WORKING TOGETHER

What We Stand For: It's All About You

Opening Bell Ventures provides high-impact transformational services to C-level executives to help them shape and successfully execute on their Omni-Channel Digital Strategies. Today, more than ever, companies face the imperative of enhancing and aggressively accelerating their Digital Agenda. We help our clients by employing multi-disciplinary teams led by change agents and digital innovators who are experts in their respective fields.

Our services include Data Enablement, Advanced Analytics, Machine Learning & AI, Hybrid Clouds, Secure and Ethical Data Management Practices, Agile Execution, and most importantly - Continuous Change Management and Communications to help organizations quickly adapt in the face of disruption to current work practices.

We assume full ownership for successful delivery and our flexible pricing models ensure that we are always aligned in a tight partnership with our clients on both risks and rewards as opposed to the more traditional T&M model which often rewards incents higher extended timelines and continuously increasing costs.

Our practice and engagement leads, as well as each member of our staff, act like owners with no exception and will work relentlessly to achieve our joint goals. We are highly culturally adept and forge a seamless partnership with your organization throughout every step of your Digital Journey to ensure your success.

Team

Leadership

Avi Kalderon

CEO & Co-Founder

Avi’s superpower is taking complex business challenges and finding the right digital solutions that can be implemented in a pragmatic way. As a passionate change agent, Avi helps his clients realize demonstrable revenue growth opportunities while optimizing operational efficiency through evangelizing thought-process on how to transform organizations successfully. Most importantly, Avi helps build and strengthen the partnership between business leaders and their technology counterparts to successfully get to the goal line.

Avi has over 30 years of experience producing innovative business solutions in the enterprise and consulting environments. His resume includes Managing Partner & Head of Global Delivery at NewVantage Partners, Head of Architecture & Advanced Technology for FINRA (Financial Services Regulatory Authority), Technology General Manager at Bridgewater Associates, and CIO for Enterprise Technologies at CIT to name a few. Avi also sits on the Board of several technology startups. He is also a featured speaker at industry forums on Big Data, Smart Analytics, and Disruptive Technologies. Avi holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Systems Engineering from the University of Warwick in Coventry United Kingdom.

When not living and breathing technology, Avi can be found honing his photography skills, tinkering with home automation, and watching his wife and daughter ride horses.

Valerie Kalderon

Co-Founder

Valerie learned a lot about planning, people and process from an early age. Being one of seven children in her “Brady Bunch” family meant finding efficient and thoughtful ways to get her way. She carried that experience over to her career of 25+ years on Wall Street where she was a senior leader of global teams in technology, program management, product management, operations and client services. She is known to her teams as “the Fixer,” give her a challenge and she will get the right people, process and technology to get it done ahead of time and under budget. Key to her success is her ruthless determination to get to the finish line while building strong partnerships and trust along the way.

Valerie spent the majority of her career at JPMorgan running enterprise programs for the Investment Bank. Her extensive experience in data management, technology and operations led her to Head of Customer Care at AngelSense, an Israeli startup. At AngelSense, she gained the invaluable experience of bootstrapping and running an entirely remote Global Customer Care organization. Valerie holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Albright College.

When not managing Opening Bell’s investments and day-to-day operations, Valerie can be found traveling the country competing on her stable of horses.

Andrew Blake

Chief Data Officer

Andrew has over 25 years of experience leading digital transformations in the financial services, insurance and consumer sectors. Prior to joining Opening Bell Ventures, Andrew drove Data and Agile Transformation efforts for Ally Financial, including the establishment of Ally’s award-winning Data-To-Intelligence Program, focused on enabling data to be a competitive organizational asset. Prior to Ally, Andrew held senior leadership roles at LPL Financial, Wells Fargo, and OneBeacon Insurance Group. Andrew is a graduate of the University of Illinois and holds an M.B.A. from Babson College.

Don Fifer
Managing Director

Don is a highly accomplished sales executive known for his exceptional client relationship building and success in competitive markets. He serves as a trusted advisor to C-level decision makers, middle managers, and front-line employees across various industries, using a consultative and strategic approach to deliver outstanding results. Don's expertise includes guiding organizations through digital transformations, enhancing risk management, and improving efficiency and organizational confidence. His profound market understanding and commitment to excellence makes him a transformative sales leader who creates lasting value. Outside of work, he enjoys golfing and spending time with his three grandchildren.

Corinne brings over a wealth of experience leading and delivering high-impact digital transformation programs. Prior to joining Opening Bell Ventures, Corinne was leading digital solutions for Finance at Mars and CIT implementing automation and improving digital insights. Corinne is a certified PMP with Agile and Scrum training and is a passionate supporter of STEM and female empowerment programs. Corinne holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Marketing from Stockton University.

Corinne Lowenstein

Chief Operating Officer

Leah brings extensive experience in technology, operations, portfolio, and program management including development lifecycle management, conceptual design, implementation, and governance. Prior to joining Opening Bell Ventures, Leah was key to the success of transformational programs at Credit Suisse First Boston, MetLife, Bank of America, and Countrywide. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from New York University.

Leah Pollack
Digital Ninja