Story Robert Van Cleef ’94 Photos Patricia Hanlon
support of improving Gordon College’s business processes. At the director level, the Implementation Core Team was composed of many campus office and department representatives who directed not only their own departments but also guided other departments that would be using the systems. The Core Team members were Kim Mather ’78B, Nancy Anderson ’73, Barbara Layne, Carol Herrick, Chris Dawson, Dan O’Connell, Chris Carlson, Terry Charek, Phil Williams ’89 and June Bodoni ’82. Without the dedication and creativity of Gordon College’s IT departments, this project would not have been successful. Coming right off of development of the new www.gordon. edu website, the Information Systems Group (ISG) team—Dave Andrade ’89, Dan Savlon, Paul Bruce x’03, Heather Gaillard and Jon Williams ’90—directed the data conversion, secured the new systems, developed integrations between the systems, and provided technical assistance to the users as they became familiar with the “new world.” The Network Systems Group (NSG)—Russ Leathe, Brian Vienneau ’04, Mike Binns ’04 and Blake Whitney ’04—also provided servers, network and infrastructure support. Some offices not immediately associated with this type of project were asked to step up and participate including Athletics, the Global Education Office, Public Safety, the Health Center and Career Development Services. Within the last year almost every faculty or staff member has had to participate in at least some training to use one or more of these new systems, whether in purchasing and researching budget reports or receiving a paycheck through our new payroll system.
Although significant elements of this project will be continuing for another year or so, the technology transformation process hit a critical milestone on March 14 when we declared Jenzabar EX, the major component of this project, “live.” This milestone especially signified the end of a seven-year quest for Jon Williams, director of Information Services, who had been seeking the replacement of the VAX/POISE well before I arrived as a staff member at Gordon. In addition to Jenzabar EX being declared “live,” the VAX/POISE system which had faithfully served the College for many years was officially replaced as the “system of record.” On March 14 whole new worlds of opportunities and capabilities were opened up to the College.
IN THEIR WORDS
“We are excited about the benefits our new administrative software will bring to data management at Gordon College. In development for several years, the Jenzabar EX program will provide easy
Dan O’Connell, associate director of Student Financial Services; Paul Bruce, systems developer; Chris Dawson, student billing counselor; and Karen Coley, Student Financial Services counselor.
Gordon College celebrated the Jenzabar EX launch on April 23. Pictured: Dan Tymann, executive vice president for advancement, communications and technology; Bob Maginn, Jenzabar CEO; Jim MacDonald, senior vice president for finance and administration; and President Jud Carlberg.
flow of information and data from one office to another and will add many new communication capacities to our outreach beyond the campus.” —R. Judson Carlberg President
Implementation Core Team members Phil Williams, director of development operations, and Carol Herrick, assistant dean and registrar.
Rob Van Cleef, M.A.T.H., is the technology program manager for Gordon College and lives in Beverly, Massachusetts, with his wife, son and mother-in-law. robert.vancleef@gordon.edu
SUMMER 2008 | STILLPOINT 33