketing Director, Ross Simons
Professional Background: Driscoll began her career working in magazines,
from editorial assisting to working in the circulation department, then moving
into production. After that, she was the direct mail manager at Victoria’s Secret
in New York, and later took an “offline” position as direct marketing manager
for Filene’s.
Education: bachelor’s degree in English, with a minor in Guided Studies
(a special humanities-based program), Trinity College
Why she is on the list: At Ross-Simons she has been instrumental in
the continued development of one of the most outstanding Web sites in Rhode
Island, and she is often called upon to participate on panels that discuss e-business
and Web development.
What do you think is the most significant development in your field over
the last five years?
The Internet has been the most significant development in terms of marketing,
because of its ability to target people “one on one;” technology can be used
to personalize a Web site according to what a consumer wants. The Internet provides
an opportunity for businesses to “really have a relationship” with their customers.
The idea of CRM (customer relationship management) has become especially important
over the past year and a half .
What do you think is the most important issue facing your industry or field
over the next 12 months?
The taxation of e-commerce will become an important issue within the next year,
as the three-year federal moratorium on Internet taxes, which bars states or
local governments from taxing goods or services sold over the Internet, as well
as the taxation of Internet access, is set to end soon. Driscoll regards the
taxation of Web-based sales as a deterrent to consumers.
Elia Germani, Esq.
Position: Chairman, R.I. Public Utilities Commission
Professional Background: General Counsel, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of
Rhode Island
Education: Bachelor of arts, University of Rhode Island, Cum Laude,
J.D. Harvard Law School
Age: 65
Why he is on the list: As head of the Public Utilities Commission, Germani
has considerable influence over the regulatory process as it relates to telecommunications
and other aspects of technology.
What do you think is the most significant development in your field over
the last five years?
The development of the Internet.
What do you think is the most important issue facing your industry or field
over the next 12 months?
The regulation of the Internet.
Brian Gilligan
Position: President and CEO, SEA CORP (Systems Engineering Associates
Corp.)
Professional background: Prior to founding SEA CORP in 1981, Gilligan
worked as an electronics engineer at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center for four
years. He served in the U.S. Navy as a communications technician from 1965 to
1969. He received the 2000 Tibbetts award from the U.S. Small Business Administration
in recognition of achievements under the Small Business Innovation Research
(SBIR) program.
Education: bachelor’s degree, electrical engineering, Boston University;
master’s in business, University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth.
Age: 52
Why he is on the list: As president and chief executive of SEA CORP,
Gilligan has provided leadership that brought his company several major defense
and commercial contracts over the past three years, despite shrinking defense
budgets. SEA CORP has tripled its earnings and staff during that period as well,
and projects $20 million in sales within the next three to four years.
What do you think is the most significant development in your field over
the last five years?
For SEA CORP personally, its development of a device that uses automotive
airbag technology to inflate and boost projectiles (a patent is pending) has
been of particular importance. Gilligan cites the PC as one of the most important
developments since he began SEA CORP — “We used to use typewriters and white-out”
when creating documents, he said. The use of e-mail has made it much more convenient
for the company’s approximately 125 employees to communicate with one another.
What do you think is the most important issue facing your industry or field
over the next 12 months?
There is a bill pending in Congress that will reauthorize funding for SBIR,
which is the source of most research and development funding for many of SEA
CORP’s projects, including the projectile project currently under development.
Vincent Giordano
Company: DefendNet Solutions Inc,.
Position: CEO Professional Background: Software engineer for Motorola;
Marketing manager for American Power Conversion; CEO for DefendNet for the last
five years
Education: Bachelor in Science from Worcester Polytechnical Institute;
Masters in Business Administration from the University of Rhode Island
Age: 35
Why he is on the list: DefendNet Solutions, Inc., an Internet security
firm headquartered in Providence, which received $8 million in venture funding,
is helping to attract more venture capitalists to the state.
What do you think is the most significant development in your field over
the last five years?
Most definitely the Internet. The ubiquitous of the Internet, it’s everywhere.
People five years ago didn’t even know what a Web site was and now it’s part
of the everyday.
What do you think is the most important issue facing your industry or field
over the next 12 months?
Adequate professional staffing is and is going to be a problem. There just
aren’t enough people right now.
Joseph Hammang, Ph.D.
Position: Vice president of science, technology and business development
and the governor’s advisor on technology, Rhode Island Economic Development
Corporation
Professional Background: Post-doctoral work at Bristol-Myers Squibb;
CytoTherapeutics.
Education: University of Wisconsin (Ph.D. in neuroscience)
Age: 43
Why he is on the list: Hammang is the key contact at the state Economic
Development Corporation for high tech companies looking to make Rhode Island
their home.
What do you think is the most significant development in your field over
the last five years?
There are several, but nearest to my heart is the discovery of various types
of stem cells, which have the capacity to form different kinds of tissues and
can ultimately be used in organ transformations.
What do you think is the most significant issue facing your industry or
field over the next 12 months?
The ethics of the use of human stem cells. The other side of the issue is
the animal cells, which could be used in transplantation.
Dan Harple
Position: Founder and chief executive officer , Context Media
Professional background: Former senior vice president at Netscape Communications
Education: Mechanical engineering and liberal arts degrees from Marlboro
College in Vermont, and the University of Rhode Island
Age: 41
Why he is on the list: The former chief executive officer of Insoft,
which was acquired by Netscape in 1996 helped develop Netscape media server,
one of the first streaming media servers, creating the core standard for streaming
media on the Internet, RPSP (Real Time Streaming Protocol). Harple said that
with Context Media, he uses the same core theme as with Netscape, but with different
technology.
What do you think is the most significant development in your field over
the last 5 years?
I would say the opportunities presented by the exponential increases in bandwidth.
What do you think is the most important issue facing your industry in the
next 12 months?
Specifically for Context Media, the most important issue is digital rights.
We’re talking about companies sharing media, so the licensing and the rights
that surround that are a major issue.
Alan Hecht
Position: Vice President of Engineering and Co-founder, MESA Systems
Professional
Background: Hecht has been in the software business for 20 years, having
worked in a leadership capacity in the engineering, marketing and support departments
at Cadre Technologies before he co-founded MESA. Before that, he worked at Bell
Labs. He also has been an affiliate instructor at Esprit Systems Consulting,
Cadre Technologies and Middlesex Community College. He has authored or co-authored
more than 25 software engineering-related papers, and was a founder and former
president of the Rhode Island Technology Council (formerly the Rhode Island
Software Association).
Education: bachelor’s degree with honors, computer science, Brown University;
master’s degree, computer science, University of California, Berkeley; master’s
with honors, Bryant College.
Why he is on the list: As co-founder of the successful MESA Systems,
which has been attracting considerable venture capital funding recently. Additionally,
Hecht’s role in forming the Rhode Island Software Association (now Rhode Island
Technology Council) and serving as its president, was a very important development
in the formation of a substantive technology community in Rhode Island.
What do you think is the most significant development in your field over
the last five years?
The Web has been the most significant development because it has provided much
more of an opportunity for collaboration and information sharing. It has made
product development portals possible — MESA itself is a product development
portal that allows engineering teams to hold virtual meetings, manage tasks
and schedules, and reuse project data when developing products.
What do you think is the most important issue facing your industry or field
over the next 12 months?
The booming economy has created a tight labor market. “As MESA expands, we’ll
be competing for talent.” Although the company has not had trouble filling positions
thus far, it might be growing quickly in the near future, and it is possible
that talent will be harder to find.
Eric Holter
Position: President and creative director, Newfangled Graphics
Professional background: A former studio manager at Pagano Schenck &
Kay, and Leonard/Monahan advertising agencies, he gathered his skills in computer
graphics and Internet technologies, then founded Newfangled in late 1995.
Education: Rhode Island School of Design (1991)
Age: 31
Why he is on the list: With what Holter estimates to be over 100 sites
designed, his company’s list of clients includes Washington Trust, Rhode Island
Department of Transportation.
What do you think is the most significant development in your field over
the last five years?
It’s been required of us to learn how to design for technology, and for technology
to work within the context of design. Everything is so new, and some really
neat things are coming out of it. It’s more of a dynamic that has developed.
What do you think is the most important issue facing your industry in the
next 12 months?
Information design. As these technologies are being embraced and used, and
sites are moving forward in complexity, we have to really think about the design.
If you think about a printed book like the Yellow Pages, it has all sorts of
convention as far as structure, and the Web is much more complex, and it’s only
been around for a few years. Information design as it relates to these complex
sites is really our biggest challenge.
Bill Jackson
Position: President, Brown University Research Foundation; Chairman,
Brown Venture Forum Professional Background: Jackson started his career as a
research scientist at the University of Massachusetts. He was then recruited
by Corning Glassworks, where he advanced through management. He later co-founded
the biopharmaceutical company Repligen. He has been president of the Foundation
since 1983, and founded the Forum in 1984.
Education: Bachelor of science in chemistry, Brown University; Ph.D.,
biochemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Age: 58
Why he is on the list: By founding the Brown Venture Forum, Jackson
developed a resource for the creation and expansion of high-growth potential
businesses in the Southeastern New England. January through May, and May through
November, a monthly forum is held to facilitate networking among entrepreneurs
and a panel of experts from the educational and business communities.
What do you think is the most significant development in your field over
the last five years?
There has been “a substantial uptick” in new venture capital and financing
for new companies in Rhode Island.
What do you think is the most important issue facing your industry or field
over the next 12 months?
Capital availability is of concern, although Jackson believes that well-developed
business teams and plans are not in jeopardy. Also, he noted that it is difficult
to find a sufficient number of people who are experienced and skilled enough
to hold management positions in new businesses.
Dennis J. Kelly Jr.
Position: Vice President Professional Background: Information Technology,
Systems Design & Integration , Analysis & Technology, Inc. (an Anteon Company)
Education: Bachelor’s degree, Roger Williams University; master’s in
business, University of Rhode Island Executive MBA program
Age: 36
Why he is on the list: Analysis & Technology’s Aquidneck Island facility
is a significant player in the defense technology sector that developed around
the Naval facilities in Newport.
What do you think is the most significant development in your field over
the last five years?
The establishment of Internet based business solutions and areas related to
e-commerce.
What do you think is the most important issue facing your industry or field
over the next 12 months?
The integration of numerous new cutting edge and older legacy technical solutions
to form an overall enterprise solution.
Kenneth C. Kirsch
Position: Chairman, President and CEO, Network Six, Inc.
Professional Background: FMC Corporation (1979-1983); GTECH Corporation
(1983-1993); Videobridge International Corporation (1993-1995); Network Six(1995-present)
Education: Northwestern University (bachelor’s degree, Psychology, master’s
Industrial Engineering, Ph.D. Operations Research)
Age: 46
Why he is on the list: Helped GTECH grow from a small private entrepreneurial
company to the worldwide leader in the on-line lottery industry and a NYSE-listed
company. Turned around troubled IT services firm and positioned for growth and
profitability. New England Finalist, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year,
1999. Served as vice president and am currently serving as secretary of the
RI Technology Council. Also serve on the Dean’s Advisory Council, McCormick
School of Engineering and Applied Science, Northwestern University. Board Member,
Providence/Cranston Workforce Investment Council.
What do you think is the most significant development in your field over
the last five years?
The growth of the Internet, without a doubt. It has put information at everyone’s
fingertips and has made communication much easier and more efficient.. and it’s
only in its embryonic stages.
What do you think is the most important issue facing your industry or field
over the next 12 months?
Finding enough qualified people for IT and related work. Time and time again,
I hear of job openings in the technology field that are not filled. We’ve gone
international as an industry, to make up for the shortfall here in the U.S.
However, to remain a world-wide leader, we need our own captive workforce and
need to get more people trained and interested in IT.
Rick Kovar
Position: Executive director, Rhode Island Technology Council
Professional Background: Worked for the state Senate majority leader
for five years; middle school teacher; and commercial real estate broker.
Age: 43
Why he is on the list: As executive director of Rhode Island Technology
Council, Kovar is in the trenches when it comes to IT workforce training initiatives
and developments.
What do you think is the most significant development in your field over
the last five years?
Within the state, it’s the fact that people are beginning to understand the
importance of workforce development.
What do you think is the most important issue facing your industry or field
over the next 12 months?
Continued workforce development. We need to create initiatives and look inside
to promote workforce development. We do have a critical mass of companies that
need and are going to need workers. I think another major problem is the lack
of smart building space, making sure that more buildings can handle the needs
of today’s companies.
Edward A. Kriete
Position: Vice President, Direct Marketing/E-Commerce, Hasbro
Professional Background: Reader’s Digest Association: Vice President,
Global Marketing; Vice President, Strategic Planning/New Business Development
LEGO Systems Inc: Director, North American Marketing Services SSC&B/Lintas Advertising:
Assistant Media Director
Education: Bachelor’s degree, Villanova University
What do you think is the most significant development in your field over
the last five years?
“The rapid growth of Internet access in consumer households.”
What do you think is the most important issue facing your industry over
the next 12 months?
“How to profitably integrate the Internet, both as direct marketing communications
vehicle and a direct-to-consumer distribution channel, into the traditional
manufacturing/retail business model.”
George Loftus
Position: Executive Director, OSHEN; co-owner Meier and Loftus; Chairman
of the Board of ITA Professional Background: Former director of network at technology
at Brown UniversityOcean State Higher Education Network, Meier and Loftus Network
Design, Information Technology Academy
Education: Associates degree from the Community College of Rhode Island;
bachelor’s in management from Salve Regina University
Age:41
Why he is on the list: As chairman of the ITA Board, Loftus has helped
teach many of Rhode Island’s students about technology both through the Information
Technology Academy and the Ocean State Higher Education Network.
What do you think is the most significant development in your field over
the last five years?
The World Wide Web. It’s changing the way business is done and opening a lot
of doors.
What do you think is the most important issue facing your industry or field
over the next 12 months?
Intellectual property rights. With so much information available on the Web,
how we manage that information and how people get credit and compensation for
what they have done is going to be very important.
Glen McNaught
Position: President, Aquidneck Management Associates Ltd.
Professional Background: President of the company for 20 years
Education: University of Massachusetts, master’s in business administration
Age: 54
Why he is on the list: Last year’s recipient of the SBA Tibbets award
for “Technology Excellence,” Aquidneck Management Associates LTD has been one
of the state’s leading providers of software and computer technology.
What do you think is the most significant development in your field over
the last five years?
I definitely think it has been the advancement of the World Wide Web. That
has changed a lot of things.
What do you think is the most important issue facing your industry or field
over the next 12 months?
Training is going to be a huge issue throughout all industries. We aren’t going
to be alone with that problem, and I don’t necessarily think it’s a bad problem.
In a rapidly changing work environment training is going to become more prevalent.
It is going to become a budget item and a greater focus for a lot of people.
Tom Mrva
Position: President and CEO, Lighthouse Computer Services
Professional Background: Mrva spent 13 years at IBM as a software developer
and systems engineer before founding Lighthouse in 1995.
Education: Holds degrees in hotel and restaurant management (“I know
that sounds kind of bizarre,” said Mrva) and computer science
Age: 41
Why he is on the list: Lighthouse Computer Services, in August, was
determined to be the fastest-growing company in Rhode Island, with $27.7 million
in sales and a sales growth of 284.75 percent.
What do you think is the most significant development in your field over
the last five years?
Without a doubt, it’s definitely the Internet and high-speed communications.
They are impacting everything that we do in our lives. They go hand-in-hand.
What do you think is the most important issue facing your industry or field
over the next 12 months?
A lot of businesses — especially the small ones — are having inexperienced
computer technicians make decisions that could haunt them for years. Mistakes
can really cost. Small to medium-sized companies need to audit their technical
staffs to make sure they have the right people doing the work.
Charlie Nault
Position: CEO, Atrion Networking Corporation
Professional Background: Nault has spent 16 years in technology, as
an engineer at Motorola; director of continuing engineering at Avanti; and director
of technical services at Dynatech. He founded Atrion in 1987.
Education: Associate degrees in avionic electronics (while in the Air
Force), culinary arts (Johnson & Wales) and electronic engineering (Colorado
Technical College).
Age: 41 Why he is on the list: Nault was the first president of RITech,
and instrumental in the formation of the Information Technology Academy, which
provides a high tech introduction to high school students. Today, Nault splits
his time between his duties at Atrion and the newly-formed MVPN (Managed Virtual
Private Networks), an Internet security firm for which he is also chief executive.
What do you think is the most significant development in your field over
the last five years?
The Internet, absolutely. It’s changing the ways businesses do everything,
no doubt about it. I think everybody will tell you that.
What do you think is the most important issue facing your industry or field
over the next 12 months?
The biggest hurdle is qualified people. Everybody’s been talking about it,
but it’s really hitting home now. I’ve been sitting with customers who have
to put off upgrades. It’s a big problem that can’t be solved quickly. You need
high-end talent. There are a lot of challenges in this field, but that’s the
biggest one.
John Ottaviani
Position: Lawyer, Edwards & Angell law firm
Professional background: Ottaviani represents clients with particular
emphasis on intellectual property matters, computer and technology-related transactions
and counseling emerging and other technology companies. He counsels clients
on matters involving the acquisition and sale of technology companies, the Internet,
e-commerce, the exploitation of technology, investments in technology companies
and the protection of trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets.
Education: Bachelor’s degree from Bowdoin College, 1979 Columbia University
School of Law, 1982
Age: 43
Why he is on the list: In the computer and technology field, Ottaviani represents
purchasers and sellers of technology companies, vendors and users of computers,
computer software, Internet, e-commerce and related technology products and
services as well as entities that invest in such companies. He frequently is
asked to review and negotiate computer software licenses on behalf of users,
and has represented some of the region’s largest financial and health care institutions
on these matters. He also advises, prepares and negotiates contracts for software,
hardware, e-commerce, and other technology vendors. Ottaviani also lectures
and writes articles on protecting rights in intellectual property and technology
and on issues of concern to technology companies.
What do you think is the most significant development in your field over
the last five years?
The growth of the Internet, both by clients and lawyers using it.
What do you think is the most important issue facing your industry in the
next 12 months?
The ability of owners to control intellectual property on the Internet.
Gary Palardy
Position: President/CEO, Blue Moon Industries
Professional Background: Software engineer and engineering consultant
Education: Northeastern /Boston University
Age: 42
Why he is on the list: Founder of one of the state’s largest software
development company’s Palardy has been at the center of many local high technology
issues.
What do you think is the most significant development in you field over
the last five years?
Web-enabled technologies — things like E-Commerce that were once available
to only very select few business. Today the development and distribution of
these types of things have opened up a lot of doors.
What do you think is the most important issue facing your industry or field
in the next 12 months?
The ability to grow and educate staff. It is not just finding people; it’s
having the ones you have already keep up with changing technology. Part of that
is finding a way to afford to maintain the skills of your company’s workforce.
Actually do allocate 8 percent of bandwidth to education. It’s an expense for
all companies.
David R. Paolo
Position: Chairman, chief executive officer, Log On America, Inc.
Professional Background: Warehouse manager at Interstate Trading (1986-1988);
sale representative at Horizon Distributors (1988-1989); became sales manager
at Horizon Distributors, responsible for more than $5 million in sales (1989-1992).
Education: Roger Williams University (1990)
Age: 32
Why he is on the list: Paolo has recently moved to new headquarters
downtown and it continues to grow. He is among the youngest of the high tech
“movers and shakers” in the region.
What do you think is the most significant development in your field over
the last five years?
The convergence of a multiple of platforms — voice communications, the Internet
and data communications. The integration of those services and the ability to
offer them on a single platform and bill them on a single platform.
What do you think is the most significant issue facing your industry or
field over the next 12 months?
Trying to effectively manage the growth. It is such an explosive industry.
Companies that can smartly deploy their capital are those that will succeed.
Thorne Sparkman
Position: Executive Director, Slater Center for Interactive Technology
Professional background: Founder and CEO for Incubator, Inc. in Berkeley,
California, and former CEO of Escribe Corporation.
Education: Bachelor’s degree in biological anthropology from Harvard,
1989 and a master’s from the University of California Berkeley’s HAAS School
of Business, 1997
Age: 34
Why he is on the list: The only employee of the Slater Center, Sparkman
heads up all the investments in Rhode Island technology startups. Increasing
and nurturing a portfolio of them, he runs the consulting service they receive
through the companies, and is a general proponent of entrepreneur’s issues back
to “anyone who will listen.”
What do you think is the most significant development in your field over
the last 5 years?
I would say the biggest development is that the Web browser is a mass-market
tool, and that opened up an entirely new field of business.
What do you think is the most important issue facing your industry in the
next 12 months?
There are going to be several hundred Internet companies running out of cash
and going out of business, and it’s going to seem pretty dire, but the survivors
are going to be fabulously useful companies.
Mark Thaller
Position: General Partner, Zero Stage Capital
Professional background: Joined the Cambridge, Mass-based Zero Stage
in 1998; founded its Providence office. He now directs all of the firm’s Rhode
Island activities. Prior to his employment with Zero Stage, Mr. Thaller spent
two years as a Kauffman Venture Capital Fellow at Sprout Group, an affiliate
of DLJ Bank, in New York City. Before that, he spent five years as an entrepreneur,
private investor and nuclear engineering manager. He also spent nine years with
the U.S. Navy submarine force, where he conducted classified covert operations.
Education: Bachelor’s degree, marine engineering, U.S. Naval Academy;
bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, naval architecture, U.S. Naval Academy;
MS, mechanical engineering, University of Hawaii; MBA, Wharton School, University
of Pennsylvania.
Age: 41
Why he is on the list: Before Zero Stage Capital came onto the scene,
there was little opportunity for new companies in Rhode Island, especially high
technology companies, to secure venture capital.
What do you think is the most significant development in your field over
the last five years?
The sophistication of entrepreneurs and small businesses has taken a “quantum
leap,” with people’s awareness of what it takes to begin a business having grown
so that the “mystique” of acquiring venture capital has all but disappeared.
What do you think is the most important issue facing your industry or field
over the next 12 months?
Venture capital has become “very overheated” as of late. Younger, less experienced
venture capital firms often were “too aggressive, too ambitious and less insightful”
about the manner in which they made investments. The market will continue to
correct itself — as shown in the NASDAQ’s performance within the last nine
months. Thaller believes that the failure of less effective venture capital
firms will benefit entrepreneurs and small businesses in the long run, because
as the less effective venture capital firms are weeded out, the more experienced
firms that are willing to challenge a new companies’ business plans will remain.
The “self-correcting prophecy” occurring now will benefit businesses overall.
Andries van Dam
Position: Professor of Technology and Education and Professor of Computer
Science, Brown University
Professional Background: He has been on the Brown faculty since 1965
and was one of the founders of the Department and its first chairman, from 1979
to 1985. He was the director from 1996 to 1998 in the NSF Science and Technology
Center for Graphics and Visualization, a research consortium including Brown,
Cal Tech, Cornell, North Carolina (Chapel Hill), and the University of Utah.
His research has concerned computer graphics, text processing and hypermedia
systems. For more than 30 years he has been working on systems for creating
and reading electronic books and interactive illustrations for use in teaching
and research. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the National
Computer Graphics Association’s Academic Award (1990), the IEEE James H. Mulligan,
jr. Education Medal (1999), and the ACM SIGCSE Award for Outstanding Contributions
to Computer Science Education (2000).
Publications: The widely used reference book Fundamentals of Interactive
Computer Graphics, co-authored with J.D. Foley and published in 1982; the successor,
Computer Graphics: Principles and Practice, co-authored with J.D. Foley, S.K.
Feiner, and J.F. Hughes, published in 1990; an undergraduate version co-authored
by Foley, Feiner, Hughes and D. Phillips, Introduction to Computer Graphics,
published in 1993; Pascal on the Macintosh – a Graphical Approach, co-authored
with David Niguidula, published in 1987; Object-Oriented Programming in Pascal,
A Graphical Approach, co-authored with D. Brookshire Conner and David Niguidula,
published in 1995. He has authored or co-authored more than 90 papers.
Education: Bachelor’s degree with honors in engineering sciences from
Swarthmore College in 1960, and a master’s. and Ph.D. from the University of
Pennsylvania in 1963 and 1966 respectively.
Why he is on the list: He has been responsible for educating thousands
of students in computer science, often the inspiration behind their successes,
and has helped found multiple Rhode Island start-up businesses.
What do you think is the most significant development in your field over
the last five years?
Continued micro-miniaturization, especially nanotechnology.
What do you think is the most important issue facing your industry or field
over the next 12 months?
The widening demand/supply gap for a highly educated workforce.
Thomas Vrabel, Ph.D.
Position: Executive Director, Slater Center for Environmental Biotechnology
Professional Background: Director of Technical and Herbocide Business
Management at Eco Soil Systems in San Diego; Business Development and Research
Program at Rhone-Poulence.
Education: Undergraduate, University of Connecticut; graduate, Cornell University
Age: 43
Why he is on the list: At the Slater Center in Kingston, Vrabel talks
about bettering the food we eat, about relying less on pesticides. He talks
about improving the development of fish species as a way to jump-start the state’s
aquaculture industry. He talks about taking better care of our environment,
and in turn, our health.
What do you think is the most significant development in your field over
the last five years?
The most significant development may be the increase in transgenic organisms.
Instead of traditional breeding, you identify genes for different traits and
through manipulation, insert those genesIt is very selective. It is a directed
way of improving the traits of animals, plants.
What do you think is the most significant issue facing your industry or
field over the next 12 months?
The development of transgenics. People worry about “Frankenfoods.” But that
is just a portion of the opportunities available through genetic modification.
I think the educating of the public could have been more proactive. Usually,
when I have a fear regarding a new technology, the proper education has not
been done.
Ed Weisberg
Position: President, Bx.com
Professional background: Formerly a senior partner at Paradigm Management
Group, Inc. and a manager of the Northeast for BASF, and experience at Wang
and Data General
Education: Undergraduate degree from University of Pennsylvania 1978,
and a masters degree in management from Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s,
Sloan School of Business 1981, with concentrations in marketing, MIS, and organizational
development.
Age: 44
Why he is on the list: With a career spanning over 20 years of marketing,
sales and business development experience, combined with a strong systems background,
Weisberg has led his company in developing its expertise in full-service Internet
development, and ISM hosting and maintenance.
What do you think is the most significant development in your field over
the last 5 years?
The evolution of the Internet as a mainstream media for business. It’s greatly
increased efficiencies when used properly, and it has become a standard communication
channel.
What do you think is the most important issue facing your industry in the
next 12 months?
I think with the dose of reality that is happening in the industry right now,
people are looking at more seriously how they’re spending their money. We see
an evolution of web sites more than revolution. We’re focusing a lot of energy
on our integrated site management, which is focused on keeping web sites maintained,
rather than major developments.
John Winters
Position: Partner, Computer Associates Inc.
Professional Background: I have spent the last 25 years developing and
implementing business software solutions for manufacturing distribution and
service industries.
Age: 58
Why he is on the list: Computer Associates is among Rhode Island’s leading
technology companies.
What do you think is the most significant development in your field over
the last five years?
Communications of all kinds have represented the most significant developments
in recent years. They include everything from the Internet, to client server,
to thin client, to the general use of the lap top computer and the cell phone
in the daily operations of the business unit. We are certainly in the middle
of a technological revolution and have had to make a commitment to development
and training in major ways.
What do you think is the most important issue facing your industry or field
over the next 12 months?
Our challenge as a provider of business software is to insure that our current
client base has access to the latest technology. I do believe we are meeting
this challenge. Over the next 12 months we will be rolling out our own software
offering to the building materials industry. This product has been in development
for over three years. This is an enterprise wide solution including a full suite
of financials as well as an advanced distribution component.
An addendum to Who’s Who in Technology will appear in next week’s issue
of PBN.)
