What was your first job and what did you learn from it?

In the mid-1980's, rural health planning was a very significant issue and a great concern for public and legislative officials as well as for health care providers.

Directly employed by Southeastern College of Osteopathic Medicine, I provided strategic health planning, implemented performance reviews, and developed a residents and intern rotation program. This application received national exposure due to the fact that residents and interns alike were tracked, traced, and reported on for the duration of service to their diverse practitioner affiliations. Such affiliations included hospitals and institutions for teaching and research.

As I reported directly to the Dean of Clinical Affairs, much of my early research and planning efforts impacted policy-making authorities, health insurers, clinics, physician groups, and health care purchasers. Rembrandt best sums up early professional lessons learned and my continued attitude towards knowledge: "Try to put well in practice what you already know. In so doing, you will, in good time, discover the hidden things you now inquire about."

Who is your hero, mentor or person you most admire? Why?

Since childhood, I would have to say that the name Eleanor Roosevelt summons images of my authoritative female hero - an aggressive, determined leader who was a champion for lending a voice to women's political, gender, and health issues. Her many contributions continue to provide me with inspiration for removing the walls separating women and information technology. Her name is synonymous with public service and her following of concerned citizens has helped guide my actions. As an entrepreneur and business owner, Mrs. Roosevelt's integrity has helped me promote established practices, to seek ways to provide a higher quality of commitment, and to deliver services in a humane and caring manner.

Known for her tough questioning, Mrs. Roosevelt's approach towards communication and issues advocacy has allowed Management Technology Group, Inc. to honor her achievements and to adapt, and to mold our knowledge of technology and business processes on behalf of our clients. In doing so, MTGroup has been able to deliver higher quality and more cost effective strategic IT services.

These accomplishments should accelerate our level of consistent performance and position us to create a coherent and sustainable strategic direction into the new millennium.

What is your favorite book?

Winston and Clementine: The Personal Letters of the Churchill's, edited by their daughter, Mary Soames.

What advances in your field do you envision over the next 10 years?

Looking through my web-enabled crystal ball, while the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, Intelligent Systems and security standards are being debated, I would predict that there are three forces shaping the sustainability of knowledge space: VIVO (voice in voice out technology), Tech-Knows and Tech-Nots, and the recognition that cyberspace is altering user perceptions. One of Einstein's most famous quotes is his reminder that "we cannot solve our problems with the same thinking that created them."

The utilities and long-term care industries will be two sectors taking a big gamble - preparing their organizations for the future. Both are uniquely dealing with demographic trends, regulatory constraints, and the role of buyouts, collaborations, and development trends (which include assisted living and power brokers). While there are plenty of tough competitors on the horizon, those with established reputations, excellent products and services, and institution-friendly treatment standards will still face new and expansive consumers coming from the Web.

What do you see as the single most interesting element of your work?

As the framework for digital literacy is established, one of my great challenges is to monitor trends and to develop strategic agendas for corporations and quasi-governmental bodies.

What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishment?

Favorably positioned in a rapidly changing, competitive IT marketplace, my greatest accomplishment has come from my greatest loss: being downsized in an industry that systematically and continually suffers from IT brain drain. Through downsizing, I became resilient and was able to singularly procure a contract with a public utilities. In doing so, I was successful at claiming a niche in researching and assessing the dynamics of the utility marketplace with the goal of improving their core IT communication strategies. Favorably positioned, with a public administration and library science background combined with IT core competencies, has caught the attention and development dollars within the deregulated utilities industry. However, despite this accomplishment, my most daring step may be in publishing proprietary documents.

What was your greatest challenge and what did you learn from it?

As a member of the World Future Society, the immediate challenges I look forward to as the new millennium approaches is entwining IT with provoking visionary thinking on what changes we as a society will be faced with in economics, library science and education. In addition, I will be challenged with how media literacy standards will be required to realize future system dynamics and scenario planning.

What advice would you give to young women who want to enter your field?