Kevin Merritt – Founder & CEO

Kevin founded Socrata because he recognized that the massive amounts of data in the world could be put to use in people’s everyday lives to make them better. Kevin had previous successes as an entrepreneur. In 2002 Kevin founded MessageRite, which developed and provided a web-based email archiving service. In 2004, FrontBridge Technologies acquired MessageRite where Kevin functioned as Chief Technology Officer (CTO). In 2005, Microsoft acquired FrontBridge. At Microsoft Kevin served as Software Architect and Director of Operations before leaving to found Socrata in 2007. At heart, Kevin is a software entrepreneur with a passion for making customers elated by delivering great software as a service.
Twitter: @KMerritt

Will Pugh – Chief Technology Officer

Will is a seasoned, savvy techie who fears no challenge. He wants Socrata’s customers to have an excellent experience with Socrata’s products no matter what their circumstances or needs may be. Will brings a proven track record of leading and developing innovative high-tech solutions. Will began his career with Microsoft as a Software Design Engineer before founding SourceLabs, a provider of tools and services used to support open source software environments. In the past, he has led teams for VMWare, EMC, and BEA Systems. Will graduated from Cornell University with a degree in Computer Science.

Bill Lawler – Vice President of Sales

Bill joins Socrata with over 25 years of sales management experience in technology and SaaS companies. Blending start-up and big company, entrepreneur and enterprise, Bill offers a unique perspective on building and accelerating sales organizations. Prior to joining the Seattle start-up scene, Bill served multiple leadership roles at Dell Computer including VP Enterprise Sales and Director of Inside Sales. Before joining Dell, Bill worked in various management capacities at Apple Computer. Bill holds a master’s in Business Administration from Pepperdine University and an undergraduate degree from Loyola Marymount University, College of Business Management.

Safouen Rabah, Vice President of Marketing

Are you curious about all of the ways that open data can make the world a better place? Talk to Saf. An enthusiastic proponent of Socrata’s visionary customers, Safouen (Saf) has 17 years of technology marketing experience in the enterprise software, internet services and communications industries. He served most recently as Marketing Director at Canadian telecommunications company, TELUS, leading the successful market introduction of cloud-based customer experience solutions that achieved 300 percent revenue growth over two years. Prior to working at TELUS, Saf was Director of eBusiness at customer relationship management software company Pivotal, which reached $65 million in revenue in five years and was acquired by CDC Software in 2003. Saf holds an executive MBA from Simon Fraser University.
Twitter: @Safouen

Erika Smith – Vice President of Emerging Markets

Socrata wants to increase the number of open data innovators around the world. And, Erika is just the person to make this happen. As the Vice President of Emerging Markets, Erika works to bring Socrata’s products to international markets and create programs that help developers get involved with open data. She also leads our partner channels strategy, enabling other companies to create value-added services for Socrata’s government customers and their constituents at the city, state or national level. A leader in global business development in the technology industry, Erika worked at Microsoft in a variety of marketing and business development roles, most recently as the Industry Managing Director for Local and Regional Government. Erika also led several public sector economic development programs and drove entrepreneurial efforts for high-growth mobile startups. Erika received her bachelor’s degree from Vassar College and her master’s degree in Economics from Cambridge University.

Joel Baller – Vice President of Public Sector

Joel’s natural leadership style includes high fives, a sense of humor and plenty of teamwork. A seasoned enterprise sales executive, Joel has more than 10 years working with executives at Fortune 1000 organizations and high level government IT officials. He specializes in building high performing sales teams that are fundamentally focused on creating a culture of customer success. Before joining Socrata, Joel held senior revenue producing roles at technology leaders Oracle, RightNow Technologies and Xerox, winning multiple awards for sales achievement and customer satisfaction. Joel earned his bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Colorado State University.

Dan Wassel – Vice President of Finance and Administration

Dan brings over 20 years of experience in finance, including responsibility for all aspects of finance and HR, such as treasury, financial reporting, planning and analysis, legal and risk mitigation. Dan has extensive experience with both early-stage and established companies across multiple industries, including software, financial services, retail and hospitality. Before joining Socrata, Dan was the Senior Finance Leader at Hubspan, which was acquired by Liaison Technologies in 2012. Prior to Hubspan, Dan held management positions at Qpass (acquired by Amdocs), Safeco, and ITT Sheraton, including a stint overseas. He is a Certified Public Accountant and received a BS in Accounting from Boston College.

Beth Blauer – Director of Govstat

Having Beth Blauer on Socrata’s team helps ensure that the company will remain a leader and an innovator in the open data movement. Beth is a true visionary who pushes Socrata to stay ahead of its customers’ needs, providing forward-thinking solutions that transform the way that data gets used by the public. A well-known proponent of open government, data transparency and utilization, Beth developed and implemented a statewide performance management program called StateStat for Maryland in the office of Governor Martin O’Malley that is credited with improving across-the-board outcomes in all areas, especially education, health, public safety, and the environment. Beth earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland College Park and her J.D. at New York Law School, where she was a Public Interest Fellow and served as the President of the Legal Association for Women.

Cam Caldwell – Director of Client Services

If you talk to Socrata’s customers, many have stories of Cam and his team working long hours to over-deliver on a promise. With more than 12 years of experience in information technology, management consulting, project management, sales, and business development, Cam is known as an effective team leader, strategist and advocate for change. He is quick to understand a company’s vision, expand upon it, and find creative ways to improve products and customer service.

Before joining Socrata in 2011, Cam worked as the VP of Client Services for data analytics software company Apollo Data Technologies. Previous to that role, he worked as an Account Executive for Emdeon Business Services and WebMD. He received his bachelor’s degree in Business Management of Information Systems from Georgia Institute of Technology.

Robert Runge – Chief Strategy Officer

Robert (Bob) wants to make Socrata’s mission – putting data to work in people’s everyday lives – as clear and compelling as possible. He is an accomplished technology strategist and marketer with more than 25 years of experience as a leader in the technology industry. In addition to successful tenures with Oracle and Sybase, Bob served as Chief Marketing Officer for content management pioneer BroadVision and as Chief Marketing Officer for CRM innovator Pivotal Software. At Revenue Science (now Audience Science), Bob helped chart the company’s successful course as chief strategy officer. Bob serves as a member of Socrata’s Board of Directors.