2/24/2003 , Washington, D.C. - Blackboard Inc., a leading enterprise software company for e-Education, announced that Mary MacPherson has joined the D.C.-based company as vice president of marketing. In her role, Mary will lead and manage Blackboard’s marketing efforts including all corporate, product and event marketing programs.

“We are very fortunate to have attracted a marketing professional as skilled as Mary to Blackboard,” said Stephen Hoffman, president and COO. “Mary’s experience managing client-focused marketing programs at organizations of varying sizes will prove incredibly valuable to our organization.” As the vice president of marketing, Mary will lead Blackboard’s brand building, grassroots marketing, client communications, and sales support initiatives across all industries. Mary will be the newest addition to the company’s executive team reporting to Stephen Hoffman.

“I have known Blackboard as an important force in our region~s entrepreneurial community and I am excited to join the company,” commented MacPherson. “Blackboard’s mission, culture and spirit of enhancing education through technology are incredibly appealing to me.”

Prior to joining Blackboard, Mary provided leadership and owned overall responsibility for the Morino Institute~s programs, activities and representation in entrepreneurship, including the operation of Netpreneur. Under Mary’s direction, the Netpreneur program has been a tremendous success, reaching thousands of individuals at both startups and established businesses, as well as investors, advisors, educational institutions and other intermediaries advancing entrepreneurship.

Prior to joining the Morino Institute, Mary spent five years with MCI where she had responsibilities in marketing, sales and customer service in both the Consumer and Business Markets organizations. While at MCI, she worked with global business customers on service integration and order management. Mary also spent several years at Apple Computer’s Federal Systems Group where she was responsible for the company’s marketing programs to the Federal government.

During her career, Mary has worked with startups and established companies in a variety of marketing and management roles, including START, Inc., FileTek, Informatics and the Washington Service Bureau.

Mary is a member of the Boards of Directors of the Mid-Atlantic Venture Association and the DC Tech Council and sits on the Advisory Board of the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (DC Chapter); she is on the Organizing Board for MindShare, is a member of Womenangels.net and is an active member of Women in Technology. Washingtonian Magazine named Mary one of the 100 most powerful women in Washington in September 2001. She graduated with a BA in American Studies from Washington College.

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