Gigmasters is an owner-managed company. The two people who run the site are its co-founders, Kevin H. Kinyon and Michael J. Caldwell. Recently they brought John Sortino on to their Board of Directors. Mr. Sortino, founder of Vermont Teddy Bear, will advise the company on business and financing strategies, and will be compensated with stock options.
6.1 Management Team
Mr. Caldwell has worked extensively in the New Media industry for the last four years. He is a Microsoft Certified Professional with expertise in database design and Web development. He has consulted to numerous high-profile websites including SmartMoney.com, Refer-it.com, TheSquare.com, as well as for the sites of George and Premiere magazines. Prior to his involvement in New Media, Michael worked in the International Equity department at Scudder, Stevens, and Clark. He studied Viola performance at Indiana University, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in Economics in 1992.Mr. Kinyon launched Gigmasters in February 1997. Previously, Mr. Kinyon was a financial management consultant for five years, most recently with Telekurs, USA. In 1989, Mr. Kinyon earned his B.A. with Honors from Pace University with a double major in Literature and Communications. He starred in the 1996 award-winning short film "On The Nod," has been a guest speaker at Trinity University in Dublin, Ireland, and is a frequent contributor to Internet industry publications.
Mr. Sortino founded the Vermont Teddy Bear Company in 1981 as a kiosk on Church Street in Burlington, Vermont and oversaw its growth as President and Chief Executive Officer, through its IPO in 1993, until 1995. Vermont Teddy Bear was the third fastest growing IPO of 1993, with a market capitalization that year of nearly $100 million. The Vermont Teddy Bear and Mr. Sortino were awarded "Best Company in America" by the National Foundation of Business and Dun & Bradstreet in 1994. That same year, the company was named "Best Customer Service in New England" by SOCAP and also the "Yankee Award" for best public relations in its region (New York and New England). In 1995, Mr. Sortino was recognized as one of "America's Top 100 Marketing Stars" in Advertising Age magazine (July 1995). Inc. magazine recognized the Vermont Teddy Bear Company as one of the country's fastest growing companies in 1991, 1992, and 1993 (ranking 88th, 85th, and 50th, respectively). Mr. Sortino has appeared in many magazine articles and on business and news programs, including interviews on CNN and ABC. He has given over 200 radio interviews. In 1999, Mr. Sortino authored Being a Successful Entrepreneur, published by MacMillan Publishing Company. Mr. Sortino was a founder and CEO of the Chicago Bicycle Company from 1994 to 1997. He was a founder of, and has been CEO of American Performance Products since 1997.
6.2 Personnel Plan
Our projected payroll expenses are laid out in the following table.
