Akers Capital Team
Advisors

 

Roger Akers - Managing Partner
Roger has over 20 years of experience in technology related environments. As an IT Services executive, Roger managed the development and delivery of large-scale software systems in over 80 client environments. Efforts included technical and management assignments for a national consulting firm (SCT), as well as the building of a regional IT consulting firm as Managing Partner (PRODATA Inc.). With a staff that ultimately grew to 430+, ProData provided management and technical IT consulting to public and private sector clients in the western US. Upon the successful merger of ProData with a large IT services firm, Roger developed a consulting firm (Akers-Waterman & Company) that provided management consulting to industry leaders such as Intel and Cisco Systems. In addition, Roger helped develop and worked with a number of technology companies.

In 1998, Roger co-founded Akers Capital LLC with partner Tom Loutzenheiser. After successfully raising Pac West Technology Fund I in 2000, Roger and the team have invested in, mentored and helped build emerging technology companies. His enjoyment and stimulation of working with the best teams possible has been Roger’s primary motivating factor throughout his career. Managing projects, building companies and investing funds has provided significant experience and insight into the intricacies of technology based business development. Providing support through board-level participation, organizational development, marketing and sales channel development is his passion. Roger has undergraduate degrees in Accounting (CPA) and Computer Science and a Masters of Business Administration. He currently serves on the Boards of the Golden State Capital Network, the Emerging Technology Institute, University of California Connect, and sits on the Advisory Board for the Graduate School of Management at the University of California, Davis.
 

Tom Loutzenheiser - Managing Partner
Tom has over 20 years experience in the computer and information technology industry, with specific expertise in Internet/network technology, product management, sales, marketing, finance and general corporate management. As a managing partner and co-founder of Akers Capital LLC, Tom combines his passion for technology and working with great teams of people to help build successful technology companies. Having been an entrepreneur most of his career, he draws from direct experience building an emerging business to assist the Fund’s portfolio companies.

Tom founded Apexx Technology, Inc. in 1992, and focused the Company on providing leading networking and Internet solutions for small and medium business. As Chairman and CEO, Tom grew the Company over 625% during the next five years, making the Inc 500 list in 1999. Apexx pioneered the Internet appliance server market in 1996, and in 1999 the Company merged with a public company, (eSoft, Inc). Prior to Apexx, Tom held management positions in engineering, sales and marketing at Extended Systems, Inc (NASDAQ: XTND) and IBM Corporation. Tom has a BS in Engineering from the University of Washington and an MS in Engineering Management from Stanford University. Tom is a member of Young Presidents Organization (YPO), and currently serves on the Idaho Governor’s Science & Technology Council, Boise State University Engineering School Advisory Board, and the Boise Metro Economic Development Council Venture Capital Committee.
 

Kipp A. Bedard- Advisor

Kipp Bedard is Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Micron Technology, Inc. His responsibilities include investor relations, media relations, corporate communications and public relations, government affairs, product publicity, corporate contributions, corporate e-commerce strategy, and corporate development. He is President of the Micron Technology Foundation, Inc., formed to advance science and technology education and support civic and charitable institutions in the communities in which Micron has facilities. Mr. Bedard began his career at Micron Technology, Inc. in 1983 in the Accounting Department. He was later named manager of Micron's Systems Group, which was formed in 1984. Prior to his Micron career, Mr. Bedard was an accountant at what is now Deloitte & Touche. Mr. Bedard attended the University of Notre Dame and the College of Southern Idaho, and received his degree in Business Administration from Boise State University. He is a board member of the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry, the Boise Area Chamber of Commerce, and is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Idaho Quality Award.
 

Paul M. Boyd- Advisor

Paul M. Boyd is a Partner in the Corporate Practice Group of Stoel Rives LLP, a regional law firm with more than 300 lawyers located in Boise, Portland, Seattle and Salt Lake City. Mr. Boyd's practice focuses on corporate and securities law, venture capital transactions, intellectual property protection, private debt and equity securities offerings, and general business counseling. Mr. Boyd has a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center, and an A.B. from Stanford University.
 

Ron Hults - Advisor

Mr. Ron Hults, Intel Corporation, is a director level Intel employee with responsibilities for the development of the technical consulting services practice for U.S. and International operations. Mr. Hults has significant technological, management and business development insight.
 

Bruce McCormick - Advisor

Bruce McCormick is currently Director of Strategic Business Development at Intel Corporation. In this position Mr. McCormick is responsible for wireless investment strategy. Mr. McCormick's 26 years in technology management includes processor, peripheral and memory marketing management, business development and management and manufacturing experience. Mr. McCormick earned a Bachelors and Masters degree in Electrical Engineering at Purdue University and a MBA from Santa Clara University.

John McNulty - Advisor

John McNulty has over thirty years experience in the hi-tech industry, and currently serves as CEO of Secure Computing, an e-business data and information security company. In addition, he is on the Board of Auspex Systems and is advisor to three venture firms. Prior to that, Mr. McNulty served as Senior Vice President Sales, Services and Business Development at Genesys Telecommunications Labs, a leading independent software company in the computer telephony integration environment. Previously, Mr. McNulty was with Intel Corporation, where in his latest position he was Director of Marketing and Business Development for the Enterprise Server Group, which he launched. He also served as General Manager of Intel's Commercial Memory and Micro Systems division. Mr. McNulty has also been President and CEO of Integrated Solutions, Inc. and Rose Communications.

Richard Rock - Advisor

Richard Rock has been consulting start-up companies in both the high technology and life science sectors for the past three years. Applying start-up experience earned at start-up companies such as eBay, Mr. Rock advises companies on strategy, equity financing, business alliances, marketing, financial modeling and organization. Mr. Rock served as the Senior Director of Business Development at eBay for three and a half years. As employee 31 at the world's largest e-commerce site, Mr. Rock was responsible for establishing multi-million dollar strategic business relationships that accelerated customer acquisition at a declining cost. In this role, he pioneered new cost models and risk reducing strategies that have helped eBay achieve its key financial goals. These relationships included companies such as AOL Time Warner, Yahoo, Microsoft and The Walt Disney Company. Later, as the General Manager for eBay Real Estate he developed and executed eBay's strategy for entering the $5 trillion real estate market. Mr. Rock also served as the Director of the Consumer Insights and Analysis, eBay's Market Research arm and was responsible for creating the first customer valuation models for the community. Mr. Rock also contributed to eBay's international expansion in Germany, France and Japan. Prior to eBay, Mr. Rock worked for an online directory business that was acquired by Lycos.

Mr. Rock received his MBA from Stanford in 1996 and his undergraduate Finance degree from the University of Idaho in 1994. He currently serves on the University of Idaho Foundation Board of Directors and the board of Tessera Diagnostics, a company in the biotechnology sector.

Mark Upson - Advisor

Mark Upson has over 20 years experience in global high technology management. He currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of PureEdge Solutions, (www.PureEdge.com) the leading provider of secure XML e-forms for governments and regulated industries. Prior to joining PureEdge, Mr. Upson served as Senior Vice President and General Manager, Americas, for Onyx Software, a publicly traded leader in the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) market. At Onyx, Upson led the company’s sales growth up from $2M USD to over $119M USD in a five-year period, which included an IPO and aggressive international expansion of the company. Upson participated in the raising of over $95M USD in investment capital during his tenure at Onyx and led the restructuring of the North American and European operations to meet profitability goals. Upson’s experience also includes senior management positions at Wall Data, a publicly-traded infrastructure software firm that grew at more than 100% per year during his tenure to revenues over $100M USD, and 11 years’ of technical and senior sales management with IBM Corporation.

Mr. Upson holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering with honors from Virginia Tech and a Masters of Science in Manufacturing Systems Engineering & Product Marketing from Stanford University.

Douglas A. Woodcock- Advisor

Doug Woodcock is Director of Equity Capital Markets for D.A. Davidson & Co. (DADCO). Mr. Woodcock's 20 years in the industry includes direct experience in institutional sales, trading and research as well as retail brokerage. Mr. Woodcock was a Managing Director and Principal at Jensen Securities until it was acquired by DADCO in 1998. Prior to joining Jensen Securities Co., Mr. Woodcock held positions as Vice President and Branch Manager for Dean Witter from 1982-1986, General Partner of Dakota Partners an investment partnership from 1986-1990 and Principal and Managing Director of Jensen Securities Co. form 1991-1998. Mr. Woodcock serves on the DADCO Management Committee and Board of Directors. He is a current member of the Securities Industry Association Institutional Committee. Mr. Woodcock is a graduate of the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada and former member of the National Ski Team of Canada.