- how it works
- errand ideas
- press room
- team
dig deeper
Kobe Busque, Chief Inspiration Officer
A true inspiration, Kobe's need for dog food was the driving force behind RunMyErrand that cold February evening. At just 8 years old, a wise 56 in dog years, Kobe posed a common problem and was the inspiration for an innovative solution. A stately breed, Kobe boasts his historical roots from a fishing line of labrador retrievers in Nova Scotia. He enjoys sleeping, swimming, chasing tennis balls, and acting as an occasional guest writer for the RunMyErrand blog.
When I was 10 I wanted to be: Dog years or person years? | Best book I ever read: Marley and Me | Favorite pastime: Chasing tennis balls | Favorite movie: Marley and Me | Errand pet peeve: Lugging 40lb bags of large breed, weight control, dog food | Favorite errand: Polka Dog Food Delivery for me
twitter: @kobebusque
Photo credits go to RME runner and professional photographer, John Ilyko
The RUNmyERRAND Crew
Leah Busque, Founder and Chief Executive Officer
A true visionary, Leah originated the phrase, "service networking," a now industry-wide term describing the productive and service power of a web-based social networked community. In the fall of 2008, while trying to figure out how to juggle dinner out with her husband, Kevin, and buying dog food for her 100-pound yellow labrador retriever, Kobe, Leah’s flash of inspiration resulted in her registering the RunMyErrand domain name from her iPhone, and mapping the entire business model in her head prior to their meal.
In 2001, Leah graduated magna cum laude from Sweet Briar College, earning a Bachelors of Science in Mathematics and Computer Science. At Sweet Briar, Leah served as the Student Government Association president, and after graduating, was honored to serve as a Young Alumna Trustee on the Board of Directors of the College for a three-year term.
Immediately after graduation, Leah started a career at IBM, Westford, MA, as a Software Engineer, working in the Messaging and Collaboration Software Development group. There she focused on engineering software that millions of people around the globe use daily, securing patent applications for software algorithms, speaking at annual conferences, and publishing in technical journals.
A Boston native, Leah is a volunteer math tutor for the Boys and Girls Club of Boston, and returns often to Sweet Briar College as a guest lecturer for women and entrepreneurship. Leah enjoys theater, dance, and spending time with her husband, Kevin, and 100lb yellow lab Kobe.
When I was 10 I wanted to be: An astronaut | Best book I ever read: Founders at Work, by Jessica Livingston | Favorite pastime: Ballet dancing | Favorite movie: Any of the original Star Wars movies | Errand pet peeve: Lugging 40lb bags of large breed, weight control, dog food | Favorite errand: Pickup and deliver Pug dog from New York to Boston
blog: labunleashed.com | twitter: @labusque
Anne Moellering, Chief Marketing Officer
Even if Anne Moellering sometimes dreams of being titled a Professional Explorer or Chief Surfboard Tester, she proudly serves as RunMyErrand’s Chief Marketing Officer.
Anne is responsible for RunMyErrand’s brand marketing, including all brand development, traditional and new media marketing, corporate communications, and social and digital media.
Now with almost 20-years of successful on-line, video game, and sports related marketing experience, Anne, a former consultant with Bain & Company, most recently was Vice President of brand and product marketing at San Francisco-based, PlanetOut, Inc, where she was responsible for two of the world’s largest online LGBT communities: gay.com and planetout.com.
Additionally, Anne was the Director of Marketing for MyPoints, Inc., the internet’s foremost loyalty points program, and Director of Marketing at ecommerce leader, Fogdog Sports. At Fogdog, Anne drove marketing efforts that grew the company from a start-up, through an IPO, to an eventual sale to sporting goods leader Global Sports. Inc. Anne also served as the Director of Marketing for video game giant, Sega of America, where she led software and hardware marketing as well as partner marketing with the NFL, NBA, MLB and the NHL.
Graduating magna cum laude with a BA in Economics from Dartmouth College, Anne also holds an MBA from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business. Anne is a passionate surfer and all-around outdoor athlete, co-founding the NorCal Women’s Surf Club, now with almost 1,000 members. Anne is also a certified USSA 50’class skipper, PADI diver, and a former member of the U.S. Women’s Lacrosse Team.
Although a Boston native, Anne now lives in beautiful San Francisco, travels extensively, and is conversational in both Spanish and French.
When I was 10 I wanted to be: A paleontologist | Best book I ever read: Let My People Go Surfing, by Yves Chouinard (founder, Patagonia) | Favorite pastime: Surfing, surfing, surfing!!! | Favorite movie: Cinema Paradiso | Errand pet peeve: Anything that keeps me out of the ocean | Favorite errand: Helping a blind student do her grocery shopping
Brian Leonard, Director of Engineering
Brian Leonard wishes he held the title, Ruby Ninja Assassin, however, in truth, Brian is RunMyErrand’s Director of Engineering, responsible for the architecture, engineering, and overall design of our killer app.
Brian joined RunMyErrand from IBM, where he served for almost six years as a Software Engineer, creating the Lotus Notes plug-in for the Google Desktop. Brian also developed new features for the Lotus Notes client, and within the Lotus Notes framework was responsible for design and leadership in large functional areas including search, application development, text analysis, document load/save, images, and spell check. Brian was also involved with integrating third-party applications with Eclipse-based Lotus Notes architecture.
Prior to IBM, Brian worked as an IT Assistant at Web2Zone Internet Café, and as an information Architect at Intel.
A Clemson University graduate with a BS in Computer Engineering, Brian earned his MBA from Northeastern University’s Graduate School of Business Administration.
Originally from Texas, Brian loves Boston, although he doesn’t enjoy the cold weather. Brian likes spending time with his wife and daughter, along with doing dorky stuff like creating making web sites and iPhone apps. Brian also has a few patents pending around grid technology, and he likes to snowboard, watch the Red Sox, and when feeling youthful, plays Frisbee, tennis and baseball.
When I was 10 I wanted to be: A baseball player | Best book I ever read: Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut | Favorite pastime: Dorky stuff | Favorite movie: O Brother Where Art Thou | Errand pet peeve: Walking past those donations still sitting in my basement | Favorite errand: Write a letter to my ex-girlfriend
Amanda Smyth Connor, Community Manager
Although Ambassador at Large fits Amanda Connor’s role at RunMyErrand, her official title is RunMyErrand’s Community Manager, responsible for cultivating, motivating, organizing, and engaging RunMyErrand’s on and offline community.
As Community Manager, Amanda coordinates and cultivates the RunMyErrand community, designs reward and retention programs, and builds the growing RunMyErrand network. Amanda is also RunMyErrand’s social media marketing guru, responsible for RunMyErrand’s presence on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, RunMyErrand’s blog, and more. Amanda also handles all RunMyErrand’s community event planning, and is RunMyErrand’s member services liaison.
Amanda, a SEMPO certified SEO Specialist, joined RunMyErrand from LifeTips/ideaLaunch, serving as their Community Manager and Senior Production Manager, responsible for project management and production for over $1.2 million in major corporate clients.
Amanda is also the founder and owner of Hummingbird Bridal Events, where she advises brides on budgets, vendors, planning and coordination, from their engagement to honeymoon and event day-of-coordination.
Additionally, Amanda was a senior marketing copywriter for RedCats USA/P.P.R, a senior editor and web manager for BUS Radio and BUSRadio.com, and an Assistant Marketing Director/Event Coordinator for Nantucket Natural Oils.
Graduating with a BA in Journalism from Cook College of Rutgers University, Amanda also holds a Masters of Science degree in Journalism from Boston University College of Communication.
A New Jersey native, Amanda grew up on a small horse farm, and now lives in Cambridge, MA, with her husband, Brian, a wine buyer by day and metal musician by night. When Amanda isn’t dazzling others with her killer dance moves, she is performing karaoke.
When I was 10 I wanted to be: An Olympic Equestrian/Ballerina | Best book I ever read: Franny and Zooey - JD Salinger | Favorite pastime: Bustin' a move to a solid 90's groove tune | Favorite movie: The Goonies | Errand pet peeve: Any errand that doesn't involve a need for me to bust a move to a solid 90's groove tune | Favorite errand: Dog Walking two Golden Retrievers
twitter: @RunMyErrand
Robbie Vorhaus, Chief Storyteller
Robbie is an internationally recognized and award-winning management consultant. His expertise includes corporate and crisis communications, reputation management, public relations, and media strategy. A former journalist, he is also a contributor to major media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal and CNN. Robbie is known for his slogan: “Truth is the Ultimate Spin.”
Robbie is the president of Vorhaus & Company, Inc., a communications consultancy he founded in 1989. His clients include everyone from world leaders and celebrities to nonprofits and emerging entrepreneurs.
When I was 10 I wanted to be: A magician | Best book I ever read: Illusions, by Richard Bach | Favorite pastime: Organic gardening | Favorite movie: Sound of Music and Stripes | Errand pet peeve: Taking longer than my personal expectation | Favorite errand: Donation runs to various charities
twitter: @vorhaus
Michael Bayer, PT CFO
Michael Bayer is an experienced technology CFO/COO who consults with early stage technology companies on strategy as well as financial, operations, technology, and business development activities. Currently a Fellow with the New England Clean Energy Foundation and most recently a founder of VC-backed mobile/communications software company RPM Communications (parent of Utterli), Michael was previously CFO of Revivio (storage software/appliance; sold to Symantec), LightChip Optical Networking (optical subsystems; sold to Digital Lightwave and Confluent), and MotherNature.com (internet retailer; IPO), where he led the company's IPO and managed its operations. During his career, Michael has managed costs in companies from start-up to Fortune 100, raised over $150 million in venture, public, and debt capital, closed multiple company sales and business development partnerships, and managed all aspects of finance, administration, business development, customer service, and operations. Michael has a BS (Finance and Investments) from Babson College and an MBA (Strategy and Operations) from Cornell University, and Michael is a Chartered Financial Analyst.
twitter: @michaelbayer
Board of Advisors
Timothy Ferriss
Timothy Ferriss, nominated as one of Fast Company’s “Most Innovative Business People of 2007,” is an angel investor and author of the #1 New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and BusinessWeek bestseller, The 4-Hour Workweek, which has been sold into 35 languages.
He has been featured by more than 100 media outlets, including The New York Times, The Economist, TIME, Forbes, Fortune, CNN, and CBS. He speaks six languages, runs a multinational firm from wireless locations worldwide, and has been a popular guest lecturer at Princeton University since 2003, where he presents entrepreneurship as a tool for ideal lifestyle design and world change.
Since his debut presentation on The 4-Hour Workweek at the world-famous SXSW Interactive conference on March 12, 2007, Tim has been invited to speak at some of the world’s most innovative organizations, including Google, MIT, Harvard Business School, PayPal, Facebook, The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Microsoft, Ask.com, Nielsen, Princeton University, the Wharton School, and the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He has also been invited to speak and keynote at world-renowned technology summits including FOO Camp, E-Tech, Supernova, and the Web 2.0 Exposition, where he shared the stage with figures like Eric Schmidt, Chairman of the Board of Google, and Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.
Scott Griffith
Scott is the chairman and CEO of Zipcar. Since he took the wheel in February 2003, Zipcar has emerged as the world's largest car-sharing service. Scott led Zipcar's 2007 merger with Flexcar, managing the integration of the companies' fleets, technology, and membership bases under the Zipcar brand and service.
For his accomplishments at Zipcar, BusinessWeek named Scott one of its "Best Leaders of 2006," and he was the recipient of Babson College's ELiTE Award for entrepreneurship. Top news outlets, including Newsweek and ABC World News Tonight, turn to Scott as a leading authority on the benefits of car sharing as well as transportation issues. Prior to Zipcar, Scott held senior-level positions at The Boeing Company, Information America, an Atlanta-based provider of online public record information, and The Parthenon Group, a boutique business strategy and investment firm.
Thomas Erickson
Tom is the CEO of Acquia, an open source software company supporting the Drupal social publishing system. Acquia provides products, services, and technical support to web developers who use Drupal to build sophisticated community web sites. Tom recently took the helm of the company after serving as a founding member of its board since 2007.
Tom's more than 25 years of experience come from running startups as well as large global companies. He was most recently chief products officer for TeleAtlas, which provides digital maps and dynamic location-based content. His career highlights include serving as CEO of Systinet, a privately held software company acquired by Mercury Interactive, which itself was acquired by Hewlett-Packard. Systinet was recognized as a worldwide leader in providing a foundation for service-oriented architecture (SOA) in Forbes Global 2000 companies. Tom was also the international executive vice president for webMethods, a Nasdaq-listed company noted for being the fastest-growing U.S. software company from 1998 to 2003. During Tom's time at webMethods, the company's international business averaged 90 percent annual growth.
Cindy Smith
Cindy is the managing director of Lighthouse Financial Advisors, LLC. She possesses more than 20 years of finance and operational management experience focused on establishing and growing early-stage companies. Cindy has been the CFO for several venture capital-backed high tech startups since 1999. She has completed multiple financings and M&A transactions. From 1990–1999, Cindy worked for Pricewaterhouse Coopers, L.L.P. as a manager in the Global Risk Management Solutions consulting group and as a business assurance manager. Cindy earned her MBA from the Simmons School of Management and her BA from Lawrence University.