About Us

Acceleration Economy delivers advisory, marketing, and event services focused on the “Why & How” of making Cloud, Cybersecurity, Data, and AI/Hyperautomation decisions to drive business and customer outcomes.

All of these services are delivered by Acceleration Economy Practitioner Analysts with real-world experience as CIOs, CEOs, CISOs, CDOs, Automation Architects, Data Scientists, and more. These experts create videos, articles, and guidebooks exclusively focused on the pillars of the Acceleration Economy. 

Our Logo

The fingerprint represents the fact that every company is unique – therefore there is no “magic bullet” product, solution, or vendor that is right for everyone. This is why we never tell folks what to buy or who to buy it from—just why it matters & how to evaluate it. The lightning bolt represents the spark of energy, insight, and expertise that our practitioner analysts bring to everything we do. 

How We Think

We are practitioners so we do not get caught up in the “hype cycles” that pop up around every new technology. Instead, we focus on “why” the technology, service, or solution matters and “how” it should be evaluated.

To achieve this, we bring multiple C-level points of view together from across our practitioner analyst network to discuss, debate, and define major technology decisions. This replicates the process a mid-market or enterprise company goes through as they consider a major initiative–something that is unique to Acceleration Economy because our practitioner analysts “have been there before”.

Our experience and battle scars from driving transformational AI/Hyperautomation, Cloud, Cybersecurity and Data modernization projects cannot be imitated through academic perspectives or some type of chatbot. So don’t accept that.

Our ongoing analysis has enabled us to define our “Top 10 Shortlists” across the pillars of the Acceleration Economy. Please consider these vendors and solutions “vetted by your peers” which is exactly who the Acceleration Economy Practitioner Analysts are:

Our People

John Siefert

Chief Executive Officer, Acceleration Economy Co-founder

John Siefert

Chief Executive Officer, Acceleration Economy Co-founder

John is a strategic thinker and business builder who loves to reimagine what is possible with smart people who are not afraid of the future. He has the ability to visualize voids in the market and then define a people, product, process, and position approach to creating a brand where that void once existed.

Obsessions: Research, Content, Ideas & Packaging

Superpowers: Dyslexia, Memory & Movie Quotes

Quote: “Perfection is a myth, but the path to perfection is divinity” – Raymond John Siefert (my dad)

Michael Konstas

Chief Finance Officer

Michael Konstas

Chief Finance Officer

Michael is an agile and strategic global leader who focuses on business process improvements and digital transformation. He’s particularly adept at leading transformation and creating strategic roadmaps that drive scalable growth for premier Fortune 500 companies.

Obsessions: Data, Sustainability, Team Building, Realism & Values

Superpowers: Grit

Quote: “Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.”

Bob Evans

Cloud Wars Founder, Acceleration Economy Co-founder, Analyst

Bob Evans

Cloud Wars Founder, Acceleration Economy Co-founder, Analyst

Bob analyzes business innovation, cloud technology, leadership, corporate strategy, and the global digital economy. He’s the founder of Cloud Wars, was recruited by and worked for Larry Ellison, and shares his thinking via daily videos, daily articles, newsletters, and podcasts.

Obsessions: Gratitude, Wonder, and living joyfully and fearlessly

Superpowers: Building seawalls and decks on Lake Erie

Quote: “A man’s reach must exceed his grasp, or what’s a heaven for?”

Aaron Back

Chief Content Officer

Aaron Back

Chief Content Officer

Aaron is a tech, data and content leader who specializes in delivering insights that help people and businesses make crucial decisions. He analyzes market trends and puts complicated technologies into context so people can make actionable plans that solve tough problems.

Obsessions: Learning, Connecting, Analyzing What’s Next

Superpowers: Family, The Beard, Authenticity

Quote: “Stay patient and trust your journey.”

Jose Copado

Chief Information Officer

Jose Copado

Chief Information Officer

Jose is an experienced development leader with 20+ years building solutions in the online media and events services industry.

Obsessions: Web Technologies, Data, Research

Superpowers: Persistence, Patience, Adaptability

Quote: “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”

Danielle Dunlap

Chief Operating Officer

Danielle Dunlap

Chief Operating Officer

Danielle specializes in operationalizing processes, executing at scale and analyzing performance to drive better business outcomes. She brings 20+ years of expertise developing brand, content and event programs that scale businesses in health & nutrition, telecommunications, healthcare and self-storage.

Obsessions: Organization, Collaboration, Creation

Superpowers: Random trivia, Sarcasm & All things pop-culture

Quote: “Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

John Muehling

Chief Data Officer

John Muehling

Chief Data Officer

Throughout his 25-year career, John has advised some of the world’s most recognized brands – Google, Amazon Business, AbbVie, T. Rowe Price and SAP Concur – architecting RevOps strategies, designing and implementing supporting technologies and educating teams on the value of having data strategies and being data-driven. His unique “practitioner perspective” enables his strongest skill – translating strategy into tactical execution to ensure maximum success across the organizations for which he’s worked with and advised.

Obsessions: Clean data, driving meaningful audience engagement and delivering intuitive strategies that enable success.

Superpowers: Determination, Confidence, Passion for Process

Quote: “Whatever your mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” – Napolean Hill

Dave Colford

Chief Customer Officer

Dave Colford

Chief Customer Officer

Dave is a career-long customer leader who has been at the center of digital transformations in the two of the largest global growth markets – technology and construction. He has an intense focus and POV on the customer experience that leads to long lasting relationships that drive scale, growth and value for all involved. Dave is also a dedicated volunteer in the Boy Scouts of America, a proud husband and father of five wonderful children.

Obsessions: Family, most importantly, and the lifelong pursuit of being a better person today than I was yesterday

Superpowers: The ability to explain complex issues simply, and pop culture references

Quote: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

Erica Corless

VP of Marketing

Erica Corless

VP of Marketing

With nearly two decades of experience across industries, including tech, Erica brings a wealth of expertise in acquisition, retention, and engagement marketing. She has a knack for collaboration and building strong relationships throughout an organization, ensuring alignment so that all can focus on the most important thing—the needs of the customer.

Obsessions: Family, Relationships, True Crime Podcasts, Positivity

Superpowers: Humor, Scrappiness, Building Strong Relationships, Hunger for Learning, Listening

Quote: “What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?”

Tony Uphoff

Acceleration Economy Analyst

Tony Uphoff

Acceleration Economy Analyst

Tony Uphoff is an award-winning technology, data, digital media and marketing services executive specializing in transformative leadership of companies, cultures, people and organizational performance. Tony is a 4x CEO, board advisor and industry thought leader. He was the 2021 recipient of the prestigious McAllister Fellowship for outstanding business leadership, from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Most recently Tony served as President and CEO of Thomasnet.com where he led the turnaround, growth and sale of the company for $300m, in early 2022. He is also an Acceleration Economy co-founder and analyst. Tony and his wife Linda have a daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter and currently reside on Balboa Island, California.

Obsessions: Family, Fitness, Business, Guitars and Stand-Up Paddleboarding

Superpowers: Aspiring to be a good colleague, friend and leader

Tom Smith

Editor in Chief

Tom Smith

Editor in Chief

Tom Smith is an agile content and marketing professional who has worked for diverse brands and teams over the course of a career that began in journalism and evolved to include web analytics, SEO, performance marketing, demand gen, email marketing, digital marketing and A/B testing. Prior to joining Acceleration Economy, he spent more than seven years at Oracle helping to drive new initiatives for Oracle’s corporate website.

Obsessions: Data-driven marketing; summertime recreational activities on land and water

Superpowers: Evolving in response to changing business conditions, with no regrets about the way things used to be

Quote: “When your work speaks for itself, don’t interrupt.” Henry J. Kaiser.

Shera Nelson

People & Culture

Shera Nelson

People & Culture

Shera is a human resources and business support professional who is a precision executor and relationship builder. She leads all things people and culture, striving to keep us all connected.

Obsessions: Facilitating Connections, Organizing Chaos, Individualization & Thoughtful Decisiveness

Superpowers: Midwest Winter Survivor, Master Multitasker, Country Music Genie

Quote: “If Plan A didn’t work, don’t worry, the alphabet has 25 more letters.”

Tristan Rounkles

Customer Service Manager

Tristan Rounkles

Customer Service Manager

Tristan is a critical thinker who has a passion for people and relationship building. He has extensive experience in customer advocacy with a gift for turning around experiences with his positive attitude. He loves to learn and has dabbled in accounting, marketing, and sales to help curb his learning appetite.

Obsessions: Learning, communication, and efficiency

Superpowers: Detail oriented, resilience, and kindness

Quote: “It’s not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me.” – Batman

Sara Cordova

Online Editor

Sara Cordova

Online Editor

Sara is a passionate digital storyteller. She combines her backgrounds in technical communication and global sustainability to create content that educates and engages others.

Obsessions: cows, traveling, Dunkin’ iced coffee, wildlife, photography/digital media

Superpowers: organization, creativity, and enthusiasm

Quote: “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” – C.S. Lewis

Jim Donahue

Customer Service Manager

Jim Donahue

Customer Service Manager

Jim is a passionate, energetic, upbeat customer service manager who loves working with people. His background in teaching and desire to build relationships drive him to bring out the best in himself and others.

Obsessions: Communication, teamwork, and the Philadelphia Eagles

Superpowers: Positivity, enthusiasm, and shredding a dance floor

Quote: “Be curious, not judgmental” – Walt Whitman

Katherine Robeson

Event Manager

Katherine Robeson

Event Manager

Katherine is certified in exposition management and meeting planning. She loves working with a team to collaborate on how to make events successful and innovative. She is passionate about customer service, both internally and externally, to ensure value to all stakeholders.

Obsessions: Christmas, Family, Georgia Football and Organization

Superpowers: Empathy, Planning, and Laughing

Quote: Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light. -Albus Dumbledore

Vinita Panicker

Controller

Vinita Panicker

Controller

Vinita is a Finance professional with expertise in transforming accounting processes in startup businesses and enforcing internal controls, policies and procedures. She has a proven ability to identify business opportunities and use financial expertise to achieve process efficiencies. She has experience in partnering and influencing cross-functional and remote teams.

Obsessions: Sustainability, Work-life balance, being organized

Superpowers: Empathy, Persistence and Ruthless Prioritization

Quote: “Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.”

Jennifer Norton

Event Manager

Jennifer Norton

Event Manager

Jennifer is a passionate and motivated Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) with more than 15 years’ experience in conference, meeting, and event management. She is highly skilled in Event Design with a complete understanding of logistics, on-site production, room block management, contract negotiation, the food and beverage industry and digital platforms. Recognized as a Top Performer Jennifer is a diplomatic communicator providing superior customer care, professionalism and integrity to VIP sponsors and clients.

Obsessions: The beach, the ocean, a lake and any boat…along with a beautiful sunset and a flute filled with bubbly.

Superpowers: Making the best of any situation. Celebrating every life milestone

Quote: “Do or Do not…there is no Try” Yoda

Hannah Thorsen

Event Programming Manager

Hannah Thorsen

Event Programming Manager

Hannah has experience in a multitude of jobs and is truly a jack of all trades. She specifically enjoys working with and for people in the event and hospitality industry. She is continuously striving to grow and learn in her professional and personal life.

Obsessions: Music, traveling near and far, long walks

Superpowers: navigating, making the best sandwiches on the block, (usually) getting along with everyone

Quote: “Always forward, never back.”

Tom Abreu

Developer

Tom Abreu

Developer

Tom is an accomplished developer with 15+ years creating intuitive and engaging websites in the events and services industry.

Grasping a deep understanding of a project’s goals while delivering a seamless user experience for visitors.

Obsessions: Emerging technologies, Design, Simplicity, Consistency

Superpowers: Adaptability, Loyalty, Finding Adventure, Making great BBQ

Quote: “You shouldn’t do things differently just because they’re different. They need to be… better.” Elon Musk

Pam Misialek

Community Director

Pam Misialek

Community Director

Pam specializes in our community. She has a passion for the user group community and is dedicated to making it shine. She brings 25+ years of experience with the Dynamics community and a tenacious need for asking why.

Obsessions: Checklists and checking them off, Thinking Big and Working Smart

Superpowers: Making others shine, Leading others to greatness, and Being super curious.

Quote: “I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.”― Albert Einstein

Carrie Jones

Data Operations Manager

Carrie Jones

Data Operations Manager

Carrie comes to us from the Health & Wellness sector. Her passion for helping others coupled with her desire to learn new things led her to Dynamic Communities. Carrie looks forward to learning and excelling in her role as Data Operations Manager and is excited for the opportunity to make a difference in the quality, accuracy, and legitimacy of the data we rely on every day.

Obsessions: Learning, Organization, Community Engagement, Research, Inspiring Others

Superpowers: Empathy, Loyalty & Grit

Quote: “Extend to each person, no matter how trivial the contact, all the care and kindness and understanding and love that you can muster, and do it with no thought of any reward. Your life will never be the same again.” — Og Mandino

Pablo Moreno

Community Manager & Analyst

Pablo Moreno

Community Manager & Analyst

Pablo is a Business Data Scientist with experience in Business Intelligence and Machine Learning within multiple business fields gained within global environments. He is also a Professor of Artificial Intelligence and Author of books related to Artificial Intelligence. Areas of expertise include Financial Markets, Corporate Finance, Digital Marketing, Supply Chain, Operations, Risk Management and Internal Controls / Internal Audit.

Obsessions: Self-learning, Data, Storytelling

Superpowers: Passion for Data, Data Analytics

Quote: “Let the dataset change your mindset” – Hans Rosling

Carrie-Ann Tae

Program Manager

Carrie-Ann Tae

Program Manager

Carrie-Ann is an operationally driven program manager with 12 years of experience leading thriving business units. As a tactical problem-solver, she delivers technical and non-technical programs for media, marketing, and technical industries. She is a results-focused super project manager who gets it done.

Obsessions: Organization, Baking, Good Food, Good Friends.

Superpowers: Project management, Attacker of Critical Path Milestones, Creator of Win-Win Solutions, Championer of Multi-Faceted Requirements and Cross-Organizational Needs.

Quote: “You are fearless.” – Mom and Dad

Ryan Gonzales

Sales Director

Ryan Gonzales

Sales Director

Ryan is a husband and father of 5 (ages 22, 17, 7, 6, and 3!) who is guided by faith and determination to always improve and be a better man. Originally from Albuquerque, NM he moved to Chandler, Arizona in 2012 to finish college in his 30’s. He has 20 years of management in marketing and sales in various industries.

Obsessions: competitive athlete to the core, having played baseball all over the world, loves to golf, and be in the outdoors camping, fishing, and hunting.

My Superpower: Being a DAD and building relationships.

Favorite Quotes: “Some people want it to happen, some people wish it would happen, others make it happen”-Michael Jordan

David Inglish

Academy Manager

David Inglish

Academy Manager

David (he/him) believes in the transformative power of relationships and community. He has extensive experience connecting individuals, communities, and organizations to develop new and impactful ways to solve problems. David is constantly thinking of how to improve systems and processes so communities can truly flourish.

Obsessions: That one song on repeat, trying out new recipes, imagining new worlds

Superpowers: Empathy, Curiosity, and Integrity

Quote: “The world wasn’t made for us, we were made for the world.” – John Green

Stephanie Ulmer

Community Marketing Manager

Stephanie Ulmer

Community Marketing Manager

Stephanie is a collaborative, adaptable and driven marketing professional that excels in harnessing the power of pivoting and persistence. Her exceptional work ethic and integrity is accompanied with 15 years of experience specializing in strategic relationships, event management, content marketing strategy, and multi-faceted project management. She is a dynamic networker and relationship builder with a strong ability to establish effective and successful partnerships.

Obsessions: Building Relationships, Innovative Ideas, Finding Silver Linings, Going on Adventures

Superpowers: Creative Mastermind, Endless Encourager, Killer Theme Parties, Quick-Witted

Quote: Unexpected kindness is the most powerful, least costly, and most underrated agent of human change. – Bob Kerrey

Rebecca Longtemps

Sales Coordinator

Rebecca Longtemps

Sales Coordinator

Rebecca is passionate about supporting meaningful partnerships and conversations. Her background is in event management, administrative support, entrepreneurship, and the performing arts, which drives her to focus on the behind-the-scenes details.

Obsessions: The details, checklists, music, coffee, hiking, and beach days

Superpowers: Empathy, planning, organization, and creative problem solving

Quote: “Let the beauty of what you love be what you do” – Rumi

Greg Rountree

Sales Director

Greg Rountree

Sales Director

Greg is an experienced sales manager, entrepreneur, and student. His core values include honesty, integrity, and determination. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Technological Entrepreneurship and Management, and a master’s degree in Applied Leadership and Management from the prestigious Thunderbird school of Global Management. He takes a very consultative approach to working with clients, with a mission to understand their problems and provide solutions that align to their strategic goals. Greg is married with four children and hails from sunny San Diego, CA.

Obsessions: Family, Technology, Digital Transformation, Traveling, Entrepreneurship, Learning, and Food

Superpowers: Motivating myself and others, Honesty, Critical Thinking, Innovating, Positivity, and Determination

Quote: “To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.” Tsun Tzu, The Art of War

Maya Rock

Senior Online Editor

Maya Rock

Senior Online Editor

Maya is a writer and editor. She uses her passion and curiosity to create delightful, informative, and engaging content that has a clear, strong flow.

Obsessions: Reading, the Marie Kondo method, flowers

Superpowers: Punctuality, acceptance, honesty

Quote: “Life is denied by lack of attention, whether it be to cleaning windows or trying to write a masterpiece.” –Nadia Boulanger

Cam Sessinger

Online Editor

Cam Sessinger

Online Editor

Cam is a passionate and versatile content writer/editor with years of experience editing novels, ghostwriting, and producing content in various niches. She is an Ithaca College graduate that majored in Journalism and minored in Gender Studies and is passionate about the intersection between technology and business advancement.

Obsessions: true crime documentaries, raising chickens and ducks, 90s rock and family

Superpowers: punctuality, deadlines, organization, master of making to-do lists