Linda Merrick, Principal, Pivotal Product Management, CPM

In senior marketing positions at Who's Calling, N2H2, Captura Software, Traveling Software, WRQ, and Accountant's Microsystems, Ms. Merrick drove improvements in product life cycle management, developed successful corporate and product positioning, and launched over 15 products across a variety of sales channels. These efforts resulted in increased revenue and market share, bringing products to the top of their categories. Her broad experience includes managing products at every stage of the product life cycle, from new technology to retirement, as well as directing marketing activities for lead generation and brand awareness. She co-founded P5 Group in 1999 to provide product management and marketing services to Puget Sound technology companies.

Ms. Merrick leads the instructor team at the University of Washington Software Product Management Certificate Program, sits on advisory boards for the Product Management Consortium and AIPMM.

Mara Krieps, Principal, Pivotal Product Management, CPM

With more than sixteen years' experience in marketing, Ms. Krieps has focused on technology product management and product marketing for the past nine years. As a product management consultant, she delivers on key initiatives for West Coast clients including Microsoft, Qpass, Onyx, PAR3 Communications, Who's Calling and NetReflector. Previously, Ms. Krieps was Director of Product Management at Concur Technologies, a provider of software solutions for corporate expense management, and she has held senior Product Management and Marketing roles at SmartContractor, BSQUARE, Captura Software, Egghead Software, ADVO and Eddie Bauer.

Ms. Krieps serves as the facilitator of the Seattle-based Product Management Consortium. She also is an advisory board member and alumna of the University of Washington Software Product Management Certificate Program, and she is the 2006 recipient of the AIPMM “Excellence in Product Management Education” award. She holds an MBA from Northwestern University and a Bachelors Degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.