Leadership Bios
Jim Carrick - Chairman
Prior to becoming chairman of Polaris, Jim was president & CEO of Strategic Computer Solutions (SCS), headquartered in Syracuse, NY. As a Premier IBM Business Partner, SCS provided its customers with business consulting, professional services, IT infrastructure solutions, e-business solutions, and a managed partner network. Under Jim's leadership SCS's revenues grew from $12 million in 2000 to over $100 million in 2008. Prior to SCS, Jim spent eighteen years at IBM, where he held various sales and executive management positions. Jim is active on many boards in the Syracuse community, including The Boys and Girls Clubs, The Jim Boeheim Foundation, LeMoyne College Board of Trustees, Crouse Hospital Board of Trustees, and the Central New York American Cancer Society Advisory Board. Jim received a Bachelors of Science degree in Healthcare Administration from Stonehill College and a MBA from Syracuse University. Jim can be reached at jim.carrick@polarislibrary.com.
Bill Schickling - President, CEO
Bill has been with Polaris Library Systems since April 1987 and is the principle architect of GALAXY and Polaris Integrated Library System. From 1990 - 1996 Bill worked as Polaris Library Systems Programming Manager and from 1996 - 1999 he led the Polaris Integrated Library System development team as Director of Programming. Prior to being named President and CEO in May 2003, Bill served as Vice President of Research and Product Development for all Polaris Library Systems software products. Bill received his bachelor's degree in Computer Science from the State University of New York at Oswego. Bill can be reached at .
Anita Wagner - Chief Operating Officer
Since joining Polaris Library Systems in January 1998, Anita Wagner worked in sales and marketing before establishing the Polaris Product Management Department. As Chief Operating Officer, she oversees customer operations and technical communications. She is also involved in business planning and the formation of third party alliances. Anita has nearly 30 years of experience in the vendor community, having worked for OCLC, PALINET, ISI, and HSLC. She has a Master of Science degree from Drexel University College of Information Science and Technology and an advanced certificate in management from the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania. Anita can be reached at .
Jim Mieczkowski - Chief Information Officer
Jim Mieczkowski has over 30 years of experience in commercial software development, including 21 years with Polaris Library Systems. He has had lead development responsibilities in all three generations of the Polaris Library Systems ILS products. Jim spent five years at Paralogix Corporation, a developer of decision support applications for the utility industry, where he was Vice President of Systems, directing a group of 30 software development and support professionals. In 1996 he founded MultiWare Systems Inc., a small company providing contract client/server development and database consulting services in the Syracuse area. He was the primary architect of the Polaris Integrated Library Systems relational database model and has overseen all database development for Polaris Integrated Library Systems since its inception in 1996. Jim is a graduate of the State University of New York at Fredonia with a BS degree in Mathematics with a concentration in Computer Science. Jim can be reached at
Kevin Bryans - Chief Financial Officer
Kevin joined Polaris in February 2010 as Chief Financial Officer. Kevin has over 20 years of accounting, finance and management experience from public and privately held companies. As a member of the senior management team, Kevin oversees Polaris Library Systems' financial and human resources functions. Kevin is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensed in New York State. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the State University of New York at Oswego. He is a member of the AICPA and NYSSCPA's and serves as Secretary of County North Children's Center Board of Directors. Kevin can be reached at kevin.bryans@polarislibrary.com.
David Bendekovic - Chief Sales and Marketing Officer
Dave has more than 30 years of experience building and growing commercial software, wireless, Internet, and telecommunications companies. Prior to joining Polaris Library Systems he developed and managed high caliber sales teams for AT&T, IBM, US Sprint, and Dreamscape Online. Dave's work experience also includes six years of network engineering, as well as assignments launching and managing outbound telemarketing programs, technical assistance centers, customer service centers, customer relations, and outside sales and marketing organizations. Dave is a graduate of the Graduate School of Sales & Marketing Management at Syracuse University. Dave can be reached at .