CSIA Board of Directors
Executive Committee - Officers
Annette Quintana, CEO, Istonish | 2010 Board Chair Annette Quintana is the CEO of Istonish Holding Company, a privately held, Colorado-based professional services company that provides outsourcing, information technology solutions and staffing. As the founder and primary owner of Istonish Holding Company, Annette is involved in managing and directing customer care outsourcing operations, via subsidiary Istonish, Inc. and information technology projects and staffing via subsidiary TeamExcel Technology Solutions.
Istonish Holding Company employs more than 400 people in the United States and Canada, delivers IT services in over 10 states and operates call centers in Denver, Colorado, and Vancouver, British Columbia. Branch offices for supporting the sales and delivery of Information Technology Services are located in Denver, Colorado; Dallas, Texas and Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Outsourcing services include Tier 1 and 2 technical support, customer service, inbound sales and customized interactive voice recognition solutions. Information Technology solutions include data warehousing, web portal development, software quality assurance and testing, and strategic planning and assessments of IT initiatives.
Annette’s current and previous involvement includes 2008 Chairman of the Board and Director for the Denver Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau; Young Presidents Organization; John Hickenlooper Mayoral Transition Team, Information Technology Committee; Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce Board Member; Community First Bankshares Board Member; Appointed by Governor William Owens to the Board of Advisors for The State of Colorado Minority Business Office; Appointed by former Governor Roy Romer to the State of Colorado Assistance Commission; Board of Directors for the Denver Hispanic Chamber; and Board of Directors for the Latin American Education Foundation.
Nancy Phillips, Co-Founder, COO, ViaWest | Chair Elect Nancy Phillips oversees ViaWest's operations, engineering and technical support divisions. Phillips is a recognized business and telecommunications leader with over 15 years of management experience in voice and data communications. Phillips and Roy Dimoff have been business partners for over 14 years, starting with Dimoff's first company, Teleconferencing Systems Canada.
Nancy has also been a principal and executive at numerous successful telecommunications companies and a consultant to international companies such as France Telecom, MCI and Qwest. Prior to ViaWest, Phillips was Vice President of Operations for RMI.net, where she played an integral role in managing the company's network and technical growth. Previously, she was Vice President of Operations for ITC Worldwide, now Genesys Conferencing, and Senior Vice President of Operations for ConferTech International's conferencing business, now owned by Global Crossing.
2002 was the second year in a row in which Phillips was recognized by the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs, as a woman that has raised capital for an entrepreneurial venture. In 2004, Nancy Phillips was the winner of CSIA's Technology Business Woman of the Year Apex Award. Phillips was chosen because of her extraordinary leadership abilities and performance within ViaWest and the community. She was also recognized in 2004 by the Denver Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners and the Denver Business Journal, winning the "Outstanding Women in Business Jean Yancey Award." Phillips holds an Honors Bachelor of Economics from Queens University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
In 2008, ViaWest was recognized as the Technology Company of the Year through CSIA's Apex Awards.
Kirby Slunaker, CIO, Pendum | Immediate Past ChairKirby Slunaker is Chief Information Officer for Pendum, a $200mm a year, private-equity backed field services company with over 2,100 employees in 42 states.
Kirby has over 30 years of experience in the information technology industry in Denver. He has led information technology organizations for small, entrepreneurial, venture-backed, start-up companies such as Plus System, ProCard, and eBags as well as for large Fortune 500 companies such as Visa USA and MDC Holdings.
While Chief Information Officer for Visa USA’s debit processing subsidiary, Kirby led an IT organization that handled over 2 billion transactions a year valued at over $45 billion. In addition, as CIO for Plus System, Inc. he was an integral part of the initial senior management team that founded the first national and international automated teller machine network and grew it into a worldwide service offering eventually doing business in 109 foreign countries.
Kirby has served on the Executive IT Panel for the Metro Denver Economic Development Center’s WIRED development project, as well as the Board of Advisors for the Information Technology and Electronic Commerce (ITEC) department for the University of Denver. Kirby holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in business and is a graduate of the Executive MBA program at the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver.
Darin Kreimeyer, Partner, Ernst & Young LLP | TreasureDarin currently serves as the Risk Advisory Services Office Leader where he is directly responsible for leading a team of 35 professionals and providing IT and business advisory services for many of Denver’s Fortune 1000 companies. Darin’s career with Ernst & Young has also included leadership roles within the firm’s Technology and Security Risk Services practice in Denver, Boulder, as well as Phoenix, AZ. Throughout his career with E&Y, he has also successfully developed the firm’s methodology for various IT advisory solution sets and was one of only 25 professionals selected to serve on the People Advisory Forum with the Chairman and CEO of Ernst & Young.
Prior to E&Y, Darin was a National Bank Examiner for the Department of Treasury in Sioux Falls, SD. He is a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa where he received his bachelor’s degree in Finance. He is a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and a Certified Information Security Manager (CISM). He is also a member of the Information Systems Audit & Control Association (ISACA) and the Information Systems Security Association (ISSA).
Keith Berets, Partner, Cooley Godward Kronish, LLP | SecretaryKeith Berets is a partner in the Technology Transactions and the Trademark, Advertising & Copyright practice groups, and a member of the Cooley Godward Kronish Business Department. He joined the firm in 2000.
Keith focuses on technology and intellectual property transactions, including outsourcing, consulting, licensing, distribution, development and transfer agreements; information technology, electronic commerce, Web and Internet transactions and intellectual property counseling. His practice also includes trademark, internet, false advertising, unfair competition, trade secret and copyright litigation, counseling and prosecution, and advice on brand selection, advertising and promotions, and other proprietary rights.
He represents leading IT firms and Internet companies, software developers and distributors, Internet service providers, information systems, network systems, hardware and communications companies and other technology companies in connection with the commercialization of their technology products and services. He has also been involved in numerous legal actions to protect the trademarks, trade secrets and copyrights of his clients.
Executive Committee - Special Appointed Positions
Steve Foster, President & COO, Business Controls | Membership ChairSteve Foster's 25 years of unique and diversified experience combines enterprise risk management expertise, expert knowledge in security and technology and top level consulting & training in employee misconduct matters. Steve Foster is President and Chief Operating Officer for Business Controls, Inc. He frequently lectures across the country on the topics related to risk management, ethics and corporate compliance, conducting ethical workplace investigations, fraud, workplace violence and the convergence of technology and security.
Steve is board certified in Security Management and in Case Management for Internal Investigations by ASIS International and is National Chair of the ASIS Business Practices Council and an ASIS National CPP Review Course Instructor. He is the former President of Colorado Drug-Free Workplace Alliance and the Colorado DARE Officers Association and a current member of the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals and ASIS International. He was also a founding board member of the Denver chapter of Ready to work STRIVE. Steve has received numerous certifications and completed many specialized training programs. Throughout his law enforcement career, Steve Foster received over 20 awards and medals for bravery and heroism.
Steve has spoken throughout the United States on criminal behavior and violence prevention. He is a frequent guest on television and radio making regular public appearances. Steve Foster was a consultant for the ADT University for Alarm and Security Equipment professionals for three years. He has worked with many organizations in the development of corporate ethics and compliance programs, facility security manuals and emergency plans. Steve Foster holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Columbia College and graduated from the US Air Force Security Police Academy and the Colorado Police Academy.
Kristin Russell, VP, Global IT Service Operations, OracleKristin Russell, Vice President of Global IT Service Operations at Oracle, is responsible for all data centers and computing operations worldwide. In this role, she leads the organization that provides all infrastructure services to enable Oracle’s internal business operations, as well as their external customer solution offerings, such as Oracle On Demand, CRM On Demand and Oracle University. Kristin has over fifteen years experience in operations leadership, customer service, and organizational design and development.
Prior to joining Oracle, Kristin was the Vice President of Global IT Operations for Sun Microsystems, Inc. where she led the team that provisioned IT tools and services to Sun's extended enterprise, supporting in excess of 40,000 Sun employees and partners around the globe. While at Sun, Kristin spent many years in leadership roles within Services, supporting Sun's top customers in the field and providing remote technical support of Sun's extensive platform, operating system and networking technologies.
Prior to Sun, Kristin worked at Citigroup and Southern Pacific Transportation Lines where she held various leadership roles in Quality Management, Services and Employee Training & Development.
Kristin has a degree in International Affairs from the University of Colorado, and is a graduate of the Colorado Executive Development in Residence program at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Kristin sits on the board of the Colorado Women's Chamber of Commerce, the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute Leadership Council and CSIA – Colorado's Technology Association. As a result of her community and professional leadership, Kristin was a recipient of the Denver Business Journal's Forty Under 40 award and the 2009 Silicon Valley Tribute to Women in Industry (TWIN) award.
John Oechsle, former CIO, IHS | Strategy ChairJohn Oechsle joined IHS Group in July 2003 as Senior Vice President, CIO. He is responsible for both IHS Group worldwide IT services and systems, including Product Development & Technology, Internal Systems, and IHS Hosting Services. He brings to IHS Group experience in worldwide IT infrastructure standardization and business e-connectivity as well as expertise in strategic IT enabled business planning, large program/project management and technology business solutions.
Prior to IHS Group, John worked as CIO, Vice President Information Management Worldwide, for Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, a $1.5 billion Johnson & Johnson company, where he was responsible for all technology and e-business on a worldwide basis. Prior to Ortho, John established the Latin American business unit of Networking & Computing Services (NCS) for Johnson & Johnson and also served as the unit's Executive Director. John has also held executive positions as Senior Vice President, CTO for Land America Financial Group and Director and Global Information Management for Kellogg Company. John holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Rutgers University in Camden, NJ and is a graduate of the Tuck Executive Program at Dartmouth College's Amos Tuck School of Business in Hanover, NH.
Additional Members, CSIA Board of Directors 
Valeria Alberola, Partner, Q AdvisorsValeria Alberola has over 13 years of international experience in corporate finance and strategic consulting. At Q Advisors, Valeria has executed mergers and acquisitions, equity and debt financings, and strategic financial advisory engagements across the technology and communications sectors for clients such as Baker Instrument Company, Circle Graphics, Evolving Systems, LightEdge Solutions, NuVox, OpSec and XceedID. Prior to joining Q Advisors, Valeria was the Director of Business Development for VeloCom, an international telecommunications company, where she was involved in acquisition and capital raising activities. Prior to VeloCom, Valeria was a consultant with McKinsey & Company in Santiago, Chile, and an equity analyst with Citigroup in São Paulo, Brazil.
Valeria currently serves as a member of the Associate Board of Directors of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver and is a member of the Board of Directors of OpenWorld Learning and the Board of the International Business Circle of Colorado.
Valeria received a B.S. in Economics and Business Administration from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management where she was a Fulbright scholar. She is fluent in four languages, including Spanish, French and Portuguese.
Betty Arkell, Partner, Holland & HartBetty Carter Arkell is a partner at Holland & Hart and has over 25 years of experience as a corporate and securities attorney. Her clients include venture capital and other private equity funds as well as established and emerging growth companies. Betty Arkell specializes in venture capital investments, mergers, acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, acquisition finance, corporate restructuring of publicly held and privately held companies and general corporate counseling.
Betty's prior employment experience includes ten years in the Venture Capital/Leveraged Buyout Group of Kirkland & Ellis, where she was a partner. Betty was also counsel to the Venture Capital Association of Colorado at the time of its formation. Betty has also served as Chair for the Leadership Council at the Center for Entrepreneurship - University of Colorado at Denver; Past President of the Colorado Bar Association - Business Law Section; Past President of the Colorado Association of Corporate Counsel; Board of Trustees for Graland Country Day School; Board of Directors for OpenWorld Learning and member of the American, Colorado and Denver Bar Association.
Dayle Ash, Business Development Executive, IBM Dayle Ash is responsible for IBM's Business Analytics success in the general business market place in IBM's Western Region (Chicago West). Prior to this role Dayle was the IBM General Business Executive for Colorado. This unit provides hardware, software, and services to companies in Colorado and Wyoming. Dayle was a Business Unit Executive in the IBM Telecommunications Industry and the IBM Global Client Executive for the MCI/WorldCom Corporation. He was the Business Unit Executive for the San Diego IBM Office prior to moving to Colorado in 1995. Dayle is proud of IBM’s contribution to the economy in Colorado as an employer, through a large partner ecosystem, and by directly impacting client’s success. Dayle is actively involved in the Colorado business community and is a member of the Board of Directors for CSIA.
Barbara Bauer, President, GlobalSight Partners Barbara Bauer is an experienced technology executive who has successfully led small start-up companies and large corporate technology organizations with globally distributed engineering teams. She is currently President of GlobalSight Partners, a consulting organization supporting mid-tier multi-national companies. Prior to this new initiative, she held executive positions at Sun Microsystems, StorageTek, US West, Raynet and Bell Laboratories.
Barbara supports Curriki, a non-profit organization dedicated to the support and distribution of Open Source Curriculum, working with IT firms, government ministers, teachers and administrators to encourage the development and use of free, high quality curriculum resources for students in developing countries. Barbara is on the Board of Directors, the Public Policy Committee and the Education Committee for CSIA and a member of the Executive IT Panel for the Denver Metro Economic Development work force development project. Her academic credentials include a BS and M. in Physics and the Stanford Executive Program.
Kim Brown, Vice President, Information Technology, IHSKim is currently Vice President Information Technology at IHS where she is responsible for all Internal Business Applications, Project Management, Compliance, Mergers & Acquisitions for Technology, Web Site Center of Excellence, and Business Intelligence. She is an experienced and accomplished business leader with outstanding achievements in the management and operations of information technology systems that delivered cost savings, increased profitability, on time project management and improved customer satisfaction.
Prior to IHS, Kim was Director Information Technology at Oracle (previously PeopleSoft and JD Edwards). Here Kim led the deployment of ERP solutions to internal colleagues and customer facing organizations, partnered with product development on software design for HCM commercial products, and oversaw the system integrations of acquired colleagues for Oracle and PeopleSoft. Kim was in HR management at Informix Software where she was responsible for global HR systems and compensation for technology groups.
Kim holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Missouri.
Scott Burt, President, IntegroScott Burt is President and Co-Founder of Integro, Inc., a leading technology consulting company headquartered in Denver, Colorado. The company is IBM's #1 partner for Enterprise Content Management including Records Management and Email Management.
Scott has led Integro since its founding in 1995. The company has been recognized with many awards including recognition on Inc Magazine's Inc500 list of the fastest growing privately held companies in the US. Integro is again growing rapidly after posting 101% growth in 2005 and is poised to grow at a similar rate in 2006. Additionally, Scott is an owner of Vacation Solutions. This start-up company is enjoying astounding success helping clients take better, resort vacations very affordably.
Scott is passionate about philanthropy and community support. Scott serves as a National Trustee for The Foundation Fighting Blindness (FFB) in Maryland. He serves on the Board of Directors and also the Public Policy and Economic Development Committee for CSIA; and is the Chairperson for the Colorado chapter of The FFB. He also hosts one of the largest charity golf tournaments in Colorado, the Microsoft Swing for Sight Golf Tournament. As of 2008, this tournament has raised over $550,000 towards medical research to find cures and treatments for blindness. Additionally, Integro is a strong leader in community helping a variety of local and national charities.
Cody Daniels, Partner, Advisory Practice, KPMGCody is a Partner with the Advisory practice for KPMG LLP in Denver, Colorado. She has over 17 years of experience with the evaluation and assessment of business processes and information systems. Her experience includes the audit and assessment of information systems including business application controls, general information technology controls and IT governance. In addition, she has financial audit experience and training in generally accepted accounting principles, transaction flow, internal control, and financial statement reporting and disclosure. This unique combination of skills helps companies to effectively leverage technology and business processes in the achievement of strategic business objectives.
Pete Dignan, President, ProtoTestIn late 1997, Pete Dignan was managing software development and QA for a dot-com. It seemed much harder than it should have been to put out a high-quality product on schedule. Then, at a wedding reception in late November, Pete met three people - two testers and developer - who each expressed the same sort of frustration! Too many bugs getting to software users, never enough time to test and lots of confusion about QA and testing strategy. He was struck by the coincidence... software quality wasn't just hard for him, it was hard for everybody!
Pete went home and worked on a business plan into the wee hours. He resigned from the dot-com and on March 1, 1998, ProtoTest was launched. The mission was simple: to champion software quality. Make it easier for clients to achieve their quality goals. Promote the QA profession and the people who pursue it. Educate and spread awareness.
ProtoTest has helped more than 200 client companies improve software quality. The company is privately held and self-funded.
Pete founded the company after 15 years in the information technology industry in a wide variety of management positions. He is a former board member of the Software Quality Association of Denver, and a former member of the Industrial Advisory Board for the Computer Science department at Colorado State University, and the board of the Colorado Technology Community Foundation.
Carl Fitch, CEO, StateraCarl has over 20 years of experience as a leader in the IT consulting industry. Carl joined Statera as CEO in 2002, reuniting the successful management team that founded and grew Raymond James Consulting from a start-up in 1992 to a company earning over $70 million in revenue with 400 employees in a six-state region by 2000. Prior to joining Statera, Carl was a partner with Zurich, Switzerland-based Executive Wealth Management, Ltd. (EWM). Before EWM, Carl was the CEO/President of Immedient Corporation (formerly Raymond James Consulting). In addition, Carl demonstrated his leadership skills early in his career with Arthur Andersen & Co.’s Management Information Consulting Division, now known as Accenture. He also served as the Corporate Director of Database Consulting of Cap Gemini America.
An honors graduate from the University of Denver with a B.S. in Chemistry in 1982 and a M.B.A. in Finance in 1983, Carl is a published author on relational database technology and has been quoted in Computer World, Software Magazine, and Enterprise Systems Journal.
Carl’s ability to manage cash flow, monitor expenses and grow organically in turbulent times has ensured Statera’s success from start-up to a $30 million dollar company today. Carl also heads up the delivery side of Statera’s business and was responsible for over 90 successful client engagements in 2007.
Carl is also on the Board of Governors of the Metro Denver Economic Development Corp, the Denver Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and was nominated and selected to the board of Boys and Girls Club. Carl is also the Treasurer and an Executive Board member of the Country Club at Castle Pines.
Kristi Graning, Senior Vice President, Information Technology and eBusiness, RE/MAX InternationalKristi Graning started with RE/MAX in 1991. She made a steady climb through the technology division, serving in various capacities until 1998, when she was named Vice President, Web Services and IT Marketing. She was promoted to her current position in August 2005. Graning is currently responsible for four distinct areas of the organization, which include Information Technology, eBusiness, Membership Services and Contract Administration, consisting of over 80 employees.
Within the IT operation, Graning oversees internal business systems development and administration, applications support and the internal technology infrastructure. Within internal business systems, Graning is responsible for the development and maintenance of the RE/MAX enterprise membership system, MATRiX, and numerous other proprietary mission-critical systems. Business intelligence and information management for membership and statistical data are all handled within the Membership Services group.
Starting in August 2005, Graning led her team to an industry first… The development of a comprehensive, network of Broker IDX web sites, fully compliant with MLS policies across the country, and all displayed on www.remax.com. It has since been enhanced with the online lead-generation system, LeadStreet, which not only provides sales leads, but includes sophisticated marketing tools as well. LeadStreet has now provided more than 6 million leads to RE/MAX Sales Associates - with no referral fees. www.remax.com consistently ranks among the most visited real estate web sites.
Most recently, Graning and her team re-launched the company’s worldwide Extranet which is the technical infrastructure that delivers networking opportunities and training tools to over 90,000 users. The project was released on time and under budget, and lays a foundation for future innovation and strategic enhancements surrounding communication, social media and e-business.
Su Hawk, President, CSIA Su Hawk has been the President of CSIA since May of 2003, and during her tenure at CSIA, the IT industry has grown to more than 5,500 software, hardware, storage and IT companies, who represent a more than $4.5 Billion industry. In addition to representing the leadership of this successful industry, CSIA's community now includes more than 750 companies, and is proud to now have more than 100 active professionals who volunteer their time, resources and leadership for CSIA and the industry.
Su has been involved in the Denver technology and business community for more than 25 years. Prior positions include six years as VP at the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, SVP at the Southeast Business Partnership, SVP of Clarus Public Relations (a firm dedicated to technology company clients), Publisher of Front Range TechBiz and other positions at different Denver corporations and advertising/public relations agencies.
She currently is on the Executive Committee of Governor Ritter's Innovation Council, and serves as Co-Chair for IT entrepreneurism with Juan Rodriguez, former co-founder of StorageTek and Exabyte. She served on the Transition Committees for Governor Ritter's Office of Economic Development/International Trade Office; and for the Office of Innovation and Technology.
She serves on the national Board of Directors for TECNA, the national association of IT associations across North America. CSIA has been a founding member of TECNA,which represents more than 30 technology associations in Canada and the United States. She also is the Chair-Elect of the Advance Colorado Center, the tech-based economic development entity in which CSIA is a founding member alongside the Colorado BioScience Association, CORE, Colorado Manufacturing and Technology Association. Virtual members of the ACC are the Colorado Photonics Association, Colorado Nanotechnology Association and CTEK.
In the community, Su is on the Board of Directors for Colorado MESA; on the Industry/Academia committee for the WIRED initiatives to increase STEM; on the Dean's Advisory Council for the Monfort School of Business and is a past board member of the Colorado Enterprise Fund, Colorado Technology Community Foundation, YWCA, and Girls Count. A former Chair of the Board for Family Tree, Inc., and the Colorado Chapter of PRSA, Su was the 1992 President of the Colorado Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America and has been awarded various volunteer and leadership awards for her dedication in the community and professional industries.
Su holds a Bachelor of Arts in Technical Journalism/Public Relations degree from Colorado State University and was a practitioner instructor for the Master's Program at the University of Denver's University College from 1985 to 1995.
Adam Haynes, Managing Director, St. Charles Capital Adam has twelve years of corporate finance and investment banking experience, including mergers and acquisitions, strategic advisory work and transactions involving bank, bond and equity placements. Mr. Haynes has completed more than 35 mergers and acquisitions and financing transactions with a total value in excess of $15.0 billion.
As a former member of KeyBanc Capital Markets’ and Piper Jaffray’s Technology investment banking groups, Mr. Haynes has extensive Technology M&A transaction and corporate advisory experience. While at Chase Securities, Mr. Haynes completed bank and bond transactions, including recapitalization, spin-off and acquisition financings for Chase’s Global Syndicated Finance & Consumer Diversified Industries groups.
Mr. Haynes received his MBA in Finance from New York University’s Stern School of Business and his B.A. in Communications and International Relations from the University of Southern California. Mr. Haynes currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Colorado Software and Internet Association (CSIA), and is a parent representative of the Collaborative School Committee of Steck Elementary.
Scott Johnson, Dir. Engineering Strategic Engagements, MicrosoftA 15-year veteran of Microsoft Corp., Scott has led technical, sales and consulting teams in a variety of roles working with Microsoft’s customers, partners and product teams. Previously at McGhee Produtivity, Scott was focused on helping our customers derive maximum benefits from their investments in the Microsoft productivity platform through high performance coaching and education.
John Leonard, Director, Fairfield and Woods, P.C.John Leonard is CSIA's Public Policy/Economic Development Committee Chair and is very involved with CSIA's lobbying efforts at the state capitol. He is the recipient of CSIA's Champion of the Year Apex Award in 2005 that recognizes him for his stewardship on behalf of the technology industry creating the first ever proactive plan to ensure success with CSIA's legislative initiatives.
John is an attorney with Fairfield and Woods, P.C. and concentrates his legal practice in commercial transactions. His emphasis is on assisting businesses engaged in all aspects of software development and electronic commerce. He has represented a number of technology companies in areas relating to intellectual property, entity formation and governance, mergers and acquisitions, internet operation and secured transactions.
John has written articles and lectured on internet security and liability, HIPAA, UETA, and other state and federal privacy issues. He has also written articles on current copyright and trademark issues and the protection of intellectual property rights. Mr. Leonard is the past president of the San Joaquin Valley International Trade Association and has testified before legislative committees regarding electronic commerce issues.
John graduated with B.S. Finance and Juris Doctor degree at the University of Nebraska and Masters of International Management Studies from the American Graduate School of International Management.
Michael Locatis, State Chief Information Officer, ColoradoMike Locatis was appointed by Governor Bill Ritter as State CIO in January 2007. Prior to being Chief Information Officer for Colorado, Mike was CIO for the City and County of Denver where he was recognized nationally by the Public Technology Institute for consolidating twenty disparate information technology departments into a single city-wide Technology Services Division. Mike's Technology Service team delivered new enterprise applications including 3-1-1 a comprehensive "one-stop shop" constituent service offering available today in Denver.
Before joining the City and County of Denver, Mike was the Senior Director of Enterprise Technology Strategy for Time Warner Cable. In this capacity, he managed the technology strategy and architecture development - responsible for transforming customer service delivery systems, including the alignment of call center, ERP, web and retail systems.
Sal Mahbouba, former Vice President Global Services Delivery, AvayaSal Mahbouba is the VP of Global Services Delivery for Avaya, market leader for IP telephony and telecommunication solutions. He develops the strategy for and directs the execution of all aspects of implementation, maintenance, managed services, remote and field support, global parts and logistics, and command center for Avaya direct and indirect channels.
Sal has more than 25 years of management experience in the hardware and software industries. In addition to Avaya, he's held various Senior Leadership positions at Oracle (Business Planning & Strategy, Product Support Services, Software Support Engineering, and IT Development & Production Support), Fujitsu (R&D, Consulting, Training, and Center Operations), as well as other Fortune 500 companies (PBX management software, network management, and application development).
Catharine Merigold, General Partner, Vista VenturesCatharine has worked with communications and information technology companies for twenty years, as an investor, as a board member and advisor, and as an entrepreneur. She started her venture career in 1992 with Centennial Ventures, the largest venture firm in the Rocky Mountain region. She was the founding CEO of a venture-backed company, a vice president at a Fortune 100 telecommunications company, and CEO of UTC, the company that manages all the technology developed at the four University of Colorado campuses. Catharine received her BS in Electrical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis and an MBA from Stanford University.
Ned Minor, President, Minor & Brown PC Founder of Minor & Brown PC, Ned Minor is a nationally recognized transaction attorney, in the field of mergers and acquisitions. Since 1977, he has guided business owners through their exit planning opportunities and enabled them to reap top dollar for their companies at the closing table. Total purchase/sales consideration generated for clients exceeds $1.9 billion.
Ned’s book, Deciding to Sell Your Business The Key to Wealth and Freedom, provides a unique perspective on the decision making process that entrepreneurs struggle with when deciding to exit their companies. Ned has also authored numerous articles on exit strategies that have appeared in The Rocky Mountain News and The Denver Business Journal.
He has appeared on Bloomberg Financial as well as many other local and national radio programs. Ned has been featured and quoted in articles with Forbes.com, Associated Press, Business Week, Entrepreneur Magazine, and the New York Times. Ned is a nationally recognized speaker.
Micki Nelson, Vice President & Chief Information Officer, MWHMicki Nelson’s 30-year career in engineering and information technology has spanned multiple industries including architectural, civil and structural engineering and analysis, construction supervision, aerospace engineering and information technology operations and management. Ms. Nelson is currently Vice President and Chief Information Officer for MWH, a worldwide environmental engineering and construction firm with $1.5 Billion in revenues yearly. MWH is headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado. Micki joined MWH in 2000 where she was originally tasked with managing the contract for an out-sourced IT department and later, reintegrating it back into the company. She currently leads a global team of 165 IT professionals located as close as Denver, and as far away as Pune, India. This team supports the IT infrastructure for the 200 MWH offices worldwide.
Jon Nordmark, Co-Founder, Wambo Jon Nordmark and four co-founders created eBags.com in 1998. In January 1999, angel investors and VC firms including Benchmark Capital, Mitsubishi Corporation, Dain Rauscher Wessels, and partners from Goldman Sachs placed significant investments into eBags helping eBags become world-class in the way they provide services to consumers. Since then, eBags has become profitable while selling over 2.2 million bags and consistently growing at over 50% year-after-year. Jon's ultimate responsibility at eBags is creating and maintaining an eBags culture that achieves world-class operating, sales, and financial results.
Bob Ogdon, CEO, SwiftpageBob Ogdon is an executive technologies and business professional with more than 27 years of experience in the multimedia market. His background includes expertise in multimedia, telecommunications and computer-based high technology companies.
Bob founded and served as CEO of four companies, the latest being SwiftPage Email, an email marketing company that has helped hundreds of for-profit and non-profit organizations create, send and track the performance of email campaigns. Most recently, SwiftPage Email became the first server-based email management system to be fully integrated into ACT!, the leading contact management system in the world. Prior to SwiftPage Email, Ogdon founded MSHOW.com, a leading web interactive broadcasting company. Prior to MSHOW.com, Ogdon founded Mammoth Micro Productions, a pioneer in CD-ROM multimedia tools, technology and publishing, and Action Graphics, a game design and software development company.
John Raeder, President and CEO, IQNavigatorJohn P. Raeder, Jr. is president and CEO of IQNavigator, Inc. Under Raeder’s leadership, IQNavigator has transformed from a start-up Contingent Workforce Management vendor into the market-leading, global Services Procurement and Optimization solutions provider. As the driving force behind IQNavigator’s solutions and services strategy, Raeder also oversees operations, product development and delivery, sales and marketing, finance and administration along with his executive team.
Since 1999, Raeder has led IQNavigator through 33 consecutive Quarters of record revenues. He has orchestrated an impressive surge of 1,177% compounded annual revenue growth over the past 5 years as recognized by Deloitte and Touche’s Technology Fast 50. IQNavigator’s Global Fortune 500 customer base includes marquee clients in every major industry vertical including: Financial Services, Energy, telecommunications, Consumer Packaged Goods, Electronics Manufacturing, Healthcare, and various Services industries.
Raeder’s 20 year career in fast growth technology companies, including Oracle, CSG Systems, and MSA/Dun & Bradstreet Software span technology and product management, sales and marketing and operations. Prior to joining IQNavigator, Raeder was Vice President at CSG Systems, the leading provider of Customer Care and Billing solutions in the Telecommunications industry, where he drove the company’s revenues from $80M to $250M. At Oracle, Raeder ran the Applications business for Oracle Telecommunications, and led growth in revenues from $3M to $70M in 18 months.
Raeder holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from the University of Colorado and since has served on the University’s Board of Trustees; and the University’s Technology Transfer Board of Directors. He has also served on a variety of start-up software, telecomm and e-commerce Boards. He is an involved member of the Young President’s Organization, a network of young, global business leaders. Raeder is frequently recognized by the industry as an entrepreneur demonstrating his leadership as noted in the Denver Business Journal’s Forty Under Forty and Supply and Demand Chain Executive’s Pros to Know.
Rip Ripley, Principal, Millard Ripley
& SonRip Ripley brings more than 28 years of
business-to-business and consumer account management experience to his
clients. Over that time, Rip has gained a reputation for making projects
sail smoothly, and rapidly, from strategy development through
execution. Armed with a degree in Political Science and Economics from
the University of Colorado, Rip began his career at J. Walter Thompson
before moving to Tracy-Locke/BBDO. Rip broadened his marketing
experience by joining Broyles, Allebaugh & Davis. Rip was vice
president at ACI/West and the Evans Group before forming his own
company, Apache Marketing, in 1994. He joined Brozena Ripley &
Partners in 1996. He successfully merged BR&P with HSR Business to
Business in 2007. As a member of the HSR Board of Directors, Rip helped
join HSR with Gyro International to form GyroHSR were h is a part of the
global management team
Damani Short, former Chief Information Officer, US Olympic CommitteeAs Chief Information Officer of United States Olympic Committee (USOC), Damani Short holds responsibility for the organization’s business technology and information services essential to the operation of USOC. These services include applications, infrastructure, and end-user support for USOC personnel, National Governing Bodies, and the US delegation at Olympic Games. As a member of the senior executive team, Damani also plays a critical role in the development and execution of USOC’s strategic plan.
Prior to joining USOC, Damani was Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Banta Corporation, a 1.5 billion dollar printing and supply chain management company where he led a 300-person organization distributed in 36 locations. In addition, Damani served on the Manufacturing Executive Council responsible for driving Banta’s Lean transformation, and played a key role on the executive steering team setting direction and guiding several strategic business opportunities in areas of acquisition, business development, and strategic sourcing.
Damani’s prior experience includes leading eBusiness, IT, and Category Management teams for Sanford Corporation, as well as holding a variety of global leadership positions at GE Healthcare including becoming a Master Black Belt as a part of GE’s renowned Six Sigma efforts.
Dr. Rahmat Shoureshi, Dean of Engineering, University of DenverDr. Shoureshi completed my graduate studies at MIT in 1981 with a Ph.D. in electromechanical systems, and with a minor in Organizational Dynamics and Marketing from the MIT Sloan School of Management. From 1981 through 1983, Dr. Shoureshi was on the faculty of Wayne State University. In 1983, he joined the School of Mechanical Engineering at Purdue University where Dr. Shoureshi was chairman of the Manufacturing and Materials Processing area, chairman of the Systems, Measurement and Control area ('92-94), and founder and director of the Advanced Control of Energy and Power Systems (ACEPS).
In August of 1994, Dr. Shoureshi joined the Colorado School of Mines as the G.A. Dobelman Distinguished Chairprofessor of Engineering, Director of Center for Automation, Robotics and Distributed Systems (CARDI) and Director of CSM-PSERC. In 1998, Rahmat became the founding Director of NSF Center for Intelligent Biomedical Devices and Musculoskeletal Systems (IBDMS).
In addition to directing these three research centers, Rahmat have progressively assumed greater administrative roles which include: Associate Vice President for Technology Transfer (OTT) (reporting directly to the President), chair of the newly developed undergraduate and graduate programs in Bioengineering and Life Sciences (BELS), and chair of the CSM Academy, a think tank charged with long term strategic planning for the school. Dr. Shoureshi also have across-institutional administrative position as chairperson for the Colorado Alliance for Bioengineering (CAB), which currently includes CSM, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, CU-Boulder, CU-Denver, Colorado State University, and the University of Denver.
Michael White, Managing Director, SPA Practice, PricewaterhouseCoopersMike is a Managing Director in the Denver Systems and Process Assurance (SPA) practice, with over 19 years of experience. Mike has served many national and international public companies in the infocomm, technology, manufacturing, mining and retail and consumer industries.
Mike has extensive experience in evaluating internal controls over financial reporting including business process and general control reviews. He also has experience leading SAS 70 engagements. He was the senior manager who led the firm's initial audit of internal controls over financial reporting for Molson Coors Brewing Company. Mike has instructed numerous firm courses around auditing internal controls.
Significant Clients Served:
Apex Silver, Ball Corporation, Capgemini, Molson Coors Brewing Company, TeleTech Holdings, WhiteWave Foods
Education:
Mike earned a Bachelors and Masters degree in Accounting from the University of Denver. Mike is a member of the AICPA and the Colorado Society of CPAs. Mike is also a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA).
Andrea Young, CIO and VP of Development, BI IncorporatedMs. Young has more than 20 years of experience in information technology systems. Presently, Ms. Young is the Chief Information Officer and Vice President of Development at BI Incorporated, a leading provider of location monitoring technology and treatment services for community corrections agencies located in Boulder, CO. Her responsibilities include overseeing BI’s information technology systems and software development team, a key role in BI achieving its enterprise-wide strategic goals.
Prior to BI, Ms. Young was Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President of Information Technology for Janus Capital Group. She managed an annual operating budget of more than $75 million and a staff of more than 200. In addition, Ms. Young has worked for ConferTech – now Polycom, Inc., a manufacturer of audio conference bridge systems and services; McGraw-Hill, Inc., a leading institution in the financial services and education and business information markets; and Kroh Brothers Real Estate.
Ms. Young also serves as Board of Director for New Foundations for Nonviolence Center (NFNC), a Colorado-based Not-for-Profit Corporation dedicated to empowering people within the criminal justice system in Colorado to make positive life changes for the betterment of themselves, their families, and the community at large
Ms. Young is respected for her organizational and management skills. Her ability to strategically plan and organize projects at the department and enterprise levels has saved valuable resources, improving production efficiency and customer relationships. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business and information systems from the University of Phoenix in Denver, and she has completed work toward a Master of Science degree in technology management from the University of Denver.
On the personal side, Ms. Young is a third-generation native to Denver, Colorado. She enjoys spending time with family, volunteering, skiing, golfing, and travel.
Board Members Emeritus
Don McCubbrey, Professor, Daniels School of Business, University of DenverDonald McCubbrey,Ph.D., is Clinical Professor and Chair of the Management Information Systems Department and Director of the Center for the Study of Electronic Commerce at the Daniels College of Business - University of Denver. Since joining the University of Denver faculty in September of 1984, he has concentrated his teaching in the areas of Strategic Information Systems, Electronic Commerce and Information Systems Management.
Don is a frequent speaker at both academic and business conferences and forums. He is also Co-Founder of both the Colorado Electronic Commerce Roundtable and CSIA.
Bob Newman, Former Founder, JD EdwardsBob Newman is the Founding Chairman of CSIA. Bob is the owner of Greenwood Gulch Ventures. He also serves on many boards throughout the hi-tech industry including the University of Denver Business School Advisory Board and the Catalyst Management Advisory Board. Bob is also very involved in the Colorado Community donating time and money to the Colorado Symphony, Cancer League of Colorado and the Denver Center for Performing Arts.
Bob has a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Golden Gate University, an MBA from UCLA, and a Bachelor of Science degree from USC-Berkeley. Bob's success in technology included being one of the original founders of JD Edwards, which was later purchased by PeopleSoft and then Oracle.
Print Page
