Tim Chester from Pepperdine University and I will keynote at EduSoCal’11, in Long Beach on April 27, 2011. Topic: “Technical Skills are Dead… Or are They?” If you can’t make it to the meeting, I hope to have video posted here afterwards.

In 2007 I worked with Eileen Clegg of Visual Insight to create the graphic you see below. My team at Art Center College of Design, where I was CTO at the time, imagined a new future for IT at our College, by engaging in a set of visual exercises documented by Eileen in her clear and elegant style. While the overall vision can be seen in the graphic, it was the process that was most valuable – as always, we learn more from the journey than from the reward.

Eileen and I are available to work with any organization to help you envision your own technology future. Get in touch if you’re interested.

In June I had the opportunity to appear on a panel responding to a presentation from Lynda Weinman, co-founder of lynda.com.

Disruptive Forces in Higher Education: Comments at the MIT Enterprise Forum from A. Michael Berman on Vimeo.

I’m pleased to report that MoblEd10 will take place on April 19/20, 2010 at Pasadena City College. Explore how mobile technologies are impacting the ways we learn, work, and play: Anytime, Anywhere, Everywhere! For information, visit MoblEd10.ning.com. For the second year, I am helping to organize MoblEd. Last year’s MoblEd was a lot of fun – hope you can join us this year.

Michael

The first year of AmbermanLTD LLC was a big success! I spent much of the year in on-going engagements with CSU Channel Islands, CSU Northridge, and Wood, Smith, Henning, and Berman LLP. Short-term engagements included:

• consulting with Tim Belton of Malone Belton Abel P.C. on the design of a new Visual Arts building at the University of Wyoming;
• organizing the program for MoblEd ’09
• evaluating the Online Services strategy for School of the Art Institute of Chicago, with my colleague Crista Copp
• arranging a seminar exploring online learning for a client of Dillon Kane Group, featuring Crista Copp and Kevin Kelly.

I begin 2009 working full-time to build AmbermanLTD LLC, but in September of 2009 I became the permanent Chief Information Officer at CSU Channel Islands. While this has limited my availability, I have been able to continue successfully providing services through AmbermanLTD LLC, in many cases by drawing on the skills of talented partners. If you are interested any of the services we offer, please get in touch!

Thanks so much to everyone who helped make 2009 such a success, and here’s to a great year for us all in 2010.

Michael

My experience in technology management and strategy has been both broad and deep, but there are certain themes and interests where I have the greatest knowledge and experience, and these form the targets for my practice. They include:

• Technology strategy and planning
• Technology for Art and Design
• Creating effective learning spaces
• Strategies for cost-effective infrastructure
• Understanding and communicating with stakeholders
• Planning for Identity and Access Management systems
• Cost-reduction and cost-containment strategy
• Technology staffing and organization

Every organization is different and every project unique. Please get in touch and we can discuss how my skills can help make technology work better for your organization.

I’m pleased to report that AmbermanLtd. LLC has been recorded by the State of California as a Limited Liability Company. The office on Brand Blvd. in Glendale has opened, and I’m busy with several current projects while exploring new ones. Thanks to my many supporters who have made this possible!

We are pleased to announce the launch of AmbermanLTD LLC, an IT consulting and services company. Owner and principal consultant Michael Berman has more than 30 years of experience working as an information technology professional, including more than 10 years as the senior IT executive at three institutions of higher education. While education remains a focus, Dr. Berman is also applying his technology know-how to legal offices and technology startups.