Randy Spurrier is a leader in integrated direct marketing, constantly pushing the boundaries of relevant direct mail and digital communication. A frequent speaker at industry events, Randy and his ideas about relevant and integrated direct marketing have been featured in a variety of marketing industry publications. During his seven-year tenure as Nimblefish CEO, his will for innovation has driven the company’s strategic direction and product development efforts, been the force behind four DMA ECHO award-winning relevant marketing programs, and helped companies such as AT&T, Sears, and Nike succeed in the marketplace. Randy brings more than 22 years of experience in marketing technologies and software development to Nimblefish, experience that has given him the technological insight to pioneer automated, end-to-end direct marketing solutions. Previously, Randy was VP of marketing at Adobe Systems, where he was responsible for worldwide marketing, strategy, and product management for Adobe’s imaging systems software business. Prior to his work at Adobe, he was CEO and founder of LaserTools, a software firm focused on the development of innovative digital imaging technology, which was acquired by Adobe Systems in 1994. Spurrier holds a patent in digital printing technology. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Berkeley in robotics and automated control systems.
Larry Finch is General Partner with Sigma Partners, one of the leading venture capital firms in the relationship marketing area. Sigma Partners investments in relationship marketing infrastructure companies include their lead investment in Vignette, as well as Edify, Octane, Datasage, and Clarify. Finch's experience spans more than 40 years in sales, marketing, and general management, having worked at several technology and computer-related companies.
Derek Blazensky is a General Partner at Cardinal Venture Capital. Prior to forming Cardinal Venture Capital, Derek managed venture investments for Adobe Ventures. Before joining Adobe Ventures, Derek was a director of product marketing at Adobe Systems during the early days of desktop publishing. Derek has also held engineering, sales, and marketing positions at Teknowledge Incorporated, an early pioneer of artificial intelligence and expert systems, and GRiD Systems, developer of the first laptop computer. He began his career as an engineer for Ford Aerospace. Derek holds a B.A. from Fairfield University and a B.S. in Engineering from the University of Connecticut.
Frederick Schwedner is currently an advisor to a number of venture start-ups focused on the Professional Publishing market. Previously he was Senior Vice President and General Manager at Adobe's Imaging Systems Division, responsible for all aspects of a $200M international business, including sales, marketing, and engineering. Prior to joining Adobe, he was with Schlumberger Technologies, where he had been Vice President of Engineering of Benson Graphics, Director of Measurement Research at Schlumberger Palo Alto Research Center, and Director of Engineering of Fairchild Test Systems. Mr Schwedner holds a BSEE degree from Manhattan College and an MSEE from Northeastern University.
In 1966, Ben began his career in investment banking at Robert Garrett & Sons, which merged into Alex Brown & Sons in 1974. Throughout his 32-year tenure, his efforts encompassed institutional, international, and private client accounts, real estate finance, corporate finance, merger and acquisition transactions as well as public and private investing in emerging growth companies. Ben currently is or has been a member or active observer on the boards of Nimblefish, Align, Aspect Medical, eHealth, GeneOhm, and TissueLink, among others. He has served as chairman, vice chairman and trustee of a number of endowment funds and professionally managed portfolios. Ben graduated from Randolph-Macon College in 1964 with a degree in Economics.
Tom Collinger serves Nimblefish as an advisor, leveraging his extensive experience in direct marketing and integrated marketing communications. Collinger joined Northwestern's graduate IMC program in January 1998, after ten years at the Chicago-based Leo Burnett Company. At the agency, Tom served as Senior Vice President of Direct and Promotion Marketing, working with such companies as Disney, Hallmark, Oldsmobile, Kellogg, and McDonalds. During this period, the agency grew their Integrated Marketing approach, and billings in Direct Marketing, to over $200 Million. Prior to that, he served as Vice President, General Manager of Ogilvy & Mather/Direct's Chicago office, and as General Manager of Ayer Direct/Chicago. Prior to this, Tom developed a start-up business, which he subsequently sold to Time-Life Books, Inc. Collinger is a regular lecturer at universities, and numerous associations, including the DMA, AMA, CADM, New York Direct Marketing Association, and others. In 1990, Target Magazine named him one of the Forty Most Influential Direct Marketers under 40. Collinger is also a published writer, contributing a chapter to Direct Marketing Beyond the Year 2000, as well as articles in AdAge, Adweek, Direct Magazine, and DM News. He also serves on the Editorial Board of The Journal of Consumer Marketing.
Russ Fujioka serves as an advisor to Nimblefish, leveraging his extensive experience in the areas of interactive online advertising and direct marketing. Fujioka was formerly national President for J. Walter Thompson's Synergy@JWT Group, which includes JWT interactive online practices as well as direct marketing units. Fujioka guides clients to achieve strategic campaigns that build revenue, market share, and comprehensive brand identity. He joined JWT in 1996 from Adobe Systems, where he directed worldwide market development and oversaw all marketing efforts of Adobe Systems in Japan, Europe, and other satellite ROW countries. Over nearly eight years with Adobe, Russ was personally responsible for the launching of Adobe PostScript, Adobe PrintGear, and the Acrobat Player products. Prior to Adobe, Russ was with Poppe Tyson Silicon Valley, a subsidiary of global advertising giant Bozell.
