Matt Howard, Co-founder and CEO
An experienced and successful software entrepreneur, Matt Howard conceived of ZoomSafer in September 2008 following a distracted driving incident in which he nearly killed a nine year old boy.
Together with his co-founders, Matt has developed a patented software application to ensure safe and legal use of mobile phones while driving. Prior to ZoomSafer, Matt co-founded SMBLive in 2005, an innovative provider of online marketing software for small business owners. SMBLive was acquired by Reach Local in Feburary 2010.
Matt previously served as Vice President of Business Development at Groove Networks (acquired by Microsoft), and as Vice President of Marketing & Business Development at USinternetworking (acquired by AT&T).
Matt has a certificate in Innovation Management from the University of Maryland’s Smith School of Business, a Masters in Telecommunications Administration from George Mason University and a Bachelor’s in Political Communications from The George Washington University.
Matt can be found on Twitter, Facebook, and Linked-in.
Mike Costello, Co-founder and COO
Mike Costello is a seasoned software and systems development executive who is responsible for building Zoomsafer’s products and service capabilities. Mike is a former Accenture partner where for 20 years he built and delivered a range of systems in support of clients in the wireless industry. To learn more about Mike go here.
Mike Riemer, Co-founder and Chief Product Officer
Michael Riemer has more than 20 years of executive management, product management and business development experience in the wireless and software industries.
Prior to founding ZoomSafer Michael led product marketing and strategy for Trust Digital, a venture backed policy-based mobile security company. From 1993 to 2000 Michael led product development at Nextel where he served as a key force in enabling first-to-market technologies including Nextel Communication’s next generation wireless packet data network, the first mobile IP network, Push to Talk, WAP Browsing, Mobile Social Networking and Mobile MSN supported by a $600M investment from Microsoft. Earlier in his career Michael helped to pioneer Paragraph International’s handwriting recognition software for the Apple Newton.
To learn more or to connect with Michael please visit him here on Linked-in.
Joseph F. Abely, Strategic Advisor and Board Member
Joe has over 34 years of executive management, operational and financial experience. Joe was most recently President & Chief Executive Officer of CaseSight Inc., a venture-backed litigation consulting firm that was sold in 2010. Previously Joe was Chairman & CEO of LoJack Corporation, the premier worldwide provider of wireless tracking and recovery systems for mobile assets.
Joe began at LoJack as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, later became President and COO and during his tenure led growth of this undercapitalized technology start-up company operating in just one state with only 30 employees and $1 million in revenues into a well capitalized, NASDAQ (NMS) growth company with 950 employees and $213 million in revenue.
Joe was also a Partner at @ Deloitte Haskins & Sells (now Deloitte & Touche) where he was National Director of Cable Television and Broadcast Media Practice. Joe is currently a director at Innov-X Systems, a private equity-backed global leader in rapid on-site XRF measurements, where he is on the Audit and Compensation Committees. He is a Director, Treasurer, Chairman of Finance and Audit Committees for the Carroll Center for the Blind, which offers a full range of services for people who are blind or visually impaired. Joe is a graduate from Boston College and also holds an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Richard Hozik, Chief Financial Officer
With over 35 years of financial and operations experience, Richard Hozik brings a wealth of knowledge to ZoomSafer.
Richard began his career with the international public accounting firm of Arthur Andersen, LLP and subsequently served as Chief Financial Officer and/or Divisional CEO to a number of publicly traded and privately held companies. Richard has vast experience in the areas of capital raising, mergers and acquisitions, profit improvement and cost containment. Over the course of his career, Richard has led two initial public offerings, led or participated in the raising of more than $3 billion of public/private equity/debt and led or participated in over 50 M&A transactions.
In 2001, Richard founded Hozik & Lawson, LLC (H&L), a specialized financial consulting firm, in response to the demand for tailored solutions to address the increasingly complex business and regulatory environment. The firm’s professionals provide advice and assistance to enable companies, intermediaries and public sector bodies improve performance, create value and mitigate risk. H&L has built a solid reputation by providing services to a wide range of corporations in a variety of industries including software development, technology, telecommunications, real estate, construction, financial services, government contracting, energy, retail, manufacturing, publication, hospitality and professional services. In addition to solving clients’ complex business issues, H&L routinely provides interim executive, accounting and/or financial assistance to augment a client’s existing management team.
Richard holds an undergraduate degree in accounting from the University of Maryland and he is a Certified Public Accountant.