Paul Gross - CEO
Paul joined Sampa in 2006 to help formulate the company's business and strategic
direction. He joined Sampa as a logical progression from his role as an executive-in-residence
at Ignition Partners where he evaluated business opportunities in the blogosphere.
He has more than 25 years of experience in the software industry and has shipped
dozens of products that range from consumer devices to enterprise servers. Paul
was previously a senior vice president with Microsoft Corporation where he owned
the end-to-end business for mobile devices. Prior to Microsoft, Paul was a senior
vice president at Borland International. He is married and has two young children.
When he isn't working at Sampa or playing with his children, Paul is an active venture
philanthropist who raises money for children's hospitals and sits on the board of
directors of the Hydrocephalus Association. He rarely finds time for surfing, motocross,
Ultimate Frisbee and squash.
Marcelo Calbucci - Founder and CTO
Marcelo founded Sampa in 2005 after almost a decade of frustrations in building
websites for friends and family, using tools that most would find too difficult
to use. Before Sampa, Marcelo was a development manager at Microsoft where he worked
in the MSN division. Marcelo has been developing software professionally and for
fun for more than 20 years. He is passionate about using technology to solve people's
problems, big or small. Prior to Microsoft, he worked at NEC and before that he
was studying Computer Science which he got a degree for. In his spare time, Marcelo
is an "almost famous" blogger with a personal
blog, an entrepreneurship blog, a
cooking blog, and a family blog. He also likes to cook, play soccer with
friends, and spend time with his wife and two-year-old son.
Dave Sampson - Vice President of Marketing
Dave Sampson helps bring emerging technologies to market. He has over fifteen years'
experience developing market strategies, managing products and building brands for
early-stage technology companies. Prior to joining Sampa, Dave led product development
and marketing for several startups and established software companies. He and his
wife have a daughter who asks why there aren't any "boys-cheese sandwiches" and
a son who doesn't like "soil and vinegar" salad dressing. Dave serves as an advisor
to startups and teaches marketing for the University of Washington's Software Product
Management Certificate Program. He holds a BA in Social Philosophy from Marquette
University and an MBA from the University of Washington.
Doug Schulze - Vice President of Business Development
Doug has over 20 years in high-technology markets with both Fortune 50 and startup companies.
The common theme throughout his career is rapid development and deployment of products into
emerging markets through key customer wins and partnerships that lead the segment.
His experience includes executive positions in marketing, sales, corporate development
and as general manager at both public companies and startups, including Intel, Loudeye,
Convera, and Optigraphics. While at Intel, Doug chartered
the expansion plans into e-commerce managing an acquisition of a segment leader, overseeing the
integration and driving the division's P&L. Responsibilities at Loudeye included the marketing,
strategy planning, and the execution of a corporate investment round, successful IPO and follow-on
acquisition of 8 expansion M&A transactions.
Doug has degrees in business and marketing management from Cal Poly Pomona and Claremont Colleges.
Doug enjoys surfing, wakeboarding, snowboarding, and two wheels in the dirt,
which are best enjoyed with either of his two kids.
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