Founder of Comshare, Inc., a pioneer of computer timesharing and decision support software, Crandall is recognized as a pioneer in the Software Services Industry. He received a BS in Electrical Engineering, a BS in Mathematics, and an MS in Industrial Engineering from The University of Michigan. In 1966, he founded Comshare, Inc., which grew to become a publicly held, $130 million international market leader in decision support applications and executive information systems software. The company originated as a pioneer of computer timesharing.
During his 24-year tenure as Comshare's CEO, Crandall led the company through several highly publicized transitions in response to the rapid market changes characteristic of the computer industry. Comshare was one of the few early timesharing firms to make a complete and successful transition to software products, while remaining an independent company. In 1994, he left his position at Comshare and formed the Enterprise Software Roundtable, consisting of the CEOs of the industry's top 40 software firms focusing on enterprise software and generating more than $100 billion in sales in 2003. He has served as Chairman of the Roundtable.
During the period 1995–2003, Crandall helped create Giga Information Group, one of the nation's premier information technology research and advisory firms, which served Fortune 1000 clientele. He served as Chairman of Giga from 2002–2003, when it was sold to Forrester Research. He has also served as the software and services advisor to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and assisted its efforts in areas of legal reform and advocacy in Federal and State government actions that affected the technology industries in the U.S.
Among his many other industry honors was the ICP Business Software Review listing as "One of the 5 Leading Pioneers of the Software Services Industry" in its commemorative issue celebrating the 25th anniversary of the software industry. Crandall also received the 1992 Outstanding Entrepreneur Award from The University of Michigan Business School and Harvard Business School Alumni groups, and has served on the National Advisory Board to The University of Michigan College of Engineering and Computer Science.
He has also been one of the four Founders of Arbor Partners and has served on the Boards of Directors of Diebold (DBD), Novell (NOVL), the Dreman/Claymore Dividend and Income Fund, and several private companies, including ChannelNet (multi-channel ecommerce software), ITRACS (network security software), and Illinois Energy Partners. He has also served on the Executive Advisory Board to Beacon IT, Japan's largest enterprise software company. Crandall has additionally served as Chairman of ITAA, the association for the computer software and services industry, sat on its Board for more than 20 years, and chaired its strategic planning committee for 12 years.
