Edwards Brothers Names New CIO

Edwards Brothers announced that Barb Dawson has joined the company in the newly created position of chief information officer.

The move reflects the increasingly important role technology plays in meeting publishers' ongoing needs for more efficient and cost-effective manufacturing solutions.

Edwards Brothers is in the midst of a multiyear company-wide business transformation called Connecting with EB or CwEB, designed to change the way it serves customers by integrating production best practices with leading edge technology solutions. A key focus is automating transactions, such as order entry, billing, ship notifications, and tracking, through EDI exchange and online ordering tools such as EB's One Touch Reprint® solution.

"Staying ahead of the curve on technology has always been central to our success at Edwards," said President and CEO John Edwards. "Through technology, we're able to gather and utilize better data, improve communications, increase productivity, streamline processes, and, in the end, help our customers lower total manufacturing and distribution costs. Barb brings 20 years experience to the table implementing technology solutions for a variety of government, non-profit, and for-profit organizations. With her broad base of experience, she will play a vital role in our business and our future."

Dawson was most recently the CIO at Two Men and a Truck International, the largest franchise moving company in the United States. Prior to that she was the Director of the Public Sector Practice at Dewpoint, a leading technology consultant and integrator, charged with developing and growing the public sector business. Before joining Dewpoint, she ran her own successful technology consulting firm, Strategic Advantage, which worked with large organizations such as the State of Michigan, Oracle/Sun, and Bearing Point on projects valued at more than $100M. She has served in leadership roles in numerous industry associations, including the Michigan Microsoft Dynamics AX User Group, the Project Management Institute, and the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce Information Technology Council. She holds a BS in economics from Michigan State University and a Masters in Social Work and a Masters Certificate in Non-profit Leadership and Administration from Western Michigan University. Dawson is a native of Michigan.

"I have worked in information technology nearly 20 years, enjoying the profession for its demand of constant learning and its focus of driving organizational change," said Dawson. "I believe technology is not just a cost savings tool, but a force that powers organizations. Technology changes the way people work, the way customers are reached, transforms organizations, and even changes the world. Technology is never about just another day at the office. I look forward to putting this philosophy to use at an industry leader like Edwards Brothers."