What is the Canadian Tandem User Group all about?
A Brief History
CTUG and HP Canada
Although CTUG is an independent organization we work closely with HP to coordinate activities and exchange information. As a Regional User Group we have a collective voice to HP regarding any issues related to NonStop, on an as needed basis or through an HP Executive Q & A Panel, which is a highlight of our annual conference.
HP also provides CTUG with unprecedented access to resources via an assigned HP Liaison (click Board of Directors tab) who participates in our board meetings and is available to assist with efforts between CTUG and HP.
For over 25 years CTUG, the Canadian Tandem User Group, has been dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge, the exchange of ideas, and providing an independent conduit between the NonStop community in Canada and Hewlett-Packard. CTUG was founded as a non-profit organization with a local volunteer executive board.
As one of the initial Regional User Groups affiliated with the International Tandem User Group (ITUG), CTUG has a successful history of serving its members as a facilitator between NonStop users, HP Partners, and Hewlett-Packard.
Membership Support
Every year CTUG holds a full day conference and education day. The conference includes User presentations, NonStop roadmap and product updates, and Partner solution presentations. The Vendor/HP Expo allows attendees the opportunity to explore the many software solutions, tools, utilities and services available for NonStop.
In addition to our annual conference, CTUG also hosts Technical Sessions in conjunction with the release of new products or technology by Hewlett-Packard, and supports a local Security SIG (Special Interest Group).
Security SIG meetings are held periodically to update the user community on the latest news from HP’s Safeguard team, and share user experiences with regards to NonStop security practices, which include updates on the latest security tools and services from HP’s Partners.
Our affilation with HP Connect
In April 2009 CTUG became an affiliate member of Connect - the consolidation of ITUG, Encompass, and HP Interex EMEA community of users of enterprise HP products and services. As a result of our affiliation all CTUG members receive complimentary membership with Connect. Please visit the Connect website for more details.
CTUG membership is free and open to all HP NonStop Users, HP Partners, and HP Technology Solutions Group Employees. Please visit our "Join CTUG" link to sign-up and receive updates on upcoming events and news.
CTUG 2010 Board of Directors
President
Barry Forbes
Barry Forbes manages sales, marketing, services, and support for XYPRO Technology Corporation in Canada and the Eastern United States. XYPRO specializes in Platform Security and Encryption Software to improve HP NonStop server environments.
Barry's first experience with HP NonStop servers (Tandem) was in 1986 as a computer operator with the Bank of British Columbia (now HSBC Canada). Since then, Barry has remained in the HP NonStop technology area, occupying various business and technical roles with Transact Data Services Inc. (now Telus, backed by Emergis) and other third party solution providers for HP NonStop. Joining the XYPRO team in 1999, Barry continues to expand XYPRO's customer base across the eastern US and Canada.
Past President
Rick Teeuwsen
Rick Teeuwsen is Regional Manager for FSS Technologies Canada Inc. FSS is a payment systems company with a wide range of end-to-end solutions, including onshore and offshore BASE24 development and maintenance
Rick's career spans more than 25 years of progressive business and technical experience in the HP NonStop community. This includes 11 years at Tandem Computers Inc. in Asia, Canada and USA in various management positions related to support, services and business development. Over the past several years, prior to FSS, Rick provided leadership Sales Executive roles with various HP Development and Solution Partners in establishing and managing key accounts, and development/management of territories, distributors and channels.
Director of Symposia
Sue Adorjan
Sue Adorjan is the Senior Quality Assurance Analyst with Merlon Software Corporation. Merlon Software is a Toronto-based software vendor specializing in database management software for the HP-NonStop line of servers.
Sue has over 30 years experience with software development , database management and quality assurance. Her experience with the HP NonStop community began in 1982 , when she was a member of the hardware selection team for the University of Toronto, Library Automation Systems, Conversion Project. She was responsible for the development and implementation of the database conversion. Since 1993, Sue has been involved with QA of client/server applications on HP NonStop servers.
Director of Communication
Randall S. Becker
Randall Becker is Managing Director at Nexbridge Inc. Nexbridge is a provider of NonStop-focused software in the ECLIPSE space and consulting services in the Indestructible Computing space.
Randall’s career dates back to the TNS II A05 and UNIX BSD 4.1 days where he was introduced to client-server computing in a law enforcement environment. Navigating his way through the career and software development lifecycle, he has developed a strong end-user focus to computing, which led to his multi-year participation on the CTUG board.
Randall also is a perennial speaker at HP events, is a contributing author for CIO magazine, and manages the Indestructible Computing blog and groups.
Director of Membership
Javid Quadri
Javid Quadri is a senior consultant working in the financial services sector.
After graduating from the University of Toronto, Javid started his career on HP NonStop at RBC. Working at a variety firms, primarily in the financial services sector, Javid has had many interesting roles including QA analyst, developer, technical lead, designer and architect. He has taken a leading role in several high profile projects relating to data replication, performance analysis, IMN/IP conversion, Continuous Linked Settlements (CLS) and payment processing automation, among others.
Director of Finance
John Lee
John Lee is Vice President and Director within the Institutional Equities division of TD Securities. In his current role, he is responsible for business and product development including strategic initiatives, for the Canadian Equity Front Office. John specializes in assessing Technology products to determine feasibility in improving and streamlining equity trading activity.
Previously, John worked at the Toronto Stock Exchange for over 10 years where he was responsible for managing electronic gateway access to the TSX.
He held a variety of responsibilities including the development and introduction of standardized protocols used by the Canadian Equities Community.
HP Delegate
Dick Bird
Dick Bird is the business unit manager, Business Critical Systems, in the Technology Solutions Group at HP Canada. In this role, Bird is responsible for sales, marketing, support and services for the Business Critical Systems portfolio of solutions, including HP NonStop Server, HP NonStop BladeSystem, HP Integrity and HP Integrity BladeSystem.
Bird joined HP Canada more than 27 years ago (originally as part of Tandem Computers Canada Ltd.). He has held a variety of positions, such as support manager, account manager, business development manager, product marketing manager, third-party marketing manager, marketing manager and professional services director.
HP Delegate
Jack McAuley
Jack McAuley is a NonStop Solution Architect in the Technology Solutions Group at HP. In his role Jack is responsible for NonStop pre-sales technical solutions to existing and new customers across Canada
After leaving various positions and organizations as a software developer, McAuley moved to a vendor environment. He now has over 35 years experience in pre-sales solutions, working for companies like NCR, GE and Honeywell. Like many others he was enticed by a rich culture and strong community to Tandem Computers. Now, 23 years later he continues to enjoy his work with HP’s NonStop technology, and the most sagacious users in the industry.
Director at Large
Pio Gomes