Power Moves: New C-suite hires for CUCollaborate, 2U, Inky Technology

Power Moves is a column where we chart the comings and goings of talent across the region. Got a new hire, new gig or promotion? Email us at dc@technical.ly.

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Bringing over 11 years of consulting experience, Chris Tissue has been hired as COO at D.C.-based CUCollaborate to lead the company’s day to day operations.

CUCollaborate is a consulting, software development and digital marketing company with a mission to help credit unions grow. Tissue previously held consulting positions at Grant Thornton, Deloitte and Callahan & Associates, where he helped clients develop analytical capabilities to inform strategic business decision, per a press release.

“After almost a decade in Management Consulting, I couldn’t be more excited to come back to the Credit Union industry. I strongly believe in the cooperative business model,” Tissue said in a statement. “I’m passionate about being part of a company that is using analytics and innovation to advance the collaborative spirit of Credit Unions.”

Tissue previously worked at Callahan & Associates with CUCollaborate founder and CEO, Sam Brownell.

"Chris will be a huge asset to the team as we grow. We are excited to leverage the financial and operational expertise that Chris developed at Deloitte and Grant Thorton with our credit union clients” said Sam Brownell, CEO & Founder of CUCollaborate. https://t.co/PfVHD1V9t8

— CUCollaborate (@cucollaborate) October 16, 2019

This announcement comes two months after the startup welcomed Lucas McCanna to the team as its director of marketing.

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Lanham, Maryland based edtech startup 2U welcomed a new chief marketing officer and chief financial officer to its leadership team last month.

Back in August, we reported that the company’s previous CFO, Catherine Graham, will be retiring from the company after seven years. Effective Oct. 14, 2U appointed Paul S. Lalljie as its new CFO. Lalljie brings more than 20 years of experience in finance manage in the tech sector, and he most recently served as the CFO at information services and tech company Neustar for nine years.

In addition, starting next week, Jennifer Ogden-Reese will take on her role as CMO of 2U. Ogden-Reese most recently served as CMO at SeatGeek for three years, and she brings over 12 years of experience working in senior-level marketing roles.

“In leading the digital transformation of higher education, 2U’s marketing efforts operate on an unrivaled global scale,” Ogden-Reese said in a statement. “I am thrilled to play a role in extending and amplifying 2U’s university partner brands to reach prospective students from around the world and educate them on the value of our world-class learning opportunities.”

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College Park, Maryland-based Inky Technology, an anti-phishing startup, has hired former Google executive Eli Sanders as its new chief customer officer.

Launched a few years ago, Inky makes a cloud-based email security platform powered by unique computer vision, artificial intelligence and machine learning.

With over 25 years of experience leading engineering and customer success teams, Sanders will focus on developing a customer success strategy for the startup. He served as the director of operations at Google before joining the Inky team.

“This position will allow me to add value to INKY’s customer base, identify new customer needs, and provide transformative solutions,” Sanders said in a press release. “I am committed to partnering with INKY’s growing list of clients, building strong relationships and ensuring long-term value and the highest quality of service and support.”

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Virginia’s Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) announced that three new board members have been appointed its board of directors and to the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Innovation & Entrepreneurship Investment Authority (IEIA). The new additions will replace outgoing board members Walter Mazan, Jonathan Aberman and Stephen R. Chapin, Jr.

The three new board members, who will serve on one board of directors who oversees both CIT and IEIA, are James Cheng, cofounder of CAV Angels; Richard Hall, managing director at Orion Capital; and Manish Malhotra, CEO of Unissant.

Pleased to Announce | CIT Appoints Three New Board of Directors Members | James Cheng, Co-Founder, CAV Angels | Richard Hall, Managing Director, Orion Capital | Manish Malhotra, CEO Unissant | https://t.co/ZQLIhyFypu pic.twitter.com/7BLH6CqpN2

— Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (@VirginiaIPC) October 22, 2019

“I am excited to welcome James, Richard, and Manish to the CIT Board of Directors,” said Ed Albrigo, CEO of CIT, in a statement. “Each of them brings deep experience in the Virginia entrepreneurial ecosystem, a passion for innovation, a dedication to public service and a desire to drive opportunities for all corners of the Commonwealth.”

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HighPoint, a provider of federal IT and digital solutions, has hired Debbie Granberry to its business and sales team to serve as its new VP of business development.

Founded in 2006, the company reports having 300 employees working across its three offices in Indianapolis, Baltimore and Herndon, Virginia. Granberry will be leading and managing the company’s business development infrastructure from the Herndon office, a press release states.

“HighPoint has an outstanding reputation as a valuable government partner working on a variety of complex IT and citizen services programs,” Granberry said in a statement. “I look forward to working with the team to support HighPoint’s growth goals and build the company’s portfolio of business across multiple capabilities.”

Prior to joining HighPoint, Granberry held leadership roles at ACT I, DXC Technology and General Dynamics Information Technology, where she helped these companies grow their revenue and profitability.

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D.C.-based Arcadia Power, a renewable energy tech company, has hired Max Minzner as its first general counsel.

We are thrilled to welcome Max Minzner to the Arcadia Power team as our first General Counsel! https://t.co/OqfWnWLZQC

— Arcadia (@arcadia) October 15, 2019

Minzner formerly served as the general counsel at the Federal Regulatory Commission. In his new role, Minzner will provide Arcadia Power with legal and regulatory advice on state and federal energy concerns. This key hire comes a few months after the company promoted its first COO, Kate Henningsen.

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Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) has hired Dr. Anne Kress as its president. Kress bringing 30 years of experience to the community college, and most recently served as president at Monroe Community College in Rochester, New York. This is only NOVA’s sixth permanent president to take office, and second woman leader. Kress will begin her presidency in 2020.