Since retiring as CEO at Compete Inc. in 2008, Don has been writing verse from the ideas, images, feelings and words rattling about in his head. Supported by Joan Houlihan and the members of her weekly Concord Poetry Center workshop, his poetry is growing and progressing. He continues to be quite involved networking and mentoring some of the hot, young Internet companies in the Boston and MITX communities. His son, Christopher has started a company, McLagan Construction LLC, in which Don participates.
Don has been an innovator of business information services for more than forty years. He was Chairman, President and CEO of Compete Inc. up to its successful sale to Taylor Nelson Sofress and WPP in 2008. He was the founder, Chairman and CEO of NewsEdge Corporation (1988-2000). Previously, he was Vice President and General Manager of the Information Services Division of Lotus Development Corporation (1985-1988); he was a founding employee and Executive Vice President of Data Resources, Inc. (1969-1984); he started the Advanced Computer Techniques Group within the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Comptroller (1967-69).
Don has both B.S. (1964) and B.S.M.E. (1965) degrees from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut and an MBA from Harvard Business School (1967). Sharon Bryan is the author of four collections of poetry: Salt Air and Objects of Affection from Wesleyan University Press, Flying Blind from Sarabande Books, and Sharp Stars from BOA in 2009. She is also the editor of Where We Stand: Women Poets on Literary Tradition, published by Norton, and co-editor (with William Olsen) of Planet on the Table: Poets on the Reading Life, published by Sarabande. She has taught at universities around the country, most recently as Visiting Professor of Poetry at the University of Connecticut and has received two NEA Fellowships in Poetry and an Artist Trust grant from the Washington State.