Robert McGoff

With thirty-five years experience in many industries, Bob has been in the forefront in the design and implementation of secure networks and network-based systems.  Beginning his career at IBM, he was a member of the PANAMAC software implementation team at Pan American Airways.  While his experience was originally airline reservation systems, he also went on to write one of the first applications using IBM Data Cell technology as part of the development of an online system for one of the largest credit bureaus in the NY Metropolitan area. 

During his twenty-two year career at Time Inc. he was responsible for the definition, design and implementation of the Time/Life News Service system which was a pioneering data communications/management system linking all the magazine’s bureaus and correspondents world-wide.  Bob also functioned as the General Manager of Mag-Net which was a satellite-based broadcast network connecting Time Inc's. Editorial offices in NYC with fourteen printing plants in the U.S. and Canada.  This network was eventually expanded via trans-oceanic fiber into Europe, Asia and Australia. 

After joining Harcourt the global textbook publisher in 1992 as Vice President of Information Technology, Bob oversaw the development of all back-office and financial systems as well as a secure Wide Area Network linking each of Harcourt’s sites to it’s customers across the Internet.  After successfully completing the Y2K transition, he was given responsibility for all telecommunications spending for Harcourt’s sister companies: Neiman Marcus, General Cinema and Harcourt General as Vice President, Global Network Services and oversaw negotiations with all telecom vendors for these companies.