Jan Aleman

CEO, Servoy, B.V.
 

Jan Aleman is the CEO of Servoy, B.V. - an application development and deployment software that specializes in assisting ISVs move their products to SaaS while maintaining their on-premises clients. Prior to helping found Servoy, Mr. Aleman was an owner of Professional Data Management (PDM) -- an IT company specializing in building data-oriented solutions. Besides custom solutions, PDM developed a number of innovative products for Internet and Database solutions, like plug-ins. More than 20,000 users are currently employing these products worldwide in companies such as: Apple, Sony, Genentech, Endemol, Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, Time, USA today and others. Mr. Aleman is a sought after speaker about SaaS and Rich Internet Applications (RIA) presents at conferences and conferences across Europe, South America and the USA.  His keynote sessions at ServoyWorld are always highly anticipated. 

Merrill R. (Rick) Chapman

Managing Editor and Publisher of Softletter & Conference Chairman
 

Rick Chapman is the managing editor and publisher of Softletter, the industry's premier business publication. Rick has worked in the software industry for over 24 years with such firms as MicroPro and Ashton-Tate. He is the author of The Product Marketing Handbook for Software (Aegis Resources) and In Search of Stupidity: Over 20 Years of High Tech Marketing Disasters.

Siamak Farah

CEO, InfoStreet

Siamak Farah is the founder and CEO of InfoStreet, a leading provider of Small Business Software as a Service (SaaS). Active in its day-to-day management, Siamak has assembled and leads a seasoned team of industry professionals at InfoStreet. Widely regarded as a SaaS pioneer, as early as 1994, InfoStreet began shaping a vision, a team and a technology which is now transforming the way business gets done.

Prior to founding InfoStreet in 1994, Siamak worked at NeXT Computer, side-by-side with industry visionaries. During his six years at NeXT, his responsibilities grew from technical sales and marketing to district sales management. Before joining NeXT, Siamak was the Chief Operating Officer of Microstat Development Corporation. During that time, he was responsible for the day-to-day operation of this publicly listed R&D firm. Siamak began his career at Vertigo Systems International. During his time at Vertigo, he was instrumental in its growth from a start up with just six people to a full-fledged business employing over 70 individuals.

A member of the Society of Industry Leaders, Siamak is a frequent speaker at conferences that focus on the Internet and SaaS such as ISPCON, INBOX: The Messaging Industry Event, the Layered Technologies Pact conference, SoftLetter’s SaaS University and more.

Jeff Kaplan

Managing Director, THINKStrategies

THINKstrategies was founded by Kaplan -- formerly a leading industry analyst at IDC, Dataquest, and META Group, and successful senior marketing executive at InterOPS Management Solutions and International Network Services (INS) -- as the only independent strategic consulting firm dedicated to helping enterprise IT decision-makers and technology solution providers achieve their business objectives by leveraging the value of IT/telecom services, ranging from professional services to on-demand services, including application, hosting and managed services, as well as IT and business process outsourcing (ITO/BPO).

Jeff has over twenty years of experience and recognized expertise in IT management, managed services, utility computing and outsourcing trends.

He is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and contributing columnist for BusinessWeek Online, Mass High Tech Journal, Financial Times of London, NetworkWorld, Business Communications Review, ComputerWorld, InfoWorld, InformationWeek, and Web Host Industry Review on topics including managed services, software-as-a- service (SaaS), utility computing, outsourcing strategies; network and systems operations, service level management (SLM); and IT ROI and TCO calculations. 

Sharon Mertz

Gartner Research Director, SaaS, CRM, Russian Software Markets
 

Sharon Mertz is a director in Gartner Research, where she is focused on customer relationship management (CRM), software as a service (SaaS) and the software markets in Russia. Ms. Mertz is an international business professional with more than 25 years of experience in strategic consulting and management directed toward the introduction and impact of emerging technologies in the marketplace.

Prior to joining Gartner, Ms. Mertz was an associate partner at IBM, working with the global research organizations to evaluate emerging business opportunities. She held an international assignment as practice leader for IBM's strategic consulting organization in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Ms. Mertz also held management roles at KPMG, HP, Bull Worldwide Information Systems and Digital Equipment. She is an accomplished speaker and has addressed audiences at conferences and events internationally. Ms. Mertz is also a member of the faculty at the Graduate School of Business, Southern New Hampshire University.

"I enjoy analyzing the implications of global market forces and IT industry trends on our clients' strategic business models. Emerging technologies have significantly altered the international business landscape and have transformed the globalization process. Anticipating the impact of these forces on the market and extrapolating from them to form actionable strategies and opportunities for our clients is an exciting and ongoing challenge." She has a Doctorate in Business Administration from Sourthern New Hampshire University, a C.S.S. C.S.S., Administration and Management, Harvard University, Class Marshal, and a B.A., Art History and German Literature, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi.

David Mitchell

Director, IBM Strategy & Emerging Business ISV and Developer Relations

Dave is responsible for the defining the strategy for ISV and Developer Relations worldwide including Business Partner, IT Professional and Academic programs. Dave is also responsible for the ISV & Developer activities in emerging business areas such as Cloud Computing and growth countries. In this capacity, Dave also frequently interacts with the venture capital and analyst community.

Currently based in Somers, New York, Dave has held a number of international positions during his career at IBM. Dave has been involved in IBM's web and application hosting business for more than 12 years. His previous roles include Program Director for Software as a Service, Global Offering Manager for IBM e-business Hosting Services, EMEA Intranet Solutions Manager and UK Internet Marketing Manager. Dave joined IBM in 1995 after graduating from the University of Portsmouth with a BA Honors in Business Studies. He also holds a post-graduate diploma from the Charter Institute of Marketing.