About the Authors
CHRISTOPHER M. AVERY
[email protected]
Husband, father, learner, eagle scout, and president of Partner-werks, Christopher M. Avery, Ph.D. continuously searches for the most effective means of working together. As a business advisor, Avery remains very concerned with the underlying win/lose design philosophy for work in organizations. His mission is to add to business’s bottom line through the application of collaborative practice for people in competitive environments. A sampling of his clients includes 3M, AMD, Charles Schwab & Company Electronic Brokerage, Exxon, IBM, Motorola, Nokia, TV Guide Interactive, and Wells Fargo Bank.
Each year Avery speaks at dozens of corporate meetings around the globe inspiring people to breakthroughs that advance their work and personal relationships. As a result of Partnerwerks’ accelerated learning programs designed by Christopher and his colleagues, thousands of scientists, engineers, professionals, and executives in scores of companies have dramatically improved their ability to get more done with peers.
Over one hundred of his articles on trust-building, achieving rapid consensus, leading people who don’t report to you, motivating peers, and collaborating under competitive conditions 193
194have been published in academic and trade journals, newsletters, and magazines. Subscribers around the world read TeamWisdom Tips, his digital weekly. Avery also writes a monthly column for the 3M Meeting Network (www.3m.com/meetingnetwork).
For his doctoral research Avery studied technology transfer at MCC, the first major R&D consortium, and earned his Ph.D. in the Communication of Technology from The University of Texas at Austin. That research is reported in The Journal of Technology Transfer, and in Technology Transfer in Consortia & Strategic Alliances edited by David Gibson and Raymond Smilor.
Avery occasionally teaches at The University of Texas at Austin. He serves the exciting new economy in Austin as “codean” of Leadership for the Austin Software Council University. He cherishes living in Austin with Amy, Jake, and Thom who together enjoy bicycling, trips to beaches, and sailing.
MERI AARON WALKER
[email protected]
Meri Aaron Walker is a proven communication strategist with a passion for human collaboration, technology, and entreprenurism. Based in Austin, Texas, since 1991, her firm, Between the Lines, helps businesses locate their most powerful communication channels and then build two-way messaging mechanisms that link them with critical audiences. Clients include Fortune 500 firms, non-profits, education, and a host of small to medium-sized technology companies. With over 30 years in business communication and production in every conceivable medium, Meri’s greatest pleasure comes from finding new ways to collaborate that optimize group creativity. She completed her M.A. in Communication at the University of Texas at Austin.195
ERIN O’TOOLE MURPHY
[email protected]
Erin O’Toole Murphy is an organization designer. Her passion is crafting learning events and organizations that lead to highly effective collaborative action. Erin has trained Sony management in Japan, led human resource teams, and designed corporate training initiatives. A perennial team catalyst, Erin was a scholar-athlete on a nationally-ranked collegiate field hockey team and a co-leader of a transcontinental bicycle ride. She now uses her skills and creativity to consult, coach, and train others. She holds a B.A. from Northwestern University and an M.A. in Whole Systems Design from Antioch University. Erin lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband, Gerry.
TeamWisdom Invitation Contributors
SUSAN INGRAHAM ASHLEY
As Vice President of Human Resources for Houston Cellular Telephone Company, the leading wireless provider in Houston (one of the largest wireless markets in the country), Susan Ashley has substantial experience building a high-responsibility, operationally-excellent work culture while serving on an executive team that has successfully navigated wave after wave of new technology and competition.
OLLI-PEKKA JUHANTILA
As Manager of Outsourcing for Nokia Mobile Phones, the world’s leading manufacturer of cellular telephones, Olli-Pekka Juhantila has substantial experience designing and implementing powerful partnering practices across an extensive supply chain spanning Europe, Asia, and the Americas.196
MICHAEL S. OSWALD, JD
As Vice President, General Counsel, and Chief Administrative Officer of NowDocs.Com, the world’s leading provider of distributed printing and same-day delivery for documents that are too urgent for overnight delivery, Michael Oswald blends the perspectives of an astute contract attorney with those of a partnering and quality expert resulting in extraordinary synergies for NowDocs as it creates a world-wide business.
JOHN W. GIBSON, JR.
As CEO of Landmark Graphics Corporation, a global software solutions provider of over 1600 employees serving the worldwide oil and gas industry, John Gibson has substantial experience with the impact of trust on sales, product development, and operations management. He is also very familiar with developing one-on-one working relationships across continents and cultures.
ED PERRY
As President and CEO of Human Code, the award-winning premier digital content studio with offices in Austin, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Japan, Ed Perry has substantial experience managing the culture of a creative shop while at the same time designing a scaleable business model, managing growth, and preparing for an initial public offering.