DEAN KAPLAN  Co-Founder & President  dkaplan@slomedia.com

Dean Kaplan, 41, is SloMedia's co-founder and President. A proven veteran of the digital media business, Kaplan works closely with all SloMedia clients and partners. Kaplan oversees the day-to-day activities of SloMedia, including implementation of strategic and tactical plans, marketing and technical efforts, and client services. He maintains regular contact with a large number of diverse new media companies and technical innovators, garnering valuable insight into the needs and opportunities in the digital entertainment economy. Kaplan specializes in converting this knowledge into strategies for a competitive advantage for SloMedia.

Kaplan was Interim COO at Rapstation.com during the first half of 2000, one of SloMedia's client companies. In a six-month time frame, Kaplan managed the meteoric development of Rapstation.com on a shoestring marketing budget. More than 25 partnerships have been established with leading music sites such as RealNetworks, Launch, MyPlay & Listen.com and have resulted in the acquisition of 500,000 regular monthly visits, thereby propelling Rapstation.com into the dominant site in its space.

Up until 1999, Kaplan was CFO of Xing Technology, where he managed the company's legendary mp3 business unit, and was instrumental in the turnaround of the company and negotiating the sale of Xing to RealNetworks for $75 million. Kaplan's enormously successful stewardship of Xing's mp3 business resulted in Xing capturing 95% worldwide market share of all mp3 files made.

Kaplan had his own small business experience as the owner and operator of AMI, a Los Angeles based merchandizing concern. At AMI, Kaplan purchased and integrated three companies and managed a sales effort that resulted in 500% increase in revenues. He also developed and trained a full management team, designed and implemented computer systems and successfully accomplished all other operational tasks necessary for entrepreneurial success, making him very familiar with the trials and tribulations of early stage companies.

Previously, Kaplan was a consultant in the Merger and Acquisition Department of KPMG Peat Marwick. At KPMG, he specialized in business planning and mergers and acquisitions, while also performing more than 100 business valuations. He established the first-ever financial modeling program for a major leveraged buy out firm, and was project manager on acquisitions including Budget Rent a Car and Jack-in-the-Box. He also was responsible for the development and preparation of business plans, negotiating strategies on numerous transactions, and lead several turn-around engagements for struggling enterprises. Kaplan began his career as a financial analyst for Xerox Corporation.

Kaplan earned his MBA from the University of Chicago and his BA from Claremont McKenna College. He is married with two young children and lives in San Luis Obispo. He enjoys exploring the rich marine life of the Central Californian coast with his children, and is an avid mountain biker and backpacker.