I'd like to take this opportunity to convey an overdue, but heart-felt "Thank-you." Several years ago, in the early days of e-Commerce, I left IBM to work for a start-up subsidiary of a long-time publisher of industrial directories, Thomas Publishing. They convinced me that "e-Commerce" was the next big thing... - boy, were they right! At the time I had neither heard the term, nor had I any visibility to IBM doing anything in this space.

It was an exciting, challenging position and I enjoyed being part of the early wave of trying to figure out directories, catalogues, payments, business models and so on.

To my disappointment, IBM was not present at conferences in those days - with heavy dominance, rather, from Sun, Netscape and MS. Then, I heard Irving W-B speak at the Javitz. I went back to my office & looked up IBM Internet Division on the web site, and read one of your articles about your vision for the future. I was very impressed and inspired.

To make a long story short, as we were making plans to merge our company with GEIS's TPN, I was also making plans to come back to IBM. I wrote to you, and described what I'd been working on and what I wanted to do in IBM. You were nice enough to call me and hook me up with your Security team in the Internet Division in SWG, which is where I returned.

My heart never left IBM; returning gave me the best of all worlds -- leading edge market work, very talented, dedicated, nice colleagues and another chance to be part of the best company-team on the planet. You made a very positive difference for me and I thank-you! - for this as well as for your ongoing enthusiasm and leadership.


I wish you good health, much happiness, and success in your new endeavors!! Take care and enjoy!