Mark Strauch, Managing Director
Mark is a co-founder of Arena Group and currently serves as both an executive advisor and board member for Purple Wave, Inc. The company is a hybrid offline and online auction liquidations provider and portfolio company of Arena Group, LLC. Mark also sits as a board advisor for leading online safety training client ClickSafety.com. Prior to Arena Group, Mark was President and CEO of Business Engine, an IT governance software company based in San Francisco. During his tenure as CEO, Mark grew the business to profitability through direct sales growth, strategic OEM relationships and acquisition of key technologies. The company became recognized as one of the leaders in a competitive market and was acquired by Planview in early 2007. Prior to his role as CEO, Mark additionally served as Chief Operating Officer and EVP and GM EMEA where he doubled the business in consecutive years.
Prior to Business Engine, Mark was VP Business Development at Desktop.com, a high profile Sequoia and Accel-KKR start-up in virtual Web desktop technology. Previously, Mark led over $2 billion in technology M&A transactions at Broadview International where he additionally sourced and structured early stage investments in Webex and Done.com. Mark started his career in Silicon Valley with Andersen Consulting in the high tech products group and ran supply chain operations for Electronic Arts. Mark has a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Lehigh University and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
Eric King, Managing Director
Eric is a co-founder of Arena Group and currently serves as CEO of ClickSafety.com, Inc. In addition, Eric serves as an advisory board member of VestMatch, a Silicon Valley based start-up facilitating group (and family) collaborative investing towards a common goal and as an operational advisor to Purple Wave, Inc. Prior to Arena, Eric provided consulting services to Clean Power Finance, a boot-strapped financial services company based in San Francisco focused on simplifying the home residential solar purchase process. Prior to Clean Power Finance, Eric was President and CFO of FastFind.com, an online lead generation company Eric co-founded in San Francisco and successfully sold to Bankrate, Inc. While leading FastFind, the company grew to over $6 million in annual gross sales in the first year.
Prior to FastFind, Eric was VP Corporate Development at Providian Financial Corp, a consumer subprime financing company. While at Providian, Eric led and participated in acquisitions and divestitures totaling nearly $12 billion. Eric began his career with USI Holdings, a private equity financed insurance broker roll-up targeting regional commercial brokers serving the middle market. While at USI Eric was involved with multiple private equity placements, a $200 million debt syndication, and a $150 million high yield debt offering. Eric holds a B.A. from Southern Illinois University and an MBA from San Francisco State University.
Roxanne Brady, CPA
Roxanne has almost 20 years experience in the Silicon Valley working with technology companies. Most recently, Roxanne was Chief Financial Office of Business Engine, Inc. an IT governance software company. Roxanne managed a global finance and administration department, including full responsibility for legal, human resources and information technology. She has intense experience in software revenue recognition. Roxanne was a leader on the management team which grew the company to profitability and led the negotiations of the acquisition of the company.
Prior to joining Business Engine as Corporate Controller in 2000, Roxanne was Controller for Lumisys, Inc. (now part of Kodak) where she managed the finance team for the medical equipment manufacturer and multiple subsidiaries and was responsible for all SEC reporting. Roxanne’s experience also includes over six years in the Biotechnology industry. She was the Accounting Manager for Cell Genesys, Inc. where she managed the accounting staff and SEC reporting. Prior to Cell Genesys, Roxanne held positions of increasing responsibility at Calypte Biomedical. As Controller at Calypte, she had a key role in the company’s initial public offering. Roxanne started her career at Coopers & Lybrand in San Jose (now PriceWaterhouseCoopers) and is a licensed CPA in California (inactive). She holds a B.S. in Accounting from Santa Clara University.
Steven Sherman, Chairman of Arena Holdings
Prior to Arena Holdings I, LLC, Steven was the Chairman of the Board of AirLink Communications, Inc., a machine-to-machine wireless company, which was recently acquired by Sierra Wireless, Inc. (SWIR). His family investment vehicle, Sherman Capital Group, LLC, was the lead investor in AirLink.
Prior to AirLink, he was on the Board of Directors of Novatel Wireless, a leading provider of wireless modems that he co-founded in August 1996. Mr. Sherman served as the CEO of Novatel Wireless from August 1997 until November 1998, and as Chairman of the Board from August 1997 until September 1999. In addition, he founded Main Street and Main, the world’s largest TGI Friday’s franchise holding company, and served as its CEO until 1998. Mr. Sherman has served in various management positions (including Chairman and CEO) and as a director at Vodavi Communication Systems, Inc., a telephone hardware and software company, Executone Information Systems, Inter-Tel, Main Street and Main, and Sherman Capital Group LLC, a merchant banking organization.
