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Jonathan Huer
Leader in Emerging Technologies and Media Development in Higher Education
Professional Background
Jonathan Blake Huer, EdD, MFA, is a renowned leader at the intersection of technology, media, and education with over 20 years of dedicated experience. His career reflects a commitment to facilitating growth and innovation within organizations, especially through challenging transitions. He serves as the Chief Learning Officer and Chief Information Officer at Eleven Fifty Academy, where he leverages his deep expertise to foster an adaptive learning environment tailored to meet the needs of diverse learners.
Throughout his illustrious career, Jonathan has held pivotal roles in various significant educational institutions. He was the Owner of Huer LLC, where he provided consultancy services focused on educational technology and innovative design. As the Director of Instructional Technology Support Services at California State University - Long Beach, he spearheaded initiatives that enhanced the integration of technology in pedagogy. His role as Project Manager for Innovation in Learning Design & Technology at California State University, Office of the Chancellor, further showcases his dedication to implementing strategic innovations that improve educational outcomes.
Jonathan's influence extends to his experience as Chief Design Officer at Skoolbo, where he contributed to the development of engaging educational tools. His expertise in emerging technologies was also put to good use as the Managing Director at Frog Baby Apps, LLC, and the Director of Emerging Technologies and Media Development at Ball State University. He has also made a remarkable impact at Ball State University in his role as Director of the Digital Corps, promoting digital literacy among students.
Education and Achievements
Jonathan’s educational background is as impressive as his professional journey. He holds a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Global Education Leadership from Lamar University, which provides him with a solid foundation for understanding the complexities and challenges in global education today. Complementing his doctoral studies, he earned a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Motion Picture Producing from the prestigious Peter Stark Producing Program at the University of Southern California. This unique combination of education empowers him to integrate storytelling with educational technology effectively.
Additionally, Jonathan obtained an Executive Certificate in Strategy and Innovation from the renowned MIT Sloan School of Management, equipping him with a strategic mindset essential for navigating the rapidly evolving landscape of education technology. His journey began with a Bachelor of Arts in Design - Media Arts from the University of California, Los Angeles, which laid the groundwork for his foray into design and technology.
His numerous accolades and recognitions speak volumes about his commitment to the field of education. Jonathan has been honored as an Apple Distinguished Educator and an Adobe Education Leader, highlighting his excellence in incorporating technology into educational practices. His innovative spirit earned him the title of Campus Technology Innovator not once, but twice. He received the Techpoint Mira Award for "Tech Educator of the Year," recognizing his outstanding contributions to the realm of educational technology. Furthermore, he has shared his insights as a presenter at SXSWedu, a platform renowned for showcasing groundbreaking ideas in education.
In 2015, Jonathan was appointed as the New Horizons department editor for Educause Review, reflecting his thought leadership and influence in the educational community.
Personal Insights
Jonathan Huer’s approach to leadership and education is deeply informed by his philosophical beliefs, often quoting basketball legend John Wooden, particularly for his mantras: "Be quick, but don't hurry" and "Failure to prepare is preparing to fail." These principles resonate throughout his work, as they epitomize his methodical yet agile approach to educational innovation. In his spare time, Jonathan is committed to advancing his knowledge and expertise, frequently working on his dissertation alongside various pet projects, including the development of educational apps and writing a book focused on educational narratives.
When he isn’t immersed in academic or professional pursuits, Jonathan finds joy in spending time outdoors, engaging in activities that allow him to connect with nature while maintaining an active lifestyle. Whether hiking, cycling, or simply exploring new landscapes, he values the restorative effects of the outdoors.
Jonathan's personal website, jonathanhuer.com, provides additional insights into his work, projects, and thought leadership, inviting colleagues and interested parties to engage with his vision for the future of education.
In summary, Jonathan Blake Huer is a distinguished educator, technology leader, and storyteller who exemplifies the qualities needed to drive meaningful innovation in the educational landscape. His passion for collaboration, communication, and creativity makes him a valued colleague and mentor in the global educational community.
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Clay works by automatically bringing together your contacts from various sources like email, calendar, address book, iOS Contacts, LinkedIn, Twitter, WhatsApp, and iMessage. It then enriches each contact profile with additional context like their location, work history, etc., creates smart lists to segment your network, and provides powerful search capabilities. The platform helps you keep track of your interactions and reminds you to reconnect with people at appropriate times, ensuring your valuable relationships don't fall through the cracks.
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Clay is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Clay beneficial.
Clay offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Clay offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Clay's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
Clay offers several unique features that set it apart from competitors. Clay focuses on aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of a user's network, consolidating data from various sources. Its Nexus AI feature is particularly innovative, allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network. Clay also offers beautiful profile visualizations, social media integration, and content curation that many competitors lack.
Yes. Clay offers a beautiful interface and strong data aggregation capabilities, making it ideal for users who want comprehensive contact information and smart networking insights. Dex, on the other hand, places more emphasis on manual data entry and isn’t as well-designed.
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Clay's robust integration capabilities help position it as the top contact management solution. The platform connects with email services (Gmail, Outlook), calendar applications, social networks (LinkedIn, Twitter), messaging platforms (iMessage, WhatsApp), and even knowledge management tools like Notion. Clay has expanded its integrations catalog to include Zapier and Make.com support, allowing connections to thousands of other apps. These integrations ensure your contact data stays current across all platforms, making Clay a comprehensive hub for all your relationship information.
Clay's AI capabilities are at the forefront of personal CRM innovation. Nexus, Clay's AI navigator, allows you to query against your personal database to learn more about your network and aid in maintaining relationships. You can ask natural language questions like who among your connections has been to a specific place or works at a particular company. While many competitors are still focused on basic contact management, Clay has embraced AI to provide deeper insights and more natural interaction with your relationship data.
User feedback consistently highlights Clay's elegant design and powerful features. Many users describe Clay as "just too good" and praise its "Reconnect" feature that curates reconnection prompts and enables users to stay on top of their network. Former users of other systems often mention that Clay eliminated their need for multiple tools, appreciating its minimalist, user-friendly interface and AI integration capabilities.