Executive Team

Mr. Lee Barnes,

Founder and Chief Technology Officer

Lee has more than 14 years of experience in creating and delivering cutting-edge software quality solutions to the marketplace. Since founding Utopia Solutions in 1999, Lee has led numerous large-scale quality initiatives for many Fortune 500 companies, from implementing complete software development lifecycle processes to implementing complex technological improvement and monitoring programs.

Lee is responsible for expanding Utopia’s technological and service delivery capabilities, and ensuring successful solution delivery company wide.

Lee holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from the University of Illinois.

Mr. Jeeyoung Choi,

Managing Director, West Region

Jeeyoung is a certified software quality, testing and performance management consultant with over 11 years experience in Information Systems. He is a specialist in the implementation of full lifecycle software development processes, functional test automation, performance testing and related tools. Prior to joining Utopia, Jeeyoung held consulting positions at Spherion and EDS.

As Managing Director of Utopia Solutions’ western region, Jeeyoung is responsible for the firm’s regional delivery of software quality solutions which include process improvement, performance management and test automation.

Mr. Dave Sanders,

Advisory Board Member

Dave has over two decades of executive management, operational, financial, strategic planning/formulation, human resource management, crisis management, and international experiences in both large and middle market companies and consulting practices. Dave has held various positions throughout his career from CFO of a California based technology start-up, an independent consultant focusing on financial and operation improvement projects, a practice leader for a regional consulting firm (The Parkland Group) focused on business performance improvement engagements and at Ameritech in functional areas including finance, operations, human resources, and corporate strategy and planning.

Previously, he was in Price Waterhouse’s (PW) Organizational and Strategic Consulting group where he led a variety of performance improvement consulting engagements.

Dave holds a BSBA degree in Accounting from the University of Dayton and an MBA from the University of Chicago with concentrations in Strategy, Finance, Behavior Science, and Marketing.

Mr. Tom Caprel,

Advisory Board Member

Over the past 14 years, Tom has been working with companies to transform their business and create breakthrough results. Previously, Tom founded and ran two successful technology firms of which he continues to serve as a board member.

Tom holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Western Illinois University.

Mr. Mark Fitzgerald,

Chief Marketing Officer

Mark possesses over 26 years of solid marketing, sales and business management experience. He has directed the marketing and sales initiatives for several technology companies including a computer graphics division of General Electric and IT Lighthouse, an IT consulting firm specializing in supporting the infrastructures of small to midsize business.

Under his tenure as President and Managing Partner of Lighthouse LTD.; a Chicago-based Marketing Communications agency serving the Fortune 500, Fitzgerald grew the company from a small regional agency to a nationally known firm that was purchased by Caribiner Communications, a New York Stock Exchange company.

Mark is responsible for refining and implementing the company's strategic marketing plan.

Executive Team
Mr. Lee Barnes, Founder and Chief Technology Officer	Lee has more than 14 years of experience in creating and delivering cutting-edge software quality solutions to the marketplace. Since founding Utopia Solutions in 1999, Lee has led numerous large-scale quality initiatives for many Fortune 500 companies, from implementing complete software development lifecycle processes to implementing complex technological improvement and monitoring programs. Lee is responsible for expanding Utopia’s technological and service delivery capabilities, and ensuring successful solution delivery company wide. Lee holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from the University of Illinois.

Mr. Jeeyoung Choi, Managing Director, West Region	Jeeyoung is a certified software quality, testing and performance management consultant with over 11 years experience in Information Systems. He is a specialist in the implementation of full lifecycle software development processes, functional test automation, performance testing and related tools. Prior to joining Utopia, Jeeyoung held consulting positions at Spherion and EDS. As Managing Director of Utopia Solutions’ western region, Jeeyoung is responsible for the firm’s regional delivery of software quality solutions which include process improvement, performance management and test automation.

Mr. Dave Sanders, Advisory Board Member	Dave has over two decades of executive management, operational, financial, strategic planning/formulation, human resource management, crisis management, and international experiences in both large and middle market companies and consulting practices. Dave has held various positions throughout his career from CFO of a California based technology start-up, an independent consultant focusing on financial and operation improvement projects, a practice leader for a regional consulting firm (The Parkland Group) focused on business performance improvement engagements and at Ameritech in functional areas including finance, operations, human resources, and corporate strategy and planning. Previously, he was in Price Waterhouse’s (PW) Organizational and Strategic Consulting group where he led a variety of performance improvement consulting engagements. Dave holds a BSBA degree in Accounting from the University of Dayton and an MBA from the University of Chicago with concentrations in Strategy, Finance, Behavior Science, and Marketing.

Mr. Tom Caprel, Advisory Board Member	Over the past 14 years, Tom has been working with companies to transform their business and create breakthrough results. Previously, Tom founded and ran two successful technology firms of which he continues to serve as a board member. Tom holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Western Illinois University.


Mr. Mark Fitzgerald, Chief Marketing Officer	Mark possesses over 26 years of solid marketing, sales and business management experience. He has directed the marketing and sales initiatives for several technology companies including a computer graphics division of General Electric and IT Lighthouse, an IT consulting firm specializing in supporting the infrastructures of small to midsize business. Under his tenure as President and Managing Partner of Lighthouse LTD.; a Chicago-based Marketing Communications agency serving the Fortune 500, Fitzgerald grew the company from a small regional agency to a nationally known firm that was purchased by Caribiner Communications, a New York Stock Exchange company. Mark is responsible for refining and implementing the company's strategic marketing plan.