1000 Urlin Avenue
#A18
Columbus, Ohio 43212
Mobile: 214-616-8711
E-mail:
bdiffenderffer@msn.com
Bill Diffenderffer
Business History
September 2013 to Present
The Ohio State University
Lecturer on Entrepreneurship : MBA and Undergraduate
January 2010 to June 2013
Silvercar, Inc.
Chairman and Co-Founder
Chief Executive Officer – 2010 to 2012
SilverCar is a new business model for the car rental industry. It began
operations in January 2013 (after 2 years of fund raising and planning)
and is now operating at the following airports: DFW, Dallas Love,
Austin, and Houston Hobby. Silvercar rents only Audi A4s and uses the
latest mobile based technology to dramatically improve the customer
experience. It has raised over $15 million from Venture Capital firms
and an additional $30 million for vehicle financing. It has plans to open
at 6 more major airports before the end of 2014.
January 2009 to 2011
GoAmericaProject
Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder
GoAmericaProject is a technology platform designed to provide and
support a suite of services for facilitating political organization and
expression. It presents a website where people are encouraged to speak
out as individuals and build coalitions. The coalitions are provided
services that allow for substantial interaction with their constituents and
with other coalitions. Its data management capabilities set a new
standard for the political environment.
June 2005 – April 2008
Chief Executive Officer
SKYBUS AIRLINES, INC.
Skybus Airlines started operations as a commercial air carrier in early
2007 following over 2 years of start – up preparations. As it turned out,
our timing was terrible. The price for jet fuel more than doubled and the
economy, particularly in our home market of Ohio, went into deep
recession. Our record-setting beginning was lost in the perfect storm
that hit the airline industry in early 2008.
During my three years leading Skybus we accomplished the
following:
(1) Raised over $160 million in equity capital;
(2) Obtained FAA Certification in record time;
(3) Entered into a $3 billion new aircraft purchase order for 65
A319’s on very attractive terms (as demonstrated by the ultimate
disposition of the fleet);
(4) Developed the Skybus brand and initiated the very successful $10
fare;
(5) Carried one million passengers in our first ten months;
(6) Grew to 11 aircraft and over 50 daily departures to over 25 city
pairs;
(7) Carried 6,000 passengers per day.
May, 2004 – June 2005
Dallas, Texas
RONIN CONSULTING
President and Partner
Wrote The Samurai Leader: Winning Business Battles with the
Wisdom, Honor and Courage of the Samurai Code. Published by
Sourcebooks, Inc. in Fall, 2005. The book is now being published
worldwide and has been translated into eight languages.
Providing business strategy and technology consulting services
principally to the travel and transportation industry.
Representative project: International Air Transport Association
(IATA)
November 1, 2004 to February 1, 2005 Led the strategic
development of IATA’s
Simplifying the Business Program aimed at
reducing $3-5 Billion in annual costs in the global airline industry
through initiatives such as 100% Electronic Ticketing and Common
Use Self Service (CUSS) technologies.
July, 2001 – May, 2004
Dallas, Texas
IBM CORPORATION
Partner (Vice President), Global Travel and Transportation,
Business Consulting Services
Led Senior Executive Team in developing a new global strategy for
IBM’s Travel and Transportation Business ($2.3 Billion in Revenue).
Played a significant role in signing several $100m+ T & T transactions.
Member of Industry Leadership Team.
Provided strategic leadership for development of $1billion opportunity
in Asia/Pacific (China).
Provided strategic consulting services at several major airline and travel
technology companies in Asia/Pacific region including major
technology review for Cathay Pacific.
Discussed business opportunities for partnering between IBM and many
of the major global travel industry companies at senior executive level
(US, EMEA and AP).
March 1998–July, 200
XTRA ON-LINE
Dallas, TX
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
XTRA On-line (XOL) was a leading developer and provider of Internetbased travel planning and reservation software and services designed for
use by the business traveler. It had approximately 75 employees.
Peregrine Software acquired it in September 2001.
I was brought in as CEO by the venture capital firm that had funded the
start-up of XOL. The company was only a year old and had not made any
progress. It had run out of the initial capital and its product did not work.
While I was CEO, XOL:
Signed up over 25% of the top 100 travel agencies as exclusive or
primary distributors of our product (including Rosenbluth International
and Navigant International)
Established a strategic relationship with Worldspan and American
Express
Designed and implemented XOL’s new strategic direction
Designed and put into production unique state-of-the-art travel
technology (now a major component of American Express’s travel
planning service)
Raised over $33m in equity capital
1986–1998
SYSTEM ONE CORPORATION
Houston, TX
SystemOne provided computer reservation and information
management systems to the travel industry worldwide. It provided
reservation services to 20% of U.S. travel agencies and information
management services to more than 40% including American Express
and other mega-agencies. It employed directly or indirectly (through a
major outsource relationship) 3000 people. In 1995, Amadeus and EDS
each bought 33 1/3% of the company. From 1995 to 1998 Continental
Airlines, Electronic Data Systems (EDS) and Amadeus Holdings (a
company that dominates the CRS industry in Europe and was then
jointly owned by Lufthansa, Air France and Iberia Airlines) owned it
equally. Until April 1995 SystemOne was a wholly owned subsidiary
of Continental Airlines. Its major competition was SABRE, Galileo
and Worldspan.
Chief Executive Officer and President – SystemOne Amadeus
(1995 - 1998)
SystemOne Amadeus was the successor to SystemOne Corporation. In
April 1995, the joint venture was concluded among Continental
Airlines, EDS and Amadeus whereby each became a one-third owner
of SystemOne and SystemOne merged its computer reservations
operations with Amadeus thereby creating the world’s largest travel
industry reservation system. I was the chief architect and negotiator of
this transaction.
Successfully migrated SystemOne Travel Agency base to the Amadeus
system.
Grew Market Share.
Earned rating of best GDS in customer satisfaction.
Dramatically increased valuation of SystemOne, as measured by
Continental Airlines ownership interest.
Chief Executive Officer and President – SystemOne Corporation
(1991 - 1995)
Reported Directly to CEO of Continental Airlines. SystemOne
operated independently of parent. NOTE: Continental and SystemOne
entered Chapter 11 proceedings in December 1990 and exited Chapter
11 in 1993. From 1991 to 1995, the following objectives were
accomplished:
Dramatically turned around profitability – company became profitable
after years of heavy losses.
Successfully emerged from Chapter 11.
Consistently grew market share.
Established new vision (widely acknowledged as pioneering industry’s
new direction for travel management services for the future).
Arranged sale of SystemOne to (1) liquidate Continental ownership
interest, and (2) establish leverage in marketplace. (This set of
transactions resulted in an increase in value from $50 million to over
$600 million in favor of Continental.)
From 1993 to 1995, was also Senior Vice President of Continental
Airlines and a member of its Senior Management Policy Committee.
Vice President / Group Vice President (1986 – 1991)
Joined SystemOne as General Counsel and Secretary responsible for all
legal matters affecting the company, including staff of internal and
outside counsel. Provided both business and legal advice with respect to
all matters. Managed, as of January 1989, a section of the company
providing marketing distribution, economic planning and contract
administration relating to 8,000 travel agency customers. In 1990 added
responsibility for finance.
1981–1986
EASTERN AIRLINES
Miami, FL
General Attorney (Director Level 1985-1986)
Responsible for all legal matters relating to finance, marketing, computer
services and airline operations; supervised staff attorneys, negotiated
aircraft purchase transactions aggregating $1 billion plus and counseled
all areas of senior management.
Senior Attorney
Responsible within Legal Department for all corporate finance matters,
handling either directly or monitoring outside counsel. Negotiated
senior and subordinate debt agreements (secured and unsecured),
receivables financing, aircraft leases, safe harbor lease agreements,
conditional sale agreements (for aircraft) and a variety of security
arrangements.
SMITH, GAMBRELL & RUSSELL Atlanta, GA
(Formerly Gambrell, Russell & Forbes)
Attorney
Worked primarily on corporate finance matters for this major Atlanta
law firm, including private placement and public debt offerings. Also
handled international trade questions and some litigation matters.
Education &
Personal
L.L.M. Georgetown University Law Center
Washington, DC
J. D. Georgetown University Law Center
Washington, DC
B.B.A. (General Business) University of Miami Miami, FL
Interests: Writing, Golf ( 8 handicap ) , reading history
Not Married