Time:1-4PM

Location: Cleary University, 3601 Plymouth Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48105

Presenter: Robert Balicki, Information Technology Instructor, Cleary University

Topic Summary:

We’re all familiar with today’s business tools like the Microsoft Office software package.  Some of us are even familiar with more advanced topics like virtualization environments and agile development.  Our unique task as users of technology is to accommodate the fact that it, unlike many other disciplines, is not static, it is constantly and very quickly moving forward.

The task is upon us to keep up with it so that we don’t go the way of the dinosaurs.  In order to do so though, it is necessary to constantly be looking for opportunities to utilize technology to assist us in our day to day lives.

Education has the unique requirement of having to prepare students to enter the workplace of the future.  We can’t just teach things as they are now.  Students wouldn’t be prepared to enter the workforce when they exit institutions of higher learning if that is all that was taught.  We need to look at what we’re doing and how … then see if there is a way to improve upon that in order to move forward into the future.

Speaker Bio:

Robert Balicki is currently Full-time Instructor and past Faculty Chair of the Information Technology Department at Cleary University in Ann Arbor, Michigan.   He is also an adjunct faculty member at Washtenaw Community College where he teaches in the business and computer information departments.  Robert currently serves as a Michigan Technology Network (MiTN) Board Member.
 
Robert has enjoyed a diverse career in information technology.  He has served as a senior analyst with Comerica Bank where he was responsible for the design of their Retail Transaction Processing system.  Before that, he was a partner with Aspen Computer Solutions where he provided small business consulting that specialized in the use of computer technologies to enhance business operations.  His technical skills were developed early in his career serving as a senior engineer at Unisys and software engineer at NCR.

Robert views technology as a tool to use in solving business problems.  For this reason, his practical, bottom line, approach in teaching technology-related topics is appreciated by those who understand the business realities involved with the use of technology.