Résumé

Summary:

For over 10 years, my passion has been to help facilitate community and the open exchange of ideas around the themes of entrepreneurship, technology, and economic development. A hunger for looking at new trends and models from interdisciplinary perspectives allows me to connect with a myriad of professionals, aiding my effectiveness to organize meaningful events and convey complex technical information simply. This same high inductive reasoning aptitude and systems thinking also allows me to deliver value in cross functional business development, sales, and IT consulting. As a lifelong entrepreneur at heart, “rolling up my sleeves” and working hard, continual improvement, meeting deadlines, adapting to market conditions, and holding others accountable to push their limits is simply what I do.

Work Experience

CoFounder & Evangelist - Happy Santa Cruz – April 2009 to Present

Santa Cruz, CA

Happy Santa Cruz is about publicly recognizing and celebrating our community. We use local vendors and use our profits to support local non-profits. I’ve been involved with all aspects of manifesting the idea of Happy Santa Cruz into a tangible and profitable business and brand.

Does Santa Cruz make you happy? Let us know at www.happysantacruz.com!

Principle - Open Spectrum Inc. – April 2006 to Present

Santa Cruz, CA and Silicon Valley, CA

Open Spectrum is responsible for hosting and organizing large transformational events in Santa Cruz, primarily focused on celebrating and promoting the amazing people, organizations and companies within our City and County.

Our Events to Date:
Envision Accolades
Envision Santa Cruz : 2009 Summit
Post AmGen PubCrawl

Operations - Zazengo – May 2009 to July 2009

Santa Cruz, CA

Zazengo creates scalable tools for companies to measure and track engagement online. Leveraging these tools, corporations can challenge their communities (employees, customers and suppliers) to take actions which add up (using chosen metrics) to visible impact (for individual, department, and the corporation).

While working with Zazengo I helped the existing team define the products/solutions they were offering, recruit new developer talent, review employee and client facing contracts, customize Salesforce.com, and began documenting the processes through which an order would flow from sales through completion.

Director, Sales & Business Development - UnitedLayer LLC - April 2007 to March 2009

San Francisco CA (HQ) and Los Angeles CA

Implemented process and systems within the sales organization as the company grew from a $2M to $8M run rate over 24 months. Restructured the company’s product pricing catalog. Helped the COO in rewriting the executive summary and business plan presented to Venture and Private Equity Firms. Worked across all divisions and with legal counsel to rewrite the company’s Master Services Agreement and corresponding Colocation, IP, and Managed Infrastructure Service Level Agreements. Developed a channel partner program and managed relationships with over 100 clients while also consistently bringing in net new business.

General Partner - Catalyst Management Group – December 2006 to March 2007

San Bruno CA (HQ), San Diego CA and Los Angeles CA

Worked as a general business consultant for a LED manufacturer based out of San Diego bringing a new product to market. Responsible for closing new business and served as the lead project manager for a technical infrastructure re-engineering project in Los Angeles.

Regional Director, Sales & Business Development - TopCoder, Inc. – December 2005 to October 2006

San Jose CA and Glastonbury CT (HQ)

Worked as 1 of 2 sales representatives located full time on the West Coast selling sponsorships and specialized software development services to Fortune 500 clients. Developed new relationships with industry experts and consultants to provide credibility and recognition.

Director, Business Development – CampusBooks.com Inc. – June 2005 to November 2005

San Diego CA (HQ)

Worked directly with the CEO of CampusBooks.com to create the business plan and funding strategy for CampusMarket.com. Campus Market was the evolution of CampusBooks.com and AllDorm.com and was to serve as a comparison shopping portal for all products and services specifically targeted to the collegiate demographic. During this time I personally presented to Venture Capital firms, Angel Groups, and individual investors throughout the West Coast, successfully raising $400,000 before the CEO chose to discontinue the venture.

Director, All Things Retail - AllDorm, Inc. – January 2000 to May 2005

Santa Clara CA (HQ)

Served on the Executive Management Team of AllDorm Inc. for 5 years and was the primary employee responsible for managing and growing the Retail Division of the company. Worked within a wide range of pre-incorporation roles to raise seed stage capital, hire and manage employees, structure and implement cross functional programs and business processes, forecast division revenues and costs, develop online performance metrics, develop sales, vendor and business partner relationships, develop and implement effective accounting practices, and oversee all online and offline merchandising and customer service centered content.

Other Experience

Co-Organizer, Mobilizer & Evangelist - Santa Cruz GEEKS – February 2008 to Present

Santa Cruz, CA

Helped to mobilize the local technology community through scheduling and organizing monthly dinners in an effort to catalyze local economic development through connecting successful technologists and entrepreneurs and building genuine relationships and friendships. Member base has grown to over 200 in just 13 months with a dozen different noteworthy projects and companies spawning directly from these events.

CEO - Bronco Student Services – April 2006 to Present

Santa Clara University, CA

BSS is a small business that provides Summer Storage, Weekly Laundry Service and Monthly Water Delivery to students at Santa Clara University. The company began as a byproduct of AllDorm and was to serve primarily as a means for me to teach students at SCU how to run a small business. The company is profitable and I currently manage/mentor a small team of students who perform all day to day operations of the business.

Board Member - Santa Cruz NEXT – January 2007 to January 2009

Santa Cruz, CA

Served on the Board of Directors of this 501 (C)3 that provides a fun and diverse environment for local business owners and professionals to discuss issues affecting the next generation of our community. NEXT is non-partisan and promotes an open exchange of information, ideas and aspirations with the goal of helping Santa Cruz learn about the systems and communities around them, and inspire them to get up and take action in whatever form they feel necessary.

Over the past 2 years the organization has thrown 8 events with topics ranging from water conservation to economic development, with a few “just for fun” Dinner/Dance parties/fundraisers in the mix. We generally have between 80-150 attendees at our events with a growing member base of 700+ local business owners, professionals, students and activists.

Advisor & Consultant – SCU Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship – May 2005 to December 2007

Santa Clara, CA

Convinced the Dean of the Business School at Santa Clara University and then Executive Director of the CIE to re-start the organization under a different agenda and mission. Rewrote the business plan for the CIE to connect alumni and students within the ecosystem of educating students and alumni on how to build successful businesses and eventually helping to launch successful businesses. Was initially offered the job as its Director but turned it down to work on the CampusMarket.com project.

Organizer – The Power Lunch Network – June 2006 to January 2007

South Bay Area, CA

Organized a mailing list of over 100 young businessmen/women in the Bay Area and hosted a luncheon each month where an experienced entrepreneur and business owner would provide us with a personal perspective into just how unpredictable and enjoyable life can be if we truly make it our own and step out of the standard mold. Specifically focused on introducing speakers who were making a living doing the most extraordinary things.

Other Interests

Husband to Laura Tario – Married September 4th, 2005

Father to Tyler Aiden Tario – Born April 24th, 2006

Father to Trinity Nichole Tario - Born June 2nd, 2009

Chronic Reader, Writer, Backpacker, Climber, Traveler, Futurist, Contemplative and Philosopher

Education

High School: New Trier Township – Winnetka, IL - 1994-1998

College: Santa Clara University – Santa Clara, CA - 1998-2002 Bachelor of Arts - Double Major, Economics & Political Science