Expert Support provides world-class technical communication services to technology companies.Effective technical communication yields considerable business benefits including:+ Accelerated revenues (through improved free trial conversion rates and better informed sales people)+ Increased customer retention (through improved customer satisfaction)+ Broader adoption of APIs by developers (through improved understanding of API capabilities)+ Reduced support costs (through improved customer self-sufficiency)+ Streamlined efficiencies (by relying upon an expert, open, trusted, capable firm)Notable clients include Apple, Google, Adobe, and Sony. We also work with many start-ups, large and small.

San Carlos Advisors provides high quality mergers and acquisitions (M&A), capital raising and financial advisory services to emerging and mid-capitalization technology companies. Led by Rick Ludlow, the firm provides clients with a strong combination of investment banking, finance, technology and deal structure expertise. I assist the firm by providing industry expertise, introductions, and an outside perspective.

Established in 1993, Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network provides analysis and action on issues affecting our region's economy and quality of life. The organization brings together established and emerging leaders - from business, government, academia, labor and the broader community - to spotlight issues and work toward innovative solutions. Check out the website for more info: www.jointventure.org.

Founded in 1987, TDA Group is one of Silicon Valley's biggest, oldest, and most prolific content marketing firms, and produces a broad portfolio of award winning marketing programs for some of the biggest brands in tech (IBM, Intel, SAP, Dell, Brocade, Quest and others). TDA helps clients achieve their goals with integrated strategy, messaging, content, and design across campaigns that combine web, mobile, social, audio/video, and print media.

The leader in enterprise conferencing and event management solutions, ViewCentral's on-demand software service manages all of the data and attendee communications involved with online and offline events (registration, confirmation, billing & payment services, follow-up emails, etc.). I led the BD team that crafted deals with Microsoft Live Meeting, WebEx, and others, and put discussions with the CRM providers like Salesforce.com, SAP, and Siebel/Oracle in motion. ViewCentral was acquired by RainMaker Systems in 2006.

Market Pioneering provided management consulting, business strategy, creation of formative partnerships, competitive analysis, internet marketing, and program execution services to a variety of Silicon Valley clients. During this phase, I completed projects for clients such as Iron Speed, Cisco, Vividence (now Keynote), and Expert Support.

I was hired as the "Vice President of Business Development" at iQ.COM. During the boom, our team established a de facto standard for online sales promotion on the net and powered big online promotions for clients like AOL, J&J, PRNewswire, and others. During the downturn, I transitioned into a general manager role, and kept IQ Commerce running as we raised more capital and closed a merger. Post merger, ownership transitioned the business to an enterprise software model, and I left NewWorldIQ to start Market Pioneering.

Frank Boosman introduced me to David Smith while I was at General Magic. After a brief tour of duty at Xerox PARC, I joined them at Virtus. Based in Cary, NC, I opened the company's west coast offices. While there, I made some great friends, learned a great deal about games and 3-D graphics, and did some great deals. (Ask me about the time we demo'ed on 2 Macs, in the Robert Noyce Building, and STILL closed Intel for $3 million. Heh.)

Xerox PARC spun off a division, Desktop Document Systems, that built some of the first multi-function peripherals for the small office / home office marketplace. It also commercialized some amazing document imaging technologies (like the Document Application Environment and DataGlyphs). While there, I learned a lot about how huge companies operate and don't operate, travelled between Tokyo and Rochester, and did some good deeds. (Ask me about the grant that funded outreach training to local child care companies to reduce incidents of child abuse.)

When I got the call from the recruiter, and he told me that Andy Hertzfeld and Bill Atkinson were building a wireless communicator backed by Apple, Sony, and Motorola --- and they wanted someone like *me* to help license the stuff -- well... I HAD to go work in that crazy place. Looking back, almost all of the stuff that company predicted has come to pass: ubiquitous wireless networks, ecommerce, personal digital assistants, etc. It was an amazing place - in too many ways. (Ask me about the one thing that hasn't happened... yet.)Or just watch the movie: https://www.generalmagicthemovie.com (Yes, an award-winning documentary.)

Adobe alumni from this period recall these years 'the glory days' of the company. Just after its IPO, the company was growing like mad, insanely profitable, and a great place to work. I joined Adobe to manage its relationships with ISVs like Aldus and Frame (who later became part of Adobe), Lotus (now IBM), WordPerfect (now Corel), and Microsoft (still Microsoft). Later, I helped launch the OEM version of Adobe Type Manager. Just before I left for General Magic, I was working on Warnock's "Carousel Project" which later became Acrobat. It was great to be a part of Adobe during those years. The people were amazing.

Other than pitching for the Giants, this had to be the best first job any kid out of college ever had. When Denny Brown and David King gave me my first cubicle, I think everybody had a Masters or PhD but me. I learned a ton - fast. Thank goodness that most of what was "AI" in 1985 turned out to be "modern computer science." Eventually, the sales team learned I could build demos, and dragged me all over the country. Eventually, I ran a territory of my own and saw the company go public. It was a great experience.