Aeritae Consulting Group
Nick Hernandez
President and CEO
Nick joined IBM in 1983 serving the commercial and public sector. Chronically unemployable, Nick moved from one company to another until a unique opportunity came dressed in overalls knocking on his door. It was Nick’s college room mate who challenged him to start a consulting firm to address a multi-billion dollar, multi-year US Navy technology integration program. With this task order in hand, Nick tapped his colleague Michael Finlon and they launched Aeritae Consulting Group in January, 2001. This leap of faith paid off. Aeritae earned a solid reputation for quality delivery with its clients due to a solid depth chart—talented consultants who deliver quality work product and with measurable results.
On the home front, Nick strives to keep up with his wonderfully creative and energetic high school and college age children, Mario, Analisa and Vincent, and Josie. Trying to mastering two new practices a year, Nick along with his adventurous wife, Mary joined their children in acquiring a taste for white, green and black teas after visiting Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. Over tea, they debate life and politics, enjoying the present moment and life’s many amazing surprises. Nick loves reading the great teachings of spiritual leaders and philosophers, and is contemplating yet another practice—the art of Cuban Cigar rolling (and smoking). Only leisure time will tell what the next one will be.
Michael Finlon
General Manager
As co-founder of Aeritae, Michael dedicates himself to leading and supporting the development of Aeritae’s practice based consulting delivery model. Others have talked about building this type of delivery model; Michael accomplished it through hard work and dedication. Michael refines, improves, lives, and delivers Aeritae Excellence every day. With unusual calm and a talented Aeritae cast supporting him, Michael continually moves Aeritae’s team and services towards excellence.
Michael lives in Eagan and is most proud of his two children, Jeff and Michelle. He is currently guiding them through the dynamics of college. Michael believes in giving and helping others. He has worked extensively with youth groups, chaperoning youth service trips and helping establish a local food shelf and family resource center in Eagan. Michael is constantly working on improving his fly fishing skills and one day hopes to spend his time exploring some of the great trout fishing spots in mountains of Montana. Michael also has a passion for the blues, especially the works of many of the great blues guitar legends such as Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Lonnie Brooks, Otis Rush, John Lee Hooker, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Buddy Guy. He recently taken up guitar playing as a hobby and dreams of one day playing in the shadows of the great blues players, until then he will be content with visiting some of the local blue joints and taking the occasional trip back to Chicago to listen to the blues and reconnect with his roots.
Roger F. Ferguson
Director – Research and Development
Roger brings 27 years of practical architecture, engineering and performance, and IT operations experience to Aeritae. Roger gained early knowledge and insights through many global Business and IT leadership roles such as managing technical operations and development as well as supporting critical transaction systems requiring high availability for Northwest Airlines and Capella University. Roger applied his business and enterprise IT experience into practical, no-nonsense delivery knowledge and consulting advice. Listening to him speak, you are convinced he knows his subject matter and IT domains, communicating clearly in areas like architecture, engineering, development and operations.
Raised in a large farming family in southern Minnesota, Roger learned early the virtues of hard work, early morning rises, rolling up his sleeves and the importance of family. His work and family experiences honed his practical judgment, inspiring Roger to make prudent decisions like marrying his sweetheart of many years. Roger and his wife Susie live on beautiful Prior Lake and love to travel the world together when they’re not at home. In fact, Roger and Susie share a mutual fondness for fine tequilas and can often be found seeking out such treasures while vacationing in Mexico.
Ann Olson
Director - Delivery
Ann Olson began her IT career after earning an electrical engineering degree from Iowa State. While working for AT&T’s Bell Labs in Chicago, Ann also earned a Masters of Electrical Engineering from Cornell University. She then parlayed her academic and research knowledge into practical experience serving as site general manager for AT&T’s largest twin cities outsourced client. Throughout her service provider roles, Ann developed an eye for spotting individual talent and a knack for building strong technical teams. She has a love for coaching and mentoring people, and found success and satisfaction delivering complex IT infrastructure programs as a manager for Target Corporation. Ann joined Aeritae Consulting Group in March of 2006, and was promoted to Practice Manager a year later building Aeritae’s Leadership Services and Enterprise Architecture practices. Ann enjoys interacting with her clients and team in her new role.
Ann is an active sports mom chauffeuring her children year around to football, basketball, volleyball and dance recitals. When she is not on the sidelines cheering, Ann is running with her husband, Jim, a rabid Vikings fan and golfer.