Michael S Tomczyk is best known for his role in guiding the development and launch of the first microcomputer to sell one million units, as Product Manager of the Commodore VIC-20.
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31 Facts About Michael Tomczyk
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Michael Tomczyk's contributions are described in detail in his 1984 book, THE HOME COMPUTER WARS: An Insider's True Account of Commodore and Jack Tramiel.
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Michael Tomczyk's role is documented extensively in numerous interviews and articles.
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Michael Tomczyk has been called the "marketing father" of the home computer.
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Michael Tomczyk was a pioneer in telecomputing, as co-designer of the Commodore VICModem, which he conceived and contracted while at Commodore.
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Michael Tomczyk is the author of the 2016 book, NANOINNOVATION: What Every Manager Needs to Know and in 2016 he served on the NNI Review Committee which reviewed the billion-dollar US National Nanotechnology Initiative, to recommend changes and improvements to this initiative.
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Michael Tomczyk has written book chapters and articles on the future of biosciences, gene therapy and medical innovations.
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Michael Tomczyk retired from the University of Pennsylvania in 2014 and served as Innovator in Residence in the ICE Center at Villanova University where he hosted an annual event called the Innovation Update Day.
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Michael Tomczyk is currently Senior Advisor to FAMA Financial Holdings, a FinTech venture focused on developing mobile money platforms and applications.
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Michael Tomczyk is co-moderator of the Commodore International Historical Society site on Facebook and is on the science advisory board at VIGAMUS in Rome.
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Michael Tomczyk earned a master's degree in environmental studies from the University of Pennsylvania in May 2010.
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Michael Tomczyk received the Army Commendation Medal for service in Korea.
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In early 1980, Michael Tomczyk joined Commodore as Marketing Strategist and Assistant to the President.
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When Tramiel announced that he wanted to develop a low cost affordable home computer "for the masses, not the classes, " Michael Tomczyk embraced the concept and aggressively championed the new computer.
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Michael Tomczyk named the new computer the "VIC-20" and set the price at $299.
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Michael Tomczyk recruited a product management team he called the "VIC Commandos" and implemented a variety of innovations including a unique user manual, programming reference guide, software on tape and cartridge, as well as a distinctive array of packaging, print ads and marketing materials.
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In 1981 Michael Tomczyk established the Commodore Information Network, an early implementation of a user community.
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Michael Tomczyk contracted the engineering for the VICModem, which became the first modem priced under $100, and the first to sell one million units.
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Michael Tomczyk left Commodore in 1984, six months after Jack Tramiel left the company.
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Michael Tomczyk subsequently served as a consultant to technology startups and international trade projects.
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Michael Tomczyk was a contributing editor of Export Today Magazine for nearly 10 years, and authored more than 150 articles including computer magazine columns, a business newspaper column, book chapters and numerous magazine articles.
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In December 2012, Michael Tomczyk spoke at the launch the Video Game Museum in Rome, Italy, which has an exhibit of vintage Commodore computers with stories and photos of Jack Tramiel and Michael Tomczyk.
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Michael Tomczyk continues to pioneer in the field of radical innovation.
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Michael Tomczyk left the Mack Institute in October 2013 and retired from the University of Pennsylvania in June 2014.
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Michael Tomczyk has written articles about gene therapy, Internet applications, and many other technologies.
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Michael Tomczyk edited the Mack Institute's website and an electronic newsletter; taught sessions on radical innovation in the Wharton Executive Education Program and taught classes in Wharton's MBA program and at the UPENN School of Engineering.
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Michael Tomczyk has keynoted numerous industry events on emerging technologies and radical innovation.
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In July 2014, Michael Tomczyk was appointed Innovator in Residence at Villanova University's ICE Center.
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Michael Tomczyk began his career as a journalist and has published more than 150 articles, including a monthly column for Export Today; a column on BASIC programming for Compute's Gazette.
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Michael Tomczyk contributed an essay to AFTER SHOCK, a new book commemorating the 50th anniversary of Alvin Toffler's classic book, FUTURE SHOCK.
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