ASSIST Innovation facilitates organizations in creating innovation through advanced strategies and solutions using information systems and technologies. We specialize in IT strategic planning, achieving and measuring value from new technology, and implementing systems into organizations. We have strong expertise in supply chain systems such as RFID and other sensor technologies.
Use the button on the left to learn more about our current Areas of Expertise. ASSIST Innovation currently offers consulting services from the following experts:
Dr. Fred Riggins has been a thought leader in IT management since earning his Ph.D. at Carnegie Mellon University in 1994 where he won the William W. Cooper Doctoral Dissertation Award as the best doctoral dissertation in Management at CMU. That groundbreaking work examined how companies could develop strategies to achieve trading partner cooperation when implementing new EDI systems.
Since that time he has taught and conducted research at the University of Alberta, Georgia Institute of Technology, the University of Minnesota, and Arizona State University. He has taught more than 2,000 executives and managers in MBA programs, Executive Education programs, and other special non-degree programs. Fred has consulted or engaged in research projects with dozens of companies over that time and currently specializes in maximizing value from RFID technology and other technologies such as EDI, various Internet technologies, and extranet.
Dr. Riggins has published at least 30 articles in numerous journals, conference proceedings, and book chapters. He has won numerous awards for his research that he uses to inform his teaching and consulting activities. He is currently a professor at the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.
John P. Curtin, is a Research Fellow at the MIS Research Center of the University of Minnesota, a business and technology consultant with his own firm in Minneapolis/St. Paul, and a participant in the MISRC’s RFID Research Roundtable during 2004-2007. He holds a B.A. & M.S. from St. Mary’s University & a B.S. degree from Winona State University. His industry experience includes 35 years of hardware engineering, software development, and senior management responsibilities, including international assignments primarily in Europe with Sperry, Unisys, and Hexaware Technologies.
His recent accomplishments include major developments in new technology-based passenger systems, and air cargo and logistics development projects delivered to support major airline clients throughout the world. His other focal areas of technology, interest and experience include development and integration activities related to radio frequency identification (RFID), global position sensing (GPS), iris scan, hand geometry and additional biometrics. These information security initiatives were in support of several major industry and government contracts. He also spent the last 15 years working on offshore development and process management improvement initiatives with several partner firms in Asia and Europe.
Bob Gaffney is a Visiting Lecturer in the College of Business at the University of St. Thomas. He teaches undergraduate and graduate level information technology and operations classes. His current research is focused on technology driven business process change.
Prior to joining the University of St Thomas faculty, Bob was an Information Technology manager responsible for General Mills Sales and Foodservice electronic commerce applications. He chaired the Foodservice industry's EFR (Efficient Foodservice Response) SCDF/EC Pilot subcommittee. He also represented GMI Foodservice on the Manufacturer's Steering Committee for the IFDA (International Foodservice Distributors Association) central product database.
While at General Mills (GMI), Bob held executive management positions addressing most aspects of information systems. He has worked both in the GMI headquarters and its subsidiaries. Bob has authored articles on subjects ranging from electronic commerce to hardware/software cost estimating.
Prior to joining General Mills, Bob served in the US Air Force. He retired as a Colonel in the Air Force Reserve. As a reserve officer he consulted on weapon system procurement including the emergence of electronic commerce. During his active duty career, he was one of the initial cadre of Air Force officers assigned to the Space Shuttle program and helped form the International Society of Parametric Analysts. As a member of the RAND Corporation (“think tank”), Bob published original software cost research. Bob holds an MBA from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Macalester College.
