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OUR CONSULTANTS
Mark H. Edwards, Chairman
415 462 2985
medwards@compensia.com
With 30 years of executive compensation consulting experience in Silicon Valley, Mark is recognized as a leading authority on executive pay matters for knowledge-based companies. He currently serves as the Compensation Committee advisor to over 20 companies ranging from late-stage pre-IPOs to Fortune 100 companies. Prior to founding Compensia, Mark was the founder and CEO of iQuantic, Inc. Under his leadership iQuantic grew to become a national consulting firm in six offices before being acquired by Mellon Financial Corporation in 2001. Earlier in his career Mark was a Principal with Sibson & Company.
Mark received a BA from U.C. Santa Cruz and an MS from the Sloan School of Management at M.I.T.
Timothy J. Sparks, President
408 876 4024
tsparks@compensia.com
Prior to co-founding Compensia, Tim was a co-founder and Executive Vice President of Callisma, Inc., a leading network services consulting company. As EVP, Tim was responsible for all of the company's internal operations. Tim joined Callisma after fourteen years at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, in Palo Alto, California, where he was a senior partner and member of the firm's executive committee. While at WSGR, Tim founded and headed the firm's Executive Compensation and Employee Benefits Group, a nationally recognized practice serving technology and other emerging growth companies. Tim has written and spoken extensively on executive compensation issues and has taught numerous graduate-level courses on executive compensation.
Tim received a BS in Business Administration from U.C. Berkeley and a JD from U.C. Hastings College of the Law.
Michael I. Benkowitz, Principal
415 462 2996
mbenkowitz@compensia.com
Michael's consulting has focused on advising senior management and boards of directors in the areas of executive, board and equity compensation.
Prior to joining Compensia, Michael was the Western Region Compensation Practice Leader for Mellon Human Resources & Investor Solutions and Senior Consultant for iQuantic (which was acquired by Mellon in 2001). At Mellon/iQuantic, he designed executive pay structures, short- and long-term incentive programs, and broad-based equity strategies. He also assisted clients with the development of employment, change-of-control, and other retention arrangements. In addition, Michael is an attorney and served as a firm-wide resource on securities, federal and local tax and the accounting issues related to executive compensation.
Michael received a BBA in Finance from the University of Texas at Austin and a JD from the University of Kansas.
Mark Borges, Principal
415 462 2995
mborges@compensia.com
Mark is arguably the foremost authority on SEC disclosure issues, and he is a prolific writer and speaker on executive pay issues.
Prior to joining Compensia, Mark was a Principal at Mercer in their Washington Resource Group in Washington, DC. This group provided assistance and advice to clients regarding legislative, regulatory, and judicial developments that affected executive compensation.
Prior to Mercer, Mark was a Special Counsel in the Office of Rulemaking,
Division of Corporation Finance with the SEC. He was also General Counsel
for ShareData, Inc., the leading provider of software for employee stock
plan administration, prior to its acquisition by E*TRADE Group, Inc. in
1998.
Mark practiced law with the firms of Ware & Friedenrich (now Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich) and Pillsbury, Madison & Sutro,
specializing in equity compensation and insider trading matters as well as venture capital finance.
A California native, Mark graduated from Humboldt State University, and went on to receive his JD from Santa Clara University,
and an LLM in Taxation from New York University. He is a member of the American Bar Association.
Thomas G. Brown, Principal
408 876 4023
tbrown@compensia.com
Prior to co-founding Compensia, Tom was Vice President, Corporate Affairs of Aurora Networks, a leading manufacturer of advanced, next-generation optical transport systems for broadband networks. Before his stay at Aurora, Tom was Vice President, Business Development and General Counsel of Quovera, Inc., a leading business consulting and technology integration firm. In both positions, Tom was responsible for Human Resources, Legal and other administrative functions. Tom joined Quovera after six years at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, in Palo Alto, California. Tom was a member in the firm's nationally recognized Executive Compensation and Employee Benefits Group and counseled firm clients on various executive compensation issues and has written and lectured extensively on executive compensation issues.
Tom received a BA in Economics, with Honors, from the University of California at Santa Barbara, a JD, summa cum laude, from the Santa Clara University School of Law and an MBA from the Leavy School of Business, Santa Clara University.
Susan E. Gellen, Principal
408 907 4302
sgellen@compensia.com
With more than 20 years of HR and compensation consulting experience, Sue specializes in compensation and performance management strategy design for high growth,
rapidly changing organizations. She has developed programs that ensure a focus on high levels of performance and retention of key individuals
during periods of growth, downturn, acquisition and divestiture.
Prior to joining Compensia, Sue has enjoyed a successful independent compensation consulting practice, working with companies, including Palm, Packeteer, Netscape, Tivo and Network Appliance. Previous to working independently, Sue was Director of Worldwide Human Resources for 3Com, and has held various HR positions at Pacific Gas and Electric.
Sue received a BA with honors from Colby College and a Masters of Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University.
Tom LaWer, Principal
408 907 4309
tlawer@compensia.com
Prior to joining Compensia, Tom was a partner at Greenberg Traurig and helped lead their national executive compensation practice. He counseled firm clients on
a wide range of executive compensation and benefit matters as well as writing, lecturing and being quoted in various publications regarding
executive compensation issues. Before that, Tom was an attorney in the Executive Compensation and Employee Benefits Group at Cooley Godward Kronish
and the General Counsel and Vice President of Avanex Corporation. Tom began his legal career at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati in their nationally
recognized Executive Compensation and Employee Benefits Group. Before going to law school, Tom was a Certified Public Accountant at KPMG in
New York City.
Tom received a BS in Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, graduating Magna cum Laude, and a JD
from the University of Chicago, graduating with honors and Order of the Coif. Tom was a Certified Public Accountant and is currently a member
of the California Bar.
AFFILIATE CONSULTANTS
Laney Beres, Affiliate Principal
858 729 0476
lberes@compensia.com
Laney has more than 15 years of compensation and management consulting experience. Her consulting focuses on advising senior management and Boards of Directors
in many facets of executive, Board and employee compensation, including pay strategy and incentive program design. Laney has extensive experience
in performance management design and program implementation. She also specializes in custom survey services, and is head of the annual San Diego
Biotechnology Employee Development Coalition (BEDC) Compensation Survey. Prior to joining Compensia, Laney was a Principal of iQuantic and Buck
Consultants/Mellon.
Laney received a BA from the University of California, Los Angeles and a Masters of Industrial Organizational Psychology from
California State University, Long Beach.
Barbara Nitzkowski, Affiliate Principal
818 952 5234
bnitzkowski@compensia.com
Barbara has more than 20 years of experience in the design and implementation of compensation systems, including executive and board compensation programs, broad-based pay systems, and equity, cash, and sales incentive plans. Most recently Barbara was a Principal with Mellon Financial Corporation, and prior to that was a Principal with iQuantic, Inc. Earlier she was a consultant with Sibson & Company, Inc. and was a Vice President of Human Resources with Fidelity Bank. Her experience as both a consultant and senior manager provides her with a unique understanding of client issues and results in practical solutions which support each client's business situation, operating environment and value system.
She has specialized expertise with technology companies, medical device firms and foundations. Barbara graduated with honors from California State University, Long Beach and has completed graduate studies with the Centre dê Etudes Francaises in Avignon, France.
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