Our Team

President, Unlimited Priorities

Iris L. Hanney

Iris L. Hanney is the founder and president of Unlimited Priorities.

Prior to founding Unlimited Priorities Iris served as President, Information Publishing Group of Techbooks and Senior Vice-President, Sales and Marketing. As key administrator for every aspect of the group’s operations, both domestically and internationally, Iris directed production, project management, sales and marketing, with additional key responsibilities in IT, human resources, invoicing and collections.

Before joining TechBooks, Iris was General Manager, U.S. Operations, for Pacific Data Conversion Corp. (PDCC), where she had full responsibility for sales and marketing while also managing the administrative, financial and production functions of the company. She joined PDCC during its founding in 1993, remained through its acquisition by SPI Technologies in 1998, and left to join TechBooks in 2002. During an extensive career in information publishing, Iris has had increasingly responsible roles with a number of information industry leaders including The H. W. Wilson Company, R. R. Bowker, BRS Information Services and Saztec International.

Originally from New York City, Iris earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications from H. H. Lehman College, Bronx, NY, and an MBA in sales, marketing and communications from Fordham University in New York. She resides in Florida with her husband and three dogs.

Administration & Technology Team

Joe Paulsen

Since early 1994, Joseph Paulsen has been consulting on projects requiring the design and implementation of document and other database information retrieval systems, including the development of XML-based systems for web site search interfaces. He is skilled in a multitude of systems and computing languages, data transformations, and automation of database production and reporting processes.

Mr. Paulsen began consulting in 1994 after leaving InfoPro Technologies, where he served as Vice President of Software Development and Systems Integration for its BRS Software Products division. He directly ‘wrote’ major portions of the search engine that formed the basis of the BRS Online Systems information service and other retrieval products. From 1999-2001, Mr. Paulsen served as Vice President of Software Development at Ovid Technologies.

Prior to joining BRS in 1980, Mr. Paulsen served as the Director of Applications Design and Development for the New York State Office of Court Administration (1977 through 1980). From 1971 through 1977, he served as the Manager of Online and Library Systems Development for the State University of New York Central Administration. Mr. Paulsen began his career as a Systems Engineer for IBM in 1968, after graduating from the State University of New York at Albany, where he received a BS with high honors in Mathematics.

Mr. Paulsen’s depth of knowledge and experience in the analysis, design and organization of information solutions for databases and electronic publishing, combined with his empathy to customer needs, provides an excellent source for assessing, designing, and/or acquiring information technologies.

Stephen Simon

Stephen Simon specializes in designing and implementing XML-based workflows. Stephen has more than 25 years of experience in typesetting, data conversion, and database publishing. He also has more than 10 years experience managing off-shore production.

Stephen currently works as a consultant. Until recently he was Director of Production and Development for the Information Publishing Group of TechBooks (now Aptara) in Falls Church, Virginia. Stephen was with TechBooks for more than 12 years. Before that he was Technical Support Manager for the Publishing Services Division of ATLIS Systems now in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Stephen graduated from the University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He now lives in Virginia with his wife, five cats and a dog.

Learn more about Stephen R. Simon.

Charlotte Spinner

Charlotte has a 24-year history in the information industry. In 1999, she founded Effective Systems Solutions, LLC, a Virginia-based consulting firm providing a full range of database and web services. As Principal, she offers web application development, database design and development, XML and other data interchange, conversion, cleansing and formatting services, and process/workflow improvements. Charlotte serves as Webmaster at Unlimited Priorities.

During her 12-year tenure with the American Psychological Association in Washington, DC, Charlotte helped to develop and support the PsycINFO database. She gained across-the-board data management skills, became an expert indexer, and staffed PsycINFO’s exhibit at various conferences around the world. In addition to possessing high-level technical skills, Charlotte understands the communication challenges inherent in today’s complex technological world. She often serves as a trainer and educator, and brings a sensible approach to problem solving and project management.

Charlotte has spoken and conducted workshops at several professional conferences, including Information Today, Cuadra STAR Users Meetings, and the DC Chapter of the Special Libraries Association. A native of upstate New York, Charlotte earned a Bachelor of Science degree from St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY. She currently resides in Alexandria, VA with her foster children.

Learn more about Charlotte Spinner.

Al Stevens

Albert L. (Al) Stevens has spent his career applying advanced information technology to solve complex problems. His expertise includes open source technologies, cloud computing, network architecture, complex web hosting, data bases, XML, semantic modeling and technology sourcing. Most recently, he had the responsibility for all technology development, IT infrastructure and content conversion at Credo Reference Ltd. At Credo, Al recruited and led the team to simplify and modernize the hosting of Credo’s reference service, moving to a 100% cloud-based architecture. Because of the success with the cloud transition, Al was asked to to join a key Rackspace Hosting cloud advisory committee to provide feedback on their managed cloud service. Al also led the effort to re-architect, design, and implement all layers of Credo’s web-based reference service using best-of-breed open source technologies. This new version of the service was reviewed by Library Journal and rated higher than all other reference services with the maximum of four stars in all seven categories. In addition to these projects, Al redesigned and implemented a new content conversion and publication process that improved cost and efficiency by a factor of more than ten. In 2010, he led the design and development of Credo’s newly introduced topic pages, which use semantic technologies to select, organize and present topics from Credo’s reference data base.

Prior to joining Credo, Al spent a year in central Mexico where he introduced wireless technologies to underserved organizations to connect them to the Internet. He co-founded Kaon Interactive in 1996 and helped guide the company through its initial evolution from a multi-player game company into its present day focus as an innovator in 3D product modeling and virtual product presentations.

Prior to founding Kaon, Al held positions of increasing responsibility at Bolt Beranek and Newman (BBN), the company responsible for developing many core Internet technologies. At BBN, Al worked on email systems, computer-based tutoring systems, artificial intelligence systems and large-scale networked simulation systems. Among other accomplishments, he led the group that developed the architecture used by the US military to connect simulators together into large realistic virtual worlds.

Al has a PhD in Cognitive Science from the University of California at San Diego where he studied with Donald A. Norman, one of the world’s foremost experts on human computer interaction. He lives with his wife, Doreen in Boston, MA and spends part of each year in Mexico.

Learn more about Al Stevens.

JD Thomas

JD Thomas has a passion for exploring new ways to communicate, collaborate, and share information in ways that enhance the value and usefulness of the information. He takes pleasure in educating people on how to make the most of the technology that surrounds them in ways that pay real dividends for both individuals and organizations.

JD gives workshops on crafting websites to be both discoverable and socially engaging using strictly ‘White Hat’ search engine and social media optimization (SEO/SMO) techniques. His skills and perspective have helped a variety of businesses and libraries create a stronger connection with their patrons.

Frank Zirpolo

Frank Zirpolo is a Senior Technology Executive specializing in sales support, infrastructure, customer service and operations. Frank has oversight for technology support issues at Unlimited Priorities. He is currently Senior Director, Sales Business Systems at WebMD. Prior to joining WebMD, Frank was with Reed Business Information where he held positions as Vice President, IT Network Infrastructure, Vice President, IT Operations & Planning, and Vice President, Program Management and Mergers & Acquisitions.

Prior to joining Reed, Frank was Senior Director, Client Services at Ziff Davis where he supported a technology information sales team, their customers and their products. Frank has also held positions of increasing responsibility at BRS Information Technologies, JA Micropublishing and R.R. Bowker.

Frank holds Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from The City College of New York, and currently resides in New Jersey with his wife.

Client Services Team

Cheryl D. Crosby

Cheryl D. Crosby is the founder and principal of CDC Consultants, a Maryland-based consulting firm, focused on developing targeted sales strategies that are customized for each client. Areas of expertise include identifying what’s needed to increase sales and implementation in the library and publishing markets, proposal writing, tactical planning and relationship building. Cheryl is honored to be a part of Unlimited Priorities‘ team of experts since February of 2008. Cheryl has been one of Unlimited Priorities‘ top sales members.

From June 2004 to December 2008, Cheryl served as Paratext’s outsourced National Sales Manager and was also responsible for managing consortial sales for Paratext’s cumulative research services for scholarly reference works. As National Sales Manager, Cheryl created a tactical plan for Paratext which more than doubled Paratext’s sales at that time.

Cheryl has an extensive background in sales, as well as over twenty years of sales experience in the library and publishing industry including working in a sales capacity with companies such as Dynix (now known as SirsiDynix), Gaylord Information Systems (now known as Polaris Library Systems), Chadwyck-Healey, TechBooks and Polaroid.

Cheryl is a native of Wisconsin and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and her Master of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Cheryl resides in Maryland with her husband and their two sons.

Learn more about Cheryl D. Crosby.

Bonnie B. Hawkwood

Bonnie has spent her career serving the library and electronic publishing communities by developing and producing databases for librarians, business professionals, students, and physicians. Her specialties are eBook platforms and periodical aggregation. Bonnie was employed at Thomson Gale in roles ranging from business development to product management. Before joining Gale, she directed the startup of the editorial department for MD Consult in St. Louis. Her career began with abstracting, indexing, and editorial management at Data Courier, which was acquired by UMI (now ProQuest).

Originally from Cincinnati, Bonnie earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at Vanderbilt University. She is currently a consultant and lives in Richmond, Virginia, close to her daughter’s growing family.

Learn more about Bonnie B. Hawkwood.

Marjorie Hlava

Marjorie (Margie) Hlava founded Access Innovations, Inc. in 1976, two years after joining the Special Libraries Association. She served as Chapter President for the 79-80 year, and by 1983 she was Chair-Elect of the Information Technology Division. She has been active in the association since, serving as Chair of the Technical Standards Committee for eight years, on other committees as needed, on the Board of Directors, and currently as Chair of the Bylaws Committee. Paula Hane, writing in the November 2004 ITI Newslink, called her “a leading light in many industry organizations”.

Margie makes at least a half dozen presentations each year, from explaining the basics of thesaurus development and indexing to introducing the newest concepts in information organization and delivery. She speaks at university symposiums, continuing quality improvement seminars, conference workshops, and industry gatherings. Among her awards is Lazerow Lecturer at Long Island University in 2002.

Margie is the holder of three patents. She has guided her company’s software development efforts to produce thesaurus management, machine-aided indexing, and XML database tools that unlock the riches of specialized libraries for their users and sponsors.

An advocate of clear and relevant industry standards, Margie represented SLA at the National Standards Institute during her tenure as Technical Standards Committee Chair and contributed significantly to maintaining current and responsive thesaurus construction standards as well as advising on other related NISO/ANSI standards.

The integration of thesaurus and search engine, as exemplified on SLA’s website, improves the retrieval rate of related items in a collection. The integration of the rule base created for machine-aided indexing with the search engine adds a way to link search words with the thesaurus and in context. Margie’s vision of this valuable improvement drove the development of a new feature in her company’s Data Harmony software suite.

Learn more about Marjorie Hlava.

Diane J. Hoffman

Diane has been involved in marketing information products and services for over 35 years.

Most recently she worked for RefWorks-COS (a division of ProQuest) and was responsible for expanding and growing COS funding and collaboration tools. Prior to that she was Senior Director Product Management, Life Sciences, where she was responsible for the direction of the CSA Natural and Life Science products and services. Diane joined CSA in 2001 where she was based in Oxford, UK for three years as Director, CSA Business Development Europe. Preceding joining CSA, she had her own consulting company Hoffman Information Services, where she currently works.

Formerly she held the position of Vice President of Marketing and Distribution at BIOSIS where she was responsible for marketing, sales, advertising, education, customer services, licensing and new product development. Before joining BIOSIS, Diane was involved in marketing print services for the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) and electronic services for Bibliographic Retrieval Service (BRS) and Disclosure. She was also involved in creating electronic chemical products for various Maxwell companies including Molecular Design Ltd. and Maxwell Online.

Previous to her segue into the information marketing area, Diane received her MSLS from Syracuse University in 1972 and worked for Syracuse University and SUNY-Oswego as Science Librarian.

Learn more about Diane J. Hoffman.

Donna Lynn

Donna Lynn applies her twenty-five years of experience to help organizations achieve revenue growth through successful business development and partnering; implement strategic change to increase customer satisfaction and achieve operational excellence and bottom line growth; and execute M&A and exit plans for business owners. Her background encompasses new venture establishment, P&L and operations management, strategic planning, global sales and business development, product development and commercialization; venture capital raising and M&A.

Donna was a co-founder, President and COO of KnowledgeMax, Inc., an eBusiness, supply chain firm providing knowledge resources, print-on-demand services, and knowledge management to Fortune 500 corporations. She led the raise of early stage capital rounds and the successful capture of a multi-year, multimillion-dollar contract with IBM to launch the company.

Donna was President of the U.S. operations of SilverPlatter Information, Inc. where she developed new business and financial plans for the U.S. company and built the sales organization. Donna restructured operations and business processes to serve customers and business partners more effectively and realize bottom line growth through productivity improvements.

Donna was co-founder and later CEO of Online Computer Systems, Inc., a pioneer in the development of electronic publishing and multimedia technologies, integrated library systems, and custom information systems. Online was acquired by Reed Elsevier and Donna led the company for eleven years after the acquisition.

Donna began her career in the aerospace industry at Cape Kennedy, having studied mathematics and business at the University of Florida and Florida Institute of Technology. She continues to serve on Boards of Directors and Advisors to emerging market companies. She and her husband live in the Washington, D.C. area and Florida.

Learn more about Donna Lynn.

Delores Meglio

Delores Meglio is a recognized expert in the field of digital publishing and production, database management and content aggregation. With more than 25 years in the electronic publishing, Ms. Meglio’s recent consulting ventures have been: creation of specialized health database, production staff, procedures, policies, systems for small minority-owned company; new corporate startup to create and build a cultural arts database for consumers with PDA access. Prior to consulting, Ms Meglio, as Senior Vice President for Ziff-Davis and Thomson Corporation, produced more than 100 highly profitable online and Web-enabled databases in the key industry areas of technology, business, health and the general consumer interest areas of culture, books, travel, food and biographies. Additionally, as Vice President of the New York Times information division, she developed ground-breaking databases for the White House, oil, gas and energy industries.

Ms. Meglio is a graduate of City College of New York, holds a Masters Degree in Information Science from St. John’s University and attended the INSEAD European Management Institute in Fountainbleu, France. In 1992, Ms. Meglio won the YWCA Tribute to Women in Business Award.

Learn more about Delores Meglio.

Richard Oppenheim

Richard Oppenheim is a business and personal coach helping individuals and companies focus on short term actions that serve as the foundation for achieving long term goals. The key is Richard’s unique skill to help his clients get unstuck. His work creates a personal road map for the individual and the enterprise to advance past a starting line and move forward.

Richard’s background includes over 4 decades of designing and implementing computer applications. As a CPA, he was an early innovator of computer technology to integrate business processes, personal actions, technology resources and decision making. Richard began working with computer based professional education courses in 1985. In 2000, he co-founded a company providing on-line education courses covering the areas of security, management and audit control over IT operations.

As an adjunct professor at NYU’s Graduate School of Business, Richard served as a Director with NYU’s Management Decision Laboratory. He graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and did post-graduate work at New York University.

An accomplished writer, Richard has authored two helpful resource books: Getting You Past Go and ABCs of Getting Unstuck. For more than 25 years he has been a frequent contributing writer for professional trade publications.

Richard’s journey continues to guide and illuminate the path that others need to take. His path has taken him to Denver where he lives with his wife and is open to visits from their 10 grandchildren.

Learn more about Richard Oppenheim.

Christopher G. Pooley

Before his consulting career Chris was Vice-President of Business Development at Thomson Scientific and Healthcare where he was responsible for acquisitions and strategic partnerships. While at Thomson, he managed strategic acquisitions that included: IHI, Current Drugs, BIOSIS and Delphion.

Previously he was CEO of Books 24×7, an aggregator of computer trade books that was acquired by SkillSoft. Leveraging the content from major computer trade book publishers including Macmillan, Osborne, McGraw-Hill, O’Reilly & Associates, Wiley, Sybex and others, Books 24×7 developed a subscription service for IT professionals.

At Pro CD, an aggregator of telephone books, Chris managed sales and distribution while adding telephone content from Canada and Germany that was distributed on CD-ROM, the Internet, and licensed to 3^rd parties including AOL, Yahoo, and InfoSpace. As the 3^rd employee at SilverPlatter Chris held a variety of senior positions as the company’s product line grew to over 300 databases for delivery on CD-ROM and the Internet to global library subscribers.

Chris is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and holds an MBA from Babson College in Wellesley, MA.

Learn more about Christopher G. Pooley.

Jay A. Rosenfield

Jay Rosenfield

Jay received his B.S.E. from the Wharton School. He went on to work for Ringe Media, a national republican consulting firm, assisting in campaigns for many gubernatorial, senate and congressional candidates, including Governors Carroll Campbell and Bob Martinez.

After moving back to Rhode Island, Jay founded a computer company focused on the legal and municipal markets. He was the IT consultant for several cities and towns, providing oversight for some of the first microcomputer implementations in the state.

In 1994, Jay co-founded CompBase, a company that provides easy access to public information. CompBase works with state and local governments to help them sort and organize their paper documents and, in turn, convert them into useful, searchable web-based information.

In addition to his primary companies, Jay founded Compass Medical, a regional distributor of Physio-Control Lifepak defibrillators and he was also vice-president of operations for Galen Technologies, a start-up medical technology company.

Jay is a born entrepreneur with a passion for “behind the scenes” aspects of a company. Jay resides in Cranston Rhode Island, with his wife, two children and a dog.

Learn more about Jay A. Rosenfield.

Howard Stanbury

Howard Stanbury is an experienced publishing professional with extensive knowledge of scholarly and information publishing in online and print environments–including databases, web sites, journals, reference works, monographs and textbooks. He is customer and market focused, and enjoys working closely with users and other stakeholders to identify product features and market opportunities.

As Head of Publishing at the International Food Information Service (IFIS) Howard was responsible for the specification and development of FSTA Direct, the company’s web search platform for Food Science and Technology Abstracts–FSTA. Accordingly, Howard offers strengths in user-centred product development and project management together with a broad understanding of e-publishing issues and technologies.

Prior to joining IFIS in 1999, Howard offered consultancy services built on strategic insights for list and programme development and working closely with clients to achieve business aims. His achievements included starting a new chemistry textbook series for a client publisher; preparing a bespoke report on publishing opportunities in biological chemistry; and founding an editorial office for a start-up medical publisher.

At Oxford University Press (1977-98) Howard built an extensive list of chemistry publications for scholarly, professional and student markets. He managed the world’s most successful physical chemistry textbook through five editions and commissioned a number of other major publications that formed the foundation of OUP’s higher education publishing in the sciences. Latterly he managed all the scholarly and professional titles in the biomolecular sciences before becoming college science publisher.

Howard holds a B.Sc. in the biological sciences from the University of East Anglia, Norwich, and lives in Oxford in the UK with his wife and son.

Learn more about Howard Stanbury.

Peter Stevens

Peter Stevens has held sales, marketing and management positions at a number of companies within the information industry, including UMI, IAC, ISI, JA Micropublishing, RR Bowker, Newsbank, Ethnic Newswatch and Pacific Data Conversion Corp. He formed his current consulting company in 2002.

Peter and his wife, Louise, live in Bryn Athyn, PA. He holds a B.A. in English from Drake University.

Jay Ven Eman

Jay Ven Eman, Ph.D.

Jay Ven Eman, CEO, Access Innovations, Inc., Albuquerque, New Mexico, has been with Access Innovations since December, 1978. He has been active in all aspects of its business. He has overseen Access’ database production services where he was responsible for the design and conversion of large, legacy databases for a variety of government and private organizations. He writes, conducts workshops, consults, and helps build large scale, complex, information rich databases. He has presented papers and workshops at ASIS&T, SLA, ASIDIC, InternetWorld, Online – London, AGSI – Netherlands and many others. Before joining Access, he worked for the University of New Mexico at the Technology Applications Center, where he specialized in technology transfer and information dissemination of space technology to the commercial arena. He received his Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior from the University of Colorado in Boulder.

Jay joined Access Innovations in December, 1978. As Chief Executive Officer, he has contributed to every aspect of the business. He has overseen Access’ database production services where he was responsible for the design and conversion of large, legacy databases for a variety of government and private organizations. He writes, conducts workshops, consults, and helps build large scale, complex, information rich databases. Jay works closely with the professional staff, developing and presenting workshops and seminars on database development, legacy file conversions, SGML and HTML, and other related topics.

Learn more about Jay Ven Eman.

E. George Woodley

George Woodley

Mr. Woodley’s first exposure to products and processes was in implementing a statistical process control (SPC) system for the W.C. Wood Co. in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Subsequent SPC programs were also developed for Diemaco Inc., a defense industry company; for Chicopee Manufacturing, an aerospace component manufacturer; and Automation Tooling Systems, a tier one supplier to Ford Motor Company.

It was with Ford Motor Company where George was hired on as a trainer/facilitator in the problem-solving arena. His focus was on training Ford engineers and suppliers in the Global 8 Discipline process.

Other technical courses that George became certified in included Failure Mode and Effects Analysis, Reliability, Process Control Methods and Design of Experiment. George was certified as a Master Trainer/Lead Instructor for the Six Sigma Black Belt Train-the-Trainer program, offered by Ford Motor Company.

Other major clients include Motorola, Washington Mutual and R.R. Donnelley, Alltel, the U.S. Coast Guard, the American Red Cross, Capital One, CIBC Mellon, Freddie Mac, the Royal Bank of Canada, and the Federal Reserve. George has conducted various Black Belt and Master Black Belt training courses for companies such as American Super Conductor, Quality & Productivity Solutions, and the American Red Cross.

George graduated from the University of Guelph in 1980 with a B. S. in Statistics and is an American Society for Quality Certified Six Sigma Master Black Belt.

Learn more about E. George Woodley.