December 19, 2002
Hollywood, Florida – Jordan Serlin has been named chief operating officer of MetroGuide.com, Inc. (MetroGuide), announced Mark Metz, founder and CEO.
"MetroGuide has been fortunate. At each point in our expansion, the right talent has appeared," said Metz. "Jordan Serlin brings diverse experience and expertise, and is precisely the person for this post and this time." Metz cites Serlin's strengths in technology, e-commerce and international business, and stellar track record in capital raising, mergers and acquisitions, and IPOs.
Serlin came to MetroGuide following a term as chief executive officer for the US subsidiary of Tenestra, Inc. in Boca Raton. Based in Great Britain, Tenestra is a leading developer and manufacturer of hardware and software components for high-end digital closed-circuit television and wireless Internet protocol video surveillance systems. Serlin established Tenestra's U.S. subsidiary and within five months assisted in the sale of the global enterprise.
Previously, Serlin was a technology venture assessment, operations, and capital fund-raising consultant, working with portfolio companies of key venture capital firms in Europe and the US. He helped raise more than $30 million for emerging technology companies, while taking interim titles of CEO, COO, and CTO with clients in Silicon Valley, New York, London, Milan and Barcelona
Serlin was founding CEO of WeMedia, Inc., the first online destination portal, service organization and media company focusing on the disabled. Within nine months, Serlin and his co-founders established infrastructure, revenue and relationships resulting in corporate valuation exceeding $100 million.
As global vice president of marketing operations for FortuneCity.com, with operations in the US, Germany, Sweden, Spain, France, Italy and Singapore, Serlin nearly tripled membership, from 420,000 to more than 1.2 million. He was pivotal in the launch of ACMEcity.com, an entertainment community joint venture between FortuneCity and Warner Bros., valued at more than $150 million. Serlin participated in FortuneCity's $90 million NeurMarkt IPO in 1998.
Serlin held executive posts with CRT Group in New York and London; Technology Solutions, Inc. (TSI Public Relations), and MicroVideo Learning Systems, Inc. in New York.
The addition of Serlin, a respected name in e-commerce, as well as internal personnel shifts and other upper-level hires, are in response to MetroGuide's recent explosive growth, and to ensure the company is positioned to maintain and expand on this upward trend.
"I sought out MetroGuide after reading an article on its digital piracy campaign," said Serlin. "I found it astounding that this organization existed, just below the radar. The inherit value of MetroGuide's proprietary offerings are exponential. Not only does the company generate an industry-leading, ever-expanding volume in travel bookings, MetroGuide's content-rich sites are totally in-house developed and owned. I look forward to being part of this innovative team."
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Glenn S. Miller has been named director of statistical finance at MetroGuide, announced Mark Metz, founder and CEO.
"Glenn Miller is detail oriented, which you'd expect from an IRS-award-winning accountant, but also possessed of entrepreneurial spirit," said Metz. "This blend of financial skill and independent thinking, not easily found in one person, is what this post, responsible for analysis, accounting and finance functions requires."
Miller came to South Florida from Lincoln, Nebraska, in 2001. Prior to joining MetroGuide, he was senior accountant with Lashbrook & Associates in Fort Lauderdale. There he was responsible for a wide range of personal and corporate accounting matters, reports and filings.
Founder and owner of Advance Accounting, Inc. from 1991 through 2001, he built a thriving full-service firm, which he sold prior to moving. Miller saw two clients through the Securities and Exchange Commission process when they went public.
Miller was awarded Top Nebraska ERO for 2000 by the Internal Revenue Service, and spoke before more than 750 peers and agents upon acceptance of that award. He conducted IRS electronic filing seminars, and his story can be viewed on the agency's website.
Previously, Miller worked with Software Technology, Inc. (STI), now the largest time and billing software for the legal profession.
Miller earned a bachelor of arts, majoring in accounting, from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln in 1983. He attends Florida Computer College, and is earning MicroSoft MOUS certification. A Hollywood resident, Miller is a member of the Nebraska Better Business Bureau, and National Association of Public Accountants.
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Scott Rogers, Esq. has been promoted to president of MetroGuide, announced Mark Metz, founder and CEO. Rogers, vice president and general counsel since he joined the firm in 1999, will retain the post of general counsel. Rogers and Metz association began when Metz' company was a client of White and Case LLP, where Rogers engaged in commercial litigation.
"This promotion makes official the vital role Scott increasingly has come to play within MetroGuide," said Metz, who previously served as president. Rogers devises legal strategy, manages legal matters, and oversees firm operations. "Scott has spearheaded our legal assault on digital pirates and intellectual property thieves on the Internet. Thanks to his energy and expertise, to date, we have won every legal challenge mounted."
Rogers holds bachelor and master degrees in psychology, and a juris doctorate degree from the University of Florida. Upon graduating from law school, first in his class, Rogers served as federal judicial clerk for The Honorable Maurice M. Paul, Chief District Judge for the Northern District of Florida. He clerked for The Honorable Rosemary Barkett, Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, first clerking with her on the Florida Supreme Court in Tallahassee, then the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Miami.
Rogers, a member of the Florida Bar Association, served as chair of the Education Subcommittee of the Professionalism Committee of the Dade County Bar Association. Under his leadership, the subcommittee developed and implemented a program that introduced issues of ethics and professionalism to newly admitted members to the Florida Bar Association. He resides in Miami Beach.
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MetroGuide, http://metroguide.com/, is among the largest Internet providers of global travel information and reservations. Incorporated in 1996 and privately held, MetroGuide's network of websites attracts more than two million unique visitors monthly to its quarter-million-plus pages of travel related e-commerce sites.
Having financed its venture entirely through internal sales growth and with no outside capital, MetroGuide generates tens-of-millions of dollars annually in on-line bookings through its proprietary database of more than 30,000 hotels and destination resorts. MetroGuide stands at the forefront of the battle to combat digital copyright piracy.
For more information contact Scott Rogers (954) 981-5850.
Bios, photos available.