LiveWorld Team
LiveWorld's experienced and expert staff provides these services:
- Account management teams, process, and tools
- Community Management
- Moderation: standard, topical, programmed; multiple languages
- Value-add day-to-day insight and dedicated consulting projects
Peter Friedman: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Peter founded LiveWorld, Inc. in April 1996. With 20 years experience in the executive offices of Fortune 500 companies, he connects strategic and operating strategies, as well as financial metrics, to community strategy. Peter sets the LiveWorld vision and directs overall operations. He is an executive sponsor for several of LiveWorld’s major accounts, working with clients to define how our services will directly support the client’s business objectives, as well as developing creative concepts for the programs.
Peter is one of the few Internet executives to have launched and managed multiple online services on a global scale. His background is an unusual mix of creative, business, entrepreneurial, and corporate, but has always focused on bringing people together in successful collaboration. Prior to founding LiveWorld, Inc., he was the vice president and general manager of Apple Computer’s Internet/Online Services business unit. He oversaw the creation, launch, and growth of Apple’s online services, including AppleLink, Apple’s global online loyalty marketing and customer support community service, and eWorld, a consumer service based on AOL technology and Internet services such as Salon. During his 12-year tenure at Apple, his responsibilities also included managing Business Systems Marketing and product line management in Apple’s Macintosh division.
Peter holds a bachelor's degree in American History from Brown University, and a Master of Business Administration from The Harvard Business School.
Jenna Woodul: Executive Vice President and Chief Community Officer | Jenna's SocialVoice blog
Also a LiveWorld founder, Jenna’s commitment to online community is both personal passion and company asset. LiveWorld’s strategic community model evolved from her 20 years of first-hand design and management of online social venues. In her role as executive sponsor and consultant for our clients, Jenna oversees the LiveWorld definition of community culture, strategic planning through community development, and the ongoing evolution of the LiveWorld model as it is propelled by technical innovation and customized to specific client needs.
Jenna began her online career in 1984 as part of AppleLink, Apple Computer’s business communications service. She was a core member of the team that developed a consumer-oriented version of that system. Known as AppleLink Personal Edition, the project eventually evolved into the service and company that became America Online. While at Apple, she created the eWorld Community Center, which housed the heart of eWorld’s interactivity. She continued to cultivate the model with the millions of users at Talk City, developing the community techniques and the actual talent that now manages communities for LiveWorld clients. (LiveWorld created, owned and operated Talk City from 1996 to mid-2001. With 3-4 million regular monthly users, and one of the stickiest usage patterns on the Internet, Talk City was one of the largest and highest quality Internet community sites in its time.)
Jenna holds a bachelor's degree in Hispanic Studies from Vassar and a master’s degree in Education from the University of New Mexico.
Jason Liebowitz: Vice President of Sales
As Vice President of Sales, Jason oversees the growth and development of the company's revenues and sales team. He is a strong believer in the power of social media and its ability to strengthen brand/consumer relationships.
Jason brings to LiveWorld over 20 years of experience in television, radio, online, audience research and social media sales. He has led teams at Turner Broadcasting's TBS and TNT, and Comcast as VP, East Coast Sales and member of the launch team of the G4 cable network. His online history includes being SVP, Entertainment Sales at Phase2Media and at MTV. He was most recently VP, Brand Solutions at Pluck.
Jason has a BA in Politics from Ithaca College.
David Houston: Chief Financial Officer
As Chief Financial Officer David is responsible for accounting, resource management, financial transactions, and investor relations. From January of 2001 until September of 2006, he was a private consultant providing financial and merger and acquisition services to clients. From October of 1999 to December 2001, David managed the corporate development activity for the broadband group of Excite@Home, an Internet service provider. From May of 1994 to September 1999, David held various roles within CKS Group, a marketing communications company, where he was a key member of the management team and he focused on developing the management reporting systems, guiding the merger and acquisition activity, leading the international expansion strategy, and managing the world-wide financial planning and analysis.
David holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of California, Riverside and an MBA from the University of Santa Clara.
Bruce Dembecki: Vice President Moderation Services
A 20-year veteran in marketing technology development and implementation, Bruce translates our clients' business objectives into technology architecture and operational implementation. His roles at LiveWorld trace back to 1994-as an eWorld community host (a volunteer effort separate from his role at Apple Australia), then managing the Talk City host team, developing our chat technology, designing our event system, and being VP and General Manager of our Live Events business in the late 90's. Bruce now leads our moderation services team to provide clients with the best combination of standards, topical and editorial moderation to meet their needs on a worldwide basis. Bruce spent several years building distribution companies in the Australian IT industry, including Keyway, Allaw Technologies, and his own company, Axon Technology. In these roles he developed regional sales and marketing programs for companies such as Quantum, Seagate, Syquest, Activision, Rasterops and Radius.
Bruce studied computer science at Sydney University, Australia.
Trevor Griffiths: VP Engineering and Operations
Trev brings extensive business experience and over 20 years of leading online and Web-based initiatives to creating solutions for LiveWorld clients. He manages the creation of key client projects-from conception to market, including all phases of specification, design, development, testing, and deployment. He’s also been responsible for specifying, researching, and developing our own platform of products, including LiveWorld’s Platform (in its various applications) and LiveBar. His analysis of best practices for online support forums frames the LiveWorld focus on customer care and defines our ideal model for it. Trev’s past track record of launching new products includes pioneering the development of AppleLink (the first graphical online system), AppleLink Personal Edition (the first online consumer support system, which later became AOL), and eWorld (online community for Apple users). In addition to his 13-year career at Apple, during which he championed all of the company’s online services, Trev also led the development and launch of a highly scaleable web-based, registered, kids community for Nickelodeon.
Trev has diplomas in Software Design, Software Engineering, Computer & Servo Technology, Electronics, and Advanced Electronic Technology.
Jay S. Bryant: Sales Vice President, US East Coast & Pharmaceuticals
As Sales Vice President US East Coast & Pharamceuticals. Jay leads LiveWorld's sales efforts on the US East Coast as well as being our account expert for the pharmaceutical's industry. As an active blogger, Jay has first hand knowledge of the power of individuals to build communities and influence groups.
Prior to working at LiveWorld, Jay has held various roles in business and product development with publishers and software developers. Jay's most recent position was Director of Online Products for TV Guide. At TV Guide Jay developed and deployed one of the largest blogging communities focused on entertainment.
Prior to TV Guide, Jay held positions as Director of Business Development for Educational Testing Service, Vice President of Online Communities at bigchalk.com, Information Architect for Communities at KOZ.com and Manager of Corporate Communications at Freedom Communications.
Jay earned a BA in Photography from Southern Illinois University and spent many years as a newspaper photographer and editor before starting work in community technology in 1996.
Martin Goldberg: Sales Director, WPP Agencies
Martin is LiveWorld's Director of Sales for programs with the WPP PLC group of marketing communications agencies. Prior to working at LiveWorld, Martin has been embedded within the digital marketplace for over a decade. More recently working in the UK as the digital marketing consultant to several ad agencies and PR companies, providing social media strategy, creative marketing and interactive platforms to a range of industries including; Fashion, Retail and Finance. Prior to that, co-founding the iChameleon Group in Miami FL.
A creative development company that developed interactive campaigns and platforms for some of the worlds leading ad agencies and fortune 500 advertisers including; Mini Cooper, Diagio, Debeers and Conagra. With a background in Business Development and Growth Management, he has a gained a well-rounded education in interactive marketing, web technology and digital communications. Martin studied Business and Finance in Manchester UK before moving to the US in 1992
Mark Hodson: Sales Director, US West Coast
Mark leads LiveWorld's US West coast sales. Mark spent 5 years with Ernst & Young's Entrepreneurial Consulting Group prior to joining NetZero (now United Online) in 1999. Serving NetZero in various business development capacities, most recently Mark was VP of Corporate Development, running the company's largest advertising accounts, their NASCAR primary sponsorship, and was the lead of the NetZero marketing distribution team.
A diehard Jayhawk fan, Mr. Hodson holds degrees in Business Accounting, Business Administration, and Economics from the University of Kansas.
Bryan Person: Social Media Evangelist | Bryan's SocialVoice blog
Bryan serves as LiveWorld's own social evangelist, a social network marketing role we advise many clients to have as well. His job is to be our front line vocal presence and ears on the social web, as well as bringing his overall expertise in social network marketing.
He is our lead blogger, tweeter and social web voice as well regularly hosts the company's social media webinars. He also connects regularly with online community and social media enthusiasts across the web, and in person at industry events, conferences and meetups.
Bryan is the founder of the popular Social Media Breakfast educational and networking series, which began in Boston in August 2007 and has spread to more than 30 cities around the world.
Prior to joining LiveWorld, Bryan worked as a content producer and community manager for Monster Worldwide. He has also worked as an educational marketer and advisor.
Bryan blogs at BryanPerson.com and tweets regularly (some would say obsessively!) from his @BryanPerson account.
Bryan earned bachelor's degrees in communications and Spanish from Syracuse University, and a master's degree from Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia.
irector of Community Management
Debbie arrived on the Online Community scene when, as a teacher and assistant principal, she discovered the Internet and the excitement of communicating with other educators worldwide. At the inception of LiveWorld’s Talk City, Debbie created and managed an online educational forum for children and parents. Eventually she also took on the role of managing the development and organization of Talk City’s online communities, including content development and the management of chat room and discussion board moderation. She later developed the company’s Community Management department, focusing on blending the more traditional account manager and customer support roles with the concept of community expert/facilitator.
Under Debbie’s direction, LiveWorld Community Managers have become responsible for the integration of the company’s full range of products and services, using strategies tailored for the unique needs of our customers. Community Managers also serve as the primary day-to-day liaisons with our customers, maintaining awareness of usage patterns, trends, business goals, and appropriate solutions.
Debbie has a Bachelor of Science with dual majors in Elementary and Special Education, as well as a Master of Education from Northern Arizona University
Andrew Oliver, Director of Operations
Andrew is responsible for the management and technical operations of LiveWorld’s extensive 24x7 infrastructure of servers, systems, and networks as monitoring and escalation processes—including aspects of our seamless integration with clients systems and operations models. He ensures that LiveWorld solutions meet our demanding service levels. When the vast Internet brings forward its normal day to day problems, his team is there for rapid response and resolution. Focused on continuous enhancement of the reliability, predictability, security, maintenance and performance of all our services, Andrew serves our company and clients using industry best practices for technology and process engineering/improvement.
Born and raised in England, Andrew holds two advanced Level degrees in Mathematics and Biology. Prior to LiveWorld, Andrew managed the networks for a multi-national software company and traveled all across Europe and the US building the companys network from the ground up.