Steve Pederson, Chairman
Steve 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.
Prior to his tenure at BrightPlanet, Steve was a founding partner of an early-stage Venture Capital investment firm, Sherpa Partners out of Minneapolis. The firm focused not only on financing early technology companies, but served as “Sherpa” guides, helping companies realize their goals.
For much of the ‘90s, Steve served as one of the executive officers for Skyline Displays, Inc., the world leader in trade show marketing and digital graphics. While at Skyline he was responsible for product development, sales & marketing, customer and distributor training programs, along with direct responsibility for all 86 independent distributorships in 36 countries.
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 managed a sales force that serviced Fortune 100 clients nationwide, served as a regional and national sales trainer (SPIN), and was a certified Total Quality Management manager.
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. He now serves on the Board of Directors of Saffron Technology, an innovative computer software company that produces associative memory applications.
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.
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.
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.
Steve 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. 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.
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.
