InConcept Company History

InConcept is dedicated to excellence in data modeling. Emphasis is placed on the conceptual model using Object Role Modeling (ORM). This higher level design is more suitable for review with customers while the logical and physical models, derived from the conceptual model, are more suited to the technical staff. Modeling a database at the conceptual level significantly reduces design errors, thus reducing overall cost. Using ORM enables the designer and the business user to communicate and capture business rules more readily and easily.

InConcept was founded in 1995 by Patrick Hallock and was converted into a corporation with the addition of partners James R. ("Dick") Barden and Necito dela Cruz in 1996. All three were involved in NIAM, a variation of ORM, at Control Data Corporation (CDC). Each of the partners were involved in several projects involving everything from modeling to implementation to administration of all aspects of major systems within CDC.

The initial 1995 company specialized in the ORM training and ORM presentations. Patrick was one of the two primary ORM trainers and presenters during these early years. Training and presenting occurred in Seattle, Minneapolis Area, Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Orange County, Harrisburg, US Navy, US Air Force and New York. Patrick was also the first certified trainer and also certified to train the trainer. Now with seven years of training and presenting. Patrick and Bill McClean of Phoenix, the other primary trainer, created several parts and labs for versions of the ORM courseware.

Necito dela Cruz was one the product managers in the late 1970's that formalized the NIAM approach in the Netherlands. Necito was the manager of Patrick which how he got his start. Necito managed the external contractors of Control Data that practiced NIAM with several CDC customers. He joined InConcept in order to continue practicing and promoting ORM. Necito has conducted several presentations about ORM.

Dick Barden was Patrick's office partner and therefore subject to constant NIAM modeling. Dick became one of the Board of Advisor members for the ORM product create by ServerWare and as it moved to Asymetrix. Dick also has also conducted many classes and participated in several presentations about ORM. Disk also participated in the construction of courseware for ORM.

This partnership means InConcept has more than 50 years of practical experience using ORM to design data systems at the management level. We also offer more than just conceptual modeling experience, our staff has evolved from roles in the "technical trenches" to their current positions; we know databases inside and out.

With the addition of all three officers, and new employees in 1998, InConcept is the largest and most experienced ORM consulting group in the United States. Even other "competing" consulting companies admit that we are the people to know if you want to learn or use ORM.

InConcept employees are all recognized ORM experts. Our highly trained staff is certified by Dr. Terry Halpin, the founder of modern ORM. In addition, our staff has trained hundreds of technical professionals in the ORM methodology. InConcept constantly acts as beta testing group for the ORM product and consults with manufacturers of the software.

InConcept has experience in developing several data systems from different business domains. This includes Operational Data Stores (ODS) and development to support Data Warehousing. We believe the need for understandable models of both data and business rules is currently in great demand and will grow at an exponential rate. The cycle of "just do it" is no longer acceptable and Entity-Relationship (ER) modeling is not a complete communication tool for both data and business rules. We use cutting edge technology and methodologies to design your bleeding edge systems.

We will use your business information and our conceptual modeling skills to help your company reap the highest benefit from your IS systems. Your business information is useless if it isn't accurately reflected in your systems. Further, older conceptual modeling techniques (such as Entity-Relationship Modeling) don't accurately express your business information in terms your system can deal with. That is where we come in; let us help you get the most from your IS dollar.