Category Archives: Business: Executives

News for Business Executives, current, trending, fresh , Press Releases about whats currently happening in the Business Place for executives.

Othot Inc. Appoints Fred Weiss Chief Executive Officer


“Fred Weiss is the ideal person to build on Othot’s impressive success and lead our company into the future,” said Andy Hannah.

Othot, the leader in artificial intelligence and prescriptive analytics for higher education, announced that Fred Weiss has been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer effective February 10, 2020. Andy Hannah, the founding CEO, will continue to be an evangelist for the Othot Platform and how the use of AI and prescriptive analytics optimizes the relationship between institutions and their prospective, current, and former students. In his roles as Co-Founder, Board Member, and Chief Partnership Officer, he will also lead the Company’s efforts to develop industry partnerships.

“Fred is the ideal person to build on Othot’s impressive success and lead our company into the future,” said Hannah. “His strong understanding of the higher education market, and his proven ability to drive results, will help Othot bring exceptional value to colleges and universities across the country. Our entire senior leadership team and I are excited to work with Fred to drive Othot’s next phase of growth and market leadership.”

Weiss was most recently the Chief Research and Data Officer of CASE (the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education). Prior to joining CASE, he was the president and CEO of iModules, an EdTech company focused on alumni engagement. Weiss also spent 20 years at Ellucian (and its predecessor companies) where he held various executive roles in product strategy and field operations.

“I am truly honored to lead our extraordinary company as Othot’s second Chief Executive Officer, and I look forward to working closely with Andy and our exceptional senior leadership team,” said Weiss. “Year-on-year growth was over 90% in 2019, and we will build on that momentum by bringing custom solutions and results to our customers. Higher education is facing multiple challenges, including recruitment, retention, alumni support, and budget pressure. I believe Othot has the most talented people in the industry focused on AI and prescriptive analytics, and our solutions are vital to colleges, universities, and their students.”

Co-Founder and CTO, John Abbatico, said, “Fred has the leadership track record and breadth of industry and business experience we believe are critical to forge major partner relationships, fuel innovation, and transform strategic enrollment management in higher education. Speaking on behalf of the founding team and the board, we are excited to have Fred join Othot as Chief Executive Officer.”

About Othot

Othot is the leader in artificial intelligence and prescriptive analytics solutions for higher education institutions across the United States. Othot focuses on each school’s specific enrollment, retention, student success, and alumni engagement goals. Othot’s cloud-based software provides continuous intelligence in real time and empowers schools to engage each prospective, current, and former student with the right tactic at the right time. Othot is higher intelligence for higher education.

Share article on social media or email:

BlackStone Discovery Welcomes Jerome Dizon as Vice President of Global Operations


News Image

“Jerome is a great fit for our company culture and will be instrumental in the next phase of BlackStone’s growth. We are lucky to have him as part of our team.”

BlackStone Discovery, the premier legal technology and consulting provider, announces the addition of Jerome Dizon as Vice President of Global Operations. Following a year of record-breaking growth and expansion, BlackStone begins the new year by handing its operational keys to one of the industry’s most respected and successful professionals – Mr. Dizon. Dizon’s presence will amplify BlackStone’s ability to deliver an unparalleled customer experience, while expanding on its leadership role in automated cost-efficient technology-driven solutions.

CEO, John Kelly described Jerome’s hiring, “Jerome is a great fit for our company culture and will be instrumental in the next phase of BlackStone’s growth. We are lucky to have him as part of our team.”

With over 20 years of eDiscovery experience, Jerome brings his expertise of maximizing legal efficiencies for AM 100 Law Firms and many of the largest corporations in the world. In his most recent position as SVP of Global Operations at Fronteo, Jerome was the go-to resource, elevating the client experience and ensuring the success of high-profile discovery projects. He brings to BlackStone a breadth of knowledge focused on optimizing the Client Solutions and Data Operations teams, including advanced insights for data acquisition, forensic analysis, and eDiscovery consulting.

“We’re building something special here,” said President Derek Duarte, “Jerome brings the kind of experience and ideas that will help us continue to scale, allowing us to discover the digital truth for clients across the globe.”

About BlackStone Discovery

BlackStone Discovery is a premier legal technology and consulting provider, working with leading Fortune 500 companies and AM Law 100 firms. Born in Silicon Valley and expanding globally from its Palo Alto Headquarters, BlackStone has spearheaded the search for digital truth and its translation into legal rights in litigation, investigations, and data governance. Using best-in-class tool integration, automation, artificial intelligence, and a diverse team of legal and technology experts, BlackStone achieves optimal and efficient results on behalf of its clients.

Share article on social media or email:

LEAP Launches New Women’s Leadership and Social Innovation Program in Partnership with Local Nonprofits that Support Women in Poverty


The women and advisors at the LEAP Launch on February 4, 2020

The Irish International Business Network (IIBN) and Leadership and Executive Acceleration Program (LEAP) hosted a special event to launch LEAP’s 2020 Women’s Leadership Program and featured a keynote by Board Director, Chief Executive Officer, Chairman & PR Week Hall of Fame 2019 Inductee, Aedhmar Hynes.

Over the past decade, representation of women in senior leadership has increased, but women continue to be underrepresented at nearly every level, from entry level to the C-suite. One of the biggest barriers in the pathway to senior leadership is at the first step up to manager, as less women are being promoted overall, according to a 2019 study by McKinsey.

LEAP is a 5-month program for ambitious professional Irish and Irish-American women living in the Greater New York/Tri-State area. This leadership and professional development program is designed to

advance participants career goals and personal growth by providing access to expert speakers and coaches, skills training workshops, and ultimately, a strong network of peer mentors.

With support from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland through the Irish Consulate in New York, the Irish International Business Network (IIBN) developed the LEAP professional development program to empower women to advance in the workplace and strengthen the roles women can play in each other’s success.

“The women in the program are committed to making their leadership development a priority, and will use their voices to make a difference not just for themselves but for their peers and the next generation,” explained Maura Kelly, Director of LEAP.

Speaking at the launch, Aedhmar Hynes said, “Today we are faced with as many barriers in the workplace as previous generations have. This isn’t just about women promoting women and women at the top making the right decisions on behalf of other women. This is about being inclusive, spreading understanding of the challenges and the barriers for the promotion of women. It’s about everyone, [both men and women] working together to a common goal: Gender equality. It is programs such as this that can make a difference.”

LEAP Partners with Two Nonprofits Tackling Poverty and Homelessness

An important aspect of the LEAP Program is LEAP in the Community, which inspires women to channel their collective skills towards solving real-world social problems – making the New York City community better for all. This year, LEAP partnered with two not-for-profit organizations, The Dwelling Place NY and Self Help Africa USA, for the LEAP in the Community Program. Each organization was paired with a small team of LEAP Participants to help them expand their core mission through the development of new strategies. The projects will be ongoing during the 5-month program, with impact to be showcased during the closing reception in June of this year.

Both organizations are championing causes toward poverty eradication, aimed at empowering women and strengthening community ties. Self Help Africa USA is a leading international development charity with an expertise in small-scale farming and growing women-farm businesses, dedicated to ending hunger and poverty in rural Africa. The Dwelling Place of NY is a transitional residence for homeless women in Manhattan. Its mission is to offer safe shelter and individualized care to homeless women as they build a sustainable, self-supported lifestyle.

“The social impact component of the program is what separates LEAP from other leadership programs. It enables the opportunity for action learning for the women while simultaneously doing good in the community – it’s a win-win,” said Jennifer Scanlon, Co-Director of LEAP.

About the Leadership & Executive Acceleration Program (LEAP): Generously funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland through the Irish Consulate in New York and the Irish International Business Network (IIBN) New York, with in-kind support from Grant Thornton US and the Bank of Ireland Innovation Lab. The LEAP Program is able to deliver substantial impact to the women participants and non-profit partners at no charge. For more information, visit http://www.leap-program.nyc

References: McKinsey “Women in the Workplace” 2019

Share article on social media or email:

Charity Navigator Exec Larry Lieberman Named Mouse CEO


“I have enthusiastically followed Mouse’s impact since its launch in 1997, and am excited to lead the next phase of our development as Mouse.org dives more deeply into preparing young people to succeed in high tech careers across all fields including clean energy and sustainability.” Larry Lieberman

Mouse, a 23 year-old national nonprofit that empowers at-risk youth to learn, lead, and create with technology, today announced that its Board of Directors has unanimously named Larry Lieberman as the organization’s new Chief Executive Officer.

“We were very impressed with the enthusiasm and track record Larry has for the advancement of Mouse’s mission and the youth we serve,” said Amy Kodamatsu, Co-Chair, Mouse Board of Directors. “We believe he is the right person to lead Mouse’s future growth and diversification in the rapidly evolving fields of STEM, computer science education, and high tech workforce development.”

Larry is an innovative leader who brings with him executive-level experience in the tech, media, and social sectors. Formerly Chief Operating Officer of Charity Navigator, the world’s largest independent evaluator of nonprofits, Larry’s expertise includes nonprofit accountability, effectiveness, and impact measurement.

Larry is well known as a media executive with Comedy Central, MTV, and Virgin and for his long-standing mental health advocacy work with the JED Foundation on behalf of high school and college students. He works to create strong communities with equal access to education, healthcare, clean energy, and professional opportunities.

Kirk McDonald, Co-Chair of the Mouse Board of Directors, said, “I am very pleased to welcome Larry to Mouse. He brings a wealth of experience in marketing, storytelling, fundraising, and partnership development that will be crucial to Mouse’s future development. He is passionate about empowering youth through technology, sustainability, and closing the diversity gaps in our tech communities.”

“I am honored to be given the opportunity to lead this enduring organization,” said Lieberman. “I have enthusiastically followed Mouse’s impact since its launch in 1997, and am excited to lead the next phase of our development. Mouse will be diving even more deeply into preparing young people to succeed in high tech careers across all fields including clean energy and sustainability. I look forward to supporting the expansion of Mouse’s technology curriculum, reach, and cross-industry collaborations.”

About Mouse

Founded in 1997, Mouse is a national youth and workforce development nonprofit that empowers underrepresented students to succeed using computer science and creative technology to solve real problems and make meaningful change in their communities and our world.

With a commitment to fostering greater equity, empowerment, and humanity in STEM, creative computing, and sustainability we bring together diverse people, programs and platforms necessary to meet a full range of creative computing needs, today and for our future. By combining youth and workforce development, and connecting creative to computational thinking, we are empowering youth — and all those that educate them — to access and amplify technology as a force for good.

Mouse is rated 4-stars by Charity Navigator, their highest rating and earns GuideStar’s Platinum Seal, the highest level of recognition offered by GuideStar.

Share article on social media or email:

Henry Dicker Joins Lowers Forensics International as Senior Vice President of Client Engagement


Welcome Henry Dicker, Senior Vice President, Client Engagement, Lowers Forensics International

Henry’s strong background in cyber and data forensics allows him to offer a unique and recognized perspective on global compliance and regulatory guidelines.

Lowers Forensics International, a globally-recognized financial forensics firm headquartered in Northern Virginia, today announces the appointment of Henry Dicker as Senior Vice President of Client Engagement.

With thirty years of experience in legal information technology, compliance, and services, Dicker has guided corporate legal teams and Am Law 250 firms in the ever-changing legal and compliance landscape. At Lowers Forensics International, he will focus his efforts on building and expanding the litigation support portfolio in the areas of premises security and commercial damages.

“Henry’s strong background in cyber and data forensics allows him to offer a unique and recognized perspective on global compliance and regulatory guidelines,” remarks Marc Johnson, President of Lowers Forensics International. “We look forward to putting his experience and ideas to work to support the needs of our clients in litigation matters,” he says.

Throughout his career, Dicker has created and brought to market scalable end-to-end cyber and data security product suites for both law firm and corporate clients and has partnered with leading risk management organizations to provide cyber and data protection.

To reach Henry Dicker call (540) 338-7151 or visit lowersforensics.com.

About Lowers Forensics International, LLC

Lowers Forensics International is a financial forensics firm offering expertise in insurance claims accounting, litigation support, investigative services, and expert testimony to support organizations worldwide. The company maintains offices across the globe to serve the needs of insurance companies, attorneys, and private and public entities in order to transform complex financial information into clear evidence.

For more information about Lowers Forensics International, visit lowersforensics.com.

Share article on social media or email:

Power Digital Marketing Announces First Agency President


News Image

“It has been a dream of mine to join forces with Jeff again and there is not an Executive I would pick over Jeff for this role, simply put, he is world class,” said Grayson Lafrenz, CEO of Power Digital.

Power Digital Marketing, Inc. (Power Digital), an award-winning, tech-enabled digital marketing agency that helps brands expand their online presence and scale revenue, is thrilled to announce the addition of Jeff Mason as President. Mason spent the last 10 years as the Senior Vice President of Sales at MRC Smart Technology Solutions, A Xerox Company. Under Mason’s leadership, MRC scaled from $43 million to $224 million+ in 10 years. Jeff has been widely recognized as a rising star within Xerox Corporation and was credited with building one of their top sales and consulting organizations.

“Over the past 5 years, it has become increasingly clear to me that digital marketing is where the sales industry is going, and that sales and marketing are on a true collision course,” said Jeff Mason, President of Power Digital. “I knew I had to be at the center of this collision. People don’t buy digital marketing, they buy outcomes and results. Power Digital understands this like no other agency and the company’s dedication to always innovating makes me eager to join this talented team. We have a clear vision of the future and the outcomes we plan to achieve together will be unmatched.”

Mason is a huge addition for Power Digital and has an incredibly aligned working relationship with both Power Digital’s CEO and COO going back 15+ years. In his new role, Mason plans to ascend Power Digital’s sales department into his coined “Sales 2.0 Strategy” by developing the most advanced and effective sales organization in the agency category.

“Jeff Mason is an Executive that I respect at the highest levels,” said Grayson Lafrenz, CEO of Power Digital. “I was lucky to have seen his brilliance and impact first hand as a past colleague. It has been a dream of mine to join forces with Jeff again and there is not an Executive I would pick over Jeff for this role, simply put, he is world class. Not only will Jeff help us evolve our sales organization into the envy of our industry, but he will help us further develop our technology and leadership team. Jeff Mason joining Power Digital is a game changer for the entire Power Digital Family!”

Jeff Mason officially joined Power Digital’s team effective Feb. 3, 2020.

About Power Digital Marketing

Power Digital Marketing is a leading, data-driven performance marketing agency located in San Diego, CA. As a full-service agency, the company offers services including: SEO, Content Marketing, Paid Media, Social Media Marketing, PR, Influencer, Email, Conversion Rate Optimization, Amazon Marketing and Web Development, with an emphasis in helping brands scale revenue and increase profits through customer acquisition and retention programs. Its tech-enabled B2C and B2B marketing campaigns focus on measurability and driving bottom line business results. The Power Digital team’s family mentality and growth mindset culture fosters a strong work ethic, innovation and an ownership mentality from its talented team. For more information, please visit powerdigitalmarketing.com.

Share article on social media or email:

Chalice Wealth Partners Adds JP Guilbault to Board of Directors


JP Guilbault

JP is a visionary growth leader with tremendous experience and passion for small business and technology. We believe his strong experience in M&A and scaling companies that serve SMBs and member-based organizations will be extremely valuable as Chalice continues to grow.

Chalice Wealth Partners, the parent company of Chalice Financial Network™, an online member-based digital marketplace for independent, small and midsized businesses, today announced the addition of Jean-Paul (JP) Guilbault to its board of directors.

Guilbault is a proven technology and business visionary, board member and community leader with more than 25 years of commercial, operational and strategic management experience. He’s worked for global brands that include Dun and Bradstreet, Intuit and Constant Contact, and has extensive private equity and M&A experience. He has held a range of functional and executive positions and served as chief executive officer of YourMembership and Community Brands, which provided cloud and fintech solutions built to serve member-based organizations.

“Since launching the Chalice Financial Network about a year ago, we’ve seen tremendous growth,” said Keith Gregg, founder and CEO of Chalice. “JP is a visionary growth leader with tremendous experience and passion for small business and technology. We believe his strong experience in M&A and scaling companies that serve SMBs and member-based organizations will be extremely valuable as Chalice continues to grow.”

Guilbault said, “Keith’s vision and passion for helping SMBs is unmatched when it comes to entrepreneurs. Small and midsized organizations power our economy, and Chalice is providing a refreshing set of solutions to enhance their success. I look forward to working with Keith and the team as they scale the business and serve members.”

About Chalice Wealth Partners and Chalice Financial Network™

Chalice Wealth Partners is the parent company of Chalice Financial Network™ and Succession Link, both exclusive member-benefit organizations dedicated to empowering today’s small to mid-sized advisor. More than 51,000 members find solutions to their business challenges daily. Through the digital marketplace—Chalice Advisor Exchange™— the network provides access to best-in-class wealth management products and services in pursuit of the economies of scale and operational efficiencies advisors want and need to succeed. The community also provides unique peer-to-peer networking and collaboration opportunities creating a forum for sharing ideas and best practices to help strengthen members collectively. For more information, visit http://www.chalicefn.com and http://www.successionlink.com.

Share article on social media or email:

Age of Empires IV Art Director Joins Pixelmatic


Pixelmatic is proud to announce the hiring of our new Director of Art, Wayne Wong-Chong, from Relic Entertainment. Wayne joins Pixelmatic’s existing ex-Relic design team of Jason Lee and Damon Gauthier, bringing fresh ideas and decades of AAA experience at some of Canada’s top game studios.

Wayne makes the leap to Pixelmatic after having spent nearly 12 years as a Technical Artist and Technical Art Director at Relic Entertainment. He worked as a Principal Technical Artist on both the Company of Heroes and Dawn of War franchises, before leading technical art direction on the highly anticipated upcoming blockbuster, Age of Empires IV.

Wayne’s journey into game art actually started in the AutoCAD labs of the Vancouver Lower Mainland, where he studied CAD architecture. Following his passion for gaming and feature films, he soon decided to switch from architecture to 3D animation, graduating from the famed Vancouver Film School. After cutting his teeth working on numerous 3D animated TV series, Wayne took on more art supervision roles in TV and film, before finally entering the game industry in 2005 as a Technical Artist on FIFA at EA Sports. Enticed by his love for Homeworld, Wayne took the opportunity to join Relic when it came along, and went on to spend a very productive decade there.

Having had shipped multiple AAA titles at Relic, why was Wayne attracted to an up-and-coming studio such as Pixelmatic? In his own words, Wayne claims that, “games are evolving and need to evolve to effectively compete for players’ precious spare time. Longevity and success of large games need the support of tech carefully planned into the game design. The core creative team on Infinite Fleet, led by Jason Lee and Damon Gauthier, understand this and it’s our number one focus to create a game where the marriage between game design and tech is meaningful, not to mention achievable.”

Pixelmatic, being the nimble and innovative studio that it is, is well positioned to be adaptive and address the changing landscape of games. It is exactly this willingness to be flexible and embrace innovation that has attracted a talent like Wayne who brings with him his unique art vision as well as his immense pedigree.

On his vision for Infinite Fleet, Wayne said, “Pixelmatic and myself, we love both fictional and non-fictional science. We also love anime. My vision for Infinite Fleet is to create a colorful nostalgic universe where players can engage in over the top anime-esk battles, or friends can simply explore beautiful vistas together while they forge their fleets. Infinite Fleet will have a deep lore rooted in the goals and challenges that the human race are faced with today. We want the world we are creating to spark conversation about technology and what the future holds for us as a species. I’ll be referencing and imbuing the franchise with shapes, colors, and motion familiar to anime fans, and I’m excited to share this vision in the coming months with Infinite Fleet’s growing community.”

Besides the new ideas Wayne is bringing to Infinite Fleet, he is also excited about existing innovations that the Pixelmatic team is already implementing. “The cryptographic game money of Infinite Fleet, INF, is cutting edge and is designed to power player agency both in and out of session by being portable and easily fungible with other cryptocurrencies. We are also exploring machine learning, leveraging HDRP in Unity, and experimenting with Houdini FX. The art team is taking full advantage of all the latest techniques in Substance Painter/Designer, harnessing the power of Blender 2.8, and much more. It’s an exciting time at Pixelmatic.”

The entire Pixelmatic team is excited to officially have Wayne Wong-Chong onboard, and we look forward to accomplishing great things with Infinite Fleet.

Share article on social media or email:

Welcome to the Finals of the National Financial Plan Competition


I salute the university professors who support the competition and look forward to yet another year of networking with the promising financial professionals of the future…IARFC Trustee Chair and CEO, H. Stephen Bailey, MRFC®.

For 2020, the following students will be gearing up for their live presentation to IARFC Trustees and US Chapter Board Directors:


  • Abigail Adams and Zachary Wakamatsu, Utah Valley University – Associate Professor Dr. Luke Dean
  • Allison Biddix and Michael Austin, Western Carolina University – Dr. Patrick Payne
  • Jackie Battles, University of North Texas – Adjunct Professor Dave Ragan

“Our students really rose to the challenge provided by the IARFC’s National Financial Plan Competition,” observed Dr. Patrick Payne of Western Carolina University. “It expanded their horizons and encouraged them to dive deep into the planning process. We are very proud of them and their hard work on this competition!”

The National Financial Plan Competition is organized through the IARFC for undergraduate students in a curriculum related to Financial Services and supported in part by IARFC members and corporate backers such as 2020 sponsors Money Concepts Capital Corp. and Envestnet MoneyGuide.

This competition gives students an exercise in real-world practices – that of analyzing a client’s situation and critically thinking a course of action. In many cases, professors have used this exercise as part of their curriculum. Participants were given a fictional case study of a family and an overview of their financial picture. From that data, teams were asked to produce a financial plan with recommendations for current and future action.

“I am extremely proud that our competition prepares students for their financial services career. Developing a financial plan is at the core of what we do. By participating in the event, the teams gain valuable experience in how that process works. I salute the university professors who support the competition and look forward to yet another year of networking with the promising financial professionals of the future.” IARFC Trustee Chair and CEO, H. Stephen Bailey, MRFC®.

The competition will be judged this year by the IARFC Trustees and the US Chapter Board of Directors. Both Boards will convene in Cincinnati, OH for their annual meeting where the actual live presentation finals will take place on Thursday, April 23. For information on the IARFC National Financial Plan Competition and how to become a Corporate Sponsor or an Individual Donor, visit https://www.iarfc.org/events/nfpc.

Share article on social media or email:

Community Health Charities Welcomes Judge John Stanoch to National Board of Directors


“Judge Stanoch’s extensive experience in business and civic service make him an invaluable asset to our board.”

Community Health Charities announced today that Hennepin County District Court Judge (retired) John M. Stanoch joined the CHC national board of directors, adding his significant expertise to an impressive roster of top executives in health and social impact.

“Judge Stanoch’s extensive experience in business and civic service make him an invaluable asset to our board,” said Thomas G. Bognanno, CHC president and CEO. “His incredibly diverse skillset will help us continue to expand our impact, building stronger, healthier communities.”

Judge Stanoch currently serves as Chair of the Medica Foundation Board of Directors as well as Vice Chair for the Medica Board of Directors. His previous roles include President of Qwest Communications in Minnesota and North Dakota, Minnesota’s Chief Deputy Attorney General, and Hennepin County District Court Judge. He also has held executive leadership positions in the civic sector, serving as President and CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Upper Midwest, Interim President of the Science Museum of Minnesota, and Interim CEO of the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Judge Stanoch received a B.A. in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a J.D. from the Mitchell Hamline School of Law. He has been active in a wide range of community and professional organizations in the Twin Cities and currently serves on the boards of AchieveMpls, the strategic nonprofit partner of the Minneapolis Public Schools, the Board of Visitors of the University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Letters and Science, and the Minnesota Council of Churches Foundation.

At the last board meeting, Judge Stanoch was elected to the CHC national board of directors by unanimous vote and will assume his official duties at the next board meeting hosted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in March 2020.

About Community Health Charities

Community Health Charities has been raising awareness and resources and empowering people to take action to improve health and wellbeing for over 60 years. We support education, treatment, and prevention for those with health challenges; bring organizations together to improve community health; provide individuals with opportunities to get involved; and increase the capacity of nonprofit organizations. Visit https://healthcharities.org or @healthcharities.

Share article on social media or email: