Eric T. Bradford is the Managing Director of the Information Technology Research Institute within the Sam M. Walton College of Business, University of Arkansas. Mr. Bradford holds two degrees from the Walton College, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration awarded in 1988 and a Masters of Information Systems which he earned in 2004. Additionally he was also a member of the Razorback football team from 1984 to 1988. In 1989 he was honored to receive the Bruce Mitchell Razorback Leadership Award and serve as a keynote speaker at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes during the Cotton Bowl Breakfast.
Bradford has held many positions throughout his career including several with Central and Southwest Services in Dallas, TX; first as a Customer Service Representative, then as a Training Specialist and lastly as a Financial Analyst. It was during this time that he discovered a passion for working in the field of technology. As a graduate student at the Walton College he served as an instructor for the Computer Competence courses in addition to working as an Academic Counselor in the Athletic Department where he also functioned as a Computer Technician.
On completion of his Master’s degree in 2004, Bradford joined Tyson Foods, Inc. as a Business Analyst in the Information Systems Department which supported transportation. Throughout his two and a half years with the company he wrote functional specs for systems interfaces, created business procedures for quality assurance teams, produced case studies which would eventually be used for testing, and managed the implementation of the systems interfaces process.
In June 2007 Bradford accepted his current position as the Managing Director for the Information Technology Research Institute (ITRI). In his current role, he serves as the project lead for information technology events that promote student interest in the field. He is also responsible for developing and producing the Annual Women in Technology Conference designed to support women currently in the field, encouraging their retention and career growth. The conference also serves to encourage the recruitment of women into the field which has largely been dominated by men. In 2011 the Aspirations in Computing Award dinner was added to the conference proceedings to recognize and reward outstanding young women for their technology achievements and interests, a practice initially established by the National Center for Women & Information Technology.
The ITRI receives its direction from its executive board of directors representing 16 member companies. Bradford functions as the sole liaison with the CIOs of these companies, responsible for maintaining the existing relationships and developing new members.
