KEN NOVAK
1644 Channing Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 400-7975, krnovak@gmail.com

• Pioneer in Internet and international data communications.

• 25 years programming, consulting, and managing data centers and information systems.

• Current Interests: Sustainable energy; IT for energy efficiency; Cloud computing; Database applications; Workflow and information distribution.

• Key skills: Conceptualizing, analyzing, and communicating systems and policies in depth. Translating benefits into value propositions and partnership roles, designing product architecture, and guiding implementation and rollout.
  
  

• B.S. Computer Science, Yale University.

• Co-author, The CGNET Story: A Case Study of International Computer Networking, 1994

• Reuters Foundation Digital Vision Fellow, Stanford University, 2001-2002.

• Program facilitator for climate change, Clinton Global Initiative, 2006-2008.

2006-2008: Founding CEO and Chief Architect, Replicate Technologies.

Co-founded a startup to develop software to exploit server virtualization to transform the economics of networked computing. Led product development for an applications testbed service integrating virtual machines and cloud services. Performed hands-on integration of SOA, SQL, and AJAX modules.

Grew the company by recruiting a team of professional software managers and engineers, and as a team raised seed round funding. Continue in an product advisory role.

2001-2005: CTO, CGNET Services International.

Led the product development and technical assistance teams. Restructured and refocused product lines to adapt to new technologies.

Partnered with Cisco, McKinsey, and Accenture in formation of NetHope, a consortium of humanitarian agencies extending the Internet in developing countries.  Managed deployment of VOIP service and pilot broadband satellite network in Afghanistan and East Africa for CARE, Save the Children, and other NetHope members.

Spokesperson and senior negotiator for CGNET to new and major customers, including major philanthropies and international agencies. Specific projects included:

• Wrote detailed investment plan for new technologies for international agricultural research

• Wrote white paper on collaboration software for development experts

• Prepared and delivered vision for wireless sensor networks in biodiversity and wildlife preservation

• Prepared and delivered presentations on operating system virtualization and its implications

• Integrated and demonstrated combinations of satellite, WiFi, and peer-to-peer GIS tools for disaster relief and medical field surveys under austere conditions

2001-2002:  Reuters Foundation Digital Vision Fellow, Stanford University.

Awarded the Digital Vision fellowship in its first year. Studied novel methods of content filtering for applications in developing countries, including weblogs, RSS, and news search services.

1992-2000: Director of Network Services, CGNET Services International.

Led growth of network services business from annual $500,000 to $5 million. Directed expansion of technical staff from 3 to 28, adding 7/24/365 operation and diversifying services.  

Product architect:  Studied customer needs to design product lines for CGNET, and managed their development and rollout. Highlights:

• Multi-platform e-mail service (1990 and 1993), growing to 350 locations in 100 countries.

• Voice-over-packet and successor VOIP services (1993), with voice cost savings paying for the first online IP connections in several countries

• Hosted web-accessible syndicated database (1995), with 3 million records replicated from SQL servers in 10 countries

• Multi-vendor IP roaming service (1997), serving thousands of international travelers

1988-1992: Network Manager and Consultant, CGNET Services International (Cairns, Australia and Menlo Park, CA).

On-site consulting:  Installed electronic mail systems in fifteen developing countries, often the first Internet-capable e-mail in the country. Consulted with management, technical, and scientific staff on its use.

Consulted on computer acquisition and scientific applications for research organizations in several developing countries.  Advised on the use of PBX's, fax machines, and general telecom issues.

Hired and managed a team of field consultants as the e-mail network grew.

Prior to 1988: Lead programmer for computerized telegram systems, including the national telegram service in Cameroon, in west Africa.

References available upon request.