Overall management is provided by Jeffrey L. Whitesell, General Manager, and James K. Tyson, Jr., Assistant General Manager and director of Technology Development. They lead the senior management team that provides capable and responsive management and technical support to contract project teams. Senior Synectics management is committed to high levels of project management, cost management, and a strong program of Quality Assurance.
The People Behind the Titles
Jack Hirsbrunner, PhD, President, is the Founder as well as President of Synectics for Management Decisions, Inc. He is chiefly involved in development of Synectics' business policy. He has more than 30 years of experience in management consulting in the fields of economic analysis, business economics, finance, manpower programs, and human resources management. He earned both a PhD in Business Administration and an MA in Business Economics from Columbia University in New York City; earlier, he earned a PhD and an MA in Economics from the University of Buenos Aires.
Jeff Whitesell, General Manager, has extensive experience in budgeting and analysis, performance measurement, strategic management, customer relations, and government consulting. He has been operating and managing the company since 1992, and has been with the company since 1979, when he was hired as a system designer and task leader. He was Assistant General Manager from 1984 to 1992. He has solid experience in project management, as well as highly developed skills in analysis, design, and programming. He works equally well with managers, end users, and technical personnel. He provides direction for professional and support staff and management support for Synectics' contracts, maintaining close contact with team leaders and providing liaison with contract officials representing government or business. He has a bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Connecticut, and he pursued graduate studies in Economics and Computer Science.
Jim Tyson, Assistant General Manager/Project Director, has more than 25 years experience in computer and information systems, and more than 20 years of computer-related project management experience, including evaluations of technologies and requirements analysis, systems life-cycle management, and policy development support. He has been a Synectics employee since 1981. He provides technical and management leadership on information technology (IT) projects such as governance, business intelligence, computing trends, and engineering and software solutions. He provides lead technical analyst and task management support on a number of significant efforts for various federal agencies. Mr. Tyson received an MBA from the Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University, United Kingdom, and completed an Executive Juris Doctor degree at Concord Law School.
Senior Managers
Bruce McCracken, Program Director, oversees contract performance for IT, systems development, and survey services in multiple federal agencies in addition to participating in company business development initiatives. Mr. McCracken has over 35 years of experience in IT and management including over 15 years consulting for the federal government and 20 years in the commercial and military sectors. Before joining Synectics, he was Program Director for a government consultancy, where he led a 250-person business unit, and was a VP of a 1,200 employee commercial financial institution. Mr. McCracken has a BS in Business Management, an 18-credit graduate certificate in IT Leadership, an MS in Project Management from a program approved by PMI’s
global council, and has 15 credits in a second graduate program towards an MS in Leadership and Business Ethics.
Leigh Henderson, PhD, Epidemiologist/Project Director, has devoted most of her more than 20 years' experience in health issues to substance abuse, with a particular focus on Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) data collections. She has extraordinary experience with the SAMHSA Drug and Alcohol Services Information System (DASIS) data, including early work with SAMHSA on its development, and she has provided highly effective project direction and analysis for the DASIS contract since 1997. She represented Baltimore for 10 years on the Community Epidemiology Work Group (National Insitute on Drug Abuse [NIDA]) and is the co-editor of a book, LSD, Still With Us after All These Years. She has presented papers at NIDA, SAMHSA, American Public Health Association (APHA), College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD), and Association for Health Services Research (AHSR) conferences. She earned both a PhD and an MHS in Epidemiology from The Johns Hopkins University and a BA in Government from Oberlin College.
Elizabeth C. (Beth) Phillips, Senior Program Manager/Policy Analyst, has particular expertise in grants policy, including government-wide policies which govern the administration of grants, and financial management. She has nearly 30 years of professional experience in Washington, DC, including over 4 years with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and 16 years with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where she was involved in numerous senior-level positions related to grants management policies/issues, serving as the Acting Director of the Office of Grants Management, and directing work on the department's grants systems. Ms. Phillips also has 11 years experience with private sector systems engineering companies and 9 years in administration at a state university in Ohio. She received her BA in Political Science and her MA in Public Administration/Public Policy from Bowling Green State University.
Alisa Male, Project Manager/Senior Analyst, oversees both research analysis and IT projects. She has worked with substance abuse and mental health policy issues for more than 15 years and the combination of this knowledge with her IT experience has been instrumental in supporting contracts. Her projects have included database development, creation of public and private Web sites, performance measurement, and the writing of short reports, as well as managing subcontracts to the States and jurisdictions. Ms. Male has held progressively more responsible positions on contracts with federal agencies and other organizations since joining Synectics in 1995. She earned an MA in Economics, with a concentration in Labor Economics, from American University and a BS in Economics, cum laude, from the University of Delaware. Ms. Male completed a Project Management Professional (PMP) Certificate at the Project Management Institute.
Joseph Cook, Director of Synectics IT Group/Senior Program Manager,
has been instrumental in organizing a Synectics team to support functions that include strategic IT planning and performance, capital investment planning and inventory control, portfolio management, earned value reporting, enterprise architecture, security, and e-government. He has more than 30 years experience working with government budget and financial systems, including 15 years in senior policy positions. He possesses a broad knowledge of federal programs, management policies, and support applications, combined with a deep and practical understanding of how IT can serve the strategic interest of the federal government. Mr. Cook is a CPA, received an MS in Information Technology from The Johns Hopkins University, and earned a BA in Social Relations from Harvard College.
Linda Hazlehurst, Director of Business Development, has extensive experience in leading the full life cycle of business opportunities. She manages the Proposal Development Group, ensuring submission of compliant proposals to Government Request for Proposals (RFPs). She has 17 years experience in leading the planning and operation of projects, working with clients and team members to develop goals and strategic plans for research, development, training, and operational implementation. She has the proven ability to develop, implement, and manage complex systems for data capture, storage, and reporting to solve business problems. She has developed policies and procedures for standardized data management and reporting, and she has helped develop ISO 9002 Service Delivery Processes for a Program Management Office. She earned a BA in Psychology from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland.
Overall management is provided by Jeffrey L. Whitesell, General Manager, and James K. Tyson, Jr., Assistant General Manager and director of Technology Development. They lead the senior management team that provides capable and responsive management and technical support to contract project teams. Senior Synectics management is committed to high levels of project management, cost management, and a strong program of Quality Assurance.
Jack Hirsbrunner, PhD, President, is the Founder as well as President of Synectics for Management Decisions, Inc. He is chiefly involved in development of Synectics' business policy. He has more than 30 years of experience in management consulting in the fields of economic analysis, business economics, finance, manpower programs, and human resources management. He earned both a PhD in Business Administration and an MA in Business Economics from Columbia University in New York City; earlier, he earned a PhD and an MA in Economics from the University of Buenos Aires.
Jeff Whitesell, General Manager, has extensive experience in budgeting and analysis, performance measurement, strategic management, customer relations, and government consulting. He has been operating and managing the company since 1992, and has been with the company since 1979, when he was hired as a system designer and task leader. He was Assistant General Manager from 1984 to 1992. He has solid experience in project management, as well as highly developed skills in analysis, design, and programming. He works equally well with managers, end users, and technical personnel. He provides direction for professional and support staff and management support for Synectics' contracts, maintaining close contact with team leaders and providing liaison with contract officials representing government or business. He has a bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Connecticut, and he pursued graduate studies in Economics and Computer Science.
Jim Tyson, Assistant General Manager/Project Director, has more than 25 years experience in computer and information systems, and more than 20 years of computer-related project management experience, including evaluations of technologies and requirements analysis, systems life-cycle management, and policy development support. He has been a Synectics employee since 1981. He provides technical and management leadership on information technology (IT) projects such as governance, business intelligence, computing trends, and engineering and software solutions. He provides lead technical analyst and task management support on a number of significant efforts for various federal agencies. Mr. Tyson received an MBA from the Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University, United Kingdom, and completed an Executive Juris Doctor degree at Concord Law School.
Bruce McCracken, Program Director, oversees contract performance for IT, systems development, and survey services in multiple federal agencies in addition to participating in company business development initiatives. Mr. McCracken has over 35 years of experience in IT and management including over 15 years consulting for the federal government and 20 years in the commercial and military sectors. Before joining Synectics, he was Program Director for a government consultancy, where he led a 250-person business unit, and was a VP of a 1,200 employee commercial financial institution. Mr. McCracken has a BS in Business Management, an 18-credit graduate certificate in IT Leadership, an MS in Project Management from a program approved by PMI’s
global council, and has 15 credits in a second graduate program towards an MS in Leadership and Business Ethics.
Leigh Henderson, PhD, Epidemiologist/Project Director, has devoted most of her more than 20 years' experience in health issues to substance abuse, with a particular focus on Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) data collections. She has extraordinary experience with the SAMHSA Drug and Alcohol Services Information System (DASIS) data, including early work with SAMHSA on its development, and she has provided highly effective project direction and analysis for the DASIS contract since 1997. She represented Baltimore for 10 years on the Community Epidemiology Work Group (National Insitute on Drug Abuse [NIDA]) and is the co-editor of a book, LSD, Still With Us after All These Years. She has presented papers at NIDA, SAMHSA, American Public Health Association (APHA), College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD), and Association for Health Services Research (AHSR) conferences. She earned both a PhD and an MHS in Epidemiology from The Johns Hopkins University and a BA in Government from Oberlin College.
Elizabeth C. (Beth) Phillips, Senior Program Manager/Policy Analyst, has particular expertise in grants policy, including government-wide policies which govern the administration of grants, and financial management. She has nearly 30 years of professional experience in Washington, DC, including over 4 years with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and 16 years with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where she was involved in numerous senior-level positions related to grants management policies/issues, serving as the Acting Director of the Office of Grants Management, and directing work on the department's grants systems. Ms. Phillips also has 11 years experience with private sector systems engineering companies and 9 years in administration at a state university in Ohio. She received her BA in Political Science and her MA in Public Administration/Public Policy from Bowling Green State University.
Alisa Male, Project Manager/Senior Analyst, oversees both research analysis and IT projects. She has worked with substance abuse and mental health policy issues for more than 15 years and the combination of this knowledge with her IT experience has been instrumental in supporting contracts. Her projects have included database development, creation of public and private Web sites, performance measurement, and the writing of short reports, as well as managing subcontracts to the States and jurisdictions. Ms. Male has held progressively more responsible positions on contracts with federal agencies and other organizations since joining Synectics in 1995. She earned an MA in Economics, with a concentration in Labor Economics, from American University and a BS in Economics, cum laude, from the University of Delaware. Ms. Male completed a Project Management Professional (PMP) Certificate at the Project Management Institute.
Joseph Cook, Director of Synectics IT Group/Senior Program Manager,
has been instrumental in organizing a Synectics team to support functions that include strategic IT planning and performance, capital investment planning and inventory control, portfolio management, earned value reporting, enterprise architecture, security, and e-government. He has more than 30 years experience working with government budget and financial systems, including 15 years in senior policy positions. He possesses a broad knowledge of federal programs, management policies, and support applications, combined with a deep and practical understanding of how IT can serve the strategic interest of the federal government. Mr. Cook is a CPA, received an MS in Information Technology from The Johns Hopkins University, and earned a BA in Social Relations from Harvard College.
Linda Hazlehurst, Director of Business Development, has extensive experience in leading the full life cycle of business opportunities. She manages the Proposal Development Group, ensuring submission of compliant proposals to Government Request for Proposals (RFPs). She has 17 years experience in leading the planning and operation of projects, working with clients and team members to develop goals and strategic plans for research, development, training, and operational implementation. She has the proven ability to develop, implement, and manage complex systems for data capture, storage, and reporting to solve business problems. She has developed policies and procedures for standardized data management and reporting, and she has helped develop ISO 9002 Service Delivery Processes for a Program Management Office. She earned a BA in Psychology from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland.