Al Reinhart, Esq., an educator, consultant, and attorney, assists clients navigate the intersection of business, technology, and law. His professional career started in 1968 as an airborne radar design and development engineer in the defense industry and progressed through marketing and business development positions in the computer industry. In 1980 he became an independent, multidisciplinary management and information technology consultant and mentor specializing in strategic planning, technology management, and systems development; primarily in the application of information technology in distributed enterprise computing environments, service-oriented architecture and design (cloud computing/software as a service), and object oriented, multi-tier system development. Since 2008 his endeavors include an emphasis on Intellectual Property, Technology Law, and Regulatory Compliance. His interests are focused on patent law and technology management, proactive intellectual property strategy and licensing; regulatory compliance; information governance, risk management, and security policy development; and electronic discovery and litigation practices.

 

He has earned his BS in Electrical Engineering, MS Computer Science, MBA in Operations Research/Project Management, and Juris Doctor degrees, and a post MBA Certificate of Advanced Study in Financial Analysis. He has taught data communications and database management graduate courses at Boston University, and is currently an adjunct faculty member at Brandeis University where he teaches graduate courses in Software Engineering, IT Management, and Information Assurance and is associated with the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He is a member of the Massachusetts Bar, American Bar Association, Massachusetts Bar Association, Worcester County Bar Association - Intellectual Property Committee; is an IEEE-Senior Life Member and is the Worcester County Section Chair and IEEE-USA Government Activities Committee Chair.

 

His professional interests, in addition to law, technology, and business development, include creativity, creative problem solving, innovation, and leadership development. His leisure activities include hiking, skiing, photography, and software development.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My background includes extensive experience in various levels of leadership. My IEEE activities and accomplishments have provided the opportunity to develop and demonstrate the judgment, perception, and understanding of the IEEE necessary to successfully carry out the duties and responsibilities of Region 1 Director.

 

I believe the IEEE and Region 1 have faced, and will continue to face, significant challenges on a variety of fronts. The Region 1 Director will need to provide appropriate leadership that will support the interests and goals of Region 1 volunteers while representing the interests and concerns of Region 1 members on the IEEE and IEEE-USA Board of Directors. My education, background, and experience distinctly qualify me to effectively perform the duties and responsibilities of Region 1 Director-Elect and Director positions. My non-IEEE activities provide additional achievements in leadership, commitment, and professionalism.

 

 

My years of volunteer service and leadership to the IEEE and other professional and social organizations throughout my academic and professional life have always focused on how to provide opportunities and encouragement for members to recognize and develop their technical, professional and leadership potential.

 

• As Worcester County Section Chair I established an annual series of section activities focused on professional and technical development. These dinner meeting events bring members of the IEEE leadership and distinguished speakers to the Worcester County Section and student branch members to broaden their awareness of the IEEE and promote their professional and technical development. • As Worcester County Section Chair I have initiated an effort to establish a sister section / student branch relationship with a section and student branch in China. Working with the WPI-ECE Department and student branch, and members of the IEEE Education Society, the objective is to provide section and student branch members the opportunity to experience, establish, and nurture cross-cultural professional relationships, understanding, and collaboration, an emergent necessity in the growing global economy of the twenty first century. • As Secretary, Treasurer, and Vice-Chairman of CNEC (Central New England Council) I recognized CNEC had ceased providing sufficient value to its member sections and, as CNEC Chairman, successfully initiated the effort resulting in the IEEE Board approving CNEC's unanimous decision to dissolve itself. • Founded the Central Massachusetts Internet Group ('92-'97) and the Delphi Developers Group of Greater Boston ('94-'02) user groups, arranging monthly meetings, seminars, and participation in regional and national trade shows and conferences. Many of these events were held in conjunction with the Worcester County Section Computer Society Chapter. • Proposed, developed, and teach several new graduate courses at Brandies University, including a course in information security and compliance which led to the creation of a Masters Program in Information Assurance. The program provides working professionals the opportunity to develop the necessary understanding of the critically important area of information security in the globally connected world of the twenty first century.

 

 

I appreciate the opportunity to run for the position of Delegate-Elect/Director-Elect and, if elected, look forward to serving Region 1 as Director-Elect and Director. The IEEE and Region 1 face many challenges and I believe I am capable and prepared to effectively work toward meeting them and proactively moving the IEEE and Region 1 forward. The Region 1 Director not only manages the Region and promotes member's interests and volunteerism; he or she also has a vital role on the IEEE and the IEEE-USA Board of Directors.

 

The IEEE Board of Directors is responsible for establishing an appropriate strategic direction for the Institute that will ensure it is a responsive, dynamic, and respected organization on the world stage while being fiscally responsible and responsive to its members needs; a challenging and demanding task for a global organization with over 360 thousand members in 160 countries. In addition, the Region 1 Director serves on the IEEE-USA Board which has the critical responsibility of overseeing the balance between the professional interests of US members and the technical, career, and public policy interests of the Institute.

 

To be advantageously positioned for the twenty first century, it is vitally important for the Region 1 Director, in both of the above roles, to vigorously advocate that the IEEE and IEEE-USA continuously identify critically important and relevant technical and professional trends, establish a meaningful and realistic understanding of them, and strategically position the IEEE and its members to decisively grasp the significant institutional and career development opportunities they present.

 

The following are areas I believe require particular attention and will focus on promoting:

• Continuing education is critical for individual career development and advancement. I feel the region can and should to play a proactive role providing continuing education opportunities for members and encouraging members to participate in them. Region supported credible educational and professional development opportunities should be provided in a context that fosters industry recognition and acceptance of a program of study. • American society does not understand or appreciate why, how, or by whom the nation's technological achievements are accomplished. The IEEE, the IEEE-USA specifically, needs to develop and effectively implement strategically targeted and focused programs that will increase the general public's understanding and appreciation of the crucial role IEEE members play in creating our nation's quality of life and maintaining our national security. Additionally, the IEEE needs to do more to convince industry of the value of IEEE membership and to encourage industry support and participation in professional organizations. • All organizations today, IEEE regions and sections included, need agile, responsive, and interactive member participation and governance. Crucial to achieving that is the understanding and deployment of effective, community building, member engaging Internet/Web capability. I feel the region needs to take a leading role in developing and establishing effective, interactive, Web based collaborative communications within the region Board of Governors and sections, and between the BoG, areas, sections, chapters, and members. • The IEEE and Region 1 need to do a better job of identifying opportunities to increase member value and promote member volunteerism. Member participation is crucial to achieving member value. Encouraging all members to become actively involved with their section and technical chapters furthers their individual growth in all of their professional, technical, and personal endeavors. Engaged members develop and grow their relationships through shared values and achievements that promotes a life long commitment to their profession and the IEEE.

 

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