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CEOs in the spotlight
Nikhil Sethi, Adaptly
Nikhil co-founded Adaptly together with his business partner, Garrett Ullom, in 2010. The pair first met each other as undergraduate students at Northwestern University where they developed the initial idea and business plan for the company. Nikhil has been a true leader and visionary for Adaptly. In addition to managing the overall business, he is always striving to take Adaptly to the next level by seeking out new business opportunities, implementing strategies for revenue growth, and helping the company expand its global reach. Not new to the startup life, Nikhil had previously co-founded Blurtt, a service that allows people to make, upload, and send real postcards to friends around the world.
Nikhil graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in Electrical Engineering. Originally from the Bay Area, Nikhil tries to return home to visit his family as much as possible. He currently resides in Manhattan, New York.
Nikhil co-founded Adaptly together with his business partner, Garrett Ullom, in 2010. The pair first met each other as undergraduate students at Northwestern University where they developed the initial idea and business plan for the company. Nikhil has been a true leader and visionary for Adaptly. In addition to managing the overall business, he is always striving to take Adaptly to the next level by seeking out new business opportunities, implementing strategies for revenue growth, and helping the company expand its global reach. Not new to the startup life, Nikhil had previously co-founded Blurtt, a service that allows people to make, upload, and send real postcards to friends around the world.
Nikhil graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in Electrical Engineering. Originally from the Bay Area, Nikhil tries to return home to visit his family as much as possible. He currently resides in Manhattan, New York.
Chris Schroeder, App47
Chris Schroeder is a seasoned entrepreneur who has worked at UUNet providing the management systems for the World Wide Network Operations Center. After leaving UUNet, he successfully built and ran several startups with the most recent, RealOps, being sold to BMC Software in 2007 at 20x revenue. RealOps was a Run Book Automation product in Enterprise Management space. Chris was directly responsible for all Engineering, Q&A and customer support.
With App47, he is applying over 25 years of product development experience in Enterprise Management to the fast moving domain of Enterprise Mobile App Management.
Chris Schroeder is a seasoned entrepreneur who has worked at UUNet providing the management systems for the World Wide Network Operations Center. After leaving UUNet, he successfully built and ran several startups with the most recent, RealOps, being sold to BMC Software in 2007 at 20x revenue. RealOps was a Run Book Automation product in Enterprise Management space. Chris was directly responsible for all Engineering, Q&A and customer support.
With App47, he is applying over 25 years of product development experience in Enterprise Management to the fast moving domain of Enterprise Mobile App Management.
Chris Neal, Bluestripe Software
Before founding BlueStripe, Mr. Neal was VP of Field Operations for the Americas for Wily Technology, the Magic Quadrant Leader for Java EE Application Management. During his seven year tenure there Mr. Neal grew revenues from $0 to $75M, culminating in acquisition by CA for $390M. Throughout his career Mr. Neal has excelled at building talented teams that are highly focused on producing value for customers, partners, and investors.
Mr. Neal brings to BlueStripe over 15 years of enterprise infrastructure software sales leadership experience, including Oracle & NetDynamics, a leader in the Java Application Server market which was acquired by Sun Microsystems. Mr. Neal holds a BS in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Before founding BlueStripe, Mr. Neal was VP of Field Operations for the Americas for Wily Technology, the Magic Quadrant Leader for Java EE Application Management. During his seven year tenure there Mr. Neal grew revenues from $0 to $75M, culminating in acquisition by CA for $390M. Throughout his career Mr. Neal has excelled at building talented teams that are highly focused on producing value for customers, partners, and investors.
Mr. Neal brings to BlueStripe over 15 years of enterprise infrastructure software sales leadership experience, including Oracle & NetDynamics, a leader in the Java Application Server market which was acquired by Sun Microsystems. Mr. Neal holds a BS in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Lon Otremba, Bidtellect
Lon Otremba joined Bidtellect as its Chief Executive Officer and Director in January 2014, and leads all aspects of the Company's efforts, working closely with the management team and the Company's board of directors. At the intersection of two of the most disruptive forces in digital media today, programmatic and Native advertising, Bidtellect is already the largest and fastest growing complete platform for advertisers and publishers to manage all aspects of their paid content distribution and discovery efforts, programmatically. Bidtellect features a full-featured Native DSP, Native SSP, and OpenRTB 2.3 Native exchange, all enhanced by a proprietary, patent-pending optimization engine.
With over 20 years experience in media, Mr. Otremba is a veteran operating executive and adviser in the Internet publishing, mobile, and broadcast music industries and a well known pioneer in interactive media. He was the founding EVP of CNET Networks; the founding COO & President, Mail.com; former EVP AOL; CEO Access 360 Media; CEO Tylted; former Executive Committee IAB; holder of two patents in mobile ad tech.
Lon Otremba joined Bidtellect as its Chief Executive Officer and Director in January 2014, and leads all aspects of the Company's efforts, working closely with the management team and the Company's board of directors. At the intersection of two of the most disruptive forces in digital media today, programmatic and Native advertising, Bidtellect is already the largest and fastest growing complete platform for advertisers and publishers to manage all aspects of their paid content distribution and discovery efforts, programmatically. Bidtellect features a full-featured Native DSP, Native SSP, and OpenRTB 2.3 Native exchange, all enhanced by a proprietary, patent-pending optimization engine.
With over 20 years experience in media, Mr. Otremba is a veteran operating executive and adviser in the Internet publishing, mobile, and broadcast music industries and a well known pioneer in interactive media. He was the founding EVP of CNET Networks; the founding COO & President, Mail.com; former EVP AOL; CEO Access 360 Media; CEO Tylted; former Executive Committee IAB; holder of two patents in mobile ad tech.
Ed Boyajian, EnterpriseDB
Before joining EnterpriseDB, Ed spent six years at Red Hat, Inc., the world's leading open source solutions provider, most recently serving as vice president and general manager of North America. Before that, he was vice president of Red Hat's global OEM business, responsible for all partnerships, including HP, IBM, and Dell. During his time at Red Hat, Ed was instrumental in developing the foundational methods for selling open source software into the enterprise.
Prior to Red Hat, Ed held executive sales and marketing positions at ArsDigita, an early leader in open source software for building database-backed community websites (acquired by Red Hat) and ServiceSoft (now Kana). Ed is a former U.S. Army Captain, and earned his MBA from Harvard Business School and his undergraduate degree from Boston University.
Before joining EnterpriseDB, Ed spent six years at Red Hat, Inc., the world's leading open source solutions provider, most recently serving as vice president and general manager of North America. Before that, he was vice president of Red Hat's global OEM business, responsible for all partnerships, including HP, IBM, and Dell. During his time at Red Hat, Ed was instrumental in developing the foundational methods for selling open source software into the enterprise.
Prior to Red Hat, Ed held executive sales and marketing positions at ArsDigita, an early leader in open source software for building database-backed community websites (acquired by Red Hat) and ServiceSoft (now Kana). Ed is a former U.S. Army Captain, and earned his MBA from Harvard Business School and his undergraduate degree from Boston University.
Tony Dabbene, Interim CEO, ExaDigm
Tony was appointed President, CFO and General Manager of the POS Division after having served as Acting Chief Executive Officer in 2010. Tony joined ExaDigm as the company's Chief Financial Officer, bringing with him over 25 years experience as a CFO and Controller. Prior to joining ExaDigm, Tony was a Managing Director of Priority Advisors, which focused on business and financial advisory services to small and mid size companies primarily in the technology sector.
Tony has also held senior management positions as Senior Managing Director for the Global Client Solutions Group with Cushman & Wakefield; CFO for Ximeta Inc., a technology start up, where he was instrumental in achieving revenues of $16M in their first full year; CFO and Director of Metalclad Corp., a Nasdaq listed company, where he helped lead a successful prosecution of the first investor case under the NAFTA treaty; VP and Controller of the $2B Energy Services Group of LG&E Energy, an NYSE company.
Tony holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from St Francis College (NY) and an MBA in Finance from Long Island University.
Tony was appointed President, CFO and General Manager of the POS Division after having served as Acting Chief Executive Officer in 2010. Tony joined ExaDigm as the company's Chief Financial Officer, bringing with him over 25 years experience as a CFO and Controller. Prior to joining ExaDigm, Tony was a Managing Director of Priority Advisors, which focused on business and financial advisory services to small and mid size companies primarily in the technology sector.
Tony has also held senior management positions as Senior Managing Director for the Global Client Solutions Group with Cushman & Wakefield; CFO for Ximeta Inc., a technology start up, where he was instrumental in achieving revenues of $16M in their first full year; CFO and Director of Metalclad Corp., a Nasdaq listed company, where he helped lead a successful prosecution of the first investor case under the NAFTA treaty; VP and Controller of the $2B Energy Services Group of LG&E Energy, an NYSE company.
Tony holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from St Francis College (NY) and an MBA in Finance from Long Island University.
Steve Hoffman, Exchange Solutions
Steve has been the President and Chief Executive Office of Exchange Solutions Inc. (ESI) since January, 2012. He has had a long involvement with the company, serving on the Board of Directors continuously since 2004 and was the company’s Chief Operating Officer from 2005 through 2007.
Previously, Steve was the President and Chief Executive Officer of ThinkFire, a leading Intellectual Property (IP) advisory and transactions firm that helps technology companies and investors maximize the return on their investments in IP. In addition to working with Technology and Consumer Products companies on the issues of portfolio strategy and Freedom of Action, in his role he had responsibility for the development and execution of ThinkFire’s strategy, business development and client service delivery as well as all internal functions.
Prior to joining ThinkFire, Steve has held a number of leadership positions in the consulting and software industry.
As Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer for Sapient, Steve was responsible for the successful transition of Sapient from Internet consultants to designers, builders and operators of mission critical transaction and operations management systems for the firm’s Fortune 200 clients. Subsequently, as the head of Sapient’s Financial Services practice, he restored the company’s largest business unit back to profitability after the technology bust of 2001.
In consulting, Steve led the Chicago office and the Global Strategy Practice as a Senior Vice President of CSC Index, the originator and leading practitioner of Business Process Reengineering and, as a Partner at Bain and Company, he ran the firm’s Boston office and sold and led engagements for CEO’s and other C-level executives on issues of corporate portfolio and financial strategy, business unit strategy and growth strategy in the health care, financial services, automotive and defense industries.
Steve has been a frequent speaker at conferences and corporate events on the subjects of strategy implementation, generating predictable business results from technology investments and defensive patent portfolio strategy. He holds a BA in Economics from Wesleyan University and an MBA in Finance and Business Statistics from the University of Chicago.
Steve has been the President and Chief Executive Office of Exchange Solutions Inc. (ESI) since January, 2012. He has had a long involvement with the company, serving on the Board of Directors continuously since 2004 and was the company’s Chief Operating Officer from 2005 through 2007.
Previously, Steve was the President and Chief Executive Officer of ThinkFire, a leading Intellectual Property (IP) advisory and transactions firm that helps technology companies and investors maximize the return on their investments in IP. In addition to working with Technology and Consumer Products companies on the issues of portfolio strategy and Freedom of Action, in his role he had responsibility for the development and execution of ThinkFire’s strategy, business development and client service delivery as well as all internal functions.
Prior to joining ThinkFire, Steve has held a number of leadership positions in the consulting and software industry.
As Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer for Sapient, Steve was responsible for the successful transition of Sapient from Internet consultants to designers, builders and operators of mission critical transaction and operations management systems for the firm’s Fortune 200 clients. Subsequently, as the head of Sapient’s Financial Services practice, he restored the company’s largest business unit back to profitability after the technology bust of 2001.
In consulting, Steve led the Chicago office and the Global Strategy Practice as a Senior Vice President of CSC Index, the originator and leading practitioner of Business Process Reengineering and, as a Partner at Bain and Company, he ran the firm’s Boston office and sold and led engagements for CEO’s and other C-level executives on issues of corporate portfolio and financial strategy, business unit strategy and growth strategy in the health care, financial services, automotive and defense industries.
Steve has been a frequent speaker at conferences and corporate events on the subjects of strategy implementation, generating predictable business results from technology investments and defensive patent portfolio strategy. He holds a BA in Economics from Wesleyan University and an MBA in Finance and Business Statistics from the University of Chicago.
Scott Shaw, Fishbowl Marketing
Prior to founding Fishbowl, Scott Shaw spent 17 years with three start-up foodservice companies. He was co-founder and President of Amy's Ice Creams, based in Austin, Texas; Partner & Chief Operating Officer of CAFÉ TU TU TANGO, a Nation's Restaurant News "Hot Concepts" award-winner; and Chief Operating Officer of the Austin Grill, an award-winning seven-unit chain, based in Washington, DC.
Scott has been a guest speaker at numerous industry events, including the Restaurant Finance Monitor's annual conference, the National Restaurant Association annual conference, the Multi-Unit Restaurant Technology Conference, the Restaurant and Bar Show, the Neighborhood Marketing War College, the NRA's Marketing Executive Group conference, and M&C Reports UK Restaurants 2006 Conference. Scott received a B.A. from Yale University with a major in Latin American Studies.
Prior to founding Fishbowl, Scott Shaw spent 17 years with three start-up foodservice companies. He was co-founder and President of Amy's Ice Creams, based in Austin, Texas; Partner & Chief Operating Officer of CAFÉ TU TU TANGO, a Nation's Restaurant News "Hot Concepts" award-winner; and Chief Operating Officer of the Austin Grill, an award-winning seven-unit chain, based in Washington, DC.
Scott has been a guest speaker at numerous industry events, including the Restaurant Finance Monitor's annual conference, the National Restaurant Association annual conference, the Multi-Unit Restaurant Technology Conference, the Restaurant and Bar Show, the Neighborhood Marketing War College, the NRA's Marketing Executive Group conference, and M&C Reports UK Restaurants 2006 Conference. Scott received a B.A. from Yale University with a major in Latin American Studies.
Chris Etesse, Flat World Knowledge
Christopher Etesse is the chief executive officer of Flat World Knowledge. With more than 15 years experience in higher education and technology, Chris has held leadership roles at some of the most innovative organizations serving the education market.
Before joining Flat World, Chris served as CTO and senior vice president at Blackboard Student Services (formerly Presidium Inc.). He was responsible for technology strategy, and managed the Strategic Accounts group, which provided a wide range of services, from learning management system (LMS) support to online program management, to some of the largest and most innovative institutions in higher education.
Chris was among the first employees of Blackboard Inc., the leading provider of software solutions to the education industry. During his eight-year tenure, he helped architect some of Blackboard’s most successful web-based products, and drive the company’s growth by leading large product development, consulting and client service teams.
From 2007-2009, Chris was CEO of Kadoo Inc., a software start-up that aggregated and integrated popular web applications, social networks, and content management platforms. Previously, he was vice president of Monster Government Solutions, where he was responsible for $9M in annual revenue and the development of three product lines.
Chris has helped draft a number of open software standards in higher education and served on the technical advisory board of the IMS Global Learning Consortium. He has also served as a member representative to the Internet2 and Shibboleth initiatives to promote technology innovation and collaboration to improve research and higher education.
He holds a master’s degree in computer science and a bachelor’s degree in American History from the University of Kentucky.
Christopher Etesse is the chief executive officer of Flat World Knowledge. With more than 15 years experience in higher education and technology, Chris has held leadership roles at some of the most innovative organizations serving the education market.
Before joining Flat World, Chris served as CTO and senior vice president at Blackboard Student Services (formerly Presidium Inc.). He was responsible for technology strategy, and managed the Strategic Accounts group, which provided a wide range of services, from learning management system (LMS) support to online program management, to some of the largest and most innovative institutions in higher education.
Chris was among the first employees of Blackboard Inc., the leading provider of software solutions to the education industry. During his eight-year tenure, he helped architect some of Blackboard’s most successful web-based products, and drive the company’s growth by leading large product development, consulting and client service teams.
From 2007-2009, Chris was CEO of Kadoo Inc., a software start-up that aggregated and integrated popular web applications, social networks, and content management platforms. Previously, he was vice president of Monster Government Solutions, where he was responsible for $9M in annual revenue and the development of three product lines.
Chris has helped draft a number of open software standards in higher education and served on the technical advisory board of the IMS Global Learning Consortium. He has also served as a member representative to the Internet2 and Shibboleth initiatives to promote technology innovation and collaboration to improve research and higher education.
He holds a master’s degree in computer science and a bachelor’s degree in American History from the University of Kentucky.
Ping Fu, Geomagic
Honored in 2005 by Inc. Magazine as "The Entrepreneur of the Year", Ping Fu describes herself as an artist and a scientist whose chosen expression is business. In 1997, Ping co-founded Geomagic, a software company which pioneers 3D technologies that fundamentally change the way products are designed and manufactured around the world. Used for repairing vintage cars at Jay Leno's garage to digitally recreating the Statue of Liberty, Geomagic aims to enable design and production of one-of-the-kind products and services at a cost less than mass production.
Before co-founding Geomagic, Ping Fu was Director of Visualization at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications, where she initiated and managed the NCSA Mosaic software project that led to Netscape and Internet Explorer.
Ping has been serving on the NACIE (National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship) at the White House. She was invited as a guest of the First Lady Michelle Obama at her box for the President's first State of Union Address. Ping was recognized in 2012 by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services as an Outstanding American By Choice.
Coming straight to the US from a Chinese prison, Ping's journey to entrepreneurship is a remarkable American dream by itself. Her childhood dream was to be an astronaut. Today her company's software is used to ensure safe return of every NASA space shuttle. "There is a deep current of humanity in the way we approach innovation and business" she says. Ping has one daughter who is in college and she lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Honored in 2005 by Inc. Magazine as "The Entrepreneur of the Year", Ping Fu describes herself as an artist and a scientist whose chosen expression is business. In 1997, Ping co-founded Geomagic, a software company which pioneers 3D technologies that fundamentally change the way products are designed and manufactured around the world. Used for repairing vintage cars at Jay Leno's garage to digitally recreating the Statue of Liberty, Geomagic aims to enable design and production of one-of-the-kind products and services at a cost less than mass production.
Before co-founding Geomagic, Ping Fu was Director of Visualization at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications, where she initiated and managed the NCSA Mosaic software project that led to Netscape and Internet Explorer.
Ping has been serving on the NACIE (National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship) at the White House. She was invited as a guest of the First Lady Michelle Obama at her box for the President's first State of Union Address. Ping was recognized in 2012 by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services as an Outstanding American By Choice.
Coming straight to the US from a Chinese prison, Ping's journey to entrepreneurship is a remarkable American dream by itself. Her childhood dream was to be an astronaut. Today her company's software is used to ensure safe return of every NASA space shuttle. "There is a deep current of humanity in the way we approach innovation and business" she says. Ping has one daughter who is in college and she lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Michael O'Neil, GetWellNetwork
Michael O'Neil was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma at the age of 28 in April of 1999. After stomach surgery to remove the tumor and four cycles of chemotherapy at Johns Hopkins Hospital, he immediately began building GetWellNetwork®.
Previously, O'Neil spent six years working at New York and Boston advertising agencies, developing brand strategies and managing multi-million dollar marketing campaigns. O'Neil gained recognition in strategic positioning and brand launches, and Deutsch, Inc. named him the youngest account supervisor in 1995.
While in graduate school, O'Neil consulted with Lost Wax Media in London, England on the market positioning, financing and launch of a B2B exchange in 1998. He also conducted an extensive e-commerce study of the top 50 retail Web sites in 1999 for iXL, Inc. in Atlanta.
Currently, O'Neil is an adjunct professor in the MBA program at Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business. He is a member of Mindshare, a forum of CEOs from leading early-stage technology and life sciences companies in the Greater Washington Metropolitan region. O'Neil also serves on the steering committee of Northern Virginia Healthcare Workforce Alliance, an organization of business, healthcare and education leaders seeking innovative solutions to address the workforce shortage.
O'Neil received a B.A. with honors from the University of Notre Dame and a JD/MBA from Georgetown University. O'Neil lives in Chevy Chase, MD with his wife Wendy and their daughters Calla and Ava.
Michael O'Neil was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma at the age of 28 in April of 1999. After stomach surgery to remove the tumor and four cycles of chemotherapy at Johns Hopkins Hospital, he immediately began building GetWellNetwork®.
Previously, O'Neil spent six years working at New York and Boston advertising agencies, developing brand strategies and managing multi-million dollar marketing campaigns. O'Neil gained recognition in strategic positioning and brand launches, and Deutsch, Inc. named him the youngest account supervisor in 1995.
While in graduate school, O'Neil consulted with Lost Wax Media in London, England on the market positioning, financing and launch of a B2B exchange in 1998. He also conducted an extensive e-commerce study of the top 50 retail Web sites in 1999 for iXL, Inc. in Atlanta.
Currently, O'Neil is an adjunct professor in the MBA program at Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business. He is a member of Mindshare, a forum of CEOs from leading early-stage technology and life sciences companies in the Greater Washington Metropolitan region. O'Neil also serves on the steering committee of Northern Virginia Healthcare Workforce Alliance, an organization of business, healthcare and education leaders seeking innovative solutions to address the workforce shortage.
O'Neil received a B.A. with honors from the University of Notre Dame and a JD/MBA from Georgetown University. O'Neil lives in Chevy Chase, MD with his wife Wendy and their daughters Calla and Ava.
Jason Wesbecher, Handshakez
Jason has spent the last 17 years leading sales & marketing teams for Jive Software, Siebel, TIBCO and Trilogy. Jason specializes in evangelizing new ideas within nascent markets. A true road warrior, with several million frequent flyer miles to prove it, Jason has served as a trusted business advisor to Fortune 500 executives on matters of customer retention and operating efficiencies.
His dream is to replace Anthony Bourdain and resurrect “No Reservations.” Jason is one of the few Wharton graduates who prefer Entrepreneurship to Finance, which probably explains his love for Las Vegas.
Jason has spent the last 17 years leading sales & marketing teams for Jive Software, Siebel, TIBCO and Trilogy. Jason specializes in evangelizing new ideas within nascent markets. A true road warrior, with several million frequent flyer miles to prove it, Jason has served as a trusted business advisor to Fortune 500 executives on matters of customer retention and operating efficiencies.
His dream is to replace Anthony Bourdain and resurrect “No Reservations.” Jason is one of the few Wharton graduates who prefer Entrepreneurship to Finance, which probably explains his love for Las Vegas.
George Bell, Jumptap
George has been involved in the creation and growth of consumer businesses for 25 years. Before Jumptap, he was a Managing Director of General Catalyst, a venture capital and growth equity firm that manages over $1.7B of assets. Prior to that, he was CEO of Upromise, the country's largest college savings service, sold in 2006 to Sallie Mae. Previously, George was Chairman and CEO of Excite@Home, bringing together the Excite portal with the @Home cable broadband platform in a $7 billion merger. George was CEO of Excite prior to the merger, led the company's IPO, oversaw the acquisition of more than 20 companies and expanded Excite into a worldwide media property. Earlier George founded The Outdoor Life Network (now Versus Network), a specialty cable channel reaching 60+MM homes; and served as SVP, Times Mirror Magazines, where he oversaw eight special interest magazines, such as SKI and Field & Stream.
He won the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award both in California and New England and four national Emmy Awards as a producer and writer of adventure, wildlife and vanishing culture documentaries. George has also been featured in TIME, Fortune, Forbes and Business Week, has appeared regularly on CNBC as both as a guest and co-host, and he's spoken extensively on new media, convergence, and leadership.
George is a graduate of Harvard College, earning a B.A. in English.
George has been involved in the creation and growth of consumer businesses for 25 years. Before Jumptap, he was a Managing Director of General Catalyst, a venture capital and growth equity firm that manages over $1.7B of assets. Prior to that, he was CEO of Upromise, the country's largest college savings service, sold in 2006 to Sallie Mae. Previously, George was Chairman and CEO of Excite@Home, bringing together the Excite portal with the @Home cable broadband platform in a $7 billion merger. George was CEO of Excite prior to the merger, led the company's IPO, oversaw the acquisition of more than 20 companies and expanded Excite into a worldwide media property. Earlier George founded The Outdoor Life Network (now Versus Network), a specialty cable channel reaching 60+MM homes; and served as SVP, Times Mirror Magazines, where he oversaw eight special interest magazines, such as SKI and Field & Stream.
He won the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award both in California and New England and four national Emmy Awards as a producer and writer of adventure, wildlife and vanishing culture documentaries. George has also been featured in TIME, Fortune, Forbes and Business Week, has appeared regularly on CNBC as both as a guest and co-host, and he's spoken extensively on new media, convergence, and leadership.
George is a graduate of Harvard College, earning a B.A. in English.
Wes Cruver, KZO Innovations
Wes Cruver, President and CEO, founded KZO Innovations in 2007 as a software development and R&D company to market innovative streaming video technologies to the commercial sector. KZO's initial product is an interactive communications platform that seamlessly integrates video, audio, presentations and multilingual text within a proprietary Web 2.0 architecture.
Before founding KZO Innovations, Wes co-founded Kidz Online, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, when he was 11 years old. Kidz Online is a leading provider of comprehensive online communications and training solutions and services for global youth. It was at Kidz Online that he developed a unique leadership style and domain-expertise in video technologies.
In addition to his leadership role, Wes is the chief software architect for the KZO platform and the inventor-of-record for all current KZO patent applications. Wes has extensive programming experience and was instrumental designing and implementing KZO's 8 Gbit/s optical network.
Wes Cruver, President and CEO, founded KZO Innovations in 2007 as a software development and R&D company to market innovative streaming video technologies to the commercial sector. KZO's initial product is an interactive communications platform that seamlessly integrates video, audio, presentations and multilingual text within a proprietary Web 2.0 architecture.
Before founding KZO Innovations, Wes co-founded Kidz Online, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, when he was 11 years old. Kidz Online is a leading provider of comprehensive online communications and training solutions and services for global youth. It was at Kidz Online that he developed a unique leadership style and domain-expertise in video technologies.
In addition to his leadership role, Wes is the chief software architect for the KZO platform and the inventor-of-record for all current KZO patent applications. Wes has extensive programming experience and was instrumental designing and implementing KZO's 8 Gbit/s optical network.
Bill Chambers, LeftHand Networks
Bill Chambers has more than 20 years experience in high technology companies, specializing in new product introductions and market creation and development. During his career, Bill has held key management positions in a number of high technology start-ups and Fortune 500 companies. As Founder, President, and CEO of LeftHand Networks, Bill has led the company through successful venture financings, development of the storage industry's first IP-based Storage Area Network (IP SAN) solution, successful and active partnerships with Fortune 100 and emerging growth companies, and widespread acknowledgement of the company as the industry leader in the rapidly growing IP SAN market.
Prior to LeftHand Networks, Bill was President and CEO of GE Fanuc Asia Pacific, a joint venture between General Electric, Inc., and Fanuc, Ltd., of Japan. He started his career with Texas Instruments in sales and sales management roles. Bill holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and a certificate of completion from the Stanford University Executive Management Program.
Bill Chambers has more than 20 years experience in high technology companies, specializing in new product introductions and market creation and development. During his career, Bill has held key management positions in a number of high technology start-ups and Fortune 500 companies. As Founder, President, and CEO of LeftHand Networks, Bill has led the company through successful venture financings, development of the storage industry's first IP-based Storage Area Network (IP SAN) solution, successful and active partnerships with Fortune 100 and emerging growth companies, and widespread acknowledgement of the company as the industry leader in the rapidly growing IP SAN market.
Prior to LeftHand Networks, Bill was President and CEO of GE Fanuc Asia Pacific, a joint venture between General Electric, Inc., and Fanuc, Ltd., of Japan. He started his career with Texas Instruments in sales and sales management roles. Bill holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and a certificate of completion from the Stanford University Executive Management Program.
Jonathon Shaevitz, Upfront Digital Media
Jonathon Shaevitz is a serial entrepreneur having successfully launched seven technology related companies. He brings more than 20 years of experience developing fast growing companies. Prior to joining Upfront Digital Media (formerly Legolas Media), Shaevitz spent three years growing Maxifier, a successful ad tech company focused on providing publishers with inventory optimization and yield management.
Jonathon’s engagements have ranged from developing strategic partnering strategies, to creating and implementing advertising supported business lines. He has overseen development and implementation of new business strategies, successfully developed and executed customer acquisition programs, as well as overseen the launch of new media properties, from concept to design to content strategies to marketing on through to site launch.
Jonathon holds an MBA from The Wharton School and a BS from the University of Michigan.
Jonathon Shaevitz is a serial entrepreneur having successfully launched seven technology related companies. He brings more than 20 years of experience developing fast growing companies. Prior to joining Upfront Digital Media (formerly Legolas Media), Shaevitz spent three years growing Maxifier, a successful ad tech company focused on providing publishers with inventory optimization and yield management.
Jonathon’s engagements have ranged from developing strategic partnering strategies, to creating and implementing advertising supported business lines. He has overseen development and implementation of new business strategies, successfully developed and executed customer acquisition programs, as well as overseen the launch of new media properties, from concept to design to content strategies to marketing on through to site launch.
Jonathon holds an MBA from The Wharton School and a BS from the University of Michigan.
Kirk Cameron, Miserware
Dr. Kirk W. Cameron co-founded MiserWare and serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. He is responsible for overseeing business strategy and the technology roadmap for MiserWare. Kirk is also Director of the Scalable Performance Laboratory at Virginia Tech and an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science. He is an internationally recognized and award-winning expert in Green Computing Technologies and has raised and managed over $2.5 Million in related research expenditures since 2003.
Kirk is a faculty fellow of the VT College of Engineering and the Uptime Institute and is a recipient of numerous awards including the NSF Career Award, DOE Early Career Award, IBM Faculty Award, and USC COE Young Investigator Award. Kirk is a consultant for the Energy Star program and a founding member of the SPEC Power committee. Kirk received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from Louisiana State University and his B.S. in Mathematics from the University of Florida.
Dr. Kirk W. Cameron co-founded MiserWare and serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. He is responsible for overseeing business strategy and the technology roadmap for MiserWare. Kirk is also Director of the Scalable Performance Laboratory at Virginia Tech and an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science. He is an internationally recognized and award-winning expert in Green Computing Technologies and has raised and managed over $2.5 Million in related research expenditures since 2003.
Kirk is a faculty fellow of the VT College of Engineering and the Uptime Institute and is a recipient of numerous awards including the NSF Career Award, DOE Early Career Award, IBM Faculty Award, and USC COE Young Investigator Award. Kirk is a consultant for the Energy Star program and a founding member of the SPEC Power committee. Kirk received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from Louisiana State University and his B.S. in Mathematics from the University of Florida.
Debra Chrapaty, Nirvanix
Debra Chrapaty is Chair of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Nirvanix. Prior to joining Nirvanix, she served as Chief Information Officer of Zynga, where she was responsible for the company’s cloud, information technology, security and customer service. Prior to Zynga, she was Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Collaboration Software Group at Cisco Systems, where she was responsible for building and improving the Cisco WebEx and collaboration software product portfolio.
Chrapaty served as Corporate Vice President of Global Foundation Services at Microsoft Corporation for nearly 7 years where she was responsible for strategy and delivery of the foundational platform for Microsoft Live, Cloud and Online Services worldwide including physical infrastructure, security, operational management, global delivery and environmental considerations. Prior to that, Chrapaty held a number of key executive positions including Senior Vice President of Technology at Organic Inc., President and Chief Operations Officer of AllBusiness Inc., and President and Chief Operating Officer of E*TRADE Technologies, where she was responsible for all aspects of technology and product development. Chrapaty has participated on a number of boards and in advisory roles including technical advisor to NASA and Sun Microsystems.
A recognized leader in the industry, she has received several prestigious awards, including Information Week’s 1998 Chief of the Year Award for her numerous accomplishments at E*TRADE. She also was named one of the Top 100 Leaders for the Next Millennium by CIO Magazine.
Chrapaty holds an MBA from New York University and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Temple University.
Debra Chrapaty is Chair of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Nirvanix. Prior to joining Nirvanix, she served as Chief Information Officer of Zynga, where she was responsible for the company’s cloud, information technology, security and customer service. Prior to Zynga, she was Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Collaboration Software Group at Cisco Systems, where she was responsible for building and improving the Cisco WebEx and collaboration software product portfolio.
Chrapaty served as Corporate Vice President of Global Foundation Services at Microsoft Corporation for nearly 7 years where she was responsible for strategy and delivery of the foundational platform for Microsoft Live, Cloud and Online Services worldwide including physical infrastructure, security, operational management, global delivery and environmental considerations. Prior to that, Chrapaty held a number of key executive positions including Senior Vice President of Technology at Organic Inc., President and Chief Operations Officer of AllBusiness Inc., and President and Chief Operating Officer of E*TRADE Technologies, where she was responsible for all aspects of technology and product development. Chrapaty has participated on a number of boards and in advisory roles including technical advisor to NASA and Sun Microsystems.
A recognized leader in the industry, she has received several prestigious awards, including Information Week’s 1998 Chief of the Year Award for her numerous accomplishments at E*TRADE. She also was named one of the Top 100 Leaders for the Next Millennium by CIO Magazine.
Chrapaty holds an MBA from New York University and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Temple University.
Ching-Ho Fung, Parature
Ching-Ho Fung, CEO and Co-Founder of Parature, Inc., started his entrepreneurial career as the co-founder of Performix Inc., a Virginia based software company focused on load testing for Fortune 500 companies and government agencies. After successfully selling Performix in 1995, Ching-Ho became an active angel investor, making multiple investments in software companies, the most notably Blackboard (NASDAQ: BBBB) and Parature, a leading provider of on-demand customer support software.
A 20-year software industry veteran, Ching-Ho has shared his expertise in multiple arenas. In 1998, he served on the Board of Directors of Blackboard. In December 2002, Governor Mark Warner appointed Ching-Ho to the Board of Directors of Virginia's Center for Innovative Technology, a state-funded non-profit corporation focused on accelerating Virginia's next generation of technology companies. From 2002 to 2003, Ching-Ho also served as chairman of the Monte Jade DC Science and Technology Association, a non-profit organization designed to benefit Chinese-owned scientific and technological businesses in the Greater Washington Area. Currently Ching-Ho serves on the Board of Directors of 6th Sense Analytics and Cerbibo, a Beijing-based joint venture between Blackboard and Cernet.
Ching-Ho earned his master of business administration degree from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania and earned his M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Maryland.
Ching-Ho Fung, CEO and Co-Founder of Parature, Inc., started his entrepreneurial career as the co-founder of Performix Inc., a Virginia based software company focused on load testing for Fortune 500 companies and government agencies. After successfully selling Performix in 1995, Ching-Ho became an active angel investor, making multiple investments in software companies, the most notably Blackboard (NASDAQ: BBBB) and Parature, a leading provider of on-demand customer support software.
A 20-year software industry veteran, Ching-Ho has shared his expertise in multiple arenas. In 1998, he served on the Board of Directors of Blackboard. In December 2002, Governor Mark Warner appointed Ching-Ho to the Board of Directors of Virginia's Center for Innovative Technology, a state-funded non-profit corporation focused on accelerating Virginia's next generation of technology companies. From 2002 to 2003, Ching-Ho also served as chairman of the Monte Jade DC Science and Technology Association, a non-profit organization designed to benefit Chinese-owned scientific and technological businesses in the Greater Washington Area. Currently Ching-Ho serves on the Board of Directors of 6th Sense Analytics and Cerbibo, a Beijing-based joint venture between Blackboard and Cernet.
Ching-Ho earned his master of business administration degree from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania and earned his M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Maryland.
Duncan McCall, PlaceIQ
Duncan has a passion and background in the “location” space spanning many years. From time spent in RFID and universal positioning startups, through to founding and leading a venture backed consumer Internet business with the goal of enabling and empowering users of location aware devices. Much of this experience has led to the vision behind PlaceIQ.
Duncan’s experience in early stage businesses goes beyond this market, having lead the operational and system build of a successful retail organization, growing it to a multi location, multi state enterprise. He also built and led IS Solutions INC, a premier Silicon Valley based System Integrator. Outside of the startup environment Duncan has also made an impact for one of the world’s largest organizations in working for ExxonMobil, in the UK and Asia.
Duncan has a passion and background in the “location” space spanning many years. From time spent in RFID and universal positioning startups, through to founding and leading a venture backed consumer Internet business with the goal of enabling and empowering users of location aware devices. Much of this experience has led to the vision behind PlaceIQ.
Duncan’s experience in early stage businesses goes beyond this market, having lead the operational and system build of a successful retail organization, growing it to a multi location, multi state enterprise. He also built and led IS Solutions INC, a premier Silicon Valley based System Integrator. Outside of the startup environment Duncan has also made an impact for one of the world’s largest organizations in working for ExxonMobil, in the UK and Asia.
Peter Godman, Qumulo
Peter Godman brings 20 years of industry systems experience to Qumulo. As VP of Engineering and CEO of Corensic, Peter brought the world's first thin-hypervisor based product to market. As Director of Software Engineering at Isilon, he led development of several major releases of Isilon's award-winning OneFS distributed filesystem and was inventor of 18 patented technologies. Peter studied math and computer science at MIT.
Peter Godman brings 20 years of industry systems experience to Qumulo. As VP of Engineering and CEO of Corensic, Peter brought the world's first thin-hypervisor based product to market. As Director of Software Engineering at Isilon, he led development of several major releases of Isilon's award-winning OneFS distributed filesystem and was inventor of 18 patented technologies. Peter studied math and computer science at MIT.
Sean McDermott, RealOps
As President, CEO and Founder of RealOps, Inc., Sean sets the direction and vision for the company and has overall responsibility for the strategy, profitability and market success of the company. He also manages the daily operations and business development activities for the company.
Prior to founding RealOps, Sean founded Windward Consulting Group, a national consultancy specializing in operational management solutions for Fortune 500 companies, service providers and the federal government.
Prior to founding Windward, Sean was Director of Technical Services for Predictive Systems, a publicly traded systems integrator, and prior still was a Sr. Consultant with Booz, Allen & Hamilton, a worldwide management and technology-consulting firm. Sean began his career at the Department of Justice designing and building large networks.
Sean has a Bachelors of Science in Electrical Engineering from Villanova University and a Masters in Engineering Management from the Catholic University of America.
As President, CEO and Founder of RealOps, Inc., Sean sets the direction and vision for the company and has overall responsibility for the strategy, profitability and market success of the company. He also manages the daily operations and business development activities for the company.
Prior to founding RealOps, Sean founded Windward Consulting Group, a national consultancy specializing in operational management solutions for Fortune 500 companies, service providers and the federal government.
Prior to founding Windward, Sean was Director of Technical Services for Predictive Systems, a publicly traded systems integrator, and prior still was a Sr. Consultant with Booz, Allen & Hamilton, a worldwide management and technology-consulting firm. Sean began his career at the Department of Justice designing and building large networks.
Sean has a Bachelors of Science in Electrical Engineering from Villanova University and a Masters in Engineering Management from the Catholic University of America.
Larry Kutscher, Register.com
Larry Kutscher joined Register.com as Chief Executive Officer on November 1, 2006 with a history of building and growing Internet-enabled businesses and supporting small businesses. Before joining Register.com as CEO, Larry served as Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Small Business Group at Dun & Bradstreet. During his tenure at Dun & Bradstreet, Larry was instrumental in helping the company expanding its digital offerings, including the acquisition and development of Hoover's. He was a member of Dun & Bradstreet's Global Leadership Team since joining in 2001.
Larry also served as Managing Director of Wealth Management at Goldman Sachs & Co., and spent twelve years at American Express where his last position was as Senior Vice President of Interactive Enterprise Development. Larry holds a political science degree from Brown University and an MBA from Columbia Business School.
Larry Kutscher joined Register.com as Chief Executive Officer on November 1, 2006 with a history of building and growing Internet-enabled businesses and supporting small businesses. Before joining Register.com as CEO, Larry served as Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Small Business Group at Dun & Bradstreet. During his tenure at Dun & Bradstreet, Larry was instrumental in helping the company expanding its digital offerings, including the acquisition and development of Hoover's. He was a member of Dun & Bradstreet's Global Leadership Team since joining in 2001.
Larry also served as Managing Director of Wealth Management at Goldman Sachs & Co., and spent twelve years at American Express where his last position was as Senior Vice President of Interactive Enterprise Development. Larry holds a political science degree from Brown University and an MBA from Columbia Business School.
Mark Logan, Rivermine
Mark has over 20 years of extensive sales and management experience and a proven track record of building successful companies in the enterprise software industry. Prior to joining Rivermine, he served as the Vice-President and General Manager for PeopleSoft's CRM Business Unit, helping to establish PeopleSoft as a leading CRM software provider.
Mark joined PeopleSoft from its acquisition of JD Edwards, where as a Vice-President and General Manager, he led the company's aggressive entry into the CRM market. As a senior executive of YOUcentric Inc., a start-up software application firm, he successfully grew the company's CRM sales operations ultimately resulting in a favorable acquisition by JD Edwards in 2001.
Mark holds a B.S. in Systems Engineering from Providence College.
Mark has over 20 years of extensive sales and management experience and a proven track record of building successful companies in the enterprise software industry. Prior to joining Rivermine, he served as the Vice-President and General Manager for PeopleSoft's CRM Business Unit, helping to establish PeopleSoft as a leading CRM software provider.
Mark joined PeopleSoft from its acquisition of JD Edwards, where as a Vice-President and General Manager, he led the company's aggressive entry into the CRM market. As a senior executive of YOUcentric Inc., a start-up software application firm, he successfully grew the company's CRM sales operations ultimately resulting in a favorable acquisition by JD Edwards in 2001.
Mark holds a B.S. in Systems Engineering from Providence College.
Dave Hansen, SafeNet
Dave Hansen has extensive experience leading innovative, global IT software and security initiatives for large, multinational corporations.
Most recently, Dave served as General Manager at BMC Software and was previously the CEO of Numara Software, which was acquired by BMC in 2012. AT BMC, Dave led a new division based on Numara’s product portfolio. During his time at BMC, he worked with the team to develop the strategy for one its fastest growing cloud products.
During his leadership at Numara, Dave oversaw a number of initiatives that expanded the company’s core product capabilities across the FootPrints and Track-It! Family of solutions. He was also responsible for the development and execution of the company’s aggressive and successful cloud strategy which further solidified Numara’s position as a world leader in the IT management market.
Dave built an impressive and proven track record in IT software during his nine year tenure at CA technologies. At CA, Dave held several general manager and senior vice president positions. As the general manager of Enterprise Solutions and Cloud Management he was responsible for managing the creation and development of a portfolio of cloud products and enterprise solutions that seamlessly managed the business of IT across distributed, virtualized and cloud-connected environments. He also led the company’s global Security Business Unit where he delivered new versions of market leading enterprise identity and access management solutions and led the turnaround of the business unit creating a growth segment for the company.
Dave also served as the company’s CIO where he was responsible with implementing the company’s global IT strategy, applications development and IT compliance as well as managing the global CA infrastructure. Dave led the successful implementation of the company’s enterprise architecture model, developed a global IT support model, increased its investment in India and through his leadership, significantly improved employee morale.
Prior to that position, Dave served as CA’s senior vice president, global presales, where he was responsible for setting the direction and strategy for operational excellence across the company. He recruited and developed deep technology teams focused on security, storage and infrastructure management and worked closely with customers to help them solve complex business issues. Prior to that, Dave was a member of CA’s technology services unit where he was tasked with leading the North America pre-sales and services organization. He forged mutually beneficial relationships with SI’s, customers, partners and other channels and as a result, substantially improved the business unit’s profitability.
Dave is a frequent speaker at leading security and technology conferences and CIO forums around the world.
Dave has a Bachelor of Science degree from Lakehead University in Ontario, Canada.
Dave Hansen has extensive experience leading innovative, global IT software and security initiatives for large, multinational corporations.
Most recently, Dave served as General Manager at BMC Software and was previously the CEO of Numara Software, which was acquired by BMC in 2012. AT BMC, Dave led a new division based on Numara’s product portfolio. During his time at BMC, he worked with the team to develop the strategy for one its fastest growing cloud products.
During his leadership at Numara, Dave oversaw a number of initiatives that expanded the company’s core product capabilities across the FootPrints and Track-It! Family of solutions. He was also responsible for the development and execution of the company’s aggressive and successful cloud strategy which further solidified Numara’s position as a world leader in the IT management market.
Dave built an impressive and proven track record in IT software during his nine year tenure at CA technologies. At CA, Dave held several general manager and senior vice president positions. As the general manager of Enterprise Solutions and Cloud Management he was responsible for managing the creation and development of a portfolio of cloud products and enterprise solutions that seamlessly managed the business of IT across distributed, virtualized and cloud-connected environments. He also led the company’s global Security Business Unit where he delivered new versions of market leading enterprise identity and access management solutions and led the turnaround of the business unit creating a growth segment for the company.
Dave also served as the company’s CIO where he was responsible with implementing the company’s global IT strategy, applications development and IT compliance as well as managing the global CA infrastructure. Dave led the successful implementation of the company’s enterprise architecture model, developed a global IT support model, increased its investment in India and through his leadership, significantly improved employee morale.
Prior to that position, Dave served as CA’s senior vice president, global presales, where he was responsible for setting the direction and strategy for operational excellence across the company. He recruited and developed deep technology teams focused on security, storage and infrastructure management and worked closely with customers to help them solve complex business issues. Prior to that, Dave was a member of CA’s technology services unit where he was tasked with leading the North America pre-sales and services organization. He forged mutually beneficial relationships with SI’s, customers, partners and other channels and as a result, substantially improved the business unit’s profitability.
Dave is a frequent speaker at leading security and technology conferences and CIO forums around the world.
Dave has a Bachelor of Science degree from Lakehead University in Ontario, Canada.
Mike Thompson, Sepaton
Mike Thompson is responsible for for management, execution and strategic direction of the company. With more than 25 years of sales and marketing experience in technology companies, Mike joined SEPATON after serving as president, CEO and chairman of the board at Egenera Corporation. Mike joined Egenera originally as COO and was instrumental in driving growth to $100m annually after just four years from the first product shipment.
Before joining Egenera, Mike was senior vice president of worldwide sales and marketing and a member of the board of directors at Stratus Technologies, where he managed a 400-person operation that generated more than $700 million in annual revenues through direct and indirect channels.
Prior to Stratus, he served as director of U.S. sales operations for the financial line of business at Tandem Computers.
Mike holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from Southern Connecticut University.
Mike Thompson is responsible for for management, execution and strategic direction of the company. With more than 25 years of sales and marketing experience in technology companies, Mike joined SEPATON after serving as president, CEO and chairman of the board at Egenera Corporation. Mike joined Egenera originally as COO and was instrumental in driving growth to $100m annually after just four years from the first product shipment.
Before joining Egenera, Mike was senior vice president of worldwide sales and marketing and a member of the board of directors at Stratus Technologies, where he managed a 400-person operation that generated more than $700 million in annual revenues through direct and indirect channels.
Prior to Stratus, he served as director of U.S. sales operations for the financial line of business at Tandem Computers.
Mike holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from Southern Connecticut University.
Mike Dering, ServiceBench
Mike led ServiceBench through its sale to industry partner N.E.W. (for which the company received one of the Northern Virginia Technology Council's Hot Ticket awards, taking first place in the category "Hottest Exit"). Prior to ServiceBench, Mike was Chief Executive Officer of CrossAccess Corporation, a venture-backed software infrastructure company that focuses on integrating corporate business functions with new e-business applications.
Prior to CrossAccess, he worked as President and Chief Executive Officer of two Bell & Howell companies, and had a 20-year tenure at TAB Products Company, a $170 million publicly traded manufacturer of information storage and retrieval solutions for office environments.
Mike led ServiceBench through its sale to industry partner N.E.W. (for which the company received one of the Northern Virginia Technology Council's Hot Ticket awards, taking first place in the category "Hottest Exit"). Prior to ServiceBench, Mike was Chief Executive Officer of CrossAccess Corporation, a venture-backed software infrastructure company that focuses on integrating corporate business functions with new e-business applications.
Prior to CrossAccess, he worked as President and Chief Executive Officer of two Bell & Howell companies, and had a 20-year tenure at TAB Products Company, a $170 million publicly traded manufacturer of information storage and retrieval solutions for office environments.
Jai Rawat, ShopSocially
Jai is a successful serial entrepreneur and an investor, advisor and mentor to several startups. Jai has over 18 years of industry experience and has a track record and deep passion for creating exceptional online consumer products.
Jai's first startup Obongo was the pioneer in single sign-on and online wallet technologies. It was adopted by several leading banks and created a reach of over 40m users. Obongo was acquired by AOL where Jai served as the director of product marketing working on several key initiatives with a reach of over 35m users.
He was also a founder of AirTight Networks, executive/consulting VP at TheFind, Trackle, myTriggers, Permuto and several other companies.
Jai holds a B.Tech in Computer Science from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur and an MS in Computer Science from Iowa State University. He has won several awards and recognitions including being recognized as one of the top 10 South Asian business and technology leaders. He is a charter member of TiE Silicon Valley, Co-chair of TiE Internet SIG chair and holds 11 patents.
Jai is a successful serial entrepreneur and an investor, advisor and mentor to several startups. Jai has over 18 years of industry experience and has a track record and deep passion for creating exceptional online consumer products.
Jai's first startup Obongo was the pioneer in single sign-on and online wallet technologies. It was adopted by several leading banks and created a reach of over 40m users. Obongo was acquired by AOL where Jai served as the director of product marketing working on several key initiatives with a reach of over 35m users.
He was also a founder of AirTight Networks, executive/consulting VP at TheFind, Trackle, myTriggers, Permuto and several other companies.
Jai holds a B.Tech in Computer Science from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur and an MS in Computer Science from Iowa State University. He has won several awards and recognitions including being recognized as one of the top 10 South Asian business and technology leaders. He is a charter member of TiE Silicon Valley, Co-chair of TiE Internet SIG chair and holds 11 patents.
Dave Wright, SolidFire
Dave Wright is the founder and CEO of SolidFire. Dave left Stanford in 1998 to help start GameSpy Industries, a leader in online videogame media, technology, and software. While at GameSpy, Dave was responsible for leading the development of online middleware and backend systems supporting millions of users across PC and Console platforms including the PS2, PS3, Nintendo DS and Nintendo Wii.
GameSpy merged with IGN Entertainment in 2004 to create one of the largest Internet gaming & entertainment media companies. Dave served as Chief Architect for IGN and lead technology integration with FIM / MySpace after IGN was acquired for $650m by NewsCorp in 2005. In 2007 Dave left IGN and moved to Atlanta, Georgia where he founded Jungle Disk, a pioneer and early leader in cloud-based storage and backup solutions. Jungle Disk was acquired by leading cloud provider Rackspace in 2008 and Dave worked closely with the Rackspace Cloud division to build a cloud platform supporting tens of thousands of customers.
Dave Wright is the founder and CEO of SolidFire. Dave left Stanford in 1998 to help start GameSpy Industries, a leader in online videogame media, technology, and software. While at GameSpy, Dave was responsible for leading the development of online middleware and backend systems supporting millions of users across PC and Console platforms including the PS2, PS3, Nintendo DS and Nintendo Wii.
GameSpy merged with IGN Entertainment in 2004 to create one of the largest Internet gaming & entertainment media companies. Dave served as Chief Architect for IGN and lead technology integration with FIM / MySpace after IGN was acquired for $650m by NewsCorp in 2005. In 2007 Dave left IGN and moved to Atlanta, Georgia where he founded Jungle Disk, a pioneer and early leader in cloud-based storage and backup solutions. Jungle Disk was acquired by leading cloud provider Rackspace in 2008 and Dave worked closely with the Rackspace Cloud division to build a cloud platform supporting tens of thousands of customers.
John Bracken, Speek
John Bracken is a business development executive and product visionary who has a passion for building voice and web communication products. John has played key roles in several of our generation’s most-influential web products, including Evite, AIM, and Patch.
John is currently the Co-Founder and CEO of Speek.com, a simple, web-based service for conference calling based on a personal link (speek.com/john), not a traditional ten digit phone number and pin.
Prior to Speek, John worked as a business development executive at AOL where he supported the expansion of the AIM Network to hundreds of 3rd party products and the growth of Patch.com, one of the largest local media web property in the US. As an entrepreneur, John was a co-founder, COO, and business development executive of Evite.com. In his early career, John worked as a technology and telecommunications consultant for Booz Allen and the San Francisco Consulting Group.
John holds an MBA from UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business and a BS in Systems Engineering from the University of Virginia.
John Bracken is a business development executive and product visionary who has a passion for building voice and web communication products. John has played key roles in several of our generation’s most-influential web products, including Evite, AIM, and Patch.
John is currently the Co-Founder and CEO of Speek.com, a simple, web-based service for conference calling based on a personal link (speek.com/john), not a traditional ten digit phone number and pin.
Prior to Speek, John worked as a business development executive at AOL where he supported the expansion of the AIM Network to hundreds of 3rd party products and the growth of Patch.com, one of the largest local media web property in the US. As an entrepreneur, John was a co-founder, COO, and business development executive of Evite.com. In his early career, John worked as a technology and telecommunications consultant for Booz Allen and the San Francisco Consulting Group.
John holds an MBA from UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business and a BS in Systems Engineering from the University of Virginia.
Ron Elwell, Swoop
Ron Elwell is the Founder and CEO of Swoop. Swoop is a service that seamlessly integrates relevant information about products and services – at times in the form of sponsored content or advertising – into the content that consumers are engaged with online. Swoop is able to discover a consumer’s intent and interest based on a deep understanding of the content they are engaged with, providing advertisers with the opportunity to have deep and meaningful engagement with consumers.
Prior to Swoop Ron was the CEO of Goal.com, the largest Football site in the world. Goal, a global site whcih published in 17 languages, became the 10th largest sport site in the word and was acquired by Perform Media Group. Before joining Goal Ron was a Partner at Bessemer Ventures where he led several investment in the mobile and media space, including seeding Millennial Media. Ron came to Bessemer after being CEO of a Bessemer funded company, Octave Communications, a leader in the design and manufacturer of the telecom infrastructure necessary to provide voice and data conferencing services. Octave was acquired by Voyant Communications. Prior to Octave Ron took part in the LBO of Dictaphone from Pitney Bowes and led a technology turn around that resulted in the successful sale of the company to Lernaut and Hauspie, where he became President of Speech and Language Technologies.
Ron Elwell is the Founder and CEO of Swoop. Swoop is a service that seamlessly integrates relevant information about products and services – at times in the form of sponsored content or advertising – into the content that consumers are engaged with online. Swoop is able to discover a consumer’s intent and interest based on a deep understanding of the content they are engaged with, providing advertisers with the opportunity to have deep and meaningful engagement with consumers.
Prior to Swoop Ron was the CEO of Goal.com, the largest Football site in the world. Goal, a global site whcih published in 17 languages, became the 10th largest sport site in the word and was acquired by Perform Media Group. Before joining Goal Ron was a Partner at Bessemer Ventures where he led several investment in the mobile and media space, including seeding Millennial Media. Ron came to Bessemer after being CEO of a Bessemer funded company, Octave Communications, a leader in the design and manufacturer of the telecom infrastructure necessary to provide voice and data conferencing services. Octave was acquired by Voyant Communications. Prior to Octave Ron took part in the LBO of Dictaphone from Pitney Bowes and led a technology turn around that resulted in the successful sale of the company to Lernaut and Hauspie, where he became President of Speech and Language Technologies.
Scott Ferber, Videology
Scott has spent his career utilizing mathematics and data analysis to build profitable businesses and products. With the goal of bringing the accountability of digital media to the expanding video space, he founded Videology in 2007. Since its launch, Videology has grown to become the 3rd highest reaching online video network. Moreover, its video advertising solutions platform, Videology, is now used by some of the world’s largest marketers and media agencies to connect brands with their targeted consumers.
Prior to his work with Videology, most notably Scott founded Advertising.com in 1998. The company was sold to AOL in 2004 for nearly half a billion dollars. In his role as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, he was responsible for the company’s stellar operating performance, strategic vision and continued development of its award-winning, proprietary optimization technology. Prior to Advertising.com, Scott held roles at Fortune 500 companies such as Procter & Gamble, where he developed computer systems and mathematical models to create business practices for plant production and raw material procurement. He also was with the Capital One Financial Corporation, where he leveraged statistical approaches to marketing and financial risk management to develop new businesses outside of the credit card industry.
Scott has received numerous awards including Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2000, CEO of the Year by Blue Chip Venture Company, the American Business Award’s “Stevie” for Best Executive in 2005, the Outstanding Young Engineering Graduate Award 2006 from the University of Virginia, and was named an Influential Marylander by The Daily Record in 2009.
Scott graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. degree from the University of Virginia, Dept of Systems Engineering in 1991, and a M.S. from the Stanford University, Dept of Engineering-Economic Systems in 1992.
Scott has spent his career utilizing mathematics and data analysis to build profitable businesses and products. With the goal of bringing the accountability of digital media to the expanding video space, he founded Videology in 2007. Since its launch, Videology has grown to become the 3rd highest reaching online video network. Moreover, its video advertising solutions platform, Videology, is now used by some of the world’s largest marketers and media agencies to connect brands with their targeted consumers.
Prior to his work with Videology, most notably Scott founded Advertising.com in 1998. The company was sold to AOL in 2004 for nearly half a billion dollars. In his role as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, he was responsible for the company’s stellar operating performance, strategic vision and continued development of its award-winning, proprietary optimization technology. Prior to Advertising.com, Scott held roles at Fortune 500 companies such as Procter & Gamble, where he developed computer systems and mathematical models to create business practices for plant production and raw material procurement. He also was with the Capital One Financial Corporation, where he leveraged statistical approaches to marketing and financial risk management to develop new businesses outside of the credit card industry.
Scott has received numerous awards including Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2000, CEO of the Year by Blue Chip Venture Company, the American Business Award’s “Stevie” for Best Executive in 2005, the Outstanding Young Engineering Graduate Award 2006 from the University of Virginia, and was named an Influential Marylander by The Daily Record in 2009.
Scott graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. degree from the University of Virginia, Dept of Systems Engineering in 1991, and a M.S. from the Stanford University, Dept of Engineering-Economic Systems in 1992.
Joe Ruef, Verical
For over fourteen years, Joe has been involved in the business of electronic component distribution and has established himself as a thought leader in the secondary marketplace for electronic components and an innovator in anti-counterfeiting best practices. His deep expertise in component trading, evaluation and quality assurance grants the Company guidance and insight to the nuances and complexities of the secondary marketplace. Prior to Verical, Joe was a member of the start-up executive team at Velocity Electronics, where he oversaw brand development, sales and quality control, and grew net sales 7x the comparable industry growth rate during an industry downturn. He has extensive experience serving customers worldwide, and served as a consultant to Trading Hubs, (later known as eHitex), the electronics industry's first generation HP-led B2B marketplace. Joe holds his BA in English from the University of California at Berkeley.
For over fourteen years, Joe has been involved in the business of electronic component distribution and has established himself as a thought leader in the secondary marketplace for electronic components and an innovator in anti-counterfeiting best practices. His deep expertise in component trading, evaluation and quality assurance grants the Company guidance and insight to the nuances and complexities of the secondary marketplace. Prior to Verical, Joe was a member of the start-up executive team at Velocity Electronics, where he oversaw brand development, sales and quality control, and grew net sales 7x the comparable industry growth rate during an industry downturn. He has extensive experience serving customers worldwide, and served as a consultant to Trading Hubs, (later known as eHitex), the electronics industry's first generation HP-led B2B marketplace. Joe holds his BA in English from the University of California at Berkeley.
Michael Provenzano, Vistar Media
Michael was previously a Co-Founder of Invite Media, the first universal demand side platform for online display advertising. Invite was purchased by Google in 2010.
He has a BSE in Materials Science Engineering from University of Pennsylvania.
Michael was previously a Co-Founder of Invite Media, the first universal demand side platform for online display advertising. Invite was purchased by Google in 2010.
He has a BSE in Materials Science Engineering from University of Pennsylvania.
Teresa DiMarco, WellAWARE Systems
Teresa joins WellAware with over 25 years of executive management experience in various aspects of healthcare. Throughout her successful career she has combined an unwavering commitment to customer success with strategic leadership and strong execution. As a result, she has successfully delivered market-leading organizations that have consistently achieved significant growth in revenue and profitability.
Most recently, Teresa served as president of Unisys' Health Information Management business unit, where she significantly grew revenue and improved profitability and positioned the group for long-term growth. Prior to Unisys, Teresa was president and CEO of First Health Services Corporation where she grew the company three-fold and successfully established it as the leader in public sector health benefit management programs. Prior to joining First Health, Teresa held several senior positions in the healthcare industry, including vice president of Health Benefits Management and Managed Care Operations for Trigon Blue Cross/Blue Shield, now Anthem/Wellpoint. Teresa holds a BS in Nursing from the University of Virginia (UVA) and an MBA from UVA Darden Graduate School of Business Administration.
Teresa joins WellAware with over 25 years of executive management experience in various aspects of healthcare. Throughout her successful career she has combined an unwavering commitment to customer success with strategic leadership and strong execution. As a result, she has successfully delivered market-leading organizations that have consistently achieved significant growth in revenue and profitability.
Most recently, Teresa served as president of Unisys' Health Information Management business unit, where she significantly grew revenue and improved profitability and positioned the group for long-term growth. Prior to Unisys, Teresa was president and CEO of First Health Services Corporation where she grew the company three-fold and successfully established it as the leader in public sector health benefit management programs. Prior to joining First Health, Teresa held several senior positions in the healthcare industry, including vice president of Health Benefits Management and Managed Care Operations for Trigon Blue Cross/Blue Shield, now Anthem/Wellpoint. Teresa holds a BS in Nursing from the University of Virginia (UVA) and an MBA from UVA Darden Graduate School of Business Administration.
Mike Harris, Zonoff
Mike’s most recent start-up, AnySource Media, was launched in 2006 and delivered a 4X return to investors 18 months after investment, when it was acquired by DivX in August of 2009. In June of 2010 DixX was acquired by Sonic Solutions, which in turn was acquired by Rovi (NASDAQ: ROVI) six months later. The original embedded software developed by AnySource still serves as the foundation for DivX TV, which can be found on LG’s line of connected Blu-Ray players. (Click here to see the actual DivX TV demo.) Just as AnySource provided core technology for “connected TV,” Mike’s vision for Zonoff is to provide the core technology for the “connected home.” Same concept… but a much bigger opportunity.
Early in Mike’s career, he was the founder and CTO of Ravisent Technologies Inc., a technology pioneer in the DVD industry. Ravisent won numerous business and technical accolades including Frost and Sullivan’s "Excellence in Strategy" award, the "Technology Pioneer" award from the World Economic Forum, and the Deloitte and Touche "Fast 500" award. The company won this last award three times, including one year when the company was ranked number 1 in its region and 9th nationally. Mike oversaw the development and adoption of Ravisent’s technology by leading PC and consumer electronics manufacturers, raising nearly $100M in venture and public financing, and ultimately achieving a $1B valuation on the NASDAQ market. Ravisent was ultimately acquired by STMicroelectronics, and Mike became its Group Vice President, Global Software Strategy.
After STMicroelectronics, Mike served as President of Digital 5, a venture backed software provider enabling streaming media content within the connected home, and later became President of OpenPeak, a provider of software for home media control. Mike is a graduate of Purdue University with a degree in Computer and Electrical Engineering.
Mike’s most recent start-up, AnySource Media, was launched in 2006 and delivered a 4X return to investors 18 months after investment, when it was acquired by DivX in August of 2009. In June of 2010 DixX was acquired by Sonic Solutions, which in turn was acquired by Rovi (NASDAQ: ROVI) six months later. The original embedded software developed by AnySource still serves as the foundation for DivX TV, which can be found on LG’s line of connected Blu-Ray players. (Click here to see the actual DivX TV demo.) Just as AnySource provided core technology for “connected TV,” Mike’s vision for Zonoff is to provide the core technology for the “connected home.” Same concept… but a much bigger opportunity.
Early in Mike’s career, he was the founder and CTO of Ravisent Technologies Inc., a technology pioneer in the DVD industry. Ravisent won numerous business and technical accolades including Frost and Sullivan’s "Excellence in Strategy" award, the "Technology Pioneer" award from the World Economic Forum, and the Deloitte and Touche "Fast 500" award. The company won this last award three times, including one year when the company was ranked number 1 in its region and 9th nationally. Mike oversaw the development and adoption of Ravisent’s technology by leading PC and consumer electronics manufacturers, raising nearly $100M in venture and public financing, and ultimately achieving a $1B valuation on the NASDAQ market. Ravisent was ultimately acquired by STMicroelectronics, and Mike became its Group Vice President, Global Software Strategy.
After STMicroelectronics, Mike served as President of Digital 5, a venture backed software provider enabling streaming media content within the connected home, and later became President of OpenPeak, a provider of software for home media control. Mike is a graduate of Purdue University with a degree in Computer and Electrical Engineering.
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