Behind the scenes: the Scopus product team (IV)
Part IV of our series on the people who bring you Scopus. Next up, Eric Swenson and Peter Berkvens.
Eric Swenson, Director of Product Management
ORCID: 0000-0002-2897-2907
Tell us about yourself.
At the core, I am a producer – someone who conceives of and designs products that combine digital technology, design and high stakes business logistics. I have worked at the forefront of digital media, publishing and information services for more than 20 years, most recently with Elsevier's Science & Technology Division since 2011.
Previously, I have worked as Director of Production and Program Management for Hearst Interactive Media, served as the co-founder and creative director of publisher and design studio Necro Enema Amalgamated, produced music under Cherry Red Records label out of London and taught digital media production at Pace University’s MS in Publishing Program.
How do you describe your role on the Scopus Product team?
I consider myself to be a shield, enabler and to a minor extent, a catalyst. We have an amazing team of driven individuals who know their stuff and share a very progressive vision for the product. My job is to help us achieve our vision as a team.
What is your favorite part about working on Scopus (and at Elsevier!)?
I appreciate the fact that my product managers and I are given a broad degree of autonomy to map the market and approach product development with an outside-in approach. As a product management team, we endeavor to spend a majority of our time working from the outside, hanging with both users and buyers, studying them, talking with them, and most importantly, listening to them. That’s something that really sets apart our team.
What’s your favorite feature or search to run in Scopus?
I use the Analyze Results tool frequently. When I combine Analyze Results with custom alerts, Scopus becomes a killer intelligence and trends monitoring weapon. Beats my bowie knife.
What do you do in your free time?
I read Celine; program my children; engage in experimental photography; do wood and metal work; target shoot; participate in secret Antifa maneuvers; go camping; write under various pseudonyms; make music; listen to music; dance around…and work to make this world a better place for me and you.
Peter Berkvens, Senior Product Manager
Tell us about yourself.
I graduated as lab analyst (Analytical Chemistry). I have worked for Elsevier since 1983 (started as desk editor for the Journal of Chromatography). I’ve been involved in many projects including the digitization of workflows in Operations and Publishing. Since 2001, I work on Content-related projects for our major platforms ScienceDirect (including YOAS Backfiles) and Scopus. Connect to me on LinkedIn.
What is your role on the Scopus team?
My role is to liaise between the more outbound (to Sales and clients) Product Managers and Operational and Technology groups to ensure smooth handling of Scopus’ data flows and data needs. People from all over the company know where to find me if they have questions re. journal and article content, and Scopus’ secondary data derived from it.
What is your favorite part about working on Scopus (and at Elsevier!)?
We are constantly on the move and continuously growing and developing in the Content areas I am responsible for. That’s what I like. Never a dull moment!
What’s your favorite feature or search to run in Scopus?
Author Profile Feedback Wizard. Amazing to see how fast we can correct author profiles nowadays, and how smooth this functionality works plus how well it is received by end-users.
What do you do in your free time?
Besides spending time with my family and doing jobs around the house and in the garden, I am a volunteer at my local soccer team as soccer referee for under-20 teams (see photograph with my son Sander on the left and his cousin Lucas on the right).