SOFTA Ventures

Team

Larry’s BIO

Larry is responsible for new business development at SOFTA Ventures. Larry also serves as Chief Sales and Marketing Officer.

Larry is a seasoned entrepreneur in the real estate technology field, starting his first real estate software company in the early 1980′s taking advantage of the emerging PC market. Larry was a founding partner in the creation of the SKYLINE Property Management system.

After successfully selling SKYLINE Larry along with Michael O’Roark founded CoolMail in 1997. A technology company combining email with voice recognition software. That company was successfully sold to OneBox in 2001.

Subsequent to CoolMail Larry along with Michael founded Achievement Technologies in 2001. Achievement produced SamTrak Facilities Maintenance Software system for real estate maintenance.  SamTrak was acquired by SS&C Technologies in 2005 to help round out their real estate software portfolio.

Prior to his high technology life Larry founded Pied Piper Foods which he successfully sold to a major Chicago food manufacturer.

Larry graduated from Hofstra University with honors and received his masters from Michigan State University where he majored in Finance and Hotel Management. Larry is an active member of Beta Gamma Sigma the national business honor society.

Send Larry an email

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Michael’s BIO

Michael is President of SOFTA Ventures and serves as its Chief Technology Officer.

Michael has been a successful entrepreneur in the technology field since the late 1980′s. His technology background includes experience as COO and CFO of several software companies as well as launching multiple startups.

Michael joined with Larry Zinox at the SOFTA Group as CFO.  SOFTA developed SKYLINE Property Management Software which when the company was sold was the market leader in property management software.

After successfully selling SKYLINE Michael along with Larry founded CoolMail in 1997. A technology company combining email with voice recognition software. That company was successfully sold to OneBox in 2001.

Subsequent to CoolMail Larry along with Michael founded Achievement Technologies in 2001. Achievement produced SamTrak Facilities Maintenance Software system for real estate maintenance.  SamTrak was acquired by SS&C Technologies in 2005 to help round out their real estate software portfolio.

Michael graduated from DePaul University majoring in both finance and accounting. He earned his Masters with concentrations in operations, international business, and finance from Northwestern University‘s Kellogg Graduate School of Management. He is a member of both Beta Gamma Sigma the national business honor society as well as Beta Alpha Psi the national accounting honor society.

In his spare time Michael is actively involved with the Boy Scouts of America having just completed 3 years as Scoutmaster.  Michael is an avid outdoorsman, enjoying camping, backpacking, and fishing.

Send Michael an email

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Ed’s BIO

Ed Gray oversees development and customer care at SOFTA Ventures and they are just two of the many hats he can wear when given the opportunity. Ed joined Larry and Michael almost 20 years ago serving a similar role for The SOFTA Group’s SKYLINE family of products.

Ed has a strong background in software design, project management and technical support.  He has been instrumental in the improvement of support and service organizations for Baxter Healthcare, Follett Software, Click Commerce, Inc. and SS&C Technologies.

Ed has an undergraduate degree in Computer Science from Prairie State College and an MBA from the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management. He enjoys golf and traveling with his family. Ed takes time away from a beautiful family to offer his time and services both at his church and as a volunteer to several community organizations, including: PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter), Habitat for Humanity and Champions for Life Prison Ministries.

Send Ed an email