Executive Management

Kelly Gay, Chairman, President & CEO of KnowledgeStorm

As Chairman, President and CEO of KnowledgeStorm, Kelly Gay is responsible for the overall strategic direction, growth and management of the company. Under Kelly's leadership, KnowledgeStorm has amassed the largest business technology vertical search site available, and has achieved 250% revenue growth over the past two years.

KnowledgeStorm is the top-ranked business technology search site on the Internet, offering providers of software, hardware, and technology services the most effective way to reach technology buyers and researchers. KnowledgeStorm serves more than 1.5 million users each month through its partnerships with companies such as: Google; ComputerWorld, InfoWorld; FastCompany; Inc.com; Forbes.com; Wall Street Journal Startup Journal; CMP properties such as Information Week, TechWeb, ChannelWeb, Network Computing; and many others.

Prior to joining KnowledgeStorm, Kelly led IBM into the entertainment, publishing, printing, advertising, broadcast, cable and sports markets as Vice President of IBM's North American Media and Entertainment division. Under her direction, the IBM business unit produced 18% year-to-year revenue growth over a five-year period, with overall revenue exceeding $1 billion in 1999.

Kelly serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Georgia Department of Motor Vehicles, having been appointed to a seven-year term by former Governor Barnes and re-confirmed in March of 2003 by Governor Perdue. She also serves on Governor Perdue's Commission for a New Georgia's Competitiveness task force. She recently completed her service as Chairman of the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG). She serves on the Board of Directors of Bank of Atlanta, Hands on Atlanta and the Board of Directors Network. She is a member of SEMPO, the search engine industry's professional organization, the SEMPO B2B sub-committee, as well as the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB).

Kelly was chosen by Catalyst magazine as one of Atlanta's Top 50 Entrepreneurs in 2002, 2003 and 2004. She was spotlighted in Atlanta Woman magazine as a leader to watch, and has been chosen by the Atlanta Business Chronicle's yearly Who's Who in Technology for four consecutive years. She also was chosen by BtoB magazine as an Atlanta Diva for 2000.

A sought-after public speaker, Kelly has been invited to address both industry and client-sponsored events including Go! Outsell, The Entrepreneurship Institute's Presidents' Forum, AD:TECH New York, InfoCommerce Forum, Jupiter Media's Online Advertising Forum, National Communications Forum, Telco-Cable Conference, Women in Cable, Women in Technology International, Media One Executive Conference, Emory University, Catalyst Conference and Georgia Technology Forum. She, along with her KnowledgeStorm colleagues, has been quoted in Atlanta Journal Constitution, Business to Business, Catalyst, Inside Supply Management, MarketingSherpa, Shoestring Marketing, Yahoo! Finance, CNNfn, CNNMoney, Street.com, InfoWorld, TechLinks, InfoCommerce Report, Exchange, InformationWeek, Interactive Investor, The Washington Post, CBS Marketwatch, Business Finance, Technology Marketing, eWeek, AdWeek, Atlanta Business Chronicle, Cable World, Multichannel News and Broadcasting & Cable. Kelly also has appeared as a guest on CNN's "Lou Dobbs Tonight," and the Georgia Business Report.

Kelly is a magna cum laude graduate of Newcomb College of Tulane University with a bachelor's degree in Economics. She resides in Atlanta, GA with her family.

Jeff Ramminger, Executive Vice President, Products, Technology & Marketing

Jeff Ramminger joined KnowledgeStorm in April 2000, bringing 19 years of business technology experience. His responsibilities include marketing, product strategy and management, Web site architecture, development and operations.

Previous to KnowledgeStorm, Ramminger served as director in IBM's Communications Sector e-business Services Practice where he led a team of Internet consultants, designers and developers working with clients on online strategies and complex Web-driven applications. He was a key founder of IBM's innovative Interactive Media Practice, created in 1994, and led the design and delivery of more than forty large-scale sports and entertainment Web events including the official Web sites for the Masters, GRAMMYs, Wimbledon Championships, U.S. Open, Superbowl and Ryder Cup.

Ramminger is a graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology and holds a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering. Mr. Ramminger, a sought-after public speaker, also is a member of the Technology Association of Georgia and SEMPO.

Dave MacDonald, Vice President, Technology

Dave MacDonald joined KnowledgeStorm in September 2004, bringing over 20 years of information technology experience including over 10 years of senior IT leadership. He has overall information technology department responsibility including strategic planning, architecture, engineering, development, operations, quality assurance, and business intelligence.

Prior to joining KnowledgeStorm, MacDonald served in Vice President of Technology and CTO roles for edaflow Corporation and Information Technology Builders where he applied his leadership and hands-on technology experience to web-based initiatives for V.F Corporation, Check Free, EarthLink, BellSouth, and Nielsen Media Research. Prior to that MacDonald served in Director of Architecture and Director of Operations Technology roles for Norrell Corporation where he was responsible for all facets of their systems, applications, development, and infrastructure. MacDonald's earlier career included 10 years with Digital Equipment Corporation as a consultant to fortune 500 clients worldwide.

MacDonald holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Bryan College.

Jim Canfield, Vice President, Sales

Jim Canfield joined KnowledgeStorm in May of 2003, bringing more than 20 years of experience building high-performance sales teams. Before joining KnowledgeStorm, Canfield served as vice president of Sales for Headhunter.net, helping the company become the Internet's number two job board. Prior to Headhunter.net, Canfield held various leadership positions including vice president of Sales and Marketing at Idexx Laboratories, a high-growth, $400 million biotech firm.

Canfield is a graduate of Southern Illinois University and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Technology.

Mike Ewers, Vice President & Controller

Mike Ewers joined KnowledgeStorm in January 2000, bringing 13 years of finance and accounting expertise. His responsibilities include accounting, finance, human resources, administration and facility management. Ewers serves as KnowledgeStorm's corporate secretary and treasurer.

Previous to KnowledgeStorm, Ewers was the chief financial officer for TestAmerica, and prior to that, National Environmental Testing (NET), both environmental services companies. While at NET, Ewers was a participant in the management buyout of the company from its UK parent, The Ocean Group.

Ewers is a CPA and started his career in public accounting at Chunowitz, Teitelbaum & Baerson in Northbrook, IL, in charge of write-up and audit work for several small businesses. Ewers is a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa with a bachelor's degree in Accounting and a minor in Economics. Ewers is a member of the Technology Association of Georgia and a charter member of Technology Executive Roundtable, The CFO Forum.

Chris Gleason, Vice President, Vendor Services

Chris Gleason joined KnowledgeStorm in December 1999, bringing 15 years of management experience in the technology industry. Her responsibilities include leading and scaling the operations of account management and customer service.

Prior to joining KnowledgeStorm, Gleason developed and managed an inside sales group at Sun Microsystems. Before Sun Microsystems, she was employed by Digital Equipment Corporation for 13 years in a variety of positions including regional management positions such as Sales Programs, Sales Operations, Call Center Management as well as Territory Sales manager and Branch Operations manager. Gleason is a graduate of the University of Arizona and holds an MBA from Tulane University, with distinction.

Laurie Hood, Vice President, Marketing

Laurie Hood joined KnowledgeStorm in October 2003, bringing 17 years of experience driving marketing and product management efforts at large, enterprise software and technology companies. Her key responsibilities include defining and executing marketing strategies, initiatives and operational plans to support KnowledgeStorm's corporate revenue and profitability objectives.

Prior to joining KnowledgeStorm, Hood was senior director, Product Marketing for S1 Corporation. Her responsibilities there included the development and delivery of product strategy, market positioning and the supporting sales and marketing materials. In addition, Ms. Hood also has held positions in marketing, product management and business partner management at a variety of software companies. She started her career as a consultant with Accenture after graduating from Clemson University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and a minor in Computer Science.

Rachel Spasser, Vice President, Business Development

Rachel Spasser joined KnowledgeStorm in July 2000, bringing 15 years of experience in marketing, business development and general management. Spasser is responsible for building the syndication network, identifying and negotiating partnerships for product and content innovation as well as overseeing the development of the company's data services strategy.

Prior to joining KnowledgeStorm, Spasser served as vice president of Business Development and general manager of FigLeaves Inc., an online retailer. In addition, Spasser worked in business development and as a management consultant for the Telecommunications and Media Industry Group at IBM. Spasser holds an MBA with honors from the Goizueta Business School at Emory University as well as a bachelor's degree in Communications from the University of Pennsylvania.

KnowledgeStorm Board of Directors

Tim Armstrong

Tim Armstrong is vice president of Advertising Sales for Google. Armstrong serves on the board of the Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB), and KnowledgeStorm is his first appointment to a company board of directors. As vice president of advertising sales for Google, Armstrong leads the company's national sales team. Previously, Armstrong served as vice president of Sales and Strategic Partnerships for Snowball.com, where he managed a team of 100 and built the revenue foundation needed to take the company public in just 16 months. Armstrong also was responsible for key strategic partnerships that included equity and marketing investments by New Line Cinema and an exclusive partnership with the NFL. Prior to his role at Snowball.com, Armstrong served as national sales manager for IDG's first Internet magazine, I-Way, before founding and serving as director of Integrated Sales & Marketing at Starwave's and Disney's ABC/ESPN Internet Ventures. Armstrong is a graduate of Connecticut College with a double major in Economics and Sociology.

Lon Chow

Lon Chow is a general partner for Apex Venture Partners with investment focus in enterprise infrastructure, applications and services. Prior to joining Apex, Chow was a partner with Mercer Management Consulting (formerly Strategic Planning Associates), where he developed and implemented growth strategies for clients in computing, media and telecommunications industries. He also held various operating management positions with Pacific Telesis. Chow received an MBA from the Wharton School and a BA from the University of California, Davis.

Chow serves or previously served as director of Bay Logics (acquired by WorkplaceIQ), Bellamax, CrowdBurst (acquired by Informative), ICON Solutions (acquired by AnswerThink), KnowledgeStorm Inc., PlaceWare (acquired by Microsoft), Thinque Systems and Xperex Corporation. He was board observer of and worked extensively with the management teams of TRADEX Technologies (acquired by Ariba) and WorldPrints (acquired by At Home).

Kelly Gay

As Chairman, President and CEO of KnowledgeStorm, Kelly Gay is responsible for the overall strategic direction, growth and management of the company. Under Kelly's leadership, KnowledgeStorm has amassed the largest business technology vertical search site available, and has achieved 250% revenue growth over the past two years.

KnowledgeStorm is the top-ranked business technology search site on the Internet, offering providers of software, hardware, and technology services the most effective way to reach technology buyers and researchers. KnowledgeStorm serves more than 1.5 million users each month through its partnerships with companies such as: Google; ComputerWorld, InfoWorld; FastCompany; Inc.com; Forbes.com; Wall Street Journal Startup Journal; CMP properties such as Information Week, TechWeb, ChannelWeb, Network Computing; and many others.

Prior to joining KnowledgeStorm, Kelly led IBM into the entertainment, publishing, printing, advertising, broadcast, cable and sports markets as Vice President of IBM's North American Media and Entertainment division. Under her direction, the IBM business unit produced 18% year-to-year revenue growth over a five-year period, with overall revenue exceeding $1 billion in 1999.

Kelly serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Georgia Department of Motor Vehicles, having been appointed to a seven-year term by former Governor Barnes and re-confirmed in March of 2003 by Governor Perdue. She also serves on Governor Perdue's Commission for a New Georgia's Competitiveness task force. She recently completed her service as Chairman of the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG). She serves on the Board of Directors of Bank of Atlanta, Hands on Atlanta and the Board of Directors Network. She is a member of SEMPO, the search engine industry's professional organization, the SEMPO B2B sub-committee, as well as the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB).

Kelly was chosen by Catalyst magazine as one of Atlanta's Top 50 Entrepreneurs in 2002, 2003 and 2004. She was spotlighted in Atlanta Woman magazine as a leader to watch, and has been chosen by the Atlanta Business Chronicle's yearly Who's Who in Technology for four consecutive years. She also was chosen by BtoB magazine as an Atlanta Diva for 2000.

A sought-after public speaker, Kelly has been invited to address both industry and client-sponsored events including Go! Outsell, The Entrepreneurship Institute's Presidents' Forum, AD:TECH New York, InfoCommerce Forum, Jupiter Media's Online Advertising Forum, National Communications Forum, Telco-Cable Conference, Women in Cable, Women in Technology International, Media One Executive Conference, Emory University, Catalyst Conference and Georgia Technology Forum. She, along with her KnowledgeStorm colleagues, has been quoted in Atlanta Journal Constitution, Business to Business, Catalyst, Inside Supply Management, MarketingSherpa, Shoestring Marketing, Yahoo! Finance, CNNfn, CNNMoney, Street.com, InfoWorld, TechLinks, InfoCommerce Report, Exchange, InformationWeek, Interactive Investor, The Washington Post, CBS Marketwatch, Business Finance, Technology Marketing, eWeek, AdWeek, Atlanta Business Chronicle, Cable World, Multichannel News and Broadcasting & Cable. Kelly also has appeared as a guest on CNN's "Lou Dobbs Tonight," and the Georgia Business Report.

Kelly is a magna cum laude graduate of Newcomb College of Tulane University with a bachelor's degree in Economics. She resides in Atlanta, GA with her family.

Jim Gilbert

Jim Gilbert is the managing partner for LiveOak Equity Partners L.P., an Atlanta-based $70 million venture capital fund focused on information technology and healthcare companies. Previously, Gilbert held the positions of president and COO for IMNET Systems, and from 1988 to 1996, served as senior vice president and general counsel for HBO & Company. Gilbert began his career as Assistant Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice

Gilbert is a graduate of Hobart College and Georgetown University Law Center. He has served on the Board of Directors of IMNET (IMNT) and currently serves on the board of directors of KnowledgeStorm, Simione Central Holdings, Inc (SCHI).

Brian Hirsch

Brian Hirsch is currently Managing Partner of Silicon Alley Venture Partners (SAVP) whose investment focus is applied technology companies. Prior to SAVP, Brian was a Principal at Sterling Venture Partners and led the firm's investments in enterprise software and information technology related companies. Prior to joining Sterling Venture Partners, Brian was a Vice President at ABN AMRO Private Equity (AAPE), the U.S. venture capital group of ABN AMRO N.V., one of the world's 10 largest banks. Some of Brian's investments while at AAPE included OpenWave Systems (OPWV), Daleen Technologies (DALN), eCredit.com, NIKSUN and Oasis Technology. Before joining AAPE, Brian worked as a senior consultant at KPMG in the Information, Communications & Entertainment (ICE) practice, where he served clients that included General Electric, CBS/Westinghouse and the Tribune Company. Brian has a BA in economics and American studies from Brandeis University.

Brian is currently a board member of KnowledgeStorm and eCredit and a board observer at Optum, Critical Mention and GameTrust.

Thomas Noonan

Thomas Noonan is the chairman, president and CEO of Internet Security Systems Inc. (ISS) (Nasdaq: ISSX), a leading global provider of information protection solutions that secure IT infrastructure and defend key online assets from attack and misuse. Noonan is responsible for the overall strategic direction, growth and management of the company. Under his leadership, revenue has soared from start-up to nearly $250 million in six years, and has grown to over 1200 employees operating in 22 countries. ISS is profitable, publicly traded on the Nasdaq (ISSX) and the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) and is one of the most widely recognized network security companies in the world.

Prior to his co-founding ISS, Noonan held senior management positions while at Dun and Bradstreet Software including vice president, Worldwide Marketing. Noonan has been recognized by industry leading publications and associations including Forbes, Business Week and Fortune and was named Ernst and Young's 1999 Entrepreneur of the Year. Noonan was recently appointed by President Bush to the newly formed National Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIAC), as part of homeland defense, which addresses issues surrounding the security of information systems that support the nation's critical infrastructure. Noonan holds a mechanical engineering degree from Georgia Tech and a business degree from Harvard University. He is also is a member of the Technology Executive Roundtable, Georgia Tech College of Computing Board Chair, Carter Center board of counselors, Young Presidents Organization and White House Critical Infrastructure Task Force. He serves on the boards of Manhattan Associates (NASDAQ: MANH), KnowledgeStorm, The Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Woodruff Arts Center and The Georgia Institute of Technology.

Tom Smith

Tom Smith is the managing partner for Total Technology Ventures, an Atlanta-based investment firm focused on providing capital to mid-to-late stage privately held companies. A 30-year veteran of IBM, Smith served as vice president, Small and Medium Business. Prior to that, he was the Southern Area general manager, with responsibility for all of IBM's sales, marketing, and services business for up to 13 states and 6,000 employees.

Smith's community affiliations include the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta (as Board Chairman for 1998-99), Central Atlanta Progress, the Carter Center, and the Woodruff Arts Center. He earned a B.S. Degree from The Georgia Institute of Technology and completed the executive program at Dartmouth's Amos Tuck School of Business. Smith currently is on the boards of Juniper Financial Corp., KnowledgeStorm, NextEstate Communications and TradeUps.