ML Mackey is the CEO and co-founder of Beacon Interactive Systems.  Beacon was started 16 years ago out of a rent-controlled apartment on Beacon Street in Massachusetts.  Since then, the company has experienced significant growth by delivering its collaborative enterprise software solutions to customers in both the private and public sector.  Private sector customers include MetLife, IBM and Olympus as well as global firms like the pan-European Venture Capital entity, E-Start.  With the economic downturn in the software industry in 2001, Ms. Mackey and her partner successfully navigated the company into the Federal marketplace.  Beacon is now a preferred provider to the U.S. Navy, delivering two key software systems to multiple System Commands and Program Executive Offices.  Recently, the Navy made the strategic decision to roll out Beacon’s maintenance software, TurboWork, to 460,000 users and every ship in U.S. Fleet Forces Command.

Increasingly recognized for her expertise in small business innovation, Mackey has participated in several legislative and policy initiatives.  She is a frequent invited speaker and, in 2007, was asked to provide testimony to the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.  Based on her experience of successfully delivering products to both private and public sector customers, Ms. Mackey was asked to speak at the 2008 Department of Defense Procurement Conference.  Also in 2008 Ms. Mackey received the Women Entrepreneurs in Science and Technology Leadership Award.  At the national level she serves on the Board of the National Small Business Association’s Small Business Technology Council and is a member of the National Defense Industrial Association’s Small Business Division Executive Committee.  At a regional level, she serves on the Board of the Small Business Association of New England and is a member of the High Technology Committee.  She is a member of the New England Innovation Alliance as well as a CEO Forum member of The Commonwealth Institute of Boston.

Prior to starting Beacon, Ms. Mackey worked for Digital Equipment Corporation.  Ms. Mackey holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Lehigh University.

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