Company Advisory Board

Advisory Board

Alexandra Reed Lajoux

Advisor for M&A, Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance, & Corporate Governance

Dr. Lajoux is a widely published, internationally known expert in the fields of M&A, corporate governance, and international trade. Over the last 20 years Dr. Lajoux has worked with hundreds of prominent business executives and dozens of organizations including Arthur Anderson, Deloitte & Touche, Ernst & Young, Institutional Shareholder Services, the National Association of Corporate Directors, and many others. Ms. Lajoux is the author of the highly successful “The Art of M&A” series, including The Art of M&A, The Art of M&A Integration, The Art of M&A Due Diligence, and The Art of M&A Finance. Dr. Lajoux was also Editor in Chief of Arthur Andersen’s HR Professional. Dr. Lajoux holds a Ph.D. from Princeton University and an Executive MBA from Loyola College.

Ronald G. Hodge II

Ronald G. Hodge II,
Advisor for Financial and Corporate Strategy
Mr. Hodge is the Founder and President of Sage Group Holdings. Sage is a business advisory and merchant banking firm that seeks to identify companies with outstanding potential and work with management teams to substantially increase company valuations. Mr. Hodge began his career at JP Morgan where he worked 18 years, initially as a banker and subsequently as a portfolio manager of special situation investment funds totaling approximately $2.5 billion. After leaving JP Morgan he held partner positions at a private equity fund and a hedge fund prior to establishing Sage. During his nearly 30-year career, Mr. Hodge has been involved in transactions with public and private companies totaling over $6 billion. His responsibilities have provided broad exposure to: analyzing and performing due diligence on companies; evaluating business models, strategies and managements; negotiating, structuring, documenting, closing and exiting transactions; proactive involvement with managements through board of director and advisory roles; as well as managing relationships with clients. He also has an extensive network of relationships in the private equity, hedge fund and investment banking communities. Mr. Hodge received a BA in economics from the University of North Carolina and an Executive MBA from New York University.

rh_bw_144Advisor for Financial and Corporate Strategy

Mr. Hodge is the Founder and President of Sage Group Holdings. Sage is a business advisory and merchant banking firm that seeks to identify companies with outstanding potential and work with management teams to substantially increase company valuations. Mr. Hodge began his career at JP Morgan where he worked 18 years, initially as a banker and subsequently as a portfolio manager of special situation investment funds totaling approximately $2.5 billion. After leaving JP Morgan he held partner positions at a private equity fund and a hedge fund prior to establishing Sage. During his nearly 30-year career, Mr. Hodge has been involved in transactions with public and private companies totaling over $6 billion. His responsibilities have provided broad exposure to: analyzing and performing due diligence on companies; evaluating business models, strategies and managements; negotiating, structuring, documenting, closing and exiting transactions; proactive involvement with managements through board of director and advisory roles; as well as managing relationships with clients. He also has an extensive network of relationships in the private equity, hedge fund and investment banking communities. Mr. Hodge received a BA in economics from the University of North Carolina and an Executive MBA from New York University.

James W. Handlon

James W. Handlon,
Advisor for Business Development
Mr. Handlon has over 20 years of Fortune 50 executive experience, including positions as Vice President, Corporate Services and Human Resources at Marriott Corporation; Senior Manager, Consulting Services at Ernst & Young; Partner, Regional Practice Leader at Towers Perrin; and Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Consulting Practice at The Hay Group, among others. Mr. Handlon guides business development and partnering strategies at e•know.

jwh_bw_144Advisor for Business Development

Mr. Handlon has over 20 years of Fortune 50 executive experience, including positions as Vice President, Corporate Services and Human Resources at Marriott Corporation; Senior Manager, Consulting Services at Ernst & Young; Partner, Regional Practice Leader at Towers Perrin; and Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Consulting Practice at The Hay Group, among others. Mr. Handlon guides business development and partnering strategies at eknow.

Alan V. Adams

Alan V. Adams,
Advisor for Business Development
Mr. Adams brings over 30 years of senior management experience and two decades of President and CEO-level positions in prominent DC-area firms. Mr. Adams was President of Cellular One and President and CEO of Intercomm, LLC., Discom, Spectrum Resources, Agis, Inc., and Visionair, Inc. Mr. Adams has an MBA from the Harvard Business School. Mr. Adams is a Senior Advisor at eknow.

aa_bw_144Advisor for Business Development

Mr. Adams brings over 30 years of senior management experience and two decades of President and CEO-level positions in prominent DC-area firms. Mr. Adams was President of Cellular One and President and CEO of Intercomm, LLC., Discom, Spectrum Resources, Agis, Inc., and Visionair, Inc. Mr. Adams has an MBA from the Harvard Business School. Mr. Adams is a Senior Advisor at eknow.

Karen McSteen

Karen McSteen,
Advisor for Brand Strategy
Ms. McSteen, recently Senior Vice President of Brand Strategy for AOL, brings to the company more than 20 years of line, staff, sales and executive leadership experience. From her post as Brand Vice President at Marriott International, to her leadership and involvement on critical strategy committees at Marriott and AOL, Ms. McSteen has focused her career on a company-wide, brand-centered approach. Ms. McSteen is currently president of BRANDMATTERS, a consulting firm which helps organizations redefine, develop and strengthen their brand to both build loyalty and exceed their business goals.

kmcs_bw_144Advisor for Brand Strategy

Ms. McSteen, recently Senior Vice President of Brand Strategy for AOL, brings to the company more than 20 years of line, staff, sales and executive leadership experience. From her post as Brand Vice President at Marriott International, to her leadership and involvement on critical strategy committees at Marriott and AOL, Ms. McSteen has focused her career on a company-wide, brand-centered approach. Ms. McSteen is currently president of BRANDMATTERS, a consulting firm which helps organizations redefine, develop and strengthen their brand to both build loyalty and exceed their business goals.

Mary MacPherson

Mary MacPherson, Founder, M2Works LLC
Advisor for Sales & Marketing
Mary MacPherson is an industry executive with background in both technology businesses and the non-profit community. She is a recognized expert in entrepreneurship and early stage company formation and growth, and has extensive experience in management, technology marketing and business development. Her career includes marketing and senior management roles at Apple Computer, MCI Telecommunications Corp. and Blackboard, Inc. In 2004, Ms. MacPerson started M2Works LLC, an independent consultancy focused on entrepreneurship, capacity building, sustainability, governance, and community building. She also serves on a variety of non-profit Boards, and in 2007, received a presidential appointment to serve on the board of the Czech Slovak American Enterprise Fund. In 2003, Ms. MacPherson was recognized by Women in Technology and the March of Dimes as a Heroine of Technology. In 2001, Washingtonian Magazine named her one of the 100 Most Powerful Women in Washington. She holds a BA in American Studies from Mary Washington College.

mary_macpherson_144bwFounder, M2Works LLC Advisor for Sales & Marketing

Mary MacPherson is an industry executive with background in both technology businesses and the non-profit community. She is a recognized expert in entrepreneurship and early stage company formation and growth, and has extensive experience in management, technology marketing and business development. Her career includes marketing and senior management roles at Apple Computer, MCI Telecommunications Corp. and Blackboard, Inc. In 2004, Ms. MacPerson started M2Works LLC, an independent consultancy focused on entrepreneurship, capacity building, sustainability, governance, and community building. She also serves on a variety of non-profit Boards, and in 2007, received a presidential appointment to serve on the board of the Czech Slovak American Enterprise Fund. In 2003, Ms. MacPherson was recognized by Women in Technology and the March of Dimes as a Heroine of Technology. In 2001, Washingtonian Magazine named her one of the 100 Most Powerful Women in Washington. She holds a BA in American Studies from Mary Washington College.