MANAGEMENT TEAM
John Rhodes
Managing Director and Chief Technologist
As a founder and chief technologist, John is focused on delivering best-in-class technologies and services to ensure successful outcomes for customers’ application modernization projects. With decades of hands-on experience in software development, he provides technology leadership and oversees the company’s engineering projects. John is a recognized expert in the automated discovery and migration of software components to modernize IBM i/z Series applications using a variety of technologies across mainframe, desktop, cloud and mobile platforms. Prior to founding CM First, John had significant experience with CA Technologies both as a business partner and as an advanced practices manager.
Before starting CM First, John spent several years as a principal architect and consulting manager for CA Technologies (and prior with Synon and Sterling Software). He was responsible for the design and implementation of enterprise-scale software projects across a variety of industries. Earlier in his career, he was an architect and project manager at Kraft Foods and Philip Morris.
John holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Texas A&M and a master’s degree in Management from New York University. He lives in Austin with his wife and three children, and is an avid water and snow skier.
Bruno Leconte
Managing Director, EMEA
Bruno Leconte leads the company’s operations and business development activities across EAMA, focusing on sales and services management. He has more than 30 years of experience in international business development, product management, marketing and sales in the high-tech industry. Early in his career, he was with Arrow Group and Western Digital Corporation in product management, marketing and OEM sales roles before forming his own company, Digitronix S.A., specializing in industrial computing software. He sold the company prior to joining Wave Systems where he was head of EMEA marketing and sales.
Bruno holds a degree in Electronics and Computing Engineering from the University of Angers in France. He is also involved in entrepreneurial initiatives and is a member of a regional Business Angels association.
Bruno holds a degree in Electronics and Computing Engineering from the University of Angers in France. He is also involved in entrepreneurial initiatives and is a member of a regional Business Angels association.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
John Rhodes
Chairman
As a founder and chief technologist, John is focused on delivering best-in-class technologies and services to ensure successful outcomes for customers’ application modernization projects. With decades of hands-on experience in software development, he provides technology leadership and oversees the company’s engineering projects. John is a recognized expert in the automated discovery and migration of software components to modernize IBM i/z Series applications using a variety of technologies across mainframe, desktop, cloud and mobile platforms.
Before starting CM First, John spent several years as a principal architect and consulting manager for CA Technologies (and prior with Synon and Sterling Software). He was responsible for the design and implementation of enterprise-scale software projects across a variety of industries. Earlier in his career, he was an architect and project manager at Kraft Foods and Philip Morris.
John holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Texas A&M and a master’s degree in Management from New York University. He lives in Austin with his wife and three children, and is an avid water and snow skier.
Joel Trammell
Joel is a successful CEO and entrepreneur with more than 25 years of experience in IT-related software companies. He is currently CEO of Khorus, which provides a business management system for CEOs and other leaders. Joel started his first technology company in 1990 and is Chair Emeritus of the Austin Technology Council and Co-founder and Managing Partner of private equity firm Lone Rock Technology Group. In addition, he serves on the boards of several public, private and non-profit companies. Joel’s leadership as founder and CEO resulted in two successful nine-figure acquisitions by Fortune 500 companies: NetQoS (CA Technologies) and Cache IQ (NetApp). In addition to The American CEO blog, he writes regular columns for Inc. and Entrepreneur. His book, The CEO Tightrope, describes a systematic approach to the critical chief executive role.
Joel holds a degree in electrical engineering from Louisiana Tech University and is a former instructor at the Naval Nuclear Power School. He lives in Austin, Texas with his wife Cathy and three children.
Clint Whitaker
Clint Whitaker is a strategic growth and M&A consultant, start-up company mentor and angel investor. He has over 30 years of experience in leadership roles in the software and high-tech industries as a software developer, consultant, CTO, CIO and General Manager with P&L responsibility. Clint has worked for startups and for some of the world’s largest public corporations, including Johnson & Johnson and Microsoft. He has first-hand experience leading companies through software modernization efforts both as a consultant and as a corporate executive. As an advisor, Clint helps company executives balance short-term operational factors with longer-term considerations which can greatly impact the ultimate value and success of the company. He has participated in over 35 M&A transactions with deal sizes ranging from $1M to $30B in valuation.
Clint has a degree in Computer Science from Washington & Lee University. He has served as a volunteer, mentor, and board member for numerous non-profit organizations and currently serves as the B2B Software Sector leader for the Central Texas Angel Network (CTAN).