About Us
Board of Directors
Steve Pederson, Chairman
Mr. Pederson has 25 years of entrepreneurial management and business development experience with a focus on bringing new technologies to market through "customer education". He is currently the CEO and Chairman of BrightPlanet Corporation.
Mr. Pederson is a founding Partner and Managing Director of Sherpa Partners, LLC, an early stage mid-west based venture capital firm focused on software technologies in the IT and life sciences markets. (The Sherpa fund is fully invested.) He was responsible for raising capital for the Sherpa Trek I fund and currently serves as a Director on numerous Sherpa's portfolio boards. In his capacity as a venture capitalist Mr. Pederson provided strategic guidance on milestone planning, marketing and sales strategy, corporate messaging, fundraising, and establishing repeatable, profitable and scalable business practices.
From 1992 through 1998 Mr. Pederson served as the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Skyline Displays, Inc., the world leader in trade show marketing. While at Skyline Mr. Pederson was responsible for product development, sales & marketing, corporate and distributor training, along with direct responsibility for all 86 independent distributorships world-wide. During his tenure, Skyline revenues doubled and Mr. Pederson's accomplishments included the creation of Skyline University, a complete program of value-add courses for engineering, graphic design, project management and sales (1100 students/year). His "Marketing Through Education" seminars have drawn over 750,000 attendees worldwide. In addition, he was responsible for opening distribution in China, Hong Kong, South America and Europe and created Total Quality Management (TQM) systems at Skyline-owned distributors.
Prior to his tenure at Skyline, Mr. Pederson served at Xerox Corporation's Engineering Division in numerous national management, sales, training, and quality (TQM) roles. While at Xerox, Mr. Pederson was a regional and national sales trainer (SPIN) and managed a sales force that serviced Fortune 100 clients nationwide.
Mr. Pederson received his undergraduate degree from St. Olaf College. He received his Masters degree and completed his coursework for his doctorate in education at the University of Illinois.
Admiral John M. Poindexter
Dr. John M. Poindexter, now a private consultant, most recently served as Director of the Information Awareness Office (IAO) at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). IAO developed and demonstrated information technologies and systems to counter asymmetric threats by achieving total information awareness useful for preemption, national security warning and national security decision-making. In addition he initiated research on privacy protection. As Director, Dr. Poindexter established the new office, managed the technical and financial aspects of the Office’s ongoing projects and worked to identify revolutionary new projects within the Office’s mission. He now serves on the Board of Directors of Saffron Technology, an innovative computer software company which produces associative memory applications.
Prior to coming to DARPA, Dr. Poindexter served as Senior Vice President for SYNTEK Technologies, a small, high-technology firm, where he worked with DARPA on Project Genoa. He also served on the Board of Directors for Saffron Technology, Inc. and Digital Commerce Corp. In 1990, he co-founded TP Systems, Inc and then served as the firm’s chief designer and programmer until 1996. From 1993 to 1996, Dr. Poindexter was a consultant with Elkins Group, where he was Chairman of the Maritime Advisory Committee and a member of the Board of Directors. Prior to that, he served as Senior Scientist with Presearch, Inc.
Dr. Poindexter served as National Security Advisor and Deputy National Security Advisor for President Reagan from 1983 to 1986, and as Military Assistant in the White House prior to that. He provided recommendations to the President on national security, foreign policy and defense policy issues. He was also responsible for improving command and management systems to support the President in national security crisis management, culminating in the creation of a new high-technology crisis management center
Dr. Poindexter served 29 years active duty in the U.S. Navy, rising to the rank of Vice Admiral. While in the U.S. Navy, he specialized in training, new tactics and battle management procedures, and pioneering uses of shipboard computers. He holds doctoral and master’s degrees in physics from the California Institute of Technology (1961, 1964). He received his bachelor’s degree in engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy (1958).
Steve Kirby
Steve Kirby is a founding partner of Bluestem Capital Company. He is a graduate of Arizona State University with a BS Degree in Political Science and a graduate of the University of South Dakota School of Law with a Juris Doctorate Degree. Mr. Kirby was secretary and senior claims counsel for Western Surety Company, a national surety bond company, from 1977-1992. He was the 35th Lieutenant Governor of the State of South Dakota from 1993 through 1995. He was also a candidate for Governor of South Dakota in 2001-2002. Mr. Kirby is a member of local, state and national Boards of Directors. He is a speaker at various entrepreneurial and college forums. In 2007 Steve was recognized with the Spirit of Enterprise Award from South Dakota’s Enterprise Institute for his commitment, dedication and achievements in entrepreneurship. Steve has also been awarded the 2007 Spirit of Sioux Falls in recognition of his leadership and economic development in Sioux Falls. Steve is married to Suzette (Hustead) and has three children: a son Jon of Colorado, a daughter Kelly who is a graduate of the University of Saint Thomas Law School, and daughter Katherine who is attending Bethel College.
Tyler J. Stowater
Tyler J. Stowater is Partner and Vice President of Bluestem Capital Company. He graduated from South Dakota State University with a BS Degree in Agriculture Economics (1984) and a MS Degree in Economics (1986). Tyler spent eleven years with the State of South Dakota's Bureau of Finance and Management. During his tenure, Tyler held the position of budget analyst, state economist and deputy commissioner. In 1997, Tyler left the State to become an Assistant Vice President at Citibank South Dakota with business analysis responsibilities in the North American Cards Customer Service Unit. Tyler joined Bluestem in 2000 and is currently in charge of portfolio management with responsibilities including the evaluation of prospective companies, structuring, negotiating and performing due diligence for various investments made by Bluestem. He monitors and provides assistance to existing portfolio companies and holds multiple Board of Director positions. Tyler is married to Joni (Klosterman) and has a daughter, McKenzie in college and a son, McCord in Brandon Valley High School.
Dr. John Vander Woude
John Vander Woude, MD, FACS, is Clinical Associate Professor of Thoracic Surgery at the Sanford School of Medicine of the University of South Dakota. His Bachelor of Arts was in chemistry/biology at Augustana College and his M.D. at Washington University (St. Louis) Medical School. He is an active cardiac surgeon and administrator in the Sanford Health System (South Dakota). Professional interests are in cost-control efficiencies in care delivery, incorporation of the electronic medical record, and software applications in medicine and business; other roles include expert witness testimony in malpractice litigation and as consultant to the Guidepoint Global Advisors, an independent research and consulting group (NYC). His memberships include the American College of Surgeons, Society of Vascular Surgery, Society of Thoracic Surgeons, and the American College of Physician Executives. Avocations include venture capital, computer applications and software; he will complete his Master’s of Business Administration (U. of St. Thomas, Minneapolis) in 2009.
