Workpump Leadership
Workpump is the brainchild of Founder and Managing Director John Browne. In 2000 John created Workpump to help small businesses grow with the same tools, solutions and expertise as the big guys.
John Browne, Founder and Managing Director
After over 25 years in the software industry, John can't remember all the products he's shipped or projects he's worked on. In 1987, he joined Microsoft as a manager in the Systems Division, the same week OS/2 was announced.
John held numerous management positions during his 11 year tenure, having responsibility at various times for all aspects of software development. A partial list of products he worked on includes Visual C++, Excel, Office, Commerce Server, Macro Assembler, Windows CE, Test, Delta, and even a couple of games. He understands every aspect of designing, developing, testing, and marketing world class software. He managed or held positions in marketing, PR, program management, localization, and user education.
In 2001 John started Workpump to bring Microsoft-quality best practices in marketing and product development to technology firms, working with clients from Silicon Valley to British Columbia. Starting in 2003 John began assembling a team of like-minded individuals who could bring years of successful operational experience to clients.
Over the 25 years John has worked in the commercial software arena, he held executive positions at startups like Florida Software Services (now Kirchman Corporation) to monster enterprises like Boeing. In the early 80s he founded a successful international consulting firm, The Metier Group. He has addressed technical conferences and press both in the US and internationally, published numerous articles, was a National Lecturer for the Association for Computing Machinery, and been widely quoted in the computer press. John chaired the 2005 Early Stage Investment Forum for the Northwest Entrepreneur Network and chairs it again for 2006. John currently serves on the Executive Committee of the AeA Washington Council, the board of the Northwest Entrepreneur Network, and is a past board member of Habitat for Humanity of East King County.
Jonathan Weinstein, Senior Consultant
Jonathan's career as a technology marketing expert spans 18 years at small, mid-sized, and enterprise companies including Apple Computer, Microsoft and several successful start-ups.
Jonathan began his consulting career in 2006 and has a growing client base that includes successful technology organizations such as WhitePages.com, Aditi, and Ignition Partners. Prior to working as a consultant, Jonathan helped found Seattle-based Jobster, Inc. where he served as VP Marketing. Jobster is now a leading job search site with $10 million plus in sales. At Jobster, Jonathan managed the launch of the service and built a marketing team and process that helped lead to more than 300 corporate subscription contracts in 18 months. His start-up experience there was preceded by an eight-year tenure as Director Marketing at Microsoft. At Microsoft, Jonathan was steeped in best practices for small and mid-sized as well as enterprise customer acquisition and relationship management. His career there included management of marketing teams for small business applications and services, e-commerce, bCentral hosted services, and supply chain management solutions. Jonathan came to Microsoft as part of the acquisition of eShop, Inc. where he was Director of Product Management for several years. eShop was an industry leader in the emerging online shopping category and sold to Microsoft in 1996. Jonathan was trained as a technology product marketer at Apple Computer's software subsidiary, Claris Corporation, where he served more than three years as product manager for a number of applications, including popular classics such as MacWrite.
Jonathan's skills include substantial international experience as well as Spanish, German, and French language skills. He received his BA with honors from Brown University.
Robin Samms, Senior Consultant
Robin Samms held various Vice President positions at WatchGuard Technologies, Inc between February 1997 and April 2001.
As the founding VP of Business Development, he was primarily responsible for the development of relationships with major ISP’s including GTE, (Genuity), PSINet, Verio, MCI, (UUNet), IIJ, Qwest and others. These relationships led to the development and release of the Company’s Managed Security Suite (MSS) of products for Managed Security Providers. He managed the architecture, development, global launch and sales effort of the MSS products. WatchGuard’s MSS suite was adopted by over 65 managed security providers.
As VP, Managed Security (MSS), Robin created and managed the worldwide Field-engineering group responsible for implementation and integration of the MSS Suite into Service Provider NOC environments. Notable implementations include GTE, UUNet, PSINet, IIJ, Deutsche Telecom, Verio. and various Japanese ISPs. The group also provided technical and pre-sales support as well as custom development services to customers.
As VP of OEM Sales, he managed the OEM sales group, with responsibility for OEM sales and implementations of the Company’s consumer Firewall technology. Customers included NEC, COMPAQ, Conexant, and others.
Prior to Watchguard Technologies, (1993 – 1997) he was the Director of OEM Sales for Legent’s Network Management division, with a $12MM annual revenue stream from Major OEMS (HP, Siemens, IBM, Newbridge Networks, Ungermann-Bass, Silicon Graphics, and others). He had responsibility for both OEM sales as well as managed the OEM porting Lab with engineering and project management responsibilities.
Robin has also held Indirect Channel sales and sales management Positions at DEC, Motorola, and Asymetrix and major account direct sales positions at Xerox, and Control Data.
Robert Ingman, Senior Consultant
Robert is a software industry veteran with almost 20 years of experience in various positions at hi-tech companies including Microsoft, ViAir, and Aventail.
During his 12+ year tenure at Microsoft in program management teams in the International, Office, MSN, and Windows divisions, he gained a deep understanding of software development and project management methodologies, and extensive knowledge of modern PC hardware technologies. Amongst many accomplishments, he was responsible for the shipment of the first complete USB and IEEE 1394 (a.k.a. “FireWire”) driver stacks in Windows 98 and Windows 2000. At ViAir, he led the program management team and the development of WirelessInbox, a market-leading mobile email application that was deployed by major cell phone carriers in the US, Canada, and Asia. At Aventail, he contributed to the development of the EX-1500 VPN appliance and gained valuable insights into the many complex aspects of remote access and network security.
Robert’s key expertise is in translating market and product requirements into engineering specifications for development teams, leading development projects from early inception to shipping product, and being responsible for efficient interaction and communications with dependent teams such as Product Management, Operations, Support, Technical Publications, and Executive Management.
Robert is a dual EU/US citizen, and holds a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Karen Laszlo, Senior Consultant
Karen Laszlo has held a variety of leadership positions in early stage and rapidly growing technology and software companies. A seasoned finance and marketing professional with a deep subject matter expertise in strategic and financial planning, pricing and finance management, she has achieved success in start-ups and established corporate environments,identifying, closing and leveraging new market opportunities to speed revenue growth, market coverage, complementary products and customer satisfaction. Karen brings a proven ability to quickly move technology and media products to leading positions in rapidly evolving markets.
Karen’s key accomplishments in the realm of finance and business development include successful company repositioning, and the design and implementation of long-range strategic and financial plans resulting in dramatic revenue growth. While Group Controller and Director of Marketing at Advanstar Communications, Karen built convincing business cases and financial models to support and evaluate mergers and acquisitions and international joint ventures.
Recently, Karen designed strategic market/business development plans and engaged technology, distribution and funding partners, including Fortune 100 and international prospects for clients (markets include travel, e-signature, digital media and trade show/meetings online technology industry). From 1998 to 2001, Karen was VP Business Development for PlanSoft Corporation, the leader in B2B e-commerce solutions in the $100 billion events and hospitality industry, where she initiated, negotiated and implemented technology and channel partnerships, and managed strategic relationships. PlanSoft Corporation raised $46 million from venture and corporate funds.
Karen’s experience provides an understanding of business and systems that help companies scale effectively while making strategic and tactical decisions within a consistent and sustainable framework. She has held senior marketing and financial management positions at Advanstar Communications, a worldwide provider of information and communications products and Progressive Insurance Corporation, a $3 billion insurance provider. She holds an MBA in Marketing from Case Western Reserve (1991), and is affiliated with the WSA, FEW, IBDNetwork, and the MIT Forum.
Mark Simon, Senior Consultant
Mark Simon, an Internet technology pioneer, with over 27 years of experience guiding technology companies as a CEO, COO, CTO, and CIO. This experience has given Mark invaluable business acumen and knowledge in the areas of strategic planning, operations, and technology. Mark employs his unique perspective by serving in the role of board and advisory board member, and as the senior consultant to clients when they need strategic business, operations, or technology planning and execution.
Mark is the former founder and Chief Executive Officer of Vrtise, Inc., which developed a secure Internet & wireless software platform to enable demand chain content distribution and supply chain efficiencies; linking together inventory management, POS and marketing resources for companies with destination, high traffic and point-of-sale locations. Before founding Vrtise, Mark served as valued CEO, COO, CTO, and CIO for many emerging technology companies, including ESSI, Breakwater Security Associates, WorldPoint Logistics, OneHealthPort, Velodia and SPRYNET.
Mark is an actively sought executive business and technology consultant to early and middle stage companies. Mark is an active board and advisory board member with numerous companies, and is currently the Chairman & CEO of the Telecommunications Association. Mark holds a BS in Business Management and Telecommunication Systems Management from Marylhurst University and has been published widely in industry and professional journals.
