Senior Executive and Advisor who possesses an effective and unique combination of leadership
skills, legal training, technical expertise, strategic planning, M&A and change management
implementation experience. Comprehensive, high-level leadership/management skills with an
uncompromising commitment to a philosophy of managing by defined values.
CAREER EXPERIENCE
Tarbert Law and Business Advisory Services
Mr. Tarbert has been providing legal and business advisory services and managing a personal
portfolio of investments including the investment in various real estate projects and in
local based technology companies. In his business advisory roles, he has provided
day-to-day operating assistance to several companies. Both his management experience and
investment strategies have focused heavily on IT enabled BPO business models.
In addition to the above, in 2004, Mr. Tarbert founded Onshore Advantage, Inc., a
non-profit organization, dedicated to developing strategies to promote economic development
in rural and distressed communities. The primary mission of the company is to develop
strategies that will demonstrate how rural and distressed communities can compete for jobs
that are being sent offshore.
FireVine, L.L.C., a Division of Navigant International, Inc., Denver, CO
President of FireVine, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Navigant International, the second
largest corporate travel management company in the United States. A senior member of
Navigant International’s Executive Management Team and as President of FireVine,
responsible for the following:
Development of a new vision and mission for FireVine for the purpose of being a
global leader in the online sale of leisure travel.
Creation of and execution on a comprehensive set of strategic initiatives for FireVine.
Advise Navigant International’s Chairman on overall strategic considerations for Navigant
International.
Identified, built and recruited a new management team for FireVine.
Identified, retained and worked with Investor Relations Firm for Navigant International.
Extensive IR experience and interaction with current and prospective shareholders,
buy-side and sell-side analysts and the press; organized and participated in road shows
designed to promote Navigant International to the investment community.
One of four members of Navigant International’s Executive Management Team to
conducted high profile investor presentations (the other four members were Navigant
International’s Chairman, CFO and President/COO).
Worked on the development of initiatives to maximize shareholder value for Navigant
International, a publicly traded company (nasdq: flyr).
Accomplishments:
Substantial contribution to strategies responsible for increasing (prior to September 11th)
Navigant International’s share value during a period of dramatic retraction in the overall
equity markets. · Recruited and led a talented and highly motivated team.
Worked extensively with Chairman and CFO to increase coverage from one analyst to four.
Road show presentations with Navigant International’s Chairman resulted in new
institutional investors owning NI’s shares.
Initiated and led strategic negotiations between Navigant International and other global
travel oriented companies.
Active role in negotiating national contracts with Fortune 100 companies to allow FireVine
to market and sell leisure travel to over 16 million individuals.
Led FireVine from strategic planning phases through live operations in less than 4 months.
Identified, negotiated and secured significant distribution partners for FireVine.
Developed a comprehensive budgeting process for FireVine.
Destinations.com, Inc., Seattle, WA
President to re-direct and re-start this consumer centric e-commerce marketing company,
serving niche markets in the travel industry.
Promoted to the position of Chief Executive Officer in January 1999. Organizationally,
responsible for all elements of the re-start and ongoing management, including:
Development of a new vision and organizational mission for the company.
Creation and execution of a new business plan.
Identified, built and recruited a new management team.
Provided leadership at all levels as the company and our staff re-directed
their efforts toward the new mission of the company.
Accomplishments:
Successfully transformed the company from a consumer centric marketing company
to a recognized leader in providing business-to-business web enabled technology
solutions for the travel industry.
Recruited and hired a highly-skilled management team to effectively manage the
company through an IPO or acquisition.
Identified, negotiated and supervised the acquisition of three leading
technology companies that accelerated our time to market.
Successfully raised over $11 million in private placement capital.
Secured the financial backing of two nationally recognized strategic partners.
Negotiated all major strategic relationships.
Developed relationships with underwriters and investment bankers in order to
raise capital in the public markets.
Became an industry spokesperson and a frequent speaker and lecturer on the
impact of the new distribution technologies on the travel industry.
Negotiated the sale of company.
GuaranteeTime.com, Inc., Seattle, WA
General Counsel/VP of Business Development
Retained as a consultant to negotiate and close on the acquisition of Guarantee Time,
Inc., a leader in the development of web-enabled technology solutions for the golf
community. Subsequent to the closing on the acquisition of the business (10/97),
hired as the company’s General Counsel as well as the VP of Business Development to
coordinate all sales and business development activities.
Assisted in the development of a new business plan for the company.
Developed a new sales and strategic business development plan.
Built and managed the sales and business development teams.
Successfully negotiated technology, distribution and service deals with
Florida Golf Course Owners’ Association, Palm Springs Convention and
Visitors Bureau, GolfWeb and with more than 15 major golf courses.
Developed and implemented a new sales compensation model including a
multiple sales and marketing incentive program to key strategic accounts.
Increased sales and strategic accounts by approx. 115% over the prior
year.
Managed all internal and external legal affairs for the company.
Synergies, Inc., Seattle, WA
Founder and Managing Partner
Founded the company for the purpose of creating a venture capital fund to
provide seed and second stage funding to Northwest companies. Responsibilities
included all aspects for founding and daily management of a venture capital company.
Created a hybrid venture capital fund prospectus whereby several of the
targeted investments were identified, negotiated and bundled into a single
prospectus.
Reviewed over 50 business prospectuses, conducted due diligence on 10
investment opportunities and eventually selected five investments for
our fund.
Managed investments by participating as a board member for Boxer Bay
and SunDog.
Negotiated the sale of Boxer Bay to a group represented by members of the
board.
Assisted in raising over $5 Million for portfolio companies.
Liquidated fund in 1997 upon achieving desired financial objectives.
Managed all internal and external legal affairs for the company.
Managed venture fund staff.
Tarbert & Associates, Inc., Seattle, WA
Founder/President
Founded company to provide legal and consultative services to start-up and
growth oriented companies, primarily in high-tech and e-commerce.
Organizationally, responsible for all elements of the company, including:
Managing the daily operations of a four attorney, three staff
member company serving the business community.
Developing and executing marketing plans for the company.
Managing ongoing client relationships that, by 1995, exceeded 200
clients.
Creating document management tools and processes to increase staff
efficiencies, lower transaction costs and to improve quality of
work product.
Accomplishments:
Authored materials and taught a course through the University of
Washington on Alternative Forms of Financing for Business.
Co-authored materials and instructed courses to accountants and
attorneys on Buying and Selling of a Business: What You Need to Know.
Authored materials and was a speaker for the Washington State Bar
Association’s Continuing Legal Education Classes on ways business
owners can protect their intellectual properties.
One of the few attorneys in the state of Washington specializing in
advising businesses on how to form and manage a franchise system.
Managed over 150 major transactions for clients, including over 50
purchases and sales of businesses, 15 joint ventures, 25 license,
franchise and distribution deals, and over 75 rounds of funding.
Among its clients, Mr. Tarbert served as outside legal counsel for
Amazon.com, managing all of its legal affairs until it was time to
turnover the legal affairs to a nationally recognized securities firm.
Ryan, Swanson & Cleveland, Seattle, WA
Associate
Hired as a clerk while attending law school and as an associate following
graduation by the second oldest law firm in Seattle. Practice focused on
M&A activities, corporate finance, business transactions, franchise, and
intellectual property law. Lead counsel negotiating and managing the purchase
and sale of cable television systems for one of the firm’s largest clients,
Northland Cable Television. Left firm to found venture capital company and
Tarbert Law and Assocaites.
Education
J.D. degree, University of Washington School of Law, 1988
B.A. degree, Political Science, University of Washington, 1984
Mater of Divinity Program, Fuller Seminary, Currently enrolled.
ARTICLES AUTHORED:
The Guide to Buying and Selling a Business
The Tax Implications of Debt Forgiveness
Alternative Forms of Financing Small Businesses
How to Protect your Intellectual Property
Are You a Franchise or Does It Just Look Like One?
SEMINAR PRESENTATIONS:
Washington State Bar Association: Advising your Client on Intellectual
Property Matters
Washington State Bar Association: Traps to Avoid in the Sale of a Small
Business
Seminar for Accountants: An Overview of Buying and Selling a Business
National Travel Associations: National Conference Presentations on Internet
Impact within the Travel Industry.
Washington State Workforce Strategies/Leading the Global Economy Conference,
Presentation on Strategies to Bring Back Jobs Sent Offshore.
Washington Rural Telecom/Putting Broadband to Work Conference: “The Power
of Affinity: The Key to Bring Back Jobs”.
CURRENT BOARD AFFILIATIONS:
Onshore Advantage, Inc., Board of Director
Hyak360 Partners, Board Member
Infisys, Inc., Advisory Board Member
Member of the Advisory Board for the Rural e-work Program.
Washington State Bar Association
King County Bar Association
Contact Information:
206-412-3092 Phone
425-456-0185 Fax
ttarbert@Hyak360partners.com
