Founder and Developer, Spanning Sync
Austin, Texas Area
- Current
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- Founder, Co-Developer at Spanning Sync, Inc.
- Past
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- Vice President, Enterprise Solutions at NewsGator Technologies
- Product Specialist at Permeo Technologies
- Director, Enterprise Solutions at Stellent
- Education
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- The University of Texas at Austin
- The University of Texas at Austin
- Connections
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250
connections
- Industry
- Internet
- Websites
Charlie Wood’s Summary
I started my career as a software engineer with a decade of programming experience under my belt, a Computer Science degree, and an entrepreneurial bent. I gradually moved into more customer-facing roles, first as a Systems Engineer (Sales Engineer), and later as an Account Executive. My exposure to both technical and customer considerations later led me to product management, but I never lost interest in software development itself, and I eventually returned to my roots, developing online services to extend the functionality of SaaS applications, first Salesforce.com and later Google Apps.
I'm happiest doing what I do best, which is building bridges (hence the name of my company, Spanning). Whether it's explaining the benefits of technology to a nontechnical audience, introducing technologists to new platforms, or building integrations between applications, I enjoy and excel at making connections.
Charlie Wood’s Specialties:
Technology evangelism, enterprise applications of Web 2.0 technologies, RSS/Atom, OPML, GData, wearing lots of hats, getting things done
Charlie Wood’s Experience
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Founder, Co-Developer
Spanning Sync, Inc.
(Privately Held; Computer Software industry)
2005 — Present (4 years )
Spanning Sync provides two-way synchronization between Google Apps and Mac OS X applications.
- Created a highly profitable, well-respected product and company from scratch.
- Developed all server-side LAMP code, including sync, purchase, and admin systems.
- Responsible for product management, web site development, blogging, customer support, server admin, financial, legal, and all other aspects of the business.
- Previously (as Spanning Partners, LLC) created Spanning Salesforce (spanningsalesforce.com), a hosted service that allowed Salesforce.com users to subscribe to their CRM data using secure RSS. -
Vice President, Enterprise Solutions
NewsGator Technologies
(Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Computer Software industry)
2005 — 2005 (less than a year)
NewsGator is the leading RSS platform company.
- Developed a complete go-to-market plan and associated deliverables for the company’s enterprise business
- Created all technical architecture presentations and whitepapers
- Managed an extensive beta program involving twenty enterprise customers in both the US and EMEA -
Product Specialist
Permeo Technologies
(Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Computer Software industry)
2004 — 2005 (1 year )
Permeo (acquired by Blue Coat Systems) is a leading provider of secure enterprise remote access solutions based on the industry’s most innovative clientless SSL-VPN and endpoint security technologies.
- Oversaw creation of technical marketing deliverables, including byline articles, white papers, and online demos
- Authored industry and competitive analyses used to form corporate positioning and strategy
- Responsible for designing and implementing operational processes for sales, presales, marketing, and customer support -
Director, Enterprise Solutions
Stellent
(Public Company; 501-1000 employees; STEL; Computer Software industry)
2003 — 2004 (1 year )
Stellent (acquired by Oracle) is a global provider of content management software solutions.
- Spearheaded Stellent’s Sarbanes-Oxley Solution field sales support initiative
- Gathered compliance requirements through one-on-one interviews with CFOs and controllers of over 50 public companies
- Developed and delivered Sarbanes-Oxley Solution sales materials and collateral to domestic field sales force
- Co-developed and presented Stellent’s Sarbanes-Oxley Seminar Series with Protiviti
- Designed managed communications channels for field support -
Group Product Manager, Content Management and Syndication
Vignette
(Public Company; 501-1000 employees; VIGN; Computer Software industry)
2000 — 2001 (1 year )
Vignette is a global provider of content management software solutions.
- Owned all content management, syndication, and deployment products, together accounting for over $300M in annual revenue
- Developed requirements for next-generation content management product line and worked with engineering on design and functional specifications
- Created full range of product messaging, white papers, presentations, and roadmap
- Supported worldwide field sales with collateral and executive-level, on-site presentations
- Led competitive kill team -
Account Execuitve
Vignette
(Public Company; 501-1000 employees; VIGN; Computer Software industry)
1999 — 2000 (1 year )
- Exceeded 120% of sales quota and attended President’s Sales Club
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Senior Systems Engineer
Vignette
(Public Company; 501-1000 employees; VIGN; Computer Software industry)
1997 — 1999 (2 years )
- Awarded SE of the Year, 1998
- Designed and implemented web-based SE/AE scheduling and productivity tracking tools
- Created product demonstrations used by field sales worldwide
- Created product architecture presentations used by technical field sales worldwide
- Opened UK office, participated in initial European sales
- Assisted competitive kill team -
Online Community Manager
iChat
(Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Internet industry)
1995 — 1997 (2 years )
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Software Engineer
IBM
(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; IBM; Information Technology and Services industry)
1994 — 1994 (less than a year)
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Software Engineer
Travelogix
(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Computer Software industry)
1992 — 1993 (1 year )
Charlie Wood’s Education
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The University of Texas at Austin
BA , Economics , 2009 — 2012 (expected)
I'm attending UT part-time to add an economics major to my computer science degree, and blogging about the experience at http://fortyyearoldfreshman.blogspot.com.
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The University of Texas at Austin
BA , Computer Science , 1988 — 1992
- Undergraduate Fellow, College of Engineering
- Presidential Scholar
Additional Information
Charlie Wood’s Websites:
Charlie Wood’s Interests:
Certificated private pilot (ASEL), certified advanced open water SCUBA diver
Charlie Wood’s Groups:
League House Board of Directors, Enterprise Irregulars, AOPA
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Vignette Alumni Association -
Enterprise Irregulars
Charlie Wood’s Honors:
SE of the Year (1998), Vignette
Undergraduate Fellow, College of Engineering, University of Texas
Presidential Scholar, University of Texas
Charlie Wood’s Contact Settings
Interested In:
- expertise requests
- business deals
- reference requests
- getting back in touch
