Management
John Demco - Co-Founder & Director
John Demco conceived the .CA top-level domain and is a Director of Webnames.ca. Up until 2006, he was the manager of Computing Facilities at the Department of Computer Science at the University of British Columbia where John administered the .CA registry on a volunteer basis from 1987 to December 2000. He has served on the Board of CA*net Networking Inc. and is a founding member of the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) Board of Directors. John was honoured with the 2006 Canadian New Media Lifetime Achievement award and along with Cybele Negris, Matthew Lane and Stephen Smith, a finalist for Ernst & Young's 2005 Entrepreneur of the Year Awards for Information Technology in the Pacific Region. Other awards include the University of Alberta Alumni Honour Award (2003), CANARIE IWAY Award for Community Service (2001), BCNET Advanced Network Builder Award (2001) and recognition by the Prime Minister as a founder and builder of the Canadian Internet (1997). John was instrumental in setting up one of Canada's first Internet connections, in 1988.
Stephen Smith - Co-Founder & CEO
Stephen Smith is the founder and CEO of Webnames.ca. Stephen has over fifteen years of experience in information technology, specializing in project management and business development within the public and private sector. Prior to starting Webnames.ca in 2000, Stephen was Manager of information technology transfer at the University of British Columbia and Director of Business Development for Ingenuity Works Inc. A finalist alongside John Demco, Matthew Lane and Cybele Negris for Ernst & Young's 2005 Entrepreneur of the Year Awards for Information Technology in the Pacific Region, Stephen is also a recipient of Business in Vancouver`s Top 40 Under 40 Award for Outstanding Achievement (2005). Steve acts as a mentor to new entrepreneurs in the New Ventures BC Program (2006 and 2007).
Matthew Lane - Co-Founder & CTO
Matthew Lane is a founding partner and Chief Technical Officer of Webnames.ca. Matthew has fifteen years experience in media and technology fields relating to corporate communications, broadcast, new media and web technologies. Founder and President of RIPE, a Vancouver based custom software development firm recently named one of Canada's fastest growing companies by PROFIT 100 magazine, Matthew also oversees systems development for Webnames.ca. He has worked with many blue chip clients in Europe and North America including Volvo, BBC, Nynex Cable Communications, ICI, Madame Tussaud's Group and Unilever. In 2005, Matthew was a finalist alongside John Demco, Stephen Smith and Cybele Negris for Ernst & Young's 2005 Entrepreneur of the Year Awards for Information Technology in the Pacific Region.
Cybele Negris - Co-Founder & President
Cybele Negris is a founding partner and President of Webnames.ca. Cybele has diverse experience in both management and operations, including prior directorships and officer positions in several public and private companies. Before Webnames.ca, she ran her own management consultancy, working closely with crown corporations and private companies. Cybele has been a recipient of numerous awards: PROFIT W100 - Canada's Top Women Entrepreneurs, (2004 to 2009), Finalist, YWCA Women of Distinction (2006), Finalist, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Pacific (2005); and Business in Vancouver’s Top 40 Under 40 (2003), Business in Vancouver's Influential Women in Business award (2010).
Cybele is on the Board of the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs (www.fwe.ca), currently serving as Chair of the FWE E-series Program (entrepreneurial training for high growth businesses). She is also on the Board of the Vancouver Economic Development Commission (www.vancouvereconomic.com) and a member of the Innovasion Conference Taskforce and 2010 Taskforce. She is Vice-Chair of the Board of Small Business BC (www.smallbusinessbc.ca) and also serves on the Board of the Government of BC Small Business Roundtable (www.smallbusinessroundtable.ca). Cybele is a mentor through the Vancouver Wired Woman Mentorship Program (www.wiredwoman.com), Co-Chairs the Vancouver Canary Derby (www.canaryderby.com) and acts as a judge for the Small Business BC Business Plan Contest (www.bizplancontest.ca). She was the President of Wired Woman Vancouver (www.wiredwoman.com), a not-for-profit organization providing education, networking and mentorship to women in the technology sector. Cybele speaks at over a dozen entrepreneurship and technology conferences or events each year.
