Team
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David Naves Founder, Local Marketplace™ President of Daveworks Web Development Contact Dave |
Dave has had over 20 years experience in the Internet industry and holds a Bachelors of Science Degree in Business Administration. He lives in Auburn California with his wife and two children. He plays drums and enjoys using his general contractors license from time to time.
Among the larger clients, his company helped create and manage the goliath ticketing agency Ticketmaster.com. Ticketmaster has truly defined itself as the “Killer App for the Web.”
Citysearch.com is another popular web destination that his company helped develop which connects local businesses with customers.
Daveworks was also contracted directly by the Marciano Brothers, co-founders of Guess? Inc., to build out and manage the highly successful fashion conglomerate website Guess.com.
One of the world’s most popular children’s web destinations, DisneyChannel.com was also helped out by Daveworks Web Development. Some of these web properties included shows like Lizzie McGuire, Out of the Box, Kim Possible, and Lilo and Stitch, to name a few.
Back in 1995, Daveworks co-founded Filmbiz.com, the premiere resource for business entertainment online. Filmbiz.com represents a global network of over 10,000 businesses and individuals who comprise the entertainment industry.
With Daveworks’ experience in the web marketplace, the company is now focused on plugging in the power of the web to be the “great equalizer” for small, local businesses.
For a more throrough view of clientele, please check out the portfolio.
Local Marketplace Advisory Board
*in alphabetical order
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Brian Altounian Advisor |
Brian Altounian’s background includes business development, finance, operations and administration, and he has applied his skills to a variety of start-ups, Fortune 100 companies, and public and private organizations. In addition to his role as Founder, President and CEO of Alliance Acquisitions, he is also President and CEO of Alliance subsidiary, WOWIO, LLC, and a Director and acting President of Platinum Studios, Inc., a publicly-trading entertainment company that controls an international library of comic book characters, which it adapts, produces and licenses for all forms of media.
Mr. Altounian’s expertise is in the area of developing corporate infrastructure, and preparing early-stage companies to access capital through the public equity markets and via private equity. He has held management positions including Director, Vice President, President, and CEO, and has served on the Boards of Directors of Cereplast, Inc. and Machine Talker and was Chairman of the Board of Directors of XsunX, Inc. In addition to his experience with startup technology and intellectual property companies, Mr. Altounian has worked extensively in the entertainment industry with a successful consulting practice, advising companies in the areas of finance, administration, operations and business development. Mr. Altounian holds an MBA from Pepperdine University and an undergraduate degree from UCLA.
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Steve Koss Advisor to the President of Daveworks Web Development Vice President Special Projects Contact Steve |
Steve has had over 20 years experience in the venue and sports industry providing innovative solutions that drive business results. He holds a MBA in Business Administration. Steve lives in Shingle Springs California with his wife and two children.
Steve’s in depth experience in finance, technology, and operations allows him to identify the business drivers to maximize ROI in a project and managing costs for Rippetoe Solution Group clients.
Steve served as a Consultant with ABI for the MasterMind® workforce management system that is implemented in over 175 venues in North America.
As an ERP Implementation Consultant with Agresso he was involved in developing and implementing business solutions.
At Space Systems Loral he was a Flight Controller commanding and monitoring satellites in space, using ITACS, a satellite accounting system performing trend and scenario analysis to mitigate risk to customers and ensuring contractual performance milestones were met.
Steve wore various hats for the Oakland Coliseum Complex such as Accounting Manager, CIO, and Director of Special Projects. He led the design and implementation of finance, accounting, workforce management, event management, budgeting and forecasting systems, financial economic impact models and ROI analysis to improve business processes and generate new revenues. He was featured on the cover of CIO Magazine.
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Kerry Blessing
Advisor
Kerry Blessing brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in the areas of retail and e-tail marketing. Her perspective comes from nearly thirty years as a retailer of high-end home audio and video equipment.
For fifteen years, she was co-owner of one of the most venerable and successful A/V retailers of that time, San Francisco Stereo & Theater Systems. During her time three, Kerry developed a reputation among the most sought-after brands in the market as a savvy, innovative, and trustworthy business partner. And she became known within the industry as an innovator for creatively leveraging manufacturer co-op funds, creating “win-win-win” partnerships between manufacturer, retailer and customer. Her programs for building and sustaining clientele at a local level, through good times and bad, exemplify the kind of creativity and marketing know-how that Local Marketplace brings to our relationships.
Recently, she was instrumental in designing and launching the e-tailing site for Cutting Edge Audio Group. Currently, she is the CEO of Sound Cinema Integration, an audio/video design and integration group based in Berkeley.
Kerry is a lifelong resident of the Bay Area, a wine collector and fan of the WNBA. She is a former columnist for “Builder/Architect,” where she published a column for the building trade on integrating home entertainment technology into home design and construction.
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John Hood Advisor |
John Hood is the CEO of TroutFarm Technical Sales, Inc, a Manufacturer’s Representative firm based out of Sacramento, California. During his decade long tenure in this position, John has received numerous industry achievement accolades regarding outstanding sales achievement. John most recently completed the Certified Professional Manufacturers’ Representative program offered by Arizona State University. John is a father of 2 boys and is an avid mountain bike racer. John makes his residence in the Sierra Nevada foothills near Auburn, CA.
John is also the co-founder of our latest industry marketplace: LocalProAV.com, an eCommerce marketplace for the Pro Audio Video Industry.
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Mattew Newcomer Advisor |
Matt is a senior executive accomplished in creating a thriving sales and service culture, delivering relevant technology that improves the customer experience and engaging others to set and execute a strategic vision. He has successfully built market share and created a competitive advantage through the delivery of effective programs, inspiring the workforce to achieve results and maintaining a relentless focus on execution. Matt is excellent at influencing others while placing an emphasis on collaboration, speed and quality.
As principal of the Matteus Group, Matt consults with small and large businesses providing thought leadership on customer and employee relations in order to optimize their business
results.
Matt had a successful career with the AAA Northern California, Nevada & Utah Insurance Exchange (Insurance Exchange). The Insurance Exchange is the 15th largest personal lines insurance company in the U.S. with more than $2.6 billion in annual revenue offering insurance products to over 17 million AAA members. In his most recent role as chief of staff, Matt was responsible for communication effectiveness, governance and representing the views and agendas in key processes and projects on behalf of the president.
He began his career at the Insurance Exchange in 1990 as a claims representative. In 1991 he became a sales representative with the Insurance Exchange’s AAA Club affiliate, California State Automobile Association (CSAA), and was promoted to various roles of increased responsibility including Director, Sales Organization and Strategy and Vice President, Sales & Service, where he had accountability for the company’s branch office and direct sales expansion. He also served as Vice President, Sales & Market Development.
Matt is a licensed property and casualty and life insurance agent in California and holds a Certified Travel Counselor designation. He is a former member of the board of directors of AAA Life Insurance Company. In 2008, he was acknowledged as “Boss of the Year” by OfficeArrow.com. Matt holds a B.S. in Finance from California State University, Sacramento. Prior to joining the Insurance Exchange, Matt had a career in the music industry.
As an advocate of volunteerism, he is currently the Chair for the YMCA of San Francisco’s Kids to Camp program which provides scholarships that enable at-risk youth to attend a camp experience. He is also serves as a Board Member for the Montgomery Owners Association.
