Technical Team

Spencer N. Gerrol
CUA
Executive Director

Experience

• Experienced in all aspects of user-centered analysis and design
• Directs projects in a variety of domains from federal and state governments to fortune 500 companies
• Emphasizes the importance of evidence-driven decisions based on best-practices, research, and testing
• Focuses on the intersection between usability and marketing, balancing business and user goals
• Specializes in converging multiple usability methods (including eye tracking) to illuminate a bigger picture informing design
• Consults on a strategic level to help organizations develop mature usability programs
• Enjoys mentoring and training in addition to traditional consulting
• Special interest and expertise in localization and cross-cultural design
• Presented "When in Rome: Understanding Cultural Differences in the Context Creating Designs for Various Cultures" at the Usability Professionals Association 2006 conference
• Selected clients include: California State Government, GlaxoSmithKline, Arbitron, NASD, Federal Aviation Administration, Aflac, Roche Diagnostics, Columbia University Medical Center, Hewlett-Packard, Centers for Disease Control, Thomson Scientific, ARINC, Santander, Federal Reserve Bank, Voice of America / International Broadcasting Board

Education

B.S., Summa Cum Laude
Human Factors / Engineering Psychology, Tufts University, Medford, MA

Minor degrees:
Engineering Management & Entrepreneurial Leadership
Spanish Language & Culture

D.E.L.E.
University of Alcalá de Henares
Madrid, Spain

Certified Usability Analyst

Favorite Projects

Balancing user and business goals to increase customer satisfaction while maximizing return on investment.

Helping federal, state, and local governments increase public trust and confidence in government while working toward effective self-service.

Areas of Interest and Design Orientation

Combining multiple usability methods to demonstrate the bigger picture and better inform design.

Helping organizations make usability and continuous improvement routine.

Cross-cultural design / localization (especially for Spanish-speaking markets).

Hobbies and Special Interests

Travel, language, culture. Stick me in a new place where I have to learn the language and the culture and I'm happy.

Music - listening to it, playing it, dancing salsa.

Favorite Food

It's all about good combinations. Olives, Manchego Cheese, and Rioja Reserva wine is the best combination I know. I prefer fish to most anything, with seared ahi tuna ranking high. Favorite ice cream: mint chocolate chip.

Character

I like challenges. I like to constantly be learning. I'm enthusiastic about my interests and my interests are wide ranging... so that makes me generally enthusiastic.

Technical Team