Management Team
Brian Handly
CEO
Brian is currently the CEO of StepLeader Digital. He was previously a GM of Microsoft’s Online Services division and possesses more than 20 years of technical, operational and executive management experience. Prior to his tenure at Microsoft, Brian was co-founder and CEO of Accipiter, which was acquired by aQuantive in December of 2006 followed by the acquisition of aQuantive by Microsoft in 2007. Handly has also enjoyed significant success in several other start-ups and entrepreneurial activities.
Handly holds a BSBA in marketing from the University of Missouri and is currently an Executive in Residence at North Carolina State University. Handly serves on the Board of Advisors for DigitalSmiths, StatSheet, and Adzerk and is on the Board of Directors for WebAssign and BrightPath Education Services as well as serving as an Operating Partner for Frontier Capital. Brian is also very active in the CED Venture Mentoring Service, and he can be reached at 919-573-9702 or via email at bhandly@stepleaderdigital.com.
Darla Wellendorf
CFO
Darla has 20+ years of experience in accounting and operations. She heads up the Finance and other business operations departments at StepLeader. Darla owned a professional service consultant business, DJW-Solutions, where she served in a similar capacity for many start-up companies in North Carolina’s Research Triangle. Prior to owning her own business, she was the CFO at JZM, a market research firm located in the Triangle since 2001. JZM was acquired by Phoenix Marketing International in 2007 where she remained until starting DJW-Solutions. Prior to working in the market research industry, she worked for the Herald Sun and Hill and Knowlton Worldwide. Darla is married with two wonderful boys. When she is not working she enjoys traveling and painting.
Chris Hanburger
VP of Business Development
Chris heads up the business development efforts here at StepLeader. Previously, he served in a similar capacity with aiMatch, which was acquired by SAS Institute in February 2012. Prior to aiMatch, he provided strategic sales leadership for emerging technology companies including TrackSimple and BrashInsight. With experience at Microsoft, aQuantive and Accipiter, Chris has a well-rounded knowledge of the digital advertising and technology landscape. While not at work you can find him coaching youth sports, kiteboarding and enjoying time with his wife and two kids.
Chris Manaro
Senior Director of Advertising Sales
Chris, a Boston native, graduated from Wheaton College with a B.A. in Economics. He then went on to earn his M.S. in Business Administration from Boston College. Since then, he has had numerous management roles and has been with the company since 2010. In his off time, he enjoys golfing and surfing in the greater Wilmington, North Carolina area.
Josh Anderson
Director of Engineering
Josh has been working in the software industry since graduating from the University of Cincinnati with a degree in computer science. He moved to North Carolina in 2008 to take a job at Teradata, and he came to StepLeader in July 2012. Josh has worked in web and mobile since the beginning, working at a dot-com as his second job out of college. Josh’s goal is to always have the best software engineering team. When he’s not at work, Josh is in Fuquay-Varina with his wife and three children.
Matthew Davis
Director of Product Marketing
Matthew has spent the last 8 years deeply entrenched in online and mobile marketing. Prior to StepLeader, he served as Chief Operating Officer for a Durham-based mobile startup. He received his MBA from North Carolina State University, adding twins to the family during the first year of the program. Matthew, his wife, and their three children live in Chapel Hill, where he attended UNC-Chapel Hill as an undergraduate.
Sakina Smith
Support Manager
A native of New York City, Sakina graduated from Durham Tech with an A.A.S. in Internet Technology. She joined the company in 2006 as Software Support Developer and was promoted to Support Manager in 2010. In this role she leads the team providing all aspects of support to existing partners and integration of new partners. Support was a natural transition for Sakina because she spent over 20 years in roles centered on customer service. In her spare time, Sakina enjoys being behind a photo lens, creating one-of-a-kind meals and do-it-yourself projects at home. A big believer in the arts and helping others, Sakina supports her local United Arts council and United Way.