Board of Advisors

Paul Kaliades – Early Stage Corporate Growth Director, Vortaloptics, Inc. With more than 18 years of sales and management experience, Paul Kaliades has earned a national reputation for guiding companies through critical stages of development. Prior to his role as President of Renters Legal Liability Insurance, Kaliades served as president and partner of SureDeposit, the nation’s leading provider of security deposit alternatives for renters. In this capacity, he led the company’s dramatic expansion of its innovative risk management/marketing program and was a leading force in helping to grow the national industry’s acceptance of security deposit alternatives at 1.5 million units in 40 states. Prior SureDeposit, Kaliades oversaw marketing and management for a portfolio of more than 70 buildings totaling 11,000 units located throughout New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware as executive vice president for The Kamson Corporation. While at Kamson, he received the New Jersey Apartment Association’s (NJAA) 1996 Distinguished Owner of the Year Award, among others.
Michael J. Kernaghan – Franchising & International Expansion Chief Operating Officer, Turf Management Systems (Weed Man Canada & Worldwide) Based in Mississauga, Ontario, Michael J. Kernaghan has been in franchising for over two decades and has overseen the growth of Weed Man from a handful of franchises to over 300 in North America and Europe. Today Weed Man is the dominant provider of lawn care. A frequent guest on gardening radio talk shows and television, Michael is also the former president of the Professional Lawn Care Association of America.
Christopher Smith – Local Search, Early Stage Corporate Growth Director, Strategic Alliances, TELUS Christopher Smith is responsible for TELUS' national strategic alliance with Microsoft. TELUS is Canada's leading IP telecommunications firm providing customers with a full range of data, voice and wireless solutions utilizing next generation Internet-based technologies. Prior to TELUS, Christopher was a senior manager with BearingPoint Canada selling and delivering consulting engagements with leading North American telecommunications and technology firms. Earlier in his career, Christopher founded, financed and grew early stage software companies in Silicon Valley and New York City. He was part of the founding management team of Zip2, an early pioneer that dominated local search and advertising in Canada and the US with 180 local partners world wide. Zip2 was acquired by AltaVista for $307M in February of 1999. As a co-founder of Mambo Partners, Christopher provided strategic financial and technology advice to Fortune 500 companies including SBC Communications, FleetBoston, Privista, and PayPal. He has spoken at numerous technology conferences, universities and in the media on subjects of knowledge management, venture financing and high growth companies. Christopher is Board Chair of the Todmorden Mills Museum, City of Toronto, is a narrator for the CNIB recording studio and serves on the advisory boards of Clearroot and Zedo.com.
Christian Dion *– Internet Marketing Solutions* Former Senior Account Executive, Yahoo! Canada A former Senior Account Executive with Yahoo! Canada, Christian was one of the few to have been part of a team who launched a Yahoo! site (Yahoo! Quebec). With extensive high-level presenting and selling to potential Canadian advertisers, Christian was instrumental in Yahoo’s strategic launch in this highly competitive market. Christian managed the Canadian client portfolio in a number of industry sectors including Consumer Packaged Goods, e-commerce, health and retail. A number of larger corporate clients which partnered with Yahoo! Canada as a result of Christian’s efforts include; BMO, Monster.ca, Compaq, and Desjardins Financial. Christian worked closely with Yahoo! Canada clients to develop innovative Fusion online marketing programs (advertising, webcasting, sponsorship, permission based email campaign, etc). As a Business Development Manager, Christian is currently managed Whirlpool Canada’s entry into new business and distribution channels (including the Internet) with new consumable product portfolio.
Michael Bachart *– Web Design and Marketing* President & Founder, Target Internet Development Corporation With over 23 years in sales and marketing, and over 9 years in the IT sector, Michael Bachert co-founded Target Internet Development Corporation in May 1998. (www.target.ca) Prior to this, he owned and operated a successful food service operation for over 12 years, and a marketing, design and publishing studio for 4 years. Michael has provided consulting and marketing services to a wide variety of businesses in a number of industry sectors over the years. From one man operations, not-for-profits, small and medium sized business to publicly traded corporations, broadcast media, print media, hospitality, health services, wholesalers, manufactures, real estate, automotive and a wide variety of service companies, he’s been there. With continued belief in trust, honesty, integrity, teamwork, superior customer service, Michael’s current business focuses its efforts on; marketing and business consultation, branding & identity creation, web site development, virtual tours, email marketing, print & collateral design and development as well as audio/video production and CD/DVD authoring.

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