"Leaping into the future... One step at a time"

Sapotek was founded in 2002 to respond to the increasing global demand for Internet-based software and services by developing solutions that are both comprehensive and affordable.

History


In many ways, Sapotek is just like every other garage startup that began with a dream, except that in this case the dream was global and so was the startup.

The journey began in early 2002 when two old friends - one in the US and the other in Mexico - reunited behind a firm belief that the world had only just begun to realize the potential of the Internet. Sure, the bubble had burst and with it the dot.com euphoria, but the Internet was still there, still global, still free... and still growing as more and more people around the world began to surf the web. Among those people were Joshua Rand and Oscar Mondragon, who saw the Internet as the future of computing, even if that meant treading on desktop turf. From this belief, Sapotek was born and, like our symbol the "sapo" - one of the few animals in the world that can only go forward, never backwards - we at Sapotek are committed to "Leaping into the future... One step at a time"TM - by developing comprehensive web services and solutions that are functional and feature-rich yet user-friendly enough to be enjoyed by all.

Team


In keeping with its unique pedigree, Sapotek is lead by its own cross-border dynamic duo.

Joshua D. Rand, who oversees Sapotek operations as its CEO and President, is an economist, attorney and cultural connoisseur with an incurable technological bent. Prior to embracing his entrepreneurial roots, he practiced law in New York at Shearman & Sterling, negotiated local landmines (potholes, actually) as an economic adviser to the NYC Comptroller and even dabbled in public education (and he thought the politicos were tough!?!). Before bouncing around from job to job, Joshua earned degrees from Brown University, the London School of Economics (where he met his future business partner) and Fordham University School of Law.

Oscar Mondragón, the Director of Technological Development, recognized long ago (while driving from Texas to Tulum) that the 21st Century would usher in a merger between the Internet and the PC and forever change desktop computing. Well before this epiphany occurred, the "Saposeeds" were planted when he met Josh in London (and taught him Mexican Spanish over tacos and tequila) while ostensibly studying public policy and economics. Armed with ambition, Oscar returned to Mexico and founded one of the first advanced ISPs, thereby cementing his reputation as a leader of the burgeoning Mexican technology industry (he even wrote a tech column for a magazine started by Gabriel Garcia Marquez). He also studied political science at La Universidad Iberoamericana.

Helping Joshua and Oscar is a remarkable group of programmers, graphic designers, engineers and assorted experts in accounting, e-commerce, market research, public relations, the law and government, all of whom are committed Sapotekos:

Rogelio Alvarado (Roger)
Enrique Chávez (Tmeister)
Claudia Hernández (Nova)
Carmen López (Azul)
Saúl Rodríguez (Lirio)
Carlos Sánchez (Cep)
Omar Lara (Chito)
Carlos Vences (Carlos)

Board of Directors


Joshua D. Rand

Oscar Mondragón

Lawrence A. Rand
Mr. Rand is Senior Vice President, co-founder and a director of Kekst and Company, Inc., a New York-based corporate communications counseling company. He has had extensive experience in financial public relations and investor relations, as well as crisis communications, including mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings and litigation support. He graduated, with honors, in 1964, from Brown University, and received his M.A. (1965) and Ph.D. (1998) from New York University. Mr. Rand is the former Chairman of the Board (1987-1992) and remains a Trustee of the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association (The ALS Association), a non-profit health care organization headquartered in Los Angeles that is dedicated to the eradication of Lou Gehrig's Disease. He is also a director of the USTA Tennis and Education Foundation, the non-profit arm of the USTA, and on the Board of Directors of New York-Presbyterian United Hospital Medical Center (Port Chester, NY). In 2004, Mr. Rand was elected the Mayor of the Village of Rye Brook, New York.

Matthew Caemmerer
Matthew Caemmerer brings to Sapotek over 20 years of experience in information networking, architecture, design, education and research with a focus on introducing new products to market. He was the co-founder and Chief Information Architect of Gettuit Commerce Technologies, where he was responsible for developing its technology infrastructure, product prototypes and management information systems, and helped to build the company from zero to fifty employees in just 18 months. Mr. Caemmerer is also the co-founder of Nourish the Children, which has successfully married capitalism with providing humanitarian aid to nourish millions of children around the world. He has currently involved with a financial services company focused on the wireless space. Mr. Caemmerer has a BA in Computer Science, a MS in Information Resources Management, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Information Transfer from Syracuse University.

Alejandro Garcia
Alejandro Garcia is currently the CEO of IFC Medios, which is becoming the leader in outdoor advertising services in Mexico. Prior to that, he served in various capacities at Grupo CIE, the most successful live entertainment business in Mexico, Latin America, Spain and the US Hispanic markets, including CEO of Grupo Sitel de Mexico from 2002-2003, CEO of Grupo CIE Brasil from 2000-2002 and CEO of Ticketmaster Latin America from 1996-2000. Before arriving at Grupo CIE, Alex served as the General Manager of Xerox Mexicana as well as the Marketing Manager for Latin America for NCR de Mexico. He received a BS in Industrial Engineering from La Universidad Iberoamericana.


Board of Advisors


Henry Autry
Henry Autry is the founder and CEO of Contrado Partners, a financial services company based in Chicago. He is also a director of Hyperion Corporation, the global leader in enterprise software and services for Business Performance Management, and serves on the Securities Advisory Board for the State of Utah. He is also a director of UnitedWay of Salt Lake County as well as Sears Bank, the national bank for Sears Roebuck & Co. for contractor and construction funding. Prior to founding Contrado Partners, Mr. Autry served as CEO of Brigade Solutions, a leading Internet outsourcing and customer service business. From November 1997 until December 1999, Mr. Autry was the senior vice president and general manager for American Express Traveler's Cheque Group and from January 1995 to October 1997, Mr. Autry held various executive positions at Baxter International, a life sciences company, including senior vice president and chief administrative officer. Mr. Autry earned a B.Sc. in business administration from Lincoln University in Lincoln, Pennsylvania.

David Caffey
Mr. Caffey is Vice President of Client Services for Story Worldwide, a global advertising agency that specializes in post sale customer retention. Prior to that, he was Vice President for Strategic Alliances for Entertainment Publications, a division of IAC (Interactive Corporation). From 1991-2002, Mr. Caffey held numerous executive positions at the Microsoft Corporation, including Manager of Executive Programs, where he was responsible for creating methods of communicating Microsoft's vision and strategy to Fortune 500 companies and editor in chief of the "VISION" newsletter, Microsoft's first communication vehicle to senior executives of large accounts. Mr. Caffey was a manager in the Industry market group, where he focused on Customer Management/Sales Force Automation solutions and on the Hospitality/Travel industry. As a key member of the Microsoft Consumer Division, Mr. Caffey served as Director of Business Development, where he developed strategic partnerships for the Microsoft Network (MSN) with clients such as Disney, ESPN, Expedia, Ticketmaster, USA Networks, NBC and WebMD. Prior to joining Microsoft, Mr. Caffey was the Marketing Projects Manager of Jaguar Cars Inc., a division of Ford Motor Company, and spent 6 years at Nissan Motor Corporation developing dealer and franchise relationships. He was also a key player in the development team for the Infiniti luxury car line launch. Mr. Caffey is a graduate of the University of Southern California where he studied Marketing and Political Science and later earned his MBA.

Rosalind Resnick
Rosalind Resnick is the Founder and CEO of Axxess Business Centers, Inc., a strategic consulting firm for startups and emerging businesses. She co-founded NetCreations in March 1995 and served as the company's CEO and President until December 2001, pioneering the concept of 100% Opt-In(R) email marketing and spearheading the company's IPO in 1999. Ms. Resnick also hosted America Online's NetGirl Forum, one of the Internet's most popular online dating services, from 1995 to 1996. In 1994, Ms. Resnick co-authored The Internet Business Guide and, from 1994 to 1997, served as the editor and publisher of Interactive Publishing Alert. Ms. Resnick began her career in the newspaper industry. Rosalind received B.A. and M.A. degrees in History from The Johns Hopkins University in 1981. She is on the board of Do Something, Inc., a New York-based not-for-profit organization that empowers young people to change their world.

Michael Utvich
Michael Utvich is a business consultant focused on improving business performance for clients. His consulting projects are based in four key areas of performance: knowledge management, communications and marketing, interactive media and publishing, and business strategy and his client list includes such corporate clients as: Oracle, Microsoft, IBM, NCR, Deloitte & Touche, AOL Time Warner, Lexus, Nissan, Random House, Toyota, and Xerox, as well as innovative Digital Economy companies such as Inlumen, Primavera, Apogee Networks, Intellispace, and EnCompass Knowledge. Michael is also an award-winning author of eight books on electronic publishing, computer technology and business for Random House and Bantam Doubleday Dell. He is a regular speaker at industry trade events and article contributor to respected trade and general interest computer publications Based upon his expertise as an author and consultant, Michael has designed and taught courses at UCLA Extension for managers and executives on interactive media concept development, writing and strategic uses of the internet for learning, marketing and communications.