About David S. Winer

Along with David Martin (Mosaic Technologies, M-CAM), David Winer was one of the founders of the Charlottesville Venture Group. At the suggestion of Wendell Dunn (of the Batten Institute) they launched the very first Annual Business Forum in 1998. He returns this year as Co-Chair of the event with Liz Pyle.

Remembering the very first meeting of the group that was to become CVG, David said that they had sent email to area people they thought might be interested. Unbeknownst to them, an email server was down, so they expected about 15 people to attend. A few hours before that initial meeting, another 50 or so email messages finally arrived. Co-founder David Martin and others were frantically jerry-rigging a TV monitor in the halls of the Mosaic Technology offices so that the additional people could be accommodated somehow. About 70 people attended that first meeting, initiating an entrepreneurial group that swelled to about 300 members.

In addition to the ABF, David had a hand in designing and implementing many of the programs long associated with CVG. The monthly educational programs now held at Darden (initially held at various locations including the Ice Park and the Omni), the Entrepreneur's Spotlight, which became LiveFire! in the hands of Jim Lansing and Liz Pyle, the Annual Dinner Dance, which has since been discontinued. He also came up with the very first Golden Angel Award, presented to Wendell Dunn for initiating the ABF. (Recent recipients include Deb McMahon and Jim Lansing)

“While David Martin and I have been publicly acknowledged as the co-founders”, said Winer, “I think of Colleen Martin in the same category. She was there from the beginning and was the operational backbone for the organization for years before publicly taking on the role of the first volunteer Executive Director.”

David is currently an Associate of The Bridge, Ltd. (Charlottesville, VA) and working as a marketing consultant and executive coach with companies in Virginia, Colorado, New Jersey and Wisconsin.