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Scott G. Converse

4876 Darwin Ct., Boulder, CO.  80301

303.875.1243

scott.converse@gmail.com

Extensive experience in the worlds of Computers & On-line Applications/Software, a wide range of Media including CableTV, television, movies, radio, on-line/internet, print publications and the telecommunications services (layers 4-7) area. Familiar with a broad range of technologies and environments and their uses in business and consumer applications. Particularly adept at managing the role of creativity in business decisions and how innovation works in real world environments.

Have a broad range of experience building world class teams and managing people in the areas of software development, carrier class system's creation and integration, product management/marketing, program management, strategy and business development, sales, customer care, & operations. Known as an internal entrepreneur within large companies doing ‘internal startups’, as well as running my own businesses.

Specialties:

Business Development, Telecommunications (services, VoIP, networks) Cable TV, Cable Internet, software development, Sales, customer care, operations, field ops, finance, general management, IT, strategic and technology planning, marketing, product development, software development, systems design, product marketing, program management, wireless, content & content programming

Sr. Strategy & Planning Consultant
MCI (Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; MCI)
Internet Industry
April 2005 – Present (5 months)

Consultant to EVP & SVP of MCI's Strategy & Corporate Development Group. Evaluate and recommend companies for strategic partnering and potential acquisition. Develop and implement strategies and system architectures for integration of new companies and technologies into MCI's services business.

Founder & Executive Director
RPRN (Non-Profit; 1-10 employees)
Information Services Industry
September 2004 – Present (1 year)

RPR Networks is a non profit organization designing, building and implementing a public audio exchange system for the open exchange of audio content. It's member base is made up of non commercial radio stations, internet radio stations, audio content producers (music, talk, opinion, news) and the general public.

The system itself, consisting of a data center capable of several terabytes of storage with high speed distribution, simple to use formating and upload/download tools, creative commons and copyright licensing systems, value assignment capabilities, marketplace systems, rating systems and membership managment systems is currently under development with delivery and launch due in the Spring of 2005.

Related audio industry focused businesses are being co-developed to launch alongside RPR Networks including hosting services, promotional goods manufacturing and distribution, distributed recording studios and a recording label and distribution operation.

www.rprn.org

Founder & CEO
ClickCaster Inc. (Privately Held; 1-10 employees)
Information Services Industry
September 2004 – Present (1 year)

ClickCaster is an early stage software/services company developing a platform for the delivery of a simple, powerful and easy to use podcasting package with an available hosting service providing publishing for individual, group and enterprise podcasts.

www.clickcaster.com

General Manager-CableTV/Telephony/Data
McLeodUSA (Public Company; 1001-5000 employees; MCLD)
Telecommunications Industry
September 2003 – September 2004 (1 year 1 month)

General Manager of the Cable TV, High Speed Internet and Telephony business for McLeodUSA. Responsible for all aspects of the business including product development, business development, sales, marketing, field ops, customer service, billing, provisioning & finance/P&L.

Developing new business models that blend local city needs with cable/phone/data products that create real municipal/business partnerships for building new city & corporate owned networks to compete with existing semi-monopolies run by CableCo's, ILEC's and ISP's.

Achievements:
Reversed customer & revenue loss of 19% per year to 6% growth per year
Improved sales and customer acquisition by 20%
Improved installation efficiency by 34%
Improved customer service by 38%
Developed and launched several new Data products
Reprogrammed channel lineup adding 11 new products with no added costs
Re-priced and repositioned all Voice/phone products to favorably compete with Qwest

Vice President- Strategic & Technology Planning
MCI (Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; MCI)
Information Technology and Services Industry
July 1999 – January 2003 (3 years 7 months)

Program management for all CSE engineering platforms and products (budget: approx $130 million with approx. $3 billion of revenue). Also responsible for planning focused on finding new business opportunities, defining business models, developing marketing programs, creating business cases and finding the right partners for MCI to execute the business plans with using combined expertise in technology and business.

Negotiated and closed complex contracts and agreements, both technical and business with wide range of partner companies.

Worked closely with MCI marketing groups, engineering, operations, sales, support, MCI’s venture group, 3rd party developers and customers.

Extended old and created new profit centers for MCI. Moved the company toward an IP based communications world and defined, built and implemented the products.

 4 people have endorsed Scott at MCI:

“Scott brought forward thinking and an entrepreneurial spirit to MCI at a time when it was really needed. His vision and enthusiasm were very helpful in recasting MCI's strategic product planning processes. He was a great colleague. I highly recommend him to anyone who needs to shake the cobwebs out of their strategic thought processes.” (July 6, 2005)

– Len Denton, CISSP worked directly with Scott at MCI

“Scott Converse is a forward thinking strategist - he worked closely with technologists to identify future markets and special niches. He early on identified the enterprise security niche in 2000-2001. History shows he was correct as this is now a multibillion dollar a year industry. Working with Scott was very stimulating - he asked the penetrating, core questions critical to any endeavor.” (February 23, 2005)

– ralph hoefelmeyer worked with Scott at MCI

“Scott demonstrated great vision and ability to shape our business strategy during the time we worked together. He laid out the transition strategy to move MCI from a telecom company into a services company. I recommend him highly.” (January 30, 2005)

– Bob Laird worked directly with Scott at MCI

“Scott succeeded in bringing entrepreneurial spirit to Worldcom. I really learned a lot working for Scott. I was a CPA by training and developed skills to “think outside the box.” He also commanded the respect from Worldcom’s management and gave our group exposure to many areas of the company. He has a laid back management style, yet is effective in getting what he wants in business situations.” (January 28, 2005)

– Diane Jones reported to Scott at MCI

Divisional Vice President & Director- High Speed Wireless Systems
Motorola (Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; MOT)
Information Services Industry
February 1997 – April 1999 (2 years 3 months)

Targeted markets, created product concepts and created and defended business models/plans and development of the actual products and services. This included Application development (hardware & software) for Windows and non-Windows (JavaOS, etc.) platforms; creation of JAVA based development environment & publishing tools; creation and implementation of cross product human interface standards and creating alliances between Motorola and third party developers in the areas of licensing technology, partnering with or purchasing companies with appropriate technology. Also created consortiums and a robust third party developer base for BWS platforms.

Acted as General manager & product management/marketing role within International Networks Division with responsibility for researching, creating, starting and operating new internet and multimedia oriented communications businesses.

Sr. Vice President, Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures (Public Company; 5001-10,000 employees; VIA)
Online Media Industry
October 1994 – February 1997 (2 years 5 months)

Co founder and head of technology for the new digital division of Paramount Pictures: Paramount Digital Entertainment (PDE);

Served as the overall technology leader for the division, was named General manager of a new business unit (The Gateway) for Paramount/Viacom -created and positioned to be Viacom's entry into the on-line & internet world using a local media model (localized content and advertising) years before competition.

Worked closely with all divisions of Viacom (Blockbuster Video, Paramount TV/UPN, MTV, Nickelodeon and Simon & Schuster). Focused on creation of business plans, financials, software and services, R&D, raising of capital, alliances, partnerships, operations and launch plans.

Deep knowledge of the content & media worlds various segments from media creation through distribution. This including becoming familiar with a broad range of financial/business models for creating new revenue and extending old models through the various media channels.

 1 person has endorsed Scott at Paramount Pictures:

“Scott understands the power of the small in the connected world. He has a flair for assembling individuals into dynamic, active mass audiences. Our project at Paramount demonstrated the effectiveness of community content, local marketing, and ratcheted business models in trans-media products, and was based on the same concepts he demonstrated in the now-famous OneNet Network project.” (February 2, 2005)

– Dennis Dube reported to Scott at Paramount Pictures

Sr. Group Manager, AEML Director
Apple Computer (Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; AAPL)
Information Services Industry
July 1987 – October 1994 (7 years 4 months)

Head of R&D for Apple's eWorld on-line service - client software, interface, publishing tools, publishing servers and content development.

Founded Apple's advanced on-line services research lab- the Apple Electronic Media Lab (AEML). The lab focused on business uses of on-line services and the Internet.

Partnered with media companies including The Washington Post, Reuters, PBS, NBC, Time and others. Lab was a self contained development unit with it's own development, operations, product marketing and distribution capabilities to create and test a broad range of on-line product concepts in real world environments.

Other positions within Apple included manager of Electronic Developer information, & CD-ROM development & Channel Systems strategic technology development focused on creating new online businesses around technology & business integration and Sr. support systems analyst in with responsibilities for redesign of Apple's company-wide support services and systems.

 11 people have endorsed Scott at Apple Computer:

“Scott was a pioneer in early multimedia and digital information distribution at Apple - really turned a lot of "vision" into useful stuff. Smart guy, makes things happen, hell of a lot of fun to laugh with.” (July 20, 2005)

– Tom Hammer worked with Scott at Apple Computer

“AEML was entirely Scott's brainchild. He gathered a group of creative and talented people with a broad background and managed to incubate an inspiring environment. Scott is a motivating leader who knows how to pursue a vision and get a team excited about a project. He appreciates creativity and always credits the team for their contributions while maintaining his committment to the goals.” (February 15, 2005)

– Bernie Bernstein reported to Scott at Apple Computer

“I knew Scott while at Apple. Scott was one of Apple's brightest, most creative stars. He was incredibly resourceful and creative at coming up with intelligent new businesses, business concepts and getting them off the ground. Since then I've stayed in touch with Scott and have found him to be even *more* talented than ever. Great experiences, keen insight to technology/business and a good guy!” (February 8, 2005)

– Tim Enwall worked directly with Scott at Apple Computer

“Scott has always been an inspiration to me. He is an exceptional visionary and very smart. Moreover, Scott has the ability to organize and build technology concepts beyond present day form and function. I have worked twice with Scott and I would work for him again and again.” (February 6, 2005)

– Melissa Brandao worked indirectly for Scott at Apple Computer

“Smart, ahead of the curve, gets it done!” (February 2, 2005)

– Alex Knight worked with Scott at Apple Computer

“Scott was adept at finding and motivating very talented people. He also excelled at selling ideas to upper management, getting buy-in and ultimately, funding for projects he or his reports felt were important.” (January 27, 2005)

– Corey Vian reported to Scott at Apple Computer

“Scott fearlessly pursues applications of cool technology. He makes you believe anything is possible and, since he's not afraid to push through nearly any constraint, he makes it happen. He's also brilliant at finding. matching and managing creative people. He clears the decks and gives them respect and responsibility. Combine these and, I had my best work experience with a team I will always miss.” (January 25, 2005)

– Cleo Huggins reported to Scott at Apple Computer

“While eWorld never achieved the commercial success Apple hoped for, it was the most ambitious and visually arresting service of its time. And as champion of all things online at Apple, Scott Converse was its visionary brain and brawn. It was always a pleasure to work with him.” (January 25, 2005)

– Dallas Kachan was a consultant or contractor to Scott at Apple Computer

“Scott was a smart and visionary guy to work with--way ahead of his time. And he always made it fun! One of the best and most creative working environments I've ever been in.” (January 25, 2005)

– Mark Potts was with another company when working with Scott at Apple Computer

“I worked with Scott in the Apple Online Service Group in the 1992-95 period. Scott is a passionate, driven, over-the-horizon thinker and visionary in the technology field. He attracted excellent people to work with him and got them to pull off amazing things.” (January 25, 2005)

– James Isaacs worked directly with Scott at Apple Computer

“I worked with Scott during Apple's initial work in the area of online services and Internet. The work he and his team did in this area in this area was ground breaking. The most amazing thing was their ability to implement these inventions in a timely fashion in a largely scalable system. The word visionary gets tossed around Silicon Valley frequently. Scott Converse defines it-and he ships.” (January 25, 2005)

– Craig Elliott worked directly with Scott at Apple Computer

Regional Marketing & Sales Director
Schaak Electronics (Privately Held; 501-1000 employees)
Computer Hardware Industry
February 1983 – July 1987 (4 years 6 months)

Responsible for all sales, marketing, advertising and PR for Schaack Electronics computer sales operations for the Western Division of the company. This included the set up and management of several computer sub-stores within Schaack Electronics stores throughout the Western US region. Was responsible for growing sales in the retail side of computer sales, software and services an average of 58% per year. Also founded, staffed and operated Schaack Professional Services, an outside sales & marketing organization that pioneered sales of personal computers into small, medium and large businesses. Focused on systems integration and software services.

University of Colorado
Economics/Philosophy

Interests:

Senior partner and majority owner of CDC Custom homes, a builder and real estate development company from 2000-2004. Founder and Executive Director of a local community radio station (2000-2005). Interests include: User Interface Design, Web Site Creation, Audio Recording, LPFM, Radio, Home building, real estate development, New urbanism, amateur auto racing, writing, blues, business development, startups, poker, storm chasing, handwriting analysis, book collecting, entrepreneurship, non-profit management, consulting, movies, cool technology, art