Howard Freidman, CEO,
e-cerv, inc.

Howard Freidman

E-cerv, inc. is a pioneer in a new generation of business communications that make existing phone systems and services obsolete. E-cerv’s web-based hosted applications complement or replace existing PBX’s, voice response systems, voice mail, and on premise systems. The firm was founded in 1998, and serves hundreds of customers ranging from Fortune 500 firms to SOHO businesses. Previously, Mr. Freidman was Vice President of Sales for Proxicom, Inc where he spearheaded growth from startup to $20 million in annual revenue and was a key member of the executive team that established the firm as a recognized top 5 Internet development firm. 

Before Proxicom, Mr. Freidman helped found one of the first US firms to establish a presence in the Former Soviet Union, Grey Haven Inc. The firm consulted on Information Technology and business process modernization solutions to a range of Russian government agencies, provided business development and sales support to major US firms such as IBM and Hewlett Packard, and also secured $1 million in US government funds to promote US technology. 

Mr. Friedman’s’ prior experience includes Director of Federal Operations for Computer Corporation of America, where he managed a $15 million business unit providing DBMS software plus professional services to virtually every US government agency. Previously, he was Director of Business Development for CBMI – a Federally focused system integrator that Mr. Freidman joined as a startup and helped grow to nearly $10 million in annual revenues.  

Mr. Freidman has a BBA in Information Systems from George Washington University; during his tenure in school he also worked part time as a computer programmer and systems analyst which helped him develop a strong technical understanding which complements his sales, marketing and general management skills.

Matt Haley

Matt is an executive in Accenture ‘s Corporate Strategy and Business Architecture organization.  He is responsible for strategy development in large Accenture clients working with smaller firms as well as SME companies trying to penetrate Global 2000 firms.  Mr. Haley works with companies across industries (such as Exxon Mobil, Xerox, Canada Post, Nextel, and Cingular).  Mr. Haley has also done work on every continent and currently has an ongoing projects in Europe, Singapore and Korea. 

Prior to joining Accenture, Matt was a founder and vice president of marketing of On-Link Technologies, a business-to-business eCommerce tools provider from 1997 through 1999.  Matt was responsible for molding a strong technology team into a fundable company and then growing that company substantially.  This included taking the price when he arrived from $10,000 for a site license to $175,000 per unit, and a minimum deal size of 4 units.  Siebel Systems acquired On-Link to extend their Web offerings.   

Prior to On-Link, Matt was a founder and marketing executive of Intrinsa Technologies, a software tools development company that was acquired by Microsoft.  Mr. Haley ran Marketing including BD, Sales, Product Marketing and Marcom.  This included pricing and packaging strategy as well as the PR and sales processes to support the prices. 

Matt has been a consultant in Silicon Valley helping startups focus their business and build management teams to prepare them for venture funding.  Matt has also worked for Digital Equipment, Case Technology, Control Data and Eastman Kodak.  Matt has five patents in software development, a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Detroit and a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from San Jose State University.

Kurt Nguyen,
Qnexis, Inc

Kurt has over 13 years experience in marketing and executive management with early-stage and Fortune 1000 companies.  As a result, he has developed a strong understanding of what it takes to succeed in both.  He currently leads, Qnexis, Inc., a strategic marketing and communications firm that provides proven marketing solutions to help companies grow in a post dot-com economy. 

Prior to founding Qnexis, Kurt held management and executive level assignments, including as Vice President of Marketing for Caucus Systems, where he was responsible for developing the company’s product and pricing strategy.  He also managed the channel pricing strategy in the highly competitive hard disk drive market for Western Digital.

Lawrence D. Schlang, President and CEO, Bantu  

A pioneer in the online collaboration and communication industry, Larry Schlang is the President and CEO of Bantu, Inc. Larry drives the company’s strategic planning and direction and ensures that Bantu continues to maintain its position as a premier provider of Web-based instant communications tools.

Larry has gained vast knowledge of what it takes to grow a high tech company in today’s economy. Prior to Bantu, Larry served as Vice President of Operations and then President of Bantu’s predecessor company, IntraACTIVE, Inc. Under Larry’s guidance, IntraACTIVE was one of the first players in the Web collaboration and applications service provider markets. He was instrumental in selling IntraACTIVE’s groundbreaking and award-winning Web groupware product, InTandem, to small and large companies, including Marriott, Ameritech, and SAIC. Larry was responsible for handling legal matters, partnerships and strategic relationships. Under his leadership the company sold InTandem to Mail.com.

Before joining IntraACTIVE, Larry served as Vice President and General Counsel for National Strategies Inc., where he handled various telecommunications and wireless issues at the Washington-based telecommunications consulting firm. Prior to working in the telecommunications industry, he practiced law at Shea & Gould, where he focused on commercial and securities law and litigation.

Larry often presents at shows and conferences including Radicati Group, Internet World, CTIA, Pulver.com and CommNet events. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia and a law degree from George Washington University.

 

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