About
I am passionate about solving problems and building things that improve convenience. I'm an experienced CEO and solo founder who built a software company from idea on a napkin > through the growth phase > through exit to a publicly-traded company. With a background in growth, accounting, finance and product innovation, my goal is to help founders and companies scale efficiently across the three stages of growth. When I'm not working I enjoy spending time with family or just about any activity in the water. If I could take a zoom call while I'm in the ocean, that would be amazing (and very convenient :-)
Experience
Operating Partner
Ankona Capital · San Diego, California, United States
Present
Ankona is a founder friendly growth-stage investment Fund. We focus on B2B software companies generating $5 - $15M in recurring revenue. The team has over 50 years of combined founder lead software experience and Ankona was launched to help other founders and CEOs achieve extraordinary business outcomes.
Executive Chairman
Amaze Insights · San Diego Metropolitan Area
Present
Amaze Insights is the breakthrough hospitality reporting platform; designed to ensure that hotel brands, management companies, and individual properties have the right information at the right time to support business decisions and optimize revenue.
Board Member
PEAR Health Labs · Carlsbad, California, United States
Present
Ai Digital Fitness Software
Entrepreneur in Residence
The worldwide network that helps entrepreneurs succeed. Founded in 2006, Techstars began with three simple ideas—entrepreneurs create the future, collaboration drives innovation, and great ideas can come from anywhere. Since 2006, Techstars has invested in more than 3,000 companies and today has a market cap of $75 Billion.
Board Advisor (Acquired)
Cloud-based communications and task management platform for hotels.
Board Member (Acquired By Nyse: Xpof)
Lindora is a leading provider of medically guided metabolic health and wellness solutions.
Svp & General Manager
Medallia · San Diego, California, United States
Medallia is the pioneer and market leader in Experience Management. Medallia’s award-winning SaaS platform, the Medallia Experience Cloud, leads the market in the understanding and management of experience for customers, employees and citizens. Medallia captures experience signals created on daily journeys in person, digital and IoT interactions and applies proprietary AI technology to reveal personalized and predictive insights that can drive action with tremendous business results. Using Medallia Experience Cloud, customers can reduce churn, turn detractors into promoters and buyers, and create in-the-moment cross-sell and up-sell opportunities, providing clear and potent returns on investment.
Board Member
Spanx · Atlanta, GA
Ceo, Founder (Acquired By Medallia)
Zingle
Zingle enables mobile text communication between businesses and their customers. Ford founded the company in 2009 by inventing the first device to receive, print and process text messages to help customers communicate faster and more efficiently with businesses. Zingle now facilitates text communications for all business types, including solutions for hotels, food service, valet parking, and more.
Education
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Masters of Accountancy, Accounting
Furman University
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Accounting and Finance
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