About Us

Daniel J. O'Brien | Chairman of the Board

Dan O'Brien is chairman of the board for Digitalsmiths. In this role, he works with the management team to direct the overall strategy of the company including research, product development, sales and marketing. With over 25 years experience, he is active on several boards in addition to Digitalsmiths including InDenverTimes, SinglePipe Communications, TV Anywhere and AdXStream. Previously, he was chairman and CEO of Brief Original Broadcasts, a 24/7 digital cable channel dedicated to short form content. Dan also served as High Speed Access Corp.'s president and CEO and was the president and COO of Primestar, Inc.

Ben Weinberger | Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder

Ben Weinberger co-founded Digitalsmiths on a single premise – the Internet would revolutionize the movie, television and entertainment industry, driving a new level of innovation that would forever change consumer behavior. This pioneering approach has helped the company transform an idea into a reality and a vision into thriving and fast-growing business. The company’s flagship product, Digitalsmiths VideoSense®, the industry’s leading studio-grade, video monetization solution, has propelled Digitalsmiths to the forefront of multi-screen metadata management, media analysis and digital content publishing technologies. Ben graduated with honors from Southern Illinois University, and serves on the board of directors for the Honors Program at Southern Illinois University. 

Jan Bouten | The Aurora Funds

Jan is a Venture Partner with The Aurora Funds, a $235 million, early stage investment firm. He focuses on early stage technology investments and has been part of several successful acquisitions and IPOs. His prior industry experience allows him to be a valuable advisor to emerging companies in the areas of marketing, business development and commercialization. In addition to his role at Aurora, Bouten serves as the Executive Director of TECworks, an entrepreneurial support organization in Memphis, TN. TECworks enables aspiring entrepreneurs and emerging companies through experience-based education, business consulting, and access to seed capital. Jan holds a BS in Software Engineering from Fontys University in Holland, an MS in Human-Computer Systems focusing on Artificial Intelligence from DeMontfort University in the UK, and an MBA from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business.

Ronald Loewen | Loewen Consulting

Ron Loewen brings over 30 years of experience in journalism, media management and business development to the team. In 2006, he founded Loewen Consulting, where he consults start-up and early stage companies with emphasis on strategic planning, business development, marketing, capital acquisition and personnel development. Prior to Loewen Consulting, he was president for Liberty Life Insurance, and then was promoted to vice president of strategic development for The Liberty Corporation. Ron received a J.D. from the University of Kansas, School of Law, and a B.S. in political science and M.S. in education from Emporia State University.

Wright Steenrod | Chrysalis Ventures

Wright Steenrod joined the Digitalsmiths' board of directors in June 2007 upon the completion of a venture capital led round of financing by Chrysalis Ventures. At Chrysalis, Wright has worked with Ygnition, Genscape and Appriss, among others. He serves on the board of directors for several companies including bCatalyst, Inc., Cybera Inc., and SinglePipe Communications. Wright focuses on the investment of companies in the media and communications industries. Prior to Chrysalis, Wright held senior management positions at Darwin Networks, and served five years as a captain in the United States Marine Corps.  He holds a B.A. from Princeton University.

Maria Cirino | .406 Ventures

A co-founder and Managing Director of .406 Ventures, Maria Cirino brings 23 years of entrepreneurial, operating and senior management sales and marketing experience in venture-backed technology companies, with particular strengths in IT security and technology-driven services.  Prior to founding .406, she was senior vice president of VeriSign, following its 2005 $144 million acquisition of Guardent – a Sequoia, CRV and NEA backed IT security company that Maria co-founded and led as CEO and chairman. Prior to Guardent, she held senior management roles at i-Cube, Razorfish and Shiva.

Maria has received numerous industry awards and honors including “Massachusetts CEO of the Year 2004” and Ernst & Young “Entrepreneur of the Year 2003.” Additionally, Maria was named one of the top 25 women in Information Security by Information Security Magazine and inducted by Women’s Business Magazine into the “Women’s Business Hall of Fame.” She holds a BA in English from Mount Holyoke College.