Edward Hamburg, Managing Member
Edward Hamburg serves on the boards of directors of public and private high technology companies and as an advisory partner with Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital. His current directorships include HerdDogg, Inc. (analytical solutions for animal traceability), the Ecentria Group (e-commerce platform for outdoor enthusiasts), VizExplorer (analytical software for the casino industry), and the American Institutes for Research (behavioral and social science research).
His prior directorships include: DocuWare GmbH (software for content management) acquired by Ricoh Corporation in 2018; Interactive Intelligence Incorporated (NASDAQ: ININ), (software for customer engagement, unified communications, and collaboration) acquired by Genesys Corporation in 2016; Core Security (software for cybersecurity threat intelligence) acquired by Courion Corporation in 2015; Thrupoint Inc. (information technology services) acquired by Acuative Corporation in 2014; Sendmail Inc. (software for electronic mail security and management) acquired by ProofPoint in 2013; Perceptive Software (document management technology) acquired by Lexmark in 2010; Interlink Electronics (components for medical and hand-held devices); HyPerformix (capacity planning software) acquired by CA Technologies in 2010; and Learning Point Associates (education policy and assessment) merged with American Institutes for Research in 2011.
Hamburg was Executive Vice President of Corporate Operations and Chief Financial Officer of SPSS Inc. (predictive analytics technology and services) from 1992 to 2004. Before its 2009 acquisition (for $1.2 billion) by IBM, SPSS was a public company with over $300 million in revenues and 1,300 employees across 14 offices worldwide. SPSS had $15 million in revenues and 150 employees when Hamburg was first appointed to its executive committee. He managed the company’s two public offerings, directed its mergers and acquisitions activities, and was responsible for all aspects of the firm’s business infrastructure, including finance and treasury, corporate marketing, human resources, legal and corporate governance, and information technology. He headed SPSS business and corporate development efforts from 1986 to 1992 after senior roles in sales, marketing, and professional services.
Hamburg received a Ph.D. from the department of political science at The University of Chicago and was an assistant professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago. His areas of expertise included American political behavior and organizations, statistics and research methods, and comparative Middle Eastern politics. He received his M.A. and B.A. from the University of Maryland at College Park.
Rebecca Wettemann, Associate Managing Member
Rebecca Wettemann is CEO and principal of Valoir, Inc., which provides research and advisory services to technology and business leaders. With a focus on people apps (HCM and CRM), user adoption, and productivity, Wettemann’s team combines primary research and unique insights to help clients understand their strengths and execute strategies that support their goals and values.
She is a frequent speaker at industry events and is often quoted in the business and industry press. She is a regular resource for financial analysts and VC firms seeking to understand the market opportunity of emerging applications and sectors. She has led the market in its understanding of cloud computing, employee engagement, digital transformation, AI and productivity, the Internet of Things (IoT) and the practical impacts of innovation on people in the digital workplace.
Wettemann brings more than 25 years of technology industry experience to The Sheldon Group, with previous leadership roles at Nucleus Research and IDC. Her practical experience includes tenures at the International Telecommunication Union and the United States Information Agency where she led digital transformation initiatives and related projects to help governmental agencies bridge the digital divide.
Ms. Wettemann holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and a Bachelor of Arts degree in French from Oklahoma State University and a Masters of Law and Diplomacy degree from the Fletcher School at Tufts University.