Resume

Education

California Institute of Technology (Distinguished Alumni Award, 2013)
B.S. Engineering, 1976-80
M.S. Applied Physics, 1978-80

Stanford University
Ph.D. Studies in Electrical Engineering, 1980-81

Professional Experience

Founded Tech Matters to leverage the power of technology to support field-level, large-scale positive social change. Working with social change leaders to understand what technology can and cannot do, and building the tech solutions behind solving a social problem.

Founded and operated one of the first technology for social good nonprofit organizations focused on delivering large-scale change in education, disability, human rights, and the environment. Created the Bookshare online library for people with disabilities currently serving more than 600,000 students and adults worldwide, the Martus secure system for documenting human rights violations, the Human Rights Data Analysis Group and Miradi, project management software for the environmental and conservation movements. Was originally the largest maker of reading systems for people with blindness, vision impairment and learning disabilities.

Co-founded one of the nation’s leading companies in optical character recognition technology for processing forms in postal and medical applications. RAF’s software is used to route the United States mail. Served as RAF’s President & CEO, 1989-96; Vice President Finance, CFO, 1989-2004.

Co-founded the first company to develop omnifont optical character recognition that works without user training. Served as Vice President, Marketing, 1987-89; Vice President, Finance, 1982-88.

• Phoenix Engineering, Inc.
• G.C.H., Inc.
• IBM T.J. Watson Research Center
• General Motors Company
• NASA — Jet Propulsion Laboratory
• Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory

Selected Publications

• “Innovation in America: The Role of Technology,” Testimony before U.S. House of Representatives, Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet, August 1, 2013
• “Social Change at Scale – That’s Innovation!” TEDxSanJose, San Jose, CA, May 2012
• “The Power of Failure, People and Karma Banking,” Commencement speech, St. Mary’s College, Moraga, CA, May 20, 2012, reprinted in Huffington Post, May 29, 2015

• Doctor of Humane Letters (honoris causa), Northern Illinois University, December 2016
• Head of Delegation, Diplomatic Conference to Conclude a Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works by Visually Impaired Persons and Persons with Print Disabilities, World Intellectual Property Organization, Marrakesh, Morocco, 2013
• Caltech Distinguished Alumni Award, 2013
• Duke University, CASE Award for Enterprising Social Innovation, 2011
• Migel Medal, American Foundation for the Blind, 2013
• John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Fellowship, 2006
• Technical Advisory Committee Member, National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard, U.S. Department of Education, 2005-2008
• Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship, 2006
• Schwab Foundation Outstanding Social Entrepreneur of 2003 Award