The Tampa Bay Technology Forum, Central Florida’s largest and most influential technology association, confirmed today four new board members and the four officers who will lead the board of directors and steer the organization’s strategic direction in 2010. Anand Pallegar, CEO of atLarge, Inc. has assumed the role of Chair; Christopher Paradies, attorney with Fowler White Boggs Banker, will serve as vice chair; Kathy Killingsworth, senior vice president of Tribridge, Inc. and Greg McLaughlin, senior director of strategy of Brighthouse Networks Hillsborough County Division will remain as secretary and treasurer, respectively.

The four new members joining the board of directors include David Ciccarello, Southeast market leader at Insight Enterprises, Inc.; Maling Ebrahimpour, Ph.D., dean and professor of management, College of Business at University of South Florida St. Petersburg; Paul Hays, partner, Larson Allen and Dan Rodriguez, founder and CEO of Veredus Corporation.

“It’s an incredible honor to lead this organization into its 10-year anniversary as the largest non-profit technology association dedicated to fostering the high-tech and entrepreneurial community,” said Pallegar. “This year's board represents a group of seasoned leaders whom collectively serve as a catalyst for the inspiration and leadership that's transforming our region into a world-class center for technology entrepreneurship, business innovation and educational excellence.”

Pallegar succeeds Deb Curtiss, vice president and general manager of Peak 10. Prior to Curtiss, George Gordon, chairman and CEO of Enporion served as TBTF chairman since 2004.

Ciccarello has been with Insight, a Fortune 500 provider of brand-name information technology hardware, software and services for 10 years. He has won president and chairman awards as a sales leader. Prior to becoming market leader, he worked as a strategic account executive and managed a global banking client. Ciccarello began his career in the industry at Comp USA where he was responsible for corporate sales in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.

Dr. Ebrahimpour has a Ph.D. degree in the field of management science and operations management. His experiences extend to both manufacturing and service organizations. Dean Ebrahimpour has taught in various countries and served as a consultant to various companies around the world. Prior to joining USF St. Petersburg, Dr. Ebrahimpour was dean of Gabelli School of Business at Roger Williams University and worked for 18 years at the University of Rhode Island.

Hays is in charge of the manufacturing and distribution group in the Tampa office of Larson Allen. He is a certified public accountant in the state of New York and Florida with more than 11 years of experience in public accounting, auditing, taxation and business consulting. He has significant experience serving venture capital backed technology based companies, manufacturing and distribution companies as well as franchisors and franchisees. In addition to TBTF, Hays serves as the president of the board of directors of Keep Hillsborough County Beautiful.

Rodriguez founded Veredus, a 50 million information staffing company, in 2000. He oversees sales and operations for the company, which has offices throughout the Southeast. The company has been recognized as one of the fastest growing staffing firms in the U.S. Prior to founding Veredus, Rodriguez spent 10 years as an executive at a national staffing firm. He is very active in the community, supporting several charitable organizations, including the TBTF Foundation.

The Tampa Bay Technology Forum, Central Florida’s largest and most influential technology association, confirmed today four new board members and the four officers who will lead the board of directors and steer the organization’s strategic direction in 2010. Anand Pallegar, CEO of atLarge, Inc. has assumed the role of Chair; Christopher Paradies, attorney with Fowler White Boggs Banker, will serve as vice chair; Kathy Killingsworth, senior vice president of Tribridge, Inc. and Greg McLaughlin, senior director of strategy of Brighthouse Networks Hillsborough County Division will remain as secretary and treasurer, respectively.

The four new members joining the board of directors include David Ciccarello, Southeast market leader at Insight Enterprises, Inc.; Maling Ebrahimpour, Ph.D., dean and professor of management, College of Business at University of South Florida St. Petersburg; Paul Hays, partner, Larson Allen and Dan Rodriguez, founder and CEO of Veredus Corporation.

“It’s an incredible honor to lead this organization into its 10-year anniversary as the largest non-profit technology association dedicated to fostering the high-tech and entrepreneurial community,” said Pallegar. “This year's board represents a group of seasoned leaders whom collectively serve as a catalyst for the inspiration and leadership that's transforming our region into a world-class center for technology entrepreneurship, business innovation and educational excellence.”

Pallegar succeeds Deb Curtiss, vice president and general manager of Peak 10. Prior to Curtiss, George Gordon, chairman and CEO of Enporion served as TBTF chairman since 2004.

Ciccarello has been with Insight, a Fortune 500 provider of brand-name information technology hardware, software and services for 10 years. He has won president and chairman awards as a sales leader. Prior to becoming market leader, he worked as a strategic account executive and managed a global banking client. Ciccarello began his career in the industry at Comp USA where he was responsible for corporate sales in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.

Dr. Ebrahimpour has a Ph.D. degree in the field of management science and operations management. His experiences extend to both manufacturing and service organizations. Dean Ebrahimpour has taught in various countries and served as a consultant to various companies around the world. Prior to joining USF St. Petersburg, Dr. Ebrahimpour was dean of Gabelli School of Business at Roger Williams University and worked for 18 years at the University of Rhode Island.

Hays is in charge of the manufacturing and distribution group in the Tampa office of Larson Allen. He is a certified public accountant in the state of New York and Florida with more than 11 years of experience in public accounting, auditing, taxation and business consulting. He has significant experience serving venture capital backed technology based companies, manufacturing and distribution companies as well as franchisors and franchisees. In addition to TBTF, Hays serves as the president of the board of directors of Keep Hillsborough County Beautiful.

Rodriguez founded Veredus, a 50 million information staffing company, in 2000. He oversees sales and operations for the company, which has offices throughout the Southeast. The company has been recognized as one of the fastest growing staffing firms in the U.S. Prior to founding Veredus, Rodriguez spent 10 years as an executive at a national staffing firm. He is very active in the community, supporting several charitable organizations, including the TBTF Foundation.


About Tampa Bay Technology Forum
 
Founded in 2000, the Tampa Bay Technology Forum (TBTF) is a professional association whose members work together to make the Bay area a place where technology and innovation thrive. TBTF’s 450+ member organizations represent more than 45,000 employees include technology entrepreneurs, business and community leaders, investors, government representatives, researchers and educators. For more information, visit www.tbtf.org.