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WeddingWire is led by an experienced team of entrepreneurs, savvy technologists, and marketers.
The management's background includes (i) founding members of Blackboard Inc (NASDAQ: BBBB),
a successful startup employing over 800 people with a market capitalization of over 1.2 Billion,
(ii) technology talent that has implemented systems for Intel, Fannie Mae, and AT&T,
(iii) sales and marketing veterans who have managed global sales forces and national consumer brands, and
(iv) industry expertise from either being married or working in the wedding industry directly.
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Timothy Chi
Chief Executive Officer
Timothy founded WeddingWire with the vision of infusing technology into the wedding and event industry. In less than five years, WeddingWire has become the largest online marketplace connecting local merchants with engaged couples. For over 100,000 local merchants, WeddingWire provides a marketing platform to reach prospective clients, to manage multi-media assets, and to network with other merchants. For engaged couples, WeddingWire provides vendor recommendations, local business reviews, personal website creation, and a suite of online planning tools.
Previously, Timothy co-founded Blackboard Inc in 1998. While at Blackboard, Timothy pioneered many of Blackboard's product and strategic initiatives, helping the company grow to over 600 employees and a valuation of over $750 Million.
Timothy holds a B.S. degree in Operations Research/Industrial Engineering from Cornell University and a Master's of Science degree in Engineering Management from Tufts University
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Lee Wang
Chief Operating Officer
Lee is responsible for overseeing revenue generation and driving the sales strategies and strategic partnerships of WeddingWire.
Prior to joining WeddingWire, Lee held the post of Vice President of Worldwide Sales for Parature Inc, a software-as-a-service (SaaS) company in the customer support and service market where he managed a team of over 20 employees, growing revenues by 250% during his 2 year tenure.
Prior to joining Parature, Lee co-founded CourseInfo LLC, which merged to form Blackboard Inc. (Nasdaq: BBBB) in 1998.
While at Blackboard, Lee served as the Regional Director of Sales for the Asia Pacific and Latin America market and was responsible for $20MM in new market sales.
Lee holds a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering and a Master's degree in Operations Research/Finance from Cornell University.
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Jeff Yeh
Chief Technology Officer
Jeff leads the design and implementation of WeddingWire's technology platform.
Prior to joining WeddingWire, Jeff was involved in developing new analytical finance platforms that managed Fannie Mae's $150+ billion mortgage and securities portfolio.
Jeff was also part of the initial rollout of the AT&T Wireless mLife Project to over 20 million subscribers, as well as part of the core technology team that developed MicroStrategy's personal alerting network called Strategy.com.
Jeff holds a B.S. degree in Computer Engineering from Georgia Tech and an M.B.A. degree from The George Washington University.
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Sonny Ganguly
Chief Marketing Officer
Sonny leads WeddingWire's marketing strategy, customer acquisition, and business development.
Prior to joining WeddingWire, Sonny was in a management program at Wal-Mart where he led marketing, sales, and retail strategy development.
Before this experience, Sonny spent four years at Kraft Foods where he managed numerous consumer brands, including the JELL-O business with P&L responsibility for over $800 Million.
During his tenure, his brands' reached record volume, revenue, and profitability levels.
Sonny has structured partnerships with companies such as NBC, MTV, Condé Nast (Modern Bride and Brides magazines), Mattel, Universal, Dole, Reynolds, Costco, and Safeway.
Sonny holds a B.A. in Economics with a focus in Management and Marketing from The University of Pennsylvania and attended Harvard Business School for his M.B.A. where he served as President of the Marketing Club.
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Joseph Holland
Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President of Strategy
Joseph oversees finance, accounting, and corporate strategy at WeddingWire.
Prior to joining WeddingWire, he was a vice president at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc., where his responsibilities included mergers and acquisitions, strategic partnerships, and investor relations.
While at MSLO, Joseph led investments in and was a board member of WeddingWire, pingg, and ZipList.
Prior to joining MSLO, he served as a media analyst at Bear, Stearns & Co. and Soundview Technology Group from 2003-2006.
At Bear, Stearns & Co., Joseph was a member of a team ranked "Best of the Street 2006" in The Wall Street Journal.
Previously, he worked at IBM Venture Capital Group and in business development roles at eBay and Gaylord Entertainment.
He began his career as the founder of an independent record label.
Joseph graduated cum laude from Harvard College and received his MBA from the Yale School of Management.
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Andrew Olek
General Counsel
Andrew Olek is responsible for WeddingWire's legal affairs. Prior to Joining WeddingWire, Andy was the principal assistant to the General Counsel of Merkle Inc.,
where he helped the legal team significantly expand its capabilities. Before this, he served as a Senior Counsel at Blackboard Inc., helping the company grow
from $136 to $377 Million in annual revenues. Before holding these in-house positions, Andy was an attorney in the Corporate and Intellectual Property
departments of the law firm Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLC. Previously, Andy served as a Surface Warfare Officer in the U.S. Navy.
Andy holds a Bachelor of Science degree, with distinction, from the U.S. Naval Academy, a Master of the Arts degree from the University of Maryland, College Park, a Master of Science in Information Technology
degree from the University of Maryland University College, and a Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown University Law Center. He is a registered patent attorney.
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Ryan McNally
Managing Partner & Co-Founder, Catalyst Investors
Mr. McNally is responsible for developing and reviewing prospective investment opportunities, overseeing portfolio investments and participating in the management of the firm.
He focuses on investments in the digital media, software-as-a-service, publishing and business and consumer services sectors.
Mr. McNally currently serves on the boards of Advantage Business Media, Aspire Media and BLI Messaging and previously served on the board of MessageLabs Group and Las Vegas TV Partners and managed Catalyst's investments in Telemundo and Alaska Native Wireless.
Prior to joining Catalyst, Mr. McNally was a Vice President and shareholder of Daniels & Associates (now part of the Royal Bank of Canada) where he was primarily responsible for leading financings and M&A assignments for more than 50 emerging companies within the media and telecommunications industry.
From 1989 to 1992, Mr. McNally was an investment banker in the Media and Telecommunications Group of Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.
Mr. McNally received an AB with honors from Harvard College.
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Benjamin Spero
Managing Director, Spectrum Equity
Ben is a Managing Director in the Menlo Park, CA office of Spectrum Equity Investors. Prior to joining Spectrum Equity Investors, Mr. Spero was a consultant at Bain & Company and co-founder of TouchPak, Inc. At Spectrum, Ben focuses on investments in Internet and information services businesses. Ben serves on the Leadership Board of Destination: Home and is a member of Full Circle Fund. He previously served on the Santa Clara County Blue Ribbon Commission on Housing & Homelessness.
Mr. Spero received an AB (magna cum laude) from Duke University.
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Peter Jensen
Principal, Spectrum Equity
Pete joined Spectrum in February of 2007. Prior to joining Spectrum, Pete worked in JPMorgan's Technology, Media & Telecom investment banking group in San Francisco where he focused on M&A and capital raising transactions in the internet and digital media sectors. Prior to JPMorgan, Pete worked in business development at an Internet startup and as a strategy consultant at Mercer Management Consulting.
Mr. Jensen received an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and a BA from Stanford University.
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Liddy Manson
President, BeClose
Liddy is a seasoned technology and interactive media executive with almost 20 years of experience working with premier technology and information brands.
Before joining BeClose, she served as CEO of DigitalSports, a web service providing detailed information and coverage of high school sports throughout the country.
Prior to DigitalSports, she served as the Chief Operating Officer of Freewebs Inc., a venture backed, early-stage Internet company focused on user-generated content and social publishing.
Previously, Liddy spent nine years as Vice President and General Manager at Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive, the online subsidiary of The Washington Post Company.
In those years she served in both functional roles (sales, marketing, business development) and ran the largest P&L at the company, Local Commercial Products and Online Classifieds.
Liddy holds an MBA and Certificate in Public Management from Stanford University and a BA in Music from Yale University.
She lives in Washington, D.C., with her husband, three children and a boisterous Irish setter.
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Timothy Chi
Chief Executive Officer, WeddingWire Inc
Timothy first developed the concept of WeddingWire shortly after getting married in 2005 (to his lovely wife Tracey). As an experienced entrepreneur, Timothy sought out to assemble a team and build a technology that would help both engaged couples and vendors in the wedding industry.
Prior to co-founding WeddingWire, Timothy co-founded Blackboard Inc (Nasdaq: BBBB) in 1998. While at Blackboard, Timothy pioneered many of Blackboard's products and strategic initiatives, helping the company grow to over 600 employees and a valuation of over $750 Million.
Timothy holds a B.S. degree in Operations Research/Industrial Engineering from Cornell University and a Master's of Science degree in Engineering Management from Tufts University.
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Lee Wang
Chief Operating Officer, WeddingWire Inc
Lee is responsible for overseeing revenue generation and driving the sales strategies and strategic partnerships of WeddingWire.
Prior to joining WeddingWire, Lee held the post of Vice President of Worldwide Sales for Parature Inc, a software-as-a-service (SaaS) company in the customer support and service market where he managed a team of over 20 employees, growing revenues by 250% during his 2 year tenure.
Prior to joining Parature, Lee co-founded CourseInfo LLC, which merged to form Blackboard Inc. (Nasdaq: BBBB) in 1998.
While at Blackboard, Lee served as the Regional Director of Sales for the Asia Pacific and Latin America market and was responsible for $20MM in new market sales.
Lee holds a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering and a Master's degree in Operations Research/Finance from Cornell University.
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