Brief Resume

Dr. Gordon C. Everest is Professor Emeritus of MIS and Data Management in the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota (but continues to teach as an adjunct at Univ. of Minnesota). His Ph.D. dissertation from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School entitled "Managing Corporate Data Resources" became the textbook entitled: "Database Management: Objectives, System Functions, and Administration" (McGraw-Hill, 1986, and remained in print until 2002!). He is also a contributing author of the CODASYL Systems Committee technical report entitled: "A Framework for Distributed Database Systems: Distribution Alternatives and Generic Architectures", and of the final technical report of the ANSI ASC X3 SPARC DBSSG Object-Oriented DBMS Task Group, released in 1991. He participated in the ANSI standards community to develop a Common Unified Data Modeling Scheme, investigate Object-Oriented Database Management Systems, and compile a glossary of terms relating to database management.

Dr. Everest is active in speaking to computer professional societies and consulting with large and small organizations in their use of computers, the development of information systems, and the organization and management of IS. His lecture presentations are well received and informative. He is an astute observer and interpreter of developments and trends in information technology and the computer industry.

His lecturing and research interests include logical database design methods and diagramming conventions, high-level data languages, selection and use of database management systems, object-oriented databases, data warehousing, CASE tools and the repository, data-centered systems development, organization and functions of database administration, data privacy and security, and the legal aspects of computing. More recently narrowing his focus to advanced data modeling.

DATA MODELING

Gordon has been teaching all about databases, database management systems, database administration, and data warehousing since joining the University in 1970. Students learn the theory of databases, gain practical experience with real data modeling projects, and with hands-on use of data modeling tools and DBMSs. Besides teaching about databases, he has helped many organizations and government agencies design their databases. His approach transfers expertise to professional data architects within those organizations by having them participate in and observe the conduct of database design project meetings with the subject matter experts.

He has been introducing students to Object-Role Modeling (ORM, formerly known as NIAM or Binary data modeling) since 1975 in the Advanced Database Design course. With a good textbook by Terry Halpin from Morgan Kaufmann (2008) and a viable PC-based graphical design tool to support ORM data modeling, it is possible to give substantive treatment to the subject in class. Since 1994, students gain an in-depth understanding of ORM data modeling. They use data modeling tools (VisioEA now part of Microsoft's Visual Studio team edition, and NORMA for ORM2) to develop and document their database designs.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE:

Lectured and conducted seminars internationally on database management for:

Society for Information Management (SIM), Association for Computing Machinery,

Decision Sciences Institute, Data Administration Management Association (DAMA),

Association for Systems Management, Data Processing Management Association (DPMA),

as well as locally at the University of Minnesota and consulted with several private industrial organizations. Worked for passage in the Minnesota Legislature (1974) of the first comprehensive public sector data privacy law in the U. S.

1970-Present, University of Minnesota, having primary responsibility for courses in Data Management; Data Structures, File Processing, and Retrieval Languages; Advanced Database Design, Database Management Systems, and Database Administration; and Data Warehousing. Also taught courses in Introduction to Computers and MIS, Management of MIS, Legal Aspects of Computing, Microcomputers in the Workplace (Office Automation), and Information Systems Development Tools and Methodologies (CASE).

1967-1970 Auerbach Corporation, technical consultant, concentrating on the design, implementation, and evaluation of database management systems; development of the generalized data entry and update function of a commercial data management system.

1965-1967 University of Pennsylvania, Teaching Fellow. Taught courses in Fundamentals of Management, Management Information Systems, FORTRAN, and Advanced Business Systems.

1963-1965 MIT, Project MAC, Research Assistant. Used the timesharing system to study incremental compiling techniques and build an elementary automated accounting system.

1959-1966 Shell Canada Limited, accounting clerk, programmer, systems analyst. Set up an integrated system in which a variety of profitability analyses could be made on a database of historical and forecasted production, revenue, expense, and capital data.

EDUCATION:

1974 Ph.D. Business and Applied Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School. Dissertation entitled: "Managing Corporate Data Resources: Objectives and a Conceptual Model of Database Management Systems" (Xerox University Microfilms, #74-22,836).

1965 S.M. Industrial Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Quantitative Option specializing in computer science and operations research. Masters thesis entitled: "Data File Organization within a Dynamic Computer System."

1962 Bachelor of Commerce, University of Alberta, accounting and mathematics majors.

RESEARCH and LECTURING INTERESTS

  • Database Administration: organization, role, functions, and tools; DBMS acquisition & use
  • Logical database design: theory and pragmatics; design aids (CASE); definition languages.
  • Improving the quality and integrity of data in information systems: policies and mechanisms.
  • Data Warehousing, Multidimensional databases, Online Analytical Processing (OLAP), data mining.
  • Database management systems of the future: Object-oriented DBMS, database servers/machines.
  • Legal aspects of computing: Misuse and abuse, evidence, contracting, proprietary rights, copying software, licensing, and data privacy and fair information practices.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES:

  • Data Management Association (DAMA), active in local and international activities
  • Recipient of DAMA Outstanding Academic Achievement Award, 2006 and again in 2011.
  • Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP), at the mastery level, from DAMA, 2009.
  • Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), member since 1963.
  • Society for Information Management (SIM), member since 1969.
  • Computer Society of Institute of Electronics and Electrical Engineers (IEEE), intermittently since 1974.
  • CODASYL Systems Committee, 1969-1984, contributing author of:
    • Feature Analysis of Generalized Data Base Management Systems, 1971 May; Selection and Acquisition of Database Management Systems, 1976; and Distributed Database Systems: Distribution Alternatives and Generic Architectures, 1982 November, all from ACM, New York.
  • AFIPS Privacy Committee, Chairman and Vice Chairman, 1975-1982.
  • ANSI/X3/SPARC/Database Systems Study Group, Leader of Terminology Task Group, 1978-1980; member Common Data Model Task Group, 1984-1991; regional chairman, Object-Oriented Database Task Group.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:

  • "Improving the Conduct and Delivery of Online Courses" 2009 November.
  • "Collaborative ORM Data Modeling: Educational Experience using a Wiki." Presented at the annual ORM Workshop, Vilamoura, Algarve, Portugal, 2007 November 28-30. http://netfiles.umn.edu/users/geverest/collaborative_data_modeling_using_wikis.pdf
  • "NIAM/OR Modeling: Student and Expert Solutions," Challenges program, the International Conference on Conceptual Modeling -- E-R ‘96, Cottbus (Berlin), Germany, 1996 October.
  • DBMS Feature List and Data Collection Form, revised, 1996 April, 38 pages.
  • "Using Accelerated and Extended Approaches for Data Planning and Design," with Matt Pelkki and Dietmar W. Rose, The Compiler (13:3), 1995 Fall, pages 27-33. http://netfiles.umn.edu/users/geverest/pelkki_accel_vs_ext_datamodeling.pdf
  • "UDM: A Unified Data Modeling Formalism," with S. March and M. Hanna, 1994 January.
  • "The Development of a Global Data Model for Natural Resources," with Matt Pelkki and Dietmar Rose, the Compiler (12:3), 1994 Fall, pages 32-42.
  • "Experiences Teaching NIAM/OR Modeling," Proceedings of the NIAM Information System Design Methodology (ISDM) Working Conference, Albuquerque, NM, 1994 August.
  • "An Experiment in Eliminating the Separation Between Data, Functional, and Behavioral Models during Requirements Specification," with Hany Atchan, Proceedings of Sixth International Conference on Software Engineering and Knowledge Engineering (SEKE'94), Jurmala, Latvia, 1994 June;
  • "Building an Information Systems Architecture: Collective Wisdom from the Field," with Young-Gul Kim, Information & Management, 1994 January.
  • "CASE," commissioned for the Macmillan Encyclopedia of Computers, Gary B. Bitter, ed., 1992.
  • "Assessing User Experience with CASE Tools: An Exploratory Analysis," Proceedings of 25th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS), Vol. III, IEEE Computer Society Press, Los Alamitos, CA, 1992 January (with M. Alanis).
  • "Data Base Management: The Next Generation," CIM Review (7:1), 1990 Fall, pages 31-43.
  • "An Analysis of the Data Representation Constructs of the ANSI NDL and SQL Standards" with Sal March, Magdy Hanna, and Mark Sastry, Computer Standards & Interfaces, (vol.10) 1990.
  • "Database Administration: Organization and Functions" Information Technology (1:2), 1986 November.
  • Database Management: Objectives, System Functions, and Administration McGraw-Hill, 1986, 816 pages.
  • "Users Do Logical Database Design," CAD/CAM Databases '87 Conference Proceedings, Management Roundtable, Boston, MA, 1987 April.http://netfiles.umn.edu/users/geverest/users_do_database_design.pdf
  • "Systems for Managing Graphic Data and Attribute Data," CAD/CAM Databases '86 Conference Proceedings, Management Roundtable, Inc., Boston, MA, 1986 April.
  • Review and Evaluation of DM from Battelle (now BASIS Plus from OCLC), 1986 June, 38 pages.
    • Review and Evaluation of DMRS from Intergraph, 1985 July, 41 pages.
    • series published by GEMS, Roseville, MN 55113.
  • "Data Privacy and Fair Information Practices: Principles and Organizational Response," MISRC Working Paper 85-07, 93 pages (became a chapter in Database Management).
  • "Non-Uniform Privacy Laws: Implications and Attempts at Uniformity," in Computers and Privacy in the Next Decade, edited by Lance J. Hoffman, Academic Press, New York, 1980, pages 141-150.
  • "A Taxonomy for Understanding Data Structures," University of Minnesota, MISRC Working Paper 79-02, 1979 March, 49 pages (became a chapter in Database Management).
  • "A Relational Approach to Accounting Models," The Accounting Review (52:2), 1977 April, pages 340-359, (with R. Weber).
  • Developing a Data Perspective on the Specification of Information Systems Requirements, final report under a U. S. Navy research contract, University of Minnesota, MISRC TR 77-05, 1977 May, 125p.
  • Readings in Management Information Systems, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1976, (with G. B. Davis).
  • "Concurrent Update Control and Database Integrity," in Data Base Management, North-Holland Publishing, Amsterdam, 1974.