People
Our workplace is not just about work, but is also about opportunity and comradery - the opportunity to grow and share talents and innovations and a passion for excellence that has made nuTravel a leader in corporate travel management.
Carmine Carpanzano
President, CEO & Board Member
As President and CEO, Carmine Carpanzano is responsible for strategic planning and business development. From December of 1989 to June of 2003, Carmine served as Founder, Chairman, President and CEO of Advance Travel, a $30 million corporate travel business, with offices in Bermuda and Stamford , CT, as well as affiliate locations in London, Dublin and Hong Kong.
Carmine began his career in the travel industry in 1987 as Director of Marketing and operations for American Travel Service, a wholesale tour operator to Nassau, Bahamas and Cancun, Mexico, and was responsible for charter operations and hotel contract negotiations as well as a sales force of 50 sales representatives stationed throughout the East Coast.
Carmine attended The University of Connecticut from 1983 to 1984 and Pace University from 1984 to 1986.
Michael J. Materasso
Chief Financial Officer & Vice Chairman of Board
As President of Allegiant Interactive Development, Michael J. Materasso co-founded nuTravel Technology Solutions as a result of strategic initiatives with key clients and was instrumental in the formation of the nuTravel operational model. Prior to Allegiant ID, Michael was a Director of Professional Services for Commerce One, Inc. As Director, Michael was responsible for operations and delivery for large scale consulting services and staff management within the custom e-commerce line of business, as well as three offices and $20M in annual revenue. Prior to Commerce One, Mr. Materasso’s experience with PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Ciba-Geigy and Merrill Lynch included Financial Systems Application Consulting, 401K and Pension Plan investment and management, Trust Reporting & ERISA Compliance, Corporate Budgeting and Investment Banking.
Michael holds a BA from Iona College with majors in Accounting and Management Information Systems.
Joseph J. Sternlicht
Executive Vice President & Chief Technology Officer
As the Chief Technology Officer for nuTravel, Joseph Sternlicht brings more than 18 years of Software Development and Management experience. For the past 12 years, Joseph has focused exclusively on Internet technologies from Java to Network Operations. Having been a key player in such companies as Prodigy, Mail.com, and Commerce One, Joseph has built several high volume and high availability Internet infrastructures. At Prodigy, Joe led the Advanced Technologies Group in researching and demonstrating the applications and limitations of the latest Internet technologies.
Joseph received his Masters Degree in Computer Science with a minor in Artificial Intelligence from Florida Tech.
Paul LaBate
Director, Software Development
Paul brings 10 years of experience in mission critical Software Development and Systems Integration. Prior to nuTravel, Paul was the Senior Consultant at Commerce One, a hands on Developer and Technical Lead for dozens of multi-million dollar ERP efforts. Paul has spent the last five years developing Java-based Data-Driven Transaction Systems and Web Services for the Travel Industry and is considered a Domain Expert on Computer Reservation Systems and Global Distribution Systems.
Paul is a graduate of the University of Connecticut.
Joseph Ascanio
Director, Interactive Media & Marketing
Joseph brings over 9 years of experience to the conceptualization of all online media initiatives, user-interface design and deployment. He has a diverse background in identifying markets, defining and refining corporate visions, and enabling products and services for the web. His prior experience with Allegiant Interactive Development includes project management and media development; designing online and offline marketing campaigns, corporate web sites and associated technology infrastructures required to support business objectives. Joseph also worked with Expo International and MBIA Insurance Corporation, directing the production of online and offline visual product development while enhancing the quality, productivity, and profitability of each campaign.
Joseph currently holds a BA in Computer Science from Pace University.
Steven Lackner
Director, Client Services
As Director of Client Services, Steven is responsible for all agency partner, reseller, corporate travel department and corporate direct relationships. He assists clients in driving adoption through marketing and motivational campaigns and helps develop strategy for overall cost savings opportunities. He brings over 11 years of Customer Service and Corporate Business Development experience.
From 2004 to May 2006, Steven worked as Director of Business Development for JourneyCorp Travel Management, a Mid-Market agency with over $100 million in corporate travel sales. He was responsible for developing new corporate business in both the online and traditional service structure.
From 1995 to 2004, Steven worked for Advance Travel Limited as Sales and Account Manager where he covered business development and client relations in the United States, Bermuda, Europe and Hong Kong.
Steven holds a B.S. in Marketing from Fairfield University.
Additional Board Members
Paul H. Warren
Board Member
Paul H. Warren is a private investor and the CEO of Antipodean Partners LLC, a private company formed to look at ventures in financial services, healthcare and environmental initiatives. Paul was a co-founder, and until December 31, 2000 a Partner of Capital Z Partners a $3.25 billion alternative investment fund.
Prior to co-founding Capital Z Partners, Paul was a Partner in Insurance Partners I, LP (”IP I”) a S540 million private equity fund. Prior to the formation of IP I, Paul was a Managing Director of International Insurance Investors, LP. From June 1986 until February 1992, Paul was a Vice President in investment banking at J.P. Morgan & Co. Prior to joining J.P. Morgan, Paul was an Assistant Secretary in the Government of Hong Kong and from March 1979 until November 1982, a Senior Inspector of Police in the Royal Hong Kong Police Force.
Paul received a B.A. (Honours) degree in Politics and Law from the University of Otago, New Zealand.
Joseph R. Zimmel
Chairman
Mr. Zimmel served on the board of directors of Modem Media, Inc. from May 4, 1999 until he joined the Digitas Inc. Board of Directors in October 2004. Mr. Zimmel is currently a private investor. From December 2001 until November 2002, Mr. Zimmel served as an Advisory Director to the Goldman Sachs Group. Prior to that engagement, Mr. Zimmel held the position of Managing Director of the Communications, Media & Entertainment Group for the Americas in the investment banking division at Goldman, Sachs & Co., from 1999 to 2001. Mr. Zimmel served as a Managing Director and the head of that group from 1992 to 1999. Mr. Zimmel also serves on the board of directors of CenturyTel, Inc.
Robert A. Spass
Board Member
Robert A. Spass is a Partner of Capital Z Financial Services Partners. Mr. Spass currently serves on the board of directors for the following companies: Aames Investment Corporation; Ceres Group, Inc.; Endurance Specialty Holdings, Ltd.; Lancashire Insurance Company Limited; Universal American Financial Corp.; and USI Holdings Corp.
Prior to co-founding Capital Z in 1998, Mr. Spass was the Managing Partner and co-founder of Insurance Partners, L.P. Mr. Spass also was President and CEO of International Insurance Advisors, Inc., the management company of International Insurance Investors, L.P. Prior to joining International Insurance Investors, Mr. Spass was a Director of Investment Banking at Salomon Brothers with responsibility for corporate finance relationships with the insurance industry. Prior to joining Salomon, Mr. Spass was a Senior Manager for Peat Marwick Main & Co., providing accounting and consulting services for the insurance industry.
Mr. Spass received a B.A. from the State University of New York at Buffalo.