I’m resting up from the trip and will soon how commentary to add to these but thought I would get them posted.
Enjoy!
Google IO Underway! Pictures
Arrived in San Francisco and went to a great pre-party, it was even better than the Adobe party I heard. There was a line around the block, open bar, and pulled pork and shrimp Tacos from San Francisco’s famed Le Truc.
Day 1 at IO was awesome. The keynote was much shorter than last year and ran on schedule. They announced Movie Rentals, Google Music Beta, Android @ Home, Ice Cream Sandwich with some neat features for Android tablets coming in Q4 (ho-hum) and a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1″ for all attendees. I have my Tab and love it, but it is a little buggy, they have a help desk set up for support issues at the conference and many people had the time zone bug which requires a hard reset of the device (and to start over from scratch customizing it). Still, its an awesome giveaway.
Went to some awesome sessions and Android Office Hours, and had lots of great food during the day, then partied at the Infinite Playground at night.
Below are some pictures:
Chet Haase and Romain Guy (“Gee”) talking about Android Honeycomb development techniques. Find their blogs at graphics-geek.blogspot.com and curious-creature.org and regular guest postings at android-developers.blogspot.com
Biggest Labyrinth game ever!
5 million dollar prototype car from GM called the EN-V.
It drives great!
Jane’s Addiction, Dave
More Jane’s Addiction, Dave and Perry
Richard Eshleman appointed CEO of Hawaii Information Service
I have a copy of a full press release below but in keeping in the spirt of guest reporters for Vendor Alley, Amanda Larson conducted an interview of Richard which you can read here:
Interview of Richard Eshleman by Amanda Larson
May 4, 2011
How would you describe your leadership style?
I have a confident, low-key, collaborative, but determined leadership style. I attempt to lead by example in terms of behavior and actions. I feel it’s important for me to set challenging clear-cut goals and to communicate them in words and deeds to the staff. I’m not a micro-manager; I have confidence in my managers and I let them handle all of our projects once I’m sure that they understand the goals.
What are the differences you are experiencing transitioning from a COO to a CEO?
We are a relatively small company so I still perform some COO functions. The primary difference for me is that the buck stops with me now for all decisions. Once I truly understood what this meant I actually began to enjoy having that amount of authority and I work very hard not to let that power go to my head.
What was the most valuable experience, in work or life, that prepared you for this job?
Years ago as a hobby, I drove racing cars, SCCA Formula Fords. I was the owner / driver and totally responsible for everything involved in getting the car prepared, to the track on time, and actually racing it. My budget and time were limited so it taught me to set and accomplish goals with what resources I had available. I think that the actual competition has helped me as well.
How does doing business in Hawaii differ from other companies you have worked with on the mainland and internationally?
I’ve had very good relationships with the companies that I worked with on the mainland and it’s the same here. Perhaps the only difference is that, at least for our company, we try to keep the aloha spirit with our employees, customers, and suppliers.
When away from the office, what other activities do you fill your time with?
I surf, dive, and relax on the beach. I belong to a running club and I love to travel.
###
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 3, 2011
Richard Eshleman appointed
CEO of Hawaii Information Service
HONOLULU — After serving as interim CEO since February 2010, Richard Eshleman was formally appointed CEO of MLS Hawaii, Inc. (dba Hawaii Information Service, or HIS) by its Board of Directors. Eshleman, who was signed to a multi-year contract, previously served for seven years as Controller and Chief Operating Officer of the company.
“It has been a distinct honor to help lead this company through some of the more challenging times in our industry, challenges that have inspired our team to refocus and redouble its efforts to serve our members and the local real estate community as a whole,” Eshleman said. “I look forward to continuing our company’s long history of service excellence and innovation.”
“With his expertise in international business, technology, and real estate, Eshleman would be a solid choice to lead any company,” said Gary L. Davis, HIS board chairman and a 31-year REALTOR on the Big Island. “For Hawaii Information Service, the best candidate was already on the job and his leadership style is a perfect fit for our organization.”
HIS offers a wide array of products and services designed to serve the
— more —
statewide real estate industry and affiliated businesses. Its flagship software application is REsearch, a custom built technological solution that was the first parcel-based MLS system in the nation. Seamlessly incorporating public records data, the breadth of its data set allows unmatched versatility in searching and analyzing information.
HIS is jointly owned by the Kauai Board of Realtors and the Hawaii Island Board of Realtors. With roots stretching back to 1984, the company now has 24 fulltime (and four part-time) employees, 22 of them based in Honolulu.
Before joining HIS, Eshleman worked at two firms in San Diego that saw significant growth during his tenure. He was Chief Financial Officer of San Diego-based Daycom Systems, a telecommunications equipment company, that saw sales grow from $5 to $30 million, and served as Director of Finance and Administration for Scentibodies Lab, a international medical diagnostics manufacturer, that grew from 50 to over 300 employees.
Eshleman received his MBA from Hawaii Pacific University, and holds an accounting degree from San Diego State University.
# # #
CONTACT
Faith Geronimo, General Manager
(808) 748-8762
faith at hawaiiinformation dot com
PHOTO
Black & White JPEG 1200×1800 – Download Link
http://ry.ly/richardeshleman
Google IO 2011 Predictions from Mark Scheel of Digital Construction
Reporting Google IO 2011 – Mark Scheel of Digital Construction
Please welcome back Mark Scheel. Mark did an excellent job last year of covering the Google IO conference. So take it away Mark!
-gr
Post 1: The Introduction
Guest Reporter: Mark Scheel (of Digital Construction)
Its hard to believe an entire year has flown by since last years Google I/O at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, CA.
But it has. And I am back to give you an inside look at the event which takes place next week. Predictions, a travel log, and breaking news will all be yours, loyal Vendor Alley readers. Occasional Apple bashing and Google love is just about guaranteed. Let me hear it in the comments Fan Boys.
What is I/O? Google I/O 2011 is Google’s largest developer event of the year and features deep technical content on Android, Google Chrome, Google APIs, GWT, App Engine, open web technologies, and more. It features 80 sessions, more than 5,000 developers, and over 100 demonstrations from developers showcasing their technologies. It also has unlimited beer and a live show from Jane’s Addiction. It is tech nirvana.
I can’t promise to run into any billionaires again this year, but I can promise to entertain and educate. I hope you’ll join me.
CMLS Letter to NAR MLS Issues and Policy Committee
Good to see CMLS continue to take more of an active role in these issues:
Here’s an excerpt…
Looking for a new gig?
Two great positions with well respected MLS providers are up on the Vendor Alley Job Board:
IT Director – My Florida Regional MLS Orlando, FL
System Administrator – Northwest Multiple Listing Service Kirkland, Washington
Make sure you tell them you heard about it on Vendor Alley!
The shootout at the IDX corral, a syndication showdown and sprinkle of conspiracy theories!
This is brewing up nicely! We’ve got all the elements to a good story. Money. Power. Greed. And since it’s NAR Mid-Year I’m sure there is going to be lots of Sex too.
Draw!
It all started last year when NAR’s Multiple Listing Issues and Policies Committee (MLIPC?) made a rule change to allow Franchisors to display indexed IDX listings from their brokers on their respective site homepages. When implemented correctly this creates a better user experience and is also great for the site’s SEO performance. But of course the MLIPC had a bunch of rules/restrictions. The big one being you had to be a Franchisor, under FTC rules. I would argue, the restriction of displaying advertising around the indexed listings in another issue that needs to be re-looked.
Well it didn’t take long for large independant brokerages to raise a stink. They wanted the same ability as Franchisors. Letters were sent and chests were pounded in protest. Even the vendors are getting in on the action. And some flip flopping happen too. Most recently Ron Peltier, CEO of HomeServices of America Inc, who is a member of one of the groups requesting inclusion is now also saying he wants the policy repealed!
So much drama! I love it!
So NAR had to act. Recently CMLS published a “Policy Consideration” (reconsideration?) document for discussion next week in Washington D.C. at the NAR Midyear meetings. Here’s my predictions:
Will NAR allow broker networks as well a Franchisor to display indexed IDX listings on their websites?
Yes.
Will NAR repeal the previous policy allowing indexed IDX listings on Franchisor websites?
No.
Weak Sauce:
Let Franchisors and Brokers compete with other real estate portals by allowing advertising around these indexed IDX listings (I’m not going to give them a pass on this one.)
Damn Shame:
It will be a long time before anyone does any real innovation in this area (listing display). Most likely anyone who does will face a policy backlash.
And the weird part about all this is that this isn’t the most complicated issue the MLIPC is going to face. Check out what else is on their schedule.
Syndication showdown.
To me the single most interesting thing about this issue is what a game changer MOVE (Realtor.com/Threewide) made by acquiring ListHub. You can’t have a talk about listing syndication today without MOVE in the discussion.
Greg Manship and I are moderating a panel of vendors next week at CMLS’ sold out Syndication Workshop. Panel includes representatives from: Zillow, Point2, Threewide, Trulia, Homes.com and Realtor.com. Zillow is in their “quiet period” so we don’t expect to hear much from them but it’s great they are going to participate.
Most of my questions will center around what responsibility does each vendor feel in regard to listing data. I might also dive in to the dynamics of the MOVE partnership. If there is something you would like to know let me know.
You can see the entire schedule at the CMLS website.
Conspiracy Theory Number 1.
Three little letters. IDS. Beware when NAR comes out to “save us” from all these Syndication woes and announces a new policy, IDS (Internet Data Syndication). They take a page from the past (IDX) they start issuing policies around the syndication of listings, and guess who they pick as their partner? Yup, MOVE.
Conspiracy Theory Number 2.
Substitute the name “MOVE” with “RPR” in Conspiracy Theory Number 1.
Stick your head out the window and put a hand to your ear. You’ll be able to tell who won by whether you hear the word “Checkmate!” come from Campbell, CA or Chicago, IL.
See you next week!
Tap. Tap.
[Photo credit NYT]
