Advisors
Kimberly Crew
Since the formulation of Lighthouse Venture Management in 1990, it has grown from a one-woman firm, running one business with two clients and a few hundred thousand in billings, to the present multi-company conglomerate that enjoys combined annual revenues in excess of 15 million dollars. The Conglomerate has also enjoyed the experience of watching one of the start-up companies grow to be acquired.
Kimberly's entrepreneurial skills encompass a vast array of markets. Below is a short bio on each of the diversified businesses that make up the Lighthouse Conglomerate.
Lighthouse Venture Management
Lighthouse is a resource for firms generating between $1MM - $10MM in annual revenues that are passed over by traditional venture capital concerns. We are a hands-on organization that invests in situations that have solid potential where the management team requires additional expertise to execute on the vision. Lighthouse provides Vision, Direction, Capital and the professional services of finance, information technologies, marketing, human resources, and legal support. Visit us at www.lighthouseventuremanagement.com
Absolute Computer Support
Absolute provides information technology solutions to Government and Prime Technology Providers. Absolute is a Pennsylvania and Maryland certified Woman Owned Enterprise . Visit them at www.absolutecomputersupport.com.
Computer Staffing Services
C SS Staffing provides staffing augmentation of engineering and IT professionals to the aviation and aerospace industries. CSS Staffing is a federally certified HUB Zone organization, a Pennsylvania and Delaware certified Woman Owned Enterprise, WBENC Certified and Top Secret Cleared. Visit them at www.cssstaffing.com.
Computer Systems & Solutions
CSS provides complete life cycle support services for mobile computer users supplying product sales, warranty service, and end of life disposition services, catering to the educational and c orpora te markets. CSS is partnered with Toshiba, Lenovo, and Hewlett Packard with offices in Philadelphia PA, Parsippany NJ, Manhattan NYC, and Boston, MA. Visit them at www.cssnow.com.
Ms. Crew Erle has committed 30% of the profits of her companies to be returned to the less fortunate citizens of Philadelphia . These dollars help feed the homeless and shelter the abused through a non-profit agency, Resources for Human Development, Inc. This is a long-standing commitment which she has honored for since 1990.
In addition, regardless of the business' detailed, Ms. Crew Erle enjoys a consistently low turnover rate of employees due to her commitment to treat them with respect and compensating them for quality performance. This has fostered a working environment that maintains the feel of a small company while mastering the scientific techniques of the Fortunes.
Kimberly's success in business and commitment to her community has resulted in numerous awards, positions of direction, and memberships, including:
AWARDS:
- Philadelphia Business Journal's
“Women of Distinction Award”
- Top 50 Women Owned Businesses in America
Issued to Computer Staffing Services by DiversityBusiness
- Business Journals of Pennsylvania
“ Pennsylvania 's Best 50 Women in Business”
- The Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce
“Small Business Excellence Award – Young Entrepreneur”
- The National Association of Women Business Owners
“Woman Business Owner of the Year”
- The National Association of Women Business Owners
“Top Women Business Owners in Non-Traditional Businesses”
- The Small Business Association of Delaware Valley
“Outstanding Female Entrepreneur of the Year”
- Philadelphia Business Journal's
“ Philadelphia 's Top 50 Largest Woman-Owned Business”
- Business Philadelphia 's
“Women to Watch”
- Philadelphia Business Journal's
“Top 40 Under 40 in Philadelphia ”
BOARD OF DIRECTOR SEATS:
- Resources for Human Development, Inc. 1998-Present
- Murex Investments, 2000-Present
- National Association of Women Business Owners, 1994-1998
- Freedom Foundation, 1999 – 2001
Tobias Bray
After attending Towson University, where he majored in Business with a minor in Sociology, Mr. Bray began conceptualizing ways to streamline processes, reduce errors and increase profit margins in business models that involved a great deal of human interaction. In 1984, he developed his first application for a national systems integrator. The resulting tool revolutionized the organization allowing it to analyze and manage cost intensive data points, and add a highly profitable business unit that used the output from the application to up-sell services to existing clients.
Mr. Bray's leadership experience includes senior roles in business operations with responsibility for marketing, sales and product management. In addition, he has held senior positions in the technology arena guiding software development compaines.
In developing business solutions he has worked in Finance, Human Resources, Manufacturing, Distribution, and Logistics automating consumer credit decisions, securities management, loan origination & processing, distance learning, CRM/ERP solutions, scheduling & delivery systems, and secure on-line messaging infrastructures.
Mr. Bray's technical background includes program management roles in application development, from technology selection and architecture through testing and deployment. He has also overseen multi-tiered architecture development programs that included budget and timeline development and management, technical design and implementation scheduling, employing multiple technologies.
"His strength comes from a well-balanced perspective on technology tempered with real world business experience in mature and emerging markets. He always strives to ensure that a market opportunity is understood, and that the technical, business, usability, and Service Level Agreement requirements are clearly articulated.”
Mr. Bray is a lecturer at the Johns Hopkins University‘s Graduate School of Marketing and works closely with several organizations in the Baltimore, Maryland area that support the incubation of small businesses.