Leadership Team
The 4-Tell team has over 90 years of high-tech experience, 5 startups with 2 acquisitions, 6 advanced degrees, and 81 patents.
Ken Levy Co-Founder and CEO
Ken has 22 years of technology experience. He quickly synergizes diverse technical and market data into new, useful products and patents. Ken used this unique ability to start four companies, sell one company’s IP to Digimarc, become VP of Technology of a hardware startup, develop real-time software as early as 1987, and create 78 issued patents and 152 published applications worldwide. During his five years at Digimarc, Ken helped create a global licensing program, positively affected many standards for Digimarc, led an international team with Philips, and developed a secure ID architecture that became part of a US law. Ken has BS, MS, MSEE, and PhD degrees, finishing his PhD in less than three years with 13 publications and a 4.0 GPA. In summary, Ken is intrigued by new technology, emerging markets and people’s behavior, and uses his creativity to turn this passion into revenue-generating technology.
Neil Lofgren Co-Founder and VP Engineering
Neil has over 20 years of experience managing complex engineering projects and bringing new products to market. He has supervised and developed a range of software products from free applications to multi-million dollar systems. Extensive experience working in new startup environments has made Neil capable of wearing many hats and contributing in all areas critical to a young company’s success. Before 4-Tell, he was a partner in a GIS mapping company and served as VP of Engineering for six years, helping to grow the company from an unfunded startup to a profitable business. During that time he also helped form, spin-off, and sell a hardware division of the company. Neil has BS and MS degrees in Electrical and Computer Engineering from The Johns Hopkins University. He was a founding board member of the Digital Watermarking Alliance. He currently holds 19 US patents with 43 published applications pending.
Seth Brandes Sr. Director of Sales and Business Development
Seth brings 25 years of high- tech sales and management experience to the 4-Tell team, where he is responsible for sales strategy, revenue, and business development. Prior to 4-Tell, Seth was involved in the pioneering phases of high-tech powerhouse companies including Sun, Veritas and BEA. He began his career at Xerox Corporation where he was trained in the art of high-tech sales. Next, Seth excelled as an enterprise salesperson in the early years of Sun Microsystems closing multimillion dollar deals annually with a diverse group of clients including Disney, GTE and the US government. Seth was integral to Veritas Software’s initial channel program, forging strong partnerships with VARs throughout the Western US. He then spent years managing fast growing enterprise software sales teams as Sales Director for Serena Software and BEA Systems. Seth holds a BS degree in Biology from Syracuse University.
Amy Weissfeld Sr. Director of Sales and Business Development
Amy brings a breadth of expertise to 4-Tell, ranging from interactive sales and marketing to business development for promotions, advertising and public relations firms. At 4-Tell, she helps guide acquisition of ecommerce merchants and email service providers. Amy was Senior Director of Sales and Marketing at Summit Projects for four years, helping double the size of the agency by signing up clients like Norwegian Cruise Line, Victorinox Swiss Army and Keen Footwear. Previously, she worked as National Sales Manager at Continental Promotion Group where signed clients contributed over $15 million in billings, including Sharp Electronics Corp, AT&T, and Disney. Amy received her MBA from Arizona State and holds a BA degree in English from the University of Michigan.
Wendi Makuch Director of Marketing
Wendi loves the energy and culture at startup software firms and has held a variety of positions over the last 19 years, from sales to customer management to engineering. She found her true calling in marketing though, and loves using her talents to grow businesses, and to translate “techno-speak” into English. Wendi has been responsible for product marketing at Rulespace (acquired by Symantec) and Clientele (acquired by Epicor). While at Clientele, she spearheaded efforts that won the Microsoft Industry Solution Award in Customer Management for Best Service and Support Solution. At 4-Tell, she is always “putting her customer hat on” to ensure our marketing materials resonate with all our audiences. Wendi’s activities drive acquisition of both our strategic online platform partners and retailers. Wendi received her BS in Biomedical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University.
Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors includes cofounders and investors with technical, operations, financial and sales experience – keys to 4-Tell’s success.
Ken Levy Chairman, Co-Founder and CEO
See bio above
Neil Lofgren Secretary, Co-Founder and VP Engineering
See bio above
Duane Farnham Board Member
Duane understands the sales, and isn’t afraid to ask the hard questions. Duane has been a leading sales expert for 25 years. He is currently Sales Specialist and Client Executive with IBM. He’s also been a Sales Executive and Account Representative with Serena Software, BEA Systems, and Sequent Computer Systems. Duane helps keep 4-Tell’s sales plan on track.
Jeff Nicol Board Member
Jeff has extensive operations and financial experience that he lends to driving 4-Tell to profitability. Jeff is currently the COO at Hydrasi. He is also the owner of Privacy Ready where he consulted for companies like Cisco. Jeff has worked as the CFO of Custom Interface. He also worked for Intel in numerous roles, including business and program management. Jeff helps keep 4-Tell’s financials and operations on track.
Advisors
We are fortunate to have the time and advice of several experienced executives. Each brings unique value vital to our board and our company.
Kelly Mackin
Kelly has experience in operational leadership, strategic planning, product vision and development, company development, analyst relations, brand development and journalism. She is a technology savvy, operational executive who has successfully held leadership roles in software and Internet companies, including COO of Datamotion, VP Strategy at Computer Associates, CEO of Tranxition, and several Product Management roles. Kelly’s management experience, combined with her journalism background, provides great brand marketing advice, as well as management coaching.
Bill Etheredge
Bill Etheredge has a 32 year track record in executive global sales and marketing management. Bill is currently principal at WCE Consulting Group specializing in CEO level sales and channel strategy. Prior to retiring from Tektrnix as VP Sales in 2009, Bill worked for several Fortune 500’s in Silicon Valley. He was also a principal in two successfully IPO’d startups. Bill helps keep 4-Tell’s sales strategy on track.
Carl Azar
Carl has 40 years of technology experience, including senior level marketing positions leading to the acquisition of two startup companies and rapid growth of another early stage startup. Carl has been VP Marketing and Product Development at Columbia Software, and Director of Marketing at Merant, Mentor Graphics, and Floating Point Systems (acquired by Mentor Graphics). He was also the cofounder of Synergy Dataworks, which was acquired by a customer. Carl understands technology and helps improve 4-Tell’s marketing.
Ben Kaminash
Ben is a business attorney who not only has extensive legal experience, but is also business and tech savvy. Ben currently owns Kaminash & Associates, LLP. He also has had a roles with numerous startups, including Eleven-Wireless and Digimarc. His background extends back to engineering at IBM.
Larry Jacobsen
Larry has 25 years of high tech and agency management experience, and almost 30 years of business development, sales and marketing experience. Larry has been Director of Curiosity Group, VP Axian, and SVP Image Builder software. Larry’s experience is key to 4-Tell’s marketing in the interactive market.
Steve Frison
Steve is a 35 year veteran of high tech with a focus on technology, engineering, strategy and operations. His past experience includes successful roles as President, COO, CTO, EVP Strategy and VP Engineering in software intensive start-ups and public companies, including VP at Ambric and Stexar, CTO/COO of DivX Networks, President/COO of CenterSpan Communication, and VP Engineering at nCube. Steve’s critical eye helps 4-Tell with efficient operations.
