Our Advisory Board

The advisory board for Total Technology Ventures consists of longtime successful Georgia business executives with deep roots in the community. The board is comprised of individuals who have proven track records of operating, advising, or investing in successful technology companies. The board's role is to enhance the firm's ability to build successful technology businesses.

John P. Imlay, Jr., Chairman, Imlay Investments, Inc. Imlay Investments is a private investment firm that provides funding for very early stage technology companies. Mr. Imlay is the retired Chairman and CEO of Management Science America Inc. (MSA), which, until it was acquired by Dun and Bradstreet, was one of the top ten software companies in the world with 60 offices worldwide. Mr. Imlay serves on several business boards, including The Atlanta Falcons, IMS Health, Metromedia International Group, Gartner Group, System One Technical, Inc., and World Access. In 1994, he was inducted into the Technology Hall of Fame for Georgia and in 1997 received the Entrepreneur of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award. Mr. Imlay sees the firm as an excellent collaborative partner for Imlay Investments.

Charles G. Betty, Chief Executive Officer of EarthLink Incorporated, the second largest Internet access service. Mr. Betty oversees EarthLink's day-to-day operations and has managed it through exponential growth and its merger with Mindspring. Prior to joining EarthLink, Mr. Betty was President and CEO of Digital Communications Associates (DCA) and was the youngest member on the New York Stock Exchange. Mr. Betty brings to the Fund his extensive operational and technical expertise, as well as firsthand knowledge of the technology communities in both California and Georgia. He will provide valuable insight into product management, international operations, and the complexity of running a global business.

William J. Todd, President and CEO, Encina Technology Ventures, LLC. Mr. Todd is co-founder of Encina Technology Ventures, a technology investment firm he started in early 2000 with Atlanta real estate developer Tom Cousins. Previously, Mr. Todd was the founding president of the Georgia Research Alliance, a strategic partnership of the six research universities in Georgia, joined by the business community and state government, whose purpose is to grow and leverage the State's research capabilities into economic development results. Mr. Todd is particularly well known in the technology community in the Southeast and was inducted into the Georgia Technology Hall of Fame in 2000. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, SciTrek Museum, The Georgia Tech Foundation, and the Emory University Board of Visitors. Mr. Todd is expected to assist the firm in its relationships with state governments, business communities, and research universities in the region.

Richard W. Ussery, Chairman of the Board and CEO, TSYS, Inc. Mr. Ussery was named President and CEO of TSYS in January of 1983 when the company was formed from the data processing and bankcard departments of Columbus Bank & Trust Company, the lead bank of Synovus Financial Corp. He is a member of The Georgia Tech Advisory Board (GTAB); the Columbus State University Foundation Board of Trustees; and the pointpathbank.com Board of Directors. Mr. Ussery's service on the advisory board is expected to provide the firm additional insight into the day-to-day operations of a high tech company, especially in the electronic payment systems market.

James H. Blanchard, Chairman and CEO, Synovus Financial Corp. Mr. Blanchard was named Georgia's Most Respected CEO in 1997 by Georgia Trend magazine. He serves as Director of BellSouth Corporation and W. C. Bradley Co.; Director and past Chairman of the Georgia Research Alliance; Chairman for the Banking Industry Technology Secretariat (BITS); Director of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, and Director of the Georgia Department of Industry, Trade & Tourism. He has also served as a member of the Governor's Development Council of the State of Georgia and as President of the Georgia Corporation for Economic Development. Mr. Blanchard offers the insight of an experienced executive whose companies are successfully bridging the "old economy" to the "new economy" with innovative products and services. His visionary leadership is expected to better enable the firm and portfolio companies to anticipate trends in the financial services market.