Mark Berns, a leader in change and transformation for 25 years, brings a unique combination of creativity and technical know-how to organizations seeking to grow and work more effectively, and to deal with the continuous rapid change needed to flourish in a global information economy.

He has launched products and services, developed strategy, introduced new technologies and evaluated and integrated dozens of acquisitions. He specializes in mergers and acquisitions, from due diligence to integration, and in helping businesses fit technology and process to strategic needs.

As one who’s been on both sides of 100 acquisitions, he knows firsthand how critical it is to understand and bridge differences in corporate culture. He can guide staff and operations assessments, organization redesign and technology changes arising from strategic combinations. Some 80% of acquisitions fail to deliver value. Mark is driven by a desire to help organizations overcome those odds.

As a Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Jupitermedia Corp., Berns shaped the technology and corporate strategy that enabled the company to survive the dot-com bust and reinvent itself. He built a team and infrastructure to support that rapid growth and innovation. He also led the integration of a dozen U.S. and European stock photography agencies to help build Jupiterimages Corp., the world’s third-largest stock company.

Before joining Jupitermedia, Berns launched the first online news service of The Associated Press. He also worked with AP staff and customers to help them make the best use of new technical services. That work in technology innovation and product development followed a decade as a print, broadcast and wire service journalist.

Berns has an M.S. in Positive Organizational Development & Change from Case Western Reserve University and a B.A. in English from Indiana University. He also has certification in Appreciative Inquiry and Coaching from Case Western Reserve and in Principles and Practices of Organization Development from Teacher’s College, Columbia University.

Berns, who lives in Connecticut, is a member of the Organization Development Network and serves on the program committee for the OD Network of Greater New York.

Berns, a sailor, named his firm “Ready About,” the command a sailboat captain uses to make sure the crew is prepared to change direction.