I graduated with Highest Honors from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in 1989 with a BS in electrical engineering and special emphasis in computer science. I had one “real job” at Stratus Computer in software before I started Streamware with John Roughneen in 1990, doing that full time starting in 1991.
At Streamware, I did all the coding then transitioned to more of an architecture role in 1999 when we redesigned the entire system using MS SQL Server. I designed the entire data model and system and worked with a contractor and other programmers to get it done. That code base is what Crane still sells as the flagship VendMAX product today.
When Crane acquired Streamware, I stayed on as CTO/General Manager and split my time between sales, architecture and new features. The product was mature at that point, and it was a really fun time because we were leading the industry, landing major deals with companies like Sodexo and Pepsi Americas. Those contracts required a good deal of integration with Oracle Financials and PeopleSoft. We did smaller customer integrations using Great Plains (now MS Dynamics).
In 2006, Cantaloupe recruited me out of Streamware, and I took a job there as President and CTO. At Cantaloupe I helped in selling major accounts, ran operations, established an offshore development team that they still use today and worked on building key partnerships.
After Cantaloupe, I returned to Crane as VP and CTO of the entire CMS division with technical oversight of machine electronics, Streamware, and a charter to build a telemetry solution. At Crane, I did everything from major account selling to working on the overall technology roadmap for the division and commercializing Crane’s first telemetry and cashless solution.
In 2009, I left Crane to focus on CTO Services with a plan to develop touchscreen solutions. I had developed all the software on Android and also had a very cool “text to buy” system that would enable consumers to log into a loyalty account and make purchases on that account on any vending machine.
I also had built a somewhat generic USB to MDB/DEX/serial credit card board that could be used to connect a tablet or PC to a vending machine. Paresh Patel, a friend and fellow vending technology expert, was focusing on the same challenge. Paresh and I met at the NAMA OneShow to discuss working together, and a week later we agreed to become partners – VendScreen was born.
Since leaving VendScreen, most of my time has been spent working with early-stage companies on strategy, fundraising, technology and sales & marketing strategies. Most of my recent work has been outside the vending industry and mainly focused on M2M – including a few interesting projects using BLE and payment. I believe I am one of the few M2M people in the business who has direct experience in all aspects of the technology: hardware, firmware, communications, cloud, web and mobile apps. I also routinely work with companies to put M2M into their existing products and maintain relationships with Telit and u-blox on the module side. I have done direct contracts with Verizon, AT&T and Sprint, and worked with many of the resellers – most recently Aeris on a project in Saudi Arabia.
On the personal side, I am married with two young children that we home school, and am an experienced musician (drums, guitar, and vocals) with full home studio and PA gear. I also have several motorcycles and take 1 or 2 long trips each year.