Meet Our Team
Instructors
Web Development
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Steve Brownlee
Lead Instructor, Web Development
Steve Brownlee
Steve Brownlee is dedicated to helping teach the next generation of software developers by providing people with a solid understand of the core technologies used today, and then expanding into how to be a valuable contributor.
Brownlee has been developing software since 1980, when he programmed his TRS-80 to do his math homework for him. Since then, he grew up with the world wide web explosion and discovering all the new technologies that got invented to exploit its capabilities. 35 years later, he wants to take all the knowledge and skills he has accumulated and teach a new generation to build the next version of the Web.
Originally a Yinzer (those from Pittsburgh to you), he has adopted Nashville as his new home, having moved here in 2007 and been honored enough to be a small part of the exploding Nashville tech community. Steve firmly believes in the following values when it comes to technology: Equality, Core Competence, Respect, and Creative Destruction.
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Dr. Teresa Vasquez
Lead Instructor, Part-time Web Development Program
Dr. Teresa Vasquez
Dr. Teresa Vasquez (Dr. T) is a high tech leader, influencer, and educational advocate. Her passion is studying how educational content delivery and learner experience can inspire creativity and innovation –– especially for creators in the Black neurodivergent community. She empowers adult learners and technical educators as the Lead Instructor for the evening Web Development program here at NSS and through Repped in Tech she hosts programming such as the daily Co-Tworking Twitch Streams made to help neurospicy, diverse techies build community.
Dr. T holds a master’s degree in business administration and a doctorate of education with an emphasis in neurodiversity and adult education.
Independently, Dr. T has led both large and small tech organizations through tech and DEI leadership workshops. She’s coached thousands of tech creators to impactful, 6-figure careers through mentorship and community participation. She is a mentor to young Black womxn and traditionally excluded, intersectional groups. She’s on a mission to empower them to know that they’re not alone –– that they have a place in the tech world.
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Josh Barton
Instructor, Web Development
Josh Barton
Josh Barton graduated from Web Development Cohort 25 in 2018, after which he worked as a developer for Decision Source, Incorporated, (now Antage Incorporated). As a web developer, Josh used various languages and frameworks and had many other projects involving data warehousing and ETL pipelines. Josh always knew he wanted to return to NSS to teach because of the transformative experience the Web Development Bootcamp gave him as a student. He is passionate about NSS’s innovative and iterative process for creating learning experiences.
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Valerie Freeman
Instructor, Web Development
Valerie Freeman
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Caroline Madison
Instructor, Web Development
Caroline Madison
Caroline Madison made the transition to tech in 2019-2020 and is a graduate of NSS’s Web Development Cohort 36. She worked at eviCore Healthcare for two years as a software developer before returning to NSS to teach.
Leading cohorts through the first three months of their bootcamp is one of the most fulfilling gigs she’s ever done next to being a mom. “My job is to remind each of my students that their growth and outcome will depend on the amount of effort they’re willing to put in. They just have to show up and try.”
In her downtime, she enjoys writing, mountain biking, and spending time with my three children who remain at home. Her oldest is in college in the United Kingdom. “I miss him dearly, but just as I get emotional watching my students take flight, I’m so proud of the courage he has to spread his wings and give life his all,” she shares.
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Taylor Shuff
Instructor, Web Development
Taylor Shuff
Taylor Shuff’s interest in software development began his freshman year of college when he took a Visual Basic class. He studied Computer Information Systems at MTSU and began his tech career as a software developer for Farm Bureau Health Plans. In 2016-2017, Taylor attended NSS’s Web Developer Bootcamp to sharpen his development skills/learn the latest web development technologies. After nearly 8 years as a working developer, Taylor made the return to NSS as a Senior Instructor for Web Development. When he’s not coaching the next generation of software developers, Taylor enjoys spending time with family, playing music, and skateboarding.
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Dave Berzack
Instructor, Web Development
Dave Berzack
Dave Berzack has developed for the web since the mid 90’s, on all kinds of teams from start-ups and independent projects to digital agencies and Fortune 50 companies. He’s worked with a wide variety of technologies, constantly learning along the way, so he deeply values the ability to self-teach and seeks to empower students with strong learning strategies and general habits. And he really appreciates the research-driven eductational approach at NSS.
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Greg Korte
Instructor, Web Development
Greg Korte
Greg Korte has worn many hats throughout his career, and he has never been afraid to try something different which is what brought him to NSS’s doorstep. He has had a fascination with tech, from his introduction to programming on TRS-80s and Apple IIs to building his own machines shortly after acquiring scrap parts in the late 90s. After completing NSS’s Web Development program in 2015 and having the opportunity to teach what he had learned by mentoring fledgling software developers, he knew being part of the tech industry would never get old. Greg has worn many hats at NSS. He’s currently in the classroom helping more students start their tech careers.
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Sydney Noh
Part-time Instructor, Web Development
Sydney Noh
Sydney is a graduate of Web Development Cohort 33 way back in 2019. She has worked mainly as a full-stack engineer but has recently shifted into a role as an Internal Developer Advocate at Built Technologies. Being an NSS instructor and a Developer Advocate allows her to follow her passion for supporting engineers in their tech journey and making sure that tech jobs continue to be for the many, not the few. Fun fact: Before NSS, Sydney worked in television for TV shows such as Fixer Upper and America’s Got Talent.
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Trinity Christiana
Part-time Instructor, Web Development
Trinity Christiana
Trinity Christiana is a highly skilled and passionate educator, who is dedicated to empowering students to become tech creators and reach their full potential.
She is a true testament to the power of self-motivation and determination, having taught herself computer programming through a combination of college coursework, attending Nashville Software School, and consistent self-study and practice outside of the classroom.
With a background in computer technology and programming, she brings her wealth of experience and knowledge to her students as a Full Stack Senior Instructor in the Nashville Software School evening program.
By day, Trinity works as a professional software engineer, where she gains the invaluable experience that she then shares in the classroom, creating an inclusive and empowering learning environment where students can thrive.
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Aja Washington
Part-time Instructor, Web Development
Aja Washington
Aja Washington is a Nashville native who has dedicated most of her life to the performing arts, including dancing, singing, and acting. She has been involved in the technical community in Nashville since 2019. Aja made the transition to tech because of her desire to have a career that provides stability, consistent growth, and creativity.
For nearly 13 years, Aja has been passionate about education in both the performing arts and software development. She has committed her time to expanding opportunities for marginalized communities and highly values diversity, accessibility, and inclusivity in both the arts and tech.
During the day, Aja works as a front-end software engineer, gaining the real-life experience needed to lead the students of the Part-Time Web Development course. She encourages a safe, efficient, and empowering environment for the students.
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Jake Carter
Part-time Instructor, Web Development
Jake Carter
Jake Carter graduated from Nashville Software School (Web Development Cohort 25) and later earned his B.S. in Computer Science. After eight years in the military, he found his calling in the tech world. According to Jake, NSS changed his life and he became driven by a profound desire to help others experience the same transformation. Mentoring two individuals through coding bootcamp reinforced his passion for teaching, and now, as a Senior Instructor at NSS, Jake is dedicated to empowering aspiring tech professionals to unlock their potential and pursue fulfilling careers in this ever-evolving field.
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Justin Ferwerda
Part-time Instructor, Web Development
Justin Ferwerda
Justin Ferwerda graduated from Nashville Software School (Evening Web Development Cohort 19) in early 2022. Coming from a career as a professional musician, he soon realized his road-honed skills in problem solving and team building would flourish in a technical environment. He developed mentoring skills during his cohort and has dedicated himself to mentoring and supporting new engineers in their transition into a tech career.
Software Engineering
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Charlie Penner
Instructor, Software Engineering
Charlie Penner
Charlie Penner first discovered programming with Turbo Pascal in a high school programming class. He liked it so much he went off and studied computer science at Bowling Green State University, which led to serving 8 years in the United States Air Force as a Communications Officer. He got to do a lot of cool things as part of that, including earning a masters degree in computer systems from the Air Force Institute of Technology. Wanting to get more hands on with software development, he spent several years working for a defense contractor in the Washington, DC area. In 2012 he moved to the Nashville area where he’s built software and teams at companies like Digital Reasoning and Eventbrite.
When he’s not puzzling over some aspect of software development he might be backpacking on some of Tennessee’s amazing trails, roasting coffee, or trying to build something cool in his garage workshop.
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Gabriel Cziprusz
Instructor, Software Engineering
Gabriel Cziprusz
Gabriel Cziprusz is an experienced software engineer who has enjoyed a long and successful career in various industries. In his role at NSS, he hopes to help students get started on their own fulfilling journeys as engineers and lifelong learners. Gabriel has a Computer Science degree from Radford University and his journey with programming began on a PMD 85, copying lines of BASIC from a PC magazine. Outside of work, Gabriel embraces the role of husband and father to two curious humans and a canine. Travel adventures, staying active, and chasing a rubber puck on the ice are favorite pastimes.
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Jody Alford
Instructor, Software Engineering
Jody Alford
Jody Alford likes to say that “they had me at Hello World”. His passion for solving logical problems drove him to earn a B.S. in Computer Science and a B.A. in Mathematics from Eastern Illinois University.
Jody earned his chops in the Medical Software Industry and, before joining NSS, had 10 years experience developing “Big Data” Software Systems. He believes that a relatively small amount of his formal education was utilized during his time in the field, and is excited to help NSS students dive into a career engineering software.
Outside of class, Jody loves discovering new hobbies. Examples include gardening, books, home-brewing, archery, gaming, and reading documentation on retro video game systems.
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Jean Soderkvist
Instructor, Software Engineering
Jean Soderkvist
Jean Soderkvist has never liked computers, but has loved being a software developer and engineering manager for the past 20 years. After graduating with a Computer Science degree from The University of Chicago, she spent the first part of her career working as a backend developer in Chicago at companies like UBS and Orbitz. She moved to Nashville in 2014, when her husband joined NSS’s Web Development Cohort 3, and she joined the company formerly known as Emma. Moving into a technical leadership role there uncovered Jean’s passion for enabling compassionate, collaborative team environments, which led to engineering management roles at Eventbrite and Handshake. To Jean, being an instructor at NSS feels like the best of both worlds, an opportunity to continually learn, while supporting growth and opportunities for others.
Analytics + Data Science
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Michael Holloway
Lead Instructor, Analytics + Data Science Programs
Michael Holloway
Michael Holloway is a mathematician turned data scientist who brings over 7 years of teaching experience to Nashville Software School. Michael holds a PhD in Mathematics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and a Masters from Tennessee Technological University. Michael loves the challenge and excitement of keeping up with the ever-evolving landscape of data science. Prior to joining Nashville Software School in April 2019, Michael served as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mathematics at Saint Augustine’s University.
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Chris Wright
Instructor, Data Analytics
Christopher Wright
Christopher Wright is a data analyst with 17 years of combined experience in various education roles. Christopher earned Masters in both educational leadership and data analytics from Towson University and University of Maryland - Global Campus respectively. Christopher’s real world experience as a data analyst is diverse and includes bioinformatics research, real estate investing, business development, and academic assessments. Prior to joining the team at Nashville Software School Christopher most recently was working as the Director of Research and Analytics for Catapult Learning.
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Amanda Partlow
Part-time Instructor, Data Analytics
Amanda Partlow
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Dibran Rexhepi
Part-time Instructor, Data Analytics
Dibran Rexhepi
Dibran Rexhepi graduated from Data Science Cohort 3 in 2020. Following graduation, Dibran worked as a Data Analyst, Data Engineer, and Data Scientist. From healthcare to automotive to sports analyst, Dibran has been able to experience multiple domains and been exposed to a plethora of programming languages.
Dibran actively seeks to push himself to get out of his comfort zone and challenge himself with tasks that are just beyond his current ability. He passionate in helping other professionals breakthrough in tech.
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Sekou Tyler
Guest Instructor
Sekou Tyler
Sekou Tyler is a self-proclaimed “data geek”: a computer aficionado who combines the scientific elements of data analysis with the narrative properties of data visualization. His degrees and extensive certifications have allowed him to use his version of data storytelling in multiple industries. Sekou is fascinated by the learning process; he actively seeks out ways to improve his skill set and utilizes different tools to display actionable data to ultimately empower people to make better data-driven decisions. Aside from all things data, Sekou enjoys speaking, mentoring, and reading. He is a Tennessee Titans and LA Lakers fan, but most of all he’s happiest spending time with his wife and hanging out with friends and family.
UI & UX
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Susan Culkin
Instructor
Susan Culkin
I am an Interaction Design & User Experience Specialist. I have years of successes proving that user-centric design is the key to a successful product and a successful team. I work with clients to bring to market commercially successful and user-centric products, businesses, and processes. Over the years I have been lucky to build a portfolio of large company clients like IBM, Roche Diagnostics, and HealthStream as well as small start-ups. I have been a mentor with Nashville Software School focusing on design for developers. I also was faculty and mentor for Jumpstart Foundry’s IT start-up accelerator. I like this mix of large and small, teach and create because it keeps my skills fresh and gives me the chance to keep learning from the experts and the newbies.
I am patient with creativity and innovation but have a low tolerance for inefficiency and money-wasting. After 20+ years of working in the industry, I have seen crazy bubbles of success and failure. One thing that has been true of all successful products and companies over that time is the lesson that “You can’t do it alone and you don’t know everything.”
Career Development + Employer Engagement
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Ashley Canino
Team Lead, Career Development
Ashley Canino
Ashley Canino helps current students plan their careers and provide personalized support for their job search. She comes to NSS with technical recruiting experience in both corporate organizations and staffing agencies in the Nashville area. She began her involvement with NSS during her time as a recruiter at Parallon HCA and placed several of our graduates. From there she fell in love with our mission!
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Michael Frieh
Career Development Specialist
Michael Frieh
Michael Frieh is one of the Career Development Specialists who serves NSS students by providing personalized support throughout their job search. Michael began his career in technical recruiting with a large staffing firm in Nashville. In his time as a recruiter, Michael worked closely with many NSS graduates and developed a passion for coaching candidates through all stages of the interview process. He loves to build upon this passion through his work with NSS students and graduates.
Michael now calls Chattanooga home, where he resides with his partner and cat - he will always be open to seeing pictures of your fur babies! He is a graduate of Illinois State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Organizational and Leadership Communication with honors.
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Erin Thompson
Employer Engagement Manager
Erin Thompson
Erin manages employer relationships with companies who are interested in partnering with Nashville Software School in addition to connecting students with job opportunities. She joins NSS with a background in business development as well as non-profits, working for the Greater Nashville Technology Council for nearly six years. Erin thoroughly enjoys working with the Middle Tennessee technology community and is excited to further the mission of Nashville Software School!
Programming
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Kate Rogers
Program Manager, Software Engineering
Kate Rogers
Kate’s mission has always been focused on opening pathways for others to move ahead in their career. It is the through-line that unites her previous roles in and out of the bootcamp space. A natural connector and born nurturer, she found her calling helping others connect to and steer their careers in the tech scene. Combining over a decade of recruiting experience with a tech education background, she uses the skills she has gained to support students through their learning and job search journey here at NSS.
Born in Nashville but having grown up on the east coast, Kate spent the first part of her career in NYC, after graduating with her B.S. from NYU, before moving to Los Angeles where she started her tech ed career with General Assembly. After she and her husband moved back to Nashville to be with family, Kate became a true unicorn: both a Nashville native (born at Baptist, first doll from Phillips Toy Mart) and a west coast transplant. They have settled in East Nashville with their two cats. A graduate of the pastry program at the French Culinary Institute in NYC, her spare time often centers on cooking, with a particular passion for chocolate after having briefly worked as a chocolatier. If you see her on the street, please share the name of your favorite bakery, she is keeping a running list of the growing options here in Nashville.
As the Program Manager, Software Engineering, Kate thrives on supporting others as they connect to the skills, education and opportunities that bring depth and meaning to their careers (and chocolate, she also thrives on chocolate.).
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Ryan O'Connell
Program Manager, Analytics + Data Science
Ryan O’Connell
Ryan O’Connell brings over 15 years of data analytics experience to the Nashville Software School where he serves as the Program Manager for Data Programs. He is responsible for the delivery of the data analytics and data science programs from admissions to job placement. He also ensures alignment between the content and skills offered in the programs and the needs of Nashville’s employers. Prior to joining NSS, Ryan served as the Senior Director of Learning and Training at Ursa Health, whose offering, Ursa Studio, provides an end-to-end to data analytics solution for healthcare companies. His educational background includes a BA in Management and an MA in Conflict Management.
Operations
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Aimee Johnson
Student Services/Admissions Representative
Aimee Johnson
Aimee is a Tampa native who joined NSS in 2021 as a Student Services / Admissions Representative. Her role acts as the first point of contact for anyone who is interested in Nashville Software School and serves our current students by assisting with any operational questions they might have.
After earning her B.A. in Psychology from Sewanee: The University of the South, she packed her bags and moved abroad to work as an ESL teacher in both the Czech Republic and South Korea. She entered the non-profit sector in 2017 to explore her passion for helping others.
In her free time, Aimee likes to go to local breweries, play board games, and collect (and enjoy!) hot sauces.
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Kate Wilson
Manager of Student Services
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Katie Kuhl
Bookkeeper / Salesforce Systems Administrator
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Jessica Grande
Community Advocate and Content Marketer
Jessica Grande
Jessica Grande joined NSS as the Community Advocate in March 2020. With a background in digital marketing and a passion for online content, Jessica creates content and messaging for social media while organizing and representing NSS in community outreach efforts and events.
Jessica graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in 2017, where she studied New Media Communications, Marketing and Public Relations. She is a native to Nashville, where she lives with her husband, AJ, and internet famous cat, Cash.
In her free time, Jessica enjoys creating video content, taking photos, and going to coffee shops with friends.
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Laura Buchanan
Director of Operations
Laura Buchanan
Laura A. Buchanan brings over 15 years of experience growing and managing not-for-profit organizations to Nashville Software School as the Director of Operations. Her responsibilities include oversight of regulatory compliance, financial management, data collection mechanisms and analysis, human resources, facilities, and personnel management. Prior to joining NSS, Laura served as an Executive Director, Statewide Project Director and consulted with educational institutions and a multitude of other community service organizations. Her educational background includes a BS in Psychology and an MBA along with two professional certifications in human resources management.
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Mandy Arola
Director of Marketing & Communications
Mandy Arola
Mandy Arola joined Nashville Software School in 2017 and leads our marketing and communications strategy and community building efforts. She enjoys telling student and alumni stories and helping people on their path to finding a career in tech. She has more than 15 years of experience in marketing and served as the President for the Nashville chapter of the American Marketing Association (AMA Nashville) from 2021 to 2023. She is also an alumna of Seth Godin’s altMBA for business leaders. Originally from North Dakota, Mandy has made Nashville home since 2006 and loves Nashville’s vibrant tech and marketing communities.
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Mary van Valkenburg
Director of Data Operations
Mary van Valkenburg
After a long career in software development and implementation, Mary discovered the wonder of data. After learning and doing some consulting work to grow her knowledge and abilities, Mary joined NSS in 2017 to help launch the Analytics + Data Science Programs. She played a leading role creating curriculum for the part-time Data Science Bootcamp, part-time and full-time Data Analytics Bootcamps, and the Analytics Jumpstart and was lead instructor for each of these programs at least once.
In 2021, Mary moved to the Operations team and began working to clean, organize and learn from NSS’s own data.
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Marla Lamont
Director of Student Services
Marla Lamont
Marla has over fifteen years experience in talent acquisition working both internally for large organizations such as HCA and for third party staffing agencies. Her areas of expertise are within IT and Healthcare talent acquisition strategy and leading recruiting teams.
Marla has a passion for non-profit leadership and serving in the community by helping girls and women in the STEM industry. Marla currently serves on the Play Like a Girl Board as Board Chair. Also, Marla serves on the WiTT Board as Immediate Past President and has been on the board for 8 years. Marla was awarded Community Leader of the Year by the Nashville Technology Council in 2019. Marla graduated with honors, Delta Mu Delta, from Lipscomb University with her MBA and received her bachelor’s degree from MTSU.
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Ann Howard
Director of Development
Ann Howard
Ann Howard is happy to be back in nonprofit fundraising where she started her career, building programs for 7 years before pursuing an MBA. In business school, she fell in love with entrepreneurship and began to believe that creating economic opportunity was a sustainable pathway to social change. Helping entrepreneurs create that change, she worked in Economic Development as a small business counselor before moving to Nashville, where she joined the blossoming tech community. She served as Managing Partner at Centresource, which hired and trained several NSS grads, and then became Head of Product at GoNoodle. Most recently, she served as EVP Product Management for a healthcare technology company out of San Diego. Leveraging her extensive experience in fundraising and product management and her passion for both technology and social change, Ann’s excited to play a pivotal role in driving NSS’s mission forward.
Ann is a 2021 recipient of the Moxie Award for Women in Tech, recognizing her outsized contributions to the community, and the tech industry as a whole. She lives in Nashville with her husband and two daughters.
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John Wark
Founder and CEO
John Wark
John Wark founded Nashville Software School in 2012. He believed that Nashville’s technology talent shortage would never be solved by trying to import experienced developers from other cities that also suffer from talent shortages or by waiting for colleges and universities to start graduating enough students and/or appropriately trained students. He also had faith that Nashville had an ample supply of motivated adults with latent aptitude who, if offered a chance, would eagerly pursue a career in technology.
John started programming professionally at age 19 in 1971. He spent a few years in enterprise IT as a developer, analyst and project manager. In 1978 he moved to a startup database software company and spent the next 25+ years in the software vendor world moving back and forth between startups and growth stage companies. He was involved with helping to launch, grow, and/or lead four software startups. As CEO of Continuus Software he raised $30M in venture capital financing, took the company public in 1999, and sold the company in 2000.
John moved to Nashville in 2005 and has been involved with both the local startup and technology communities since that time. For seven years he taught entrepreneurship classes as an adjunct professor at Belmont University. He was an active mentor at Jumpstart Foundry from 2011 through 2014. He continues to be inspired and energized by the pro-active community engagement of Nashville’s technology community.