Board Of Directors
The following is a list of acting board members for 2009. If you would like to contact the board, please feel free to email them here.
John Canning
President, Excutive CommitteeJohn is the president and founder of Physician's Computer Company, a forty-plus person service and software company that works with pediatric practices offices across the country. In 1983, John founded PCC in South Burlington, VT, with some friends from school, long before Vermont realized it would be the ideal place for software companies.
John's board experience includes chairing boards for the Vermont Youth Orchestra and the Gailer School, and co-founding a regional board for the Vermont Symphony Orchestra. John lives across the street from the Burlington Airport with his foster son.
Tom Jaros
Vice President, Executive CommitteeTom is the founder and president of Empower Mobility LLC, a software company started in 2005 to provide quality software development services and products for the Mobile Computing platform. He has nearly 20 years of experience in mobile software development, having worked on dozens of mobility projects throughout the years.
His company specializes in solutions for Apple iPhone and Windows Mobile, but has also worked with Palm and Psion platforms in years past. His company offers a blend of software design, creative problem solving and efficient engineering practices to deliver timely, high quality mobile solutions. The company is located in Essex Junction, Vermont.
Tom sees the vtSDA as a key facilator in bringing together Vermont software companies, educators and state agencies to grow the VT software industry, employ its workforce and expand VT's national brand of quality to include software development.
Chris Johnson
Treasurer, Executive Committee
Chris is has been the Director of Technical Connection, Inc since 1991. Technical Connection is a boutique staffing and IT consulting firm specializing in IT and Engineering work and has been involved in the placement over a thousand experienced and entry level technical personnel with Vermont employers.
Chris is a certified Professional in Human Resources by the American Society of Human Resources. He would like to see Vermont become a near shore IT outsourcing alternative to off shore IT outsourcing and is involved in educational and business educational initiatives toward that goal. In his spare time he enjoys restoring and managing the natural communities on his Forest Stewardship Council certified woodlot in Lincoln, VT. and is currently developing an Organic Maple Sugaring operation there.
Jeffrey J. McMahan
Secretary, Executive Committee
Jeff is a corporate and intellectual property lawyer at Dinse, Knapp & McAndrew, advising businesses on issues related to formation, mergers and acquisitions, raising capital, technology licensing, trademarks and copyrights. Mr. McMahan's clients range from entrepreneurial start-ups to publicly-held companies. He has particular experience representing software vendors and purchasers in the negotiation of computer system implementation, license and support agreements. Mr. McMahan also advises clients on the selection of trademarks and assists with the registration of their trademarks with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Jeff's practice also focuses on securities matters. He has assisted both privately-held and publicly traded companies with the private placement of stock and works extensively with higher education and healthcare clients in connection with their borrowing the proceeds of tax-exempt bonds.
Jeff was with the firm from 1994 until early 1999. In 1999, he left the firm to join the corporate legal department of IDX Systems Corporation, becoming Division Counsel of its ChannelHealth subsidiary in January 2000 and subsequently Deputy General Counsel of Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, Inc., a Chicago based healthcare information technology vendor that acquired ChannelHealth.
Jeff lives in Shelburne with his wife and children.
Dr. Ali Rafieymehr
Ali is the Dean of the Division of Information Technology and Sciences, ITS at Champlain College. He has a combination of academic and industry experience, including teaching posts at Western New England College and Saint Anselm College and professional positions with such organizations as Harvard Business School, Digital Equipment Corporation, Compaq Corporation, and Avici Systems.
Ali holds a B.S. in mathematics from the College of Mathematics and Economic Management in Iran, an M.S. in computer engineering from the University of Lowell (Massachusetts), and a Doctorate of Science, Sc.D. in Computer Science from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell.
Joanne Ferris Forkey
Joanne has 35 years of experience in finance and management in various industries. Past experience as General Manager and Controller for a local software company, which developed client server applications, has given her the knowledge and experience of the challenges facing the software development industry in VT.
For Joanne, the dedication of the vtSDA is changing the perception of software companies in VT. The growth potential of software development companies in the state has no boundaries and creates opportunities for keeping technology driven students in VT while providing a viable "green" employment environment.
Jon Bondy
Jon's first job was as a consultant to the Director of Advanced Development at Burroughs. He then worked for GE Aerospace, creating custom microcode to do high-speed processing of satellite image data, and writing prototype software to measure the astronauts' contributions to the space toilet. He was also a consultant for Hayes Microcomputers, contributing to the development of prototype communications software.
He led a team that designed a computerized monitoring system for PECo's Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station. He has also designed and fabricated guitar bridges and a Stirling engine that is used in university physics laboratories, including custom data acquisition and analysis software.
After working on his own for almost three decades, he now works developing and testing software for Data Innovations.
David Walsh
David is a co-founder and senior partner of Standards Technology Group, Inc. of Williston Vermont (founded 2004). For 30 years, David has been involved in software product development in the semiconductor industry as well as desktop publishing.
Through STG, David produces and promotes software products and services related to enabling industry standards organizations to publish and protect their copyrighted material in a Web2.0 SaaS framework. He has contributed to these industries as a business owner, marketing manager, product manager and software engineer.
Prior to STG, David introduced several highly successful testing automation software products. In 1996, his first software testing product was selected as Product of the Year by Semiconductor International Magazine. He also co-founded CCS Technology, Inc. in 1997 and introduced testing automation products to the semiconductor industry where it continues to set the standard for the testing automation market.
Matt Dodds
Before forming Brandthropology, Inc. Matthew served as a global advertising executive in New York and throughout Asia. His thoughts on global brand management were developed while serving in postings in New York, Korea, Japan, China and Singapore, where he worked for global advertising firms FCB, D'Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles, BBDO, and McCann Erickson. Along the way, he helped define and implement marketing strategies for many of the world's most sophisticated multinational marketers, including P&G, Unilever, Gatorade, Exxon, Mars, General Motors, United Distillers, Visa, MasterCard, Goodyear, Philips, McDonald's and Amazon.com.
Among his accomplishments are two Golden Effie Awards, the advertising industry's highest award for effectiveness in advertising. He earned these for his efforts in introducing the Visa Gold Card and Crest for Kids brands. Matt also earned the highest award given by P&G's multinational agency rating system for work he created on behalf of the Always (Whisper) brand in Korea: P&G's "World Class Copy" award. While posted in Japan, he became the youngest member of the Board of Directors at McCann Erickson Tokyo, the second largest agency office in the McCann network. His major clients included General Motors, Goodyear and Exxon.
Matt has conducted primary multi-national research on the subject of consumer behavior, including a 26 market study "From Fish-pail to Retail to e-tail". His insights and experiences have made him a sought-after commentator on branding's impact on consumers in developing countries. You can review his commentary in media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, CNBC & The South China Morning Post.
Martin Thieret
Marty is the Vice President of Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions at Competitive Computing (C2) in Colchester, VT. Marty provides leadership for the company’s Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions practice. Working closely with key technology partners including Microsoft, Dell, EMC, and VMware, Marty and his team design and deliver integrated enterprise networks to both public and private sector clients. Prior to C2, Marty held various management and technical positions at Digital Equipment Corporation, Harris Graphics, and Fisher-Price Toys.
He has achieved technical and instructor certifications from Microsoft and is certified by the American Production and Inventory Control Society. Marty holds a B.S. in Operations Research and a B.S. in Management Information Systems from Syracuse University, as well as a Master’s in Systems Management from the University of Southern California.
Mark Heyman
Mark earned his BA in Political Science from the University of Vermont, including six months studying access to legal aid within the European Union in London, England through Boston University. Mark earned his Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School and is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management.
He has significant labor and employment law and human resources management experience as former legal counsel to the Vermont State Employees Association, former Owner and HR Consultant of Cope Human Resources, Inc., and is now the HR Director of Logic Supply, Inc., a technology company providing custom small form factor computer solutions for industrial embedded applications.
Jeff Couture
Jeff manages communications and analyst relations for IBM’s Microelectronics Division, which has approximately 9,000 employees involved in semiconductor technology development and manufacturing worldwide, with major locations in Vermont, New York and Canada. His responsibilities include employee communications, semiconductor industry analyst relations, and media relations for IBM and its Vermont facility.
His previous experience includes managing communications and public relations for large IBM sites in Vermont and throughout North America.
Jeff is a member and past president of the board of directors for the Special Services Transportation Agency, a non-profit, United Way agency that provides transportation for elderly and special needs individuals in the greater Burlington, VT area. He also is a member of the Communications Committee for the Semiconductor Industry Association.
He is a graduate of the University of Vermont and he and his wife live in Hinesburg, VT.
Advisors & Former Members of the Board
Ann Pettyjohn
Ann is one of the original founders of the vtSDA. She also held the Treasurers position for several years. Currently Ann is Vice President of Business Development and Operations for Green Mountain Software, one of the nation's most experienced mobile computing software consulting firms based in Vermont. Founded in 1994, Green Mountain Software consistently delivers groundbreaking software for clients ranging from the Fortune 500 to innovative start-ups for both Palm and Pocket PC platforms. With more than 20 years technology marketing experience, she has held senior management positions with Motorola, Prime Computer, Boise Cascade and Long Distance North.
"I've always thought of Vermont as a very special place for technology. When you look around, there are so many innovative companies and individuals in this state doing amazing things with software, from solving even the most difficult business problems to creating software that is just delightful to use. We have people in this state with impressive backgrounds, experience and capabilities. My goal for vtSDA is to establish Vermont as a truly amazing place to find innovative and creative software developers and companies - both within Vermont and at a national and global level."
Carl Lorentson
Carl is one of the original founders of the vtSDA. He held the Secretary position of the Executive Committee for nearly five years. At Renaissance Information Systems, Inc. Carl is dedicated to using the latest technology to meet the growing needs of his clients. Since founding the company in 1994 he as worked with, or overseen projects for, over 100 clients from multinational firms to local non-profits to single-person entrepreneurs.
Prior to founding RIS, Carl spent 15 years developing custom applications for multiple industries including healthcare, banking, and agriculture. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science from SUNY at Albany in 1979. In his spare time Carl enjoys long-distance bicycling and spending time outdoors with his wife and two sons.
Greg Brand
Greg held the co-chair position along with David Parker for the first four years of the organization's existence. In the last year, Greg held the Past Chair position, mentoring the newer members. He is President of the Bluehouse Group, a Richmond-based firm that specializes in website design and custom database development. Greg enjoys coordinating multi-disciplinary teams that include creative talent and technical expertise. He especially enjoys finding solutions to complex problems, and designing user interfaces that people find simple, intuitive and usable. When he's not pushing pixels he tries to get outside to pursue fly fishing and photography, two of his passions.Greg envisions vtSDA as being instrumental in enabling the Vermont software industry to be competitive nationally by capitalizing on Vermont's image of authenticity and quality craftsmanship.
"We want people to think of Vermont as a place where high-quality software comes from. The Alliance can also play a key role in building links with Vermont's colleges and universities so that we keep our best and brightest. We need to seed the industry with young, talented people."
David Parker
David held the co-chair position along with Greg Brand for the first four years of the organization's existence. In the last year, David also held the Past Chair position, mentoring the newer members. He represents Dealer.com, one of the state’s largest, locally-owned software development companies. His involvement in helping Dealer.com grow and hire new employees in the state has given him an acute understanding of the workforce development and community awareness challenges facing the software industry.As a founding member and co-chair of the vtSDA's board, David looks forward to continuing to lead the alliance's efforts at growing awareness of Vermont's vibrant software industry both within and outside the state. He also is working to build the state's software and IT workforce so that Vermont's large and small software companies have the resources they need to grow.
"The beauty of the software industry in Vermont is its combination of high pay and low impact on the environment. The industry generates the vast majority of its revenues from sources external to the state, and it spends the vast majority of those revenues paying its employees. In many ways, it is the perfect industry to help Vermont grow its position in the global economy while remaining clean, green, and sustainable. The vtSDA will continue to increase awareness of the industry and its benefits throughout the state, providing great value back to its members and, in turn, the community."