Management Team
Mary H. Lex, Chief Operating Officer
As Workplace Answers’ COO, Mary Lex directs the business and strategic operations of the company. Additionally, she takes a leading role in consulting with Workplace Answers customers to develop long-term compliance training strategies. Mary has a wealth of experience in working with clients, as she has led numerous strategic management and software service engagements at Fortune 100 firms and large public institutions across the U.S. and Europe.
Mary’s passion for Web-based service offerings began in the early 1990s, when she developed corporate intranet applications for Ford Motor Company. Notably, she worked on the FordStar Dealer Communications Network, a satellite-based interactive distance learning (IDL) network dedicated to training all U.S. dealership personnel.
Mary has a proven record of achievement in building and leading software firms, including the role of co-founder of an application service provider specializing in Web-based HR and Benefits administration. Mary also helped to launch the San Francisco office of the Mitchell Madison Group, an international strategic management consulting firm. In addition, Mary has held a variety of technology and operations positions at DotDeliver, Ford Motor Company, US/Web, Hewlett-Packard and New World Systems.
Mary has been quoted in a variety of publications on the benefits of Web-based services and speaks regularly before human resources audiences and business leaders. She is a member of the Society of Applied Learning Technology and the U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce. Mary received her B.A. from Smith College and earned her M.B.A. from Yale University’s School of Management. Mary spends her rare free time restoring her home -- a classic 1890s San Francisco Victorian -- and playing a round of golf with her friends.
Randy Steyer, Senior Vice President of Sales
An industry-recognized sales and marketing leader, Randy Steyer comes to Workplace Answers with more than 30 years of experience providing software solutions across multiple markets. He’s worked for companies such as AT&T Capital, Trans Union Corporation, Dynatech, Streamserve and CASHNet.
Randy has been successful in building alliances between sales, marketing and technical groups. He’s also lent his expertise to training and consulting groups by sourcing, recruiting, empowering, leveraging and energizing business teams. As a strategist and tactician, Randy has managed multi-million dollar business units and participated in traditional ventures, as well as high-tech start-ups. He has presented at Baan World and before Oracle User Groups across the U.S. and internationally. Randy holds a B.Sc. degree from Notre Dame de Namur University.
Sondra Solovay, Esq. Manager of Content Development and Subject Matter Expert
Sondra Solovay is one of the nation's leading researchers on weight-based legal issues. Her book, Tipping the Scales of Justice, was one of the first published on this issue. She is frequently quoted by the media on discrimination and bias issues, and has written for a variety of publications including the Harvard Business Review. Sondra leads the team of researchers, writers and designers who create course content. In addition to her contributions at Workplace Answers, she also serves as an adjunct Professor of Law at New College of California’s School of Law.
Ms. Solovay has been honored with several awards for her legal work and advocacy and was recently profiled by San Francisco Attorney Magazine. Sondra has provided training for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors as well as the San Francisco Human Rights Commissioners and their staffs, and was the first attorney to successfully resolve a complaint under San Francisco’s “height/weight” law. She has appeared as a commentator on CNN's Burden of Proof, Good Morning America, Canada A.M., as well as other local and national programs. She has co-edited the upcoming anthology, The Fat Studies Reader, to be published by the University of California Press. Sondra Solovay graduated from Brown University with Honors; her law degree is from UC Berkeley’s Boalt Hall School of Law.
Gary Fusco, Senior Director of Marketing
Gary is a hands-on marketer with a track-record of leading business, creative and technical teams on high-profile projects. He brings a multi-disciplinary background to Workplace Answers’ with 25 years of experience in the areas of direct, event, network, email, search and interactive marketing. Before joining Workplace Answers, Gary honed his understanding of marketing technologies working with web start-up FoundValue.com and with the Shaklee Corporation. As Director of Marketing Services at Shaklee, Gary led the development of the company’s e-commerce, web services and email marketing initiatives.
Gary attended the University of California, Berkeley where he received his B.S., Psychology degree, and also earned an M.A. in Multimedia Communications from San Francisco State University.
Burke Ferrari, Director of Finance
As Workplace Answers chief financial authority, Burke Ferrari is responsible for all aspects of the company's fiscal health and well-being. Whether he's determining how much coffee to order for the office kitchen or billing clients for thousands of licenses, Burke applies the same sharp eye and attention to detail. Before joining Workplace Answers, Burke held several senior finance positions at both private and public high-tech companies. He served as the Director of Finance for The Simpata Group. Prior to that, Burke was the Controller of Hybrid Networks, Inc., a manufacturer of Internet connectivity hardware products.
Burke's areas of expertise include cash management, budgeting and forecasting, as well as accounting and their related reporting functions at a senior level. He's also an expert in insurance negotiation. Burke holds B.A. and M.B.A. degrees from Santa Clara University.
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