About Tom:

From:
Elmira, NY, via Albany, GA. Authorized to say “Y’all guys”.

First Real Job:
Worked summers during college, manufacturing prefab homes in Horseheads, NY. Learned fiber glass insulation is itchy, and a college education is important.

Education:
BA Duke University. Learned a lot in the classroom, and also from my brilliantly diverse fellow students.

Work Accomplishments:

• Combat Intelligence Officer, USAF. Flew combat in B-52′s during the Vietnam War.
• Learned the real meaning of the word “mission”.
• Provided data services to multitudes of Fortune 100-500 clients, in Minneapolis in the 70’s and in Atlanta in the 80’s.
• Started Datadirect in a 10×10 office in 1989, beginning the most fun I have ever had…at work.

Hobby:
Serving as pro-bono marketing manager for D.B.A. Barbecue, our son’s restaurant in Virginia Highlands – sales were up 20% in 2012. Riding at least one 400+ mile bike ride annually.

dD Passion:
Connecting the dots for clients. I love being the David to the Goliaths!

About Scott

From:
Born in Rapid City, SD. Raised in Atlanta.

First Job:
My first job was as a database programmer. I had a used 386 computer and a 1600 reel-to-reel tape drive. I was hot stuff!

Education:
BA from Georgia State University, Robinson College of Business, 1994. MBA from Georgia State University, Robinson College of Business, 2008.



Work Accomplishments:

• Have worked in numerous capacities at dDirect including Account Service, IT, and Management.
• Headed dDirect expansion to include marketing intelligence solutions to enterprise level clients.

Hobby:
Walking on the Atlanta BeltLine and spending time in Piedmont Park with my wife and daughter.

dD Passion:
Utilizing marketing technology and analytics to help clients be more effective marketers.

About Melanie

From:
California transplant. Moved often with a father in the data business. Lived in eight states by age 15. Learned to network early on!

First Job:
Hired at age 15 at public library in Boston suburb. Responsible for manually cleaning record albums. Talked too much. Dismissed.

Education:
Marketing curriculum at University of California, Irvine

Work Accomplishments:

• Business development team member at World Marketing.
• Southeast regional business development for PSI Group (Pitney Bowes).
• Co-owner of direct marketing firm in Southern California. Developed franchise program and expanded into five states.

Hobby:
Tree farming (Expect Big Bucks Tree Farms) and being a mom of busy high school kids.

dD Passion:
Connecting our clients with the dDirect team, and ultimately the right solutions.

About Behrang:

From:
Born in Tehran, Iran. Spent the first half of my life in Edmond, OK, and the second half in Atlanta. The second half has been much better.

First Real Job:
Hired at 15 at a well-known soccer sporting goods store in OK. I was in charge of everything from stocking to sales. Got my first taste of “doing it all”.

Education:
BA Philosophy, Oklahoma State University.

Work Accomplishments:

• 10+ years at an Atlanta printing company, highlighted by implementing work practices and technology to help get them to “work smarter”.
• Provided vision and a new path to growth and revenue in commercial printing and direct mail for a major Cox Communications publication.

Hobby:
Enjoying time with my wife and children, as well as cinematography, photography, motion graphics, and the study of politics and religion

dD Passion:
I love how philosophy and science are so similar to Six Sigma methods. Define, measure, analyze, and improve. Looks like philosophy wasn’t such a waste of time after all!