Alex Berson is an internationally recognized expert, thought leader, author, and advisor in various areas of information technologies. Throughout his professional career, Alex held leadership technology and management positions in companies such as BearingPoint, Entrust, Merrill Lynch, enCommerce, Dun & Bradstreet, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Solomon Smith Barney, and others. He’s currently a chief technology architect for a major global financial services institution.
Alex holds graduate and postgraduate degrees in Applied Math and Computer Sciences and has an extensive scientific background in applied research with specific concentration on advanced areas of algorithmic computations, linear programing, computer simulations, and computing architectures. He taught undergraduate and graduate classes and lectured on these topics throughout his career.
Alex combines his extensive scientific background and practical industry experience by focusing his professional activities on advanced multi-disciplined areas of information technology such as Identity Management and Information Security; Master Data Management (MDM) and Customer Data Integration (CDI); CRM and Business Intelligence; Database technologies, including Column-store and very large databases (VLDB); data warehousing and data mining; service-oriented architecture (SOA); mobile computing; enterprise application integration (EAI), messaging, and middleware. Throughout his career, Alex has continued to successfully apply his knowledge, experience, and vision to creating complex ground-breaking solutions for financial services, manufacturing, pharmaceutical and technology industries.
Alex is a member of the Board of Directors of the Wall Street Technology Association (WSTA) and is a member of Standard & Poor’s Vista Research Society of Industrial Leaders (SIL). He actively participates in professional associations such as IEEE Computer Society, ACM, and Aberdeen Group’s Technology Forecasting Consortium; standards organizations including OMG, OASIS, Open Group; various industry consortia such as the Data Warehousing Institute (TDWI), and technical advisory boards of several technology companies.
Alex has published numerous direction-setting technical articles in trade magazines and online publications, and is the author and coauthor of a number of best-selling professional books, including Master Data Management and Data Governance; Master Data Management and Customer Data Integration for a Global Enterprise; Building Data Mining Applications for CRM; Data Warehousing, Data Mining and OLAP; Client/Server Architecture; SYBASE and Client/Server Computing; and APPC: Introduction to LU6.2.
Dr. Lawrence Dubov (Larry) is a recognized scientist, expert and thought leader in the implementation of complex business-driven technology solutions for financial services, banking, telecommunications, and pharmaceutical verticals, with the primary focus on Master Data Management (MDM), Customer Relationship Management (CRM), data warehousing, operational data stores, and service-oriented architecture. He has gained both depth and breadth of technical knowledge in multiple areas of Master Data Management, including data and solution architecture, matching technologies, customer-centric data transformations, data stewardship, and applications of information theory and advanced statistical methods to information quality. He has developed a strong holistic vision of the MDM problem domain and Master Data Governance implementation methodology based on practical experience gained through successful project implementations. He is an internationally recognized speaker and writer on the topics of Master Data Management and information management, quality, and governance. Larry has authored over 110 publications, with a recent focus on advanced mathematical methods in data governance, master data modeling, MDM roadmap development, business case definition, and accelerators for high complexity MDM programs and projects. In 2007 he coauthored a definitive book on MDM, Master Data Management and Customer Data Integration for a Global Enterprise.
Larry has held senior technology and management positions with IBM, Initiate Systems, Inc., and consulting companies, including BearingPoint and FutureNext ZYGA. Larry formerly worked as an independent consultant for a number of companies across various industry verticals. The list of Larry’s clients includes but is not limited to Fortune 1000 companies and established mid-size organizations, such as Merrill Lynch, Bessemer Trust, Washington Mutual, Cenlar Bank, Merck, Johnson & Johnson, Hoffmann La Roche, Aventis, Estée Lauder, AT&T, Daimler-Benz.
Larry spent two years at Princeton University as a visiting research scientist working on mathematical models for optimal control of molecular processes. Earlier, during his career in Russia, he gained a strong scientific background with Ph.D. and Dr. Sci. degrees in Mathematical Physics.
A combination of multiple backgrounds—science (physics, chemistry, and advanced math), a deep knowledge of information technology, and an understanding of business processes—helps Larry see unique approaches to complex business problems and offer their solutions.
About the Technical Editors
Bernard K. Plagman is cofounder and chairman of TechPar Group (TPG), a technology advisory services company that consults on all facets of the information technology (IT) industry. TPG has delivered strategic and tactical advisory services to over 160 clients in eight years, serving technology investors, vendors, and enterprise users.
Paul Raskas has 30+ years of Fortune 500 consulting experience, working as a senior consultant at IBM and as an independent consultant. His work addresses application and data solutions in financial services, pharmaceutical, telecom, utilities, and transportation industries. He combines industry domain knowledge and cross-industry strategies, focusing on data architecture, data integration, data quality, Master Data Management, data governance, and Business Intelligence solutions.