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Executive Biographies
Chris Nelson, Chief Executive Officer
Dennis Dixon, President
Erik Schmidt, General Counsel
Bill Hangas, Chief Financial Officer
Tony Rosanova, Chief Technology Officer
Ruth Kronfuss, Human Resources Director
Jim Franklin, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer
Tom Johnson, Vice President of New Product Development
Warren Bauder, Vice President of Enterprise Architecture
Paul Thielemann, Vice President of Client Care
Eric Lindeen, Marketing Director
 
Chris Nelson, CEO and founder of Zoot Enterprises, has more than 20 years of experience in the software and financial service industries. He formed the company because he recognized a need in the financial industry to improve the quality and efficiency of the credit decisioning process. Zoot offers financial institutions access to multiple credit repositories’ information while allowing easily customized reporting and scoring.
Nelson has developed several product offerings to expedite the retrieval and review of credit reports at various levels, from instant credit decisioning to loan origination systems. Under Nelson's leadership, Zoot has grown to a company that employs over 250 people and processes on average 660,000 applications per day.
Prior to founding Zoot, Nelson worked for CFI Banker Services Group (now John H. Harland Company). During his tenure, he worked on interfaces between CFI's Laser Pro Loan Document program and their client's main frame systems. Nelson left CFI to develop Zoot’s instant credit decision engine.
Before joining CFI, Nelson worked for First Bank Systems as a Systems Analyst for the state of Montana. While there, he automated many of the Bank's departmental functions.
Nelson earned two undergraduate degrees, one in Accounting and the other in Information Systems from MSU Billings (formerly Eastern Montana College).
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Dennis Dixon, president of Zoot, has more than 20 years of senior management experience in the technology industry. He has a strong background in optimizing software development organizations, and he is leading Zoot Enterprises through its next stage of growth and services expansion. He is responsible for all operations, sales, and is helping to improve the company’s product development, scalability, and reliability.
Prior to joining Zoot, he founded and managed EDS Montana, a software development and integration services division of EDS. During his tenure at EDS Montana, the center grew 300 percent and was recognized as the highest performing center in the division. At EDS his team provided a range of customized technology services, including web application development and support, as well as other IT consulting services.
Dixon filled several management positions at EDS supporting the financial, manufacturing, and health care industries. Prior to that, Dixon was with General Motors for 10 years performing management roles in information technology and materials management. Additionally, he was the founding Chairman of TechRanch, a Montana technology business incubator, Director of the Gallatin Development Corporation, a local economic development organization, and Co-founder and Manager of the Bozeman Technology Roundup.
Dixon earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Administration from General Motors Institute.
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Erik Schmidt, general counsel for Zoot, oversees the Legal Group. Schmidt brings to Zoot a unique combination of technical, legal and investment banking experience collected during his years working in the United States and Europe.
Prior to joining Zoot as general counsel, Schmidt most recently worked as an investment banker at Credit Suisse First Boston, one of the largest global investment banks. Schmidt was a member of the Equity Corporate Finance teams in both Frankfurt and London, where he led the management of capital market transactions for companies ranging from large multinational conglomerates to smaller high-tech companies conducting initial public offerings.
Prior to his time at CSFB, Schmidt worked as an attorney for Shearman & Sterling, one of the top New York-based law firms. Schmidt was a member of the Capital Markets Group providing advice on corporate and securities transactions. Schmidt has also practiced corporate and telecommunications law for Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw in the firm’s Washington D.C. office.
Schmidt earned his J.D. from the Duke University School of Law and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and German from Duke University. Schmidt is admitted to practice law in Montana, Maryland, and the District of Columbia and has also been previously admitted as an Investment Advisor by the Financial Services Authority in the United Kingdom.
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Bill Hangas, chief financial officer of Zoot, is a Certified Public Account with more than 20 years of public and private sector experience in budgeting, accounting, financial reporting, auditing, and fiscal management.
Hangas joined the Zoot team in December of 1999, bringing all accounting functions in-house. During his tenure, he lead his staff in converting to a new financial accounting system, streamlining accounting processes, and enhancing the financial management and accountability of Zoot. He has designed and implemented an employee stock plan. He has been instrumental in the financial success of Zoot Enterprises and its affiliated companies.
Before coming to Zoot, Hangas worked for the State of Montana in the Department of Administration; Fish, Wildlife & Parks; and as Legislative Auditor.
Hangas earned an Associate of Arts degree in Economics from Montana State University in Billings and earned a Bachelors of Arts degree in Business Administration and Accounting from Carroll College in Helena.
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Responsibility for the availability of Zoot’s network and computer systems is just one part of Tony Rosanova’s job. He and his staff ensure the proper installation and support of each application installed at Zoot. Rosanova joined Zoot as the System Administration Resource Manager. In that role, he ensured that all resources, human and otherwise, were put to optimal use. Rosanova worked for the United States Geological Survey before moving to Montana for Zoot Enterprises. While at USGS, he was a project manager for multiple space science projects funded by NASA. His experience with large budgets and personnel management, combined with his technical expertise made him an ideal manager.
Rosanova studied Marketing at Arizona State University and Advertising at Northern Arizona University.
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Ruth Kronfuss, human resources director of Zoot, has nearly 20 years of experience in human resources management.
Her strong background in multiple areas of human resource management has helped her be instrumental in the enhancement of the Zoot benefits plan. Over the past three years Kronfuss has concentrated her efforts on significant upgrades to the employee benefits packages and in improving company policies and procedures. She has also implemented a training program that includes new employee orientation, ongoing internal professional development opportunities and a new employee website.
Kronfuss works closely with the Zoot management team in all aspects of recruiting, hiring, professional development, and employee relations. She is a strong advocate for the entire Zoot team.
Prior to joining Zoot in 2003, Kronfuss worked for Montana Power Company and PPL Montana as human resources supervisor.
Kronfuss studied business management at Montana State University, education and art at Northwest Nazarene College, and professional management for the Human Resources Specialist at Michigan State University.
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James Franklin is the Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at Zoot. Franklin leads the Sales, Marketing, and Business Development groups and is responsible for developing sales plans to achieve maximum revenue growth, creating differentiating marketing strategies, identifying sales opportunities and driving new sales tactics.
Franklin brings more than 20 years of sales, marketing, and business development experience to the position. Prior to joining Zoot, Franklin was the Chief Sales Officer of References Online, Inc. where he created the sales operational platform and expanded existing business relationships with key customers. He also served as both North American and Western Regional Vice President of Sales for Stellent/Optika Inc., an enterprise content management software company based in Colorado Springs, Colo. Franklin has held various executive sales and marketing positions for companies such as Giga Information Group, Geo/SQL Corporation, Ogden Systems Group, IDC Government and META Group.
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Tom Johnson brings 19 years of experience in designing, implementing and managing technology solutions in banking and education to Zoot. As vice president of Product Development he is the chief idea generator and develops new product concepts. Zoot offers financial institutions access to multiple credit repositories’ information while allowing easily customized reporting and scoring.
Tom has spent the last three years traveling to the top 50 banks in the country and working with them to develop state of the art custom banking solutions and he is now responsible for taking the ideas and solutions Zoot has developed and turning those into standard products that can be taken to the market. He also oversees the creation of Zoot’s rapid development tools.
Previously, Tom was a technology specialist and consultant on the Montana State University campus. In that role he put together hardware and software solutions for all departments at MSU and actively managed the product mix available on campus. He was also the Computer Operations Manager for the Medical and Professional Credit Union of Idaho Falls, Idaho. Tom holds a BA from Montana State University in Business Finance.
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Warren Bauder has the distinction of being Zoot’s first hired employee. Starting as a programmer when he was 16, Bauder quickly mastered Zoot’s proprietary programming language and became an invaluable asset. Over the next six years, he assisted with all aspects of project implementations and contributed greatly to the development of the core code that runs the Zoot ASP environment.
In 1998, Bauder stepped in to bring new quality initiatives to the systems administration group. Within two years nearly the entire core infrastructure had been upgraded or replaced. As a result of his efforts, Zoot Enterprises now offers one of the most stable and reliable systems in the industry.
In 2001, Bauder moved into his current position of Vice President of Enterprise Architecture. As Enterprise Architect, Bauder is responsible for the overall design of Zoot’s tools, services and infrastructure and the integration of that software with client systems. In addition, he plays an integral role consulting with clients on strategic initiatives, providing technical sales support and serving as a mentor to numerous employees across the organization.
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Paul Thielemann, vice president of client care at Zoot, has experience in the mortgage lending, consumer lending, credit card processing, and insurance fields. With over 20 years of financial industry know-how from both an IT and business perspective, Thielemann understands the technology, implementation, and economics of change.
In his role with the Zoot Client Care Group, Thielemann leads all aspects of client service activities. He builds and maintains strong relationships by bringing new ideas forward, supporting clients' values and visions, and responding to their needs and strategies. His team keeps clients informed of Zoot products and services as well as apprised of industry trends and opportunities to assist in meeting their business and IT goals.
Prior to joining Zoot, Thielemann was a General Manager and Client Partner at Keane, Inc., an IT and business transformation services provider. As Client Partner, he led Keane's largest account relationship (a large Midwest based insurer) and drove business improvements for that client across a variety of lines of business, products, and geographies. Thielemann chose to come to Zoot because he is excited to work for a technology company that is leading the way in solving financial industry challenges with innovative solutions and exceptional client commitment.
Thielemann earned an M.B.A. in Finance and Marketing from Indiana University and a
Bachelor of Science in Management from Miami University. Thielemann is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), as designated by the globally recognized professional credential program at the Project Management Institute.
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Eric is a champion for improving the lending process and helping financial institutions compete more effectively. During his time at Zoot Enterprises, he has helped lenders develop and deploy complex solutions for credit origination. His 20 plus years of experience in marketing and technology enable him to bridge the gap between business strategy and IT practice. He is now responsible for Zoot’s marketing efforts and sharing Zoot’s industry expertise.
Before joining the Zoot team, he managed the network and systems division at Montana State University-Bozeman. In that role, he managed 17 technical staff and oversaw a statewide network. Lindeen also managed technology at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art for eight years. His marketing background includes consulting projects with Countrywide Mortgage and major market research projects.
Eric received his BS in electrical engineering and MBA in marketing and accounting from the University of Southern California.
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