photograph by Brian Cohen
About Us
About Us
Our Team
Ms. Ardisson is the Chief Executive Officer of bit-x-bit and directs the business, strategic and overall operations for the company. Ms. Ardisson is co-chair of the Allegheny County Bar Association’s Legal Technology and E-Discovery Committee. Ms. Ardisson is a Member of the Subcommittee for the E-Discovery Special Master Program for the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. She is a Fellow with the Academy of Court Appointed Special Masters, www.courtappointedmasters.org, has served as an E-Discovery Special Master for the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania and as a court appointed expert to the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Ms. Ardisson trained as a Special Master and Mediator at The Sedona Conference Program, “E-Discovery Dispute Resolution for Special Masters & Mediators.” Ms. Ardisson is a frequent lecturer on computer forensic and e-discovery issues, and is the course planner for the annual E-Discovery Symposium, co-sponsored by the ACBA and PBI. Prior to forming bit-x-bit, Ms. Ardisson practiced business litigation in San Francisco, California, handling all aspects of litigation including motions to compel, protective orders, summary judgments, arbitrations, court trials, post-trial motions and appeals. She received her B.A. in political science with honor from Mills College (Oakland, California) in 1977 and her J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 1983 where she was a member and editor of the Law Review. In addition, Ms. Ardisson was an extern for the Honorable William H. Orrick, United States District Court for the Northern District of California. Ms. Ardisson is a Member of the Pittsburgh Chapter of Women Presidents’ Organization and a CWE MyBoard Mentor with Chatham University’s Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship.
Ms. Schuler, bit-x-bit’s Chief Operating Officer and Vice President, is a nationally-recognized digital computer forensics, cyber-security and e-discovery expert. She has more than 20 years of industry experience and has served as the Global Information Security Practice Leader and Senior Vice President with a global investigations and consulting firm, Vice President of Consulting for a global e-discovery services provider, has helped form and manage several computer forensics and e-discovery consulting teams and has worked with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission as a Senior Computer Forensics Examiner. Ms. Schuler is a Certified Fraud Examiner and regularly assists her clients with investigating complex securities, intellectual property, and other fraud related matters where digital evidence is at the cornerstone of the matter. Additionally, Ms. Schuler has co-authored treatises on computer forensics, data breach response and e-discovery, and has been quoted in national publications, including Fortune Magazine and BusinessWeek. She is a well-recognized author and speaker on technology risk management and response, and has extensive experience as a consultant and expert witness. In addition to providing expert technical advice and direction to bit-x-bit’s clients, in Ms. Schuler’s role as Chief Operating Officer, she directs bit-x-bit’s day-to-day operations and the development of bit-x-bit’s technology offerings, procedures, quality control, and overall technology vision.
Mr. Decker is bit-x-bit’s Vice President and General Counsel. Mr. Decker brings more than 26 years of experience as a business litigator and trial attorney to bit-x-bit. He was responsible for creating and developing his mid-sized law firm’s in-house electronic discovery department, and is a frequent writer and speaker on e-discovery issues. He is an E-Discovery Special Master for the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania and is co-chair of the ACBA’s Legal Technology and E-Discovery Committee. Mr. Decker successfully argued the issue of taxation of e-discovery costs before the Third Circuit in the ground breaking case of Race Tires America, Inc. v. Hoosier Racing Tire Corp., 674 F.3d 158 (3d Cir. 2012). Mr. Decker’s responsibilities with bit-x-bit include business and market development, client project management, and company legal matters. Mr. Decker is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania and California, and has appeared in trial and appellate courts throughout the country. He graduated magna cum laude from Syracuse University in 1976, and received his JD with honors from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 1985, where he was Articles Editor for the Law Review.
Mr. Creasy is the Director of Computer Forensics. He is a Certified Computer Examiner and a member of the International Society of Forensic Computer Examiners. Prior to joining bit-x-bit, Mr. Creasy was an information security analyst with UPMC’s Information Security Group. Mr. Creasy obtained an A.S. in computer network security and forensics from the Pittsburgh Technical Institute in 2005, and a certificate in project management from Villanova University in 2007. Mr. Creasy also holds multiple security IT certifications.
Dan Vogel, E-Discovery Processing Manager
Mr. Vogel is the E-discovery Processing Manager for bit-x-bit. Mr. Vogel has over nine years of experience in electronic discovery, including data collection, processing, review and production. Mr. Vogel is a Relativity Certified Administrator, distinguishing bit-x-bit as the only Relativity Consulting Partner with a Relativity Certified Administrator in the Pittsburgh region. Prior to joining bit-x-bit, he was the Litigation Technology Specialist for Cohen & Grigsby, P.C., where he directed all aspects of the firm’s electronic discovery department’s work in processing, culling, searching and producing ESI. Mr. Vogel graduated from Pennsylvania State University’s Schreyer Honors College in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and was the founding member of the PSU National Society of Collegiate Scholars. Mr. Vogel has also completed Kroll Ontrack's e-discovery certification course.
Mr. Ardisson is a consultant to bit-x-bit. Mr. Ardisson is a Certified Computer Examiner and a member of the International Society of Forensic Computer Examiners, and has testified as an expert witness in numerous state and federal court matters involving electronic evidence. Mr. Ardisson is a frequent lecturer on computer forensic and e-discovery issues. Mr. Ardisson received a B.S. in biology, with a minor in computer science, from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine in 1997. In addition, Mr. Ardisson is certified under the LexisNexis LAW PreDiscovery EDD Program and is an AccessData Certified Examiner (ACE). Prior to forming bit-x-bit, Mr. Ardisson spent six years with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Infrastructure Protection and Operations Division, where he served as a technical project leader for various Homeland Defense efforts. In 2003, the Secretary of Transportation awarded Mr. Ardisson the Department’s Partnering for Excellence Award.
Pam Jones, Accounting and Billing Manager
Ms. Jones is bit-x-bit’s Accounting and Billing Manager. She earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Accounting from Pennsylvania State University, and received her certification as a public accountant while employed by Arthur Andersen and Company. Ms. Jones has worked in various areas of accounting including auditing, financial analysis, and budgeting for firms such as Bayer, USA and Koppers.
Ms. Cuddy, bit-x-bit’s Administrative Assistant and Office Manager, received her B.A. in Communication, with a concentration in corporate communication and minor in photography, from Robert Morris University in May 2011. Prior to joining bit-x-bit, Ms. Cuddy worked for The Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and was a Photography Intern for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Who We Are
bit-x-bit is a unique blend of talented professionals – expert certified computer examiners and litigation-savvy lawyers. We are communicators. We make technical computer functions understandable to our clients, lawyers, the courts, and juries. We are experienced and we are tested, having handled hundreds of forensic examinations and e- discovery projects from 100 documents to five million documents.We are sophisticated problem solvers - resolving technical challenges that baffle others. Every e-discovery project involves glitches, which if not handled correctly and immediately, can grow into costly and time-consuming problems potentially involving millions of electronic documents. We avoid those problems and complete our projects on time and on budget. We are respected and recognized for our leadership in the field and in the region. We have provided training to the United States District Court, governmental agencies, and major law firms, and have the exclusive endorsement of the Allegheny County Bar Association to provide forensic and e-discovery services to its members. And we are “scalable.” We work with solo practitioners, and small companies, to the largest law firms in Pittsburgh and around the country. To do so, we draw from our extensive technical experience and apply the appropriate technology that will produce the best results for our clients. This approach allows us to work on any size of project from a matter involving a single individual to a Fortune 500 company with thousands of employees. Because we are a computer forensic and e-discovery consulting company, bit-x-bit does not provide legal advice.
Thompson Reuters CaseLogistix Document Review
A PCKIZ Company
A grant recipient in both 2008 and 2009, bit-x-bit received funding to support expansion and hiring at its offices located in the "Zone" in the historic Frick Building in downtown Pittsburgh.
Approved PA ITQ Supplier
bit-x-bit is a pre-qualified IT servies vendor/supplier for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania under its Invitation to Qualify (ITQ) program.
