Skip to main content

Meet Our Team

Our team lives, breathes and dreams HPC industry research. We're driven to reveal trends that impact business and technology strategy.

Our team is comprised of genuinely gifted minds

CEO

Earl C. Joseph

Dr. Earl Joseph drives research and consulting efforts associated with the United States, Europe and Asia-Pacific markets for technical servers and supercomputers.

Dr. Earl Joseph drives research and consulting efforts associated with the United States, Europe and Asia-Pacific markets for technical servers and supercomputers. He advises Hyperion Research clients on the competitive, managerial, technological, integration and implementation issues for technical servers. Dr. Joseph also oversees Hyperion Research's high-end HPC User Forum activities.

Specifically, Dr. Joseph focuses on:

HPC worldwide market data and ROI
Vendor strategies
Exascale initiatives worldwide
U.S. Government
Asia-Pacific region
Manufacturing sector

Dr. Joseph's areas of expertise include technical computers from entry-level servers to high-end capability supercomputers, software, storage and networking solutions for technical computing. He has worked for four technical computing companies in multiple marketing and R&D roles.

Dr. Joseph has a strong background in computer technologies and assessing future directions in technical computing. Prior to joining IDC and Hyperion Research, he spent his career in IT in the HPC market space, most recently at SGI and Cray Research. He works closely with leading HPC users around the world on their current and future market requirements.

Dr. Joseph holds a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota, where his research focus was the strategic management of high technology firms, and an undergraduate degree in business and technology from the University of Minnesota.

Analyst

Jaclyn Ludema

Jaclyn Ludema is the lead sustainability analyst and covers significant areas pertaining to the HPC market.

Jaclyn Ludema is the lead sustainability analyst and covers significant areas pertaining to the HPC market. Ms. Ludema has experience as a Data Scientist serving government agencies (NOAA, HHS-CMS, and NASA). Her strengths are in data analysis, automating decision-support processes, applying weather and ocean models to forecast systems, and helping teams solve big data storage and usage issues. Her vast experience also includes saving over 100 manatees from chilly weather and boat strikes. Ms. Ludema has a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University and an MS from Johns Hopkins University.
Senior Account Executive

Kurt Gantrish

Mr. Gantrish is responsible for Hyperion Research's sales to U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Intelligence Community (IC), and HPC hardware/software vendor accounts.

Mr. Gantrish is responsible for Hyperion Research's sales to U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Intelligence Community (IC), and HPC hardware/software vendor accounts. He has over 25 years of experience in the information technology industry.

Prior to joining Hyperion Research Mr. Gantrish served as VP of Sales for NextMark, a market-leading software development company for media planning tools. Mr. Gantrish also has 14 years of experience providing enterprise IT solutions to the U.S. Federal Government for Red River Computer Company as well as Norseman Defense Inc. He has served both as an Account Executive and as a Sales Manager for these organizations in servicing the Government.

Mr. Gantrish started his career in information technology with Lotus Development and IBM where he served as a sales manager. His team introduced Lotus Notes to the marketplace and developed the Lotus Business Partner community that was responsible for generating value added Notes-based applications.

Mr. Gantrish holds a B.A. in German Language and Literature from Columbia University. He is the recipient of the German Consulate Book Prize, and a member of The National German Honor Society, Delta Phi Alpha.

Senior VP of Research

Bob Sorensen

Bob Sorensen helps drive research and consulting efforts in the United States, European, and Asian-Pacific markets for technical servers, supercomputers, clouds, and high performance data analysis.

Bob Sorensen helps drive research and consulting efforts in the United States, European, and Asian-Pacific markets for technical servers, supercomputers, clouds, and high performance data analysis. He advises a diverse and international client base on the global HPC sector's status and prospects through strategic research projects, single and multinational government studies, international competitive research analysis, and technical trends analysis in HPC hardware, software, and infrastructure worldwide.

Specifically, Mr. Sorensen focuses on:

Processor and storage technologies
U.S. Government
Exascale developments
Quantum computing/future technologies

Mr. Sorensen’s areas of expertise include analysis of HPC hardware, architectures, and interconnects, HPC benchmarking and performance analysis, and assessments of emerging and disruptive technology trends in the HPC and IT sector writ large.

Before joining Hyperion Research, Mr. Sorensen worked 33 years for the U.S. Federal Government as a Senior Science and Technology analyst. He covered global competitive and technical HPC and related advanced computing developments to support senior-level U.S. policy makers, including those in the White House, Department of Defense, and Treasury.

Mr. Sorensen holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Rochester and a master’s degree in computer science from the George Washington University.

Analyst

Thomas Sorensen

Thomas Sorensen provides a broad range of support to research areas including high performance computing, cloud, AI-related developments, quantum computing, and other advanced computing topics.

Thomas Sorensen provides a broad range of support to research areas including high performance computing, cloud, AI-related developments, quantum computing, and other advanced computing topics. Mr. Sorensen also supports various market survey efforts for the analytical team and is also the lead author of HPC User Forum documents.

Mr. Sorensen’s background includes technical transcriber, educational coordinator, and research intern at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. Mr. Sorensen holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Anthropology from VCU (Virginia Commonwealth University).

Chief Operating Officer

Jean Sorensen, CPA

Jean Sorensen is responsible for the oversight of Hyperion Research business operations, including accounting, finance, human resources, and vendor relations.

Jean Sorensen is responsible for the oversight of Hyperion Research business operations, including accounting, finance, human resources, and vendor relations. Her accounting education and experience, along with strong organizational and communication skills, help ensure Hyperion Research runs smoothly.

Ms. Sorensen has previously worked in public accounting, corporate accounting (assistant controller), and academia focusing on math/science instruction.

Senior Analyst

Mark Nossokoff

Mark Nossokoff has over 30 years of experience in the data storage technology field and directs his research and consulting efforts in associated areas.

Mark Nossokoff has over 30 years of experience in the data storage technology field and directs his research and consulting efforts in associated areas. Mr. Nossokoff’s experience includes hardware design, application engineering, product marketing, product management and strategic planning and co-inventor of (four) patents.

Mr. Nossokoff, in addition to many HPC topics, will focus on:

Emerging storage technologies
Storage mediums
IO interconnects and architectures
File systems
Data storage solution reliability, availability and usability
Storage trends and competitive analysis
Storage technology impacts on cloud, AI and quantum computing applications
Ecosystem analysis and impacts of M&A

Before joining Hyperion Research, Mr. Nossokoff worked primarily in the OEM Storage B2B market for NCR, AT&T, Hyundai/Symbios, LSI (Engenio), NetApp (Engenio), LSI again (server IO and PCI RAID), Dot Hill and most recently with Seagate. Mr. Nossokoff has a BSEE degree from Purdue University and an MBA from Wichita State University.

Senior Account Executive

Mike Thorp

Mike Thorp is a result-oriented global sales leader with more than 20 years of sales, sales management, business development, marketing and relationship management experience in the IT Research and Advisory Industry.

Mike Thorp is a result-oriented global sales leader with more than 20 years of sales, sales management, business development, marketing and relationship management experience in the IT Research and Advisory Industry. He’s an effective communicator with strong strategic sales planning and negotiation skills.

Specifically, Mr. Thorp focuses on:

Global sales
Contracting
Customer relationships

Mr. Thorp has led HPC strategic account efforts for HPC studies with the U.S. government in support of Economic Models Linking HPC and ROI, Economic Impact of HPC Investments, HPC and Industrial Partnerships, and Exascale Computing, to name a few areas.

Before Hyperion Research, Mr. Thorp drove sales, business development and account management for IDC Research, Burton Group, AMR Research and META Group. He has consistently helped to deliver complex solutions and services across a diverse range of enterprise information technology, business strategy, and technical and engineering services. Client experience includes Fortune 1,000, Global 2000, Federal Government both Civilian and DoD including the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC).

Hyperion Research Partners

Brian Eccles

Client Services Executive

Brian Eccles is responsible for business development as well as custom project delivery. He helps clients outperform as they leverage the application of High Performance Computing (HPC), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Quantum Computing (QC) to drive their organizations forward, and best support their own clients, customers, and users. Before Hyperion Research Mr. Eccles was with IBM Corporation for over twenty years. His roles included Associate Partner in IBM Consulting, and Principal Analyst in their Market Development and Insights group. Prior to IBM, he was a Big Four strategy and process consultant, built beverage production facilities, and developed new consumer products from research lab to factory floor. He has spent much of his career based in, and working throughout, Asia and Europe. Mr. Eccles has an MBA from the University of Hong Kong and a BS Engineering from the University of Colorado.

Katsuya Nishi

Senior Account Representative, Japan

Katsuya Nishi has participated in the HPC world for over 30 years with 5 years as System Analyst and 5 years as Account manager at Cray Research Inc. While at Cray Research he was awarded "International Top Performer" twice. In 1998, he founded Best Systems Inc. and later worked with Grid Research Inc., Swimmy Software Inc., HPC Solution Co. Ltd., Beyond Computing Co. Ltd and E-Marketings Inc.

He is currently the Chief Editor of HPCwire Japan and conducts in-person interviews with many Japanese HPC researchers including "FUGAKU" supercomputer users. He is also working with a number of non-profit organizations in the High Performance Computing arena:

Board Member and Office director for "NPO Initiative for Parallel Bioinformatics"
Board Member and Office director for "NPO Tsukuba OSS support center"

Andrew Rugg

President, Certus Insights

Andrew Rugg is an industry leader in integrating quantitative, qualitative, and analytics research methodologies to develop applied strategic insights for clients. He’s worked extensively for a diverse range of clients, including advocacy groups, health non-profits, consumer companies, health care companies, and defense contractors. Andrew currently serves as President of Certus Insights, a full service market research agency based in the Washington, DC area.

Kirsten Chapman, KC Associates

Manager Data Collection Operations

Kirsten Chapman drives the primary and secondary data collections team for Hyperion Research. Her team includes highly experienced research assistants who contact HPC professionals in both government and business in order to gather their opinions and observations about HPC computing.

Specifically, Ms. Chapman on:

Handling data collection logistics
Synthesizing data to prepare for analysis
Promoting attendance to HPC User Forums

Ms. Chapman has worked in information technology marketing for more than 20 years, which includes HPC. Her area of expertise is in collecting data using interviews and surveys based on market and industry research instruments developed by Hyperion Research.

Ms. Chapman holds a bachelor's degree in marketing from the University of Denver and a master's degree in business with a focus on strategic management from the University of Minnesota.

Benjamin Portman

President, Orpheus

Benjamin Portman is the President of Orpheus, a team of passionate and experienced web designers, web developers, graphic designers and marketing strategists. Since their founding in 2014, Orpheus has consistently delivered attractive, efficient and functional websites, applications and solutions to help companies tell their story, grow their online presence, and succeed in today’s competitive digital economy.
Benjamin and his Orpheus team support Hyperion Research websites (hyperionresearch.com and hpcuserform.com) as well as event video, editing and streaming.