A note from Mark
For the the past fours years I’ve had the pleasure of being Smartwaiver’s CEO. I’ve watched Smartwaiver grow from a mere concept into a profitable business that thousands of companies use every day to streamline their operations. I’m extremely proud of what we’ve accomplished thus far and know that Smartwaiver is only just getting started.
As a proud father of four daughters I can honestly say that running a lean startup requires the same type of love, commitment and patience as parenting does. Both parenting and running a startup also require one to accept the fact that someday you will need to “let go” in order to see them reach their full potential and get to the next level.
Today I’m excited to announce that Smartwaiver has received a new round of investment that will enable the company and the product to soar to that next level! With this investment, a new, seasoned executive and development team will be coming on board and I will be passing the torch to a new CEO.
About the New Team:
- Smartwaiver’s new CEO, Tod Bloxham, is a 20+ year veteran in the outdoor industry (and Smartwaiver customer from the beginning). Tod will oversee the business operations and guide the company’s ambitious product expansion plans.
- Smartwaiver’s new CTO, Ted Knudsen, is a world-class developer with 20+ years programming for startups and Fortune 1000 companies. Ted will be in charge of development, infrastructure and feature enhancements.
- Smartwaiver's Co-Founder, Andy Laakmann, will continue to act as technical and business advisor.
We’ve always said that customer feedback is the key driver for Smartwaiver’s innovation. You can rest assured that this philosophy will carry over with the new executive team. In the coming days you will receive a brief online survey asking for your input into which features you would like to see implemented in the next version of a new and improved Smartwaiver.
I’ve cherished my time at Smartwaiver and value the relationships I’ve fostered with many of you these past four years. I'm happy to note that the current team will remain in Bend, Oregon and will be expanding soon as well. If you have any questions, I will be available by email for the next couple of months during a brief transition period and then will be embarking on a new adventure - going back to my passion of founding startups.
Yours Truly,
Mark Silliman
