Delaware Business Blog

High growth firm reinventing the traditional Board of Directors

Trellist Marketing and Technology, a professional services firm offering Business Strategy, Marketing & Branding, IT & Application Development, and Education & eLearning, has added a business savvy twist to the traditional structure of a Board of Directors and introduced its Board of Activators.

Much like a Board of Directors, Trellist’s Board of Activators provides advisement and governance to guide business activities, but unlike a traditional Board of Directors, the Activators also operate within the firm’s unique business structure, driving and participating in the daily business activity and opportunities.

“The Board of Activators comprises seasoned industry leaders, who work alongside our C-level executives, Business Development team, and leaders in our vertical business units of Financial Services, Pharmaceutical, Consumer Goods and Services, and Manufacturing,” explains Byron Burpulis, Chief Business Development Officer, at Trellist. “By pairing the Activators’ marketplace and thought leadership with Trellist’s capabilities in marketing and technology, we are developing new dynamic business opportunities.”

“We take seriously the responsibility that we have for the rapidly growing group of nearly 100 professionals who work here,” says David Atadan, Trellist CEO. “Employing experienced, business-minded leaders at our firm and on our Board of Activators allows us to provide the customized and insightful solutions that our clients need for growth and success, which ensures our own growth and success.”

Along with this week’s announcement, Trellist also announced the addition of two members, Bill Freeborn and Wills Elliman, to the firm’s Board of Activators.

Bill Freeborn brings over three decades of experience to Trellist, having served as Senior Vice President at Corporation Service Company (CSC), where his vision and strategic direction helped establish CSC as a leader in their field. In recent years, Bill has consulted and invested with emerging companies and has remained active with public and private economic development sectors such as First State Innovation Fund and other early-stage venture capital organizations. Bill is also a former Delaware Assistant Secretary of State and Director of Delaware’s Division of Corporations.

Wills Elliman is a Partner at leading real estate firm Newmark Knight Frank Smith Mack. Wills has represented Fortune 500 companies, law firms, and institutional landlords in well-developed real estate asset programs, delivering enduring ROI. Wills brings to Trellist an understanding of a company’s organic and acquisition growth, and a deep awareness of how these events can determine and affect a company’s future.

“Adding Bill’s and Wills’s expertise and insight to our Board of Activators brings even more depth to Trellist’s strategic approach to business,” says Atadan.

Freeborn and Elliman join current Board of Activators members Tom Trezise and Clint Laird.

Tom Trezise has held leading roles at Computer Sciences Corporation, DuPont, and AT&T. Tom’s unique understanding of large-scale technical processes, and their relationship to new revenue cycles, has made him a key collaborator for Trellist as well as a leader and advisor to nationally recognized initiatives and organizations such as ReThink Health, E.I. DuPont de Nemours Corp., Fluor, World Economic Forum, Board of Lancaster University UK, Direct Marketing Association, and the Board of Delaware Health Information Network .

Clint Laird utilized his 25 years of knowledge in the insurance industry to found personal health record vendor CapMed in 1999. He later invested his resources and thought leadership into Universata, as the company’s CEO. Clint has also held numerous advisory, executive, and board positions with organizations such as the Nemours Foundation of the A.I. duPont Hospital for Children, YMCA, United Way of Delaware, Delaware AeroSpace Foundation, and Blood Bank of Delmarva.

“We believe that business success is only achieved when it is sustainable. Our Board of Activators will help us and our clients continue to achieve long-term success,” says Atadan.

About Trellist Marketing and Technology

Founded in 1995, Trellist Marketing and Technology is a mid-size professional services firm with practice areas in Business Strategy, Marketing & Branding, IT & Application Development, and Education & eLearning. Trellist offers high-level strategic consulting and tactical design & development as a full-service agency or a resource management organization. Headquartered in Wilmington, DE, Trellist works with global, national and regional clients.

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