Advisory Team
Chris Borunda
Title: Independent Consultant
Current company: Sugaray LLC
Industry: Real Estate Development
Past company (companies): Bristol Myers Squibb, Sony Electronics, Solar Turbines
Hometown: San Diego
Current zip code: 92118
Education (undergrad & grad): University of San Diego, University of Virginia
Business icon: Ben Cohen & Jerry Greenfield
Biggest fashion faux pas committed: I wear seasonal boxer shorts…..year round!
Favorite quote: “Politics be damned. Do what is right when right is to be done.”
If I were a piece of furniture I would be… a love seat.
Katherine Neebe
Title: Senior Program Officer
Current company: World Wildlife Fund
Industry: Non profit
Past company (companies): The Cadmus Group, Sustainable North Carolina, Ecos Consulting, Tar Heel Sports Marketing
Hometown: Chapel Hill, NC
Current zip code: 22209
Education (undergrad & grad): Colorado College (BA), University of Virginia (MBA)
Business icon: Bill Gates (for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation)
Biggest fashion faux pas committed: there might have been a pair of white jeans with fake paint splatters all over them. But, it was the 80s and they were awesome.
Favorite quote: ”To each is given a bag of tools, A shapeless mass and a book of rules, And each must build ere life has flown, A stumbling-block or a stepping stone.” - R. L. Sharpe
If I were a piece of furniture I would be… a kitchen table… where family and friends gather to enjoy good food and drink!
Dennis M. Ortiz
Title: Vice President of Marketing
Current company: VibeAgent Inc.
Industry: Online Travel
Past company (companies): Kraft Foods, priceline.com, Deloitte Consulting
Hometown: Virginia Beach, Virginia
Current zip code: 22902
Education (undergrad & grad): Cornell University, B.S., Darden School of Business, University of Virginia, M.B.A.
Business icon: Steve Jobs
Biggest fashion faux pas committed: Wearing an untailored suit that was not fitted properly.
Favorite quote: Most of my favorite quotes come from my mouth.
If I were a piece of furniture I would be… an Eames Lounge Chair (black leather with cherry wood trim)
Sarah Spiewak
Title: Vice President – Acquisitions and Development
Current company: Thayer Lodging Group
Industry: Hotel Real Estate
Past company (companies): Walt Disney World Resort, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts
Hometown: Framingham, MA
Current zip code: 21401
Education (undergrad & grad): Cornell & UVA – Darden School of Business
Business icon: No one in particular comes to mind….sad but true.
Biggest fashion faux pas committed: In college after a very late night out, I stumbled out of bed in the dark and put on my shoes. When I arrived at class I noticed that I was wearing 2 similar but different colored flats!!!
Favorite quote: ”Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.” -Ambrose Redmoon
If I were a piece of furniture I would be… Chaise Lounge
Todd Whiting
Title: Vice President, Domestic Television Distribution
Current company: NBC Universal
Industry: Media & Entertainment
Past company (companies): UBS, Ketchum Communications, Fleishman-Hillard International Communications
Hometown: La Canada Flintridge, California
Current zip code: 10282
Education (undergrad & grad): B.A. Communications, Pepperdine University, M.B.A. Darden Graduate School of Business, University of Virginia
Business icon: Gordon Crawford, Portfolio Manager, Capital Research Global Investors
Biggest fashion faux pas committed: I found a great pair of shoes that fit perfectly, which is a difficult task with size 14 feet. So, naturally, I bought 2 pairs - brown leather and black leather. About a week later, I found myself in a meeting looking down at one brown leather shoe and one black leather shoe. I don’t recommend getting dressed in the dark.
Favorite quote: ”Carpe Diem”
If I were a piece of furniture I would be… An entertainment center, of course! My favorite times in life are when I’m surrounded by family and friends. Entertainment centers provide a home for the TV which brings family and friends together to watch a movie, watch the Super Bowl or just to be together as you watch your favorite NBC television show.
Martha Jane Zaring
Title: Financial Analyst
Current company: Jones Lang LaSalle
Industry: Real Estate Finance
Past company (companies): Initiative Media
Hometown: Washington, DC
Current zip code: 20001
Education (undergrad & grad): Vanderbilt B.S. ‘03, Georgetown MBA Candidate ‘10
Business icon: Bill Gates for his leadership in Corporate Responsibility
Biggest fashion faux pas committed: A sequined fanny pack
Favorite quote: “Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference.” - The Serenity Prayer
If I were a piece of furniture I would be… a kitchen island. As a natural focal point, it is a place to converge people, ideas and a good glass of wine.
