PointBridge Forms Advisory Board
Experts from Chicago's Tech Community Tapped to Provide Strategic Advice
PointBridge, a leading Microsoft solutions provider, today appointed three acclaimed industry leaders to its newly established Advisory Board. The industry experts and technology community leaders will provide perspective and counsel in the areas of business development, market trends and operations.
The new PointBridge Advisory Board members are:
Viresh Bhatia, former CEO and co-founder of InstallShield® Software Corporation. Bhatia’s strong vision helped InstallShield become the leading provider of innovative Internet-enabled software distribution and installation deployment solutions. A self-funded entrepreneurial venture, InstallShield’s products are the industry standard for ISV’s and developers. Macrovision Corporation purchased the company in 2004.
Bhatia has received multiple industry awards including KPMG’s “Illinois High Tech Award,” Ernst & Young’s “Software Entrepreneur of the Year Award” and a mention in Silicon India Magazine’s “Top 100.” He also has been recognized by a top Chicago business publication, Crain’s Chicago Business, in the “Forty under Forty: Executives to Watch” list and the “Who’s Who in Chicago Business” list.
Bhatia served as president and co-founder of TiE Midwest, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting and fostering entrepreneurship. In addition, he is a member of the Northwestern University McCormick School of Engineering’s Advisory Board. Bhatia earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Northwestern University.
Darko Dejanovic, Senior Vice President & Chief Technology Officer of Tribune Company and Tribune Publishing. At the Tribune Company, Dejanovic oversees technology strategy, development and operations companywide. Previously, as Vice President & Chief Technology Officer, he directed all operational and strategic technology activities for the Chicago Tribune and affiliated publications such as RedEye, Chicago magazine, New Homes Guide, Relcon Apartment Finder, Auto Finder and Job Finder.
Dejanovic joined the Tribune Company in 1997 as Technology Director for Sun-Sentinel Company in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. There, he was responsible for management, development and support of all systems, infrastructure and applications.
Prior to the Tribune, Dejanovic held technology leadership roles with the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale/Education Management Group and the European Community. Dejanovic also participates in the advisory boards of AT&T, Dell Computers, and Cingular Wireless. He earned a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems and a master’s degree in business administration from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.
Geoff Nyheim, Vice President of Microsoft’s Central Region Enterprise business. As a member of Microsoft’s North American Leadership Team, Nyheim is responsible for delivering business value to Microsoft’s largest enterprise customers and partners in 18 states throughout the central United States.
Nyheim’s tenure with Microsoft in Chicago began in 2000 when he accepted the position as Midwest District General Manager with responsibilities for customers and partners in Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin. Previously, he worked for five years at Microsoft’s headquarters in Redmond, Wash. As General Manager of Global Partners, Nyheim led an organization directly responsible for developing Microsoft’s global alliances. Nyheim also led Microsoft’s billion-dollar alliance with Accenture, including start-up of the joint venture Avanade.
For eight years before joining Microsoft, Nyheim worked in sales positions at Hewlett-Packard and Unisys where he received numerous awards for business performance. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a bachelor’s of arts in political economy.
“These three leaders are well respected for the results they achieved for their shareholders and customers,” says Mike Gersten, PointBridge CEO. “We anticipate that their collective wisdom and experience will benefit the PointBridge executive team as we strive to be the leading Microsoft solution provider in the Central United States.”
About PointBridge, LLC
PointBridge (www.pointbridge.com) leverages Microsoft technologies to enable collaborative work environments that improve business performance. Solutions focus on strategy, portals and content management, messaging, infrastructure and security, and collaboration. The firm is based in Chicago and a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner in Advanced Infrastructure, Information Worker and Security Solutions. PointBridge recently earned the designation as worldwide Microsoft Partner of the Year for Advanced Infrastructure Solutions and won the Microsoft Exchange Solution of the Year award in 2005.