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Curated Collection Of The Best Interviews From Across The Network





NC Tech Talk: Marc Montoro interviews Ray Carey with NeoNova and Stephanie Trunzo with PointSource

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Marc Montoro   Marc Montoro, Sr. Director of Programs & Communications, NCTA

Marc Montoro is the Sr. Director of Programs & Communications for the North Carolina Technology Association (NCTA).  NCTA is the statewide trade association that represents the tech sector through public affairs and workforce development initiatives, along with events.  Marc is responsible for the development and execution of NCTA’s events portfolio, including content creation, speaker coordination and sponsorship sales.  He also leads NCTA’s communications strategy, including web and social media presence, digital marketing and media relations.

Marc has over 14 years of marketing and communications experience, mostly in technology.  The first five years were as a recruiter.  He started in IT staffing and solutions for TEKsystems, then working for Lucas Group, placing finance/accounting professionals.  He moved to North Carolina in 2004, where he started with NCTA, serving as the Programs Manager for two and a half years.  Then, he held marketing roles with WRAL Tech Wire and Restaurant.com, before returning to NCTA, where he has been in his current role for over four years.

Marc has a BA in Industrial Relations from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, where he played football for the Tarheels.  He lives in Hillsborough with his wife (Natalie) and two daughters (Molly and Daphne).

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Ray Carey   Ray Carey, CEO, NeoNova

Ray Carey has been the Chief Executive Officer at NeoNova since 2010 and, after NeoNova’s acquisition by NRTC last year he took on responsibility for all of the National Rural Telephone Cooperative’s Broadband efforts.

Prior to taking the helm at NeoNova, Ray was a General Partner at Azure Capital Partners in San Francisco where he spent over a decade working and investing in entrepreneurial technology and service companies including Broadlight, Calix Networks, Cyan Optics, Fonality, SlideRocket, Vapps, and World Wide Packets. He remains a Venture Partner with Azure Capital, a firm he joined in 2001. While at Azure in 2008, Ray led the investment in NeoNova, served on its Board of Directors and was named CEO.

Prior to Azure, Ray worked at Credit Suisse First Boston & Robertson Stephens, focused on public and private financings, and mergers and acquisitions for technology companies. He provided strategic advice to several companies, including ADC Telecommunications, Cerent (acquired by Cisco), Efficient Networks, Juniper Networks, Next Level Communications and many others.

Ray represented the United States by swimming in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia, and he received his A.B. and M.A. degrees from Stanford University.

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Stephanie Trunzo   Stephanie Trunzo, CCO, PointSource

Stephanie Lynn Trunzo is the Chief Creative Officer for PointSource, helping drive the vision and messaging, and bringing operational excellence to this growing IBM Premier Business Partner. She manages the design and client experience organizations, creating intuitive experiences built on cutting edge technology, while also crafting Agile and efficient development patterns. Previously, Stephanie was with IBM for 13 years, most recently as a director running the development organization for the IBM Rational Jazz Platform, and the integration strategy for the ALM ecosystem.

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PRSONAS, Inc. and Physcient

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David Rose   David Rose, CEO, PRSONAS, Inc.

Mr. Rose has more than 20 years of leadership experience with Fortune 500, high-growth and start-up companies in the technology, Internet and media industries. Mr. Rose is currently the Chief Executive Officer at PRSONAS. PRSONAS smart virtual presenters use hologram and artificial intelligence technologies to engage with customers and gather valuable user analytics in the physical world.

David holds a degree in Economics from the University of Tennessee and an MBA from the University of North Carolina, Kenan-Flagler Business School.

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Hugh Crenshaw   Hugh Crenshaw, CEO & Co-Founder, Physcient

Hugh is a biologist and engineer with expertise in biomechanics and advanced instrumentation for biological research. Previously, he was Director of Microsystems Technology at GlaxoSmithKline, where he led programs in microfluidics and automated physiological measurement. Earlier, he was on faculty at Duke University (appointments in Zoology and Engineering) where he led teams in cell mechanics, underwater robotics, optical instrumentation, and microfluidics and served as the Director of the Howard Hughes Microscopy Lab and the Duke Microfabrication Facility.

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Chuck Pell   Chuck Pell, CSO & Co-Founder, Physcient

Chuck is a designer, scientist, and inventor with a remarkable trajectory through sculpture, robotic dinosaurs, and underwater and pharmaceutical robots. Previously, Chuck was Co-founder and Director of Science & Technology at Nekton Research, a Navy robotics contractor funded mostly by the US Department of Defense for advanced technology development. Chuck and Hugh’s collaboration on MicroHunter™ lead to the development of the world’s smallest (by a factor of 100) autonomous, underwater robot. With 20+ employees, Nekton was acquired by iRobot, Inc. in 2008. Chuck’s prior positions include Director of the BioDesign biomechanics facility (Duke University Zoology) and Director of R&D for Dinamation International, a Los Angeles-area robotics FX company.

4th Century BCE Greek Drachma (listen to the show to hear how Chuck ties this drachma into what Physcient is doing)

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Pivot Points: Steffanie Lafors with A Photographic Memory

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Fred Hathaway   Fred Hathaway, Managing Director, EntreDot and Host of Pivot Points

Fred Hathaway understands growth strategies and the tactical execution that creates successful outcomes. Whether advising on higher order decisions (e.g. succession plans, new product launches, diversification through new enterprise development, restructuring business development approaches, client persona identification, organizational and leadership development, or cultural due diligence in a transaction) or tactical issues like social media engagement, investor relations, personal marketing plans and similar, he knows how to take theory and create best practice. Deep experience in consulting and marketing across industries and cultures helps shape the innovation and creativity that his clients appreciate and that distinguish custom solutions from “shelf product” alternatives. Fred demonstrates identification with the client needs through making strategic introductions, negotiating alternative fee arrangements, and working with the existing team of executives and advisers to create “win-win” scenarios on a recurring basis. Some of the projects he has led are listed below:

At the Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise, he conducted the research that led to the establishment of the Turnaround Management Association, pulling together 8,000+ professionals in the field of business renewal. Fred was integral in the publishing of the research findings in 46 national business publications and the creation of a monograph of best practices.

Under contract with the National Association of Homebuilders, Fred and a co-author wrote Building Up When Business is Down, a definitive discussion of how a builder can identify and respond to warning signals in their business performance. In similar manner, he advised the American Banking Association on how to view loan workouts as turnaround opportunities through quarterly contributions to the Workouts column of The Commercial Lending Review.

While working within a non-profit, Fred and his team grew the volunteer base from 40 to 1000+ in five years, resulting in a 100X increase in number of prospects reached with the programs of the organization. Additionally, the model that was developed for the operation on North Carolina was prototyped for use in similar locations around the world.

As an internal advisor to the executive committee of a CPA firm, Fred rebranded the organization, implemented an e-marketing and CRM platform, and developed and delivered training that resulted in all billable professionals taking responsibility for personally marketing the firm. Subsequent to these accomplishments, he contributed to the institution of a performance and compensation management system that rewarded business development activities.

Within another professional services organization, Fred led the strategic marketing planning associated with a series of transactions that resulted in a regional firm becoming one of the top 50 national firms in their field. Niche practice business development and marketing messaging were coordinated with identification of thought leaders and assignments were given and managed by Hathaway.

In an interim executive role with a consulting firm serving family businesses, Fred launched national accounts strategy that resulted in securing the first billion dollar client as well as faculty appointments at several corporate universities of organizations with extensive dealer/operator networks. A national business talk radio show was conceived, designed, and hosted by Hathaway on the topic of succession planning.

A local non-profit dedicated to helping entrepreneurs commercialize their business ideas was looking for a way to create sustainable competitive advantage. In a volunteer role, Fred advised the group on curriculum-based programs, marketing campaigns, and management team and board development.

Now serving as the managing director of EntreDot, Hathaway has been instrumental in guiding the organization to a national platform whereby virtual learning and application of best practices can occur, thereby giving more businesses the tools to succeed. In addition to the key projects above, Fred Hathaway has served as startup COO, outsourced CMO, Director of Programs, advisory board member, board of directors’ chair, and in an adjunct capacity with numerous enterprises. Whether working on the clock, by the project, or on retainer, he brings a wealth of experience, insight, and energy to each situation.

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Steffanie Lafors   Steffanie Lafors, Owner/Photographer, A Photographic Memory

Steffanie Lafors is the owner and sole photographer of A Photographic Memory by Steffanie. Steffanie is a family photographer who specializes in natural light photography. She enjoys capturing the joys of parenthood and family life in all of its forms. From maternity, newborn, toddlerhood on up to high school seniors and beyond, she strives to showcase her clients’ personalities in captivating photos.

To see Steffanie’s portfolio, visit her on the web and follow her on Facebook

Method Savvy and Wireless Design Magazine

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Jake Finkelstein   Jake Finkelstein, CEO, Method Savvy

Jake Finkelstein is the Founder & CEO of Method Savvy, a data-driven marketing agency located in downtown Durham, NC. An accomplished brand marketer and demand generation specialist, Jake and his team at Method Savvy work with growth-stage and enterprise-class brands such as Toyota, Bandwidth, Jerry’s Artarama, Clinipace and SAS to efficiently acquire and retain customers.

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Glen Sundin   Glen Sundin, Publisher, Advantage Business Media/ Wireless Design & Development Magazine

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Meaghan Ziemba   Meaghan Ziemba, Editor, Advantage Business Media/ Wireless Design & Development Magazine

Meaghan Ziemba is the editor of Wireless Design and Development (WDD) at Advantage Business Media (ABM). She has worked at ABM for 6 years, starting as the associate editor for WDD’s sister publication, Product Design and Development. She has her Bachelor’s in Professional and Technical Writing from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, and is currently working on her Masters, hoping to graduate in December.

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