Bio: Bob Foreman

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Saint Patrick's Day, 2002

Bio: Bob Foreman
08-May-2002 -- Susan Pichotta
 
While this week's INN Bio continues with our series of presenters at ETC, it is also a first: the first bio of a SoftVelocity employee! Instructor, coder, tech support, documentation... it seems he's done it all. And it all started in the Navy, as a "cryptologic technician". See him skiing, visiting with his dad, and well-dressed in his role as a "finatic" in this week's INN bio.
 
Who do you work for?
I have been working for the home office of Clarion since November 1989, which was Clarion Software, Topspeed Corporation, and now SoftVelocity.
 
What do you like best about what you do now?
Two things. First, it's a pleasure to work with the very smart people working together as a team at SoftVelocity, starting from the top with Bob Zaunere. Second, I love my job's versatility. There is a great mix of consultant work, teaching, and documentation that keeps my job fresh and interesting.
 
What has been one of your biggest challenges in using Clarion?
Early on with Clarion Professional 2.1 (DOS), the jump from the Application/Model File format to Data Dictionaries and Template-based Applications in Clarion 3.0 (DOS) required a better understanding of relational databases.
 

My son, George, at 7 years and his first summer skiing.

After that, the jump from Clarion for DOS to Clarion for Windows was a major step.
 
Moving from the ISAM file standard to SQL and Client/Server.
 
And finally, I'd say that the move from Clarion templates to the ABC/OOP based paradigm was also a big challenge.
 
What has been one of your biggest challenges in business?
The biggest challenge in our business is keeping up with the latest trends and technologies, and knowing what is merely a fad or flavor of the month, and what will make a real impact on software and Clarion in particular.
 
Do you use any computer languages besides Clarion?
Before Clarion, I was adept with the 8086/8088 assembler and BASIC languages. I've been getting up to speed lately with an assortment of Web programming languages, from basic HTML to ASP, Java , and XML. SoftVelocity is introducing this year several strategies and solutions that involve these languages.
 

Bob and Dad on Father's Day, 2001

When did you start using Clarion?
The short story: I had just finished helping my father launch a Cruise staff training school, obtaining accreditation and developing curricula. I wanted to get back into the high tech industry, and applied for two positions. One job involved technical writing for a company that made EPROMs, and then there was Clarion looking for Technical Support personnel. I liked the people who were working at Clarion in 1989, and the rest was history.
 

What's the coolest project(s) you've worked on using Clarion?
Everybody that knows me knows that I love to bowl. As a bowling league secretary my first project was to write a League Manager in Clarion. If you ever want an exercise in relational databases, try a bowling database. Team scores, Individual scores, Schedules, make-up games, recap sheets, standings and rollbacks, you name it. That was fun to write and tell the bowlers that I wrote it in Clarion. I wrote one in DOS and later, Windows.
 
There are lots of consulting projects that were also cool. There was a sophisticated demographic marketing profile machine, my first project that involved a team of programmers. Another project was an opt-in email Campaign Manager, which used ASP pages and MS-SQL to interface with customer's web pages. Most recently, I just completed a project involving ClarioNet and online collateral registrations.
 
You're going to be a presenter at ETC later this month. What will you be talking about in your presentation?
ClarioNet, and more. The "more" will be working with Bob Zaunere in presenting many things that were shared at our recent Technology Workshop.
 
Where did you get the idea for that topic?
Do what you know best! I've been working with ClarioNet for the last few months, and I feel that it's a viable solution for thin client applications.
 
What do you think is important about technical conferences such as ETC?
I have been blessed to be working for so long at the home of Clarion. However, many developers are on a figurative island, working in a small shop and for the most part, alone. These conferences bring together people and ideas in a big way, and are good for Clarion and its users by letting them see that they are surely not isolated or alone.
 
What do you get out of, or bring home from, conferences like ETC?
In addition to the camaraderie, the programming ideas, tips and techniques that are passed on in just a few days are invaluable. It's also good to get out of the office and into the sunshine for a few days!
 

Waterskiing on the Blackwater River many years ago (remember the Doobie Brothers song?)

Have you done anything for a living other than software development?
My first love for computer technology stems from my Navy career back in 1975-1980. I was a Cryptologic Technician, and loved working with what was then state-of-the-art equipment (light pens and paper tape <g>). Prior to Clarion, I was a teacher and department manager at a local college that offered an Associate Degree program in Electronic Engineering Technology. In college, I worked on the loading docks and the Greyhound Bus Garage in St. Louis, Missouri.
 
What are your hobbies/what do you like to do when you're not using Clarion?
I bowl in two leagues a week and I'm proud to hold a 200 average this season. Ask Scott Ferrett about my game <g>.
 
When its football season, my Sundays are spent relaxing and watching the Miami Dolphins at the stadium with Jim DeFabia and the Finatics.
 
I love watching movies and listening to all kinds of music. I can't wait for the new Spiderman and Star Wars movies. May is going to be a great month for films.
 

My wife and I way back in 1985, after we were married.

Married, children, grandchildren, other close family you want to mention?
Married for 16 ý years to my wife and best friend, Donna. We have one great son, George, who is taller than me already at 14. Yes, his name is George Foreman, but my father had the name first.
 
Where were you born?
Believe it or not, I was actually one of the few to be actually born in Miami Beach, Florida.
 
Where do you live now?
Just a little north of Miami, in Pompano Beach.
 
What's interesting about where you live?
Drive 10 minutes west, and you are in the Everglades in the middle of nowhere. Head 5 minutes east, and you are on the beach and into the nightlife. I have to say here that South Florida is undergoing a lot of growing pains, and its quality of life is not what it used to be. Traffic and rude people are on the increase, but maybe that's a trend that's everywhere.
 
Have you lived any other interesting places?

Mt. Adagdak, Alaska, near the summit of the mountain

When I was in the Navy, I spent two years in Alaska and another two in Scotland. Both places removed you from the hectic pace of American life. As a single man then, it was sometimes a little lonely, but I would do it all over again if I had the opportunity. However, I had my share of cold winters that will last a lifetime.
 
Which person, from past or present, do you most admire and why?
I would love to have met Albert Einstein. From what I have read about him, he seemed to have a great handle on what is important in life.
 
Of course, I would love to have met Jesus Christ when he started his ministry. What would it be like to be the waiter at the Last Supper?
 
On a lighter note, I would love to have met the Beatles, when they were at Abbey Road recording Sergeant Pepper.
 
What is your favorite food?
Anything Italian. I'm told that Garlic is supposed to be good for you. This is coming from a kid who is 50% Polish <g>.
 
What is your favorite drink?
Coffee and Diet-Pepsi. No favorite alcoholic drink, I like to try different beers and mixes at different times. I do like the new Guinness draft in the bottle.
 
What is your favorite type of music?
Lately, my CD player has Jars of Clay, XTC and Gordon Lightfoot in the changer. If you pin me down, my favorite musicians are the Beatles, Genesis (Trick of the Tail days), Police, the Who, and ELP.
 
If Clarion never existed, what do you think you would be doing at this time?
I think teaching something, somewhere. Our schools currently have a real shortage of good teachers.
 

Bob the Finatic, at the NFL Experience, November 1999