ABOUT ME
Like many entrepreneurs, I'm a “work hard, play hard” kind of person. These days I’m the founder and CEO of Tercera, an investment firm focused 100% on identifying and building the next generation of cloud professional service providers. I am also a dad, husband, investor, advisor, board member, speaker, wakeboarder, philanthropist, founder of SipTequila, board member at Bates College, and contributor to the Forbes Technology Council. Click here for my LinkedIn.
Two decades navigating technology and professional services
PHASE 1: EARLY LESSONS
The first phase of my career includes a number of different roles, from college track captain to post-college shoe salesman to my early jobs in sales and customer support. The highlight of this phase was helping Grainger, a global industrial supply company, with its first foray into e-commerce.
PHASE 2: PUBLIC COMPANIES
In my next career phase, I experienced first-hand the highs and lows of the dot-com bubble. During this time I was the global head of services for webMethods where I saw company valuation grow from $50M to a $10B, and then as SVP of services and global CIO for Borland Software.
PHASE 3: START-UP & SCALE-UP
My favorite phase yet was the start-up and scale-up phase. This included co-founding Appirio, one of the first cloud services companies, growing it from an idea to a firm with 1300 employees in 6 markets. After 10 years, 4 rounds of funding and 7 acquisitions, Appirio was bought by Wipro where I was appointed its Chief Culture Officer.
CURRENT PHASE: ENTREPRENEUR, INVESTOR & ADVISOR
Today, I get to work with some of the smartest, most creative people in technology and professional services. In addition to Tercera, I’m also a Venture Partner at GGV Capital and a board member for a number of other organizations, including my alma mater, Bates College. At Bates, I co-chair its advancement committee and work with the next generation of entrepreneurs leading Bates' student venture competition, Bobcat Ventures.
MY PASSIONS
SUPPORTING NEW ENTREPRENEURS
Being a successful entrepreneur requires discipline, creativity, courage and a willingness to ask for help along the way. My conversations with other technology leaders and entrepreneurs teach me something new every day - wisdom from which I hope others can benefit.
BUILDING TEAMS & CULTURES
Corporate culture impacts everything from employee engagement to customer loyalty to a business’ bottom line. My role as start-up CEO and Chief Culture Officer for a global systems integrator turned me into an evangelist for why culture should be a leader's top priority.
EXPLORING TEQUILA & MEXICO
I have a deep love for tequila, and for the plant, the process and the people of Mexico behind the product. For a number of years, I've been partnering with a small group of investors on a high-end tequila brand and a platform to expand access to a new world of ultra premium sipping tequila.
SOLVING THE HOMELESS PROBLEM
It's up to each of us to make an impact on something bigger that ourselves. For me, that's partnering with businesses who think beyond their company walls and supporting organizations like NewStory who are working to solve homelessness through innovative approaches like 3D printed homes.