My-Villages (www.my-villages.com) has taken a major step forward this week in building its leadership team, adding George H. Conrades to the company’s board of directors and appointing marine industry veterans Sandy Spaulding and Jim Bronstien to senior advisory posts.

Conrades is chairman of the board of directors of Akamai Technologies, Inc. (www.akamai.com) having previously served as chairman and CEO from 1999 to 2005. He previously served as executive vice president and president of GTE Internetworking following the acquisition of BBN Corporation, the latter of which he served as CEO. Prior to BBN, he was an IBM senior vice president and member of the corporate management board, overseeing IBM United States, IBM Asia/Pacific and two manufacturing and development groups. He presently serves on the boards of Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Oracle and Harley-Davidson, Inc. and is a venture partner at Polaris Venture Partners. He is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

“George Conrades has been a business and technology innovator his entire career,” said My-Villages Founder and CEO Kevin Hutchinson. “George is on the leading edge of technology and has his finger directly on the pulse of emerging trends and developments. His desire to help guide and direct My-Villages will no doubt prove to be a major asset in our long term success.”

In addition, two senior marine industry experts have joined as independent advisors to assist My-Villages in deploying the marine industry’s first digital boating community. Alexander “Sandy” Spaulding and Jim Bronstien have been tapped to help My-Villages navigate through the North American marine community. Spaulding is currently president and managing general partner of Sea Glass Capital Advisors (www.seaglasscapital.com), and formerly served as president of Hinckley Yachts, and EVP and CFO of The Hinckley Company. Bronstien is owner of Marine Business Advisors (www.marineba.com) and formerly owner of Rybovich, prior to selling the company in 2005.

“Both Sandy and Jim bring not only proven marine industry expertise but also a wealth of industry executive relationships to My-Villages and have already contributed significantly to our initial launch and deployment activities,” said Hutchinson.

At the 2012 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, My-Villages debuted the boat village with a focus on the marine industry. The boat village offers a first-of-its-kind online destination where boat owners, builders, equipment suppliers and service providers can connect in a free digital community, or village, to share expert information and resources that help them better collaborate to operate, maintain and enjoy their boats.

About My-Villages

Founded in 2011, My-Villages creates online collaboratives where consumers, service providers and product manufacturers can connect in online communities – or villages – specific to the things they own, build and service. My-Villages will improve communication and coordination among consumers and industry professionals through its powerful network and online community and mobile tools, thereby helping consumers better manage and operate the things they own. By bringing experienced product users, service professionals and product manufacturer information into a single online destination, My-Villages has created a collaborative environment that improves the ownership and service experience and ensures product quality and service efficiency – one industry at a time. www.my-villages.com

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