Mehdi Aftahi
is TEC's chief technology officer. His development work led to TEC Advisor, TEC’s world-class decision-making system. Aftahi also holds a patent on the algorithm behind ebestmatch, the engine that powers TEC Advisor.
Aftahi is an industry leader in the field of decision-making processes, and has assessed the requirements of IT decision makers, software vendors, consultants, and governments.
An expert in the area of matching customer criteria to software capabilities, Aftahi steered the creation of TEC’s best-practice software selection methodology.
Aftahi holds a Master’s degree in electrical and electronics engineering from the Middle East Technical University in Ankara (Turkey).
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Josh Chalifour
is TEC's Director, Knowledge Services and Internet Publishing. He is responsible for the development, management, and publication of TEC's research content. Chalifour writes articles, analyses, and research for TEC's free and open source software (FOSS) space. He coordinates with analysts, industry experts, vendors, consultants, and project leaders to develop and maintain TEC's knowledge bases on enterprise software. Chalifour has managed or assisted with numerous software selection and implementation projects.
Prior to working for TEC, he was a member of Intraware's Compariscope software analysis arm, where he researched corporate technology information and trends, designed and set up test environments, and was responsible for coordinating and developing Web content (enterprise software research, analyses, case studies, and white papers). Chalifour has also held positions as a system administrator responsible for a wide area network (WAN) spanning five cities, with several hundred computers; and as a telecommunications programmer, in which he was certified for AT&T PBX administration.
He graduated with a BA in philosophy from the University of California at Berkeley (US).
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Yu (Kurt) Chen
is a TEC research analyst with over 10 years of experience in IT strategy consulting and project management. With extensive experience in planning and realizing enterprise information systems, Kurt conducts software research oriented toward both business needs and market trends.
Before joining TEC, Kurt was a cofounder of a leading product lifecycle management (PLM) developer in China. As one of the early PLM advocators in China, Kurt contributed toward Chinese industry standards for enterprise information system implementations. More recently, as a consultant for a global manufacturer, Kurt was responsible for identifying issues and recommendations related to the management of environmental issues, which he sees as a key element to both manufacturing and IT governance best practices.
Kurt earned his MBA from HEC Montréal, Québec (Canada), with a concentration in IT management. He is also an SAP-certified consultant.
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Russell Cooper
is a business intelligence (BI) analyst for TEC. He has over 15 years of experience in the enterprise software industry, and has a keen interest in how organizations maximize the value of their existing data. During his career, Cooper has worked exclusively for companies that have built their businesses around the storage, movement, and retrieval of data—from electronic data interchange (EDI) to BI, from fourth-generation language (4GL) application development to geographic information systems (GISs). This experience has afforded Cooper a broad perspective on data and data management.
Now based in Ireland, Cooper has worked in the United Kingdom (UK), Australia, Japan, Canada, South Africa, the Netherlands, Denmark, and the United States (US). His consulting business focuses on helping organizations to understand their technical strengths and differentiators, and to articulate these to prospective customers. For more information, check out www.cherryconsulting.ie
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Sherry Fox, Manager of TEC's research analyst group, has over 20 years of experience in the private sector. Before joining TEC, Fox spent five years as vendor compliance administrator for a large Canadian retail clothing chain. She helped create and manage the department and provide support regarding policies and procedures to vendors all over the world. Fox also helped develop various programs related to environmental and human rights issues within the apparel industry, and participated in conferences on the subjects of sustainability and climate change.
Fox has been involved with several software implementation projects during her years in the retail industry. From deploying payroll software to integrating a benefits module, she was actively involved in all phases of these implementations.
A proficient writer of articles, online content, guides, and manuals, Fox has comprehensive knowledge in the areas of retail, manufacturing, compliance, and technology. She also has in-depth management experience with various enterprise segments, including payroll, human resources (HR), logistics, and compliance.
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Jorge García
is a BI research analyst for TEC. He has over 14 years of experience in all phases of application development and database design, as well as 7 years in project management. Prior to joining TEC, Jorge was a project leader and senior analyst developing applications for Oracle, Business Objects, and data integration. As a TEC research analyst, García is also responsible for the business performance management (BPM) knowledge base.
García has been involved in training, consulting, and project management for applications development. He has also worked on projects related to the implementation of BI solutions for the private sector, including the banking and services sectors. García also has experience in technical training and English-Spanish translation.
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Gabriel Gheorghiu
is an enterprise resource planning (ERP) research analyst with more than five years of experience with ERP systems in Europe and Canada. He was involved in the selection process for a dealer management system (ERP for the automotive industry) for the largest car manufacturer in Romania. Prior to joining TEC, Gabriel was an ERP consultant and corporate trainer for a Montréal, Québec (Canada)-based ERP vendor for the apparel industry.
Gabriel holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest (Romania), and a master's degree in territorial project management from Université Paris XII Val de Marne (France), along with an attestation d'études collégiales (AEC) in Oracle Administration at Herzing College in Montreal.
He has been involved in training, consulting, and project management in several fields, including transportation/logistics, insurance, car and spare parts manufacturing and distribution, apparel manufacturing and distribution, and real estate.
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Bob Hartmann
has over 25 years of extensive domestic and international experience in the selection and implementation of operational system support (OSS) and billing support system (BSS) layer software systems, with emphasis on customer care and billing (CC&B) systems. In the roles of operations manager, consultant, and project manager, he has assisted in developing CC&B requests for proposals (RFPs), evaluating vendor responses, and using and implementing CC&B systems. He has expertise in provisioning, mediation, financials, call centers, data warehousing, and data mining. He has also been an operations manager in the daily operation of CC&B systems.
Hartmann has worked with clients in the US, Canada, the UK, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Mexico, and Brazil.
Hartmann received both his BBA and an MBA in international finance from Western New England College in Springfield, Massachusetts (US).
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Predrag (PJ) Jakovljevic
is TEC's principal analyst, with a focus on the enterprise applications market. He has nearly 20 years of industrial experience within the discrete manufacturing sector, including the machinery and equipment, automotive, construction and engineering, and electronics industries.
Prior to joining TEC, Jakovljevic was a senior consultant in the package-based solutions (PBS) group of CAP Gemini in Houston, Texas (US), with Baan's Manufacturing and Logistics modules as his main field of expertise. At CAP Gemini, Jakovljevic was involved in system demonstrations, software gap analysis for prospective clients, and Baan implementation assignments.
Prior to joining CAP Gemini, Jakovljevic was employed as a senior consultant for Deloitte & Touche Consulting Group in Johannesburg (South Africa), where he specialized in Baan's Manufacturing and Logistics modules, and engaged in the processes of ERP package selections, as well as in proposal preparation. Jakovljevic participated as a team lead for manufacturing, and for service and maintenance package system integration. He has also served as a consultant for a Baan implementation of manufacturing modules at a manufacturer of special electronics systems. The following services were provided during the period of implementation: business requirements definition and software gap analysis, business process mapping to software functionality, software configuration and parameter setup, and key user training.
Jakovljevic holds a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Belgrade in Serbia (the former Yugoslavia). He has also been certified in production and inventory management (CPIM) and integrated resources management (CIRM), and is an Association for Operations Management (APICS)-certified supply chain professional (CSCP).
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Lane Leskela
is an accomplished enterprise technology professional with 15 years of influential enterprise technology market research, software marketing, and governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) program consulting experience. He is an acknowledged expert in IT risk and compliance, enterprise software program management, risk and compliance software functions, and the GRC software marketplace. Leskela has been involved in the evaluation of numerous GRC technology strategy, product selection, and implementation planning programs for large and medium businesses.
Leskela was the research vice president (VP) for enterprise risk and compliance management at Gartner Inc.; director of marketing and product marketing manager for Oracle and for PeopleSoft GRC applications; and most recently he was the VP of technology programs at the Open Compliance and Ethics Group (OCEG).
He has authored over 40 research publications and co-authored the original Oracle GRC Architecture and Services Guide. He has also created and published Gartner's Financial Compliance Process Management Software Magic Quadrant and Basel II Software Magic Quadrant.
Leskela holds a master's degree in international economics from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs. He received his bachelor's degree in international affairs and economics from Portland State University, Oregon (US). He is also a pending recipient of the Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT) certificate awarded each year by the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA).
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A.B. Maynard
has over 20 years of experience in the technology industry, focusing on management consulting and application software. He has executive leadership experience in the software industry, Big 4 consulting, and Fortune 1000 industrial companies, where he gained extensive experience in outsourcing, IT services, enterprise software solutions, and performance metrics.
In addition to directing client outsourcing sites, he has managed offshore outsourcing vendor selection, implementation, and program management projects. Maynard currently serves as the outsourcing analyst for TEC, and is president of Agilocity Consulting, a firm dedicated to helping companies improve their performance and profitability through technology and outsourcing.
Maynard has an MBA from Villanova University in Radnor Township, Pennsylvania (US), and a BE in industrial engineering from Georgia Tech in Atlanta, Georgia (US). He has been production and inventory management (CPIM) certified by the American Production and Inventory Control Society (APICS).
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Don McIntosh
has been involved with the development and management of learning for more than 30 years, with e-learning for more than 20 years, and with the evaluation of learning technologies for more than 10 years. McIntosh is TEC's analyst responsible for learning management applications, and is president of the consulting firm Trimeritus eLearning Solutions Inc.
From 1972 to 1995 at the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario (Canada), McIntosh was engaged in course development in various media including film, audio, video, and computer-based instruction. He served as director of teaching support services from 1990 to 1994, and from 1995 to 1997, McIntosh served as a director and consultant to the Delta Centre for Learning Technologies, where he evaluated current learning technologies. In 1997, he joined BC TEL (now TELUS) as manager of the design team for learning services, where his primary mandate was the implementation of online training. McIntosh is currently a member of the International Society for Performance Improvement (ISPI) and New Media BC, and is a founding member of eLearning BC, a marketing alliance of more than 40 e-learning companies in British Columbia (BC), Canada.
McIntosh obtained a BS in mathematics and physics from the University of Toronto in Ontario (Canada), an MS in television and radio, and a PhD in instructional technology from Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York (US).
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Aleksey Osintsev, as a research analyst at TEC, focuses on the areas of ERP, accounting, and finance, as well as retail solutions. He has over 17 years of experience in private sector IT, from both the application user and the corporate software development sides.
Prior to joining TEC, Aleksey was a project manager and chief information officer (CIO) at a smart instrumentation engineering, manufacturing, and servicing company. He led the IT department and was responsible for business systems, including ERP selections, implementation projects, and business processes change management. More recently, Aleksey went through a number of successful ERP implementations, system upgrades, and business management projects as a project coordinator and consultant in the food processing, electronic manufacturing, and apparel industries.
Aleksey earned his master's degree in industrial engineering and business administration at South Ural State Technical University (Russia).
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Khudsiya Quadri
brings more than 10 years of industry experience to her role as a supply chain management (SCM) research analyst at TEC. Khudsiya is responsible for researching new and emerging technologies in the SCM arena. Prior to joining TEC, Khudsiya was a senior business analyst with top original equipment manufacturer (OEM) Celestica. She led Celestica's global supply chain team to the delivery of multiple projects on time for a variety of customer bases. Khudsiya has a genuine talent for identifying supplier and company needs to achieve profitable, long-term win-win solutions. Khudsiya has a BE in industrial technology from Bemidji State University, Minnesota (US) and sales and distribution (SD) professional consultant certification from SAP.
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Mihai Badescu
is a senior project manager for TEC's project delivery group, where he is responsible for coordinating the delivery of selection projects. Badescu has an extensive background in project management methodologies and consulting.
Prior to joining TEC, Badescu a project manager for JCMB Technology, a software company catering to the electric, gas, and water utility markets. There he specialized in ERP systems and GISs for electric utilities, as well as in proposal preparation. Badescu also participated as a team lead for GIS and mobile computing system integrations.
Badescu holds a degree in Computer Science from College Edouard-Montpetit, Montréal, Québec (Canada) and has an MBA from the University of Las Vegas (US).
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Valentin Beranek
is a project manager for TEC's project delivery group. He has been involved in numerous ERP, customer relationship management (CRM), and BI selection projects for small and midsize companies, as well as for multisite and multinational companies.
Beranek has over 10 years of experience in project management. Before joining TEC, he worked in Europe as new product implementation manager for a multinational US-based company for which he managed a variety of manufacturing projects, as well as IT software and hardware projects.
Valentin earned a Bachelor's degree in electronics manufacturing in Europe.
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Mohammad Esmaeil Mansour
is the senior project consultant for TEC's major projects in the Middle East.
Prior to his graduation, Mansour was hired by Invera Inc. to work in the research and development (R&D) department in Montreal. Among his many tasks, he worked in programming and as a senior report writer. He was involved in creating report designs and development standards that were followed by all subsequent developers. Mansour also trained recruits who joined the development team.
After gaining experience in the IT field, Mansour joined the Alexander Group Inc. in the US as a consultant, and successfully completed a number of projects in different parts of the US prior to joining TEC.
Mansour graduated from McGill University in Montréal, Québec (Canada) with a BS in computer science.
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Denis Rousseau
is the manager of project delivery and project management consultant for TEC's major projects.
Rousseau is a multilingual planning and project management consultant with extensive international experience. Over the past 25 years, he has used planning, project management, and group dynamics to define project start-ups and to troubleshoot difficult situations in order to put projects back on track.
Rousseau is the former senior project management consultant for CANARAIL and Canadian Pacific Consulting Services, two internationally recognized railway consulting firms. In a similar position for Canadian Pacific Limited, the parent company of CP Rail, his experience has covered a wide variety of projects.
He holds a BS in psychology from l'Université de Montréal,Québec (Canada), and was educated in Mexico, Lebanon, Argentina, Canada, and France.
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Nasser Tehrani
, TEC's training specialist, is responsible for preparing a variety of training materials for both internal and external purposes, and for carrying out selection project delivery activities. Tehrani has worked on numerous key projects involving business process management (BPM), learning management systems (LMSs), and ERP.
Tehrani has more than 10 years of experience teaching and leading seminars at the university and college levels, while performing IT duties as director for NEFF, a German kitchen appliance manufacturer.
Before joining TEC, Tehrani was director of the IT faculty at Vienna Academy in Montréal, Québec (Canada).
Tehrani earned a BE and ME in electrical engineering from Concordia University in Montréal .
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Sadat Zaman
is TEC's ERP and HR research associate. Among his many responsibilities, Zaman works within TEC's consulting team to assist clients with their selection projects. He advises TEC users on best practices for enterprise software selection, and has worked on several large projects for BI, enterprise content management (ECM), and ERP. Among the groups he has worked with are Grant Thornton, Alvarez and Marsal, and Tatum, helping to support and advise them through their evaluation and selection processes.
Zaman earned his BEng and MEng in electrical engineering from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec (Canada).
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