Leadership
Russ Mann / Chief Executive Officer and Founder
Russ Mann is chief executive officer and founder of Rio SEO and Rio SEO’s original parent company, Covario. Under his leadership, the Rio SEO software group has built the leading SaaS platform for SEO, social and content marketing, named “the only leader” in the Q4 2012 Forrester Wave™ on SEO Platforms. The Rio SEO group has contributed to the overall company being named to the Deloitte Tech Fast 500, Software 500, the JMP Securities “Hot 100 Software Companies” and the AlwaysOn new media and advertising technology categories multiple years in a row.
The combined company has been named in the top 20 places to work in San Diego for multiple years in a row, and Russ was voted San Diego’s 2010 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in the Emerging Business category. He has a 15+ year background in venture-backed and public software, internet and analytics companies, including ONYX Software, Homestore/Move.com, HNC Software, FICO and HP/Peregrine Systems.
Russ earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA in Asian Studies from Cornell University.
Claire Long / Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer
Claire Long serves as both chief operating and chief financial officer of Rio SEO. Her role encompasses executive oversight of finance, accounting and risk management, as well as human resources, legal, information technology and marketing, in support of both Rio SEO software business and the Covario search marketing agency.
Claire has more than 20 years of financial leadership experience, including senior positions in the publishing, software, analytics, semiconductor, digital media, specialty retail, resort and telecommunications industries. Previously, Claire was the CFO of the San Diego Union-Tribune. Prior to the San Diego Union-Tribune, Claire served as the CFO of Visual Sciences (formerly WebSideStory), where she was instrumental in managing its successful acquisition by Omniture, Inc.
Claire earned a BS in Business Administration from the University of Hartford.
Chris Reid / General Manager
Chris Reid serves as the GM for Rio SEO where he oversees the entire operation including sales, product development, support and ultimately division profitability.
For the last 25 years, Chris has held executive management positions in the areas of Sales Management, Marketing and Business Development for both large and small technology companies. Over the course of his career, Chris has served in leadership roles at a number of fast-growing software firms, including such companies as Bussiness.com Media, SDL Language Weaver, Iovation and TorchQuest,. He also had a very successful, five-year stint as senior vice president at the merged Visual Sciences and WebSideStory real-time analytics provider. During his term with the company, Chris and his team grew annual revenues 10-fold to $100 million before it was acquired by Omniture. Prior to Visual Sciences, Chris spent 8 years at MERANT, a leading global e-business software solutions company where he built and lead the company’s #1 sales team to over 30%, year in, year out, growth in total revenues.
Chris earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Oregon State University.
Pete Dudchenko / VP, Product Management
Pete Dudchenko is the VP, Product Management of Rio SEO. Pete originally joined Rio SEO’s parent company, Covario, seven years ago at the inception of the company. He has been involved in the entire software development lifecycle. Currently, Pete manages the roadmap and strategic direction for Rio SEO’s lineup of software modules and automation tools. He has more than twelve years of software development experience, and has spent the last six years in online marketing and advertising.
Pat Hall / VP, Engineering
Pat Hall is the VP, Engineering of Rio SEO where he leads the product development, professional services and production operations teams. Since joining the company over 6 years ago he has held multiple positions throughout the technical ranks. With over 25 years experience working for small and large companies (including Oracle), he brings a deep understanding of both cutting edge technologies and the architectural principles required to use these technologies in a way to improve business effectiveness. In addition to his technical background he has extensive experience in building software application for sale – in the MRP and CRM space.
Pat earned a bachelors degree in Business from San Diego State University.
Bill Connard / VP Local Search Solutions
Previously, he was the founder and CEO of Top Local Search, Inc., of San Diego, which was acquired by Rio SEO in May 2012. Bill is a serial entrepreneur and successful business executive with expertise in database management, search engine optimization and web site programming. He has many years of experience building and developing multi-location distribution channels and partnerships.
Prior to forming Top Local Search, Bill was a co-founder and systems architect for Hero Industries, another San Diego-based firm that provided location-based services leveraging SEO and SaaS technologies.
Ben Straley / VP of Social Technologies
Ben Straley is VP of Social Technologies at Covario’s Rio SEO product and technology division. Prior to this position, Ben was CEO and Co-Founder of Meteor Solutions, a leading sharing and social ad tech company acquired by Covario in November 2012. Before launching Meteor Solutions, Ben co-founded Spring Creek Group, a global social media marketing agency acquired by IPG in 2011. Ben has over 17 years of online marketing, digital advertising, and social media experience with startups and global media brands including Real Networks, Disney, and ESPN.
In addition to his leadership of Rio SEO’s Social technologies and strategy, he is the lead instructor of Advanced Interactive Marketing at the University of Washington’s Continuing Education program. He has a MBA from the Kellogg School of Management and a BA with Distinction from the Colorado College.
Cynthia Baker / Senior Director, Human Resources
As Senior Director, Human Resources, Cynthia Baker is responsible for overseeing all of Rio SEO’s Global Human Resources Operations – including staff recruitment, retention, health and wellness benefits, stock and equity distribution, employee satisfaction, and training.
Cynthia joined Rio SEO’s parent company, Covario at launch, in 2006. She spent the past six years building a best-in-class human resources organization that delivers value and respect to all Covario employees, while driving business results and growth. Cynthia brings over ten years experience and previously held positions in both operations and human resource in the consulting and manufacturing industries, where she was responsible for human resources, payroll, administration and facilities.
She holds the California Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) designation.
