Alvin H. Sher, Ph.D.

Dr. Sher is a partner in V.R. Software and is Chief Financial Officer of MerAl Productions. Dr. Sher and Hessel together have produced videos for a local TV channel on computer-related topics. He has extensive experience in installing and debugging personal computer hardware, peripherals and multimedia devices. Dr. Sher has focused on Windows 95 and NT installation and problems. For many years Dr. Sher was newsletter editor of a local computer users group and a major contributor to its technical presentations and reviews.

Dr. Sher has been a researcher and manager at a large federal government laboratory for almost 30 years. He was instrumental in introducing microcomputers to technocratic applications at the agency. He has held a succession of positions in the areas of management information technology from microcomputers and their support to major systems applications, such as accounting and personnel information. He has a personal interest in microcomputer graphics applications and has consulted on specialized applications of graphics with other government agencies, including the New York State Task Force on Organized Crime. In 1990, he was awarded his agency's medal award for leadership of management information programs and technical program management.

A native of St. Louis, Missouri, he received his B.A. and M.A. from Washington University in St. Louis and the Ph.D. from Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Canada.

His wife, Adrienne, is director of a local nursery school. They have three daughters ranging in age from 30 to 18 who are in mortgage financing, industrial engineering, and college, respectively, and three grandchildren who are into everything.