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Experience

2001-present

Independent BOD member, CEO Coach and Adjunct Professor in the Pepperdine executive MBA program

Currently serving as an outside Board of Directors Member of three public software and hardware technology companies (ADC, $1B and Primal $20M and Local.com), and Adjunct Professor, Executive MBA Program, Pepperdine University. Also, a CEO coach for six high technology companies.

2001

Spruce Technologies, Inc., San Jose, California

Chairman and co-CEO

Silicon Valley based company targeting its applications to DVD authoring and content. Recruited to downsize and sell company. Sold to Apple Computer, Inc for cash. All the shareholder groups were satisfied.

1997-2001

ProShot Golf, Inc., San Juan Capistrano, California

Chairman and CEO

A private company providing GPS distance measuring computers on golf carts and superintendent vehicles to help golf courses increase sales and profits. Hired to bring the company out of insolvency. Increased the number of installed courses from 35 in 1997 to 200 in 2000. Sold the company to Inforetech Wireless in January 2001.

1996-1997

Proxima Corporation, San Diego, California

President and CEO

A $150M public multimedia projector company that had been losing market share due to no new product releases over 12 months. Shifted to a strategic product development relationship with Japanese vendors, and assisted sale of company to ASK-Norway. The industry needed a roll up strategy.

1993-1996

Etak, Inc. (Subsidiary of News Corp), Menlo Park, California

President and CEO

A digital map software and content company developing consumer market with multimedia car navigation systems and Internet location services. Assisted in sale of the company to Sony.

1989-1993

Seiko Instruments America, Inc. (SII), Torrance and San Jose, California

Served as an outside board member from 1993-2005

President and COO

$200M all non-watch business in North America. Six divisions including consumer products, color graphics, point of sale printers, OEM components, robotics and semiconductor equipment. Grew sales from $89M to $200M in North America.

1981-1989

Computer Systems Division, Toshiba America, Inc. Irvine, California

Vice President and General Manager

Established Toshiba's PC printer and laptop business in the United States. Grew sales from start-up to $450M.

1967-1989

Held positions as Vice President of International Data Corp (part of IDG) and as a systems engineer at IBM.

 

Key Accomplishments

  • Designed and launched first laptop computer for Toshiba, creating the market segment, growing sales from zero to $400M in three years
  • Named one of the top 25 computer industry executives by Computer Resellers News
  • Chairman of the OC Forum for Corporate Directors (FCD), the leading OC professional association for helping to build excellence in corporate governance
  • Effected major changes and grew Seiko Instruments America from $89M to $200M in 4 years. Then served as an outside BOD Member for 12 additional years
  • Re-engineered Etak, a business unit of News Corp, and negotiated sale of company to Sony
  • Downsized Spruce Technologies and sold company to Apple Computer
  • Developed strategic customer-vendor relationships with Sanyo, Hitachi, Sony Japan, Sony Europe, Michelin, Robert Bosch, ASK (Norway) and Apple Corp. resulting in over $600M of transactions
  • As an active outside Board Member, helped lead Wonderware, Inc. through a successful IPO, founder CEO transition and cash sale at $400M (four+ times revenue)
  • Appointed as a Federal Trade Commission Monitor to oversee sale of MSC software business unit to EDS
  • As an active outside board member and chairman of the Compensation committee helped Candle Corp. (a $400M private SW company) sell to IBM and worked on all the transaction and transition compensation for senior management