Bhushan Kulkarni
Chairman

Bhushan started GDI in April 1993, and he has grown GDI Infotech from a start-up to a profitable business solutions provider. Bhushan’s team-building and open-book approach to management has had a powerfully positive effect on the company’s development. This approach has allowed Bhushan to build a dynamic management team and respond to an ever-changing market by building new and innovative solutions.

Bhushan was named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Michigan Technology Services for 2001. He has received the American Dreamer Award, "40 under 40" recognition and has been listed in Who’s Who in Technology Services by Crain’s Business Weekly Magazine. He strongly believes in giving back to the community and he has served / is serving on boards of several non-profit organizations in Michigan very actively. Some of these organizations include Ann Arbor SPARK, Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation, Walsh College, Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce, Ann Arbor IT Zone, Ann Arbor Art Center, Information Technology Association of Michigan (ITEAM) and the American Society of Engineers of Indian Origin (ASEI).

Bhushan was born in India and came to the United States in 1985 to pursue graduate studies at West Virginia University. After earning his M.S. in Engineering, he joined the Ford Motor Company as a Project Engineer before embarking on exciting journey of entrepreneurship. His ventures besides GDI include InTouch Communications (a Telecommunication Systems and Software company), and other two start-ups for Voice processing Software Development and CAD/CAM/CAE Services.

Madhuri Deshpande
President and COO

Madhuri has over 25 years of impressive experience in technology-related industries. She was appointed President of GDI in March 2010. She is responsible for strategic development and growth of Professional Services and Solutions business at GDI.

In July 2009, following the Soft-Link merger with GDI, Madhuri joined GDI Management team as Executive Vice-President and COO of GDI. At Soft-Link, she served as President, where she was involved in leading the start-up operation to Inc 5000 award, Washtenaw FastTrak, Future 50 of Greater Detroit awards in less than 8 years. Her earlier experience is in Software modeling, design, development, and project management which led to her successful transition as a leader in talent assessment and placement for technology services.

Ms. Deshpande has been involved with the Association of Women in Computing (AWC) and Michigan Council for Women in Technology MCWT. She is actively involved with mentoring young women to enter technology fields.

George Levy
Executive Vice President and CFO

George Levy earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from UCLA in 1968 and joined the General Electric R&D Center. After five years and publication of his first book, he moved into academia. George continued his career in academia as a professor for over 20 years. During his tenure, he taught in the Chemistry and Biophysics programs, as well as in an interdisciplinary graduate Entrepreneurship program.

At the beginning of the second decade of his academic career, George and his wife started a software firm that became an Inc. 500 company in 1989. That same year the company was sold, providing its investors with a profitable exit. The process of growing his first company enhanced his interest in entrepreneurship and developing technology businesses.

George offers broad experience in corporate and financial strategy and vast knowledge of how businesses work. GDI is George's fourth Inc. 500 company.

Jim Diggs
Corporate Development

Jim is responsible for strategy, corporate development and GDI's "Thought Leadership" roles. Jim has 30 years in technology companies with roles as vice president in ADP, IBM, BlueGill Technologies and in emerging start-up companies over the last 12 years including CEO of Adapted Wave Technologies and Mindport IBS.

Jim was part of the original management team of BlueGill Technologies where he was responsible for business development forging partnerships with IBM, Xerox, Netscape, Broadvision and Double Click. He also led the BlueGill product line strategy and market development. BlueGill was sold to CheckFree in 2000 for $250 million. Jim currently serves on the board of Cathedral Corporation.

Jim holds a BS degree in Applied Mathematics and Operations Research from the University of Colorado, Boulder.

David Behen
Vice President, Public Sector Practice

David is responsible for the Public Sector Practice that offers new technology, web-based and information-driven solutions and services to local and state governments and educational institutions. He brings experience from a distinguished career of over 14 years in public service with Washtenaw County, Michigan. David has been a leader in driving technology improvements for a more efficient and transparent government. He has been named twice to the prestigious CIO 100 list of the top 100 IT programs by CIO Magazine, and Crain’s Detroit Business “40 Under 40” list for outstanding professional achievement before the age of forty. He spearheaded the popular and successful Wireless Washtenaw effort two years ago to provide free or low-cost high-speed Internet access to the entire county through a public-private effort. Washtenaw County has been named six times as one of the nation’s Top Ten Digital Counties by the Center for Digital Government with the National Association of Counties (NACo).

David has served as co-chair for the CIO Council for Public Technology Institute (PTI), the national non-profit research and technology organization based in Washington DC. He is presently serving on the Governing Board for the Regional Leadership Forum for the Society for Information Management (SIM). Mr. Behen holds a Master of Science in Public Administration Degree from Eastern Michigan University.

Mark Fontana
Vice President, Client Services & Financial Services Practice

Mark Fontana serves as our Vice President of Client Services and Financial Service Practice.

Mark has over 15 years of experience in IT fields. He has worked as a Practice Director at Commerce One in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In this position, he served both as an Operations and Engagement leader. At Commerce One, Mark helped clients such as CF Stinson, Toronto Dominion, Entergy and DaimlerChrysler to utilize the strengths of Commerce One’s core applications and services. Prior to Commerce One, Mark was a General Manager and Director of Operations at Bowne Internet Solutions and a Software Development Lead at Ford Motor Credit in Dearborn, Michigan where he developed the world’s first Internet-based commercial paper trading application.

Mark holds a Master of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Michigan State University.

Bhushan Kulkarni
President & CEO

Bhushan started GDI in April 1993, and he has grown GDI Infotech from a start-up to a profitable business solutions provider. Bhushan’s team-building and open-book approach to management has had a powerfully positive effect on the company’s development. This approach has allowed Bhushan to build a dynamic management team and respond to an ever-changing market by building new and innovative solutions.

Bhushan was named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Michigan Technology Services for 2001. He has received the American Dreamer Award, "40 under 40" recognition and has been listed in Who’s Who in Technology Services by Crain’s Business Weekly Magazine. He strongly believes in giving back to the community and he has served / is serving on boards of several non-profit organizations in Michigan very actively. Some of these organizations include Ann Arbor SPARK, Ann Arbor Foundation, Walsh College, Ann Arbor Chamber of Commerce, Ann Arbor IT Zone, Ann Arbor Art Center, Information Technology Association of Michigan (ITEAM) and the American Society of Engineers of Indian Origin (ASEI).

Bhushan was born in India and came to the United States in 1985 to pursue graduate studies at West Virginia University. After earning his M.S. in Engineering, he joined the Ford Motor Company as a Project Engineer before embarking on exciting journey of entrepreneurship. His ventures besides GDI include InTouch Communications (a Telecommunication Systems and Software company), and other two start-ups for Voice processing Software Development and CAD/CAM/CAE Services.

Harold ‘Red’ Poling
Former CEO, Ford Motor Company

Born in Michigan, Harold "Red" Poling grew up in Fairfax, Virginia as one of four children of an auto mechanic and a nurse. No stranger to hard work, he started working at age 12, cutting and laying sod, as well as helping his father at work. At 17, two weeks after graduating from high school, he enlisted in the Navy. Later, after finishing his MBA in accounting, he took a job with Ford in 1951.

Harold was elected chairman of Ford Motor Company in March 1990 and held that position until his retirement in 1994. Beginning in 1964, he held various executive management positions within the company, including leadership of Ford of Europe and Ford North American Automotive Operations. As head of Ford of Europe, he guided the subsidiary to record earnings. Harold was named President and Chief Operating Officer of Ford of Europe in 1985 and Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer in 1987. He was elected to the Ford Board of Directors in 1979.

Harold is currently a Director of Shell Oil Company, Flint Ink Corp., Kellogg Company, Meritor Automotive Inc. and Thermadyne Holdings Corp. He is a Board Consultant for The LTV Corp., serves on the Investment Banking Advisory Board of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette and is a member of the Board of Directors and a Trustee of William Beaumont Hospital.

Robert Eaton
Former CEO, Chrysler Corporation

Robert Eaton grew up in the small Kansas town of Arkansas City before he went to KU and then became CEO of Chrysler's company, now called DaimlerChrysler AG.

Robert is the retired Chairman of the Board of Management of DaimlerChrysler AG, a manufacturer of automobiles and has previously been the Chairman of the Board of Management of DaimlerChrysler AG from 1998 until 2000, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Chrysler Corporation from 1993 until 1998 and Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of Chrysler Corporation from 1992 until 1993.

Other directorships and memberships Robert has been involved with are as a Fellow in the Society of Automotive Engineers, a Fellow in the Engineering Society of Detroit and in the National Academy of Engineering.

George Levy
Executive Vice President and CFO

George Levy earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from UCLA in 1968 and joined the General Electric R&D Center. After five years and publication of his first book, he moved into academia. George continued his career in academia as a professor for over 20 years. During his tenure, he taught in the Chemistry and Biophysics programs, as well as in an interdisciplinary graduate Entrepreneurship program.

At the beginning of the second decade of his academic career, George and his wife started a software firm that became an Inc. 500 company in 1989. That same year the company was sold, providing its investors with a profitable exit. The process of growing his first company enhanced his interest in entrepreneurship and developing technology businesses.

George offers broad experience in corporate and financial strategy and vast knowledge of how businesses work. GDI is George's fourth Inc. 500 company.

Jack Reinelt
Former CEO, Software Services Corporation

Jack Reinelt was President of Software Services Corporation for most of the 1990’s until that successful company was acquired by AppNet, which itself was acquired by Commerce One. Jack’s role at Software Services was to lead that company from a small IT staffing firm to a comprehensive IT services organization with both staffing and managed services provided to a broad range of clients. In his last position at Commerce One as Vice President, Jack was responsible for integrating several of their regional operations.

Jack then began his career at IBM. Subsequently he joined Sun Information Systems and then moved on to work at DiversiTech, where he was Director of Sales. Prior to becoming the President of Software Services, Jack was head of Sales and then a General Manager.

Jack is currently the Managing Director of Tele Atlas Europe.

Richard “Dick” Beedon
Chairman, uRefer

Richard (Dick) Beedon is a seasoned business leader and serial entrepreneur, who successfully built two internet-based companies: University Netcasting, at one time the fourth largest sports site on the web, which he merged with Student Advantage and took public in 1999, and Entyre, a business process management applications provider serving the mortgage industry that he grew substantially and sold to Wolters Kleuer in 2005.

Through his previous experience at IBM and Prime Computer, Dick has demonstrated expertise in developing both solution-oriented sales processes and successful lead generation programs.

In addition to his expertise in sales and marketing and demonstrated success in growing companies, Dick brings an extensive network of human capital and demonstrated ability to raise funding. Dick is a graduate of the University of Michigan.

Mark Muntean
Founder and President, Windy Hill Ventures, Inc.

Mark is a Registered Investment Advisor providing consulting services to private clients, evaluation of private placements, and negotiation and design of private investments.

He has provided Technical Consulting Services to small companies for information systems planning and architecture design, technology evaluation, and software application design and selection. Mark is a Business consultant providing strategic and financial consulting services for businesses, serving as advisor/board member for small businesses / start-up companies, providing leadership coaching for managers and business leaders.

Mark brings his extensive business and technology experience to GDI for shaping GDI as a sustainable product and solutions company.