ABOUT US: TEAM BIOS
Meet the Equitas Team
We are dedicated to helping you protect or recover you information processing assets. Years of experience with companies of all sizes has shown us the value of information in
running a business no matter how small or inexpensive the associated computers, networks or applications.
Mark Mayle
Mark Mayle's career in IT started with his major in Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois. After a summer internship with Bell Labs during his undergraduate program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and a fellowship at Stanford University in California's Silicon Valley, Mayle began working at the Lab's Naperville development facility where he worked on highly reliable computer systems that controlled telephone switches located in central offices across the world.
Mayle knew that applying technology to business problems and opportunities was where his real interest lay so he completed an MBA at the University of Chicago to acquire a foundation in business knowledge. From Bell Labs he went on to work at a start-up that offered business solutions such as accounting and inventory to small and mid sized companies. After that, he worked with a suburban firm that specialized in man-machine interfaces in steel and aluminum mills for the industrial enterprises such as US Steel and Alcoa.
Mayle then moved to consulting full time and worked with an international company and consulted for many local and national companies like BP/Amoco, Discover Card, Rockwell International, and International Truck and Engine. He also did extensive IT operations and application development work for small and medium sized businesses as well.
Over his career, Mayle has been involved in many facets of computer-related technology including:
- IT department management and consulting
- IT assessments and planning
- Disaster prevention and security
- System administration
- Project management
- Application development (design, programming, implementation)
- Testing
- Documentation
- Training
Alex Thiersch
Alex Thiersch is the legal component of Equitas and he brings years of litigation experience to the firm. He has studied extensively in the field of electronic discovery and data retention, including the development of best practices for corporate and outside counsel relative to electronically stored data. He has also developed best practices for the retention and destruction of electronic data, including application of the Sedona Principles and Guidelines and the American Bar Association Guidelines for Retention of Electronic Data. In addition, he developed independent policies and procedures relative to data retention and discovery based upon current legal principles.
As an experienced corporate litigator, Thiersch knows that a proactive and preventative approach to policy is most effectual and ultimately cost-effective.
Thiersch is an associate at the commercial litigation boutique Williams Montgomery & John in Chicago and serves on the electronic discovery committee. As the only associate on that committee, he has developed policies and procedures for the firm's corporate litigators relative to the procurement of electronic evidence, advising companies on best practices for document retention, storing and searching electronic data and avoiding spoliation issues. He has also become an expert on the new Federal Rules of Civil Procedure that govern the retention of electronic media, as well as the requirements of companies relative to retaining data during normal operation and in face of litigation and pending litigation.
Thiersch's expertise allows Equitas to develop and implement comprehensive and legally sound business continuity plans. Given today's society and the new Federal Rules, companies cannot afford to not have procedures in place for dealing with requests for electronic data. When Equitas implements business continuity plans, a core component of those plans addresses the responsibilities of companies to preserve data in the face of lawsuits.
Tom Cray
Tom Cray has been involved in industrial design management and product development in the Chicago design community for the past fifteen years. In that time, he has garnered numerous awards, has been awarded three patents and has been a guest lecturer and mentor for students at universities including University of Illinois, Northwestern and IIT. Tom received his BFA in industrial design from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and his MFA from the Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York.
Terry Cray
Terry Cray is the founder and principal of Brian Bradley Business Interiors, an interior design and office furniture supply company he started in 1993.
In that capacity, Cray has initiated and completed numerous projects with corporations such as ComEd, Abbott Laboratories and Citibank. He has BFA in industrial design from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and MFA from the Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York.