Founder and CEO
Michael Marchese established Tempesta Media in 2011 and continues to carry out the company’s vision and strategy as an executive guiding business operations across all the company’s segments.
With over 25 years of experience, Michael has held various strategic and operating positions at companies including Leapfrog Online (acquired by Dentsu Group Inc.), WebSideStory (acquired by Adobe), OCC (acquired by Monster.com) and JWT Specialized Communications (a subsidiary of WPP).
As a recognized expert, Michael has served on numerous committees for the following industry associations: SEMPO, IAB, CGA, and the MMA (Mobile Marketing Association).
Advisory Board Members and Investors
Tempesta Media’s advisory board and investors feature industry luminaries, technology thought leaders, and digital media experts.
Gary Kreissman
Gary Kreissman is a customer-acquisition entrepreneur and marketing strategist. He has a substantial track record of strategic development and rapid revenue generation for clients in financial services, premium products, CPG, and digital media. He co-founded, managed, and sold Precision Prospects Inc., a multi-million-dollar online lead generation business that became the top source for highly qualified investor leads. Gary is currently managing partner of IP & Associates LLC, a customer-acquisition platform targeting investors and upscale consumers. He also heads Group PRM, which provides lead generation solutions for leading marketers.
In his corporate career, Gary was SVP of Lipper Inc., the mutual fund information provider, where he managed the New York office, created a profitable online data feed business, and was instrumental in the sale of Lipper to Reuters. Earlier, he was CEO of ActDirect, the first database-driven couponing company. Gary has also held senior positions at ValPak, Remy Martin, and Ogilvy & Mather. He is a columnist for MediaPost’s “Performance Insider” and a frequent speaker focused on performance marketing and customer acquisition. He serves on the advisory boards of SAM.ai, Steereo, Tempesta Media, Triggers Brand Consulting, and The Lower East Side Tenement Museum. Gary has an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA from the University of Michigan.
Anthony Marchese
Anthony Marchese is a results-oriented financial executive and investor with direct experience in association management, not-for-profits, and real estate mortgage servicing organizations. Starting in 1974 and retiring in 2009, he served as controller, VP/controller, and senior VP and CFO of the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA), the Gold and Silver Plate Society, and IFMA Educational Foundation. IFMA is the premier trade association representing the top 500+ food manufacturers and related organizations that serve the $500+ billion foodservice industry. Responsible for the financial, administrative, and MIS functions, he brings broad experience in finance, management, accounting, and operations. Prior to that, he served as assistant treasurer for The Philipsborn Company, the real estate/mortgage servicing arm of IC Industries.
As an investor, he is a limited partner in the seven-course deal of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, a top restaurant group, and Speedwagon Capital Partners, a real estate investment group.
Tim Moegen
An executive with more than 15 years of experience in the Big 4 business and financial consulting sector, Tim Moegen has also held positions in global and boutique consulting firms, including PriceWaterhouseCoopers and Resources Global Professionals.
He has supported clients through growth strategy, market intelligence, financial turnarounds, mergers and acquisitions, litigation support, and corporate governance initiatives. He also led the financial efforts of the successful initial public offering of WebsideStory Inc. (now Adobe) and provided strategic financial and operational guidance beginning in the company’s late start-up phase.
Tim is a CPA and has a bachelor’s degree from Temple University.
Ed Tyler
Ed Tyler is an experienced executive who has served on Tempesta Media’s advisory board since August 2011 and is also an investor in the company. He brings a long track record in leadership and entrepreneurial positions to his role.
He is CEO of Ideapoint Ventures, an early-stage venture fund that focuses on nanotechnologies. Previously, he served as president and CEO of Moore Corporation Limited, a provider of data capture, information design, marketing services, digital communications, and print solutions. Ed worked for 24 years with RR Donnelley & Sons Company, beginning his career as an electronics engineer and ultimately serving as executive vice president, sector president, and chief technology officer. He also helped lead 77 Capital, an early-stage venture capital subsidiary of Donnelley, where he was directly responsible for investment decisions and worked closely with portfolio companies while participating on many of their boards.
Ed is a director of Nanophase Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: NANX). He is a former chairman of the American Red Cross (Mid-America Chapter) and campaign chairman of the United Way of Lake County and serves as a director for several small private companies. Ed is a member of the Board of Directors of Lake Forest Graduate School of Management, where he is also an adjunct faculty member.
Jason Wadler
Jason Wadler, executive vice president and chief strategy officer for Leapfrog Online, worked with the company’s co-founders to build Leapfrog Online from a start-up into one of the largest digital marketing companies in the country.
Jason has more than 20 years of strategy and marketing expertise, having held senior-level roles at Townsend Agency, MediaOne, Ameritech, and Discover Financial Services in addition to his role at Leapfrog.
He is also an active adviser and board member for a number of Chicago-based digital companies, and he serves on the board of the Vasculitis Foundation, an international non-profit organization.
Howard A. Tullman
Howard A. Tullman is a highly sought-after educator, author, venture investor, technology advisor, and business leader. He is the former executive director of the Ed Kaplan Family Institute for Innovation and Tech Entrepreneurship at Illinois Tech in Chicago. Howard is a graduate of Northwestern University and the Northwestern University School of Law.
He is also the former CEO of 1871, the managing partner of G2T3V LLC, and the managing partner of Chicago High Tech Investment Partners LLC, both early-stage venture capital funds based in Chicago. Previously, he was the chairman/CEO of Tribeca Flashpoint College, which he co-founded in 2007, and prior to that, he served as the president of Kendall College. For the past eight years, he has written a weekly online column for INC. Magazine with over 400 articles read by millions of website visitors.
Over the last 50 years, Howard has been one of the most active and successful entrepreneurs in the country and has personally founded more than a dozen high-tech companies.
