Tim is recognized as one of the top two or three experts in the world on issues of work behavior and the work environment. He's one of those rare people who can back up their academic credentials with consulting expertise and real world experience.

Tim began university at the U.S. Naval Academy and finished his undergraduate degree with a double major in Psychology and English from Augustana College. He was always intrigued by why and how certain devices and designs worked when others didn't - so a perceptive professor recommended he pursue Human Factors at the graduate level.

He earned his Ph.D. from the Human Factors Lab at the University of South Dakota at the age of 25. His dissertation research developed a performance appraisal methodology for the state law enforcement organization. From graduate school he joined the research department of State Farm Insurance Companies where he conducted one of the first and arguably the best, controlled, scientific examination of the effect of work environment factors on white-collar workers' performance and productivity. His landmark work - "Improving Productivity in the Workplace: reports from the field" - is found in the libraries of design, planning and management professionals throughout North America and the world.

Tim began consulting in 1982 and quickly built a base of clients among the Fortune 500. His focus was and remains on developing workplace solutions that support work behaviors and yield improved performance. He also began his long-time practice of collaboration with other experts including leading A&D firms, BOSTI, BOMI, ISFE and what later came to be IFMA.

From 1988-1998 Tim moved into academe in order to stay closer to home and small and growing children. He served as Chairperson of Human Environment and Design at Michigan State University, where he led the development of the graduate program in Facilities Design and Management. He also continued consulting and collaborating with other experts on a part-time basis. In 1998 he moved his family back to Chicago and returned to full-time consulting.

Throughout his career Tim has been fortunate enough to work with some of the leading experts in workplace research, ergonomics and design. In sixteen years of collaborating with Mike Brill and BOSTI, Tim played a key role in developing many innovative office concepts. Brill and he and developed "Hotelling" - an alternative office strategy first successfully applied at Ernst & Young in Chicago. He worked with Mike Tatum and Alan Lauck on Andersen Consulting's Advanced Development Center in Dallas. He collaborated with Neils Diffrient on the ergonomics of a new office systems product. He's created a number methods and measures that have been adopted by other practicing professionals and continue in use today.

Tim's a researcher, educator and entrepreneur. He writes and speaks extensively on a wide variety of issues affecting organizations, work and workplaces. A dynamic, entertaining and educational presenter, he has participated as an invited speaker, panelist, workshop leader or keynote speaker at conferences and events around the world. He has a long list of publications. But, he admits, he only does the “academic shtick” when there's something meaningful to share. He was dubbed "A Reluctant, Rebellious Guru" by Today's Facility Manager - read the article to see why.

Kreon Cyros of ISFE describes Tim as "one of those rare individuals who have learned it, studied it, taught it and done it - he backs up his impressive credentials with real world experience and an innate ability to make complex things simple to understand."