Zanby Leadership: the group behind the groups.
Chris Dykstra – CEO
Chris Dykstra – CEO – has over 20 years of progressively responsible business experience, the last 10 of which have been spent in software and web development. He built an industry-leading global interactive agency for Fire-Pond, that specialized in online selling applications. Mr. Dykstra helped General Motors, Renault, Subaru, Invesmart, SBLI USA, Ricoh, Zurich and Compaq break new frontiers in usable, branded online selling on the web. As Vice President of EPAM Systems, a CMMI Level 4 Offshore software development company, Chris built the UI, Interactive Services and information architecture practices. He led Executive Strategy, Information Architecture, UI Design, Creative Direction, Business Analysis, and CMS engagements for West Publishing, SBLI, Alloy.com, Target, Lasvegas.com and Aeromexico.com. Mr. Dykstra is founding partner in Warecorp and the co-founder and Chairman of the Board for The UpTake.org
Mike Milkovich – CTO
Mike Milkovich – CTO – has been developing software and web applications since 1994. Mr. Milkovich spent his early career in the Silicon Valley startup community and doing systems research at Hewlett-Packard before driving-product vision and success for GeneSys LLC, Connect, and Firepond. Mike has provided strategic technology guid-ance and thought leadership to companies like ATT Wireless, FutureShop, Blue Cross + Blue Shield of Minnesota, Cornell University, Empire Health Care, Fruit of the Loom, General Motors, IMPAC Medical Systems, Invesmart, KLH/Tencor, Medtronic, Photodisc, Time Warner, and University of Minnesota. Mr. Milkovich is also a founding partner in Warecorp.
Lee Rogas – COO
Lee Rogas – COO – has over 20 years of experience working with online marketing strategies and user experience projects. At Digitas, Mr. Rogas consulted as an eMarketing strategist, information architect and creative director for such clients as Kraft, IBM, Dell, Disney Interac-tive, Fidelity Investments. At FirePond, he led an interactive team of 40 generating $15 million in bookings for clients such as Sikorsky Aircraft, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, SBLI, Freightliner and Investmart. As Marketing Manager at General Mills he provided thought leadership and customer-centric solutions to overcome time and budgetary limita-tions delivering bottom line results for Betty Crocker, Bisquick and Pillsbury websites. Mr. Rogas is also a founding partner in Warecorp.
Greg Savage – VP Sales, Enterprise
Greg Savage has over 30 years of experience in corporate IT; development, technical management, and executive management; software sales, and software sales management. Mr. Savage has licensed, implemented, and sold enterprise class applications for MSA, Dun & Bradstreet Software, Firepond, Matrix One, as well as other enterprise ISV’s. Mr. Savage has always focused on customer satisfaction and delivery of sustainable value. His customers included Carlson Companies, Bemis, NCS, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, SBLI, Medtronic, 3M, Ecolab as well as numerous other enterprises. Mr. Savage has also been involved in startup software companies as an advisor, sales executive, and executive management. Mr. Savage attended the University Of Minnesota.
Leif Utne – VP Community Development
VP of Community Development – is a journalist, activist, musician and social media evangelist. As VP of Community Development at Zanby, his job is to bring this groundbreaking social media platform to the world of mission-driven nonprofits and social enterprises. He brings a rich background in journalism, social marketing and online community strategy, including stints as VP Marketing at QuantumShift TV, a solution-oriented Web video network, and as Publisher of Worldchanging.com, one of the most widely-read blogs about sustainability. Leif was also a contributor to the site’s popular 2006 book, Worldchanging: A User’s Guide for the 21st Century.
Beginning in 1998, Leif spent eight years at Minneapolis-based Utne Reader magazine, as staff writer, online editor, and co-director of the Webby award-winning online community Cafe Utne. In 2000, Leif co-founded Utne Communities, a consultancy providing white-label online community solutions for various clients in the media, arts, and education sectors. Before leaving Utne Reader in 2006, he launched the acclaimed UtneCast podcast, a biweekly interview show featuring independent perspectives on politics, culture and ideas. Leif writes, blogs, and speaks frequently on topics like media, social technology, dialogue, activism, sustainable business and Latin American politics.
Leif lives in the Seattle area with his wife and son.