Posted by Dan Caruso
February 26, 2010
Last week at Venture Capital in the Rockies Winter, I gave a great keynote presentation about one hit wonders, entrepreneurs gone bad and the special breed of great serial entrepreneurs. Watch the video at http://www.coloradotechtv.com/dan-caruso-vcir-keynote-video.
Posted by Dan Caruso
January 20, 2010
ZEN is Zayo Enterprise Networks. With the snow capped Rocky Mountains as a backdrop, ZEN’s senior team put together a Vision, Strategy, and Values statement. I thought some Bearonbusiness readers might find it interesting.
ZEN Vision, Strategy and Values
Strategy – How we will achieve our vision
1. Drive the business locally
Empower local teams to drive business decisions
Enable GM’s with financial reporting and hold accountable for full P&L performance
Ensure centralized resources are delivering value in the minds of the GMs
2. Focus on leveraging and growing our on-net assets
Sell from the “Network out” to our target customers
Invest in fiber and colocation capacity to create long term value
Synergize with Zayo Bandwidth to extend the reach of the network for both
3. Offer simple, IP and Fiber based services
Deliver core IP and Fiber-based services to enable on-net Data, Voice, Video solutions
Resell on-net ZB services to broaden offering, increase wallet share and margins
Maintain intense focus on cost reductions for all offnet or service related costs
4. Make every customer an Advocate for ZEN
Compete by offering unique connectivity options and great service
Focus on mid-sized enterprises in Healthcare, Education and Business
Enable Regional Telco’s / ISPs with our on-net capability
5. Develop an entrepreneurial team
Retain, recruit skilled results oriented people consistent with local autonomy and value adding central services
Offer compelling employee value through skills and leadership development and competitive salary, benefits
Communicate openly to ensure alignment
At some point in the future, I will shed more light on why ZEN and ZB are operated as separate businesses.
Posted by Dan Caruso
January 18, 2010
IMS Research is a market research firm that was founded in the 1980s. Initially, they focused on the semiconductor industry. Over the last decade, they’ve expanded into most other sectors of the electronics industry, including physical security. Their 70 person team publishes more than 120 reports annually.
IMS published a report titled IMS Top 2010 CCTV Trends. What was their number #1 Trend? Envysion enthusiasts—here it is:
“2010: The Year For IP Video Surveillance as a Service?”
It has a host of names – Managed Video as a Service (MVaaS), Video Surveillance as a Service (VSaaS), Remotely Monitored Video – but whatever the name, 2010 will be the year it moves out of the shadows into the limelight.
Software as a Service (SaaS) and cloud computing are common currency in the IT world. Simply put, software is run and data is managed on a remote server rather than a local PC. When applied to video surveillance, cameras can be used to monitor a location but the video will be managed and stored remotely. This technology should prove to be attractive to alarm monitoring centers, telcos/ISPs and installers/integrators alike. It will open up new revenue streams, particularly as video verification of alarms becomes more popular, and new applications such as ‘lone worker protection’ or ‘video bodyguard’ are requested.
VSaaS could be the disruptive force needed for network surveillance to penetrate the low-end of the surveillance market. The current high price of network cameras and the need for reasonable IT skills is limiting the uptake of network video surveillance in smaller sized systems with low camera counts. With VSaaS, the initial system cost is reduced by removing the need for local management and storage, and replacing it with a subscription-based monthly service. Furthermore, users are not required to be proficient with IT as the system management is performed remotely.
Low camera count deployments in offices, retail outlets and commercial premises are currently the domain of analogue cameras. However, VSaaS has the potential to disrupt these markets by providing a similar cost product with the additional advantages of remote monitoring, added features such as ‘lone worker protection’, and no need for ongoing maintenance.
Envysion coined the name “Managed Video as a Service (MVaaS)”. I personally think it the most sticky of the names above. The excerpt from IMS Research’s report only scratches the surface on why MVaaS will have a major impact—and this impact will not be limited to “surveillance”, as MVaaS helps businesses achieve greater profitability and brand consistency through practices that would not be viewed as “security” or “surveillance”.
Posted by Dan Caruso
January 13, 2010
I saw Avatar last night. 3D. IMAX. With my 14-year-old boy sitting right next to me.
The first Star Wars came out in 1977, when I was 14. I don’t know who was sitting next to me. To this day, I can recall my emotions when the movie ended.
Stunned.
Exhilarated.
Inspired.
Frustrated, because I didn’t want it to end.
Frustrated, because I wanted to know what happened next.
I had to wait 32 years to feel these emotions again. It was worth it. Especially because my 14-year-old was sitting right next to me. And because he felt those emotions too.
Posted by Dan Caruso
December 9, 2009
You might have noticed the dearth of bearonbusiness blog posts as of late. A lot of folks have sent me messages inquiring why. Well, I didn’t mean to stop publishing. It just sort of happened. Hopefully this is a temporary hiatus. I stopped because I was too busy and distracted to keep up with the posts. Then once I stopped, I didn’t pick back up. I hope to pick it back up (and I am confident I will) but I want to wait until I am confident I can publish regularly… maybe three times a week instead of five.
Thanks for the support and kind words.
Posted by Dan Caruso
November 10, 2009
Last month, Zayo began a regular process for employee surveys. For those employees who participated, I’d be interested in your feedback. If you’re up for it, send me an email on what you thought about the survey. After reading the results, I thought I’d offer some perspective to employees.
First, I want to thank those of you who responded. The overall response rate was 62%–which I consider good but not great. I’d like to see us get to 80%+. The feedback seemed candid and thoughtful, and I hope this continues with future surveys.
Second, I will offer some context on our approach to the survey. I will comment on survey frequency, survey length, and the level of “sophistication”.
Frequency: I believe in frequent employee surveys, as it provides an ongoing feedback loop to understand what is on the minds of employees. As such, I asked that the survey take place monthly, but only 1/3 of our employees are asked to respond each month. We will look at the results each month, but will tabulate them for each quarter (to address statistical significance). Each employee will have the opportunity to respond quarterly—which gives each of you a voice to tell us whether we are preserving the positives while addressing the shortcomings.
Survey Length: I believe in relatively short surveys, so that employees can complete relatively quickly. My guess is that most employees spent 5 – 10 minutes.
Sophistication: We did not hire a consultant. We did not have an off-site to debate questions. We did not banter around multiple different approaches. Instead, we decided to throw something out there and, after seeing what happens, make course corrections. One question started with “How strong…” and the choices of answers were “So So”, “Not Effective”, “Effective”, and “Very Effective”. This is a small example of how we will modify. More significant improvement ideas came from the employee survey comments, and we will address these as appropriate. My main point is this—it is more important that we are instituting a forum for frequent and candid feedback than that we developed a perfect process.
Next, I want to stress how important it is to take to heart the survey feedback. This burden starts with the heads of each of the business units, as they will see all the results and the written feedback. Each business unit will share the quantitative results with their teams and will also summarize the written comments. My guess is the results will cascade throughout the organization. As you hear the feedback, please keep the following in mind:
Finally, I want to highlight the profound opportunity we all have to shape the Zayo culture. We are a brand spanking new company. Lots of us have worked together before, but we have done so across many different companies such as Citynet, Onvoy, FiberNet, Level 3, MFS, ICG, etc. Our time together at Zayo is just beginning. As you fill out the survey or as you review the results, ask yourself what you can do to help make Zayo a great place to work. Also, please consider that Zayo is really four autonomous companies. Though Zayo Group as a whole will contribute to each group’s culture, the culture of the business units will diverge. This is healthy and I encourage this. This should be empowering, in that every employee should have a greater influence over the culture that is relevant to them. I encourage each of you to exploit this empowerment by building on the positives and ferreting out the negatives. If we all pitch in, we can make Zayo one of the best places to work in all of telecom.
Remember, at the end of the day, our job is to make a great return for our investors. This is impossible if our customers aren’t enamored with the service we provide them—hence, a “customer first” attitude is entirely consistent with recognizing our responsibility to our shareholders. Finally, and extremely importantly, employees are the key to satisfying both customers and investors. For Zayo to excel, its employees must feel appreciated, respected, fairly compensated, accountable, and empowered. Let’s use the launching of our employee feedback process to reflect on Zayo’s most valuable asset—its employees.
Posted by Dan Caruso
November 9, 2009
The CU New Venture Challenge is searching for the next big thing. In its second year, the CU-NVC is an interdisciplinary competition presented by entities across campus. Students and faculty alike have the opportunity to come together to create a new business idea and compete against one another in a cross campus competition in March 2010. Each participant will learn how to “think like an entrepreneur” and learn how to pitch their idea to judges acting as venture capitalists. Winners will take home a monetary prize to help begin their business.
This hands-on approach to entrepreneurship is a critical part of creating a start-up culture across CU-Boulder. Zayo has helped to sponsor the competition to help encourage entrepreneurship at CU and in the Boulder community. Previously, Zayo representatives have judged the competition.
Wednesday marks the kickoff for the 5 month process of preparing for the competition. In the coming months students will pitch their ideas to one another in the coming weeks, form teams, flush out their business ideas and begin preparing their business plans.
Silicon Flatirons provides a series of crash courses, workshops and events to prepare students and faculty for the competition. Wednesday is the official beginning of those crash courses and the focus is on “How to Pick a Business Worth Starting.” It will be followed by a “Start Up Internships” networking event. Paul Berberian, an experienced chief executive and entrepreneur who has founded and run six high-tech companies over the last 17 years, will be the speaker. Marketforce, one of Paul’s recent companies founded in 2005 is backed by Centennial Ventures (remind you of a post from last week?)
Wednesday’s crash course and networking opportunity is open to CU students, faculty and the general public. I encourage Zayo and Envysion employees to attend to show your support and to take the opportunity to network with some of the University’s top talent. The event will take place on the CU campus in the Wittemyer Court Room, Wolf Law Building, at 6:00pm, Wednesday, November 11th.
Posted by Dan Caruso
November 6, 2009
This is the last of 4 part tribute to my dear friend Terry Venezia, who passed away on Sunday, October 25th. I was given the honor of 
presenting an eulogy for Terry. I will share the eulogy, as I want people to know what a special person Terry Venezia was—and I hope it helps people live their lives the way Terry lived his. Terry is survived by his lovely wife Renee and his three beautiful children Jason, Jillian, and Ali.
Often when we were together, we were in a bigger group—say 10 or 12 folks. Terry was okay in a crowd, but where he shined was in one on one conversations. Terry always asked about what was going on in our lives. With Terry, these weren’t just pleasantries. He was genuinely interested. Michelle and John shared a story that resonated. This past spring, a bunch of us got together in Denver for a Bruce Springsteen concert, and we are all thankful for this time we had with Terry. Michelle and John were dealing with some things with one of their adopted sons. Terry really wanted to understand how Michelle, John and both their boys were doing. He listened. He cared. Terry was truly a compassionate person.
I’ll illustrate Terry’s compassion with a funny story. 
About 7 or 8 years ago, our “fishing trip” was in Aspen Colorado. I made reservations at one of Aspen’s nicest restaurants—and I didn’t hesitate to order several bottles of nice red wine. We decided to play a trick on Mark Everett—one that would set him up to think he had to pay for the entire $3,000 meal. Do you know the game credit card roulette? Everyone’s credit card in put in a basket and the one that the waitress pulls out pays the bill? Well, we rigged the game so that only Mark’s card would be sitting in the basket. And when Mark’s card was pulled, he was in a state of shock. The rest of us couldn’t get enough of this. But not the compassionate one Terry. He felt so bad that he pulled Mark aside and told him it was just a joke. Yes, Terry was compassionate.
Ron Bonfiglio shared with me a memory. 
Ron would take bike rides in Wisconsin with Terry and, at times, his dad. I understand Mr. Venezia would sometimes put Ron and Terry to shame. Ron recalls how Terry would always say on these bike rides how much he really missed Renee and the kids. And this is the part of Terry I most want to emphasize. More important than anything to Terry was his family. When he talked about Renee, Jason, Jillian, and Ali, he was so proud. He loved them, and he showed this to us without hesitation. As great of a friend he was to us, he was an even better husband and father to his family.
As a result of this tragic event, many of us our re-examining our own lives and we all know how much Terry needed to have the last word. And here is the last word we are hearing from Terry. It is to live by Terry’s example. Be consistent, focused, and devoted—in all areas of your life. Your work, your activities, your friends, and most importantly, your family. Terry, we miss you. We love you. You have made us better people and your memory will be with us for the rest of our lives.
Posted by Dan Caruso
November 5, 2009
This is the 3rd of 4 part tribute to my dear friend Terry Venezia, who passed away on Sunday, October 25th. I was given the honor of presenting an eulogy for Terry. I will share the eulogy,
as I want people to know what a special person Terry Venezia was—and I hope it helps people live their lives the way Terry lived his. Terry is survived by his lovely wife Renee and his three beautiful children Jason, Jillian, and Ali.
Terry had a witty sense of humor. John Wharton and Michelle Krezek summarized this best. Our group has been known for being a bit rough on one another. With sarcastic and sometimes nasty remarks, we push each other until someone breaks down. If no one gets mad, the night was no fun. Terry would find a way to be part of this bantering, but never in the line of fire. He’d listen in, smile and laugh, quickly re-direct if the barbs turned toward him, but mostly just waited until everyone else exhausted themselves. Then, in a low key way, he’d deliver the funniest and most witty line. Defeated, the rest of us would know it was time to move on.
Terry was also adventurous. He liked to explore. He liked activities. He enjoyed pushing things to the limit. A couple years ago, the Krezeks, Zarollis, and Venezias went on a family vacation to Big Bear Lake—and Terry’s adventurous steak hit a new pinnacle. As explained to me, the big family activity involved the fathers jumping off the edge of a pontoon boat, onto a floating trampoline, with their boys standing on the edge, and thereby being launched high into the air and, hopefully, landing in the water. Terry, the competitive one, made sure no one’s son would be propelled higher in the air than Jason.
In my opening remarks, I commented on the strength of Terry’s character. He was confident, but never arrogant. He was dedicated and disciplined always. Mentally focused. He lived his life with a purpose. He was cool, calm, and collected. Terry was also intelligent. He is the only one of my friends who, when we’d play the game of chess, I’d worry about losing. He was always independent—always knew how to take care of himself. Yes, Terry was a very strong person.
I received a note from Julie Strain, the wife of Brian. 
Julie went to high school with us and knew Terry as long as we did. Here is how Julie thought of Terry: “Terry was never a judgmental person. He treated everyone with respect and was always a good listener. I imagine that he would have made a great judge if he had ever aspired to do so. He was a person you could turn to for advice without ever feeling like you were being judged. And his advice was always something that everyone respected.”
Terry was a steady, consistent and loyal friend . Not a one of us ever had to wonder if Terry would be there for us if we needed him.
Posted by Dan Caruso
November 4, 2009
This is the 2nd of 4 part tribute to my dear friend Terry Venezia, who passed away on Sunday, October 25th. I was given the honor of presenting an eulogy for Terry. 
I will share the eulogy, as I want people to know what a special person Terry Venezia was—and I hope it helps people live their lives the way Terry lived his. Terry is survived by his lovely wife Renee and his three beautiful children Jason, Jillian, and Ali.
Terry had this effect on a whole lot of people in our group. To illustrate, I will do this by telling some stories, and these stories will be organized by the strong character traits that were at the core of who Terry was.
First and foremost, Terry was responsible. A group of us guys go on a “fishing trip” each year—a trip which involves a bunch of things but not fishing. Most of us in the fishing trip gang like to “partake”. There is a favorite joint we go to, called the Minturn Saloon, about 15 minutes from my place in Beaver Creek. At the Saloon, they serve margaritas by the pitcher, and we put down lots of those pitchers. As we have gotten older, designated drivers were part of our routine. Given that Terry is responsible, we’d know he wouldn’t partake in the margs as much as the rest of us. That’s good news—we’d have a logical designated driver. However, here’s the bad news. Whereas others would drive with a couple of drinks in us, Terry the responsible one wouldn’t. So Terry be the most sober but the least likely to be a designated driver. Always responsible.
Well, not always responsible. Ron, Terry, a third guy, I went camping in Lake Geneva. This was maybe after our first year of college, when the drinking age was 19 up there. One night, we left our camp sight and went to a bar.
The third guy and I met a couple of lady friends and Terry and Ron returned back to the camp site. At 2am, I returned to the camp, only to find an empty site where our tent had last been. Evidently, Terry brought a b.b. gun on the trip and decided to pull it out at 1am. The camp ranger kicked Terry out of the camp and left the rest of us to sleep in a car.
Michelle Krezek and Patty Zarolli shared another story about Terry last night, one that left me quite jealous. It was freshman year of high school, and Michelle and Patty had just met. Trying to impress Michelle, Patty brings up this guy named Terry Venezia. “Patty, you got to meet this guy Terry. He is so cute. He is so funny. When he laughs, his whole head wrinkles.”
Terry was an athlete. And a good one. And a competitive one. Michelle Krezek, who ran track with Terry, reached out to Terry’s high school coach. Here is what Coach Van Dorn shared: “Terry was a tremendous athlete and competitor. What I remember most was that Terry was team orientated. Cross country is an individual sport. With Terry though, he always looked out for his teammates.”
Mark Everett recalls the last home cross country meet of our senior year. Mark, Terry, and one other runner were leading the race. Terry constantly pulled Mark along, encouraging him to keep pace. The winner’s shoot was only big enough for one of them to go through at a time. Terry veered to the right, and the other guy veered to the left—allowing Mark to take first place in his final race.
Brian Stain, who ran with Terry all four years, recalls that Terry started as the 5th best runner in freshman year. By senior year, Terry was the best. And then Terry ran Big Ten Track at Northwest, under a scholarship.
Well I am on the topic of Terry, Brian, and running, I have one more story to share. If nothing else, Marty Panega and I were cocky. 
For some inexplicable reason, Marty and I concluded we could outrun Terry and Brian so long as the race was relatively short. This was after high school. Though Terry was running at a Big Ten school, we felt Brian had dropped off a bit. If Marty could stay close to Terry, I could easily outpace Brian. Did I mention Terry was competitive? Terry was all business—approaching this like race like it was the state championship. Terry and Marty were first off on the two lap race. Terry was finishing his second lap while Marty was just completing his first.
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