University of Washington Information School Appoints Smartsheet CEO Mark Mader to Founding Board

BELLEVUE, Wash., Feb. 7, 2018 – The University of Washington Information School (iSchool) today announced the appointment of Mark Mader, CEO of Smartsheet, to its Founding Board. The iSchool is an undergraduate and graduate school that offers BS, MLIS, MSIM, and Ph.D. degrees. Its mission is to prepare information leaders; research the problems and opportunities of information; design solutions to information challenges and; make information work.

“We’re very pleased to have Mark join the Founding Board as we work together to drive forward the vision and mission of the iSchool,” said Dr. Anind Dey, dean, University of Washington iSchool. “Mark is passionate about innovation and understands the importance of connecting information, people, and technology. His perspective as an entrepreneur, business leader, and industry disrupter will be invaluable to the iSchool as we examine the challenges and opportunities presented by the volume and variety of information we encounter in nearly every aspect of our daily lives.”

Mader is CEO of Smartsheet, a high-growth SaaS company headquartered in Bellevue, Washington that is transforming the way organizations manage and execute work. Mark is a prominent figure in the Seattle-area technology community, having been recognized as Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year in Technology for the Pacific Northwest and GeekWire’s CEO of the Year. Mader was drawn to the iSchool’s focus on creating “human centered” information systems that help people and organizations achieve their full potential.

“In an increasingly information-driven world, I share the iSchool’s passion for discovering more effective ways of using information to help people and organizations learn, innovate, and connect,” said Mader. “I look forward to contributing to the growth, success, and impact of the iSchool as it connects people with the right information at the right time, and harnesses information’s potential to be an agent for positive societal change.”

“Mark will serve as an important extension of our board as we seek to build deeper connections in the community, expand our investments, and propel UW to the forefront of information technology and education for generations to come,” said Bob Davis, Corporate Vice President, Skype Business Services & Office 365 Customer Experience, Microsoft Corporation. “Smartsheet is one of the region’s most innovative companies and as a pioneer in delivering better collaboration solutions to customers, Mark will be a great collaborator with other board members, the iSchool, and students.”

Prior to joining Smartsheet in 2006, Mader served as senior vice president of global services for Onyx Software, leading the consulting and customer-facing teams in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. He holds a B.A. in Geography from Dartmouth College.

The Founding Board has 19 members who serve as business and community leaders committed to promoting the academic and research efforts of the iSchool. The Board also offers strategic advice to the dean with a focus on building awareness of and attracting resources to the iSchool, and leads fundraising initiatives.

About UW iSchool
The University of Washington Information School recognizes the importance of information in society, and our community of dedicated faculty, students and staff is working to make information a catalyst for change, growth and innovation. Employing an interdisciplinary approach, the iSchool explores and examines the challenges and opportunities presented by the volume and variety of information we encounter in nearly every aspect of our daily lives. Through teaching, research and practice, we are improving the ways people and organizations create, find, store, manipulate and share information, while fostering a collaborative culture in which inclusiveness and connectedness are celebrated as necessary parts of academic excellence.

About Smartsheet
Organizations need a way to get work done, not just talk about it. Smartsheet is the best way to plan, track, automate, and report on work, enabling you to move from idea to impact — fast. Smartsheet’s cloud-based platform for work execution empowers collaboration, drives more efficient decision making, and accelerates innovation for over 70,000 brands in 190 countries, including more than 50 percent of the Fortune 500. Smartsheet complements existing enterprise investments by deeply integrating with applications from Microsoft, Google, Salesforce, Atlassian, and many others.

Headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, Smartsheet has more than 780 employees in its Bellevue and Boston offices as of February 2018. To learn more, visit www.Smartsheet.com.