With more than 16 years of leadership experience in the advertising and marketing industries, Nick Pahade has transformed TRAFFIQ into one of the most widely recognized digital advertising service companies in the industry. In just one year of Nick’s leadership, TRAFFIQ earned a #50 spot on Inc. 500’s prestigious list of the Fastest Growing Private Companies and was named #5 on the list of Top Indian-Run Companies. Under his leadership, TRAFFIQ launched TRAFFIQ Latino, TRAFFIQ Trading Desk and Search Desk, expanding the company’s capabilities beyond digital display ad management to include SEM, guaranteed display and real-time buying all in one platform. The company was also named a winner of the Red Herring 100 North America Award. Meanwhile, Nick has been very active in building a best-in-the-industry team to make these initiatives come to life, recruiting top management and expertise from Microsoft, Google, and Razorfish.
Prior to his work at TRAFFIQ, Nick was most recently responsible for the growth strategy, client relationships andleading the team of interactive design, technology and marketing professionals at GSI Commerce's Marketing Services division (TrueAction, Silverlign and Pepperjam). He previously served as president of Denuo, Publicis Groupe's futures practice, and led global digital development for Publicis Groupe Media. Prior to Denuo, Nick was president of Beyond Interactive Inc., which he co-founded and successfully sold to Grey Global Group which later became WPP.
Nick has been recognized by MEDIA magazine as one of the top 50 People to Know in Interactive Marketing, Advertising Age's coveted 40 under 40 list, and as a MediaPost Online All-Star. He is an active angel investor and advisor to many digital startups around the country. Nick holds dual degrees in biopsychology and marketing from the University of Michigan.
Bill has over fifteen years of leadership experience in the CFO function at several technology companies in a range of industries. He was most recently a Principal at WDK Consulting where he was working with the Travel Ad Network. Previously, he had served as the company’s CFO. Bill has broad experience managing corporate business, finance and legal affairs across a variety of functional areas. He has assisted in raising over $100 million in capital. Prior CFO roles include Iptivia, Sereniti, Keymark Enterprises and GlobalCommerce.
Bill started his career at KPMG in San Jose where he became a Certified Public Accountant. He graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1981.
Eric is a Microsoft veteran and founder of Bluestreak. He brings over 14 years of industry experience to his role at TRAFFIQ. An advertising platform specialist, Picard is known as a thought leader in advertising technology. He was instrumental in the early development of many of today’s standard technologies. Picard has been the catalyst behind numerous groundbreaking technology innovations across such diverse areas as rich media advertising, 3rd party ad serving, mobile advertising, automated creative optimization, video advertising, local advertising, ad exchanges and real-time bidding, paid search, and advertising in software applications, among others.
Before TRAFFIQ, Jay was the Vice President of Finance at Global Building Modules, Inc., and held the position of Chief Financial Officer at Connect Marketing & Entertainment Group LLC. Jay has also operated JPH Consulting Group and served as a strategic consultant to a wide array of companies, ranging from start-ups to global enterprises. Prior to developing his consulting business, Jay was Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of iRenovate.com, a vertical portal for home improvement do-it-yourselfers; and Zero-G Commerce Corp., a developer of consumer e-commerce businesses. Jay has also been an executive and a consultant for several top-tier media and Internet companies, including Miramax Films, New Line Cinema and News Corporation. Jay graduated from Brown University, magna cum laude, and received his MBA, cum laude, from Columbia University. Jay currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Fromex Corp. (FRMO.PK) and on the Interactive Advertising Bureau’s (IAB) CFO Council.
Lori is a veteran of the media industry with 18 years of client and agency experience, the past 12 focusing on digital. Most recently, she was a Client Partner overseeing Razorfish's largest client relationships. She was responsible for ensuring brand strategy and vision across multiple large scale clients including Microsoft, Capital One, Monster.com, Polo Ralph Lauren, The Travel Channel and Smith Barney. As a Client Partner, she guided teams of specialists in digital media, search, strategy, ecommerce, creative, website content creation, user experience and technology. Before joining Razorfish, Lori spent six years as a VP, Account & Media Director with Initiative Media/ID Media, where she co-launched FastBridge, their interactive media division. She oversaw the marketing strategy for Nextel, Maybelline, Nikon, E*trade, and Brinks Home Security. She has also worked in the direct mail group for Wunderman Cato Johnson and in-house running the broadcast and newspaper media department at Stern's Department Stores (now Macy’s) overseeing outside agencies.
Tomlin is a Microsoft veteran since 1997 and brings nearly 15 years of experience in software development to the TRAFFIQ team. Tomlin is tasked with end-to-end ownership of the company's engineering function, including software and systems architecture, software development and quality assurance.
Across various roles at Microsoft, Tomlin was responsible for advertising systems, defining and delivering scalable products used by Microsoft, large brands, self-serve advertisers and other third parties that drive $3+ billion in revenue with greater than 99% service uptime while delivering more than 20 billion ad impressions per day.
Across various leadership roles over the last nine years working on Microsoft's advertising platforms, Tomlin oversaw teams focused on such initiatives as Creative Management, Campaign Management, Pricing Optimization and Editorial/Content Control, while delivering significant improvements in operational efficiency. Prior to this, Tomlin also served as a Senior Development Lead and Web Development Manager at Microsoft, having joined the company in 1997 from Wasser Studios, Inc., an online documentation startup based in Seattle. Tomlin holds several existing and pending patents.
Randy Castleman has two decades of company-building experience at the intersection of digital media, telecom and IT, including founding and senior operating roles in small and large companies, as well as involvement in key developments in intellectual property protection and licensing on the Internet. Prior to Court Square, Mr. Castleman created and managed the New Media and Technology Strategy group at performance rights clearing house ASCAP, advising the CEO and board on intellectual property and new technology issues. His group developed the first license for the performance of copyrighted music via the Internet, establishing ASCAP as a leader in the field. Also during his tenure at ASCAP, he was a technology policy advisor for the National Information Infrastructure Advisory Council, a Federal advisory commission that advised the White House on Internet-related policy issues, and which was comprised of 30 CEOs from the telecom, software, and media industries. Mr. Castleman was part of the founding team, with actress Jodie Foster, of Egg Pictures, a PolyGram-financed feature film production company, where he had both business and creative management responsibilities. He had business management responsibilities at Interscope Communications, Ogilvy & Mather Advertising, and BellSouth. Mr. Castleman serves or has served as a director of CSV portfolio companies SNOCAP, Labrador Mobile, Grand Central and Optinel Systems. He earned his BA from Princeton University and his MBA from the Darden School at the University of Virginia.
Steve is a General Partner with Grotech Ventures where he leads investments in the software, wireless, and digital media sectors. His career spans engineering roles, entrepreneurial company building, and early stage investing. Prior to Grotech, Steve was a General Partner with Novak Biddle Venture Partners where he made significant contributions to the success of numerous companies. He began his career in research and development with IBM, and then joined a venture-funded software company in the document imaging space called Vantage Solutions, which was acquired in 1994. Steve subsequently co-founded software development firm MartinScott before making his transition to the venture business in 1997. He has served in interim-operating roles with several portfolio companies upon request. Steve has also been instrumental in the launch of StartUpHire, a much needed online job board listing thousands of opportunities at venture-backed companies. He currently serves as a director of Grotech portfolio companies Omnilink Systems, RollStream, LogiXML, Secure Command, and TRAFFIQ. Steve earned his BS and MS in Electrical Engineering, magna cum laude, from Virginia Tech and served for several years as an Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Maryland’s Smith School of Business. He is a frequent speaker on entrepreneurship and venture investing.
Brian is a Co-Founder and Managing Director of Tribeca Venture Partners, the early stage venture capital firm that invests in Internet, software, and mobile companies targeting or disrupting the largest industries in the NY-metro area. He oversees management of the venture fund and serves as Co-Chairman of the Fund’s Investment Committee. Brian was previously a Managing Partner with SAVP, where he co-managed all of the fund’s activities. Prior to SAVP, Brian was a Principal at Sterling Venture Partners and a Vice President with ABN AMRO Private Equity, the U.S. venture arm of ABN AMRO bank. Brian is currently a board member of BDMetrics, Flat World Knowledge, FTRANS, HomeSphere, Pontiflex, TRAFFIQ and Serious. Brian previously sat on the boards of YellowJacket (acquired by the Intercontinental Exchange, NYSE: ICE) and KnowledgeStorm (acquired by TechTarget, NASDAQ: TTGT).
Chris Holden brings 20 years of early stage investing and company building experience to Court Square, including 11 years with Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation in a variety of senior executive roles. From 1995 to 2000 he served as Chief Executive Officer of Kesmai Corporation, a wholly owned software and technology subsidiary of News Corp, which he sold to Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) and America Online (NYSE: AOL). Prior to becoming CEO of Kesmai, Mr. Holden was EVP for the News Technology Group, which held company-wide responsibility for investing in technology-related businesses, as well as managing the integration and deployment of new technologies across News Corp businesses worldwide. He also served on News Corp's global Interactive Strategy Taskforce, was a member of the executive team that created iGuide, a joint venture between News Corp and MCI which became TV Guide Interactive and merged with Gemstar Corporation (NASDAQ: GMST), and was a senior executive with the News Digital Media Group, which oversaw the online operations of a number of News Corp companies. Previously, he co-founded the Advanced Media Group for HarperCollins Publishers in New York (a News Corp company) and served as corporate vice president. He has served as a director of numerous private companies including CSV portfolio companies: CSTV, Logic Library, TRAFFIQ, and Voxant. He is a graduate of Davidson University.
Nick has more than fifteen years of leadership experience in the advertising and marketing industries. He was most recently responsible for the growth strategy, client relationships, and leading the team of interactive design, technology and marketing professionals at GSI Commerce's Marketing Services division (TrueAction, Silverlign and Pepperjam). Before joining TrueAction, Nick was president of Denuo, Publicis Groupe's futures practice, and led global digital development for Publicis Groupe Media. Prior to Denuo, he was president of Beyond Interactive Inc., which he co-founded and successfully sold to Grey Global Group. He was also managing director of Mediacom Digital, part of WPP's GroupM and Grey Global Group. Nick was recognized by MEDIA magazine as one of the top 50 People to Know in Interactive Marketing, Advertising Age's coveted 40 under 40 list, and as a MediaPost Online All-Star. He holds dual degrees in biopsychology and marketing from the University of Michigan.
Mark brings an unparalleled understanding of both the operational and the strategic sides of the Interactive world. Prior to founding TRAFFIQ, Mark served as Vice President of Business Development and Vice President of Corporate Development at a leading pay-per-click search network, where he was responsible for growing the company’s core revenue-generating relationships. Mark has also held senior business development, marketing and corporate development positions at iVillage, B2B Video Network and several of The News Corporation’s companies including, News America Publishing, News America New Media, Kesmai Corporation, American Sky Broadcasting, Delphi Internet Services and TV Guide. Mark has also managed over $500 million in M & A transactions. He earned his Bachelors of Arts from Connecticut College.
Steve spent nearly 30 years at Grey Global Group Inc., where he most recently served as Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer-Worldwide. He managed Grey's financial operations and all other corporate functions, and oversaw Grey’s integration into WPP Group plc after WPP acquired Grey in 2005. Since leaving the company in 2007, Steve has worked with a number of intellectual property and marketing services companies to help them achieve their business goals. He joined Grey in 1979 to establish its legal department and is a graduate of Dickinson College and Yale Law School.
Tom most recently served as SVP & Chief Information Officer Platform-A overseeing the technology division for the industry’s largest digital advertising platform. Platform-A offers the most comprehensive suite of online marketing solutions powered by the Web’s best advertising technologies. As CIO, Tom was responsible for the company's 340 technology employees located in eight cities across the US and Europe. In this role, he was responsible for providing leadership and oversight for the development, maintenance and operation of the Company’s information systems. Prior to AOL, Tom was the CIO of Advertising.com As chief information officer for Advertising.com, Tom led the company’s technology team and was responsible for maintaining, developing and operating the company’s award-winning information systems. Platform-A and Advertising.com are a division of AOL/Time Warner. Prior to Advertising.com, Tom served as CIO for Baltimore County Government, overseeing the technology and systems which supported and served over 6,000 employees and 750,000 citizens.
Chief Executive Officer, The HealthCentral Network
Chris Schroeder is Chief Executive Officer of The HealthCentral Network, Inc., which owns and operates a network of Web properties providing premium medical information, news and resources to doctors, patients and their caregivers. He has held this position since 2005. Prior to this, Schroeder was Chief Executive Officer and Publisher of Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive. He also was Chief Executive of LEGI-SLATE, a leading online provider of news, analyses and data pertaining to federal and state legislation, which he sold in 2000. Schroeder was a co-founder and chairman of The Online Publishers Association, and has served on the board of the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB). He serves on the Board of Advisors to MDC, which owns some of the leading advertising companies. Schroeder is an active speaker on Internet issues and has written for The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Advertising Age, MediaPost and now has a monthly column in Media Magazine. He has been recognized by the American Advertising Federation (AAF) Hall of Achievement. Schroeder has extensive investment banking experience, and has served under President George HW Bush in the Department of State. He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College and with honors from the Harvard Business School.
Chief Executive Officer, Everyzing
Tom Wilde is a widely recognized leader in the field of Internet search and online advertising. He is the Chief Executive Officer of Everyzing, the leading audio and video online search engine and advertising network. Prior to joining Everyzing, Wilde held numerous leadership roles in the field including Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Consumer Division at domain portfolio company NameMedia, and Senior Vice President and General Manager of MIVA Inc.'s North American division, where he was responsible for MIVA's U.S. online advertising network and the company's consumer business. Prior to that, Wilde held senior operating roles managing Terra Lycos' global search & publishing divisions. He has served on the IAB Search Engine Committee and holds an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Managing Director, Blue Chip Venture Company
Mark Wright leads Blue Chip’s Media & Marketing industry practice and is responsible for six Blue Chip IV portfolio companies, including IXI, Third Screen Media, Verance, and [x+1]. Mark founded and chairs the Media and Marketing Technology Council, which meets monthly in New York and includes thought leaders, senior executives, entrepreneurs, and VC investors focused on the next generation of media and marketing initiatives. Mark is based in Stamford, Connecticut, which enables close contact with investment sources and entrepreneurs on the East Coast, especially the media and marketing communities in New York City.
Prior to joining Blue Chip in 2001, Mark was the founder and CEO of @plan, a successful Blue Chip II portfolio company. @plan became the industry standard market planning software system for online advertising and online retailing. Under Mark’s leadership, @plan completed a successful IPO and was sold to DoubleClick for $105 million. In the late 1980's Mark founded Inforum, which became the industry standard market planning software system for hospitals and other large healthcare institutions. Inforum also completed a successful IPO and was sold for $150 million to Medstat. Previously, Mark was an executive vice president with Ericson Marketing Communications, an advertising agency.
Founding President, TRAFFIQ
Prior to serving as the Founding President and COO of TRAFFIQ, Ballister, the 15-year digital media veteran, served in senior management roles with the National Basketball Association, FindWhat.com, Go2Net, Microsoft's Sidewalk.com online local city guides, and spent several years in sales management roles with Hallmark Cards.
Since, Ballister founded and is the Managing General Partner of Over The Wall Ventures, a New York-based digital media advisory and angel investment firm that specializes in helping emerging or underperforming businesses within the advertising ecosystem to accelerate their growth--through strategic assessment and review.
Ballister served five years in the U.S. Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer and holds a Bachelor of Science from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.