Echo360 CEO and leadership

Tony Abate brings more than 20 years of experience in the technology, digital media and converged services fields to Echo360 and over the course of his career, Tony has served in a variety of product management, senior executive, investment and advisory roles. As an investor at Battery Ventures and Whitney & Co, Tony served on the board of several venture-backed start-ups. His seasoned guidance on how to profitably scale in nascent markets helped companies like Homestore, RelevantKnowledge, and Cbeyond Communications go from concept to a successful IPO or exit. As a consultant at McKinsey & Co. and Mercator Partners, Tony advised publicly traded companies and venture-backed start-ups on how best to capitalize on the ensuing business opportunities of digitization and convergence. Tony began his career in the US Air Force, where he developed an advanced computer platform for the then-classified stealth aircraft program. Tony graduated summa cum laude with a BSE in Electrical Engineering from Duke University and holds an MBA with honors from Harvard Business School.

Purpose-driven, customer-centric growth leader with a track record of multi-sector, omni-channel innovation across corporate, community, education, and agency domains.

Most recently, Jeff served as Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Jostens, where he led division and enterprise marketing activities including the development of several digital initiatives and virtual offerings helping high schools and colleges preserve important traditions in the face of COVID-19. Prior to Jostens, Peterson’s agency and corporate experience includes over 20 years at General Mills and Best Buy, where he led consumer/customer promotion, education/cause marketing, brand, and corporate philanthropy initiatives for both companies.

Peterson earned a bachelor’s degree in communication studies from Gustavus Adolphus College and a master’s degree in Business Communication from the University of St. Thomas, where he served over 10 years as adjunct faculty.

Best of class strategic-operating-financial leader with a proven track record of accelerating enterprise value and developing great teams & culture.

Jim has led financial and operational teams across myriad sectors and companies over the course of his career. Most recently, Jim was CFO of BBQ Holdings, Inc, a publicly traded national restaurant group and owner of the Famous Dave’s and Granite City Food and Brewery concepts. Prior to that, he served as CFO of Bluespire Inc., a digital marketing agency to the healthcare, financial and senior living industries. Jim’s financial acumen and mission has also extended into the not-for-profit sector, including roles as Senior Vice President of the Educational Credit Management Corporation and CFO of the Zenith Education Group Inc.

Jim received his BA in Business Administration and Accounting from the University of Iowa, and holds a Master’s degree in Marketing and Finance from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Business.

Tony Abate brings more than 20 years of experience in the technology, digital media and converged services fields to Echo360 and over the course of his career, Tony has served in a variety of product management, senior executive, investment and advisory roles. As an investor at Battery Ventures and Whitney & Co, Tony served on the board of several venture-backed start-ups. His seasoned guidance on how to profitably scale in nascent markets helped companies like Homestore, RelevantKnowledge, and Cbeyond Communications go from concept to a successful IPO or exit. As a consultant at McKinsey & Co. and Mercator Partners, Tony advised publicly traded companies and venture-backed start-ups on how best to capitalize on the ensuing business opportunities of digitization and convergence. Tony began his career in the US Air Force, where he developed an advanced computer platform for the then-classified stealth aircraft program. Tony graduated summa cum laude with a BSE in Electrical Engineering from Duke University and holds an MBA with honors from Harvard Business School.