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The VHT Team
 Career Opportunities
Testimonials
Partners
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Brian Balduf, CEO and co-founder of VHT, is actively involved in the development of cutting-edge marketing services specially designed for the Real Estate Industry.
With more than twenty years of sales and marketing experience in consumer and business-to-business services, Brian has been responsible for sales, content services, and product and business development of wireless and Internet related data for such companies as Rolling Stone Records, West Coast Video, and AT&T.
Brian holds a Bachelor's of Science degree in Marketing and Business Administration from the University of Illinois, as well as an MBA and Master's of Information Systems from Benedictine University. Brian is a frequent speaker at industry events and is a published writer on numerous marketing related topics. He is also a member of the Knights of Columbus.
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As co-founder and COO, Brannon Lambert is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the company, which provides cutting-edge marketing services specially designed for the Real Estate Industry.
Lambert began his career working for U.S Frontier as a financial analyst, where he helped coordinate lenders and professional service firms to develop a golf course residential community. Several years later, Brannon formed Excelsior Group, Inc. (EGI) to develop, own and manage affordable housing for older adults. Over a six year period, EGI was the developing partner for more than 300 affordable residential units in the Chicago Metropolitan area.
Brannon graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Madison with bachelor's degrees in Marketing and Real Estate Finance. He has held his Real Estate Brokers License in the State of Illinois since 1992. Brannon also serves on the Board of Directors for the Neumann Association, a 55-year-old, non-profit group that helps individuals with physical and mental disabilities enrich their quality of life with choice and independence.
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As Vice President of Operations at VHT, John Bosch is charged with ensuring the technology, studio and financial operations are running smoothly each day. He began his professional career at a leading wireless communications company in Marketing and Sales. Soon after, he brought his gained expertise into sales management.
With more than 10 years of management experience, John's diverse background enables him to efficiently run VHT's daily operations and plan for future projects.
The Chicago native holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing from Illinois State University.
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As the Vice President of Business Development, Jeff Harris develops VHT's partnerships and builds distribution and affiliate channels for VHT's core business. Additionally, Mr. Harris builds future lines of business targeting the real estate community.
Prior to joining VHT, Mr. Harris served as the Vice President of Business Development for RealEstate.com and for iNest Realty (an IAC/InterActiveCorp/LendingTree company). Mr. Harris was the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of bid4real, an online real estate auction marketplace and a provider of classified advertising for digital media companies. He has a Juris Doctor, with honors, from IIT-Chicago Kent College of Law, and a Bachelor of Science, with honors, from the University of Illinois.
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Kevin McGuire brings more than 13 years of experience to VHT as the Director of Sales. Specializing in sales management and business development, McGuire garners new brokerage and corporate accounts and works with VHT's account management teams on existing accounts.
Prior to joining the VHT team in March 2007, Kevin worked with Vector Marketing as a Division Sales Manager. There, he successfully expanded the company's three locations into 17 locations spanning three states. Most recently, Kevin turned the Chicago location of Global Forex Trading into its top worldwide team.
Kevin has a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh and is both Series 3 and Series 30 licensed.
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With her attention to detail and passion for accounting, company Controller Mary Mullaney has served VHT for more than eight years. As company Controller, Mary oversees billing operations, preparation of payroll, accounts payable, financial analysis and management reporting. She also handles the administration of the company retirement and insurance benefit plans. With more than twenty years of experience assisting small and mid-size businesses with accounting, tax, consulting and benefits services, Mary brings a wealth of knowledge to the VHT team.
A Chicago native, Mary attended Northern Illinois University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accountancy. Subsequently, she went on to earn a degree in Computer Programming, as well.
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As the Vice President of Marketing, Maia Tihista directs the development and market introductions of new visual marketing technology, products, and visual asset management services. These new visual technologies and services include a variety of new media, including wireless devices, video on demand, Internet TV, streaming media and web 2.0 social networking.
Prior to joining VHT, Ms. Tihista held the positions of Senior Director of Marketing for LexisNexis, Vice President of Marketing for Interface Software, Inc. and Director of Marketing for Authentify, Inc. She has also held marketing positions for such international technology leaders as Sony Electronics, Inc., Hitachi America, Ltd. and Panasonic Communications & Systems Company.
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As Vice President of Information Technology, Dan Wells is responsible for the design and overall direction of VHT's IT infrastructure. With more than 13 years of professional computer experience, Wells coordinates IT staff and contributes programming expertise to many of the photography and video applications used by VHT and its customers.
Dan has been a part of the VHT Team for six years. Prior to VHT, Dan accumulated experience in the IT industry through positions in retail, network management, consulting, and software development.
Dan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
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Steve Miller is an investor in VHT and is a principal and co-founder of Origin Ventures. Prior to co-founding Origin, Steve spent 10 years at Quill Corporation, a direct marketer of office products started by his family in 1956. His experience there included running the Canadian distribution center as well as buying and merchandising a $30 Million product line. Steve's final two years at Quill were devoted to starting up the e-commerce operation. He wrote the business plan for the company's first web site, www.quill.com, and managed the team that executed it to $15 Million in annual revenue. The Miller family sold Quill to Staples in 1998 for over $1 Billion.
Prior to its sale in 2004, Steve served on the board of directors of iNest. He also served as an advisor to GolfServ.com, before it was acquired by Time Inc. in early 2006. He is a founding member of Prairie Angels, whose goal is to match funding from seed-stage (angel) investors with entrepreneurs in the Midwest. Steve is also an active board member of the not-for-profit organization i.c.stars, which provides inner-city young adults with technology training and leadership development. He is a National Board Member of Boys Hope Girls Hope. Steve serves on the Advisory Board of the Center for Entrepreneurial Development at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He also provides the funding for the Steven N. Miller Entrepreneurial Scholarships at the University of Illinois College of Business.
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Bob Geras, President of LaSalle Investments, Inc., has been an active participant in the VC and angel community in Chicago for over 35 years. Bob has extensive line operating experience as an entrepreneur, and he received the "Angel of the Year-2002" award by the Chicago Software Association. Bob has been a featured panelist, lecturer, mentor and/or business plan judge for the Illinois Coalition, the University of Illinois, Kellogg School of Management, University of Chicago, Roosevelt University, DePaul University as well as in seminars sponsored by the Chicago Software Association, Garage.com, the Midwest Entrepreneurship Forum, and the Association for Corporate Growth.
In 1986 he bought MEDX, Inc. a troubled Rolling Meadows, Illinois medical equipment company, and in five years turned it around and sold the company for 26 times his cost. Since 1989, he's been a co-founder and the largest shareholder of publicly traded Merge Technologies (MRGE), the industry leader in eHealth connectivity products for medical imaging and other clinical information. He's also an investor in Exadigm, NexVu, and 20/20 Technologies. Bob is also a director and/or investor in VHT, ShowingTime.com, Citizens Bank and Trust, and PowerQuest Corporation, a leading software developer and technology pioneer. In addition, he is an investor and/or advisor to Kettle Partners, Chicago Ventures, KB Partners, Kingsport Capital, Artesian Capital, and is a founding member and a Director of the Illinois Venture Capital Association.
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Howard is one of the co-founders of FinanSure's student loan consolidation business (The Graduate Loan Center) and was responsible for developing the company's initial business plan and operating model. Prior to joining FinanSure, Howard was the Chief Operating Officer for Tunes.com, an internet music company that owned and operated the license to RollingStone Magazine for online use. Howard received an MBA from Northwestern University and holds an undergraduate degree from The University of Michigan.
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Mr. McCue joined Hopewell in 2002. His primary responsibilities include the identification and evaluation of investment opportunities, market and industry analyses, pro forma financial modeling and various support activities for Hopewell's portfolio companies. He received a B.A. in Economics Magna Cum Laude from Loyola University Chicago, and is currently pursuing his MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.
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Mr. Parkinson brings 20 years of venture capital, financial management and business incubation experience to the Fund. In addition to serving as a Principal of Hopewell Ventures, he also serves as a member of the general partner of Adena Ventures, L.P., a New Markets Venture Capital Company.
Prior to joining Hopewell, Mr. Parkinson served as Executive Director of the Evanston Business Investment Corporation (EBIC), a successful seed and early-stage venture capital fund affiliated with Northwestern University. At EBIC, he negotiated, managed and harvested more than 30 early-stage equity investments, including two that completed Initial Public Offerings.
Mr. Parkinson earned his Bachelor's in economics from Northwestern University and his Master's from Northwestern's Kellogg Graduate School of Management. He teaches university courses on entrepreneurship, venture capital and business planning.
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