I can finally talk about this, now that it’s been announced in this press release. Last week I started my new job at Extensis as Senior Product Manager for Font Solutions.
For those who don’t know Extensis, they are the leading vendor of font management applications, whose product line includes Suitcase Fusion and the Universal Type Server, as well as the broader asset management application Portfolio. Extensis is a division of parent Japanese company, Celartem, which also owns LizardTech.
Folks who know me well professionally may recall that I have a long-standing interest in, and passion for, font management. For example:
- I blogged about how Windows font management has lagged behind its Mac OS counterparts in the fall of 2007 (that piece also explains what font management is and why one might need it).
- I have reviewed and contributed bits to Extensis’ article on best practices for font management in OS X several times over the years.
- Back when I was working on my first master’s degree at RIT I developed a font classification system and database of existing fonts that allowed Font Reserve 1.0 to auto-classify most of a user’s font collection—and I’m pleased to see this still in use today in Extensis Suitcase Fusion, the descendant of Font Reserve.
- I have saved my long-sleeved t-shirt for Symantec Suitcase 3.0 for all these years! That was 10 versions ago, before Extensis acquired the product.
On paper I started part time at Extensis on April 1st, though in fact I’ve been ramping up a little more slowly because of two things:
- I’m in Seattle, and they’re in Portland.
- I just had jaw surgery last Monday, the 30th, so I am still recovering from that.
The first problem will be resolved by me and my family moving to Portland. We’re renting a lovely house and move in on May 1st.
The second issue will be solved by gradual healing. Although I could already talk passably well later the same day of the surgery, it’s a bit uncomfortable. Plus to talk on the phone, I have to either take off my ice pack or wedge part of the phone under it in some awkward way…. (Actually, since I wrote this a few days ago, I have gone off the ice packs as well as prescription painkillers. Tomorrow marks a week since the surgery. Things are still uncomfortable, but I’m doing okay.)
Anyway, I am very excited about this new opportunity. Portland is a great city in a great area (we already love the Pacific Northwest), the people at Extensis have been quite fabulous so far, and the work itself is fun and offers new areas to grow in.
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