Philadelphia '05

As executive vice president for the company's research and consulting, Berge Ayvazian focuses on driving the Yankee Group's global thought leadership by working closely with the company's diverse research groups as a strategic resource and guiding the growth of the firm's advisory services, decision instruments, consulting, and events businesses.

As a foremost senior industry analyst and consultant, Ayvazian is a primary influencer of the Yankee Group's research and thought leadership, reinforcing the content and expertise of multiple research groups and mentoring analysts. Additionally, he is a principal public spokesperson for the Yankee Group. Specifically, he is actively engaged in the many activities directed to current and prospective clients, such as assisting with key renewals and new business development, high-impact public speaking, and the delivery and execution of large consulting projects.

After serving as the Yankee Group's chief executive officer from August 1999 through December 2001, Ayvazian served as the company's vice chairman of the board of directors during 2002. He also served as strategy director for the Reuters Research and Advisory unit, and served on the board of directors for TowerGroup, another technology research firm.

With 16 years at the Yankee Group, and 8 years of research and consulting experience at Kalba Bowen Associates, Ayvazian has directed more than 100 consulting projects, forecasting product and service markets, assessing strategy, and analyzing investment opportunities in the telecommunications, wireless, computer, Internet, cable and broadcast TV industries.

Carlos is a Principal in McKinsey & Company’s Stamford, Connecticut office and one of the leaders of our telecommunications practice. He has worked with telecom service providers and equipment manufacturers in strategy, marketing, organization, and operations. His most recent experience includes:

• Working major wireless equipment manufacturer to develop a portfolio of initiatives in new networking technologies such as 802.11 (wi-fi), 802.16 (wi-max), 802.15, as well as proprietary technologies

• Worked with a major telecommunications equipment manufacturer to develop R&D, product, and channel roadmaps to leverage emerging networking and communications technologies such as RFID, multidimensional bar codes, and integrated, multi-protocol wireless devices

• Working with a large North American carrier to identify and size an opportunity to provide consulting, integration, LAN management, and other value added services to businesses

• Evaluating the impact of new technologies such as gigE, storage area networks, and IP-VPNs on enterprise buying behavior for a large north American service provider

• Working with a telecom equipment manufacturer to develop a perspective on adoption timing of different technologies by enterprises and carriers, focused on VoIP

• Counseling an investor considering acquisition of assets in multiple telecom service areas: rural LEC, CLECs, and competitive IXCs

Before joining McKinsey, Carlos worked as a researcher at the Electronics Research Laboratory of the University of California at Berkeley, as a design engineer for Siemens, and as an engineer for a top engineering services company in Brazil.

Carlos received a PhD in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences from the University of California at Berkeley.

Dr. Alan R. Shark joins Public Technology Institute (PTI) as its new executive director. Dr. Shark’s career has spanned over 25 years as a highly recognized leader in both the nonprofit management and technology fields with an emphasis on technology applications for business and government. Most recently Dr. Shark served as President & CEO of the American Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA), The Rural Broadband Coalition (RBC) as Executive Director, and the President & CEO of the Power Line Communications Association (PLCA). As PLCA and RBC leader, he is at the forefront of assisting local governments and technology companies on broadband opportunities. While most of his career has been on the nonprofit side, he has worked with many business and professional trade groups and in the profit sector -- served as vice president for marketing a former start-up company called Voice Computer Technologies Corporation.

As author and speaker on technology developments for most of his distinguished career Dr. Shark’s experience both balances and embraces the business,  government, education, and the technology sectors. Dr. Shark also founded the International Wireless Telecommunications Association.

Recognition and Affiliations

Dr. Shark is a Fellow of the Radio Club of America, and the American Society of Association Executives. He has won many awards including Excellence in Education Award and Excellence in Communication Award, and was selected to be in the very first class of Future Leaders through ASAE Annual Program.  He also received a ASAE Gold Circle Award for an Exceptional Education Program and a Gold Circle Award for a Superior Publication. He has been awarded a Bronze Excellence Award for Excellence in Publishing by the Society of National Association Publications, and Excellence in Association Publications by Association Trends.  

Dr. Shark is a member of the American Society for Public Administration, American Society of Association Executives, Federal Bar Association, World Affairs Council of Greater Washington, and the Radio Club of America. He also serves as an Editorial advisor and contributing writer to World Markets Research Center, London; and to the monthly publication Mission Critical published in Denver.

Dr. Shark is a noted writer and speaker on issues of technology, leadership, strategic planning, and association management. He has been widely quote over the years in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and thousands of small independent newspapers, and trade publications. 

Speaking and Teaching

Driving the Future Through Technology, Journal of Association Leadership, Washington, D.C., Center for Association Leadership, 2003

What Does Going Global Really Mean? Global Exchange, Washington, D.C., American Society of Association Executives, 2002

Models &  Characteristics of International Associations, Global Exchange, Washington, D.C., American Society of Association Executives, 2002

Doctoral Dissertation: The Internationalization of American Nonprofit Associations: A Study of Organizational Transition. School of Public Administration, University of Southern California, May 2001.

Association Marketing. In John B. Cox (Ed.) Professional Practices in Association Management. 2nd edition, Washington, D.C., American Society of Association Executives. 1998

Public and Private Land Mobile Radio Telephones and Systems, Lawrence Harte, Alan Shark, Robyn Shalhoub, Tom Steiner.  Upper Saddle River, NJ, Prentice Hall, 2000.

World Market Research Centre, London: Business Briefing Wireless Technology Series (serve on editorial advisory board 1999 to present)

2004: The Impact of Power Line Communications Worldwide

2002: The Future of Private Mobile Radio

2001: Regulatory Climate for Global Wireless E-Business: Eight Essential Considerations.  

Mission Critical International & Mission Critical US. (Monthly Magazines) (serves on editorial advisory board 1988 to present, have written numerous short opinion pieces for most issues).

Education and Family

Dr. Shark holds a doctorate in Public Administration from the University of Southern California’s Washington Public Policy Center, a MPA from Baruch College, and a BBA Degree in Business & Public Administration from Baruch College, as well as an ASS Degree in Business Administration with Honors. Dr. Shark is a Vietnam Veteran, serving two mandatory tours as a Navy Seabee. He is a certified association executive (CAE) and has been recertified seven times by the American Society of Association Executives.  He also holds the distinction of being a Competent Toastmaster from Toastmasters International.

An avid reader, lover of music, he is also an outdoor enthusiast, boater and hiker, he served as assistant scout master of his son’s local Boy Scout Troop for over four years. He has two children; David (22) U.S. Navy Ensign and Eagle Scout; and Jennifer (19) Music Major and Oboist at the University of New Mexico.

Enrique Barkey is the World Wide Director of Government Services & Administration for HP's Public Sector organization. He is responsible for establishing HP's strategy in Public Sector; developing and delivering key solutions and programs; selecting and managing relationships with critical partners; and the overall values delivered to government customers globally. In doing so, he leverages over 20 years of experience in technology, e-government, e-business, and education.

Mr. Barkey joined HP in 2000 as the Director of Public Sector and
Education for the Latin American Region where he developed a Public Sector business development strategy and instituted an e-Government focus as the essential driver of HP strategy in the public sector. Mr. Barkey also developed a full-service value proposition to drive HP's public sector strategy.

Prior to joining Hewlett Packard, Mr. Barkey worked in various efforts implementing information technology solutions, re-engineering business processes, and coordinating outsourcing projects for the Public Sector in the United States and Latin America. As the Chief Information Officer for the Servicio de Administracion Tributaria (SAT) in Mexico, he was responsible for directing the modernization and re-engineering efforts of the Mexican tax administration. Among his achievements, he successfully implemented Internet Electronic Filing of Tax Returns and the development of Internet/Intranet applications to assist taxpayers and employees accessing relevant information. At the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, he successfully developed and implemented new technologies to increase the efficiency of the tax and revenue agency.

Esme Vos is the founder and President of Muniwireless, the leading website devoted to municipal wireless broadband projects worldwide that are funded or supported by cities and towns. She is an intellectual property lawyer, writer and former chemist who also writes technology-related articles. Esme's latest piece is on fiber nets and Wi-Fi for a Dutch professional journal called Stedebouw & Ruimtelijke Ordening. Esme is also a regular speaker at industry events, including:

• ICT Infrastructure in the City - Nov 2003 , Amsterdam

• Hotspot Event - March 2004, Amsterdam

• Pervasive Connectivity - April 2004, Washington DC

• Eye for Wireless - April 2004, San Francisco

• Wireless Internet and Municipal Public Safety, June 2004, San Mateo

Greg Richardson is the founder and Managing Partner for Civitium LLC, the market-leading consulting firm for municipal broadband and Digital City initiatives. Civitium serves as the advisory firm for Houston, TX, Philadelphia, PA, San Francisco, CA and many other high-profile cities.  Prior to founding Civitium, Greg served as the Director of Wireless Consulting for Siemens in the U.S.  Prior to Siemens, he was a founder and VP of Professional Services for Wireless Knowledge, a pioneering joint venture between Microsoft and QUALCOMM. He is also a regular speaker at industry conferences and events.

JD, Harvard University, 1994; BA, University of California at Berkeley, 1991

Research Areas:

Emerging internet technologies; telecommunications policy; electronic commerce; wireless communication; regulation

Recent Consulting:

Advise major information technology and communications companies on strategic business and policy implications of emerging technologies, including disruptive wireless innovations and voice over Internet protocol. Serve on advisory boards of Nokia Innovent, startups Socialtext (business collaboration software) and MeshDynamics (wireless networking), and Genesys Angelbridge Fund.

Current Projects:

Layered models for Internet and communications policy; Implementation of wireless spectrum commons; Legal implications of pervasive networked sensors; Conference on decentralization in software, communications, and media.

Academic Positions Held:

Wharton: 2004-present

Other Positions:

Founder, Supernova Group, 2002-2004; Counsel for New Technology Policy, Federal Communications Commission, 1994-1998

Professional Leadership 2001-2005
Board of Directors, TPRC Research Conference on Communication, Information and Internet Policy, 2003-2004; Editor, Release 1.0: Esther Dyson's Monthly Report, 1998-2002

Representative Publications:

"Supercommons: Toward a Unified Theory of Wireless Communication." Texas L. Rev.863 82 (2004).

"A Layered Model for Internet Policy." J. Telecom. & High Tech. L. 37 1 (2002).

"Syndication: The Emerging Model for Business in the Internet Era." Harvard Business Review 85 (May/June 2000).

"Digital Tornado: The Internet and Telecommunications Policy." (FCC Office of Plans and Policy Working Paper No. 29, March 1997).

Rizwan (Riz) Khaliq is the Worldwide Business Development Leader for IBM’s Wireless Broadband and Sensing solutions for the Public Sector. Riz has been with IBM for nearly five years. Prior to his current position, Riz was the Global Wireless Solutions and Marketing Executive for Public Sector and also held a position of Business Development Executive in Stockholm, Sweden for IBM’s Wireless/ Pervasive business in the EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) region. Before joining IBM, Riz was with the US Foreign Service and served as Commercial Attaché at the US embassies in Demark and South Africa, in addition to formal assignments with the Foreign Service. Riz holds a Masters of Arts in International Transactions and Bachelor of Arts from George Mason University. As part of the Masters program, Riz attended St. Peters College, Oxford University with the focus on international trade from the European prospective.

KEEWATIN (CAN): Del Schmucker, Information Systems Manager, Keewatin-Patricia School District

Dianah L. Neff has 17 years experience in providing leadership and implementation of organization-wide strategic information technology planning, assuring reliability of information technology infrastructure, and directing information technology departments in their delivery of technology support services in both city and county organizations. Prior to working in government she had 14 years experience in the private sector working for high-tech software and hardware firms in Silicon Valley.

She was appointed as Chief Information Officer for the City of Philadelphia in May 2001, reporting to Mayor John F. Street and serving on the mayor's cabinet.

As head of the Mayor's Office of Information Services, the city's central IT agency, Neff has guided the betterment of technology in the city:

• Neff is leading the Wireless Philadelphia project to create a citywide, 135 square miles, digital infrastructure to help citizens, business, schools and community organizations make effective use of wireless technology.

• Philadelphia has recently made the successful transition to the eCommerce world by enabling the capability to pay tax and utility bills online. Future functionality includes online payment for accident reports, city deeds and permits.

• Philadelphia's geographic information system (GIS) is one of the country's most robust, including more than 100 layers of data including crime statistics, social services indicators and information crucial to the mayor's neighborhood transformation initiative.

• The City of Philadelphia's official Web site, www.phila.gov, was relaunched in October 2002 to wide praise. The site has evolved from an information-only site to an interactive resource that empowers residents, visitors and businesses to transact with the city online.

• Under Neff's watch, 11 recreation centers in the city opened computer centers offering families improved, free, neighborhood-based access to technology. The centers were opened at no cost to taxpayers, thanks to support rallied by MOIS from local businesses.

Prior to Philadelphia, she played a leading role in making City of Palo Alto the first city in the US to have a website; worked with San Bernardino County businesses and School District to develop a joint venture, Enterprise for Economy Excellence; developed and implemented City of Bellevue's (WA) Y2K compliance and in San Diego in conjunction with City Center Development Corp. identified and mapped the 70,000 miles of fiber underneath the city's streets in effort to attract businesses downtown.

Neff has a BA in marketing and economics, and MBA with concentration in operations research. She is a past guest professor at Hayward State University and University of Washington in their Public Administration programs where she taught Information Systems Design and Management of Technology to non-technical managers.

PHILADELPHIA: Gloria Guard, President, PEC-Cares

WESTMINSTER (UK): Graham Ellis, Director of Policy & Communications, Westminister City Council

Jeff serves as Deputy Legislative Director of the National Association of Counties (NACo). He has nearly twenty-five years experience in Washington, D.C., working on, and with, Capitol Hill. He is NACo’s chief lobbyist on telecommunications and technology policy.

Jeff is responsible for managing NACo's policy development process for all issues, and coordinates the policy steering committee member appointment process. He is also responsible for the administrative functions of the Legislative Department.

Jeff also serves as NACo’s representative on the Department of Homeland Security’s Data Management Improvement Act Task Force relating to security, immigration and commercial policy.

Jeff joined NACo's legislative staff in January 1994. Prior to joining NACo, he served as the Deputy Director of the Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs and Senate Liaison at the U.S. Department of the Interior, and before that, as Chief of the Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs for the Minerals Management Service, a bureau of the Department.

Jeff's early career in Washington, D.C. was spent on Capitol Hill. He spent nearly two years as a Professional Staff Member for the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Arnold worked on the legislative staff of former U.S. Senator Mark O. Hatfield of Oregon for six years.

A native of Eugene, Oregon, Arnold earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Oregon, with honors.

PORTSMOUTH (UK): John Domblides, Team Leader, Intelligent Transport Systems, Portsmouth

Mayor John F. Street, 60 years old, was born into rural poverty in Norristown, Pennsylvania, and came up the "hard way," growing up without electricity or indoor plumbing as a child.  Understanding that education was the key to his future, Mayor Street graduated from Conshohocken High School and worked his way through Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama, where he studied English.  In 1975, Street earned his Juris Doctorate from Temple University Law School, paying his tuition by moonlighting as a sidewalk vendor on the university's campus.  Following his graduation, Street served clerkships with Common Pleas Court Judge Mathew W. Bullock, Jr. and with the United States Department of Justice. In his first professional job, Mayor Street taught English at an elementary school and, later, at the Philadelphia Opportunities Industrialization Center.  He also practiced law privately prior to entering into public service.

Mayor Street began his public career as a community activist.  A fiery leader, he led efforts for fair housing opportunities for the poor, and challenged the Philadelphia School Board to spend more on students and less on administration.  Mayor Street has also been a leader in forging closer cooperation between police and the community in the fight against crime and drugs in Philadelphia's neighborhoods.

Elected to Philadelphia City Council in 1979, Mayor Street assumed office in 1980.  For nearly 20 years, Mayor Street represented the city's Fifth Councilmanic District, distinguishing himself as a fighter for working people and neighborhoods.  Diverse economically and racially, the Fifth District comprises 11 wards in North Central Philadelphia and Center City and encompasses some of the city's most affluent addresses, such as Rittenhouse Square, and some of the city's most depressed areas.

Widely acknowledged as one of the most knowledgeable and effective leaders in Philadelphia City Council history, Mayor Street was chosen unanimously by members of the council to serve as president in 1992, and again in 1996.  Mayor Street is known for his expertise on a range of issues including city budgeting and fiscal matters, housing, education and crime.  Street, working closely with former Mayor Edward G. Rendell, was instrumental in crafting and implementing a financial plan that passed Council unanimously, and turned a $250 million deficit into the largest surplus in city history.  By cutting the business and wage tax four years in a row, Street and Rendell helped reverse the 30- year loss of jobs from Philadelphia.  And, in the years since 1996, Philadelphia has actually gained jobs.

During his time as City Council President, Mayor Street worked to promote community policing and for tougher gun laws, while also promoting Townwatch organizations and after- school recreation programs for young people.  Reflecting his activist roots and concern for improving blighted neighborhoods across Philadelphia, Mayor Street spearheaded efforts to tear down abandoned buildings that breed crime and to crack down on landlords who allow their property to be used as drug houses.

Mayor Street is equally proud to have passed, during his council term, a liquor-by-the-drink tax that resulted in an additional $23 million per year for Philadelphia public schools.  To date, the liquor-by-the-drink tax has pumped more than $100 million into the School District.  Importantly, the additional revenue has made possible all- day kindergarten for every child in Philadelphia.

Mayor Street retired from Philadelphia City Council on December 17, 1998, to run for mayor of Philadelphia.  On November 2, 1999, he was elected to serve as the city's first mayor of the new millennium.

Raised on a farm where he rose at 5:00 a.m. to perform daily chores, Mayor Street is widely admired for his stamina and work ethic. He is strongly committed, however, to setting aside time to be with his family- wife Naomi, an attorney and children's rights advocate and his four children: Sharif, a lawyer with the Philadelphia firm Wolf, Block, Schorr & Solis-Cohen; Rashida, an architect; Lateef, a graduate of the University of Maryland; and Akeem, who attends Philadelphia's Masterman High School.

An avid fitness enthusiast, Mayor Street jogs 15 to 20 miles and bicycles between 30 to 40 miles each week.  In his role as the Philadelphia's chief executive, Mayor Street has pledged to take a leading role in helping to "shape up" Philadelphia's standing as a physically fit city.

Marc Jedel is currently Director of Public Sector Market Development for Intel’s Sales & Marketing Group. In this capacity he is responsible for developing worldwide strategy and partner solutions for the Government, Education, Healthcare and Life Sciences vertical market segments.

In his previous role, Mr. Jedel was the Director of ISV Business Development in Intel’s Sales & Marketing Group. His group was responsible for working with worldwide application software firms to help them increase their sales while increasing sales of Intel-based systems. During his 11 years at Intel, he has held various retail, reseller, software enabling, and server marketing roles at Intel. Prior to Intel, Mr. Jedel managed a variety of software engineering teams in Amoco Oil Company's Information Systems department.

Mr. Jedel holds an MBA from MIT's Sloan School of Management and a Bachelor's in Computer Science from Washington University in St. Louis.

RIO RANCHO (NM): Peggy McCarthy, Asst. City Manager, Rio Rancho

SHANGHAI SECURITY / RUSSIAN CITIES:
Robert Stubblebine, CEO, Infinet Wireless

Todd S. Ramsey is general manager for IBM’s Global Government Industry. He is responsible for all IBM business with governments around the world. In this role he sets the overall strategy, develops specific government solutions and marketing programs, and directs the deployment of consultants, government specialists and client-relationship teams worldwide. For more than 25 years he has helped governments and public-sector customers leverage information technology to help them promote economic development, increase revenues, enhance services and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of operations.

Mr. Ramsey recently authored a book entitled On Demand Government, Continuing the e-government Journey, which provides a new guide for government leaders who want to act decisively to integrate government operations and use government transformation as a catalyst to address challenges to their society.

Mr. Ramsey joined IBM in 1972 in Endicott, New York, as a hardware systems designer. He later worked as an engineer for both the U.S. Air Force and IBM, specializing in communications systems and NASA space projects. In 1979 he joined the IBM marketing and sales organization and has held a number of management positions, including branch manager in Norfolk, Virginia, executive assistant to the president of the National Marketing Division and regional manager of the National Federal Marketing organization. In 1991, Mr. Ramsey was named vice president and general manager for the IBM Federal Systems Company, responsible for business relationships and the integration projects for the U.S. Government. Most recently, he was the vice president and general manager of Government Industry for Asia Pacific and lived two years with his family in Singapore. Mr. Ramsey is a member of IBM’s Worldwide Public Sector Management Board.

Mr. Ramsey has a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Akron and a Masters in Business Administration from Auburn University. He is married to the former Pamela Shirey and has 3 children, Jennifer 20, David 17 and Michael 16.