The Spotlight is on Michael Li. Mr. Li wrote our Delphi Developer assessments.

RN: Please tell us a little about yourself.

LI: I am the founding President and CTO of InfoCan Management, based in Vancouver, BC, Canada, and specializing in enterprise and Internet solutions. We were the first Canadian Borland Learning Partner, and we offer certified hands-on training and consulting in Delphi, C++Builder, JBuilder, Kylix and DataSnap worldwide. I am a frequent speaker at developers' conferences worldwide and a Certified Borland Consultant and Instructor for Delphi and C++Builder. I also founding Chairman of the Vancouver Delphi Developers Association. SCUBA diving is my latest hobby and I am currently working on my PADI Instructor status. I can be reached at mli@infocan.com.

RN: Outside of working with ReviewNet, what do you feel is your biggest professional accomplishment?

LI: Growing our company and being the best at what we do. Our company was voted as the Best Training Company in North America by the Delphi Informant Readers Choice Award for the last four consecutive years (1998-2001). We are very proud of our accomplishment as a team and endeavor to continue the tradition.

RN: How do you keep up with changing technologies and the latest trends in the IT industry?

LI: A lot of reading ! As a trainer and CTO, many of our clients look to me for advice on the latest technologies and more importantly strategies on how to apply them. I am very much a technology junkie and enjoy learning and playing with new development tools. Sometimes, this also means that you don’t always have someone to go to for answers to your questions. This is the fun part of my job! Speaking at technical conferences worldwide also gives me the opportunities to play attendee and learn from others. One of the treats in our business is that there is always something new to learn. Just when you think you know it all, that is often when you discover that there is someone out there that knows a lot more than you. Knowledge is boundless!

RN: What interested you in writing ReviewNet tests?

LI: As a long time training partner of Borland, I was involved in the initial development phase of their official certification program. One of the most common concerns of many developers is that there is lack of proper preparation material. Over the last 3 years, I have been delivering a regular talk at the annual US Borland Conference on Preparing for Delphi Certification. The ReviewNet test is extremely complementary to the Borland Certification in helping employers find qualified Delphi developers. I was very impressed with the infrastructure of ReviewNet tests and I think it is an invaluable tool during the hiring process of a Delphi developer.

RN: What did you enjoy most about writing your Delphi test?

LI: As an employer and a Delphi trainer, I know how difficult it can be to properly interview and qualify a Delphi developer (especially if the HR staff may not be technical). It is very rewarding to know that my work will help companies in making their interview process easier and thereby hiring more qualified developers.

RN: Tell us a little about your ReviewNet test.

LI: The test is designed to not only test the candidate’s basic knowledge and competency on the tool itself, but also practical knowledge that they can only learn from hands-on experience. This is key since most software tools today are built to be intuitive and with a minimal learning curve. Knowing what to do with a tool is not the same as knowing how to apply the tool. For employers, it is important that not only should the candidate have a firm grasp of the underlying concepts but also a thorough understanding of the proper application of the tool. This is experience that you can’t teach, but must be acquired over time. The test is designed to test the candidate on all of these facets.

RN: Tell us about your latest book.

LI: My writing development is more geared towards training courseware and we are in the process of creating a number of new training programs on eCommerce and Wireless Development.

RN: When did you decide to get into the Information Technology field?

LI: I started my career in IT field in 1987 shortly after I completed my degree. Since my initial exposure to computers, I knew I found my calling and I never looked back. Since 1995, a large part of my work is devoted to technology transfer and enabling our clients. I enjoy working with people so training is a natural fit for me. I also spend a fair amount of time working with customers in designing and capitalizing on the latest innovations and technologies