Our Approach
Annota, LLC consulting staff is comprised of Subject Matter Experts with the following expertise:
- Detailed understanding of the vertical market software products that are traditionally installed to support the operations of companies or entities in vertical markets.
- Detailed understanding of the market providers and business activities that are involved in supporting vertical businesses.
- Detailed understanding of the IT architecture and infrastructure supporting vertical businesses.
- Detailed understanding of the types of intrusion patterns typically experienced in commercially-oriented software architectures and implementations.
- Ability to assess the impact of sophisticated cyber security products and procedures on established business software and processes.
- Ability to assist government entities and companies in implementing redefined business processes to minimize impact on the enterprise and satisfy cyber security requirements.
We are located throughout the US. Our Industry focus has included the Telecommunications, Energy, Logistics and Manufacturing industries. Major software solution packages prevalent in these industries, along with underlying standard industry information technology architectures and processes, are our stock in trade.
Our Approach
Our Story
Meet the Founders
Jim Serafin
Founder & CEO
Jim graduated with Honors from Villanova University (Mathematics) and Lehigh University (Mathematics) and lives in Nazareth PA.
Early in his career he was a senior account executive with EDS between (1989 - 1997).
After leaving EDS he founded a technology startup firm Emerald Solutions (1997-2001). Jim was responsible for establishing an Eastern US technology consulting presence focused on the then nascent corporate performance management (CPM) services market. The practice eventually exceeded 100 employees and expanded to 5 locations.
In 2001 Jim joined SBI Holdings as CEO and President of the performance management and information technology division (SBI Enteris), acquisition due diligence team member, acquired entity integration programs leader and, finally, as lead executive of the firm’s newly created integrated marketing division (SBI Razorfish). Jim developed SBI Enteris into the largest division of the holding company, eventually leading over 200 professionals in 8 locations. During his time as an executive with SBI (2001- 2006).
Jim then joined Enterpulse as President and COO. His responsibilities were sales, marketing and implementation services of the firm. Enterpulse is a national information technology firm servicing Fortune 1000 companies such as Visa, American Airlines, Aflac, CIT, and AT&T among others as well as large non profit entities such as Blue Cross Blue Shield (multiple states). The firm is focused on delivering information technology solutions in 3 distinct areas: corporate performance management, portals and content management solutions.
In 2009, Jim founded as a partner with 3 other past Information Technology colleagues Liberty Technology Advisors (LTA) focused on servicing Fortune 2000 companies. The firm specializes in process design/redesign efforts with a concentration in Enterprise Resource Planning implementations, Transaction Services consulting and large scale Program and Project Management offices for long term business transformation initiatives.
Dr. Karl Wilhelm
Co-Founder & VP
Dr. Karl Wilhelm is a founder and Managing Director of Rock Hall Partners. Karl was also a founder of the PatentBoard. PatentBoard owns a proprietary data base of patent information and patent quality metrics. PatentBoard provides primarily Global Fortune 1000 clients with patent quality assessments and intellectual property consulting services. PatentBoard’s metrics and consulting services support intellectual property valuation and strategy; patent licensing; mergers and acquisitions; patent transactions, and product development. Karl developed an equity trading factor that is used to measure innovation level and quality of companies in patent-intensive industries.
Previously, Karl was involved in founding the SBI Group, a professional services firm that in five years grew to over $160M in revenue. Karl performed several functions at the SBI Group—original strategy determination, raising the invested capital, mergers and acquisitions, several operational roles, and directed all marketing. SBI raised $75M from Cerberus Capital, New York. During a five year period SBI acquired over ten companies with offices and clients throughout the US and Europe. Karl was involved in target selection, negotiation, and integration. He developed an integrated marketing strategy and execution program for the company; and for a period of two years ran all marketing operations for the entire company. SBI was sold to Aquantive which was later acquired by Microsoft.
For a period of two years, Karl worked closely with the Cerberus Private Equity Committee and Ableco Finance where he performed several due diligence efforts. During this period he supported the due diligence efforts for software companies, manufacturers, leisure industry companies, professional services organizations, and real estate services companies.
Prior to founding SBI, Karl worked for SRA International, a professional services company located in Fairfax, Virginia. He held several positions over his 19-year tenure with the company. SRA was primarily a government-focused system integrator though Karl also started the commercial systems integration program which grew to over $20M revenues in two years -- all organically – at which point it ranked #2 in the U.S in its market segment.
Karl was born in the Midwest about 150 miles west of Chicago. He has BA in physics and mathematics from Ripon College; a MS in physics from the U. of N. Dakota; and a PhD from the U. of Virginia in systems engineering.