iSchool Founding Board

Arthur Buerk
Advisor
Montlake Capital

Artie Buerk has been providing strategic advice and capital to growth companies for over 30 years. Buerk is currently an advisor to Montlake Capital, a local private equity and venture capital firm which he co-founded in 2000. He is also a board member for the Davidson Trust Company, the wealth management arm of D.A. Davidson and the Davidson Companies.

Earlier in his career, Buerk served as President of Northwestern Trust from 1993-1995 and served as co-chairman from 1995-2001. Artie was President and board member for Shurgard Storage Centers from 1977-1992. He assisted with taking the company public in 1994. Buerk was founder and director of Intermation, a records storage management service. From 1968 to 1977, he served as Director of Development at the University of Washington.

Buerk has a B.A. in finance and banking from the University of Washington and an M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School. He currently serves as a trustee for the University of Washington Foundation and an advisory board member for the UW Business School and the Center for Technology Entrepreneurship. He is a past board chair and president of the UW Alumni Association, past chair of the UW Development Fund, and past president of the Harvard Business School Club of Puget Sound.

Chandan Chauhan is co-founder and Senior Vice President of Product Management, at Intelius since its inception in 2003. From 2000 until 2002, Chauhan was Vice President of New Technologies at InfoSpace, Inc. From 1987 until 1999, Chauhan held several senior management positions at Microsoft Corporation in the Windows Operating System and MSN divisions.

Chauhan holds an M.S. degree in Computer Science from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, and an M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from Technical University of Nova Scotia, Halifax.

Beverly Cleary is one of America's most popular authors of children's fiction. Her books appear in over twenty countries in fourteen languages and her characters—including Henry Huggins, Ellen Tebbits, Otis Spofford, and Beezus and Ramona Quimby, as well as Ribsy, Socks, and Ralph S. Mouse—have delighted children for generations.

Born in McMinnville, Oregon, she is a graduate of the University of California Berkley and the University of Washington School of Librarianship (now the Information School). After college, she became the children's librarian in Yakima, Washington. It was there a child once asked her, "Where are the books about kids like us?"

Mrs. Cleary's books have earned her many prestigious awards, including the American Library Association's Laura Ingalls Wilder Award and the 2003 National Medal of Art from the National Endowment of the Arts. Her book Dear Mr. Henshaw received the 1984 John Newbery Medal. Her books Ramona and Her Father and Ramona Quimby, Age 8 were named 1978 and 1982 Newbery Honor Books, respectively.

In 2000, to honor her invaluable contributions to children's literature, Beverly Cleary was named a 'Living Legend' by the Library of Congress. In 2008, the University of Washington named Cleary its Alumna Summa Laude Dignata, the highest honor bestowed on an alumna in recognition of her lifetime achievement.

As General Manager of the Business Collaboration Services Team (BCS), Bob Davis is responsible for delivering Office365 to Microsoft's largest Enterprise customers. Millions of users rely on Office 365 24x7 for mission critical communications and collaboration. Online Services include Microsoft Exchange Online, Office SharePoint Online and Lync Online.

In his previous role, Davis was responsible for incubating new Online Services and managing Microsoft's global IT infrastructure including computer systems, datacenters, and networking worldwide to Microsoft as well as Microsoft customers through Microsoft Online. In addition to providing operational excellence and high availability services for internal clients, Microsoft IT played a unique role as First & Best customer providing valuable input, feedback and real-world experience to the Microsoft product groups developing enterprise products. He also spends time sharing best practices with customers in executive briefings and other forums. Prior to managing GTS, he was responsible for the Windows and Storage Services team that partnered with the Windows product group on the implementation, support and feedback for Microsoft’s flagship enterprise server. The team also implemented a new storage utility and data management policies that are driving millions of dollars out of business unit spending through more efficient storage utilization and forecasting company-wide.

Davis joined Microsoft in 1994 as an applications analyst where he worked on the initial CRM application (MS Manager) and other financial (WWSales/MSSales) and operations (MOET/MSOper) systems in support of international subsidiaries. He spent two years in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia building Microsoft's Regional IT organization and helped open offices in the expanding Southeast Asia and India region. Upon his return to Redmond, he was responsible for the Exchange 2000 migration, the first deployment that set 100 percent participation as ship criteria. After deploying Exchange 2000, he was Director of the Americas Regional IT organization, Global Client Software, and was responsible for the IT integration responsibilities associated with mergers and acquisitions.

Between his undergraduate and graduate education, Davis was a White House intern. During his internship, he was a member of White House Press Office and worked with the administration's spokesman.

Davis holds an M.Sc. in Economics from the London School of Economics and a B.A. (hons) in Economics from the University of Washington.

Michael Gersch
Senior Vice President and General Manager
ProQuest Workflow Solutions 

Michael Gersch is Senior Vice President and General Manager of Serials Solutions® and ProQuest’s affiliated business, Bowker®.  Together these businesses comprise ProQuest Workflow Solutions and focus on opportunities to collaborate around discovery, data aggregation, library management and analysis services.  Gersch’s background includes general manager roles leading high-growth businesses.  He has extensive international experience in strategy and business development, finance, and market planning, with a particular expertise in mapping user workflow requirements to software service creation.

Prior experience includes serving as Vice President and Managing Director for LexisNexis Litigation Solutions;  Vice president and Managing Director for LexisNexis Case Assessment and Discovery Services; General Manager for court docket and document solutions, and leadership positions in finance.

Prior to joining LexisNexis, he was Vice President of finance and strategic planning at ART, a fixed wireless telecom start-up company. Gersch also worked for Milliken & Company, a privately-owned chemical and textile company based in South Carolina, where he was responsible at the business unit level for finance, strategy and business development. Further, his experience includes strategic planning for DaimlerBenz in Stuttgart, Germany.

Gersch earned an M.B.A. degree with honors from Emory University, a Masters of International Business from the University of Austria, and a B.S. degree Cum Laude in Management Science from the State University of New York at Geneseo.

As a Director of Trustworthy Computing Strategy & Risk Management for Microsoft, Kim Hargraves is responsible for the strategy and risk management program supporting such topics as privacy, accessibility and geopolitical intelligence. This includes developing and implementing global programs that enhance the privacy features of Microsoft products, services, processes and systems. Hargraves focuses on evaluating enterprise policies, risk management and corporate governance structures as they relate to privacy management and is also involved in analyzing technology policy areas such as Radio Frequency ID (RFID) as an advocate for strong privacy safeguards.

Previously, Hargraves managed the business/IT internal audit team at Microsoft, engaging in audit support initiatives to assess systems risk and performing audits across Microsoft’s business units. Hargraves was responsible for providing integrated systems audit support services for operations audits, systems development and process reengineering. In addition, she developed a privacy assurance program to enhance Microsoft’s ability to ensure compliance with related laws, regulations, corporate directives and best practices.

Prior to joining Microsoft, Hargraves held positions at PricewaterhouseCoopers related to security consulting and financial auditing. She also conducted financial analysis for Specialty Brands.

Hargraves is a member of the International Association of Privacy Professionals, the Institute of Internal Auditors and the Information Systems Audit and Control Association. She holds CIPP, CPA, and CISA certifications.

Rajiv Jain, an internet and software executive with more than 20 years of experience, is the Chief Technology and Innovation Officer for IncrediMail (NASDAQ: MAIL), a digital media company that builds downloadable consumer applications. The company's award winning e-mail product, IncrediMail Premium, is sold in over 100 countries in 10 different languages. Other products include PhotoJoy, a photo sharing and discovery product, HiYo, a graphic add-on to instant messaging software, and Magnetic, a wallpaper and screensaver software.

Jain was most recently Executive Vice President for Corbis.com and Chief Technology/Innovation Officer for Corbis, where he was responsible for the company's technology operations as well as its online consumer business. Prior to Corbis, Jain was Chief Technology Officer for American Greetings Interactive (AGI) for almost four years and played an instrumental role in the company's growth. During his tenure at AGI, he successfully completed four acquisitions.

Jain's experience also includes senior and executive management positions with AT&T Wireless, Portal Software Inc. (now Oracle), IBM, Taligent (a joint venture between Apple, HP and IBM), and Autodesk. He served on the board of Mobile Entertainment Forum from 2007 to 2008.

Jain received his M.S. from the University of Rochester and his B.S. from the Indian Institute of Technology. He holds 11 patents under his name.

Judge Horowitz has been active in the justice and legal systems for almost fifty years, and continues to be fully involved in efforts to improve the quality and delivery of justice to all. For many years he has chaired the Access to Justice Technology Committee of the Washington State Access to Justice (ATJ) Board, and has been a member of the ATJ System Impediments Committee. Judge Horowitz is a former Superior Court and Juvenile Court Judge in the State of Washington and for over thirty years has served as a mediator and arbitrator. He has also served as Senior Assistant Attorney General for the State of Washington, the first Chief Counsel for the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, where, among other accomplishments, he authored significant legislation such as Washington State’s Crime Victim Compensation Act, and Child Abuse Reporting Law. He later served as that Department's Deputy Secretary.

Judge Horowitz received his B.A. from Columbia University and his L.L.B. degree from Yale Law School. He has been a member of the Washington State Board of Bar Examiners, an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Puget Sound (now Seattle University) Law School, and an instructor for the National Institute of Trial Advocacy. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of Seattle University. He currently serves on the founding advisory board to the University of Washington Information School, the advisory boards of the Center for Law, Commerce and Technology at the University of Washington Law School and of the Access to Justice Institute of Seattle University School of Law, and on the National Advisory Board of the Fred T. Korematsu Center for Law and Equality at Seattle University School of Law. He is a Technical Support Member of the Washington State Minority and Justice Commission, and serves on various committees of the Washington State Bar Association and the Washington State Access to Justice Board.

He is a founder, past Board Chair and current Board member of Seattle SCORES, an after-school program for grade school boys and girls in low resource communities and schools that combines soccer, literacy through creative writing, and community service to empower at-risk children, enable them to discover their self-worth, and teach them the skills to obtain a meaningful education and live a successful life.

Alan Johnson was named director of Information Technology/CIO for Commercial Aviation Services director in June 2006. In September 2008, he was named director of the IT group supporting the Global Services & Support organization in IDS in addition to his CAS assignment. Prior to his current assignment, Johnson was director of Information Management, Boeing Information Technology. He was responsible for developing and implementing a data and information strategy within Boeing Information Technology.

Johnson previously served as Information & Data Services director of the Boeing Commercial Airplanes Information Systems Group. He was responsible for developing and implementing a data and information strategy within the Commercial Airplanes Information Systems Organization.

Johnson’s prior assignments have included serving as Information Systems director of the 737/757 Airplane Programs Group, and SSG-Internal Computing Information Services director for The Boeing Company. His responsibilities included all information systems support to the programs, the Renton site and Seattle Field; SSG-wide information systems and the support of those systems across all Shared Services Group (SSG) regions; managing production system operations and disaster recovery.

Johnson joined The Boeing Company in 1982 and has held computing and business assignments in Commercial Airplane, Space & Defense Systems and Shared Services Group, with strong emphasis on program and project management, information technology and product support.

Johnson is a graduate of Kansas State University, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science. Johnson also completed the Advanced Management Program at the Harvard Business School.

Kris M. Kutchera is the Vice President Information Technology for Alaska Air Group. She is responsible for managing and developing computer systems, information systems, and voice and data communication for Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air. Alaska has received widespread recognition for its application of technology to increase efficiency and productivity while improving customer service and convenience. InformationWeek magazine has recognized Alaska Airlines as one of the nation’s 100 most technologically innovative companies, and the company has been consistently listed in the InformationWeek 500.

A 20-year information technology veteran, Kutchera joined Alaska Airlines in May 2005 as managing director of IT applications, and was promoted to Vice President Information Technology in April 2008. She began her career at Boeing Computer Services and Capgemini America before moving on to leadership positions at Washington Natural Gas (now part of Puget Sound Energy), Fluke Corporation, and at F5 Networks, where she served as Vice President of IT for five years.

Kutchera earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin - Madison and graduated in June 2009 from the Executive M.B.A. program at the University of Washington.

Eric Larsen, CFA, Managing Director, is the head of the Information Systems group within BlackRock Alternative Advisors, the firm’s fund of funds platform.

Larsen joined BlackRock in 2007 following the acquisition of the fund of funds business of Quellos Group, LLC. At Quellos, he served as a Principal, and led the Information Technology Group. From 1997 to 1998, Mr. Larsen was a Senior Consultant with Metamor Technologies, responsible for managing information systems projects, technical designs and developing new business. He began his career with Andersen Consulting, LLP in 1992.

Larsen represents the UW Information School on the UW Foundation Board, where he serves as director. He also serves on the Finance Advisory Board for DePaul University.

Larsen earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois in 1992 and an M.B.A. with distinction from DePaul University in 1998.

Ed Lazowska holds the Bill & Melinda Gates Chair in Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Washington. Lazowska’s research and teaching concern the design, implementation, and analysis of high-performance computing and communication systems.

He is a member of the Technical Advisory Boards for Microsoft Research, Voyager Capital, Ignition, Frazier Technology Ventures, Madrona Venture Group, and Impinj, and of the Boards of Directors of Data I/O Corporation and Lguide.com. He is a member of the ACM Council, the Boards of Directors of the Washington Software Alliance and the Technology Alliance of Washington. He also serves on the Washington State Information Services Board, for which he was recognized in 2002 by Government Technology magazine as a member of the inaugural "GT 25" national leaders of information technology in state government.

Lazowska received his A.B. from Brown University in 1972 and his Ph.D. from the University of Toronto in 1977, when he joined the University of Washington faculty.

Peter McCracken is Co-Founder and Director of Research at Serials Solutions. Before founding Serials Solutions with two brothers and a high school friend, McCracken worked as a reference librarian at East Carolina University and the University of Washington. He has published articles in College & Research Libraries, C&RL News, portal, Serials Librarian, and more, and has been writing a quarterly column about maritime history on the internet for Sea History since 2004. He also maintains www.shipindex.org, a free site that tells individuals what books and journals mention over 100,000 ship names.

From its origins in McCracken's living room (and later his brother's basement), Serials Solutions has grown to a company of over 150 people, as part of the ProQuest family of companies since 2004. McCracken now lives near Ithaca, New York, where his wife is a faculty member at Ithaca College. They have a four-year-old son.

McCracken was recently selected in the inaugural Tompkins County "40under" competition as one of "Tompkins County's most prominent business and community leaders under the age of 40."

McCracken earned a B.A. in English at Oberlin College, a M.L.S. from UNC-Chapel Hill, and an M.A. in Maritime History from East Carolina University.

Paul Moulton joined Costco in 1985 as a store Manager in Portland, Oregon. He moved to Costco’s corporate headquarters in 1988 as the Vice President of Finance and Corporate Treasurer and was promoted to the Senior Vice President of International operations in 1992. In that capacity, he was based in the U.K. and opened Costco Europe. In 1995 he moved to Asia to start Costco operations in Korea, Taiwan and Japan. He returned to the U.S. in 1997 to become the head of Costco’s information technology. Subsequently, Moulton became the Executive Vice President of Ecommerce, Marketing and Member Services until moving to become the EVP in charge of Real Estate Department in 2001 where he remained until 2010. He now serves as the Executive Vice President, CIO of Costco Wholesale.

Moulton is currently the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Heritage University in Toppenish, Washington, is an elder at his church, and serves on two committees for Agros International of Seattle.

He received his undergraduate degree from the University of San Diego.

Dr. Sherri Rogalski develops in-house IP practices for emerging and large companies and has worked with companies from the virtual stage through acquisition. She is registered to practice before the USPTO.

She has expertise in intellectual property practices, patent prosecution, diligence and patent management including post merger consolidation of large patent and trademark portfolios.

Rogalski earned her Ph.D. in Pharmacology at the University of Washington. She volunteers with organizations that support children and education.

Tad Sommerville has pursued a number of different professional endeavors. He sold pleasure boats in 15 southern states, and managed sales internationally for a large boat builder. He owned and operated a small software company. He managed sales and marketing for an aluminum fabrication company, managed bond portfolios, and navigated and piloted a salmon tender in Alaska.

Currently, Sommerville is president of Sommerwind Group, a financial management company. He is a full-time real estate investor specializing in multi-family properties in Seattle, Tacoma and Palm Springs. Tad is also an investment trustee, managing the orderly liquidation of a large portfolio of loans and real property for distribution to creditors under an approved Chapter 11 bankruptcy plan.

Sommerville is married with three boys and one girl. He received his B.S. in finance from the University of Colorado, Boulder and received his M.B.A. from the University of Washington in 2002. At various times in his life, he could speak Mandarin, French and Japanese.

Washington Delta Dental is the leading oral healthcare benefits company in Washington and is part of the Delta Dental family, which is the largest oral healthcare insurance company in the nation. At WDS, Venkataramen will oversee the growth of early stage healthcare start-ups.

Formerly the CIO of Intellectual Ventures, Venkataraman was responsible for aligning and guiding the organization through the architecture road map and delivering software solutions to support business operations. His scope of control spanned across program management, technology architecture, software development and integration, infrastructure and service desk.

Before joining IV in 2006, Venkataraman was the Director of Technology Architecture and Development at Corbis, where he was responsible for emerging technology, technical architecture and development of business process automation tools. He has worked as a software consultant building products like Outlook, Enterprise Datawarehouses, Workflow Management Solutions, and Legal Billing Systems.

Venkataraman holds an MBA in Technology Management, an MS in Statistics and an advanced diploma in Software Engineering.