Mike Krolak was introduced to computers, robots, and communication systems almost as soon as he could walk. Beginning at age seven he toured the country working on exhibitions that appeared at major trade shows and museums, and on CNN network news. As part of these exhibits, he used natural language to program an intelligent CAD system to design complex, cantilevered, block structures; designed Lincoln Logs houses on an intelligent CAD connected to a self-programming fabrication factory; and programmed real robotic turtles and assorted talking mobile robots.
Mike earned his bachelor degree in mathematics from the University of Chicago where he was a teaching assistant as well. While in Chicago he also tutored inner city students to help them transition to the prestigious Illinois State Math and Science High School. He has published material on using a massively parallel computer for image processing and finding large prime numbers; funded by the National Super Computer Center.
As one of the early pioneers in using the web for distance learning, in 1994 he helped develop a project, funded and positively reviewed by NSF. The project featured virtual plant tours, tutorials on CNC machining, and a variety of production processes and products to first year Industrial and Manufacturing Engineers. This course was developed for the University of Rhode Island and UMass Lowell. Mike also participated on a team to provide navigational aids to the visually impaired funded by NSF.
Mike climbed through the ranks at the Boston Globe from a software consultant all the way to an Executive Director where he built a team of more than 40 directors, managers, software engineers, web developers, quality engineers, and project delivery managers reporting to him. Additionally, he managed a team 8 offshore developers in Siberia and India.
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