Making It Clear

My journey with computers began during high school summers and holidays at the Center for Disease Control. I pursued my passion at M.I.T., majoring in what is now known as Information Technology. During my time at M.I.T., I held several part-time roles, including working at Project MAC on Multics, the precursor to Unix, and contract programming for an inventory management system.

Following graduation, I joined Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) as a programmer/analyst in manufacturing. Over the subsequent years, I advanced into project leadership and IT management roles. After seven years at DEC, I moved to The Service Bureau Company in Atlanta. This company eventually became part of Control Data Corporation and later Ceridian Corporation.

Primarily, I held IT management positions focused on software development. By the time I left Ceridian in 2002, after twenty-two years of service, I held the title of Vice-President of Technology Architecture and Strategy. In my final years there, I dedicated significant time to conducting due diligence for approximately 25 corporate acquisitions across the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Switzerland.

After departing Ceridian, I founded my own consulting firm, MakingITclear, Inc., specializing in enhancing the relationship between IT organizations and their business clients. I began writing these articles in 2003 as part of a blog and newsletter, aiming to establish myself as a knowledgeable expert in IT strategy and its connection to business. However, over time, I observed that the articles resonating most broadly were those discussing general management principles and strategies for becoming a more effective manager.