Bio

Robert B. Yonaitis is the Founder and Chief Technology Officer of HiSoftware Inc, a worldwide leading provider of software, services and solutions that test, repair, monitor and enforce Web content, quality and regulatory compliance. Yonaitis founded HiSoftware in 1998 and today HiSoftware serves over 4,000 customers across 88 countries.  

On January 3, 1964, Yonaitis was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and spent his childhood years in Philadelphia, New Jersey and Massachusetts. Yonaitis began working with computers in High School at 16 and later developed a professional interest in computer software after leaving the United States Navy.  

Prior to HiSoftware, Yonaitis built a lengthy and distinguished career in software engineering and engineering management with companies including Lucent Technologies, GTE, EDS, DataCap, Kronos, and FTP. In those roles he worked to develop Medicaid Claims Processing Systems, Hosted Services/Platforms, Product Distribution, Web Based Quality Assurance Management Systems and Tax management systems as well as building and managing engineering staff and departments. Yonaitis specialized in re-engineering teams to facilitate better performance, decreased time to market and increased quality.  

In 1998, Yonaitis founded Hiawatha Island Software Company, (HiSoftware), and released the flagship product of the company, TagGen, which was used to create and manage Metadata for Search and Retrieval of information. Since that time, Yonaitis has been responsible for architecting the technology vision and strategy for HiSoftware’s award winning and industry leading product lines.  

Yonaitis’ role at HiSoftware involves technology direction, product architecture, partner development, and standards development. While at HiSoftware and throughout the twenty years that Yonaitis has been a member of the software and technology community, he has served in technology leadership roles and participated in community education efforts. He has also authored multiple titles focused on the areas of the Internet, Content Publishing and Content Management.

• The Elements of WebSite Promotion -  2000 ISBN: 1-930616-00-7
• Understanding Internet Traffic - 2001 ISBN: 1-930616-02-3
• Understanding Accessibility - 2002 ISBN - 1-930616-03-1
• Understanding Accessibility - Second Edition 2008 - ISBN 1-930616-04-X

Yonaitis' leadership has brought HiSoftware technologies recognition for the positive impact that they have had for everyone who uses information and applications on the Internet regardless of physical or technical ability. Yonaitis’ technology and software innovations have received numerous accolades and awards, including the 2002 DaVinci award for Electronics and Information Technology Innovations that have most improved the lives of People with Disabilities. His design of the accessibility testing portal, www.cynthiasays.com, was endorsed by the American Council for the Blind for its impact and educational importance in the area of Web Accessibility. “Understanding Accessibility”, authored by Yonaitis in 2002, is available in three languages, and is utilized as a strategic handbook for Web accessibility by Web developers around the world. In 2007, HiSoftware was named “Most Valuable Player” by the Software Association of New Hampshire (SwaNH) – recognizing HiSoftware as the top software firm in the State of New Hampshire.  

In addition to his love of computers and software, Yonaitis holds a private pilot license. He received a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Computer Science, from Franklin Pierce College in New Hampshire and a Masters of Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle specializing in Aeronautics and Space Studies. He has also taken several courses in fine arts from the Academy of Art in San Francisco.  

With over a decade of work supporting people with disabilities, Yonaitis is actively involved with several not-for-profit organizations. He is a Patron and a Vice President of the Sidar Foundation, a Spanish Organization, focusing on Web Accessibility research and dialogues. Yonaitis is an active member of several working groups and committees of the World Wide Web Consortium focused on Web standards, Security and accessibility. He also serves as a mentor for junior software engineers to assist them with career and technical skills development.

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