R. Carter Caldwell, COO

Carter Caldwell brings experience in starting, building, and growing technology companies to profitability.  Carter was the fifth member of Acorn Systems, Inc. and was integral in taking that company from pre-revenue to profitability.  He has served in the capacity of Director of Corporate Development, Product Manager and Engagement Manger.  His experience is derived from positions at Acorn Systems, J.P. Morgan, Bear Stearns, and Business Philadelphia Magazine.

While at Acorn Systems, and working with distributors in the Semiconductor, Electronics, Fluid Mechanics, Chemical, Food Service, and Steel industries, Carter has succeeded in returning businesses to profitability using various methods including activity-based costing.

JP Morgan recognized Carter for creating a novel software analysis tool for all equities under their coverage.  This tool, which utilized data such as equities’ respective median volatilities and average daily volumes, enabled JP Morgan’s institutional traders to make more informed trading decisions.  Ultimately, this tool was used to alter the mix of equities that JP Morgan held in its Institutional Portfolio.

Carter currently serves on the Board of Directors for Texchange (the Texas Entrepreneurs Exchange), the Advisory Board of Vinci USA, the Advisory Board of Z-Squared Ventures, the Steering Committee of the Houston World Affairs Council, the Secondary Committee for the University of Pennsylvania Admissions Department, and the Young Friends Committee of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.  He also energetically acts as a Career Advisor for University of Pennsylvania students and is a member of the MIT Enterprise Forum.  Carter holds a B.A in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of Pennsylvania.

Nicole DeMeo has practiced marketing and communications for over 15 years. Working with chief executives, she develops business/case strategy, writes and actualizes business plans, and guides companies and organizations through multiple phases of their lifecycle (business planning, launch, accelerated growth, mergers and acquisitions, IPOs, maturity, restructuring, downsizing and crisis management).

As a partner in Turning Point Solutions (www.tpsmarketing.com), Nicole assesses, evaluates and acts to protect and enhance brands, organizations and the executives who manage them. She is particularly adept at protecting companies' reputations during downsizing and in complex public situations.

Nicole has represented high-profile technology start-ups and Fortune 1000 consumer products/services companies. Her participation in over 30 company launches has resulted in significantly increased valuations, acquisitions and IPOs. Nicole has conducted Positioning and Messaging Workshops, Media Training, and Crisis Management programs for over 60 companies, and has represented high-visibility personalities and celebrities to establish, enhance and protect their public image. She has managed marketing and PR programs both in-house and for large public agencies. Companies she has represented include Lucent Technologies, NCS, Wells Fargo Bank, and General Growth Properties, start-ups Cinema Epicuria: The Sonoma Valley Film Festival, When.com (acquired by AOL), iWare (acquired by eMachines) and GoLive Systems (acquired by Adobe) and nonprofits The California AIDS Education Campaign, Planned Parenthood and the Rainforest Action Network.

Working with visionary Steve Jobs, Nicole crafted the internal and external communications efforts for NeXT Software through its acquisition by Apple Computer. As head of corporate communications, she oversaw strategic communications and strengthened NeXT's relationships with all its constituents.

Prior to co-founding Turning Point Solutions, Nicole founded Bella Luna Communications Inc., which focused on strategy, fundraising and launching the public face of new companies and organizations. Previously, she was VP-Managing Director of Organic Communications (a division of Organic Inc.), where she directed strategic vision and was part of the executive team which took the company public. Before that, she founded Advantedge Communications, a marketing and public relations firm, which was incorporated into Organic in 1998.

Nicole has also managed several marketing and PR programs in-house and on the agency side including NeXT Software, KnowledgePoint, Copithorne & Bellows, Hi-Tech Communications, and Ogilvy and Mather Public Relations.