The Executive Staff

JT Smith
JT Smith is President of Plain Black Corporation, and creator of the open source content management system WebGUI. In 1999, JT began working on a project called Web Done Right. A professional in Internet technology since 1992, he recognized the need for a web application framework that married both ease of use and power. Web Done Right evolved and after a number of revisions JT launched WebGUI and its parent company, Plain Black Corporation, in 2001. Less than a decade since its inception, WebGUI has become one of the most popular content management systems available.

In the process, JT's expertise and experience have earned him recognition as an innovative and knowledgeable leader in the open source community. JT has spoken internationally at conferences and institutions including HOSC, PerlSIG, OSCOM, Harvard, and YAPC. He has written articles and given expert interviews for such publications as eWeek, Computer World,  LinuxWorld, the Intranet Journal, Chicago Daily Herald, and NewsForge. He also supports local publications and user groups by speaking and participating as a leader in the open source community.

JT Smith, Plain Black Corporation, and WebGUI are currently headquartered in Madison, WI.

jt AT plainblack DOT com

Jamie Vrbsky
Jamie Vrbsky is the Vice President of Operations for Plain Black and has been with the company since January of 2005. Prior to Plain Black, Jamie worked for a large telecommunications company and was instrumental in the transition of operations when companies were assimilated and new markets reached.  

Jamie holds a degree in Sociology and Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. While in college, Jamie was the operations director for the campus television station. After college he began his career as a Management Trainee for a national car rental chain. There, he learned how to manage day to day operations and fleet levels to ensure a fiscally successful office. The knowledge gained from this career has helped keep Plain Black and WebGUI growing at a consistent level to ensure customer expectations are met.  

As Vice President of Operations, Jamie's current responisibilities at Plain Black include training, accounting, and organizing the annual WebGUI Users Conference.

jamie AT plainblack DOT com

Tavis Parker
Tavis Parker is the Vice President of Marketing for Plain Black and joined the company in 2007. He is responsible for the strategy and implementation of corporate communication and marketing operations. Tavis also serves as the media contact for JT Smith and works with major media organizations who publish JT's technical articles and case studies. Prior to joining Plain Black, Tavis held several senior IT infrastructure positions at a Fortune 500 pharmaceutical company and later managed a successful design firm that specialized in WebGUI-based solutions. Tavis holds a Bachelors Degree in Computer Information Systems from Western Michigan University.

tavis AT plainblack DOT com