Our Team

CoThrive is run by people who’ve worked in the trenches and discovered (sometimes the hard way) that great strategy is useless without the ability to execute. We believe that in the 21st century, 19th century approaches to execution, and the tools based upon those methods, no longer work. Our team reflects both the philosophical perspective and the technical expertise needed to make our breakthrough offering work for you.

• Rachel Orston

  

  Founder

  Rachel has fifteen years experience leading teams to develop and deliver large-scale technology solutions to Fortune 500 customers around the world. Prior to founding CoThrive, she was Global Marketing Director for EMC's Media & Entertainment vertical, where she was responsible for executing all marketing initiatives as well as technology integration with leading partners such as Accenture, Artesia and Oracle. Prior to EMC, Rachel was Director of Operations for the Digital Media & Broadband Solutions practice at iXL Inc. Rachel has built and managed engineering teams from the ground up to over 40 engineers delivering large-scale complex technology implementations primarily for Fortune 1000 clients. Rachel received her B.S. in Journalism from Northwestern University, an Executive MBA from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and a certificate in project management from the Project Management Institute.

• Sherman Rowland

  

  Founder

  Sherman has twenty years experience building and leading teams and organizations in enterprises and startups, including ContentGroup and iXL's Digital Media & Broadband Practice, both ranked first in their respective industries. He grew Sweetwater Sound, now a $100 million business from revenues of $300,000 to $6.5 million in the first year. Sherman has advised executives in Fortune 500 and start up organizations including Microsoft, GE, IBM, Allied Signal and Steelcase, and coached participants in a two-year executive program used at GE's John F. Welch Leadership Center. Prior to founding CoThrive, Sherman was the Director of Advanced Solution Development at EMC responsible for developing advanced storage solutions, and before that the VP of Operations and Client Development at iXL Inc, a global software and services firm that merged with Scient Inc. Sherman received his B.A. in Political Science from San Jose State University.

• Jay O'Connor

  

  Director

  Jay most recently served as Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing at NetSuite (NYSE: N), one of the largest software as a service companies in the world. During his tenure, NetSuite has grown over 500% in 3 years with virtually no increase in marketing spending. Jay came to NetSuite with extensive experience in marketing software, services and on-demand solutions to small and mid-sized businesses, including over six years at Intuit where he managed the QuickBooks business and led the team that grew market share from zero to more than 70%. Jay received his MBA from Harvard Business School and his B.A. from Stanford University.

• Donald Sull

  

  Director

  Don is a global authority on how organizations thrive in turbulent markets. He is a Professor of Management Practice in Strategic and International Management and Faculty Director of Executive Education at the London Business School. Don has published four books and over 100 case studies, book chapters and articles. He has also published several best-selling Harvard Business Review articles, including one on commitment-based management. Professor Sull has been named an "up and coming business thinker" by the Financial Times and identified as one of the next generation of management gurus by the Economist. Fortune listed him among the ten new management gurus to know. Prior to academia, Don worked as a consultant with McKinsey & Company, and as a management-investor with the leveraged buyout firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice. Sull received his AB, MBA, and doctorate from Harvard University.

• Advisory Board

  Paul Bocchini (SVP Information Systems Security, Citigroup)
  Ron Garmon (Former CIO, Equifax)
  Steve Haeckel (President of Adaptive Business Designs)
  Hal Macomber (Principal, Lean Project Consulting)
  Marc Pierson MD (VP Clinical Affairs & Info Systems, Whatcom Region/PeaceHealth)
  Dean Reed (Lean Coordinator, DPR Construction)
  Dennis Stevens (President, Synaptus)
  Brian Turchin (President, Cape Horn Strategies)
  Michael Wehner (Director, Global Accounts, Microsoft)