- Al Perlman, Co-founder and CEO
Al has been in a leader in technology media for a long time. He was president of Ziff Davis Business Media for a couple of years in the early 2000s, during which he conceived and launched the IT publications Baseline and CIO Insight. Before that he co-founded Interactive Enterprises and the publication Interactive Week. He spent 15 years at CMP Media and spearheaded the launches of Network Computing, Computer Reseller News, VARBusiness, Communications Week, Communications Week International, Computer Systems News and helped engineer a successful turnaround of Information Week. In his spare time, which is diminishing rapidly, he runs the newsletter Jazz Collector and the Web site JazzCollector.com.
- Gary A. Bolles, Co-founder and President
Gary is the former Chief Operating Officer for Evolve Software, and VP Marketing for Network Products Corp. He was the editorial director of Interactive Week, Yahoo! Internet Life, Network Computing, and Smart Partner, and was the on-screen host of TechTV’s “Working the Web.” He was general manager of Ziff Davis’ online group, and editorial director of its custom events group. Gary has also done strategy consulting for organizations such as Silicon Valley Bank, Goldman Sachs, Intel, and McKinsey.
- Mike Perkowski, Co-founder and COO
Mike Perkowski has been tracking the computer industry as a journalist, publisher and marketing executive since 1979. He spent 13 years at CMP Media during that company’s highest-growth period, becoming editor-in-chief and later publisher of Computer Systems News and helping to launch four other publications. He later joined the industry’s top publisher, Ziff Davis Media, where he held a variety of senior management roles over a decade, including VP and general manager of the company’s Market Experts Group, and VP of client marketing. When not moderating an executive roundtable, conducting interviews for magazine articles or consulting with clients on their marketing strategies, Mike either spends his time with his family, on the golf course or yelling at the TV while watching the New York Yankees.
- Amy Katz, Vice President, Sales
Amy oversees sales operations for our integrated media platforms, events and custom offerings. Previously, Amy founded Madcass Media in 2002, where she worked with clients including Fortune, Fortune Small Business, Business 2.0, IDG Communications and Source Media to develop and sell custom publishing and events programs. She also wrote and executed marketing and sales plans for a New England building manufacturer and an e-magazine startup. Prior to founding Madcass Media, Amy worked alongside the co-founders of Microcast at Ziff Davis Media as corporate sales director. She planned media for numerous tech and consumer clients at various advertising agencies in Boston and Denver. When Amy isn’t working, she spends time with her husband and two children in New England, where she founded the North Shore Women’s Adventure Club.
- Joe Panettieri, Vice President, Editorial Content
Joe oversees content for our integrated media platforms, including MuniWireless and TechIQ. Previously, he has spent more than a decade building and managing integrated media platforms and events for Ziff Davis Media and CMP Media.
At Ziff, he was VP/editorial director of the Custom Solutions Group and editor of Smart Partner. He moderated more than 100 CIO events annually, and co-launched such content platforms as the Ziff Davis CIO Summit, Accelerate (for AMD) and Innovations (for IBM). Earlier, he spent six years at CMP, rapidly rising through the editorial ranks at InformationWeek and Windows Magazine. Joe has also developed targeted content for Business 2.0, CFO, Fortune and Fortune Small Business, and appeared on CNN and CNBC to discuss trends in Silicon Valley.
- Nicole White, Vice President and Creative Director
The Roman literary critic Horace provided an elegant definition of art: “The role of art is to inform and delight.” Nicole believes that good design is an integral part of what is being created, that form & function go hand-in-hand, and if you can make people smile while creating clear, intelligent communication, all the better.
Prior to joining Microcast, Nicole was at Ziff Davis Media and CMP Media, where she helped launch a number of publications, including Network Computing, Interactive Week, Smart Reseller, Baseline, Yahoo! Internet Life, and CIO Insight. Most recently, she was at Baseline magazine, a 2005 nominee for a General Excellence ASME, and in the same year, the Grand Neal winner in the Jesse H. Neal Awards, the most prestigious honor in national business journalism. Over the years, she’s become a bit of a launch and redesign specialist with over 20 publications to her credit. For her efforts, she has received numerous awards from the Society of Publication Designers, ASBPE, the Ozzies, Communication Arts, and Print.
- Rhett Hall, Vice President, Director of Operations
Rhett is an old hand at managing operations for start-up and established media enterprises. He was on the original launch team of Interactive Week, Smart Partner and Network Computing magazines. He has also managed production and publishing operations for Scholastic, G2 Computer Intelligence and Guideposts Magazine. He is also the registrar for many of the trade shows and conferences produced by Microcast.
- Esme Vos, Founder, MuniWireless.com
Esme is a former intellectual property lawyer who created the Web site MuniWireless.com in the spring of 2003. Through MuniWireless.com, Esme has become a leader and pioneer in helping to make municipal wireless networks a reality all over the world. The Wall Street Journal has described the site as “a crucial destination for city technology officials, journalists, bloggers and tech-heads looking for the latest developments on this fast-growing front.” Esme teamed with Microcast in the spring of 2005 to form MuniWireless LLC. Since then, MuniWireless.com has expanded to include national and regional conferences and seminars; a print magazine; industry-leading market research and Web seminars.
- Nancy Puglisi, Sales Director, MuniWireless
Nancy is a veteran in technology media with over 18 years of advertising and integrated marketing sales and management experience. Most recently, Nancy served as Vice President of Sales for RFID Journal. Prior to that, she spent 9 years at CMP Media working on media brands such as Windows Magazine and InformationWeek.
Her media career began at Ziff Davis where she worked for 6 years in a variety of sales and sales management roles with ZD Corporate Accounts and Mac Week. In the early 1980’s, Nancy was a pioneer in the personal computer industry, selling financial management software. Nancy was a marketing major at San Diego State University. Nancy is a California native who recently moved to Austin, TX where she lives with her husband and 2 children (and 2 dogs). In her free time, she enjoys boating, swimming (staying cool in the hot Texas sun), cheering her kids on in a multitude of sports, and entertaining friends and family.
- Lisa Biasi, Financial Manager
Lisa oversees the day-to-day financial operations of Microcast Communications and MuniWireless LLC. Previously, Lisa worked in the financial world in NY and San Francisco at various brokerage firms. Having lived on Long Island most of her life, she prefers the more relaxed atmosphere of a LI-based company. When not at work, she’ll be found at a ball game watching her son Michael pitch, or her beloved Yankees.
- Angela Lin, Sales Assistant
Angela is one of our newest additions to the team. Angela spent her undergraduate years at New York University majoring in Mass Media and Communications. Most recently, Angela served as an Administrative Supervisor at a leading language and communication skills training organization. At Microcast, Angela works closely with the sales and content team to insure timely delivery of our custom editorials. Her strategy to get what she wants is to send out massive numbers of “friendly reminders” to her colleagues but mostly to Joe.
- Doris Branscombe, Sales Director, TechIQ & MuniWireless
Doris Branscombe joins Microcast Communications with 10 years experience in advertising and integrated marketing sales. Most recently, Doris was Director of Sales at RFID Journal where she helped build a strong customer base with print, on-line and face-to-face events. Prior to RFID Journal, she spent seven (7) years at CMP Media working on brands such as InformationWeek, Network Computing, and CRN. Doris is based in Southern California with her husband and two dogs. When not in her office, she can be found outside enjoying a run, bike ride or a good match on the tennis courts.
- Amy K. Schuler, Director of Event Marketing
Amy K. Schuler recently joined Microcast Communications as Event Marketing Director focusing on marketing and project management of Microcast Communications and Muniwireless branded and custom events.
Amy spent the last six years running her own event marketing consulting company working with clients such as CMP Media, New Bay Media, Hanover Fair and Wall Street Journal.com. Prior to that, she worked as Event Manager at the United Nations/UNICEF, as Corporate Philanthropy Manager at Mutual of New York and as Director of Marketing Communications/Director of Events at Ziff-Davis, where she had the good fortune to meet and work with the Microcast co-founders.
Amy lives (and works) in Lawrenceville, New Jersey with her husband, two sons and cat. When not on the computer she enjoys going to the movies (popcorn and candy a must), spending time at the beach and skiing.
- Carol Ellison, Staff Writer, MuniWireless
Carol joined the staff in 2006. Previously, she has held senior and executive editorial positions at Ziff Davis Media where, as the editor of eWEEK.com’s Mobile & Wireless Topic Center, she often focused on issues and trends impacting municipal wireless.
More About Microcast Communications:
[...] where to start? During a lunch conversation in mid-August, Al Perlman and I were talking about all the tech editors who have been moving around the industry lately [...]