Senior Management:
Brian Jacobs, Ph.D., Founder and CEO of Akademos
As a professor at Cornell University, Brian experienced first-hand the inefficiencies of the textbook industry and consequent excessive costs of course materials. He also saw that the Internet provided an extraordinary means to address these inefficiencies. His idea of a textbook marketplace was implemented in 2002, and he continues to provide the management expertise and creative direction for the company in a rapidly evolving industry. Brian, who has published numerous articles in social and political philosophy as well as an essay collection with Cambridge University Press, has been awarded fellowships from Cornell, Yale, University of Göttingen, and the Mellon Foundation. He holds a BA degree from SUNY Albany, and an M.A. and Ph.D. from Cornell University.
Donald Weinstein, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer
Donald’s 23 years of financial and operational experience has focused on growing organizations and in improving their efficiency. Donald was with Citizens Communications (now Frontier NYSE:FTR) for ten years, ascending to the role of VP, Planning & Development. He then became the SVP & Chief Financial Officer at AGL Resources (NYSE:ATG), the second largest natural gas distribution company. At AGL, he led the company’s turnaround effort after the AGL became deregulated. He was also President of AGL Networks, a start up telecommunications company providing services to the competitive local exchange market. After completing and integrating the largest acquisition in AGL’s history, Donald left to become the EVP & Chief Financial Officer at MasTec (NYSE:MTZ), a specialty contractor. At MasTec, he again led the turnaround effort, integrating back office functions and consolidating operations. Once stabilized, Donald then focused on the growth of the business, driving sequential 20% revenue increases. Don has a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Connecticut.
Geoffrey Katz, Vice President, Program Management
Geoffrey has worked for Akademos in numerous capacities since graduating from Cornell University with a B.A. degree in 2001, including serving as its Director of Operations until 2009. In his nine years with the company he has become proficient with the technologies that power the Akademos platform, and has been a integral part of its ongoing development. Geoffrey took a leading role in the launch and development of the Textbookx.com marketplace, and has overseen its growth to millions of books and hundreds of thousands of sellers. Geoffrey leads the IT department and ensures that the Akademos system remains an industry leader and an innovator in its use of technology.
Brian Bates, Vice President, Sales
Brian joined Akademos in December of 2009, bringing with him over 11 years of experience in the virtual bookstore space. With over 15 years of sales and marketing experience, Brian began his career with virtual bookstores in 1999 as Director of Sales and Business Development with Fatbrain.com, which was later acquired by Barnes & Noble. Then in 2002, Brian helped to launch and grow VarsityBooks.com’s institutional business which focused on services for colleges, universities and private schools throughout the U.S.. During his initial three year period with VarsityBooks, Brian helped lead the business through an unprecedented period of rapid sales growth, adding over 30% of revenue to the company’s top line by 2006 alone. In 2008, VarsityBooks was acquired by The Follett Corporation. Throughout his internet career, Brian has focused on working with companies and schools on the invention, development, and future of the virtual bookstore space. Brian has a B.S. in Economics from The Ohio State University.
Board of Directors:
Brian Jacobs
Scott Eagle
Scott has had extensive experience managing major Fortune 500 brands and building successful new companies. In addition to being an advisor to Akademos, Scott Eagle serves as Chief Marketing Officer of eHarmony Inc., overseeing the company’s advertising/brand development, customer acquisition and lifecycle areas. Prior to joining eHarmony Inc., Scott was at Claria Corporation, a behavioral ad network, where he served in the Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Operating Officer roles. At Claria Corporation, Scott grew revenue from zero to $120 million in the company’s first four years of operation. Previously, Scott served on the executive team at Concentric Network Corporation where, as Vice President Marketing, he helped drive their successful IPO. He has also held senior management positions at MFS Communications and Procter & Gamble. Scott holds a B.S.in economics from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.
Bill Youstra
Advisors:
