About Buildproof
The Safehouse for Home Improvement
Management Bios - Board of Directors - Board of Advisors
Most transactions between homeowners and contractors are still conducted in the same manner they were fifty years ago - inferior contracts, archaic payment methods, and unfulfilled promises. This is the #1 Most Complained About Industry in the U.S. according to the National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators (NACAA). Until now.
Buildproof is changing how homeowners and contractors interact, by applying best-in-class technology, a secure payment system and easy to use project management tools. We believe that home construction and remodeling projects don't need to be fraught with the anxiety and risk that are caused by poor communication and the lack of effective payment handling.
Buildproof's online system allows home construction or remodeling projects to be managed more effectively. Homeowners and contractors use the Buildproof system together to communicate, set milestones and manage “safe housed” monies committed to a project. We understand the fears of handing a contractor money for work that isn’t done yet, or of doing work for a homeowner and not getting paid. Buildproof ensures that monies are safe and sound, and enables meaningful communications.
By simplifying the process and making it infinitely more understandable - we reduce the risk and greatly increase the likelihood that your project goes smoothly. This empowers homeowners to take a more proactive, more effective role in the management of a construction or remodeling project. And it also empowers contractors, helping them make better business decisions.
Our team is made up of industry veterans, business leaders and technologists - all sharing a passion for taking the risk out of home improvement projects.
With Buildproof you will have a fundamentally more positive construction or remodeling experience.
Management Bios
Alan Farber – CEO, Board of Directors
Alan Farber is the CEO and Co-Founder of Buildproof. Alan grew up in the construction industry, working for his family’s remodeling business. In addition, Alan’s prior experience includes expertise in the areas of risk management, merger arbitrage, and interest rate arbitrage. For seven years Alan managed position risk for his company’s holdings in a variety of international markets. His experience in risk management ranges from equity holdings in corporate mergers to advanced arbitrage management in European and U.S. interest rate positions. In addition, Alan has served as a police officer for the Los Angeles Police Department, where he was Team Leader of the Career Criminals Unit. Prior to law enforcement, Alan was a member of the United States Army’s Special Forces. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Indiana University.
Derrick Mains – Chief Operating Officer
A proven entrepreneur and experienced executive specializing in direct sales, sales management, strategic partner and joint venture development, marketing, environmental program development, franchising and operations. His efforts as an entrepreneur have been recognized by a number of business publications highlighting his development of unique business models that have capitalized on seasonal and psychographic micro-trends Mr. Mains executive and management experience includes AT&T, Unishippers/FreightManager.com, AMBERalert.com, Pets911.com, Earth911 and 1-800-CLEANUP. Mr. Mains has been the driving force behind a number of environmental initiatives including transorganizational partnerships with global oil companies, filter manufacturers, oil collectors, international retailers and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Thom Brodeur – VP of Marketing
A dynamic executive with expertise in global strategy, brand management, marketing, communications, product and business development in both private and public companies from start up to $1+ billion in revenues, Mr. Brodeur is a successful entrepreneur and senior manager with P&L, Pre-IPO, start up and
turnaround experience in the high tech, entertainment and media industries. His experience spans corporate positions in strategy, marketing and product and business development for market leaders including PLATINUM Technology, GoDaddy.com, ImproveNet and Marketwire; entrepreneurial endeavors as founder of two businesses including a strategic e-marketing firm and a television and film production company (www.bjolley.tv), and agency positions with marketing communications giant Omnicom where he worked with companies including RIM, IBM, SyntaxBrillian, Instant Media, The 41st Parameter, eFunds, Rich Dad Poor Dad and Trimble among others. Mr. Brodeur was named to the“40 Under 40”by the Business Journal of Phoenix.
Anil Jain – VP of Strategic Development, Board of Directors
Anil is an entrepreneur and technology business executive whose career has been focused on the development of innovative technology products and services to address emerging market opportunities. Having held leadership or senior advisory roles with a number of ventures and organizations, Anil’s experience spans a range of technologies and industries. He is a founding Managing Partner of Endeavor Innovation Partners, a venture development firm that works with entrepreneurs, management teams and investors to build and grow promising companies. He serves as an advisor to Flypaper Studio, Mission3, BLUR Media, iamota, Mango Global, and constructNet International, among other firms. Anil holds an M.S. in Materials Science & Engineering and an M.S. in Technology Policy, both from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, MA and is the President of TiE Arizona (non-profit focused on fostering entrepreneurship through networking, education and mentorship).
Greyson Geiler – Co-Founder
Greyson Geiler is a Co-founder of Buildproof. Greyson began his financial career in the Chicago commodity exchanges, and has since organized and managed a hedge fund with partners he met while doing business in those exchanges. Greyson brings his financial management skills from his involvement as part of the business planning and investment strategies team for a bank in Nebraska. He has also enjoyed a successful career as a merger arbitrage trader and specialist in risk aversion. Greyson also has experience in international trade, and has acted as Managing Director for a Malaysian import/export company. He
received his degree in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Jeffrey Rassás - Chairman, Board of Directors
Mr. Rassás has 20 years experience in technology related business start-ups, operations, strategy, fundraising, public markets, M&A and exit strategy and execution. CEO/co-Founder of eTechLogix and ImproveNet.com, the latter sold to Interactive Commerce Corp (IACI), CEO/Founder of EBIZ Enterprises, a Linux solutions provider specializing in optimized server solutions and as CEO/co-Founder of Quietmove.com, an information security firm securing the nexus between people, technology and information. Rassás holds a degree in electrical engineering and actively studies neurosciences.
Board of Directors
Greyson Geiler – Co-Founder, Board of Directors
Greyson Geiler is a Co-founder of Buildproof. Greyson began his financial career in the Chicago commodity exchanges, and has since organized and managed a hedge fund with partners he met while doing business in those exchanges. Greyson brings his financial management skills from his involvement as part of the business planning and investment strategies team for a bank in Nebraska. He has also enjoyed a successful career as a merger arbitrage trader and specialist in risk aversion. Greyson also has experience in international trade, and has acted as Managing Director for a Malaysian import/export company. He
received his degree in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Jeff Anderson
Jeff Anderson is a seasoned International Sales and Marketing executive with over 16 years experience in the Semiconductor and Electronics Industry. Jeff is currently the Executive Director of Business Development for a large Japanese Materials Corporation after previously spending the last 9 years with Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials, CMP Technologies (previously Rodel, Inc.). He holds a BS in Business Administration from Miami University (Ohio) and an MBA from Thunderbird.
Ryan Ansell - Observer
Ryan Ansell serves as President of International Real Estate Purveyors. A results-oriented entrepreneur, Mr. Ansell has extensive negotiating experience, a knack for 'buying the deal right' and track record of delivering significant returns to investors. Following his studies at the University of Vermont, he entered the workforce at a Fortune 500 Insurance and Financial Services company. While Mr. Ansell was with Gamut.com, he implemented an innovative virtual outsourcing and strategic partnership model that helped keep costs of goods sold down while driving revenues and profit. As president of IREP, Mr. Ansell's
value proposition is to raise capital, invest in numerous unique diversified real estate opportunities and deliver on his "Client Promise" of handsome return on investments.
Anil Jain
Anil is an entrepreneur and technology business executive whose career has been focused on the development of innovative technology products and services to address emerging market opportunities. Having held leadership or senior advisory roles with a number of ventures and organizations, Anil’s experience spans a range of technologies and industries. He is a founding Managing Partner of Endeavor Innovation Partners, a venture development firm that works with entrepreneurs, management teams and investors to build and grow promising companies. He serves as an advisor to Flypaper Studio, Mission3, BLUR Media, iamota, Mango Global, and constructNet International, among other firms. Anil holds an M.S. in Materials Science & Engineering and an M.S. in Technology Policy, both from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, MA and is the President of TiE Arizona (non-profit focused on fostering entrepreneurship through networking, education and mentorship).
Rodney Rice
Before founding ServiceMagic, Inc. in 1998, Rodney Rice was a member of the founding team of Einstein/Noah Bagel Corp. where he served as vice president of finance and helped take the company public in 1996. Prior to joining Einstein/Noah Bagel Corp., he worked at Merrill Lynch within the Equity Capital Markets Group in the firm's New York office, as well as with the Corporate Finance and Mergers & Acquisitions Groups in the Houston office, specializing in the domestic and South American energy markets. Rodney has been a featured industry speaker within the local marketing and real estate industries, appearing in venues such as Kelsey's Directory Driven Commerce, StartUp BaseCamp and Inman News' Real Estate Connect Conference. Additionally, in 2004, he was named one of the Denver Business Journal's "40 Under Forty". Rodney holds a BBA in Finance and International Business from the University of Texas.
Mark Williams
A native of Arizona, Mark Chet Williams, has been involved in working with local real estate development projects for many years. After studying architecture at the University of Florence, Italy, Mark went on to graduate from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science in Design, with an emphasis in Housing and Urban Development. Since 1999, Mark has served as the president and managing director of LOMAR Companies, a local real estate company specializing in the procurement, development and management of commercial and residential real estate assets.
Mark is a licensed agent by the Arizona Dept. of Real Estate. Furthermore, Mark has served on the Laveen Village Planning Committee, an advisory committee to the Phoenix City Council, since 2000. Mark has also served the community by his active involvement in a number of charities, including serving on the Board of the Cajun Foundation.
Board of Advisors
Steve McClain
Steve McClain is Vice President and CFO of Klondyke Inc; a general contracting firm focused on heavy civil, electric power generation, distribution, transmission and infrastructure projects serving electrical utilities as well as public and private entities. Prior to Klondyke, Steve was a founder and served as VP / General Manager and Director of ACM Equipment Rental and Sales, a construction equipment distributor and rental company in the southwest. He is a member of the Industry Advisory Council executive committee at ASU’s Dell Webb School of Construction and a Director of the Arizona Builders Alliance where he served as
President in 1994. He also served as National Director of the Associated Builders and Contractors and as a past President and Director of the Associated Equipment Dealers of Arizona. Steve received his B.S. and M.B.A. from the University of Oregon.
Brown Russell
Brown is a proven entrepreneur with a successful track record in business, politics and academia. Included in the many corporate leadership positions he's held are Co-Chairman/CEO PRB Pharmaceuticals, Chairman, Matrixx Initiatives (NASDAQ: MTXX), and Chairman of Gel Tech LLC in which he secured distribution of their product Zicam to over 55,000 stores throughout the United States. After securing a front page story in USA Today and coverage by over 500 local television stations, the product completely sold out in all stores in just 3 days. Brown also has served as campaign manager at the local, mayoral and state levels in both Georgia and Arizona.
Steve Shank
Steve has over 35 years of domestic and international sales, marketing and business development experience. He was VP of Marketing and Business Development for Zantaz, an electronic archiving company. He was the founding President of Symantec and an original member of the National Semiconductor data security group. While at Apple Computer he created a multi-tiered retail network, including the founding of Apple Japan and Apple Australia, now more than $1B each. At Chips & Technologies he built a $200 million international distribution network. He has lived in Japan and Europe where he established and run divisions of two well-known high-technology companies.
Dan Wolfe
Dan is the CEO of Teledraft, a payment processing company which conducted ACH and credit card transactions for Party Poker (the largest gaming site on the internet) before it was altered by the new federal gaming laws. Teledraft continues to transact millions in ACH volume a month, but more importantly Dan
understands the risks and challenges of moving money over the internet ($35 million a month). Dan is assisting us in designing our web system to have the capacity to handle the transaction volume involved with a nation wide product. Dan’s insight into the basic principles of building and expanding an internet based business is proving very valuable to Buildproof.
Remodeling? Try Buildproof. It's free and only takes a minute to start!
