The Robert H. and Beverly A. Deming Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Colorado at Boulder Leeds School of Business has appointed George Deriso and Tim Connor as new members of its board of advisers.
Deriso is a consultant to small and mid-sized companies on business and technology strategy. He has held executive positions in both large corporations and technology startups including AT&T, Apple Computer, Requisite Technology, Insession Inc., Intermezzo Systems, Solista Global LLC and Gartner Inc.
Deriso has more than 25 years experience as a senior or executive manager of technology operations in the areas of telecommunications, computer manufacturing, software development, information technology, Internet, private equity investment and customer and professional services.
His most recent work has been with the venture capital and entrepreneur communities, assisting with their business, investment, funding and technology strategy requirements. He has established and managed several stand-alone business units and has been instrumental in the creation and evolution of seven startup companies.
Conner is a partner with Sequel Venture Partners, a venture capital firm based in Boulder. Sequel has $410 million under management and provides early stage funding for emerging technology and life sciences companies in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region. Conner focuses on investments in information and communications technology companies.
Prior to his work at Sequel, Conner held senior finance, operations and strategic development positions with Access Health, a health care information services firm that was acquired by McKesson Corp. He joined Access from Lehman Brothers.
Conner serves on the board of directors of Lefthand Networks, Wall Street on Demand, Pixxures, Indicative Software, Quova and XAware. He also is a board member of the Colorado Venture Capital Association, Colorado Chapter of the National Association of Corporate Directors and is on the advisory boards of the Technology Transfer Office and the Silicon Flatirons Telecommunications programs, both at CU.
"We are privileged and excited to have George and Tim join our Deming Center Board of Advisors," said Paul Jerde, executive director of the Deming Center. "They have both personally and professionally been consistent and substantial contributors, employing our students as interns, serving as mentors and guest speakers and in many other ways."
The 36-member advisory board includes entrepreneurs, venture capitalists or service providers active in startup and fast-growth companies or consultants and researchers who are involved with entrepreneurship organizations.
Founded in 1996, the Deming Center is connected with Silicon Flatirons Telecommunications Program at the CU Law School, the Music Entrepreneurship Center, CU's Technology Transfer office and supports undergraduate and graduate students and faculty at the Leeds School.
The undergraduate entrepreneurship program at the Leeds School was ranked sixth among public universities offering doctorates, and the graduate program ranked 15th in U.S. News & World Report's 2005 rankings. The overall entrepreneurship program was ranked sixth in the nation in Entrepreneur magazine's 2004 annual survey of the top 100 entrepreneurial colleges and universities by program directors, faculty and alumni.