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Leadership
The BzzAgent Team
Dave Balter, Founder/CEO
CEO Dave Balter founded BzzAgent in 2002 in Boston, Massachusetts (USA). Since that time, his company has provided word-of-mouth media services for dozens of Fortune 500 companies and has been featured in The New York Times Sunday Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, The Economist and on National Public Radio.
A co-founder and current board member of The Word of Mouth Marketing Association, Balter is an international speaker on the topic of word-of-mouth marketing. He has presented for corporations, associations and non-profit groups throughout the U.S., Europe and Asia. He co-authored Grapevine: The New Art of Word-of-Mouth Marketing, which has become one of the industry's most recognised business titles.
Dubbed a "serial entrepreneur" by The Boston Globe, Balter built and sold two promotional agencies prior to forming BzzAgent. He was placed on the "40 Under 40" list by The Boston Business Journal in 2006 as well as by Advertising Specialty Institute in 2001. Women's Wear Daily named him one of the "Top 7 Individuals Changing the Face of Beauty" in 2001.
His commitment to corporate transparency has resulted in five innovative blogs, which were profiled in an extensive Inc. Magazine feature and later earned an Award of Excellence from the Society of New Communications research. Balter earned a B.A. in Psychology from Skidmore College and aspires to build the world's largest rock garden.
Michele Pearl, Network GM
Michele Pearl is responsible for managing BzzAgent's network of Agents. She strives to increase the size of the BzzAgent community, while improving Agent retention and satisfaction. Michele is also the point person for the company's international expansion plans. Previously, Michele was a founding member of Monster, where she ran programmes to reduce fraud, improve the customer experience and rollout international services. She can become quite grumpy if she doesn't clock at least five miles (on foot) before sunrise.
David Wagner, COO
David Wagner manages day-to-day operations and coordinates internal processes at BzzAgent, including the company's finance, human resources and administrative departments. David also coordinates BzzAgent's legal affairs. In the past, he held senior finance and operations positions at emerging technology companies and served as a corporate litigator. David is a regular at BzzAgent's Ultimate Frisbee matches.
Kurt Overberg, CTO
If a project involves technology, Kurt Overberg is responsible for its success. He leads the teams that build the Web applications that support our hundreds-of-thousands of Agents and those that support our internal staff. Before joining BzzAgent, Kurt helped develop one of the world's first "web shopping carts" for OpenMarket. But what's most impressive is this: music pioneer Thomas Dolby once bought him a burrito.
Michael Bird, SVP of Sales
Michael Bird oversees BzzAgent's entire sales and business development operations, with both the direct and channel sales teams reporting to him. Michael is a 20-year media veteran. Before joining BzzAgent, he led international media network sales for CNET's Business Media Network. Although he drives an inconspicuous Volvo estate, Michael is a proficient racing driver.
Dave Dugan, SVP of Strategy and Partnerships
Dave Dugan drives a busload of responsibilities — from managing the company's media services team, to forming high value partnerships with agencies and technology companies, to leading the strategic direction of the business. He's well equipped for this essential role, however, given that he spent the past 11 years with digital marketing giant Digitas, where he most recently led corporate strategy. Dave's unique daily commute consists of a 15 mile boat ride through the Harbor Islands.
John Bigay, VP of Marketing
John Bigay fronts all of BzzAgent's strategic marketing functions, including analytics, branding and communications. Prior to BzzAgent, John held the same position with Gannett's Captivate Network. At Captivate, Bigay oversaw the company's on-air programming, which included content partnerships with major media brands. He delights in the knowledge that he can safely hose down his Honda Element's interior (but, regrettably, has yet to do so).
Founding Team
Special thanks to Jon O'Toole, aka BzzAgent Jono, the champion of the BzzAgents themselves; Matt Fletcher, the finest poker-playing cowhand financial controller you could have; Matt McGlinn, whose sleep is interrupted by dreams of colourful charts, data and spreadsheets; and Kristen Beveridge who has truly shaped the BzzAgent brand and makes sure we always look good.
BzzAgent has grown considerably in its short history. In the early years, the business grew through the creativity, energy, sweat, and hard work of the managing team, who still maintain the pulse and rhythm of what we do every day.
Without these individuals, there would be no BzzAgent.
Illustrations provided by Boston, MA artist Seth Minkin. To see more of Seth’s work, please visit sethbminkin.com.
