Sean Deson, General Partner (email)

Sean Deson founded Deson & Co. and Deson Ventures in 1999. He Serves as Director of a select number of private and public technology companies, and has assumed interim-Chief Executive Officer responsibilities for portfolio companies.

Sean was previously a Senior Vice President of Technology Investment Banking at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette (DLJ), now Credit Suisse First Boston. During his 10 years at DLJ, Sean managed all aspects of the investment group and was responsible for approximately 100 transactions totaling several billion dollars.

Sean was also responsible for investing the DLJ proprietary family of funds into technology companies totalling several hundred million dollars, which included private equity, private placements, public offerings, and mergers and acquisitions activity.

Sean received his MBA in Finance and a BS in Computer Technology and Management from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. return to top

Greg Duplessie, General Partner (email)

Greg Duplessie is a seasoned technology executive who brings broad experience in strategy, business and corporate development, along with entrepreneurial success to his clients.  Responsible for developing corporate strategy and driving strategic partner and business development initiatives, Greg will draw on his over 18 years experience working in the technology and storage sector.  

Greg has recently provided executive-level business consulting to companies such as Yosemite Technologies, Data Storage Group, TechValidate, Seven Ten Storage and MiraLink. Previously, Greg provided consulting to Solix Technologies (as acting VP of Business Development), Compellent and InMage Systems.   Before Solix and the others, Greg was the VP of Business Development for Neartek, Inc.  Neartek was sold to EMC in the summer of 2006.  Before that, Greg was at Permabit, where he ran business development and was the catalyst for the company's relationships with StorageTek and Hitachi Data Systems.  Prior to Permabit, Greg was a key member in several high technology consultancies, including Ridge Partners I, New England West, Enterprise Strategy Group (where he helped start the company with his brother Steve), and Invincible Technologies.  During that time, he spent much of his time on strategic partnerships and OEM deals.   Previously, Greg's channel sales experience delivered sales growth of 300% in one year at Quantum, among other sales goals.  

Greg started his career at Parametric Technology Corporation after receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
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VaNessa Duplessie, General Partner (email)

VaNessa is an experienced manager in customer service, sales and marketing, administration, and finance with strong record of service to the community.  Since 2000 she has spend her time in the data storage industry managing client services as well as marketing and operational projects.  She spends her time helping small companies with various marketing communication and sales related activities including trade show coordination, sales lead programs, email campaigns, external advertising campaigns and company website projects including SEO and site mapping projects.

VaNessa spent 6 years with The Enterprise Strategy Group where she managed client relations for over 125 clients touching all segments of the data storage industry while working with analysts and vendors, maintaining relationships with key industry leaders. Most recently, while at Bocada, Inc., she was responsible for Analyst and Public Relations. Prior to her entrance into data storage, VaNessa spent 10 years in the real estate industry in sales and marketing related roles.

VaNessa holds a Bachelors of Science Degree in Small Business Management/Entrepreneurship from San Francisco State University. return to top

Mike Eneboe, General Partner (email)

Mike has worked with members of Ridge Partners since the Ridge Technologies startup in 1997 which was subsequently sold to Adaptec, spun out, and sold to Western Digital in 1999.  While at WDC and LSI Logic, he created and critiqued strategic plans as well as business development efforts in a variety of storage, technology, EDA and semiconductor areas.  He has managed electrical, mechanical, embedded system and EDA teams for over 15 years. 

In 2002, as VP Programmable Plaforms, he led the RapidChip program to the fastest growing product line (bookings) at LSI Logic since the mid '90s. Mike managed teams across the US to deliver the simplified EDA methodology necessary to enable a new generation of ASIC designs.

While at Apple Computer for 8 years, Mike gathered experience in delivering high-quality consumer products using state-of-the-art design methodologies and program management processes.  He led the IEEE1394 (Firewire, iLink) ASIC development as well as being a key driver of the Open Host Controller Interface (OHCI) standardization efforts.

Eneboe has experience in patent development and management combining work from his own 18 issued patents and his leadership of teams that created over 100 disclosures and more than 50 filed patents in one year. return to top

Bob Graham, Managing Partner (email)

Bob brings over 30 years of experience in the technology industry. Starting as an IT Professional and progressing to key executive roles including Group Manager, Digital, Executive Vice President, Sun Microsystems, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, Manufacturer's Services Limited, Chairman & CEO Ridge Technologies, President, Adaptec. Since 1998 he has managed several successful investment funds, and managed a successful consulting group.

Bob is the lead partner for Ridge's analyst practice. Additionally, Bob is responsible for coordinating the Financial and Technology practices. He assists with specific clients and development opportunities. return to top

George Hall, Strategic Development Partner   ( email )

George’s career includes more than 25 years of building teams to successfully design, build and manage large scale enterprises in the computing, network, telecom and computer storage management markets. He founded and ran SNA, the first and largest independent computer network services and systems integration company in California’s capital region. He has built nationally recognized teams of technical and business talent for several profitable, multimillion dollar high-tech enterprises including telephone companies, computer manufacturers and information technology systems integrators. He has also led the design and development of industry leading products in the areas of computers, communications and digital video distribution.

As a founding member of the Governor’s (CA) High Technology Crime Task Force, George has taught courses nationally on network and computer security. George is a graduate of Hillsdale College and a mentor to the UC Davis Graduate School of Management. At Ridge Partners George participates in both the Financial and Technology services practices. He assists clients with acquisitions, restructuring, and the expansion or development of new services oriented business ventures. He is a frequently published author and speaker on the subjects of storage, security, compliance and forensics.
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John Hayes, Chief Technology Officer (email)

As Managing Partner of Ridge, John works with the partnership to ensure our clients are receiving optimal results from the right mix of Ridge talent and resources. In addition, John brings 15 years of architectural, engineering and business development experience to the computing, networking, storage and systems industries. John has architected and designed business and technical solutions to solve a wide variety of design criteria including wired and wireless networking equipment, multimedia servers, internet appliances and computer host interfaces. He has brought products from the concept stage through to full production. John's strengths include the ability to quickly understand new technologies and their impact on the marketplace, and the ability to communicate complex concepts to a variety of audiences in papers and presentations.

John was one of the founders of Alteon WebSystems, a network switching and interface (NIC) equipment manufacturer. Alteon held its IPO in 1999 and was acquired by Nortel Networks in 2000. John was CTO and founder of Azule Technology, a developer of network based storage solutions for the blade server market and John was President and founder of Archduke Design, Inc, a privately held consulting firm. Archduke Design's customers included Seagate Technologies, ServerWorks and Fast-Chip. John has also held management and technical positions with Network Plumbing, GEC Plessey Semiconductor, RadioMail and Ultra Network Technologies. John holds 2 patents and has additional patents pending. return to top  

Bill Huber, General Partner (email)

Engineering executive with over 25 years experience developing new products.  Bill has managed programs that included software, hardware and ASIC development.  Experienced with networking, storage, computing systems, and embedded controllers.  Strong in managing product development process, technology development, and strategic planning.  Outstanding ability to analyze competitive markets, investigate customer needs and develop targeted and successful new products.  Skilled in identifying and growing key contributors and building teams to maximize success. return to top  

Mike McPherson, General Partner (email)

Mike has over 27 years of experience in the computer and computer networking business with Texas Instruments, 3Com, SynOptics Communications, Bay Networks, Alteon WebSystems, Nortel Networks, S2IO/Neterion, PathScale and SilverStorm Technologies in OEM, channel, government and major account sales, sales management and business development.

Most recently, as Vice President of World Wide Sales for SilverStorm Technologies, Mike took revenue from $5M to a $24M run rate, closed relationships with IBM, Dell and Cisco. He also managed transition due to acquisition by QLogic.

At PathScale, Mike established OEM relationships with IBM, HP along with a channel of 30 HPTC partners. Mike was instrumental in raising the valuation of the company from $45M to $150M in less than 10 months (PathScale was acquired by QLogic in April of 2006). return to top

Mike Miracle, General Partner

As a technology operating executive, advisor and investor, Mike works with high-tech company management teams and boards in forming and executing on operational goals and strategic initiatives that directly lead to M&A exits. Mike has deep domain experience in storage and IT infrastructure, and his work includes assessment of strategy, markets, competitors, and partners. Hands-on execution help in the formation or refinement of corporate and product strategies, business development strategic alliances, and mergers and acquisitions follows this. 

Mike's consulting and advisory work includes multiple years with BladeLogic, Double Take, FilesX, InterSAN, OuterBay, Portable Internet, and Princeton Softech.  His board of directors' work includes Connected Corporation, Precise Software, Evident Software, Neartek, Mediconnect.net, and NuView.

Mike is currently working with Atempo, Inc. (unstructured data and fixed-content archiving and data protection) and Applimation (structured data archiving and e-discovery).  He is active on the boards of Blackball, and the advisory boards of Data Storage Group, Miralink, and Millenniata, along with the screening committee for the AngelVine network in New Jersey. Mike's previous experience includes EVP of Business Development and Product Management for Evident Software, and the VP of Corporate Development for VERITAS Software during its high growth years.  Prior to VERITAS, Mike held a variety of senior management and technical positions at Hewlett Packard, Novell, Unix Systems Labs and AT&T Bell Labs.  Mike holds a BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Wisconsin, and a Masters degree from Stanford University.

Rich Pappas, General Partner

Throughout his 24-year career in the high tech component business, Rich Pappas has enjoyed repeated success in establishing huge OEM relationships for small companies. Pappas recognized that accurate, objective predictions about future technology trends increased his success rate, which kindled his interest in predictive markets. Pappas is Vice President and Co-founder of Storage Markets. Prior to launching Storage Markets, Pappas served as VP of Sales for Sierra Logic, a company that enables SATA disks to work seamlessly in Enterprise environments. He also spent 11 years as an Account Executive for Symbios/Engenio where he drove sweeping, long term relationships with Sun and Silicon Graphics. In addition, Pappas served as President and co-founder of Digital Infusion, a service organization that architected, constructed, and maintained storage infrastructure for end users. Pappas also has expertise in semiconductor component sales for numerous companies including AMD, Samsung, Waferscale, Smart Modular, Trident Microsystems, and LSI Logic. Rich holds a BS Engineering degree from Harvey Mudd College, and resides in Los Altos, CA.

Steve Shah, General Partner (email)

Steve Shah is the CTO and Co-Founder of Asyncast, a new media company focused on mobile applications. Prior to Asyncast, Steve leveraged his experience of being the customer, engineer, and marketeer and founded RisingEdge Consulting, which brought his strategic marketing insight to Silicon Valley companies such as Citrix Systems, Coyote Point Systems, Coradiant, Silver Peak and Amadeus Capital.

Steve also played a prominent role in the L4-7 application delivery market as the director of product management/marketing at Citrix/NetScaler and Array Networks, where his responsibilities encompassed AFE/ADC, SSL-VPN, and application firewalls. His contributions at Citrix/NetScaler helped grow the company from $10M to $100M in three years, leading to NetScaler's $320M acquisition by Citrix Systems.

In addition to his hands-on experience as a kernel/network engineer, Steve is the author of several books on Unix and networking, including Linux Administration: A Beginners Guide. Steve currently serves on the advisory board of StrangeLoop Networks and Miralink.

Kevin Walsh, General Partner (email)

As a general partner responsible for business and financial evaluation engagements, Kevin brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in strategic, international operational and financial planning. Most recently Kevin comes from Sun Microsystems, where for over 10 years he was responsible for all aspects of the company's finance and planning group.

Prior to Sun Microsystems, Kevin was the Chief Operating Officer for Spatial Technology Inc, a Colorado- based CAD-CAM Software Company. He has also worked as Vice President of Finance for Schlumberger Group, and as group controller for Fairchild Semiconductor memory and logic devices in California.

Kevin's international experience includes Fairchild Semiconductor's Paris-based plant controller and plant manager, and Principal Manager of Coopers & Lybrand's consulting and public accounting practices in London, Brussels and Paris. Kevin has a B.Sc. in Economics (Hons) from the London School of Economics, is a Chartered Certified Accountant (UK), Member of the Institute of Management Consultants (UK), and a Member of the Advisory Board of the Leavey School of Business, Santa Clara University. return to top

John Walshe, General Partner (email)

John has over 30 year’s business experience in Operations and Information Systems management for global enterprises and start up companies. Until recently was responsible for Supply Chain Management activities including Demand/Supply management, Procurement and Inventory management for Sun Microsystems Systems business. Additional responsibilities with Sun included management of Oracle Enterprise systems implementation for the Supply Chain Operations arm of the company.

Prior to Sun Microsystems was a member of the start up team for Manufacturers’ Services Ltd. holding the positions of CIO and VP of Customer Program Management.

Before that, was a principal Consultant with Computer Science Corporation providing best practice supply chain consulting to fortune 500 companies.

Walshe has also held successive positions with increasing responsibility at Digital Equipment Corporation: Information Systems Manager for computer and telecommunications manufacturing plants, Advanced Manufacturing Engineering Manager, European Information Technology Manager, U.S. Manufacturing Information Systems Manager, and U.S. Logistics Information Systems Manager. return to top

Eric Wentzel, General Partner

Mr. Wentzel has more than 30 years experience developing advanced technology for space and ground electronic systems. Technologies developed and successfully transitioned to major systems include: space network routers, advanced packetizers, switch/muxes, signal processors, software routers and infrared sensors. His products are now part of Commercial, NASA, Air Force and classified space and ground systems. He was the PI for the Lockheed Martin Space Networking Project, aimed at integrating space systems with ground-based TCP/IP networks.

Mr. Wentzel has a strong track record in developing high technology teams that have created game changing products. He has developed numerous innovative products, taking them from ideas thorough production and successful integration into major systems. He has managed all phases of product development and led system engineering, software engineering, hardware and test and integration teams.

His education includes a BS in Engineering Sciences from USAFA and an MBA from the University of Southern California. He has a patent application pending for advanced electronic multi-chip modules, circuits boards, innovative heat transport mechanisms and light weight chassis, all designed for challenging thermal/vacuum environments and ultra high throughput processing.