About Karbo/Fonkalsrud Communications

K/F Communications staff are known for living and breathing their clients' business. They work as a seamless extension of clients' teams to develop a differentiated market position and strategic, well executed programs that:

• Attract employees, partners and funding
• Create industry stature for company and executives
• Increase sales
• Maximize valuation

Brand impact experts Julie Karbo and David Fonkalsrud personally lead each account's day-to-day efforts in collaboration with client teams. K/F Communications services include: positioning and messaging; company and product launch programs; leadership acquisition and growth programs; business, trade and broadcast press relations; analyst relations; market perception audits, corporate identity, events, web site development and; spokesperson impact programs.

Biographies

Julie A. Karbo, Partner

With more than 26 years in the technology industry, Karbo's strategic marketing and communications experience goes back to the beginnings of high tech. She has provided counsel to executives in a wide array of technology areas, including Internet infrastructure, enterprise software, networking, wireless, E-commerce, enterprise, content management, security, business to business, microprocessor, and consumer electronics. Karbo has directed positioning, planning and tactical efforts targeted to a wide variety of audiences including enterprise executives, IS staff, consumers, ISVs, service providers, and developers. She has a strong track record in helping her clients achieve and maintain market leadership positions.

Karbo has provided strategic direction and ongoing counsel to a number of high profile technology companies including Oracle, Digg, Apple Computer, Composite Software, Silver Creek Systems, Equinix, Xerox, Netscape, Peribit Networks, Net6/Citrix, Cisco Systems, Paramount/Viacom, and Novell.

Prior to founding K/F Communications, Karbo was a partner at Stirling & Karbo, a technology public relations firm in Burlingame, California for nine years. Karbo also served as vice president/group account manager in Ketchum Public Relations' technology practice.

Karbo served as group account manager at Regis McKenna, Inc. (RMI) for five years. At RMI, she directed positioning and communications efforts for many of the technology industry's pioneers. She began her technology marketing career in 1981 at Atari, Inc. where she managed the product marketing planning, sales promotion and marketing communications functions in the game and computer product divisions. Karbo started her career at SRI International in marketing research. She holds a M.B.A. degree in Marketing and a B.A. degree in Economics from San Francisco State University.

David Fonkalsrud, Partner

David Fonkalsrud has more than 19 years of experience in public relations, public affairs and corporate communications. He has provided strategic guidance to companies in a wide array of technology areas, including networking, consumer Internet, wireless, Internet infrastructure, enterprise software, security, content mobility and managed services. He has experience working with companies targeting the enterprise, service provider, technology vendor, consumer and small-to-medium sized-business segments.

Fonkalsrud has worked with such companies as Equinix, digg, Arcwave, Orbital Data, Silver Creek Systems, Peribit Networks, Net6, DHL Worldwide Express, The Disney Development Company, Latham & Watkins, and Logictier.

Prior to founding K/F Communications, Fonkalsrud managed a public relations consulting practice where he served companies in the Internet infrastructure and wireless spaces. Before that, he served for five years as the chief communications officer for DHL Worldwide Express, managing external and internal communications programs, including public relations, corporate and employee communications and advertising. At DHL, Fonkalsrud developed and implemented strategic communication plans that helped to position the company in light of its Internet and e-commerce initiatives.

Before joining DHL, Fonkalsrud was an associate at Casey & Sayre, a business-to-business P.R. firm in Santa Monica. At Casey & Sayre, he developed positioning and messaging programs for clients and he implemented media relations, speaking opportunity and public affairs initiatives. He served clients in several areas including telecommunications, law, accounting and real estate.

Fonkalsrud has also served as a staff member of the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations in Washington, D.C. Fonkalsrud received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Communications from Denison University in Granville, Ohio.