The Management Team
Officers and Directors
Fred McKenzie—Chairman of the Board. Fred McKenzie is the creator of ABC Market, a risk management application tool for manufacturers and distributors. He founded ABC Internet Marketplace in 1996. As chairman of the board, Mr. McKenzie oversees all strategic and operational functions of the company, including the product development conducted by an eight-member team.
In 1980, Mr. McKenzie established Futura Trading, Inc. in Vermont. The company traded industrial commodities in energy, electrical, electronics, and computer sectors. Among its major customers were the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the International Reconstruction and Development Bank (part of World Bank), the Defense Information Service Agency (DISA), the General Service Administration (GSA), and numerous private companies. The company was heavily involved in global buying and the logistics of moving the commodities from the source of supply (copper from Chile) to processing plants (United States) to consumer markets (Switzerland).
As part of improving customer service, and to take advantage of available technology, Futura Trading developed a computerized procurement system in 1982 for rural electrification. The system reduced the procurement cycle from months to days, allowing projects to be completed in a timely manner.
As president of Futura Trading, Mr. McKenzie arranged for a joint development of the first electronic catalog for chips with General Electric Information Service (GEIS) in Boston. The program became operational on GE's private network in 1986.
Prior to Futura Trading, Mr. McKenzie was managing director of Nordon Manufacturing Company in Iran. The factory produced electrical equipment and control systems for industrial applications. The 10,000-square-meter facility employed 75 people and, by 1978, had generated about $10 million in revenue.
Mr. McKenzie, a graduate of Syracuse University, obtained his Series-3 NASD Certificate and is registered as a commodity trading advisor (CTA) with Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
Kishore Manji—Chief Executive Officer, Director. Mr. Veeravagu is a 16-year veteran in the manufacturing and information technology arena. Mr. Veeravagu was the senior vice president of sales and marketing for Mindware Pertech, Inc. As the vice president and then as the senior vice president at Mindware, Mr. Veeravagu successfully sold to and signed multiyear contracts with large to medium-size firms (GE Capital, Occidental Petroleum, HSA, Cumberland Farms, and Safeway Stores, among others). He was responsible for changing the indirect business model at Mindware to a direct one, thereby achieving not only a rapid revenue growth but also a significantly higher profit margin.
Before Mindware Pertech, Inc., Mr. Veeravagu was responsible for setting up Altos India's contract manufacturing business from the ground up. Mr. Veeravagu was based in Austin, Texas, where he signed his first contract manufacturing agreement with Mr. Michael Dell of Dell Computer Corporation; this contract was signed even before the manufacturing plant had been set up. Over the next three years, Mr. Veeravagu grew the business for Altos India to $200 million to become the 25th largest contract manufacturing firm in the world.
During his tenure at Altos, Mr. Veeravagu felt the urgent need for tools and processes to manage risk resulting out of in-process material (IPM) supply management. Too often, he would face cost increases that could not be passed on to his customers, IPM shortages, and IPM obsolescence. In 1998, Mr. Veeravagu and Mr. McKenzie met, and Mr. Veeravagu instantly knew that he had his solution in Mr. McKenzie's idea and agreed to invest in ABC.
Prior to Altos India, Mr. Veeravagu in his various capacities with Pertech Computers was responsible for market analysis, product development, product marketing, sales, and sales management of such brands as Brother Electronic Typewriters, PCL Computers (IBM PC compatibles, the largest brand in India), WordPerfect, Ingress, and so on. Before he moved to Altos, he headed the sales management group of a 600-person sales operation with 48 offices in India. Mr. Veeravagu brings with him extensive experience in managing global operations, logistics, market development, and sales. Mr. Veeravagu has a long and successful record of accomplishments in translating ideas to successful businesses both in the international and domestic arena. Mr. Veeravagu received his B.A. in commerce with honors from University of Delhi.
Robert R. Kline—Chief Technology Officer, Director. One of the founders of the company, Mr. Kline has the most up-to-date knowledge and expertise in using transactional business in an Internet environment. As a network consultant, he has provided management assistance to numerous companies in improving the efficiency of their enterprise networking. Mr. Kline completed four years of college preparatory courses at the prestigious Ecole Des Roches Bluche, Switzerland. He received his B.A. in business administration from American College of Switzerland. Mr. Kline is fluent in French, German, and Spanish.
Patrick Ogilvey—Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Ogilvey has been the purchaser or principal stockholder of more than 15 corporations engaged in manufacturing, wholesaling, publishing, transportation, and banking. Mr. Ogilvey has more than 20 years of experience in finance, merchant banking, and investment banking. Before joining ABC Internet Marketplace, he was executive vice president of finance at General Electrical Construction Group. Mr. Ogilvey graduated from Boston College with a B.S. in finance, and the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business with an M.B.A. in corporate finance. He also holds a M.A. in organizational psychology.
Sue Hu—Director. Dr. Hu holds tenure at TuABC University, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. She has supervised an impressive number of research projects, both for masters and Ph.D. candidates, as well as conducting her own independent work with industry and the government. Dr. Hu obtained her Ph.D. in computer engineering from Drexel University and is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
Outside Professionals
Foley, Hoag & Eliot—attorney
Ernst & Young—accountants
BankBoston—banker
Mindware Pertech—technical advisors
