Patent Reform, Tax Reform, Immigration Reform among Top Priorities
Press Release – Feb. 17, 2014 – ALBANY, N.Y. — Last week, Jay McBain from ChannelEyes joined TechVoice to advocate for IT sector priorities on Capitol Hill during the organization’s annual fly-in to Washington, D.C. TechVoice, a partnership of CompTIA and the Technology Councils of North America (TECNA), works to provide a voice to tech companies on Capitol Hill.
“Tech sector innovation is a key force behind a strong 21st century economy and, Congress should prioritize issues that affect small and mid-size tech businesses like ChannelEyes,” said McBain. “These issues include patent reform to counter abusive patent litigation tactics by so-called “patent trolls”, ensuring tax reform is fair to tech SMBs; and immigration reform that includes making it easier to recruit and retain the ‘best and the brightest’ of high-tech workers in an effort to close the skills gap and remain globally competitive.”
This is the first year that McBain has participated in the TechVoice Fly-In.
“As the tech sector grapples with the implementation of 2014 Congressional priorities, TechVoice will continue to facilitate open discourse between legislators and small and mid-sized tech businesses,” said Todd Thibodeaux, president and CEO of CompTIA. “Through a balanced, multi-policy approach that incorporates the needs of hiring businesses, Congress can boost economic growth nationwide.”
The Fly-In ran from February 11-12, 2014 in Washington, DC. For more information on TechVoice’s advocacy efforts, visit www.TechVoice.org.
Business leaders from small- and medium-sized tech companies nationwide come to Capitol Hill to advocate for public policies that are tech-friendly and will create jobs and reinvigorate the economy. CompTIA and TECNA members and partners will meet with Congressmen; honor Congressional and industry leaders that are champions in regards to growth-oriented tech policies; and discuss Internet governance, taxes and workforce policies to accelerate the technology industry and economy.
Capitol Hill Speaker Series at the Cannon House Office Building
Congressman Patrick Meehan (PA-7)
Patrick Meehan represents Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District in the United States Congress. Currently serving his second term in Congress, Meehan serves on the Oversight and Government Reform, Homeland Security, Transportation and Infrastructure, and House Ethics Committees. As a member of the Homeland Security Committee, Congressman Meehan was appointed Chairman of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection and Security Technologies.
Prior to his election to the United States Congress, Meehan earned an impressive record as one of the Philadelphia area’s most respected prosecutors. Appointed by the President, Meehan served as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, a position that made him the top federal prosecutor in a district that spanned nine counties with a population of over five million residents. Sworn in just six days after the September 11, 2001 attacks, Meehan immediately went to work combating the threat of terrorism. He set up an Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council to coordinate the region’s response to the attacks. The ATAC quickly became a national model for coordination among law enforcement agencies and ensured that critical information and intelligence on terrorist threats was disseminated to the appropriate federal, state and local law enforcement personnel.
While U.S. Attorney, Meehan took on nursing homes neglecting seniors, drug companies defrauding customers and pioneered innovative new strategies to combat domestic violence. Meehan also prosecuted cases under Operation Stolen Valor, an initiative that took in individuals who falsely claimed to have won military awards and decorations. He was appointed by the Attorney General to sit on the Corporate Fraud Task Force and prosecuted government contractors overcharging taxpayers. During his tenure, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Philadelphia became a national leader in prosecuting corrupt government officials. Meehan helped to put behind bars some of the biggest names in Philadelphia’s corrupt pay-to-play political culture, including former Philadelphia Treasurer Corey Kemp, Councilman Rick Mariano, and State Senator Vincent Fumo. Meehan earned praise from both sides of the aisle for his integrity and his commitment to rooting out political corruption. Prior to his appointment as United States Attorney, Meehan served as the District Attorney of Delaware County. As D.A., he successfully prosecuted several high-profile cases, including the murder trial of millionaire John DuPont and the trial of the murderer of local college student Aimee Willard. Meehan formed the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, a working group dedicated to protecting children from online predators. A native of Cheltenham, Montgomery County, Meehan is a graduate of Bowdoin College and the Temple University School of Law. Prior to entering public service, Congressman Meehan spent two years as a referee in the National Hockey League. Meehan, his wife Carolyn, and their three sons live in Drexel Hill, Delaware County.
Senator Mark Pryor (AR)
Senate Pryor serves on six Senate Committees, including the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee. As a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, Pryor is helping Arkansas address emerging transportation, technology and communications challenges. As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet, one of Pryor’s main priorities is helping rural communities meet growing infrastructure needs, including the disparity in broadband services. Pryor also serves on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee; the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee; the Senate Rules Committee; and the Senate Ethics Committee.
Jessica Rosenworcel, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission
Jessica Rosenworcel was nominated for a seat on the Federal Communications Commission by President Barack Obama and on May 7, 2012 was confirmed unanimously by the United States Senate. She was sworn into office on May 11, 2012.
Commissioner Rosenworcel brings a decade and a half of public sector and private sector communications law experience to her position at the FCC. This experience has shaped her belief that in the 21st century strong communications markets can foster economic growth and security, enhance digital age opportunity, and enrich our civic life.
Prior to joining the agency, Commissioner Rosenworcel served as Senior Communications Counsel for the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, under the leadership of Senator John D. Rockefeller IV. She previously served in the same role on the Committee under the leadership of Senator Daniel K. Inouye. In this position, she was responsible for legislation, hearings, and policy development involving a wide range of communications issues, including spectrum auctions, public safety, broadband deployment and adoption, universal service, video programming, satellite television, local radio, and digital television transition.
Before joining the staff of the Committee, she served as Legal Advisor to former FCC Commissioner Michael J. Copps. She also served at the agency as Legal Counsel to the Chief of the Wireline Competition Bureau and as an Attorney-Advisor in the Wireline Competition Bureau.
Prior to entering public service, Commissioner Rosenworcel practiced communications law at Drinker Biddle and Reath. Commissioner Rosenworcel is a native of Hartford, Connecticut. She is a graduate of Wesleyan University and New York University School of Law.
Adam Sedgewick, Sr. Information Technology Policy Advisor, National Institute of Standards and Technology
Adam Sedgewick serves as Senior Information Technology Policy Advisor at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. In this role, he represents NIST on the Department of Commerce Internet Policy Task Force and advices NIST leadership on cybersecurity issues. Previously, Sedgewick was Senior Advisor to the Federal Chief Information Officer Council, coordinating cross-agency initiatives and assisting in the implementation of OMB policy and directives. He served as Professional Staff Member for the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs for nine years, handling cyber security and federal information technology policy. Sedgewick was awarded the Fed 100 award in 2008 for his contributions to the federal information technology community.
Congressman Lee Terry (NE-2)
A lifelong Nebraskan, Congressman Lee Terry has worked continually to empower the people of the Second District. He has been a leader for Nebraska by advocating American energy security, respect for life and a fiscally sound balanced budget. A strong proponent of limited government, Lee has been an outspoken and leading opponent against government intrusion of health care and the Internet.
Lee currently serves on the influential Energy and Commerce Committee, which is the oldest standing legislative committee in the House. For the 113th Congress, Lee is serving as Chairman of the Subcommittee of Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade. This subcommittee casts a wide-net over issues that affect every American, every day. CMT’s jurisdiction covers interstate and foreign commerce issues; specifically, regulation of commercial practices and the Federal Trade Commission, including sports-related matters; data security; consumer affairs, protection and product safety; privacy matters; product liability; motor vehicle safety; and regulation of travel and tourism.
In addition to his Chairmanship of Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Lee sits on two other subcommittees as a senior leader on the Committee. Seen as a knowledgeable leader in the telecommunications field, Lee serves on the Subcommittee of Communications and Technology. As a member of Subcommittee of Energy and Power, he is an advocate for an all of the above energy policy.
As a proponent of empowering people at a local level, Lee authored the Local Community Radio Act, which became law in 2011. The law allows non-profit groups throughout the country, especially places in North Omaha, the opportunity to have a voice on FM radio. Lee has also been instrumental in promoting the “All of the Above” approach to energy. This approach not only works towards the elimination of our dependence on foreign oil from hostile regions but also creates jobs and a more robust economy. He believes in extracting and utilizing the vast oil and natural gas resources found in North America, promoting innovative alternative energy sources, and supporting the construction and operation of the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada through Nebraska and down to the refineries in Texas. Lee, in partnership with Democrat Baron Hill, successfully negotiated the underlying policy in The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which was a major overhaul to increase the fuel economy of cars and trucks, and led to saving millions of barrels of imported oil. Lee has also taken the lead in promoting the future of natural gas and its many benefits in our daily lives, from heating our homes to fueling our vehicles and long-range trucks.
Lee was named one of the most bipartisan members of the House of Representatives by The Hill newspaper and was named a “heavyweight” in telecommunications and media policy in the 111th Congress. Lee was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November 1998. Prior to serving as a Representative, Lee served eight years on the Omaha City Council. He also was a managing partner in a local law firm. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Nebraska Lincoln and his Juris Doctorate from Creighton University Law School.
Panelists for the event were:
Vishal Amin, Majority Senior Counsel, House Judiciary Committee
Vishal Amin currently serves as Majority Senior Counsel on the House Judiciary Committee, handling issues dealing with intellectual property, international trade, competition and technology policy. His responsibilities on the Judiciary Committee's subcommittee on the courts, intellectual property, and the Internet, include drafting legislation, developing strategy for Congressional legislative and oversight hearings and markups, and analyzing legislation and policy initiatives. Amin served as the lead House counsel drafting H.R. 1249, the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (Pub. L. No. 112-29). Earlier in his career, Amin served in the Bush Administration, at both The White House and the U.S. Department of Commerce. He received his bachelor's degree in neuroscience from Johns Hopkins University, his law degree from Washington University in St. Louis and is a member of the New York State Bar.
Rick Morgan, Policy Advisor, Office of U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA)
Rick Morgan is Policy Advisor for U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA) and manages the Senator’s legislative portfolio for budget and tax issues. Originally from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Morgan graduated from Princeton University in 2009. Prior to working on Capitol Hill, he was the Deputy Finance Director for then candidate Toomey’s 2010 Senate campaign.
Morris Panner, CEO, DICOM Grid
Morris Panner, DICOM Grid’s CEO, is an experienced software executive, having recently built and sold an industry-leading business process software company, OpenAir, Inc., to Larry Ellison’s on-demand software company, NetSuite (NYSE:N). Panner built the company from inception to a global company with Fortune 500 clients. Previously, Panner had worked in healthcare IT, partnering to form an early teleradiology venture. He also has worked as a Federal Prosecutor for the U.S. Department of Justice and as a corporate attorney with Wachtell, Lipton, where, among other things, he represented major pharmaceutical companies.
Panner is on the Board and a past Chairperson of the software board of the Software and Information Industry Association as well as the board of Drug Strategies, a not-for-profit dedicated to fighting addiction and drug abuse. He has been featured in the “Boss Column” of the New York Times and in Fortune, Business Week and other leading publications. Panner has a BA from Yale University and a JD from Harvard University.
JJ Singh, Economic Policy Advisor, Office of Senator Chris Coons (DE)
JJ Singh is the Economic Policy Advisor to U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-DE). Prior to working for Senator Coons, he was a credit analyst in the White House Office of Management and Budget, and worked in various capacities in finance in New York. He also served in the United States Peace Corps in Oruro, Bolivia as a Small Business Volunteer from 2002-2004. Singh holds a BA in economics from the University of Virginia, a Masters in Public Administration (MPA) from the Harvard Kennedy School, and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from Harvard Business School.
Cynthia Traeger, President, VSI Pacific
Cynthia Traeger concurrently serves as CEO, Pacific Siren International LLC, a diversified technology holding company, whose mission is to identify and acquire strategically beneficial assets and technologies; and as President, VSI Pacific, a Pacific holding.
An integral part of the technology community in the Washington D.C. area for more than 30 years and considered an innovator within the industry worldwide, Traeger is involved a wide variety of philanthropic, artistic and entrepreneurial organizations, and devotes time mentoring small and emerging businesses and is an advocate for women business founders and CEOs.
Traeger advises the board LFS; serves as a Trustee to the Board of Trustees, Harrisburg University; serves as member of the Board of Excellence for one of the largest commercial and industrial solar energy companies in the Northeast; served as an advisor to the board, Faulkner Information (Information Today), was a participant and author with the American Bar Association's Digital Evidence Work Group, and has been a contributor to the Journal of the ACM Special Interest Group on Graphics. Traeger currently serves as the Director, Founder Institute, DC, is an International Mentor, Founder Institute, Silicon Valley, Bogotá, Santiago, Paris and DC; supports the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) and served as a mentor to the George Washington University’s Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Network. Traeger is a frequent guest speaker, graduate level, Georgetown University and the George Washington University on new venture finance and technology entrepreneurship. Her contributions to the Telecommunications Development Fund's Corporate Governance Project received the highest regards by the Emerging Business Forum and Washington Post. She served as a Corporate Ambassador for Vital Voices’ Corporate Ambassadors Program (CAP) launched in cooperation with the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) at the U.S. Department of State.
David Dimmett, Senior Vice President and Chief Engagement Officer, Project Lead The Way
David Dimmett is directly responsible for the leadership and support of PLTW's team of Vice Presidents of Regions and Directors of School Engagement. In this capacity, he works to support program quality and growth throughout the U.S. Currently, PLTW is serving students in over 5,200 schools in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia. Before joining PLTW, Dimmett was Chief Academic Officer at the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation (EVSC), where he was instrumental in leading innovation and unprecedented improvements in student achievement throughout the district. Dimmett facilitated all curricular and instructional work, developed strategic partnerships, and implemented several innovative school models including New Tech Institute and Early College High School. He holds a Master of Business Operational Excellence degree from The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business and is a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. Additionally, Dimmett earned an MS in Education, Secondary Curriculum, and Instruction as well as a BA in English from Indiana University.
Rick Geritz, CEO & Founder, LifeJourney LLC
Rick Geritz is a serial entrepreneur and has spent the last 20 years building early stage companies. He is currently the CEO and Founder of LifeJourney, a technology that inspires our nation’s youth to "Test Drive” what their future would be like to follow careers in the Cyber and STEM fields. Prior to LifeJourney, Geritz was the President and CEO of BDMetrics, an online business matchmaking technology for the tradeshow industry. In addition, he held senior level executive roles for SafeNet where he was President and GM responsible for their VPN software, hardware and silicon businesses. Before SafeNet, Geritz was the Executive Vice President and a board member at Rockville based ICARUS Corporation – an engineering simulation software company where he led the company's worldwide product, operations, and until its sale to Aspen Technology (NASDAQ; AZPN).
Geritz has been a featured guest speaker on network security on TV and radio shows such as “Today” holds a patent for online business networking, was named one of Baltimore’s “Top 40 under 40” executives, and “Innovator of the Year.” He currently sits on the board of The Howard County Hospital, The Governor’s Cyber Security Commission, The Cyber Incubator at UMBC and leads the CyberMaryland initiative.
Albert Palacios, Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education, U.S. Department of Education
Mr. Albert Palacios is an Education Specialist in the Division of Academic and Technical Education at the U.S. Department of Education focusing on College and Career Transitions. He collaborates with the Senior Advisor on STEM Education on cybersecurity issues and participates on the National Initiative on Cybersecurity Education committee. He manages the Rigorous Programs of Study grant program to promote the alignment of high school career and technical programs with postsecondary education and contributes his expertise in information technology, advanced manufacturing, transportation, virtual environments, and STEM, to career and technical education.
Prior to joining the Department of Education, Palacios was a Labor Policy Analyst at Bloomberg Government during the launch of its BGov.com information and analytics website. At Bloomberg, he led a team of research analysts studying employment and economic indicators, and the impact of Federal legislation and regulation on business. Palacios earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in business management from the University of Texas at Austin. He has more than 30 years of experience in programming in a wide array of systems, platforms and languages. Following a 13-year career in banking, he moved to the Washington, D.C. area to work as a consultant on “School-to-Work,” a joint initiative of the U.S. Departments of Education and Labor. Since that time he continued working with both agencies, serving as a Senior Education Policy Advisor under contract to the Office of Postsecondary Education, and a term appointment at the Employment and Training Administration, Office of Workforce Investment. His experience spans implementation of the Workforce Investment Act, rulemaking for the Higher Education Opportunity Act, and the advancement of career and technical education pathways.
Scott Barlow, Vice President of Sales, Reflexion
Scott Barlow has an extensive record of achievement in channel sales and business development, built on a strong foundation of technical expertise and domain knowledge in the rapidly evolving hosted services (SaaS) market, including email and Web security, archiving, encryption and compliance. In his role as VP of Sales and Marketing, he is responsible for worldwide sales and channel development; he also doubles as Product Manager for Reflexion’s suite of hosted solutions, which ensures clear alignment of engineering resources with the needs of the company’s solution providers. Prior to joining Reflexion, Barlow was Director of Business Development at start-up Virtual Access Networks, a leader in operating system migration and remote access that was acquired by Symantec.
Barlow serves as Chairman of the IT Security Community at CompTIA. He has been named a CRN Channel Chief the past four years, a Distinguished Nominee for Channel Insider’s Channel Executive of the Year, a member of the MSPmentor 250 list of the top executives, entrepreneurs and experts shaping the global managed services market, and an SMB 150 Influencer by SMB Nation. He holds an MBA and MS in Geophysics from Boston College.
Graham Dufault, Counsel, Office of Congressman Lee Terry
Graham Dufault serves as Counsel to Representative Lee Terry (R-NE). Rep. Terry is Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade, and Member of the House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology. Previously, Dufault was an assistant director of government relations for Knowledge Universe, a for-profit educational services firm. Subsequently, he was a legislative correspondent for Senator Gordon Smith of Oregon, handling issues ranging from banking and judiciary to communications and technology. Dufault holds a J.D. from George Mason University School of Law, where he graduated in 2012 with a concentration in telecommunications law. While in law school, Dufault served as Articles Editor for the Journal of Law, Economics & Policy and clerked with the Federal Communications Commission for about a year in the Wireless and Wireline Bureaus.
Eric Haren, Counsel, Office of Senator Dianne Feinstein, Senate Committee on the Judiciary
Eric R. Haren serves as Counsel to Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. Mr. Haren’s portfolio includes the issues of data breach and consumer privacy, as well as other issues, including judicial nominations. Previously, Mr. Haren was an associate attorney in the Washington, DC office of the law firm Jenner & Block LLP, where he worked on cases involving copyright law, privacy, government procurement, and other issues. Prior to joining Jenner & Block, Mr. Haren served as a law clerk to Judge Danny J. Boggs on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Mr. Haren earned his J.D. in 2006 from Harvard Law School, where he was co-President of the Harvard Journal on Legislation.- See more at: http://techvoice.org/Events/dcflyin_2014/dcflyin_2014_panelists.aspx#sthash.E9BoUjkx.dpuf
Participants included:
Sandra Ashworth
Global Director of Channel Relations and Warranty, SSCO, GMSSandra Ashworth has been in the IT services industry for 30 years in various capacities such as managed services, field management, operations, vendor relations, client service design/implementations, and supply chain marketing. Her career history includes working in the commercial, consumer and retail IT environment for industry leaders like Bell Atlantic Business Systems, CompuCom and CompUSA. She presently represents Unisys Corporation, where she is the global director of channel relations and warranty, at CompTIA meetings. Ashworth served as the Chair and Vice Chair of the IT services and solutions community for more than 14 years, most recently the Chair of the Advancing Women in IT Community and on the Community Executive Board for 5 years at CompTIA. Through the CompTIA initiatives, she believe the industry will realize their return on investment by delivering better quality services, cost reductions and the development of industry standards, whether they are a global or regional channel partner. Ashworth is on the Advisory Board to Lincoln Technical Institute to assist in the development of strategic IT curriculums and promoting the many IT careers to students.
Maxine Ballen
President & CEO, New Jersey Technology CouncilMaxine Ballen currently serves as president and CEO of the New Jersey Technology Council (NJTC), an organization she founded in 1996.The NJTC is the state’s premier organization for technology companies offering their membership of 950+ companies access to resources, financing, information, and an organized technology community. Prior to founding the NJTC, Ballen was one of the early pioneers in Pennsylvania who first recognized the need for special programs for the technology community and then initiated them. She founded both the Business Development & Training Center (BDTC) and the Pennsylvania Innovation Network (PIN) –two ongoing successful programs even today. She is also credited with founding the NJTC Venture Fund and Jumpstart NJ Angel Network.
Ballen has received numerous honors and awards for her work in developing cutting edge programs and unique services for technology companies. She also serves on several boards and is a frequent speaker on both regional and national technology issues.
Scott Barlow
Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Reflexion Networks, Inc.Scott Barlow has an extensive record of achievement in channel sales and business development, built on a strong foundation of technical expertise and domain knowledge in the rapidly evolving cloud-based services (SaaS) market, with a particular focus on information security and compliance. In his role as vice president of sales and marketing, he is responsible for worldwide sales and channel development for Reflexion’s suite of hosted email security and compliance solutions. Over the past five years, Barlow and his team have recruited more than 5,000 solution providers and 12 distributors, spanning more than 50 countries, while achieving industry-leading levels of partner productivity.
Prior to joining Reflexion, Barlow was director of business development at start-up Virtual Access Networks, a leader in operating system migration and remote access that was acquired by Symantec. Previously he worked at Cambridge Technology Partners, where he developed a go-to-market strategy for services delivery. Barlow currently serves as chairman of the IT Security Community at CompTIA. He has been selected as a CRN Channel Chief for each of the past four years, a 2013 CRN Top 50 Midmarket IT Vendor Executive, a Distinguished Nominee for Channel Insider’s Channel Executive of the Year, and as a member of the MSPmentor 250 list of the top executives, entrepreneurs and experts shaping the global managed services market. Barlow holds an MBA and MS in geophysics from Boston College.
Justin T. Barnes
Vice President, Greenway Medical Technologies, Inc. As a healthcare software executive and public policy advisor, Justin Barnes is a vice president with Greenway Medical Technologies and manages Greenway’s industry, government and international affairs. In addition, Barnes is chairman emeritus of the HIMSS Electronic Health Record (EHR) Association as well as co-chairman of the Accountable Care Community of Practice where he assists both organizations with industry strategy and leadership.
Barnes has formally addressed and/ or testified before Congress as well as the last two presidential administrations on more than a dozen occasions since 2005 with statements relating to value-based medicine, accountable care, interoperability, EHR meaningful use, consumerism, patient safety, HIPAA, the globalization of healthcare and much more. Justin is a regular public speaker on these issues and has been published in more than 650 journals, magazines and broadcast media outlets relating to national leadership of health IT and EHR adoption efforts.
Barnes majored in legal studies and holds a BA and BS from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and served Rotary International as a Board Member and Chairman of Public Relations for the Amherst Rotary Club. He also served in the U.S. Army in Infantry & Communication Units.
Michelle Calton
Vice President of Membership Development, North Carolina Technology Association (NCTA)Michelle Calton serves as NCTA’s vice president of membership value. As vice president she serves in a dual function – with responsibility to recruit, manage and retain the membership base as well as to implement programs and services that bring value to over 700 corporate members and their employees.
Prior to NCTA, Calton served as a senior director at America's Promise in Alexandria, Virginia. In that capacity, she developed and managed a national education initiative and traveled the country working with large public and private higher education institutions. At America's Promise, she also worked on public-private sector partnerships to bring resources to disadvantaged young people across the country.
In 1997, Calton worked on the Presidents’ Summit for America's Future. The summit gathered Presidents Clinton, Bush, Carter and Ford, with First Lady Nancy Reagan representing her husband, to challenge the nation to make youth a national priority. In her role, Calton worked to secure support from public elected officials and organized delegations representing states, cities and rural counties.
Following the summit, America's Promise was created with General Colin Powell serving as Chairman. Calton started as Special Projects Coordinator with responsibilities that included: soliciting and managing partnerships with national corporations; managing advisory boards with national leaders from all sectors; and working with national partners to plan and execute large events across the nation with Chairman Powell.
Previously, she worked in management, fundraising and communication positions for numerous political campaigns and served as an intern in the role of deputy press/legislative case worker for two years in a Congressional field office. Calton holds a degree in political science from North Carolina State University and has done graduate studies at both Duke University and Georgetown University in Public Policy.
Justin C. Dearborn
Chief Executive Officer, Merge HealthcareJustin C. Dearborn is Chief Executive Officer of Merge Healthcare, Inc. Dearborn has served as president of Merge Healthcare since November, 2010 and as Chief Executive Officer since June, 2008. Before joining Merge Healthcare, Dearborn served as managing director and general counsel at Merrick Ventures, LLC. Prior to his roles at Merrick Ventures, Dearborn served in various executive senior management positions for Click Commerce, Inc., a publicly-traded software and services company. Dearborn was appointed corporate secretary of Click Commerce in May, 2003. Prior to Click Commerce, Dearborn worked at Motorola, Inc. where he specialized in intellectual property transactions and held management positions in Motorola’s semiconductor and government groups.
Mark DiGregorio
Vice President of Business Development, Tolt SolutionsMark DiGregorio comes from a retail grocery background, as his family owned and operated independent retail grocery stores in New Mexico for 67+ years. DiGregorio joined Tolt Solutions in 2004 coming from a career in retail with chains such as Safeway, Toys R Us, and Target Stores. He currently runs sales and marketing, as well as all business development activities for Tolt. Previous to this position, he held several other positions at Tolt, with responsibilities for account management and operations. He is an active member of the Service Industry Association (SIA) and in 2013, a member of the Executive Council of CompTIA’s ITSS Community. DiGregorio has a degree in Economics from Santa Clara University.
Jude Fils-Aime
Solutions Architect, Verizon Enterprise SolutionsJude Fils-Aime is a solutions architect with Verizon Enterprise Solutions, a global leader in delivering broadband, wireless and wireline communications services to the enterprise, government and wholesale customers. As an architect of enterprise infrastructures, including information systems and mobile technologies that help businesses and governments around the globe expand reach, increase agility and maintain longevity, Fils-Aime has proven success in solving business challenges with solutions in security, data centers, mobility, and cloud computing. Fils-Aime has 18+ years of experience in technology and telecommunications, holding management and principal engineering positions with various companies in both New York and Atlanta. He currently resides outside of Atlanta, where he is a member of the Technology Association of Georgia and is a volunteer instructor/mentor for Technology Uplift Inc.
Nick Farina
CEO, JetZetNick Farina joined the early stage tech space in 2003 at ShipNow, which was acquired by Kewill. He later founded One Step Auction, one of the first eBay drop off companies, and JetZet, a travel software company which was named one of Entrepreneur Magazine’s 100 Brilliant Companies of 2011. Farina graduated from Haverford College, where he was a Visiting Scholar at the University of Oxford, and serves on the Board of Directors at Chicago Access Corporation, operator of one of the largest public television networks in the United States.
Patrick D. Gaul
Vice President, Sales, North America, SafelyLocked, LLCPatrick Gaul is the vice president of sales for SafelyLocked, LLC with responsibility for North America. Gaul began his career in the technology industry in 1976 after nine years in the United States Marine Corps where he was awarded a number of commendations including National Defense Service Medal, the Combat Action Ribbon and a Purple Heart for his service in the Republic of South Vietnam. Gaul spent nearly twenty-six years with AT&T and Infonet Services Corporation across the globe including assignments in Japan, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Belgium before returning to the USA in late 2003 to head up an Atlanta-based web-hosting and interactive marketing firm. Throughout his career, he has held senior positions in sales, marketing and channel management. Gaul is presently the chair of the Board of Directors of the Technology Association of Georgia and served as the chair for the Georgia Technology Summit in 2006 and 2007. Gaul also serves on the Georgia Awareness Committee.
Erik K. Grimmelmann, Ph.D.
President & CEO, New York Technology Council (NYTECH)Erik K. Grimmelmann is currently president and CEO of the New York Technology Council, Inc. (NYTECH), a non-profit industry association whose mission is to support the growth of the New York Technology Industry. Grimmelmann has 30+ years of experience in information technologies including 12 years at AT&T Bell Labs. He has held executive positions at established companies including AT&T (where he served as Internet Strategist staring in 1991) and Dun & Bradstreet along with the positions of CIO and CTO at a number of startups including one founded by IBM, Intel, and AT&T.
Dr. Grimmelmann has served as a White House technology advisor and on panels of the National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council and the National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee. In addition he has served on the boards of numerous industry organizations including the National Information Infrastructure Testbed, the Information Industry Association, the New York Software Industry Association, and the Technology Councils of North America.
Dr. Grimmelmann holds a B.A. from Haverford College and an M.S. and Ph.D. from The University of Michigan. He completed his post-doctoral study at Bell Labs and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. In addition he has completed executive education programs at the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University and the Graduate School of Business at Columbia University.
Sarah Habansky
Vice President, Illinois Technology AssociationSince joining the Illinois Technology Association (ITA) in 2005, Sarah Habansky has played an instrumental role in developing what is known today as Chicago's preeminent tech event, CityLIGHTS. Sponsorships for the awards gala have increased by 300% with attendance growing year-over-year under her leadership. Habansky provides the strategy, content and direction for all ITA programs, including forging partnerships with key leaders and organizations to extend the reach and awareness of the ITA. Leveraging her days of working on Capitol Hill, she directs the ITA advocacy initiative including trips to D.C. to meet with key government officials. Prior to the ITA, Habansky worked at the Executives' Club of Chicago and has extensive experience running association programs and political campaigns.
George Harris
Vice President, Business Development, OnForce Inc.George Harris, who was an owner of GAS LLC until its recent merger with Core Technology LLC remains active in the service industry and currently works with Onforce Inc. as its vice president of business development. He has 40+ years of experience in managing field service operations - most notably as vice president, worldwide customer support for Symbol Technologies and vice president, field service, MSI Data. He is well known in the computer and telecommunications service sector having served two terms as chairman and president of the Association for Service Management International (AFSMI). He was also the recipient of the prestige's AFSMI Professional Service Managers award and worked on behalf of the AFSMI as the Chairperson of the Presidents club. Harris is currently involved with the CompTIA ITSS group and is currently serving his second year as an ITSS board member. He earned a BSBA degree from Syracuse University and remains active with its Alumni clubs.
Mary Juetten
Founder & CEO, TraklightWith more than 25 years of leadership experience in both the public and private sectors, Mary Juetten has dedicated her career to helping businesses achieve and protect their success. A self-described “recovering accountant,” she has conducted financial auditing for Richter, Usher, & Vineberg and provided consulting for Price Waterhouse. She also has held executive positions with Vancouver Community College, AMEC Training & Development, and local online startup, youchange Inc.
In 2010, Juetten founded traklight.com, a site that provides inventors, entrepreneurs, and businesses with the tools to identify and protect their ideas, or intellectual property (IP). Since its launch, Traklight has obtained the Arizona Commerce Authority's Fast Grant for 2012 and 2013 as well as Grow America's She Can Pitch contest and Success Magazine's Start Small, Win Big National Challenge. In 2013, Arizona Business Magazine featured Mary on their Women to Watch list.
Juetten is an active leader and member of many organizations, including 85Broads (Co-President), Arizona Tech Council’s Law & Technology Committee, Arizona Small Business Association, Startup Arizona, TiE, ASU Women in Philanthropy, and national crowdfunding organizations CFPA and CfiRA (Board Member). She has a bachelor of commerce degree from McGill University and a juris doctorate from Arizona State as well as her accounting and public accountant certifications. A native of Canada, she now lives in Phoenix, Arizona, with her husband and teenagers.
Amy Kardel
Co-Owner and Visionary, Clever DucksAmy Kardel loves technology, but what she really enjoys is seeing how business process can improve the results of small businesses through IT. As the founder of two start-ups, she knows first-hand what it takes to help a business use IT as a strategic weapon. With 20 years of experience in the IT industry, she continuously explores new ways to determine how her firm can apply technical expertise to solve business problems. She nurtures relationships with partners in the IT channel to continuously improve the services she can deliver for her clients.
As the premier IT consulting and services firm in her local region, Clever Ducks services a range of business industries including medical, accounting and finance, legal, local government, wineries and nonprofits. Unlike many other smaller companies, Clever Ducks has particular focus on the needs of regional business and on larger enterprises located in our area and beyond.
After traveling the world working for international technology companies and building her expertise in technology consulting, Kardel started Computer Network Services (now Clever Ducks) with her husband Peter in her hometown San Luis Obispo in 1991.Their vision – to help businesses in San Luis Obispo County be on the forefront of technology and stay competitive in the global market through computer and telecommunication network systems. In order to keep her clients competitive, Kardel is diligent in staying current with industry trends and in leading the way in innovative solutions and delivers “trade secrets” directly to her clients.
Kardel’s commitment to collaboration frames her desire for those around her to grow and reach their potential. She has been a leader in her local business community by serving in local technology resources, Rotary and the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce, especially in legislative affairs. She is current board member of CompTIA. She is also very active nationally with HTG Peer Groups with others in her industry and as an advisory board member for the software company ConnectWise. She finds time in San Luis Obispo, which was recently named the happiest city in America, for community involvement with a focus on youth development. An alumna of UC Berkeley and Washington University, she is a lifelong sailor and is married to Peter with 4 amazing children.
Lester Keizer
CEO & Co-Owner, Business Continuity Technologies (BCT)As CEO/Co-owner, Lester Keizer brings to Business Continuity Technologies (BCT) more than 30 years of executive responsibilities and business development skills. While senior vice president for Community Psychiatric Centers, a company rated by Business Week in 1991 as one of the most valuable publicly held U.S. Companies, he developed and managed the residential services division. He grew this division by $75 million before its sale to Vencor (now Kindred Healthcare.) While serving as vice president of development for Prime Med, he closed on a $32 million dollar deal with a large hospital system and materially participated in this company’s growth from a startup company to a $200 million dollar leading provider of institutional pharmacy services before its sale to a publically-traded company. Keizer has also served as a senior vice president of sales for one of the nation's largest home health providers and served as vice president for Med Diversified in the development and promotion of technology, telemedicine and e-commerce on a national and international level.
Prior to his current role for BCT, Keizer was CEO for Ron Cook’s Connecting Point, a 30-year-old technology company in Las Vegas. Under his tenure Keizer oversaw the transformation of Connecting Point from a product-centric company to a technology service-centric organization. As a result, Connecting Point landed on the MSPmentor 100 list as number 1 in the state of Nevada and number 14 worldwide as the most progressive managed service provider. In June 2010 Business Continuity Technologies (BCT) was formed and continues to build on the success of Connecting Point in Las Vegas and the surrounding areas. Keizer is also one of the co-founders and previous CEO of XiloCore, one of the first national cloud based business continuity disaster recovery companies.
As an innovative business developer, Keizer has excelled in developing technology and technology solutions to various lines of business including the management and development of Crossroads of Antigua, a world class drug and substance abuse rehab hospital through a joint venture with rock star Eric Clapton. Keizer grew up in Indonesia, New Guinea and Borneo (where his parents served as missionaries), went to college in England and later earned his bachelor's degree from Southern Adventist University in Tennessee and his masters degree in administration from Andrews University in Michigan.
Keizer, an accomplished speaker, has presented at many regional and national conferences. He previously served on the board of directors for CompTIA, the world’s largest computing technology industry association. He currently serves on the SYNNEX/Varnex advisory board. In May of 2011, Keizer co-founded “Hands That Give”, the IT industry’s first member-led emergency disaster recovery response system modeled after the American Red Cross. He is a classically-trained pianist and organist. He loves to snow ski in the winter, water ski in the summer and participate in 100-mile century bike rides.
Raj Khera
CEO, MailerMailerRaj Khera is CEO of MailerMailer, maker of a next generation email marketing and social media tool, Presstacular, that includes a library of click-and-use articles and built-in analytics to help small businesses win new customers. He has built and sold several Internet companies including GovCon, the first portal for government contractors which he and his partners grew into the largest website of its kind before being acquired by a publicly traded company in 1999; and FilterPoint, a spam filtering service acquired by InfoStructures in 2009. He earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park, serves on boards at the University of Maryland and was appointed by Maryland Governor O'Malley to the Maryland Economic Development Commission.
Jack Knocke
Owner, The VAR AdvisorWith a 27-year background in telecom with Carriers, Agents and Telecom Distributors (Master Agents), Jack Knocke is now working with IT solution providers, MSPs and VARs to help them make a smooth transition to monthly recurring revenues from network services and cloud by focusing on the blocking and tackling issues of sales, finance, operations and partnerships. Knocke has developed the multi-lingual skills to bridge the gap between telecom providers and IT solutions providers. By acknowledging the challenges and devising custom action plans for each VAR, he is helping VARs move effectively and profitably to offering cloud and network services to their clients driving new revenues and higher profits.
Eric Long
CEO, Information Technology Solutions
Eric Long Is the CEO of Information Technology Solutions, a Florid- based managed service provider serving the small- to medium-business market. He is responsible for business vision and focus, as well as the day-to-day operations of the organization. In the past, Long has operated four other technology companies, including an international business applications practice specializing in ERP and CRM systems, to an Internet Service Provider, one of the 1st DSL providers in the Tampa area, as well as a pioneer in Broadband Wireless’ bringing high speed Internet the last mile to businesses and educational institutions. Long is a Microsoft Certified Professional, and holds numerous certifications in networking, security, and VoIP.
Tino J. Mantella
President, Technology Association of Georgia (TAG)
Tino Mantella joined Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) in September 2004 as the organization's new president. Mantella, prior to joining TAG, had amassed more than 20 years of related experience leading two of the nation’s more prestigious volunteer-driven organizations: National Arthritis Foundation and YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago.
As president and CEO of two multifaceted and complex charities, he spearheaded agendas that led to the development of innovative new services, resulting in the facilitation of significant membership growth. In addition, Mantella’s track record reflects impressive results in fund raising, advocacy, and economic development. Since coming to TAG, Mantella has worked with a team of dedicated volunteers and staff to: build a prestigious board made up of 60 technology stakeholders; grown membership by more than 500%; and added a series of programs and services that support TAG’s vision of educating, informing and uniting the technology community.
Mantella is a member of the boards of Venture Atlanta Coalition Inc., TAG Education Collaborative, the Midtown Alliance, the Tech College System of Georgia’s Foundation, the Chambers of Commerce in North Fulton and for Georgia, and on the Advisory Board of the Atlanta Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce.
Jay McBain
Co-founder, ChannelEyes
Jay McBain is an accomplished speaker, author and innovator in the IT industry. Named to the Top 40 Under Forty list by the Business Review, Top 25 Newsmaker by CDN Magazine, Top 100 Most Respected Thought Leader by Vertical Systems Reseller Magazine, member of Global Power 150 by SMB Magazine, as well as Top 250 Global Managed Services Executives by MSPmentor. He is often sought out for keynotes, industry guidance, as well as business development opportunities.
McBain currently serves as co-chair of the CompTIA Vendor Advisory Council and chair of MSP Partners Community. He is also a board member of the Channel Vanguard Council, Ziff Davis Leadership Council, CRN Channel Intelligence Council and STEP - Sustainable Technology Environments Program with InfoComm. McBain has spent his 18 year career in various executive sales, marketing and strategy roles within IBM, Lenovo and Autotask. He is currently the co-founder of a new software company called ChannelEyes, who are reinventing the way vendors communicate, educate and engage with their channels.
As a futurist, and long standing member of the World Future Society, he is an expert in Pervasive Computing which is the study of future computing models and the resulting impact on society, as well as managed services, healthcare IT, voice over IP and cloud computing. An avid blogger, community and social media expert, McBain has developed an innovative “dandelion marketing” approach engaging in a wide range of communities across dozens of channels around the world. McBain has lived in Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Raleigh, and now in Albany, New York. He actively gives back to the community and has been on the board of the United Way, Models for Charity and Junior Achievement.
Dan McMullen
Partner, Calfee, Halter & Griswold, LLP
Dan McMullen chairs the firm’s information technology practice and advises both public and privately held companies on matters of information technology and intellectual property law. His skilled counsel covers computer software and content development, license, acquisition, cloud computing and SaaS subscriptions, service level agreements, and various other Internet, website and e-commerce matters.
McMullen also handles intellectual property matters across traditional business, new media and entertainment sectors and represents clients in all forms of intellectual property negotiations, and occasionally, dispute resolution, including patent, copyright and trademark infringement actions, as well as complex computer system litigation. He uses intellectual property law, contracting practices and dispute resolution techniques to help clients – creators and users, buyers and sellers, licensors and licensees – to protect and grow their businesses.
Active in the community, McMullen serves as an adjunct faculty member at Case Western Reserve University School of Law and Cleveland Marshall College of Law, where he teaches courses on Internet business, intellectual property and information technology. He is a board member of the Greater Cleveland Film Commission and NEOSA (né the Northeast Ohio Software Association), a member of the Cleveland Metropolitan, Ohio and American Bar Associations, and a graduate of Leadership Cleveland. In addition, he is most recently the author of “Supreme Court Upholds ‘First Sale’ Doctrine in Importation of Textbooks,” Impact IP, an Intellectual Property Law Newsletter, March 2013.
John Mehrmann
CEO, Zylog Systems (Canada) Ltd and Brainhunter Companies LLC
As CEO of Zylog Systems (Canada) Ltd and Brainhunter Companies LLC, John Mehrmann leads a dynamic team delivering IT services and product development. In February 2010, Zylog acquired Brainhunter Inc, one of the largest North American IT staffing and recruitment firms, merging these professional services with a global organization recognized for technical services and product development. Mehrmann is a dynamic, results-driven professional with 25+ years of management experience spanning operations, e-commerce, accounting, customer service, marketing, logistics, professional services, and software development. He has established a solid reputation for designing and implementing reliable, repeatable best-in-class business practices to consistently deliver superior performance. He is adept in designing and implementing strategic plans with clients and partners.
Previously, Mehrmann served as vice president of business development at Zylog Systems Ltd (ZSL Inc). With ZSL Inc he facilitated the design and development of software for logistics, warehouse management, process management, and sustainability. ZSL Inc was recognized as one of the 10 Fast Growth VARs to watch by VAR Business 500, and was also recognized in the Information Week IW500 Technology Innovators. Prior to Zylog, Mehrmann served as Regional Director at DEX (Data Exchange Corp). DEX is a reverse logistics Service Provider and Engineering Service Provider for clients in medical, consumer electronics, and information systems. In two years with the authorized service provider, he designed and delivered solutions for clients with Six Sigma process controls, improved logistics and specialized software. Prior to DEX, Mehrmann was the director of service operations for Toshiba. While at Toshiba, he designed software for claims adjudication, accounting, and early alert systems for product failures. He also coordinated consolidation of a central logistics depot with UPS and managed a network of more than 2,000 independent international service providers. Mehrmann led an initiative with Toshiba and Hitachi to introduce the first electronic claims adjudication systems for consumer electronics implemented in 1987.
Mehrmann’s professional contributions include: executive council member with CompTIA Advancing Women in IT (AWIT); executive council member with CompTIA ITSS in the U.S.; CompTIA Troops to Tech sponsor and advocate; CompTIA first Certification Authentication program launched in July 2013; CompTIA “IT Industry Warranty and Service Abuse” white paper; CompTIA GREEN IT initiative co-chair; author of “The Trusted Advocate;” council member for CEA-EPC (Consumer Electronics Association); consumer protection advocate council member for BEAR (Bureau of Electronics & Appliance Repair); advisory committee for motivation education (K-12 Education Development Program); and member of the International Coach Federation (management development coach).
Brad Nellis
Executive Director, Northeast Ohio Software Association
Since 2006, Brad Nellis has led the Northeast Ohio Software Association, an 800+ member association focused on supporting the needs of its members and the regional IT industry. In this role, Nellis has launched several initiatives to help support, grow and engage the IT community: Best of Tech Awards, CoolTech Challenge, Tech Week and others. Nellis also supports the industry by representing IT employers on various college advisory boards, including Cleveland State University, The University of Akron, Kent State University and Tri-C, where he is the IT advisory board chair. He is also a board member for Regional IT Engagement and is a trustee of the Technology Councils of North America. Nellis is a frequent contributor on tech industry issues to local publications such as Crain’s, the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Inside Business and others. He has been recognized in Crain’s among People to Watch in Technology, 150 People to Know in Business in Cleveland and 2014 Predictions. Nellis graduated from the University of Akron with a BSBA (Marketing) and earned an M.B.A. from Baldwin-Wallace University.
Rick Norberg
President, Atrion SMB
Rick Norberg and his leadership team ensure the creation, deployment and support of high-quality, high-touch and innovative solutions for his company’s focused small to medium business segment customers. Norberg has garnered the expertise needed to meet business demands, drive client satisfaction and stay ahead of technology trends by performing across various engineering, consulting, sales, and executive roles with companies such as: Digital Equipment Corporation, Compaq, Fidelity Investments, BindView Development Corporation and RhodeOne throughout his career.
Norberg has presented on malware nationally for Angelbeat as well as at Microsoft conferences for MS Exchange. He holds a bachelor of science degree in management from Bryant University, with a minor in management information systems (MIS), and is also a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer. Norberg is an avid coach and integral team player to his colleagues and clients. His holistic perspective toward technology and his persistence, passion, and leadership help in his commitment toward bringing success to those around him.
Russ Perry
U.S. Managing Director, NSB/Keane
As managing director and co-founder of NSB/Keane, Perry is responsible for the strategic direction and growth of the international firm. He holds a degree in Industrial Design from Arizona State University and knows the resourcefulness it takes to push boundaries and exceed expectations. His background gives him valuable insight into how people interface with the world, both functionally and aesthetically. Perry has led design projects and fully-integrated campaigns for global leaders such as IKEA, Apple, Starwood Hotels, LG Hausys America, SpringCM, the Harlem Globetrotters, and Morgan Stanley. He currently runs the blog b2b2cmarketing.com and is kept busy outside of the office with his two beautiful daughters Maddix and Reese.
Angel L. Pineiro, Jr.
Senior Vice President for Services, ASI System Integration, Inc.
Angel Pineiro, Jr. is senior vice president for services at ASI System Integration, Inc. – an IT services and solutions provider with approximately 600 employees. Pineiro is widely known as an industry expert with superior skills in solving complex service and business problems. His training and exhaustive list of certifications combined with his three decades of real world experience in workflow, business processes and methodologies has earned him the respect from his peers. A proven leader with a knack for service financials and cost control, he is frequently invited as a speaker and panelist for several IT speaker forums throughout North America.
Over the past 12 years ASI and Pineiro have worked closely with New York City based non-profits: Per Scholas, YearUp, NPower, and Brooklyn Job Corps to provide technology education, training and job placement services for low income communities. ASI has supported this mission and has hired more than 800 IT technicians over the past decade. In his role as Chairman on the Per Scholas Advisory Board, Pineiro has help refined the curricula to meet the demands of employers hiring IT personnel.
Pineiro has also worked closely with the NYC Department of Education. Through his counsel, seniors in some NYC high schools will be placed in apprenticeships with ASI and upon graduation are offered positions to fulfill various IT contracts with the City. He is currently working the Chicago Public School system to establish a similar program.
Following the recommendation of the Mayoral Task Force on CTE (Career and Technical Education) Innovation, the NYC DOE formed an IT Commission to facilitate collaboration between schools and employers. The Commission will play a key role in ensuring that CTE pathways incorporate a strong voice, align to labor market demand, and emphasize the skills necessary for career success. Pineiro has been asked to become the Chairman of the Commission.
Additionally, Pineiro and his team at ASI have been working closely with the Brooklyn Job Corps to launch an internship program. The team assists with training, equipment and providing valuable feedback on employer needs and skills requirements, job interview preparation, soft skills, and industry updates. He has recently expanded ASI’s relationship with the Job Corp in New Jersey and Illinois.
Pineiro served as a panelist in a briefing for Capitol Hill staffers on "Attitudes Toward a Career in IT." This was spearheaded by Congressman Roskam (R-IL) and Congresswoman Sanchez (D-CA) to form and populate the Congressional Caucus on Small Business IT. Pineiro serves as the Chairman of CompTIA’s IT Services and Support (ITSS) Executive Advisory Council and sits on the Creating IT Futures Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) charity, Board of Directors.
Greg Plum
Vice President, Channel Development, SoundConnect, LLC
Greg Plum joined SoundConnect as vice president of Channel Development in September 2013 and leads the company’s channel sales and development initiatives. In his previous role, Plum was the vice president of channel development for StartMeeting, where he was responsible for overseeing channel operations and development. Plum has been involved in channel development since 2001 and has enjoyed building channel sales operations from scratch.
Plum’s passion for the channel, as well as his desire to form long-term relationships with his partners, has gained him the honor of being named a Channel Executive of the Year Finalist in 2009, 2010, and 2011. He oversees all aspects of channel operations, from policy development and implementation, to partner education and certification. He provides valuable leadership and direction to meet the growing demands of SoundConnect’s resale, wholesale and independent agent channel partnerships. Plum lives in Delaware with his wife and two children. He enjoys spending time with his family, distance running, everything about the beach, and renovating their 175-year-old farmhouse, especially since it’s almost done!
Herman Pool
President, Vertical Axion Marketing Solutions
From a homeless teenager to a 20-year established business leader, Herman Pool has owned and marketed his successful IT services and web development companies. Father and author of Guerrilla Marketing, Jay Conrad Levinson called him the “Marco Polo” of Guerrilla Marketing for his ability to find fortune for others. He credits his longevity in business to consistent marketing and advertising. As an award-winning speaker, author and consultant, Pool now focuses his attention on helping other small business owners grow their businesses and brands.
Knowing that small business is the backbone of our country, Pool utilized his marketing experience to start Vertical Axion, a company that provides small- to medium-sized businesses with affordable marketing services with the hope of building a better future for American business owners and employees. Learn more at www.verticalaxion.com.
Brooks Raiford
President & CEO, North Carolina Technology Association
Brooks Raiford has served as president and CEO of the North Carolina Technology Association (NCTA) since 2008. NCTA is the statewide industry association for the tech sector, representing nearly 700 member companies and organizations that employ over 100,000 North Carolinians.
Raiford is a North Carolina native with a passion for improving the quality of life in his home state, and has an extensive background in government relations, business development and operational management. In the early 1990s, he served as a policy aide in the North Carolina Governor’s Office, where a key focus area was information technology and its impact on a variety of public policy areas. Subsequently, he served as director of the Independent College Fund of North Carolina, and then president of leadership North Carolina. Most recently, he was business development director with Balfour Beatty Construction.
Raiford’s current leadership activities include serving as a Governor’s appointee to the North Carolina eLearning Commission; the Board of Advisors of North Carolina New Schools; the Board of Directors of the Technology Councils of North America; the North Carolina Advisory Committee of the US Global Leadership Coalition; and president of the Dean’s Advisory Board for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at NC State University, where he is a former Student Body President and University Trustee. His wife Stephanie is a principal in the Wake County Public School System, and they have two children, Lauren and Will.
Federico Soto Roland
Principal Creative Director, NSB/Keane
Economist, creative strategist and sociology enthusiast, Federico Soto Roland is the co-founder of NSB/Keane and principal creative director. His work with global brands like Coca-Cola, Monsanto, and Johnson & Johnson, as well as his Latin American experience with DONMARIO, Ledesma, and Bodega Del Fin del Mundo, has reached new markets across borders and seas. He is the editor of BrandReportBlog.com, as well as a guest speaker and writer for several marketing organizations. He is also a musician and has edited 4 reggae music albums. He lives in Buenos Aires, traveling between México and the United States as part of his responsibilities with NSBK.
Shea Ross
Director of Government and Public Affairs, Technology Association of Georgia (TAG)
Shea Ross is the director of government and public affairs for the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG). Shea has worked for Lt. Governor Casey Cagle, Georgia’s first Republican Lt. Governor, as the director of constituent services and healthcare policy analyst. She is a graduate of the University of Georgia receiving a degree in public health with an emphasis on health promotion and behavior.
Rory Sanchez
CEO & President, SLPowers
Rory Sanchez is CEO & President of SLPowers. Sanchez is the visionary, responsible for the company's strategic direction and high-level architecting of its award-winning technology management platform, Guaranteed Networks, a comprehensive offering which has positioned SLPowers as a recognized leader in the managed on-premise and cloud computing space.
Believing that a company should give back to the various communities to which it belongs, Sanchez is heavily involved in both, South Florida's local business community and the IT industry, overall. Sanchez frequently speaks, presents best practices, and participates in panel discussions at industry events. Sanchez was a founding member of the ConnectWise Partner Advisory Board. He is an active member of TechData's TechSelect Community and was President of the TechSelect Advisory Council from 2009 to 2011 and now sits on CompTIA's Partner Advisory Council.
In 2005, Sanchez was selected as The Palm Beaches Small-Business Person of the Year and, in 2007, received an Industry Contribution Award from CompTIA for sharing his managed services methodologies with others in the industry. During his time at SLPowers, they have earned a number of distinguished honors including a Global Best Practices in Managed Services Award (2007), CRN Magazine's Fast Growth 100 (2006 & 2007), CRN Magazine’s Most Innovative Managed Services Providers (2010), CRN Magazine’s Top 100 Healthcare VARs (2010), and are regularly ranked as one of the Top 100 Managed IT Providers in the world by MSP Mentor.
Michael Schuler
CEO, Veterans Alliance Resourcing, Inc.
As the CEO for Veterans Alliance Resourcing, Inc. (VAR), a service disabled veteran owned small business (SDVOSB), Mike Schuler and his team of experienced industry sales consultants provides service supply chain solutions to customers and business development representation services to vendor/clients.
Prior to starting VAR, Schuler spent more than 30 years in the aftermarket services industry and has held increasing roles in executive management including: Zylog Systems (Canada) Ltd, vice president of U.S. Sales; Product Support Services, Inc., executive vice president of sales and marketing; Micro Product Distributors, president; Computer Products & Services, vice president of purchasing and product remarketing; Service Electronics, Inc., vice president of business development, product management and purchasing; and Micro Exchange Corporation, vice president of remarketing.
Schuler’s accomplishments include more than $250M in sales revenues, including major parts supply and product remarketing contracts with Dell and Compaq and national PC Trade-In programs with Apple, Dell and CompUSA. He was a key economic catalyst for Micro Exchange/Service Electronics growth ($18M to $107M) from 1993-2004. Schuler is often selected as a guest speaker and industry consultant on aftermarket service strategies. These engagements have included WCM, CompTIA, RLTS, and AFSMI.
Actively involved in the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) since 1999, Schuler has served on CompTIA’s IT Services and Support (ITSS) U.S. Executive Council since 2004 and recently served as Chairman in 2013. He was also selected as a founding member of CompTIA’s Ambassador Advisory Council. Schuler was the initiative chairman for CompTIA’s ASC program and recipient of CompTIA’s Industry Award in 2008. He is an active community volunteer receiving two U.S. Jaycees national awards for leadership, first as a District Director in 1987-1988 (M. Keith Upson Memorial Award) and as a Regional Director in 1988-1989 (Clint Dunagan Memorial Award) for the Illinois Jaycees, during which time he met his wife (W.V. Jaycees) at the U.S. Jaycees national convention in Memphis. Schuler has two grown children and lives with his wife Paula, in Texas.
MJ Shoer
President and Virtual Chief Technology Officer, Jenaly Technology Group, Inc.
MJ Shoer started Jenaly Technology Group, Inc. in February of 1997. The vision for Jenaly grew from Shoer’s collective experience with a variety of technology companies, focusing on sales automation, executive information management and electronics distribution and recycling, where he held both sales and technical management positions. Shoer was also a principal in the first dial-up Internet Service Provider in the Seacoast New Hampshire region. In these roles, he had responsibility for hiring and working with outsourced IT services firms, experiences which have directly influenced the culture, mission and vision of Jenaly Technology Group.
Shoer holds a bachelor of arts degree in political science from the University of New Hampshire, in Durham, New Hampshire, graduating in 1986. He has also completed several technical certifications with companies such as Cisco and Microsoft as well as completing many business and technical professional education programs.Shoer is very active in both the local community and the global IT community. Locally, he has served on the board of directors of the Seacoast Family YMCA and is currently the Ex-Officio of the board of directors of Seacoast Crime Stoppers. In the IT community, he serves on several advisory councils. Shoer is also very active in the Computing Technology Industry Association, CompTIA, currently serving as board chair. He has served as a member of the board of directors and chairman of both the Audit and Investment committee and the Certification Advisory Council. Additionally, Shoer participated in the formation and testing of the CompTIA Security Trustmark and CompTIA Managed Services Trustmark as well as serving as a CompTIA Ambassador. He has been named to the MSPmentor 250 ranking of the 250 most influential executives in the IT industry. He is also a longtime member of the Master Mind association of Technology Marketing Toolkit, an IT-focused marketing firm. Shoer and Jenaly are also founding partners in TOGL, LLC a provider of leading edge cloud solutions for business.
Shoer is an accomplished writer having published his first book, Hassle-Free Computer Support, in August of 2006. He also writes columns for two local newspapers, The Portsmouth Herald and Fosters Daily Democrat as well as contributing to several regional and national business and technology publications. Shoer maintains a blog about IT for small- and mid-size businesses at mjsblog.jenaly.com and is frequently interviewed for local and national publications. He maintains an active Twitter feed under the hash tag @mshoer. Additionally, you may connect with MJ Shoer via LinkedIn. Shoer was featured on the covers of ChannelPro magazine in November 2009 and Business Solutions magazine in June 2012 for feature stories on cloud computing. He has also testified before the United States Congress and the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation on the topic of information security. A native of Swampscott, Massachusetts, Shoer resides in Portsmouth, New Hampshire with his wife, three children and two dogs.
Jeffrey S. Smith
President, CEO and Founder, Commercial Connect LLC
Jeffrey S. Smith has been active in the management and reorganization of the Internet for the past fifteen years, which included the breakup of Network Solutions, creation of CORE (Internet Council of Registrars) and ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers). Smith is a founding member of CORE, and he is a founding co-owner of Afilias, LLC, a registry. As a member of Afilias, Smith and his colleagues launched a successful bid to operate the .info registry and as CEO of Commercial Connect, LLC applied for the release of .shop in 2000 and again in 2012. He earned a bachelor of science in business management/economics and an MBA from the University of Louisville.
As founder of Computer Analytical Systems, Inc., Best Registration Services, Inc. (BestRegistrar.com), CAS-Com Internet Services, Inc. and CASDNS, Inc., Smith has extensive, specialized IT education and experience.He has previously worked as a consultant, Internet entrepreneur, analyst/systems integrator, and IT consultant specializing in e-Commerce, ERP (enterprise resource planning) implementation as well as EDI (electronic data interchange) and CRM (customer relationship management technologies) with emphasis on electronic communications.
In his career, Smith has participated in nine startups and has successfully exited from five. Of the other five companies Smith is involved in, they currently have revenues in excess of $50 million annually. These companies have created more than 150 jobs and have grossed in excess of $300 million since their inception. Smith has sat on various boards, associations and committees. Boards include a founding board member of eCommerce World Retailers, TALK Technology Association, Louisville Venture Club, BestRegistrar and multiple others.
David Vernon
CEO, Vernon Systems
David Vernon is a friendly, energetic technology consumer, designer, and advocate. As the second owner of Vernon Systems, a family run IT services company, he continues the twenty-five year tradition of providing technology expertise to other small business, primarily healthcare clients. With his wife and three daughters, David lives and works in the community he was raised. He attended the University of Georgia and studied Computer Science. Afterwards, he spent several years in Washington D.C., first as a congressional staffer for Rep. Charlie Norwood, then as a network administrator for HouseCall where he serviced the IT needs of the offices of several Members of Congress and the Senate Judiciary Committee. In addition to being an active member of CompTIA, he is the President-Elect of the Columbia County Rotary Club, the Vice President of Saint Paul Radio, Inc (a local NCE Radio station WKER-FM 91.1,) and a member of the Knights of Columbus, Council 8495.
Chris Wiser
Founder and CEO, TechSquad IT
Chris Wiser is the CEO and founder of TechSquad IT, a Milwaukee-based company, which provides managed technology services to small businesses with 10 to 200 employees. Since founding TechSquad IT in 2008, Wiser and his team have set the industry standard by bringing practical and pertinent expertise to the “outsourced IT” experience. An entrepreneur at heart, Wiser saw the need for a full-service MSP marketing and appointment-setting tool for the SMB market. As a result, in 2011, he founded (and currently serves as CEO of) MSP Leads, a provider of outsourced appointment setting and lead-generation services to U.S.-based managed services providers.
Wiser has been featured in various publications, such as Vertical Systems Reseller (VSR), ChannelPro, SMB Nation, Business Solutions, The VAR Guy, MSPMentor, Forbes, the Milwaukee Business Journal and the Milwaukee Small Business Times. He is also the author of the “Small Business Owners Guide to Stress Free Network Support.” In this book, Wiser shares his expertise and experience on how business owners can find a professional, competent, honest, considerate, on-time, fairly-priced and dependable computer consultant. For his follow-up book, Wider recently joined with a select group of the world’s leading speakers and trainers to co-write The Tech Multiplier: The World’s Leading Technology Consultants Reveal In Depth Case Studies of How the Smartest Businesses in the World are Leveraging Technology to Increase Profits and Reduce Waste While Safeguarding Data.
He was also the subject of a documentary film titled, “The IT Guy,” which was broadcast on a nationally syndicated cable television channel in September 2013. The documentary, which was produced and directed by Nick Nanton and his Emmy® Award –winning team at CelebrityFilms™, was filmed in late 2012 in and around the greater Milwaukee area, where TechSquad IT, where TechSquad IT is based.
Prior to founding both TechSquad IT and MSP Leads, Wiser was the Chief Technical Officer (CTO) and Client Support Director at NConnect Internet – an ISP based in Slinger, WI. He also holds the titles of Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator, Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician and has completed the Microsoft Certification Course.
Wiser is the recipient of several industry and local awards, namely SMB Nation’s SMB 150 Award, and Nine Lives Media’s MSPmentor 250. He was also named Entrepreneur of the Year by BizTimes Media, and was also recognized as a 2013 Wisconsin Excellence Award recipient.
Aaron L. Woods
Director, North American Resellers Relationship Management and Partner Programs
Aaron Woods is the director of North America Resellers (NARS) Relationship Management and Partner Programs in the Partners and Alliances (P&A) support group, a part of the Xerox Technical Services (XTS) organization. Some of his primary responsibilities include: relationship management between TS and the NARS organization, working with senior staff to assist in developing partner programs targeted at increasing post sale revenue and, as a certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, sponsoring and leading high-level projects. In January 2000 when the Tektronix Computer Printing and Imaging Division was purchased by Xerox, Woods and the Authorized Service Provider (ASP) program he created at Tektronix was transitioned to Xerox.
Before joining Tektronix in March 1996, Woods spent more than 20 years in the services industry where he has served in a wide range of management roles. In 1981 he was recruited by NEC Electronics as National Service Manager to create a network of dealer service providers to support the introduction of their personal computer into the U.S. Woods has held subsequent service operations positions of increasing responsibility including: Regional Technical Support Manager for Radio Shack/Tandy, Repair Operations Manager at Bell & Howell and as Director of National Service Programs and Training at Intelligent Electronics.
Woods is actively involved in the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) initiatives targeted at improving services offerings and the experience of resellers and manufacturers throughout the IT industry. A CompTIA member since 1989, he was instrumental in helping to develop and introduce the A+ Certification Program for technicians in 1993. He also worked to develop the Standardized Warranty Claim Form, adopted by many IT manufacturers, and is currently working on the Warranty Fraud & Service Abuse initiative. Woods has served as chair and vice chair of the A+ Certification Advisory Committee, was past Chair of the Printing and Document Imaging (PDI+) certification Advisory Committee, and is the Vice-chair of the IT Services and Support Committee. In 2010, he was appointed Co-Chair of the Ambassadors Program by the Todd Thibodaux, CEO of CompTIA. He has received numerous awards from CompTIA including the 2005 CompTIA Industry Contribution Award for Leadership and was inducted into the 2011 IT Hall of Fame. Woods currently serves on the CompTIA Board of Directors.
Woods has a bachelor of science in business management and a master of business administration from Marylhurst University in Lake Oswego Oregon. He and his wife, Shirley, have five adult children and six grandchildren. He loves to fish, cook, and create new recipes in his spare time.
Bart Wood
Vice President, Enterprise Planning and Strategic Support, Southern Company
Bart Wood is vice president of enterprise planning and strategic support for information technology at Southern Company. In this role, Wood leads an organization that includes risk management and compliance, enterprise strategic technology planning, financial management, vendor management, ITIL processes, end user computing and the IT Service Center. This organization unites the planning and implementation functions of IT governance, as well as addresses growing compliance needs.
Prior to this role, Wood served as the chief information officer for Georgia Power and the other subsidiaries within Georgia. He was also responsible for IT functions within customer service, marketing and human resources throughout Southern Company. In this role he led the implementation of Southern Company’s customer information system, online customer care, electronic billing and first-of-its-kind access to employee information on the Internet.
Wood began his career with Georgia Power’s customer accounting organization in 1981. He also worked in cost accounting, region operations, distribution and customer operations within Georgia Power. Wood received a bachelor’s degree in business from Louisiana State University. He also graduated from the executive development program at Northwestern University and the advanced management program at Harvard University.
Dawn Marie Yankeelov
President, ASPectx
Dawn Marie Yankeelov is president of US-based ASPectx specializing in business strategy, competitive intelligence, marketing and public relations for growth technology companies, and technology-driven corporations. As a marketing and public relations practitioner for 27+ years, she has counseled many companies on their marketing needs and executed effective campaigns in targeting, select markets--using Internet tools and traditional methodologies. Her client list includes international startups, publicly-traded firms, and other niche firms, primarily in the technology and healthcare sectors, including: Almost Family, Manning & Napier, AIAA, Tenable Network Security, Belcan, Rohm & Haas, Humana, Intellon, Genscape, Akiva,TrainRight Solutions, and MedX12. In recent years, she has focused on competitive intelligence related to IT software solutions, mobile applications, and healthcare training.
Among her speaking credentials are topics such as customer relationship management, search, emarketing, social networking, and strategies associated with public relations. In 2012, Yankeelov presented at the International Public Relations Society of America Conference on “Mobile Engagement: A Winning Strategy.” Other topics over the years have included online strategies such as, “Customer Retention: Learn Critical Factors for Maintaining Online Commerce Success.” In 2009, she presented at the Kentucky SHRM conference on “The Primer: HR and Social Media,” as well as at other regional events. In 2007, she presented at IABC Heritage Region Conference on the topic of “Social Networking and Search.” For seven years, Yankeelov spoke on various topics at the International Virtual Communities Conference held then in Europe by Infonortics, Ltd. In the region, she continues to speak at area chamber-related series for the Indiana Small Business Development Center, One Southern Indiana, and the Enterprise Corp. On information technology subjects, she has presented in recent years at US ITEC expos; Open Source Solutions, a US military intelligence forum; the Society of Competitive Intelligence Professionals Conference; and Strothman & Co. Business Seminars. She also contributed to the American Bar Association's Emerging Businesses Series for 2005 and 2010, handbooks for those companies in growth sectors.
Currently, she is the Chair Emeritus of the Technology Section for the Public Relations Society of America, and on the board of University of Louisville Geriatrics. She is also a Founder and Chair of the Technology Association of Louisville Kentucky. Yankeelov was an organizer of the 2004 International Idea Festival, the 1st Annual Data Mining Conference 2005 in Philadelphia; Louisville Women in Technology’s Healthcare IT Summit, ISSA’s Louisville Security Conference for 2003 and 2004. She has also been nominated as an Outstanding Woman in Technology for 7 years in the region. She was the founder and program coordinator of Louisville Women in Technology, a trade group now under the Louisville, Ky. Chamber. In past years, she has served on the Venture Club of Louisville’s speaker selection committee; and as a developer of the World Affairs Global Nights Series. She has also served as a course supervisor for the region’s Landmark Education Curriculum for Living.
As a marketer and planner in the area of collateral materials she has garnered awards from the American Advertising Federation, for campaigns for trade newspaper inserts, data sheets, television campaigns, and trade product catalogs. Recognized as a noted journalist crossing a number of disciplines, her credentials include technology and business reporting for the New York Times Co. in Florida, Executive Magazine, Tech Republic, iEntry newsletters, and Faircount International (military technology books).
Guy Yasika
Director, Channel Sales and Development, Alteva
Guy Yasika is a sales director at Alteva, a hosted Unified Communications solution provider headquartered in Philadelphia. A cloud evangelist since 2007 when he first joined Alteva, Yasika had already been working in the VoIP space since 1999. During his tenure, he has built a program to assist channel development that includes a UC certification program; written papers and articles on various topics; developed marketing toolkits and training programs; and helped many companies launch and transform their business. Prior to joining Alteva, Yasika was vice president of sales for Atinav and solely launched aveComm, a VoIP collaborative tool for the desktop. In the Dotcom era, he worked in the consulting service industry that provided Oracle Consulting working. He also served on the NY Oracle Users Group Steering Committee and re-launched the Philadelphia Salesforce Users group. Additionally, he has taught at Columbia University as part of their CTA program.
Doug Young
COO & Senior Vice President, The ASCII Group
Doug Young has been with The ASCII Group, the nation’s oldest community of independent solution providers, since 1995. ASCII is comprised mainly of small- and medium-sized businesses, and its mission is to strengthen its members’ businesses with programs that provide turnkey cost-cutting strategies, innovative business building programs, marketing assistance and extensive peer interaction.
Young has responsibility at ASCII for all membership issues as well as ASCII’s partnerships with several multibillion dollar distributors, and he is at the forefront of promoting the importance of the independent solution provider in the technology industry. He is also the co-creator and administrator of ASCII’s popular list serv, where ASCII members have traded over 110,000 messages helping each other with vendor recommendations, partnership opportunities, technical problem solving, and general business issues.
Before coming to ASCII, Young served as an attorney on Capitol Hill, primarily focusing on labor issues for a House Subcommittee. In addition to his work at ASCII, he dedicates his time to several charitable activities, including Make-a-Wish, Our Daily Bread in Fairfax, VA and the local University of Notre Dame alumni club. Young holds an undergraduate degree in government from the University of Notre Dame and a law degree from the College of William & Mary.
Steven G. Zylstra Sc.D. (Hon.)
President & CEO, Arizona Technology Council
Steven G. Zylstra Sc.D. (Hon.) serves as president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council, a role he assumed in December of 2007. He is responsible for strategy, operations, all financial matters and accomplishment of policy development for the Council. Zylstra is a vocal spokesman for the value technology can provide in raising social and economic standards in Arizona. He has served in numerous technology leadership and advisory roles to the Governor and currently serves on several association, industry and community boards. In August 2013 he was named Chairman of the global organization Technology Councils of North American (TECNA), which connects nearly 50 regional technology associations into a cohesive network that focuses on issues important to the technology industry. Zylstra earned a bachelor’s degree in automotive engineering technology from Western Michigan University and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Science in technology from the University of Advancing Technology.
About ChannelEyes
ChannelEyes is an Enterprise Mobile Platform connecting Vendors and their Channel Partners. Our core product, ChannelCandy, is a custom branded mobile app designed for Vendors, Distributors and Associations to deliver Channel highlights, company news and sales tools into the hands of partners. It is reinventing Channel communication for leading companies in our industry. ChannelCandy runs on iPhone, iPad, Android as well as all mobile web enabled platforms such as BlackBerry, Windows and the PC Web Browser. Learn more at: http://www.channeleyes.com/
About TechVoice
TechVoice is a partnership of the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), the Technology Councils of North America (TECNA), and participating regional technology associations. Collectively, TechVoice represents thousands of technology companies across the country employing millions of workers. TechVoice is dedicated to empowering and mobilizing the grassroots tech community to impact legislative and regulatory issues important to growth, innovation and job creation. For more information, visit www.techvoice.org and http://twitter.com/tech_voice.
Patent Reform: Updates from the Hill
Vishal Amin, Majority Senior Counsel, House Judiciary Committee
Vishal Amin currently serves as Majority Senior Counsel on the House Judiciary Committee, handling issues dealing with intellectual property, international trade, competition and technology policy. His responsibilities on the Judiciary Committee's subcommittee on the courts, intellectual property, and the Internet, include drafting legislation, developing strategy for Congressional legislative and oversight hearings and markups, and analyzing legislation and policy initiatives. Amin served as the lead House counsel drafting H.R. 1249, the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (Pub. L. No. 112-29). Earlier in his career, Amin served in the Bush Administration, at both The White House and the U.S. Department of Commerce. He received his bachelor's degree in neuroscience from Johns Hopkins University, his law degree from Washington University in St. Louis and is a member of the New York State Bar.
Key Tax Issues Impacting Tech Start-ups
Rick Morgan, Policy Advisor, Office of U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA)
Rick Morgan is Policy Advisor for U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA) and manages the Senator’s legislative portfolio for budget and tax issues. Originally from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Morgan graduated from Princeton University in 2009. Prior to working on Capitol Hill, he was the Deputy Finance Director for then candidate Toomey’s 2010 Senate campaign.
Morris Panner, CEO, DICOM Grid
Morris Panner, DICOM Grid’s CEO, is an experienced software executive, having recently built and sold an industry-leading business process software company, OpenAir, Inc., to Larry Ellison’s on-demand software company, NetSuite (NYSE:N). Panner built the company from inception to a global company with Fortune 500 clients. Previously, Panner had worked in healthcare IT, partnering to form an early teleradiology venture. He also has worked as a Federal Prosecutor for the U.S. Department of Justice and as a corporate attorney with Wachtell, Lipton, where, among other things, he represented major pharmaceutical companies.
Panner is on the Board and a past Chairperson of the software board of the Software and Information Industry Association as well as the board of Drug Strategies, a not-for-profit dedicated to fighting addiction and drug abuse. He has been featured in the “Boss Column” of the New York Times and in Fortune, Business Week and other leading publications. Panner has a BA from Yale University and a JD from Harvard University.
JJ Singh, Economic Policy Advisor, Office of Senator Chris Coons (DE)
JJ Singh is the Economic Policy Advisor to U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-DE). Prior to working for Senator Coons, he was a credit analyst in the White House Office of Management and Budget, and worked in various capacities in finance in New York. He also served in the United States Peace Corps in Oruro, Bolivia as a Small Business Volunteer from 2002-2004. Singh holds a BA in economics from the University of Virginia, a Masters in Public Administration (MPA) from the Harvard Kennedy School, and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from Harvard Business School.
Cynthia Traeger, President, VSI Pacific
Cynthia Traeger concurrently serves as CEO, Pacific Siren International LLC, a diversified technology holding company, whose mission is to identify and acquire strategically beneficial assets and technologies; and as President, VSI Pacific, a Pacific holding.
An integral part of the technology community in the Washington D.C. area for more than 30 years and considered an innovator within the industry worldwide, Traeger is involved a wide variety of philanthropic, artistic and entrepreneurial organizations, and devotes time mentoring small and emerging businesses and is an advocate for women business founders and CEOs.
Traeger advises the board LFS; serves as a Trustee to the Board of Trustees, Harrisburg University; serves as member of the Board of Excellence for one of the largest commercial and industrial solar energy companies in the Northeast; served as an advisor to the board, Faulkner Information (Information Today), was a participant and author with the American Bar Association's Digital Evidence Work Group, and has been a contributor to the Journal of the ACM Special Interest Group on Graphics. Traeger currently serves as the Director, Founder Institute, DC, is an International Mentor, Founder Institute, Silicon Valley, Bogotá, Santiago, Paris and DC; supports the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) and served as a mentor to the George Washington University’s Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Network. Traeger is a frequent guest speaker, graduate level, Georgetown University and the George Washington University on new venture finance and technology entrepreneurship. Her contributions to the Telecommunications Development Fund's Corporate Governance Project received the highest regards by the Emerging Business Forum and Washington Post. She served as a Corporate Ambassador for Vital Voices’ Corporate Ambassadors Program (CAP) launched in cooperation with the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) at the U.S. Department of State.
Driving STEM Success in the U.S.
David Dimmett, Senior Vice President and Chief Engagement Officer, Project Lead The Way
David Dimmett is directly responsible for the leadership and support of PLTW's team of Vice Presidents of Regions and Directors of School Engagement. In this capacity, he works to support program quality and growth throughout the U.S. Currently, PLTW is serving students in over 5,200 schools in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia. Before joining PLTW, Dimmett was Chief Academic Officer at the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation (EVSC), where he was instrumental in leading innovation and unprecedented improvements in student achievement throughout the district. Dimmett facilitated all curricular and instructional work, developed strategic partnerships, and implemented several innovative school models including New Tech Institute and Early College High School. He holds a Master of Business Operational Excellence degree from The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business and is a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. Additionally, Dimmett earned an MS in Education, Secondary Curriculum, and Instruction as well as a BA in English from Indiana University.
Rick Geritz, CEO & Founder, LifeJourney LLC
Rick Geritz is a serial entrepreneur and has spent the last 20 years building early stage companies. He is currently the CEO and Founder of LifeJourney, a technology that inspires our nation’s youth to "Test Drive” what their future would be like to follow careers in the Cyber and STEM fields. Prior to LifeJourney, Geritz was the President and CEO of BDMetrics, an online business matchmaking technology for the tradeshow industry. In addition, he held senior level executive roles for SafeNet where he was President and GM responsible for their VPN software, hardware and silicon businesses. Before SafeNet, Geritz was the Executive Vice President and a board member at Rockville based ICARUS Corporation – an engineering simulation software company where he led the company's worldwide product, operations, and until its sale to Aspen Technology (NASDAQ; AZPN).
Geritz has been a featured guest speaker on network security on TV and radio shows such as “Today” holds a patent for online business networking, was named one of Baltimore’s “Top 40 under 40” executives, and “Innovator of the Year.” He currently sits on the board of The Howard County Hospital, The Governor’s Cyber Security Commission, The Cyber Incubator at UMBC and leads the CyberMaryland initiative.
Albert Palacios, Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education, U.S. Department of Education
Mr. Albert Palacios is an Education Specialist in the Division of Academic and Technical Education at the U.S. Department of Education focusing on College and Career Transitions. He collaborates with the Senior Advisor on STEM Education on cybersecurity issues and participates on the National Initiative on Cybersecurity Education committee. He manages the Rigorous Programs of Study grant program to promote the alignment of high school career and technical programs with postsecondary education and contributes his expertise in information technology, advanced manufacturing, transportation, virtual environments, and STEM, to career and technical education.
Prior to joining the Department of Education, Palacios was a Labor Policy Analyst at Bloomberg Government during the launch of its BGov.com information and analytics website. At Bloomberg, he led a team of research analysts studying employment and economic indicators, and the impact of Federal legislation and regulation on business. Palacios earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in business management from the University of Texas at Austin. He has more than 30 years of experience in programming in a wide array of systems, platforms and languages. Following a 13-year career in banking, he moved to the Washington, D.C. area to work as a consultant on “School-to-Work,” a joint initiative of the U.S. Departments of Education and Labor. Since that time he continued working with both agencies, serving as a Senior Education Policy Advisor under contract to the Office of Postsecondary Education, and a term appointment at the Employment and Training Administration, Office of Workforce Investment. His experience spans implementation of the Workforce Investment Act, rulemaking for the Higher Education Opportunity Act, and the advancement of career and technical education pathways.
Data Security: Prevention, Notification and the Need for a Federal Law
Scott Barlow, Vice President of Sales, Reflexion
Scott Barlow has an extensive record of achievement in channel sales and business development, built on a strong foundation of technical expertise and domain knowledge in the rapidly evolving hosted services (SaaS) market, including email and Web security, archiving, encryption and compliance. In his role as VP of Sales and Marketing, he is responsible for worldwide sales and channel development; he also doubles as Product Manager for Reflexion’s suite of hosted solutions, which ensures clear alignment of engineering resources with the needs of the company’s solution providers. Prior to joining Reflexion, Barlow was Director of Business Development at start-up Virtual Access Networks, a leader in operating system migration and remote access that was acquired by Symantec.
Barlow serves as Chairman of the IT Security Community at CompTIA. He has been named a CRN Channel Chief the past four years, a Distinguished Nominee for Channel Insider’s Channel Executive of the Year, a member of the MSPmentor 250 list of the top executives, entrepreneurs and experts shaping the global managed services market, and an SMB 150 Influencer by SMB Nation. He holds an MBA and MS in Geophysics from Boston College.
Graham Dufault, Counsel, Office of Congressman Lee Terry
Graham Dufault serves as Counsel to Representative Lee Terry (R-NE). Rep. Terry is Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade, and Member of the House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology. Previously, Dufault was an assistant director of government relations for Knowledge Universe, a for-profit educational services firm. Subsequently, he was a legislative correspondent for Senator Gordon Smith of Oregon, handling issues ranging from banking and judiciary to communications and technology. Dufault holds a J.D. from George Mason University School of Law, where he graduated in 2012 with a concentration in telecommunications law. While in law school, Dufault served as Articles Editor for the Journal of Law, Economics & Policy and clerked with the Federal Communications Commission for about a year in the Wireless and Wireline Bureaus.
Eric Haren, Counsel, Office of Senator Dianne Feinstein, Senate Committee on the Judiciary
Eric R. Haren serves as Counsel to Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. Mr. Haren’s portfolio includes the issues of data breach and consumer privacy, as well as other issues, including judicial nominations. Previously, Mr. Haren was an associate attorney in the Washington, DC office of the law firm Jenner & Block LLP, where he worked on cases involving copyright law, privacy, government procurement, and other issues. Prior to joining Jenner & Block, Mr. Haren served as a law clerk to Judge Danny J. Boggs on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Mr. Haren earned his J.D. in 2006 from Harvard Law School, where he was co-President of the Harvard Journal on Legislation.- See more at: http://techvoice.org/Events/dcflyin_2014/dcflyin_2014_panelists.aspx#sthash.E9BoUjkx.dpuf
Participants included:
Sandra Ashworth
Global Director of Channel Relations and Warranty, SSCO, GMSSandra Ashworth has been in the IT services industry for 30 years in various capacities such as managed services, field management, operations, vendor relations, client service design/implementations, and supply chain marketing. Her career history includes working in the commercial, consumer and retail IT environment for industry leaders like Bell Atlantic Business Systems, CompuCom and CompUSA. She presently represents Unisys Corporation, where she is the global director of channel relations and warranty, at CompTIA meetings. Ashworth served as the Chair and Vice Chair of the IT services and solutions community for more than 14 years, most recently the Chair of the Advancing Women in IT Community and on the Community Executive Board for 5 years at CompTIA. Through the CompTIA initiatives, she believe the industry will realize their return on investment by delivering better quality services, cost reductions and the development of industry standards, whether they are a global or regional channel partner. Ashworth is on the Advisory Board to Lincoln Technical Institute to assist in the development of strategic IT curriculums and promoting the many IT careers to students.
Maxine Ballen
President & CEO, New Jersey Technology CouncilMaxine Ballen currently serves as president and CEO of the New Jersey Technology Council (NJTC), an organization she founded in 1996.The NJTC is the state’s premier organization for technology companies offering their membership of 950+ companies access to resources, financing, information, and an organized technology community. Prior to founding the NJTC, Ballen was one of the early pioneers in Pennsylvania who first recognized the need for special programs for the technology community and then initiated them. She founded both the Business Development & Training Center (BDTC) and the Pennsylvania Innovation Network (PIN) –two ongoing successful programs even today. She is also credited with founding the NJTC Venture Fund and Jumpstart NJ Angel Network.
Ballen has received numerous honors and awards for her work in developing cutting edge programs and unique services for technology companies. She also serves on several boards and is a frequent speaker on both regional and national technology issues.
Scott Barlow
Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Reflexion Networks, Inc.Scott Barlow has an extensive record of achievement in channel sales and business development, built on a strong foundation of technical expertise and domain knowledge in the rapidly evolving cloud-based services (SaaS) market, with a particular focus on information security and compliance. In his role as vice president of sales and marketing, he is responsible for worldwide sales and channel development for Reflexion’s suite of hosted email security and compliance solutions. Over the past five years, Barlow and his team have recruited more than 5,000 solution providers and 12 distributors, spanning more than 50 countries, while achieving industry-leading levels of partner productivity.
Prior to joining Reflexion, Barlow was director of business development at start-up Virtual Access Networks, a leader in operating system migration and remote access that was acquired by Symantec. Previously he worked at Cambridge Technology Partners, where he developed a go-to-market strategy for services delivery. Barlow currently serves as chairman of the IT Security Community at CompTIA. He has been selected as a CRN Channel Chief for each of the past four years, a 2013 CRN Top 50 Midmarket IT Vendor Executive, a Distinguished Nominee for Channel Insider’s Channel Executive of the Year, and as a member of the MSPmentor 250 list of the top executives, entrepreneurs and experts shaping the global managed services market. Barlow holds an MBA and MS in geophysics from Boston College.
Justin T. Barnes
Vice President, Greenway Medical Technologies, Inc. As a healthcare software executive and public policy advisor, Justin Barnes is a vice president with Greenway Medical Technologies and manages Greenway’s industry, government and international affairs. In addition, Barnes is chairman emeritus of the HIMSS Electronic Health Record (EHR) Association as well as co-chairman of the Accountable Care Community of Practice where he assists both organizations with industry strategy and leadership.
Barnes has formally addressed and/ or testified before Congress as well as the last two presidential administrations on more than a dozen occasions since 2005 with statements relating to value-based medicine, accountable care, interoperability, EHR meaningful use, consumerism, patient safety, HIPAA, the globalization of healthcare and much more. Justin is a regular public speaker on these issues and has been published in more than 650 journals, magazines and broadcast media outlets relating to national leadership of health IT and EHR adoption efforts.
Barnes majored in legal studies and holds a BA and BS from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and served Rotary International as a Board Member and Chairman of Public Relations for the Amherst Rotary Club. He also served in the U.S. Army in Infantry & Communication Units.
Michelle Calton
Vice President of Membership Development, North Carolina Technology Association (NCTA)Michelle Calton serves as NCTA’s vice president of membership value. As vice president she serves in a dual function – with responsibility to recruit, manage and retain the membership base as well as to implement programs and services that bring value to over 700 corporate members and their employees.
Prior to NCTA, Calton served as a senior director at America's Promise in Alexandria, Virginia. In that capacity, she developed and managed a national education initiative and traveled the country working with large public and private higher education institutions. At America's Promise, she also worked on public-private sector partnerships to bring resources to disadvantaged young people across the country.
In 1997, Calton worked on the Presidents’ Summit for America's Future. The summit gathered Presidents Clinton, Bush, Carter and Ford, with First Lady Nancy Reagan representing her husband, to challenge the nation to make youth a national priority. In her role, Calton worked to secure support from public elected officials and organized delegations representing states, cities and rural counties.
Following the summit, America's Promise was created with General Colin Powell serving as Chairman. Calton started as Special Projects Coordinator with responsibilities that included: soliciting and managing partnerships with national corporations; managing advisory boards with national leaders from all sectors; and working with national partners to plan and execute large events across the nation with Chairman Powell.
Previously, she worked in management, fundraising and communication positions for numerous political campaigns and served as an intern in the role of deputy press/legislative case worker for two years in a Congressional field office. Calton holds a degree in political science from North Carolina State University and has done graduate studies at both Duke University and Georgetown University in Public Policy.
Justin C. Dearborn
Chief Executive Officer, Merge HealthcareJustin C. Dearborn is Chief Executive Officer of Merge Healthcare, Inc. Dearborn has served as president of Merge Healthcare since November, 2010 and as Chief Executive Officer since June, 2008. Before joining Merge Healthcare, Dearborn served as managing director and general counsel at Merrick Ventures, LLC. Prior to his roles at Merrick Ventures, Dearborn served in various executive senior management positions for Click Commerce, Inc., a publicly-traded software and services company. Dearborn was appointed corporate secretary of Click Commerce in May, 2003. Prior to Click Commerce, Dearborn worked at Motorola, Inc. where he specialized in intellectual property transactions and held management positions in Motorola’s semiconductor and government groups.
Mark DiGregorio
Vice President of Business Development, Tolt SolutionsMark DiGregorio comes from a retail grocery background, as his family owned and operated independent retail grocery stores in New Mexico for 67+ years. DiGregorio joined Tolt Solutions in 2004 coming from a career in retail with chains such as Safeway, Toys R Us, and Target Stores. He currently runs sales and marketing, as well as all business development activities for Tolt. Previous to this position, he held several other positions at Tolt, with responsibilities for account management and operations. He is an active member of the Service Industry Association (SIA) and in 2013, a member of the Executive Council of CompTIA’s ITSS Community. DiGregorio has a degree in Economics from Santa Clara University.
Jude Fils-Aime
Solutions Architect, Verizon Enterprise SolutionsJude Fils-Aime is a solutions architect with Verizon Enterprise Solutions, a global leader in delivering broadband, wireless and wireline communications services to the enterprise, government and wholesale customers. As an architect of enterprise infrastructures, including information systems and mobile technologies that help businesses and governments around the globe expand reach, increase agility and maintain longevity, Fils-Aime has proven success in solving business challenges with solutions in security, data centers, mobility, and cloud computing. Fils-Aime has 18+ years of experience in technology and telecommunications, holding management and principal engineering positions with various companies in both New York and Atlanta. He currently resides outside of Atlanta, where he is a member of the Technology Association of Georgia and is a volunteer instructor/mentor for Technology Uplift Inc.
Nick Farina
CEO, JetZetNick Farina joined the early stage tech space in 2003 at ShipNow, which was acquired by Kewill. He later founded One Step Auction, one of the first eBay drop off companies, and JetZet, a travel software company which was named one of Entrepreneur Magazine’s 100 Brilliant Companies of 2011. Farina graduated from Haverford College, where he was a Visiting Scholar at the University of Oxford, and serves on the Board of Directors at Chicago Access Corporation, operator of one of the largest public television networks in the United States.
Patrick D. Gaul
Vice President, Sales, North America, SafelyLocked, LLCPatrick Gaul is the vice president of sales for SafelyLocked, LLC with responsibility for North America. Gaul began his career in the technology industry in 1976 after nine years in the United States Marine Corps where he was awarded a number of commendations including National Defense Service Medal, the Combat Action Ribbon and a Purple Heart for his service in the Republic of South Vietnam. Gaul spent nearly twenty-six years with AT&T and Infonet Services Corporation across the globe including assignments in Japan, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Belgium before returning to the USA in late 2003 to head up an Atlanta-based web-hosting and interactive marketing firm. Throughout his career, he has held senior positions in sales, marketing and channel management. Gaul is presently the chair of the Board of Directors of the Technology Association of Georgia and served as the chair for the Georgia Technology Summit in 2006 and 2007. Gaul also serves on the Georgia Awareness Committee.
Erik K. Grimmelmann, Ph.D.
President & CEO, New York Technology Council (NYTECH)Erik K. Grimmelmann is currently president and CEO of the New York Technology Council, Inc. (NYTECH), a non-profit industry association whose mission is to support the growth of the New York Technology Industry. Grimmelmann has 30+ years of experience in information technologies including 12 years at AT&T Bell Labs. He has held executive positions at established companies including AT&T (where he served as Internet Strategist staring in 1991) and Dun & Bradstreet along with the positions of CIO and CTO at a number of startups including one founded by IBM, Intel, and AT&T.
Dr. Grimmelmann has served as a White House technology advisor and on panels of the National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council and the National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee. In addition he has served on the boards of numerous industry organizations including the National Information Infrastructure Testbed, the Information Industry Association, the New York Software Industry Association, and the Technology Councils of North America.
Dr. Grimmelmann holds a B.A. from Haverford College and an M.S. and Ph.D. from The University of Michigan. He completed his post-doctoral study at Bell Labs and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. In addition he has completed executive education programs at the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University and the Graduate School of Business at Columbia University.
Sarah Habansky
Vice President, Illinois Technology AssociationSince joining the Illinois Technology Association (ITA) in 2005, Sarah Habansky has played an instrumental role in developing what is known today as Chicago's preeminent tech event, CityLIGHTS. Sponsorships for the awards gala have increased by 300% with attendance growing year-over-year under her leadership. Habansky provides the strategy, content and direction for all ITA programs, including forging partnerships with key leaders and organizations to extend the reach and awareness of the ITA. Leveraging her days of working on Capitol Hill, she directs the ITA advocacy initiative including trips to D.C. to meet with key government officials. Prior to the ITA, Habansky worked at the Executives' Club of Chicago and has extensive experience running association programs and political campaigns.
George Harris
Vice President, Business Development, OnForce Inc.George Harris, who was an owner of GAS LLC until its recent merger with Core Technology LLC remains active in the service industry and currently works with Onforce Inc. as its vice president of business development. He has 40+ years of experience in managing field service operations - most notably as vice president, worldwide customer support for Symbol Technologies and vice president, field service, MSI Data. He is well known in the computer and telecommunications service sector having served two terms as chairman and president of the Association for Service Management International (AFSMI). He was also the recipient of the prestige's AFSMI Professional Service Managers award and worked on behalf of the AFSMI as the Chairperson of the Presidents club. Harris is currently involved with the CompTIA ITSS group and is currently serving his second year as an ITSS board member. He earned a BSBA degree from Syracuse University and remains active with its Alumni clubs.
Mary Juetten
Founder & CEO, TraklightWith more than 25 years of leadership experience in both the public and private sectors, Mary Juetten has dedicated her career to helping businesses achieve and protect their success. A self-described “recovering accountant,” she has conducted financial auditing for Richter, Usher, & Vineberg and provided consulting for Price Waterhouse. She also has held executive positions with Vancouver Community College, AMEC Training & Development, and local online startup, youchange Inc.
In 2010, Juetten founded traklight.com, a site that provides inventors, entrepreneurs, and businesses with the tools to identify and protect their ideas, or intellectual property (IP). Since its launch, Traklight has obtained the Arizona Commerce Authority's Fast Grant for 2012 and 2013 as well as Grow America's She Can Pitch contest and Success Magazine's Start Small, Win Big National Challenge. In 2013, Arizona Business Magazine featured Mary on their Women to Watch list.
Juetten is an active leader and member of many organizations, including 85Broads (Co-President), Arizona Tech Council’s Law & Technology Committee, Arizona Small Business Association, Startup Arizona, TiE, ASU Women in Philanthropy, and national crowdfunding organizations CFPA and CfiRA (Board Member). She has a bachelor of commerce degree from McGill University and a juris doctorate from Arizona State as well as her accounting and public accountant certifications. A native of Canada, she now lives in Phoenix, Arizona, with her husband and teenagers.
Amy Kardel
Co-Owner and Visionary, Clever DucksAmy Kardel loves technology, but what she really enjoys is seeing how business process can improve the results of small businesses through IT. As the founder of two start-ups, she knows first-hand what it takes to help a business use IT as a strategic weapon. With 20 years of experience in the IT industry, she continuously explores new ways to determine how her firm can apply technical expertise to solve business problems. She nurtures relationships with partners in the IT channel to continuously improve the services she can deliver for her clients.
As the premier IT consulting and services firm in her local region, Clever Ducks services a range of business industries including medical, accounting and finance, legal, local government, wineries and nonprofits. Unlike many other smaller companies, Clever Ducks has particular focus on the needs of regional business and on larger enterprises located in our area and beyond.
After traveling the world working for international technology companies and building her expertise in technology consulting, Kardel started Computer Network Services (now Clever Ducks) with her husband Peter in her hometown San Luis Obispo in 1991.Their vision – to help businesses in San Luis Obispo County be on the forefront of technology and stay competitive in the global market through computer and telecommunication network systems. In order to keep her clients competitive, Kardel is diligent in staying current with industry trends and in leading the way in innovative solutions and delivers “trade secrets” directly to her clients.
Kardel’s commitment to collaboration frames her desire for those around her to grow and reach their potential. She has been a leader in her local business community by serving in local technology resources, Rotary and the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce, especially in legislative affairs. She is current board member of CompTIA. She is also very active nationally with HTG Peer Groups with others in her industry and as an advisory board member for the software company ConnectWise. She finds time in San Luis Obispo, which was recently named the happiest city in America, for community involvement with a focus on youth development. An alumna of UC Berkeley and Washington University, she is a lifelong sailor and is married to Peter with 4 amazing children.
Lester Keizer
CEO & Co-Owner, Business Continuity Technologies (BCT)As CEO/Co-owner, Lester Keizer brings to Business Continuity Technologies (BCT) more than 30 years of executive responsibilities and business development skills. While senior vice president for Community Psychiatric Centers, a company rated by Business Week in 1991 as one of the most valuable publicly held U.S. Companies, he developed and managed the residential services division. He grew this division by $75 million before its sale to Vencor (now Kindred Healthcare.) While serving as vice president of development for Prime Med, he closed on a $32 million dollar deal with a large hospital system and materially participated in this company’s growth from a startup company to a $200 million dollar leading provider of institutional pharmacy services before its sale to a publically-traded company. Keizer has also served as a senior vice president of sales for one of the nation's largest home health providers and served as vice president for Med Diversified in the development and promotion of technology, telemedicine and e-commerce on a national and international level.
Prior to his current role for BCT, Keizer was CEO for Ron Cook’s Connecting Point, a 30-year-old technology company in Las Vegas. Under his tenure Keizer oversaw the transformation of Connecting Point from a product-centric company to a technology service-centric organization. As a result, Connecting Point landed on the MSPmentor 100 list as number 1 in the state of Nevada and number 14 worldwide as the most progressive managed service provider. In June 2010 Business Continuity Technologies (BCT) was formed and continues to build on the success of Connecting Point in Las Vegas and the surrounding areas. Keizer is also one of the co-founders and previous CEO of XiloCore, one of the first national cloud based business continuity disaster recovery companies.
As an innovative business developer, Keizer has excelled in developing technology and technology solutions to various lines of business including the management and development of Crossroads of Antigua, a world class drug and substance abuse rehab hospital through a joint venture with rock star Eric Clapton. Keizer grew up in Indonesia, New Guinea and Borneo (where his parents served as missionaries), went to college in England and later earned his bachelor's degree from Southern Adventist University in Tennessee and his masters degree in administration from Andrews University in Michigan.
Keizer, an accomplished speaker, has presented at many regional and national conferences. He previously served on the board of directors for CompTIA, the world’s largest computing technology industry association. He currently serves on the SYNNEX/Varnex advisory board. In May of 2011, Keizer co-founded “Hands That Give”, the IT industry’s first member-led emergency disaster recovery response system modeled after the American Red Cross. He is a classically-trained pianist and organist. He loves to snow ski in the winter, water ski in the summer and participate in 100-mile century bike rides.
Raj Khera
CEO, MailerMailerRaj Khera is CEO of MailerMailer, maker of a next generation email marketing and social media tool, Presstacular, that includes a library of click-and-use articles and built-in analytics to help small businesses win new customers. He has built and sold several Internet companies including GovCon, the first portal for government contractors which he and his partners grew into the largest website of its kind before being acquired by a publicly traded company in 1999; and FilterPoint, a spam filtering service acquired by InfoStructures in 2009. He earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park, serves on boards at the University of Maryland and was appointed by Maryland Governor O'Malley to the Maryland Economic Development Commission.
Jack Knocke
Owner, The VAR AdvisorWith a 27-year background in telecom with Carriers, Agents and Telecom Distributors (Master Agents), Jack Knocke is now working with IT solution providers, MSPs and VARs to help them make a smooth transition to monthly recurring revenues from network services and cloud by focusing on the blocking and tackling issues of sales, finance, operations and partnerships. Knocke has developed the multi-lingual skills to bridge the gap between telecom providers and IT solutions providers. By acknowledging the challenges and devising custom action plans for each VAR, he is helping VARs move effectively and profitably to offering cloud and network services to their clients driving new revenues and higher profits.
Eric Long
CEO, Information Technology Solutions
Eric Long Is the CEO of Information Technology Solutions, a Florid- based managed service provider serving the small- to medium-business market. He is responsible for business vision and focus, as well as the day-to-day operations of the organization. In the past, Long has operated four other technology companies, including an international business applications practice specializing in ERP and CRM systems, to an Internet Service Provider, one of the 1st DSL providers in the Tampa area, as well as a pioneer in Broadband Wireless’ bringing high speed Internet the last mile to businesses and educational institutions. Long is a Microsoft Certified Professional, and holds numerous certifications in networking, security, and VoIP.
Tino J. Mantella
President, Technology Association of Georgia (TAG)
Tino Mantella joined Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) in September 2004 as the organization's new president. Mantella, prior to joining TAG, had amassed more than 20 years of related experience leading two of the nation’s more prestigious volunteer-driven organizations: National Arthritis Foundation and YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago.
As president and CEO of two multifaceted and complex charities, he spearheaded agendas that led to the development of innovative new services, resulting in the facilitation of significant membership growth. In addition, Mantella’s track record reflects impressive results in fund raising, advocacy, and economic development. Since coming to TAG, Mantella has worked with a team of dedicated volunteers and staff to: build a prestigious board made up of 60 technology stakeholders; grown membership by more than 500%; and added a series of programs and services that support TAG’s vision of educating, informing and uniting the technology community.
Mantella is a member of the boards of Venture Atlanta Coalition Inc., TAG Education Collaborative, the Midtown Alliance, the Tech College System of Georgia’s Foundation, the Chambers of Commerce in North Fulton and for Georgia, and on the Advisory Board of the Atlanta Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce.
Jay McBain
Co-founder, ChannelEyes
Jay McBain is an accomplished speaker, author and innovator in the IT industry. Named to the Top 40 Under Forty list by the Business Review, Top 25 Newsmaker by CDN Magazine, Top 100 Most Respected Thought Leader by Vertical Systems Reseller Magazine, member of Global Power 150 by SMB Magazine, as well as Top 250 Global Managed Services Executives by MSPmentor. He is often sought out for keynotes, industry guidance, as well as business development opportunities.
McBain currently serves as co-chair of the CompTIA Vendor Advisory Council and chair of MSP Partners Community. He is also a board member of the Channel Vanguard Council, Ziff Davis Leadership Council, CRN Channel Intelligence Council and STEP - Sustainable Technology Environments Program with InfoComm. McBain has spent his 18 year career in various executive sales, marketing and strategy roles within IBM, Lenovo and Autotask. He is currently the co-founder of a new software company called ChannelEyes, who are reinventing the way vendors communicate, educate and engage with their channels.
As a futurist, and long standing member of the World Future Society, he is an expert in Pervasive Computing which is the study of future computing models and the resulting impact on society, as well as managed services, healthcare IT, voice over IP and cloud computing. An avid blogger, community and social media expert, McBain has developed an innovative “dandelion marketing” approach engaging in a wide range of communities across dozens of channels around the world. McBain has lived in Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Raleigh, and now in Albany, New York. He actively gives back to the community and has been on the board of the United Way, Models for Charity and Junior Achievement.
Dan McMullen
Partner, Calfee, Halter & Griswold, LLP
Dan McMullen chairs the firm’s information technology practice and advises both public and privately held companies on matters of information technology and intellectual property law. His skilled counsel covers computer software and content development, license, acquisition, cloud computing and SaaS subscriptions, service level agreements, and various other Internet, website and e-commerce matters.
McMullen also handles intellectual property matters across traditional business, new media and entertainment sectors and represents clients in all forms of intellectual property negotiations, and occasionally, dispute resolution, including patent, copyright and trademark infringement actions, as well as complex computer system litigation. He uses intellectual property law, contracting practices and dispute resolution techniques to help clients – creators and users, buyers and sellers, licensors and licensees – to protect and grow their businesses.
Active in the community, McMullen serves as an adjunct faculty member at Case Western Reserve University School of Law and Cleveland Marshall College of Law, where he teaches courses on Internet business, intellectual property and information technology. He is a board member of the Greater Cleveland Film Commission and NEOSA (né the Northeast Ohio Software Association), a member of the Cleveland Metropolitan, Ohio and American Bar Associations, and a graduate of Leadership Cleveland. In addition, he is most recently the author of “Supreme Court Upholds ‘First Sale’ Doctrine in Importation of Textbooks,” Impact IP, an Intellectual Property Law Newsletter, March 2013.
John Mehrmann
CEO, Zylog Systems (Canada) Ltd and Brainhunter Companies LLC
As CEO of Zylog Systems (Canada) Ltd and Brainhunter Companies LLC, John Mehrmann leads a dynamic team delivering IT services and product development. In February 2010, Zylog acquired Brainhunter Inc, one of the largest North American IT staffing and recruitment firms, merging these professional services with a global organization recognized for technical services and product development. Mehrmann is a dynamic, results-driven professional with 25+ years of management experience spanning operations, e-commerce, accounting, customer service, marketing, logistics, professional services, and software development. He has established a solid reputation for designing and implementing reliable, repeatable best-in-class business practices to consistently deliver superior performance. He is adept in designing and implementing strategic plans with clients and partners.
Previously, Mehrmann served as vice president of business development at Zylog Systems Ltd (ZSL Inc). With ZSL Inc he facilitated the design and development of software for logistics, warehouse management, process management, and sustainability. ZSL Inc was recognized as one of the 10 Fast Growth VARs to watch by VAR Business 500, and was also recognized in the Information Week IW500 Technology Innovators. Prior to Zylog, Mehrmann served as Regional Director at DEX (Data Exchange Corp). DEX is a reverse logistics Service Provider and Engineering Service Provider for clients in medical, consumer electronics, and information systems. In two years with the authorized service provider, he designed and delivered solutions for clients with Six Sigma process controls, improved logistics and specialized software. Prior to DEX, Mehrmann was the director of service operations for Toshiba. While at Toshiba, he designed software for claims adjudication, accounting, and early alert systems for product failures. He also coordinated consolidation of a central logistics depot with UPS and managed a network of more than 2,000 independent international service providers. Mehrmann led an initiative with Toshiba and Hitachi to introduce the first electronic claims adjudication systems for consumer electronics implemented in 1987.
Mehrmann’s professional contributions include: executive council member with CompTIA Advancing Women in IT (AWIT); executive council member with CompTIA ITSS in the U.S.; CompTIA Troops to Tech sponsor and advocate; CompTIA first Certification Authentication program launched in July 2013; CompTIA “IT Industry Warranty and Service Abuse” white paper; CompTIA GREEN IT initiative co-chair; author of “The Trusted Advocate;” council member for CEA-EPC (Consumer Electronics Association); consumer protection advocate council member for BEAR (Bureau of Electronics & Appliance Repair); advisory committee for motivation education (K-12 Education Development Program); and member of the International Coach Federation (management development coach).
Brad Nellis
Executive Director, Northeast Ohio Software Association
Since 2006, Brad Nellis has led the Northeast Ohio Software Association, an 800+ member association focused on supporting the needs of its members and the regional IT industry. In this role, Nellis has launched several initiatives to help support, grow and engage the IT community: Best of Tech Awards, CoolTech Challenge, Tech Week and others. Nellis also supports the industry by representing IT employers on various college advisory boards, including Cleveland State University, The University of Akron, Kent State University and Tri-C, where he is the IT advisory board chair. He is also a board member for Regional IT Engagement and is a trustee of the Technology Councils of North America. Nellis is a frequent contributor on tech industry issues to local publications such as Crain’s, the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Inside Business and others. He has been recognized in Crain’s among People to Watch in Technology, 150 People to Know in Business in Cleveland and 2014 Predictions. Nellis graduated from the University of Akron with a BSBA (Marketing) and earned an M.B.A. from Baldwin-Wallace University.
Rick Norberg
President, Atrion SMB
Rick Norberg and his leadership team ensure the creation, deployment and support of high-quality, high-touch and innovative solutions for his company’s focused small to medium business segment customers. Norberg has garnered the expertise needed to meet business demands, drive client satisfaction and stay ahead of technology trends by performing across various engineering, consulting, sales, and executive roles with companies such as: Digital Equipment Corporation, Compaq, Fidelity Investments, BindView Development Corporation and RhodeOne throughout his career.
Norberg has presented on malware nationally for Angelbeat as well as at Microsoft conferences for MS Exchange. He holds a bachelor of science degree in management from Bryant University, with a minor in management information systems (MIS), and is also a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer. Norberg is an avid coach and integral team player to his colleagues and clients. His holistic perspective toward technology and his persistence, passion, and leadership help in his commitment toward bringing success to those around him.
Russ Perry
U.S. Managing Director, NSB/Keane
As managing director and co-founder of NSB/Keane, Perry is responsible for the strategic direction and growth of the international firm. He holds a degree in Industrial Design from Arizona State University and knows the resourcefulness it takes to push boundaries and exceed expectations. His background gives him valuable insight into how people interface with the world, both functionally and aesthetically. Perry has led design projects and fully-integrated campaigns for global leaders such as IKEA, Apple, Starwood Hotels, LG Hausys America, SpringCM, the Harlem Globetrotters, and Morgan Stanley. He currently runs the blog b2b2cmarketing.com and is kept busy outside of the office with his two beautiful daughters Maddix and Reese.
Angel L. Pineiro, Jr.
Senior Vice President for Services, ASI System Integration, Inc.
Angel Pineiro, Jr. is senior vice president for services at ASI System Integration, Inc. – an IT services and solutions provider with approximately 600 employees. Pineiro is widely known as an industry expert with superior skills in solving complex service and business problems. His training and exhaustive list of certifications combined with his three decades of real world experience in workflow, business processes and methodologies has earned him the respect from his peers. A proven leader with a knack for service financials and cost control, he is frequently invited as a speaker and panelist for several IT speaker forums throughout North America.
Over the past 12 years ASI and Pineiro have worked closely with New York City based non-profits: Per Scholas, YearUp, NPower, and Brooklyn Job Corps to provide technology education, training and job placement services for low income communities. ASI has supported this mission and has hired more than 800 IT technicians over the past decade. In his role as Chairman on the Per Scholas Advisory Board, Pineiro has help refined the curricula to meet the demands of employers hiring IT personnel.
Pineiro has also worked closely with the NYC Department of Education. Through his counsel, seniors in some NYC high schools will be placed in apprenticeships with ASI and upon graduation are offered positions to fulfill various IT contracts with the City. He is currently working the Chicago Public School system to establish a similar program.
Following the recommendation of the Mayoral Task Force on CTE (Career and Technical Education) Innovation, the NYC DOE formed an IT Commission to facilitate collaboration between schools and employers. The Commission will play a key role in ensuring that CTE pathways incorporate a strong voice, align to labor market demand, and emphasize the skills necessary for career success. Pineiro has been asked to become the Chairman of the Commission.
Additionally, Pineiro and his team at ASI have been working closely with the Brooklyn Job Corps to launch an internship program. The team assists with training, equipment and providing valuable feedback on employer needs and skills requirements, job interview preparation, soft skills, and industry updates. He has recently expanded ASI’s relationship with the Job Corp in New Jersey and Illinois.
Pineiro served as a panelist in a briefing for Capitol Hill staffers on "Attitudes Toward a Career in IT." This was spearheaded by Congressman Roskam (R-IL) and Congresswoman Sanchez (D-CA) to form and populate the Congressional Caucus on Small Business IT. Pineiro serves as the Chairman of CompTIA’s IT Services and Support (ITSS) Executive Advisory Council and sits on the Creating IT Futures Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) charity, Board of Directors.
Greg Plum
Vice President, Channel Development, SoundConnect, LLC
Greg Plum joined SoundConnect as vice president of Channel Development in September 2013 and leads the company’s channel sales and development initiatives. In his previous role, Plum was the vice president of channel development for StartMeeting, where he was responsible for overseeing channel operations and development. Plum has been involved in channel development since 2001 and has enjoyed building channel sales operations from scratch.
Plum’s passion for the channel, as well as his desire to form long-term relationships with his partners, has gained him the honor of being named a Channel Executive of the Year Finalist in 2009, 2010, and 2011. He oversees all aspects of channel operations, from policy development and implementation, to partner education and certification. He provides valuable leadership and direction to meet the growing demands of SoundConnect’s resale, wholesale and independent agent channel partnerships. Plum lives in Delaware with his wife and two children. He enjoys spending time with his family, distance running, everything about the beach, and renovating their 175-year-old farmhouse, especially since it’s almost done!
Herman Pool
President, Vertical Axion Marketing Solutions
From a homeless teenager to a 20-year established business leader, Herman Pool has owned and marketed his successful IT services and web development companies. Father and author of Guerrilla Marketing, Jay Conrad Levinson called him the “Marco Polo” of Guerrilla Marketing for his ability to find fortune for others. He credits his longevity in business to consistent marketing and advertising. As an award-winning speaker, author and consultant, Pool now focuses his attention on helping other small business owners grow their businesses and brands.
Knowing that small business is the backbone of our country, Pool utilized his marketing experience to start Vertical Axion, a company that provides small- to medium-sized businesses with affordable marketing services with the hope of building a better future for American business owners and employees. Learn more at www.verticalaxion.com.
Brooks Raiford
President & CEO, North Carolina Technology Association
Brooks Raiford has served as president and CEO of the North Carolina Technology Association (NCTA) since 2008. NCTA is the statewide industry association for the tech sector, representing nearly 700 member companies and organizations that employ over 100,000 North Carolinians.
Raiford is a North Carolina native with a passion for improving the quality of life in his home state, and has an extensive background in government relations, business development and operational management. In the early 1990s, he served as a policy aide in the North Carolina Governor’s Office, where a key focus area was information technology and its impact on a variety of public policy areas. Subsequently, he served as director of the Independent College Fund of North Carolina, and then president of leadership North Carolina. Most recently, he was business development director with Balfour Beatty Construction.
Raiford’s current leadership activities include serving as a Governor’s appointee to the North Carolina eLearning Commission; the Board of Advisors of North Carolina New Schools; the Board of Directors of the Technology Councils of North America; the North Carolina Advisory Committee of the US Global Leadership Coalition; and president of the Dean’s Advisory Board for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at NC State University, where he is a former Student Body President and University Trustee. His wife Stephanie is a principal in the Wake County Public School System, and they have two children, Lauren and Will.
Federico Soto Roland
Principal Creative Director, NSB/Keane
Economist, creative strategist and sociology enthusiast, Federico Soto Roland is the co-founder of NSB/Keane and principal creative director. His work with global brands like Coca-Cola, Monsanto, and Johnson & Johnson, as well as his Latin American experience with DONMARIO, Ledesma, and Bodega Del Fin del Mundo, has reached new markets across borders and seas. He is the editor of BrandReportBlog.com, as well as a guest speaker and writer for several marketing organizations. He is also a musician and has edited 4 reggae music albums. He lives in Buenos Aires, traveling between México and the United States as part of his responsibilities with NSBK.
Shea Ross
Director of Government and Public Affairs, Technology Association of Georgia (TAG)
Shea Ross is the director of government and public affairs for the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG). Shea has worked for Lt. Governor Casey Cagle, Georgia’s first Republican Lt. Governor, as the director of constituent services and healthcare policy analyst. She is a graduate of the University of Georgia receiving a degree in public health with an emphasis on health promotion and behavior.
Rory Sanchez
CEO & President, SLPowers
Rory Sanchez is CEO & President of SLPowers. Sanchez is the visionary, responsible for the company's strategic direction and high-level architecting of its award-winning technology management platform, Guaranteed Networks, a comprehensive offering which has positioned SLPowers as a recognized leader in the managed on-premise and cloud computing space.
Believing that a company should give back to the various communities to which it belongs, Sanchez is heavily involved in both, South Florida's local business community and the IT industry, overall. Sanchez frequently speaks, presents best practices, and participates in panel discussions at industry events. Sanchez was a founding member of the ConnectWise Partner Advisory Board. He is an active member of TechData's TechSelect Community and was President of the TechSelect Advisory Council from 2009 to 2011 and now sits on CompTIA's Partner Advisory Council.
In 2005, Sanchez was selected as The Palm Beaches Small-Business Person of the Year and, in 2007, received an Industry Contribution Award from CompTIA for sharing his managed services methodologies with others in the industry. During his time at SLPowers, they have earned a number of distinguished honors including a Global Best Practices in Managed Services Award (2007), CRN Magazine's Fast Growth 100 (2006 & 2007), CRN Magazine’s Most Innovative Managed Services Providers (2010), CRN Magazine’s Top 100 Healthcare VARs (2010), and are regularly ranked as one of the Top 100 Managed IT Providers in the world by MSP Mentor.
Michael Schuler
CEO, Veterans Alliance Resourcing, Inc.
As the CEO for Veterans Alliance Resourcing, Inc. (VAR), a service disabled veteran owned small business (SDVOSB), Mike Schuler and his team of experienced industry sales consultants provides service supply chain solutions to customers and business development representation services to vendor/clients.
Prior to starting VAR, Schuler spent more than 30 years in the aftermarket services industry and has held increasing roles in executive management including: Zylog Systems (Canada) Ltd, vice president of U.S. Sales; Product Support Services, Inc., executive vice president of sales and marketing; Micro Product Distributors, president; Computer Products & Services, vice president of purchasing and product remarketing; Service Electronics, Inc., vice president of business development, product management and purchasing; and Micro Exchange Corporation, vice president of remarketing.
Schuler’s accomplishments include more than $250M in sales revenues, including major parts supply and product remarketing contracts with Dell and Compaq and national PC Trade-In programs with Apple, Dell and CompUSA. He was a key economic catalyst for Micro Exchange/Service Electronics growth ($18M to $107M) from 1993-2004. Schuler is often selected as a guest speaker and industry consultant on aftermarket service strategies. These engagements have included WCM, CompTIA, RLTS, and AFSMI.
Actively involved in the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) since 1999, Schuler has served on CompTIA’s IT Services and Support (ITSS) U.S. Executive Council since 2004 and recently served as Chairman in 2013. He was also selected as a founding member of CompTIA’s Ambassador Advisory Council. Schuler was the initiative chairman for CompTIA’s ASC program and recipient of CompTIA’s Industry Award in 2008. He is an active community volunteer receiving two U.S. Jaycees national awards for leadership, first as a District Director in 1987-1988 (M. Keith Upson Memorial Award) and as a Regional Director in 1988-1989 (Clint Dunagan Memorial Award) for the Illinois Jaycees, during which time he met his wife (W.V. Jaycees) at the U.S. Jaycees national convention in Memphis. Schuler has two grown children and lives with his wife Paula, in Texas.
MJ Shoer
President and Virtual Chief Technology Officer, Jenaly Technology Group, Inc.
MJ Shoer started Jenaly Technology Group, Inc. in February of 1997. The vision for Jenaly grew from Shoer’s collective experience with a variety of technology companies, focusing on sales automation, executive information management and electronics distribution and recycling, where he held both sales and technical management positions. Shoer was also a principal in the first dial-up Internet Service Provider in the Seacoast New Hampshire region. In these roles, he had responsibility for hiring and working with outsourced IT services firms, experiences which have directly influenced the culture, mission and vision of Jenaly Technology Group.
Shoer holds a bachelor of arts degree in political science from the University of New Hampshire, in Durham, New Hampshire, graduating in 1986. He has also completed several technical certifications with companies such as Cisco and Microsoft as well as completing many business and technical professional education programs.Shoer is very active in both the local community and the global IT community. Locally, he has served on the board of directors of the Seacoast Family YMCA and is currently the Ex-Officio of the board of directors of Seacoast Crime Stoppers. In the IT community, he serves on several advisory councils. Shoer is also very active in the Computing Technology Industry Association, CompTIA, currently serving as board chair. He has served as a member of the board of directors and chairman of both the Audit and Investment committee and the Certification Advisory Council. Additionally, Shoer participated in the formation and testing of the CompTIA Security Trustmark and CompTIA Managed Services Trustmark as well as serving as a CompTIA Ambassador. He has been named to the MSPmentor 250 ranking of the 250 most influential executives in the IT industry. He is also a longtime member of the Master Mind association of Technology Marketing Toolkit, an IT-focused marketing firm. Shoer and Jenaly are also founding partners in TOGL, LLC a provider of leading edge cloud solutions for business.
Shoer is an accomplished writer having published his first book, Hassle-Free Computer Support, in August of 2006. He also writes columns for two local newspapers, The Portsmouth Herald and Fosters Daily Democrat as well as contributing to several regional and national business and technology publications. Shoer maintains a blog about IT for small- and mid-size businesses at mjsblog.jenaly.com and is frequently interviewed for local and national publications. He maintains an active Twitter feed under the hash tag @mshoer. Additionally, you may connect with MJ Shoer via LinkedIn. Shoer was featured on the covers of ChannelPro magazine in November 2009 and Business Solutions magazine in June 2012 for feature stories on cloud computing. He has also testified before the United States Congress and the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation on the topic of information security. A native of Swampscott, Massachusetts, Shoer resides in Portsmouth, New Hampshire with his wife, three children and two dogs.
Jeffrey S. Smith
President, CEO and Founder, Commercial Connect LLC
Jeffrey S. Smith has been active in the management and reorganization of the Internet for the past fifteen years, which included the breakup of Network Solutions, creation of CORE (Internet Council of Registrars) and ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers). Smith is a founding member of CORE, and he is a founding co-owner of Afilias, LLC, a registry. As a member of Afilias, Smith and his colleagues launched a successful bid to operate the .info registry and as CEO of Commercial Connect, LLC applied for the release of .shop in 2000 and again in 2012. He earned a bachelor of science in business management/economics and an MBA from the University of Louisville.
As founder of Computer Analytical Systems, Inc., Best Registration Services, Inc. (BestRegistrar.com), CAS-Com Internet Services, Inc. and CASDNS, Inc., Smith has extensive, specialized IT education and experience.He has previously worked as a consultant, Internet entrepreneur, analyst/systems integrator, and IT consultant specializing in e-Commerce, ERP (enterprise resource planning) implementation as well as EDI (electronic data interchange) and CRM (customer relationship management technologies) with emphasis on electronic communications.
In his career, Smith has participated in nine startups and has successfully exited from five. Of the other five companies Smith is involved in, they currently have revenues in excess of $50 million annually. These companies have created more than 150 jobs and have grossed in excess of $300 million since their inception. Smith has sat on various boards, associations and committees. Boards include a founding board member of eCommerce World Retailers, TALK Technology Association, Louisville Venture Club, BestRegistrar and multiple others.
David Vernon
CEO, Vernon Systems
David Vernon is a friendly, energetic technology consumer, designer, and advocate. As the second owner of Vernon Systems, a family run IT services company, he continues the twenty-five year tradition of providing technology expertise to other small business, primarily healthcare clients. With his wife and three daughters, David lives and works in the community he was raised. He attended the University of Georgia and studied Computer Science. Afterwards, he spent several years in Washington D.C., first as a congressional staffer for Rep. Charlie Norwood, then as a network administrator for HouseCall where he serviced the IT needs of the offices of several Members of Congress and the Senate Judiciary Committee. In addition to being an active member of CompTIA, he is the President-Elect of the Columbia County Rotary Club, the Vice President of Saint Paul Radio, Inc (a local NCE Radio station WKER-FM 91.1,) and a member of the Knights of Columbus, Council 8495.
Chris Wiser
Founder and CEO, TechSquad IT
Chris Wiser is the CEO and founder of TechSquad IT, a Milwaukee-based company, which provides managed technology services to small businesses with 10 to 200 employees. Since founding TechSquad IT in 2008, Wiser and his team have set the industry standard by bringing practical and pertinent expertise to the “outsourced IT” experience. An entrepreneur at heart, Wiser saw the need for a full-service MSP marketing and appointment-setting tool for the SMB market. As a result, in 2011, he founded (and currently serves as CEO of) MSP Leads, a provider of outsourced appointment setting and lead-generation services to U.S.-based managed services providers.
Wiser has been featured in various publications, such as Vertical Systems Reseller (VSR), ChannelPro, SMB Nation, Business Solutions, The VAR Guy, MSPMentor, Forbes, the Milwaukee Business Journal and the Milwaukee Small Business Times. He is also the author of the “Small Business Owners Guide to Stress Free Network Support.” In this book, Wiser shares his expertise and experience on how business owners can find a professional, competent, honest, considerate, on-time, fairly-priced and dependable computer consultant. For his follow-up book, Wider recently joined with a select group of the world’s leading speakers and trainers to co-write The Tech Multiplier: The World’s Leading Technology Consultants Reveal In Depth Case Studies of How the Smartest Businesses in the World are Leveraging Technology to Increase Profits and Reduce Waste While Safeguarding Data.
He was also the subject of a documentary film titled, “The IT Guy,” which was broadcast on a nationally syndicated cable television channel in September 2013. The documentary, which was produced and directed by Nick Nanton and his Emmy® Award –winning team at CelebrityFilms™, was filmed in late 2012 in and around the greater Milwaukee area, where TechSquad IT, where TechSquad IT is based.
Prior to founding both TechSquad IT and MSP Leads, Wiser was the Chief Technical Officer (CTO) and Client Support Director at NConnect Internet – an ISP based in Slinger, WI. He also holds the titles of Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator, Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician and has completed the Microsoft Certification Course.
Wiser is the recipient of several industry and local awards, namely SMB Nation’s SMB 150 Award, and Nine Lives Media’s MSPmentor 250. He was also named Entrepreneur of the Year by BizTimes Media, and was also recognized as a 2013 Wisconsin Excellence Award recipient.
Aaron L. Woods
Director, North American Resellers Relationship Management and Partner Programs
Aaron Woods is the director of North America Resellers (NARS) Relationship Management and Partner Programs in the Partners and Alliances (P&A) support group, a part of the Xerox Technical Services (XTS) organization. Some of his primary responsibilities include: relationship management between TS and the NARS organization, working with senior staff to assist in developing partner programs targeted at increasing post sale revenue and, as a certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, sponsoring and leading high-level projects. In January 2000 when the Tektronix Computer Printing and Imaging Division was purchased by Xerox, Woods and the Authorized Service Provider (ASP) program he created at Tektronix was transitioned to Xerox.
Before joining Tektronix in March 1996, Woods spent more than 20 years in the services industry where he has served in a wide range of management roles. In 1981 he was recruited by NEC Electronics as National Service Manager to create a network of dealer service providers to support the introduction of their personal computer into the U.S. Woods has held subsequent service operations positions of increasing responsibility including: Regional Technical Support Manager for Radio Shack/Tandy, Repair Operations Manager at Bell & Howell and as Director of National Service Programs and Training at Intelligent Electronics.
Woods is actively involved in the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) initiatives targeted at improving services offerings and the experience of resellers and manufacturers throughout the IT industry. A CompTIA member since 1989, he was instrumental in helping to develop and introduce the A+ Certification Program for technicians in 1993. He also worked to develop the Standardized Warranty Claim Form, adopted by many IT manufacturers, and is currently working on the Warranty Fraud & Service Abuse initiative. Woods has served as chair and vice chair of the A+ Certification Advisory Committee, was past Chair of the Printing and Document Imaging (PDI+) certification Advisory Committee, and is the Vice-chair of the IT Services and Support Committee. In 2010, he was appointed Co-Chair of the Ambassadors Program by the Todd Thibodaux, CEO of CompTIA. He has received numerous awards from CompTIA including the 2005 CompTIA Industry Contribution Award for Leadership and was inducted into the 2011 IT Hall of Fame. Woods currently serves on the CompTIA Board of Directors.
Woods has a bachelor of science in business management and a master of business administration from Marylhurst University in Lake Oswego Oregon. He and his wife, Shirley, have five adult children and six grandchildren. He loves to fish, cook, and create new recipes in his spare time.
Bart Wood
Vice President, Enterprise Planning and Strategic Support, Southern Company
Bart Wood is vice president of enterprise planning and strategic support for information technology at Southern Company. In this role, Wood leads an organization that includes risk management and compliance, enterprise strategic technology planning, financial management, vendor management, ITIL processes, end user computing and the IT Service Center. This organization unites the planning and implementation functions of IT governance, as well as addresses growing compliance needs.
Prior to this role, Wood served as the chief information officer for Georgia Power and the other subsidiaries within Georgia. He was also responsible for IT functions within customer service, marketing and human resources throughout Southern Company. In this role he led the implementation of Southern Company’s customer information system, online customer care, electronic billing and first-of-its-kind access to employee information on the Internet.
Wood began his career with Georgia Power’s customer accounting organization in 1981. He also worked in cost accounting, region operations, distribution and customer operations within Georgia Power. Wood received a bachelor’s degree in business from Louisiana State University. He also graduated from the executive development program at Northwestern University and the advanced management program at Harvard University.
Dawn Marie Yankeelov
President, ASPectx
Dawn Marie Yankeelov is president of US-based ASPectx specializing in business strategy, competitive intelligence, marketing and public relations for growth technology companies, and technology-driven corporations. As a marketing and public relations practitioner for 27+ years, she has counseled many companies on their marketing needs and executed effective campaigns in targeting, select markets--using Internet tools and traditional methodologies. Her client list includes international startups, publicly-traded firms, and other niche firms, primarily in the technology and healthcare sectors, including: Almost Family, Manning & Napier, AIAA, Tenable Network Security, Belcan, Rohm & Haas, Humana, Intellon, Genscape, Akiva,TrainRight Solutions, and MedX12. In recent years, she has focused on competitive intelligence related to IT software solutions, mobile applications, and healthcare training.
Among her speaking credentials are topics such as customer relationship management, search, emarketing, social networking, and strategies associated with public relations. In 2012, Yankeelov presented at the International Public Relations Society of America Conference on “Mobile Engagement: A Winning Strategy.” Other topics over the years have included online strategies such as, “Customer Retention: Learn Critical Factors for Maintaining Online Commerce Success.” In 2009, she presented at the Kentucky SHRM conference on “The Primer: HR and Social Media,” as well as at other regional events. In 2007, she presented at IABC Heritage Region Conference on the topic of “Social Networking and Search.” For seven years, Yankeelov spoke on various topics at the International Virtual Communities Conference held then in Europe by Infonortics, Ltd. In the region, she continues to speak at area chamber-related series for the Indiana Small Business Development Center, One Southern Indiana, and the Enterprise Corp. On information technology subjects, she has presented in recent years at US ITEC expos; Open Source Solutions, a US military intelligence forum; the Society of Competitive Intelligence Professionals Conference; and Strothman & Co. Business Seminars. She also contributed to the American Bar Association's Emerging Businesses Series for 2005 and 2010, handbooks for those companies in growth sectors.
Currently, she is the Chair Emeritus of the Technology Section for the Public Relations Society of America, and on the board of University of Louisville Geriatrics. She is also a Founder and Chair of the Technology Association of Louisville Kentucky. Yankeelov was an organizer of the 2004 International Idea Festival, the 1st Annual Data Mining Conference 2005 in Philadelphia; Louisville Women in Technology’s Healthcare IT Summit, ISSA’s Louisville Security Conference for 2003 and 2004. She has also been nominated as an Outstanding Woman in Technology for 7 years in the region. She was the founder and program coordinator of Louisville Women in Technology, a trade group now under the Louisville, Ky. Chamber. In past years, she has served on the Venture Club of Louisville’s speaker selection committee; and as a developer of the World Affairs Global Nights Series. She has also served as a course supervisor for the region’s Landmark Education Curriculum for Living.
As a marketer and planner in the area of collateral materials she has garnered awards from the American Advertising Federation, for campaigns for trade newspaper inserts, data sheets, television campaigns, and trade product catalogs. Recognized as a noted journalist crossing a number of disciplines, her credentials include technology and business reporting for the New York Times Co. in Florida, Executive Magazine, Tech Republic, iEntry newsletters, and Faircount International (military technology books).
Guy Yasika
Director, Channel Sales and Development, Alteva
Guy Yasika is a sales director at Alteva, a hosted Unified Communications solution provider headquartered in Philadelphia. A cloud evangelist since 2007 when he first joined Alteva, Yasika had already been working in the VoIP space since 1999. During his tenure, he has built a program to assist channel development that includes a UC certification program; written papers and articles on various topics; developed marketing toolkits and training programs; and helped many companies launch and transform their business. Prior to joining Alteva, Yasika was vice president of sales for Atinav and solely launched aveComm, a VoIP collaborative tool for the desktop. In the Dotcom era, he worked in the consulting service industry that provided Oracle Consulting working. He also served on the NY Oracle Users Group Steering Committee and re-launched the Philadelphia Salesforce Users group. Additionally, he has taught at Columbia University as part of their CTA program.
Doug Young
COO & Senior Vice President, The ASCII Group
Doug Young has been with The ASCII Group, the nation’s oldest community of independent solution providers, since 1995. ASCII is comprised mainly of small- and medium-sized businesses, and its mission is to strengthen its members’ businesses with programs that provide turnkey cost-cutting strategies, innovative business building programs, marketing assistance and extensive peer interaction.
Young has responsibility at ASCII for all membership issues as well as ASCII’s partnerships with several multibillion dollar distributors, and he is at the forefront of promoting the importance of the independent solution provider in the technology industry. He is also the co-creator and administrator of ASCII’s popular list serv, where ASCII members have traded over 110,000 messages helping each other with vendor recommendations, partnership opportunities, technical problem solving, and general business issues.
Before coming to ASCII, Young served as an attorney on Capitol Hill, primarily focusing on labor issues for a House Subcommittee. In addition to his work at ASCII, he dedicates his time to several charitable activities, including Make-a-Wish, Our Daily Bread in Fairfax, VA and the local University of Notre Dame alumni club. Young holds an undergraduate degree in government from the University of Notre Dame and a law degree from the College of William & Mary.
Steven G. Zylstra Sc.D. (Hon.)
President & CEO, Arizona Technology Council
Steven G. Zylstra Sc.D. (Hon.) serves as president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council, a role he assumed in December of 2007. He is responsible for strategy, operations, all financial matters and accomplishment of policy development for the Council. Zylstra is a vocal spokesman for the value technology can provide in raising social and economic standards in Arizona. He has served in numerous technology leadership and advisory roles to the Governor and currently serves on several association, industry and community boards. In August 2013 he was named Chairman of the global organization Technology Councils of North American (TECNA), which connects nearly 50 regional technology associations into a cohesive network that focuses on issues important to the technology industry. Zylstra earned a bachelor’s degree in automotive engineering technology from Western Michigan University and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Science in technology from the University of Advancing Technology.
About ChannelEyes
About TechVoice
TechVoice is a partnership of the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), the Technology Councils of North America (TECNA), and participating regional technology associations. Collectively, TechVoice represents thousands of technology companies across the country employing millions of workers. TechVoice is dedicated to empowering and mobilizing the grassroots tech community to impact legislative and regulatory issues important to growth, innovation and job creation. For more information, visit www.techvoice.org and http://twitter.com/tech_voice.