Our Advisors
- Todd Vernon
- Mark Williams
- Michael Strauss
- Col. Bill Knight (USA, Ret.)
Todd Vernon is currently CEO of Lijit Networks Inc. a company that brings continuous real-time social search and discovery to user’s web browsing experience.
Prior to his work at Lijit, Mr. Vernon was a Co-founder and CTO of Raindance Communications (NASDAQ: RNDC) where he was responsible for the design, development and operations of Raindance’s web and phone-based conferencing services, technologies and network.
Mr. Vernon has more than 15 years of experience designing, developing and managing complex real-time software systems in a variety of sectors.
Prior to co-founding Raindance, Mr. Vernon served as product architect and lead developer for Rogue Wave Software, where he was responsible for the design and development of the company’s Inter.Net.h++ commercial software library. Before joining Rogue Wave, Mr. Vernon was a senior software engineer at Evolving Systems, Inc., where he led a team of engineers in the design of the user interface of a large client/server development effort for GTE. From 1987 to 1994, Mr. Vernon served as senior systems engineer at NASA Dryden Flight Research Facility, developing hardware and software systems that manage dynamic data in real time.
Mr. Vernon received his BS in electrical engineering technology from Central Missouri State University in 1985.
Mr. Williams (USAF, Retired) has over 24 years of operations and intelligence experience with the USAF and other U.S. government agencies. His operational experience includes over 200 combat hours in the F-15C as a veteran of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. A seasoned intelligence officer, as well, he has performed duties at the squadron, wing and headquarters level ranging from evaluating enemy air tactics in the PACOM theatre of operations to reviewing and revamping strategic war plans at HQ PACAF.
Mr. Williams has also served in a variety of positions as expert intelligence advisor to several law enforcement agencies within the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security. With JTF-6, he worked at the New Mexico Intelligence Center and the New Mexico High Density Drug Traffic Area identifying, targeting and prosecuting drug smuggling organizations in the Southwestern United States. Also with JTF-6, he assisted the Denver District of the INS in designing and implementing a plan for the collection and production of timely narcotics and human-smuggling intelligence and the computer architecture to support these efforts.
Mr. Williams is currently Director of Project Management at AnswerOn, Inc., a solutions provider dedicated to positively influencing subscriber relationships in the service provider industry through the use of predictive analytics technology. Mr. Williams holds a BA in Economics from The College of William and Mary and an MA in Buddhist Studies from Naropa University.