Front and Center: Joe Johnson, MSIE '01
Grad Center hats off to Joe Johnson, who has been named "Worldwide Services, Solutions Supervisor for the Northeast Region" at UPS Professional Services. Joe creates web applications for UPS's largest customers when a standard UPS application does not meet their needs. Often these solutions require collaboration across several functions of both UPS and the customer.

"?the real lesson taught was how to evaluate and use the torrent of new information?"

In his new role Joe's major focus has been on building a web services architecture that reduces paperwork and improves the speed and accuracy of the customs clearance process. Recently, he's found some very quick and economical solutions for mid-sized customers using PHP and mySQL and built a few web portals between top tier customer's intranets and UPS technology assets.

Joe credits his experience at the Grad Center for giving him a foundation for his success. "I learned the secrets of how to lead others into the frontiers of the Internet and met faculty and fascinating students that still inspire me. I was often bedazzled when material too new to be in any textbook was introduced into the curriculum. I came to see that the real lesson taught was how to evaluate and use the torrent of new information to accomplish objectives and solve problems.

When not helping lead UPS, Joe enjoys life with family and friends. He built a new home that was 5 years in the planning, and he and his wife Joanne, who works as a special needs consultant for several families, work at home. They enjoy entertaining friends and family who often stay with them for a day or two while attending events in the Worcester, Massachusetts, area. Joey, their older son, lives with them in his fully adapted space. He is deaf and blind and attends school at the Advanced Learning Laboratory in Worcester (Way to go, Joey). Matt, their younger son, is a freshman in high school.

Help a Friend Start '05 Right
Come to think of it, help a friend start a new life. That can be accomplished by getting someone you to know to attend the Grad Center's Open House on December 11th.

Appropriately titled, "The Year to Change Your Career," the Open House is for those who wish to finally take control of their own opportunities - as you did. We know that one of the toughest parts of intentionally making those dreams a reality is finally taking that actual first step.

That's the advantage of attending the Open House. We'll help participants not only become aware of the opportunities but also understand that it CAN be done and we will help them meet their goals. Rather than a "hard sell," the Open House will give individuals a chance to share with other working adults their ideas and concerns. We'll supply the facilitators, instructors, and counselors to allow them, in a supportive environment, to see that making that first step can be the start of a journey that is professionally and personally rewarding.
Register

Program News
New course to be launched in January 2004 - Designing with Web Standards
Learn the intelligent use of XHTML and CSS, the current technologies referred to as "web standards". Separation of structure from style is emphasized, along with an emphasis on writing simple, well-constructed documents. Students will learn how to use XHTML for structuring documents and CSS for styling them.

There are two types of intended students:

1. Students who have been doing web development for some time and have some background with using tables for layout, spacer GIFs and nested tables for presentation, etc. This course will bring them up to date with the latest technologies.
2. Students with no background in web development at all who need to learn "the right way" of doing web development.

Rationale: Web Standards have been around for 10 years, but only in the last 2 years have browser manufacturers consistently and reliably implemented them. At last, enough users are now using browsers with good standard support that it is realistic to use web standards reliably for the majority of projects.

Goals

1. To teach students how to separate structure from style when designing web pages.
2. To teach XHTML and its proper use.
3. To teach CSS, including styling and positioning aspects, and its proper use.
4. To design web pages with the new technologies that are cross-browser compatible, well-supported, quick to download, and feature valid XHTML and CSS.

Learning Objectives
The student will:

• Learn how to structure a document according to the current standards
• Learn how to style that document according to standards
• Learn best practices for coding styles
• Learn the benefits/drawbacks of designing with web standards

Class Connections
Lisa Brooks, MAT '02 wrote:
"I'm teaching some workshops and courses for the Gradcenter for teachers in local districts. This year my small K-12 school, where I taught art for the past 23 years, combined with the neighboring 6-12 school. I now teach 40% art and 40% information technology to middle schoolers, and 20% art/tech to high schoolers. I was in the first wave of teachers to get certified in technology, thanks to the Gradcenter's MAT program perfect course alignment with the state tech certification requirements (Way to go, Claudine!). I'm also teaching for CCV (Community College of VT) along with some other MAT alums (Jill, John, Norm and Drew). Tori Matthew is Online Coordinator there, so is drawing in her Gradcenter fellows to teach for her! My daughter graduates from CCV this December and my son is still out West, living in Missoula, MT. My biggest news is my husband is building me a studio on the hill above our house. I've been pretty faithfully keeping an online journal of the process which can be viewed at: http://www.artwimmin.org/lisa/html/studio1.html.

Bob Levin, MAT '03 recently told us:
"I am still teaching at Kingswood Regional High School in the area of Communication Technology this makes 25 years. I have also gotten back into photography, doing weddings and portraits. I am also webmaster to three non profit organizations' websites.
My oldest daughter (Katie) is filling out all those college applications, so I will be broke for the next four years. My youngest daughter (Amy) is a freshmen in High School."

Jes Fisher Willson MSIE '02 (now at Houghton Mifflin, College Division) wrote:
"Recently we went from the southwest capital of Reykjavik along the southern coast to the tallest peak, Oraefajokull, which is the largest active post-glacial volcano in the Snaefellsjokull Glacier. That said, a week upon our return the peak behind Oreafajokull, GrimsvéIn erupted. As some of you know this pilgrimage was made because my server was named Oraefajokull. Our wise professors had the foresight to name our servers after volcanoes...as everyone knows volcanoes and servers have something in common...they both blow up. Our pictures here and more on Reykjavik here."


MacDara King, MSIE '02 informed us:
"I'm still working for the Foreign Policy Association in Manhattan though I've moved up to Director of Online Projects and recently became the Producer of a 13 episode series on PBS related to foreign affairs entitled Great Decisions which will begin running in January.

Trish Samson, STM '03 emailed us:
"not much to report, but I thought I would say hi. I still work at the same place...looking though. News will come in the early part of next year when my daughter and son-in-law will be trying for babies. You might remember, they were married while I was there"

Tim Flesher, MSIE '03 checked in:
The company I started with my Capstone project 'LastMileNet' is still alive and providing service in eight communities in southern VT. We are actually paying are recurring monthly expenses - milestone whoopee!! Next milestone = regular paychecks.

John Donaldson, ISM '01 has recently joined Church & Main, Inc. as their technology administrator. In his new capacity John will be responsible for the firms information systems and for supporting Internet-based activities. Church & Main, Inc. is a Keene, New Hampshire-based corporate communications firm specializing in strategic marketing with national and regional clients. In announcing John's appointment, Church & Main's president noted: "John's combination of technology expertise and teaching experience will be invaluable as we continue our on-going efforts to keep Church & Main at the forefront of innovative technologies and applications."

Lenore Howe, ISM '00, let us know she operates Wellness Partners, LLC, an Internet based publishing company focused on health. After receiving her master's degree, she worked for a year as Vice President of WellnessWeb, Inc but then decided to start her own company in December of 2001.

Wellness Partners provides a variety of services:

• Niche-oriented eCommerce on SeekWellness.com
• Website design for a variety of National and International organizations
• Custom content development for companies, websites and publications
• Online continuing education programs for nurses
• Subscription-based, online health specialists' database for health care providers and consumers

"I still love my work and have found multiple ways to use my degree. In 2003, I was lucky enough to make a connection with a strategic communications company in NYC, which began to incorporate our website design and maintenance expertise into the mix of services they offer to their clients. Their Director was quite impressed to find someone with a Master's in Internet Strategy Management and, after working with us for a year, she feels confident about recommending us to cover the Internet aspect of the communications plans they write."

"To all of my classmates - I miss you all and wish we could have a get-together one day"

Career Opportunities
Technology Manager
Wellness Partners, LLC
US-NH-Canterbury


Description:
The Technology Manager (TM) oversees all aspects of the Internet operations of Wellness Partners, LLC (WPL) including the maintenance of SeekWellness.com and all WPL client websites. Subject to senior management's approval, the TM will create and maintain a plan of technical operations as well as engage and manage sub-contractors to perform tasks under his/her supervision as workloads and/or special skill needs demand. The TM is primarily responsible for developing, designing, organizing, monitoring and maintaining all web-based services provided by WPL.

WPL's owner, Lenore Howe ISM'00, is seeking a creative, talented risk-taker who can grasp a long range vision and is willing to grow with the company. Please send resumes to Lenore at lhowe@seekwellness.com

Company: A&E Television Networks (A&E and The History Channel)
Title: Technical Operations and Usability Manager, E-Commerce
Location: Stamford, CT

Responsible for maintaining day-to-day ops for AETN's online stores; project manage and implement functionality and customer experience enhancements that drive revenue and increase customer satisfaction. Highly collaborative work environment. Must be an excellent problem-solver and be able to bridge marketing & IT.
http://fdncenter.org/pnd/jobs/index.jhtml

Opening: E-marketing Online Media Specialist, The Wall Street Journal Online, Princeton NJ

Responsible for implementing/maintaining keyword-buy CPC search campaigns. Management/improvement of search campaigns across multiple search engines to drive new subscriptions. Handling of relationships w/ internal marketing team, third party media, other buy optimization vendors, and Doubleclick. Management of search media budget. Campaign analysis/recommendations, w/ plans for improvement. Identify opportunities for SEO strategy, as well as CPM media buys. 3-6 months assignment w/ opportunity for other projects. Requires 3+ yrs exper. in online/SEM. Strong analytical and thinking/problem solving skills a must. BA/BS. Apply: Job ID# 04923 http://www.dowjones.com/careers

Opening: Director of Marketing/Crossover Music, Universal Music Group, NYC

Director of Marketing for "Crossover Music" will: create & implement marketing plan for new CD releases; create release book copy and marketing materials for CD releases; work with Production and Publicity Depts. on CD releases; and communicate with artists and management (strong artist relations skills essential). 3+ yrs marketing exper. at major label; exper. managing project budgets from $50K - $1MM; familiarity w/ Consumer Marketing/Research data including SoundScan, Nielsen, Arbitron, NPD MusicWatch, and Simmons. Job code: 04-0441, http://www.careers-umusic.com