Craig Newmark
Board of Directors, Founder
Craig is a senior Web-oriented software engineer, with around 30 years of experience (including 17 years at IBM), and has learned a lot about online community and customer service as "customer service rep and founder" for craigslist.org since 1995. He's compiled extensive experience evangelizing the 'net, leading and building, including efforts at Bank of America and Charles Schwab.
He's one of those guys you hear about who grew up wearing a plastic pocket protector, thick black glasses, (taped together), and who expresses his inner nerd via obsessive commitment to customer service to the craigslist community. Someday, he might get a day off.
In 1995, he started craigslist which serves as a non-commercial community service with classifieds and discussion forums. craigslist focuses on helping people with basic needs, starting with housing and jobs, with a pervasive culture of trust.
Craig's also involved with a number of community efforts, particularly involving mideast peace and new forms of media, involving "participatory journalism" and blogging.
He's been featured in the Associated Press, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Business Week, Time Magazine, and Esquire Magazine.