Chris Howard was among the top 2% of students in his High School class. Choosing between architecture, computer science, and electrical engineering, he was awarded a full scholarship to study EE at the University of Houston in their honors program. But after an IBM engineer jokingly told him to "become an expert" in the department's first and only IBM PC, he did just that and became a lifelong entrepreneur in the field.
Chris started his career as a co-op student at IBM's Federal Systems Division, which supported the space program at NASA. Working during the day at IBM and attending night classes at UH, his early professional experience included software development for a space workstation — prototyping user interfaces and software that could be easy to use in space.
Chris founded Softeq Development back in 1997 with a focus on technical software development, based on his passion for solving complex problems. Since then the company’s firmware, hardware, and embedded capabilities have been augmented with mobile and web expertise, as well as complex engineering for IoT.
A lifelong entrepreneur, Chris is an active angel investor and advisor in several start-up technology ventures. Chris is interested in building businesses that excel while fostering a positive and creative work environment. He loves using technology to solve complex problems and working to build the best technical software outsourcing team possible. He is a family man, a sport pilot, a published magazine and book author, an admitted gadget geek -- and he believes that sleep is highly overrated.
Howard also serves as General Partner of the Softeq Venture Fund.
Craig Ceccanti is an experienced business leader, multi-time startup founder, and graduate lecturer at Rice University where he received his MBA.
Craig joined Softeq from T-Minus Solutions, a custom software development company he founded and served as CEO and President. Before that, Ceccanti founded Pinot’s Palette, a retail entertainment franchise with 130+ locations in the U.S. and Canada, and sEATz, a software startup revolutionizing the concession and in-seat experience at sporting and entertainment events. Craig has a BS in Computer Science, a BA in MIS, and an MBA from Rice, where he also serves on the faculty at the Rice University Jones Graduate School of Business. In his role as COO at Softeq, Ceccanti oversees the day-to-day operations of the company and improves internal and external processes.
Ceccanti also serves as a Managing Partner of the Softeq Venture Fund.
Albert Esser is a seasoned global technology executive with expertise in managing large teams in a distributed workforce model.
Albert brings 30 years of experience in technology and consulting to Softeq. Before joining the team, Esser began his career as a Staff Scientist at Daimler AG. He subsequently held leadership positions at GE, Emerson, Hilti, and Dell, where he worked on various high-profile projects worldwide. At Softeq, he leads the Delivery organization including Solutions Engineering, Project Management, and Resource Management. Esser is expanding the team’s capabilities and agility by adding to the global network of consultants. He's also ensures Softeq leads the way in emerging technologies like IoT, AI/ML, vision systems, industrial automation, robotics, cloud applications, and cyber security.
Dr. Esser is a Sr. Research Fellow at the University of Texas, Austin, TX. He received his MS and PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Aachen, Germany. He published a book on wireless transmission of electric power and signals for robots, over 10 papers, received an Outstanding Prize Paper Award jointly from the IEEE/Industrial Application Society and the IEE Japan, holds over 15 US patents, and received numerous company awards, including the GE Dushman Award, the company's highest-ranking team award.
Anna Tiomina brings a wealth of finance experience to Softeq as well as best practices from many different fields.
Anna spent half a decade in the pharma industry, holding top management positions in finance at Sandoz, a Novartis division. Under her leadership, several company subclusters across Belarus and the Caucasus reached double-digit yearly growth.
Before that Anna worked in the steel industry at a major national steel works. She contributed to growing the business multiple times over and transforming operations across its trade, production, and logistics divisions. Ana holds an MBA from the Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU).
Joel Carter is a technology marketing executive, experienced entrepreneur, and product development leader with over twenty US patents.
Carter began his career creating ad campaigns for leading B2B and B2C technology brands such as IBM, Tandon and Cellular One. He then moved into marketing leadership for consumer electronics giant Tandy Corporation.
An expert in China manufacturing, Joel managed a billion-dollar portfolio of award-winning products and brands. Pursuing his passion for inspiring kids with low-cost robotics, Carter created the VEX Robotics Design System winning a Best of Innovations Award at CES. As Chief Marketing Officer of Innovation First, Carter created HEXBUG Micro Robots, winning multiple Toy of the Year Awards.
Carter also serves as a Managing Partner of the Softeq Venture Fund.
Billy Grandy is a serial entrepreneur and innovation leader who has globalized new startup organizations, products, and brands.
Billy is a serial entrepreneur who has helped a number of teams and brands. From Action Sports to Consumer Electronics and smart toys, Grandy has built global sales, distribution, and product development. Helpings several companies go from startup to national & international distribution. Several of the companies have been listed on the INC 500/5000. Personally managed and opened key account relationships from Amazon, Quidsi, Walmart, Target, Toys R Us, Nordstrom, Apple, Bloomingdales, AT&T, etc.
Grandy serves as a Managing Partner of the Softeq Venture Fund.
Edwin Lemus is a seasoned human resources leader with international experience in technology and other industries.
Edwin has 20+ years of experience leading people and talent-related programs globally for technology enterprises. Lemus recently led the People Experience organization for a cybersecurity company where he designed and executed their people experience strategy centered on building a destination culture for employees. Lemus previously held the position of Director of the Americas for a technology company where he successfully expanded their LATAM region that included a new R&D center in Mexico City. Lemus further elevates the company’s people operations team and will build a cohesive company culture with an increasingly distributed workforce in 22 locations around the world.
