Cool Person of the Day

It is rare for a Chief Operating Officer of a company, especially a company in the tech sector, to have a visible presence in the media.  More often than not, when a company issues a statement, they use their press department, the Director of Marketing or even the CEO.  But for VisionTek, that is not always the case.  In fact, in 2010 when rumors were swirling that the company was facing bankruptcy, it was VisionTek’s COO Michael Innes who leapt into the public spotlight to quell those fears. Read more »

When an executive in a prominent company retires, dies or is otherwise no longer able to perform their duties, there are often strict rules which govern how they will be replaced.  In most big businesses and stockholder-held companies, senior management officers must be approved at an annual meeting of the Board of Directors.  However, the workload that an executive officer had does not simply disappear with the individual leaving the position.  As a result, many corporations employ an interim executive until the approval process for the position may be completed.  Frequently, the interim executive is approved and comes to fill the position that they accepted on a temporary basis.  That means that Jessie Becker could be the next Chief Marketing Officer of Netflix! Read more »

With the proliferation of digital photograph editing programs, a number of new companies have sprouted up.  In order to make these emerging businesses successful, most of the new companies are staffing from established, successful technology companies.  The opportunity to trade the steady, reliable position that a large company offers for the excitement of a small start-up is surprisingly appealing to a number of people in the tech sector.  One person who enthusiastically transitioned from a major firm to a small IT company was Paul Murphy. Read more »

With so much of the Earth’s surface area exposed to sunlight at any given moment, solar power seems like it would be a no-brainer as a renewable energy source.  Especially in already-developed areas of the world – cities, along highways, etc. – there are plenty of surfaces that could conceivably be covered in solar panels to generate electricity for industrial or residential use.  Actually, the problems of the solar energy industry are far more complicated than that.  As a result, every major renewable energy company employs a corporate officer who is responsible for developing a strategy for improving the distribution of products, educating the public, and guiding the product development within the company.  For Slunce Solar Technology, that executive is Debbie Varga. Read more »

The search for reliable, renewable, alternative energy sources is a pursuit of companies and individuals all around the world.  While the United States has been slow to adopt alternative energy sources that would wean the country from a dependency on fossil fuels, many other nations – especially the European countries – have been developing, utilizing, and marketing alternative energy products for businesses and consumers for years.  One of the leading companies presenting solar power options to the world is SMA Solar Technologies AG.  Recently, SMA Solar Technologies AG hired Emanuele Arpini. Read more »

People are the lifeblood of every business.  You can have a great idea and a business model, but without a dedicated staff that is working to achieve the goals and vision you lay out, your business venture or company will not amount to anything more than a dream.  That is why, as a company grows, the head of Human Resources becomes increasingly important.  Whoever is in charge of Human Resources for your company needs to be able to make judgments both about applicants and the corporate culture of your business.  That level of discrimination and judgment is part of what makes Diane M. Kaufman so good at her job. Read more »

With the debate continuing in the political arena over the future of healthcare in the United States, it might not surprise you to learn that private entrepreneurs are already looking to pick up the slack from where government programs might leave off.  In fact, many new businesses are utilizing the Internet to spread information and form communities online where users work together toward common health and fitness goals.  One such online community that is currently growing is EveryMove.  As a member of the Board of Directors of EveryMove, Anna Haghgooie is responsible for keeping the venture capital flowing to the start-up! Read more »

Competing against the major companies in the tech sector usually means that smaller businesses must make specialized positions for their emerging markets.  Lacking a global network, smaller businesses devote personnel to making connections with retailers, consumers, and distributors in their new marketplaces.  For Cirago, the manufacturer of cables, cords, storage devices, and accessories for products that other companies make, growth means building their customer base in the United States and becoming a dominant force in the Latin American market.  To achieve the goals Cirago has for those markets, they have Dean Basilio! Read more »

The Internet has been vital to launching many businesses.  As a sales channel, the World Wide Web connects even small businesses with a potentially vast customer base.  The smartest, most modern businesses today utilize the Internet to sell their products and keep their customers informed and engaged.  Ju-ju-be.com makes incredibly good use of the Internet as it is one of the most dynamic, fun websites for new parents.  The success of Ju-ju-be.com comes in no small part Kristin Hunziker. Read more »

In the tech sector, it can be hard to get your product noticed.  The tech sector is a very crowded marketplace.  While there is extensive competition in almost all branches of the tech sector, in many markets, big brands dominate.  Smaller tech sector companies, like the memory card manufacturer Mushkin Enhanced, have to devote considerable resources to their sales staff in order to compete with more well-known companies.  To keep Mushkin Enhanced competitive and growing, the company has Nate Hunziker! Read more »