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As chief executive officer for Blackboard Inc., Michael Chasen has provided the leadership to take Blackboard from a start-up company with just one product to a publicly held company offering five software applications bundled in two suites. His expertise managing fast growth Internet software companies coupled with a passion to enhance education through technology has been critical to Blackboard's success.
Prior to Blackboard's Initial Public Offering in June 2004, Mr. Chasen helped raise $103 million dollars in private financing to enable continued growth for Blackboard.
During his eight year tenure (since the company's founding), he has provided both strategic and tactical direction for every department in the company.
Now that Blackboard has nearly 500 employees, Mr. Chasen spends his time developing and implementing Blackboard's vision and business strategy.
He and co-founder Matthew Pittinsky can be credited with making Blackboard a leading provider of e-Learning software and services, currently used by more than 2,200 schools across the country and abroad.
Ernst & Young named Mr. Chasen and Matthew Pittinsky, Chairman of Blackboard Inc., "Entrepreneurs of the Year for Emerging Companies in Washington, D.C." The Kilby Awards Foundation also honored Mr. Chasen and Mr. Pittinsky as "young innovators" for having recognized and delivered on the demand for a high-quality, easy-to-use, and cost-effective online educational software platform.
Mr. Chasen holds an MBA from Georgetown University and an undergraduate degree in computer science from American University. He brings a solid mixture of business development and Internet engineering skills to Blackboard, and has extensive experience in educational consulting.
Before founding Blackboard, Mr. Chasen served as a member of the Higher Education Practice at KPMG Consulting, the world's largest professional services firm serving colleges and universities. He worked closely with several universities and colleges to implement wide-ranging software systems and also managed high-profile online development projects within the U.S. Department of Education.
Recently named one of DC's most-admired bosses by Washington Techway Magazine, and one of the area's rising stars by Washington Business Forward, Mr. Chasen has been featured in print, broadcast, and online media, including CNNfn, Fox News, Sam Donaldson's ABC.com, Internet.com, EXBETV.com, the Associated Press, PC Magazine, WUSA-TV (CBS), Wired.com, Beyond Computers, Technology & Learning, and The Washington Post. Mr. Chasen resides in Chevy Chase, MD with his wife and one-year old daughter. In his free time, he enjoys reading, boating and spending time with his family. | 