Mr. Lauta has been working in and around Silicon Valley for 30 years and has accumulated extensive experience in product management, product marketing, business development, and organizational management. His expertise is centered around networking, communications and Internet-based solutions and services and spans enterprise, small business, and consumer solutions and distribution channels.
Work Experience:
Bear Paw Consulting
1997 - present: President
Apple Computer
1992-1997: Director of Marketing for Apple's Internet Software Division
- Headed marketing function for Apple's Internet software group representing $60M in sales
- Managed a multifunctional team of more than 20 marketing professionals
- Oversaw Apple's transition from being a proprietary, AppleTalk-centered networking company to an open, Internet-centered networking company
- Launched Apple's first corporate Internet strategy at Internet World in March 1997
- Launched several award-winning products, including the Apple Internet Connection Kit, the Apple Internet Server Solution, AppleShare IP, Personal Web Sharing, OpenTransport, Cyberdog, HotSauce/MCF, Cocoa, and AOCE
- Worked closely with Apple's enterprise customers to integrate Macintosh computers into corporate IT environments
Groupware Authors (later renamed to Crosswise Corporation), desktop conferencing software for Windows and Macintosh computers
1990-1992: Co-Founder, VP of Marketing
- Closed funding relationships with Pacific Bell and Apple Computer
- Developed early customer relationships and strategic partnerships
Touch Communications (later refinanced as Worldtalk Corporation which went public and was acquired by Tumbleweed Communications in 2000), OSI-compliant networking software
1987-1990: Manager, Product Marketing and Business Development for End User Products
- Defined and launched the Worldtalk enterprise messaging switch
- Closed strategic partnerships with leading LAN e-mail vendors including Microsoft, Lotus, and cc:Mail
- Closed early reference customers for Worldtalk
Daisy Systems, CAE/CAD software and systems
1986-1987: Senior Product Marketing Manager, Networking and Communications Products
- Launched MicroVAX II server platform
- Responsible for all of Daisy's networking and communications products
Intel Corporation
1984-1986: Product Marketing Engineer, Peripheral Components Operation
- Product manager for the world's first single-chip Ethernet controller, the 82586
1982-1984: Product Engineer, Microprocessor Operation
- Member of the team that delivered the first 286 chipsets to IBM for the original PC-AT
Education:
B.S.E.E. (Magna Cum Laude) from Brown University, June 1982