Team
The DAXKO team is a unique blend of talented, innovative professionals focused on both the success of our customers and of the company. Our people work hard because they believe strongly in what they do and who they serve.
Our 70+ team members come from a surprisingly diverse background for a company located in Birmingham, Alabama. From Ukraine to UNC, Louyang to Louisiana, we have some amazing talent from all over the world in the halls of DAXKO.
The DAXKO Leadership Team:
Tom Patterson, Founder & Chairman
Tom is the Board Chairman of DAXKO, the company he founded in 1998. His vision for the company has evolved to position DAXKO as the predominant provider of technology services to the YMCA and JCC markets. Prior to DAXKO, Tom co-founded TXEN, Inc. in 1990.
As president at TXEN, he developed an Application Service Provider (ASP) capability via Internet and WAN connections for the managed care industry. In 1979, Tom founded SEAKO, Inc. He served as president for ten years and developed the company into a major computer systems supplier to the insurance, healthcare, and managed care markets.
Beyond his role at DAXKO, Tom is on the Board of Empoint and QMark in Birmingham and the advisory Board of Southeast Technology Fund I. At the University of Alabama, he is an advisory board member of the Blackburn Institute, the President's Cabinet, Crimson Tradition Committee and sits on the College of Engineering Leadership Board and the Crimson Tide Foundation Board. In 2004 Tom was inducted into the State of Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame. Tom also serves on the Volunteer Board at the YMCA Shades Valley Branch.
Tom earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a M.S. in Engineering Mechanics from the University of Alabama. He and his wife Carol reside in Birmingham, are active in Saint Thomas Episcopal Church, and have four children and seven grandchildren. They are both enthusiastic sailors and enjoy spending leisure time on their boat SATORI out of Pensacola, Florida.
David Gray, President & Chief Executive Officer
David serves as president and CEO of DAXKO. He is responsible for leading the company's strategic direction, growth, and culture.
David has extensive experience in the development, management, and operations of high-tech software and consulting firms. Prior to joining DAXKO, he held management positions at Calico Commerce (now part of Peoplesoft/Oracle) and in Grant Thornton's management consulting practice in Chicago (now Hitachi Consulting). His past clients include a number of Fortune 500 corporations and leading technology companies.
In addition to his position at DAXKO, David is on the board of directors and executive committee and the former chairman of TechBirmingham (www.techbirmingham.com), a member and former chairman of Auburn University’s Management Information Systems Board of Advisors, and a representative on the University of Alabama's MIS Forum.
David holds a Bachelor of Science in management information systems from Auburn University. He and his wife Susan, along with their three children, live in Birmingham. They are active members of the Birmingham YMCA and of Covenant Presbyterian Church.
Dave Wojczynski, Chief Operating Officer
Dave is the Chief Operating Officer at DAXKO and is responsible for the day-to-day operations and overall execution of company strategy. He directly oversees the engineering, professional services, and finance/administration teams.
Dave has extensive experience in operational management and service leadership positions in financial services and healthcare information technology businesses, such as General Electric, Source Medical, and Emageon. He also worked in several process improvement roles achieving Master Black Belt certification with General Electric. Prior to his corporate career, Dave served as a commissioned aviation officer in the U.S. Army.
Dave is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point with a B.S. in Management and also received his MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.
April Benetollo, Vice President of Sales and Marketing
As VP of Sales and Marketing, April is responsible for understanding the needs in the marketplace, communicating the value of DAXKO’s services, and ensuring that DAXKO's products and services will help our customers extend their reach in the communities they serve.
April has ten years of sales and marketing experience in domestic and international start-up ventures. Upon completion of her B.A. in international relations from The University of Alabama, April spent four years working abroad in France, Germany, and Brazil.
April joined DAXKO in January 2000 and has provided leadership in sales, marketing, and account management roles.
Matt Cowell, Vice President of Software Engineering
Matt serves as the VP of Software Engineering, with responsibility for all product engineering, hosting, and technical support. Matt directly oversees the Development, Quality Assurance, and Production and Infrastructure groups.
Matt has extensive software development leadership and consulting experience in the Financial Services, IT Consulting, Automotive, and Advertising industries, including experience at companies such as SunGard, Accenture, General Motors, Chrysler, and JWT. He has a solid track record of building enterprise software platforms and understands how to align organizational structures and software development processes to facilitate effective product delivery.
Matt is a graduate of the University of Illinois and holds a M.S.E. degree from the University of Michigan.
Britney McKim, Vice President of Professional Services
Britney leads DAXKO’s Professional Services team, which includes implementation, training, support, and success services. She is responsible for developing the strategy and rollout of customer-centric programs that foster a universal commitment to customer needs, strong customer relationships, and superior business value.
Her leadership of the Professional Services team has been instrumental in driving strong operational excellence, as well as significantly improving customer satisfaction. Britney has been a member of the DAXKO team since 2000. She holds a bachelor’s degree in public relations from Auburn University.
Jonathan Sides, Vice President of Finance and Administration
Jonathan is responsible for all financial and administrative activities of DAXKO, including accounting and controls, financial planning and analysis, human resources, and legal affairs. He also provides advice to the development organization on defining specific financial and accounting functionality of DAXKO's solutions.
Jonathan has had a variety of experiences in financial positions in both New York and Birmingham. Prior to DAXKO, he worked at Lehman Brothers in New York as a financial analyst with its Mergers & Acquisitions Group, specializing in the technology sector. He also served as a consultant to Compass Bank in Birmingham on the design of its intranet and other initiatives to use web technology to increase employee productivity.
Jonathan has been a member of the DAXKO team since 2000. He holds a bachelor's degree in finance from the University of Alabama and a bachelor's degree in accounting from UAB.
Barry Thomason, Vice President of Business Development
Barry is responsible for the development and execution of DAXKO's new market strategy. Barry has over twenty years of experience in the information technology industry in various sales and management roles and was previously employed by Unisys Corporation, Nichols Research Corporation and most recently, by Computer Technology Solutions. Working extensively in both the private and not-for-profit sectors, he has developed and executed sales and marketing campaigns for complex, large-scale hardware, software, and professional services projects.
Barry holds a Bachelor of Science degree in management from Auburn University.