technology Archives - DavidTarver.com

August 10, 2026August 10, 2026business, entrepreneurship, family, technology

Fifty Years Ago Today – A Reflection

On August 9, 1976, I began my professional career at AT&T Bell Laboratories in Holmdel, New Jersey. Bell Labs, as it was called, was probably the best place in the world for an electrical engineer to begin a career.

March 20, 2025March 21, 2025education, family, scholarship, technology

Nadiyah’s Excellent Week

Nadiyah’s excellent week began with a special award at the Science and Engineering Fair and culminated in a special honor from her school.

October 11, 2024October 11, 2024education, entrepreneurship, technology, U-M

Urban Experience Tour/Detroit – Fall 2024

U-M Urban Entrepreneurship Practicum students completed the Fall 2024 edition of the Urban Experience Tour/Detroit on October 5. This semester’s tour was more action-packed than ever….

October 11, 2024October 11, 2024technology

(Another) watershed moment in tech

I’ve lived long enough to have experienced several “watershed” technology moments, but none was more profound than the one I experienced last week.

June 18, 2024June 19, 2024events, provinggroundbook, technology

A Special Reunion

I’m headed to Holmdel, New Jersey this weekend for a very special reunion. It’s a gathering of pioneering Bell Laboratories engineers, scientists, and administrative staff – a group of friends who joined the company at a time of great social and technological change. I’ve been calling the group the “Bell Labs O.G.s,” for Original Gangsters.

May 2, 2024May 2, 2024business, community, entrepreneurship, events, technology

Black Tech Saturdays Workshop – Detroit

I’m honored to be speaking to the the Black Tech Saturdays community this weekend on the subject of Urban Entrepreneurship.

April 22, 2024May 9, 2024business, entrepreneurship, technology

A tough lesson from Fred Rosenthal

Last night I learned that someone who was very important in my business life had passed. Fred M. Rosenthal, owner of the first outside marketing agency hired by my company Telecom Analysis Systems (TAS), died last November. He was 90 years old.

November 21, 2023November 21, 2023business, entrepreneurship, technology

Blacks Who Overperform

Black professionals have transformed professional sports and music entertainment. Their overperformance in these fields is amazing, and it stands in stark contrast to much less black advancement in other fields. Why have black folks excelled in sports and music? What lessons can we draw from their success?

November 21, 2023November 21, 2023business, community, education, entrepreneurship, technology, U-M

Building the Urban Future – Fall 2023

We are nearing completion of the Fall 2023 edition of the Urban Entrepreneurship Practicum. We are fortunate to be working with three businesses that are outstanding examples of urban entrepreneurship at its best. While it may not be immediately obvious to the casual observer, each of these businesses addresses an important need, and each has the potential to bring about transformative positive change.

September 12, 2023September 19, 2023entrepreneurship, media, provinggroundbook, technology

Proving Ground – The Movie!

The Proving Ground movie tells the story of my entrepreneurial journey from determined and precocious kid in Flint Michigan to leader of a multi-million-dollar global telecommunications instrumentation company. The movie is based on my book “Proving Ground: A Memoir,” which culminates in the inspiring story of how I and my two co-founders – Steven Moore and Charles Simmons – left our lucrative and secure positions at the legendary Bell Laboratories and started a business, from scratch, in my basement. Making the story available as a documentary film will enable it to impact the widest possible audience.