Luanne Johnson

Phone: 1-707-748-0949 
E-mail: LuanneJ@sprynet.com

Professional Profile

Luanne Johnson (formerly known as Luanne James) has over thirty years experience in the information technology industry. She started her career as a computer programmer and systems analyst in 1966, then founded a software company, Argonaut Information Systems, Inc., in 1971 and ran it successfully for fifteen years. When the company was sold in the 1980’s, she became active as an industry advocate and served as the chief executive of three major information technology industry organizations.

From 1989 to 1995, she served as President of the Information Technology Association of America, a Washington, DC-based trade association representing the interests of several thousand large and small companies from all sectors of the information technology industry. During her tenure at ITAA, she also served as the 1993-1995 elected President of the World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA), a consortium of national trade associations from 22 countries which works to promote the development of a global information technology market.

From 1987 to 1989, she was Executive Director of The ADAPSO Foundation, a non-profit organization formed by ADAPSO (the predecessor to ITAA) which supported the development of computer-related products and services to aid the disabled and disadvantaged.

In 2000, Ms. Johnson co-founded The Software History Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the history of the software industry.  She current serves as President of the Charles Babbage Foundation which is dedicated to preserving the history of information technology in all its aspects.   

Experience

President, Charles Babbage Foundation
(October 2002 - Present)

Currently serves as the President of the Charles Babbage Foundation (www.babbagefoundation.org).

President, The Software History Center
(February, 2000 - October 2002)

Co-founded The Software History Center in February, 2000 and served as its President and Chair through October 2002.  

Software Consultant (1995 - 2000)

Served as a consultant to various entrepreneurial software firms on issues related to strategic planning, product development, customer training and customer support.

President, Information Technology Association of America (1989 - 1995)

Responsible for all operations of a $4 million+ trade association representing a broad spectrum of the information technology industry including software developers, systems integrators, network service providers and information technology services companies. Programs included extensive federal and state advocacy on behalf of the industry, two major conferences a year, and numerous member services programs such as publications and industry statistics.

• Frequently testified before Congress on legislation impacting the information technology industry.

• Often addressed audiences of all sizes as a representative of the U.S. information technology industry, including frequent international speaking engagements.

• Greatly expanded the association’s grass roots lobbying capability through coalition building and strategic alliances with 20+ regional associations throughout the U.S.

• Reorganized the 25 year old association to reflect increasing diversity within the information technology industry including a successful downsizing to facilitate a Board-directed dues reduction.

President, World Information Technology and Services Alliance (1993-1995)

Elected to this position by the members of WITSA, a consortium of national trade associations from more than 20 different countries.

• Provided leadership throughout the process of transforming the informally organized World Computing Services Industry Forum into a structured organization (WITSA) which provided the international information technology industry with a formally constituted body for developing industry positions on international policy issues.

• Organized and managed the process by which the responsibility for planning the biannual World Information Technology Congresses was transferred to WITSA thereby insuring the continuation of these valuable international meetings of industry executives.

Executive Director, ADAPSO Foundation (1987 - 1989)

Responsible for start-up operations of this non-profit organization created by ADAPSO (the predecessor to ITAA) in 1986 to support the development of computer-related products and services to aid the disabled and disadvantaged. Developed fund-raising programs and established procedures for managing grant applications and awarding grants.

• Managed numerous projects requiring the coordination of hundreds of volunteers from ADAPSO member companies who donated time and services in support of ADAPSO Foundation programs.

• Successfully sought federal funding in excess of $100,000 per year for three years to support a job placement program for people with disabilities and managed the staffing and start-up of the program office.

President and Chair, Argonaut Information Systems, Inc. (1971 - 1986)

Founded this computer software company which grew from a one-person operation to a $3 million+ company with hundreds of clients throughout the United States. Served as its President from 1971 to 1983 and as its Chair from 1983 to 1986. The company was subsequently acquired by one of the largest independent software products companies in the U.S.

• Negotiated numerous licensing agreements with various software and hardware companies who became resellers of Argonaut’s accounting applications software.

• Developed a highly-acclaimed customer support operation to support both Argonaut’s clients and those of its reseller/partners.

• Served on the Board of Directors of ADAPSO, the Computer Software and Services Association, and on the board of its Software Products division. Served as ADAPSO’s Conference Chair from 1978 to 1982 including organizing the second World Computing Services Industry Congress held in San Francisco in 1980.

Prior Experience (1966 - 1971)

Worked in a variety of positions as programmer, lead programmer, systems analyst and systems designer for user-oriented application systems.

Education

Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, and Heald College, San Francisco, CA.

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