Nick Hernandez
President and CEO

Nick joined IBM in 1983, developing opportunities in large commercial businesses and the public sector. After working for large IT companies for nine years, he heard the call of the small business. He joined several dynamic start ups that kept starting up, until finally coming to that point to build his own business. The opportunity presented itself in the form of a signed task order for a consulting role in a large government IT project. Nick tapped his long-time industry colleague, Michael Finlon, and they launched Aeritae Consulting Group in January 2001. This leap of faith paid off. Aeritae has earned a solid reputation for delivering quality client results. He attributes its continued success in large part to the firm’s solid depth chart; an abundance of talented consultants who deliver quality work product and are fun to be with, yet are focused like bullets in flight on measurable results.

On the home front, Nick strives to keep up with his wonderful wife and four energetic children, grade ranges from high school to college. Determined to master two new practices a year, Nick’s wife talked him into practicing Bikram Yoga. Together Nick and his family continue refining their taste for white, green, and black teas. Their love of tea came after visiting Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. Nick’s family gathers to debate life, politics, or just to enjoy each other in the present moment over tea. Nick also loves reading great teachings of spiritual leaders and philosophers, and is contemplating his next practice; staying in the now, and learning the art of cigar rolling (and smoking)! Only in leisure will he discover his next practice!

Michael Finlon
Chief Operating Officer

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 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 has 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.

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 senior group 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 was promoted again in January of 2008 to Delivery Director, taking the lead in helping Aeritae transition to a new organizational structure. Ann enjoys interacting with her clients and team in her new role, and continually strives to develop and bring in new talent to Aeritae’s strong talent pool.

Ann is an active sports mom chauffeuring her children year around to football, basketball, volleyball, baseball, and softball. When she is not on the sidelines cheering, Ann is running with her husband, Jim, a rabid Vikings fan and golfer.

Roger F. Ferguson
Director – Research and Development
Practice Lead – Architecture & Infrastructure

Roger is a recognized thought leader in the business and technology consulting field. For over 25 years he has been assisting clients with efficiency and scalability via innovation and leadership. As Director of Research and Development, Roger is responsible for researching technologies, technology firms, unique approaches and methodologies, the effects of the economy, global services and markets, regulatory changes, trends, etc., and applying that research in the formulation of unique solutions for Aeritae’s global clients. Roger is a strategist, change agent, and strong advocate for enhancing business by tightly coupling technology services to the needs of the business and enhancing IT value by driving operational efficiencies, sourcing and innovation wherever it is appropriate. Roger has broad experiences across many industries as to how they can leverage specific processes and technologies in support of their business plans in a global marketplace. His background includes leading teams at Northwest Airlines and Capella Education Company and he has a broad background in business technology strategies, IT Operations, Architecture, Infrastructure, and Development.

Raised in a large farming family in southwestern Minnesota, Roger learned early the virtues of hard work: early morning rises, rolling up the sleeves and getting things done, 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, love to travel the world and enjoy hanging out with family and friends. They love the water, whether it is a lake, a river or an ocean, and can often be found boating on one of Minnesota’s many lakes. They also enjoy going for a ride on the Harley to explore and take in the wonders of the country.

Chuck Bies
Practice Lead – Service Management

Paula Winkler
Practice Lead – Leadership and Transformation Services

Mike Hogan
Director – Development