Company History
Windward was created by Windward Studios--both companies named for Founder David Thielen’s childhood home on the windward side of Oahu, Hawaii. It is headquartered in beautiful Boulder, Colorado. In 1994, Windward Studios was an innovative game development studio. Our first product was the popular and highly-rated RTS (Real-Time Strategy) game, Enemy Nations. With this huge success, we took our first step in software development. After six years of over-the-top sales, we now offer Enemy Nations to our customers for free. Not only that, but we still continue to support it for free.
After Enemy Nations, Windward re-dedicated its efforts to creating easy-to-use reporting products that were intuitive and delivered a huge value to their customers. Unlike Enemy Nations, Windward was now designing products to take up as little of the user's time as possible rather than having them up all night, every night, conquering the world. Simply put, Windward’s developers worked very hard to make its new products effortless. Ironic or not, this philosophy has created a worldwide reputation for Windward’s impressively easy-to-use reporting software. Although our goals have changed, our passion for innovation has not. We pride ourselves on the fact that Windward reporting software is the fastest, easiest, and most powerful reporting software on the market.
Since 2002, we have focused our efforts on developing the highest quality enterprise-level reporting software for business teams. In addition, we wanted to create a product that made it easy for nonprogrammers to design reports. At Windward, we have helped companies of all sizes, from small businesses to the Fortune 100 to government agencies, solve their reporting crises. Windward reporting tools are proven, high-quality products and in the years ahead, Windward will continue to deliver the most cutting-edge business software for development teams. Our experienced, well-appointed staff is uniquely qualified to meet these goals and to satisfy the demands of the marketplace.
Today, Windward's user group spans 70 countries and all continents except Antarctica. We have over 1000 customers whose applications include financial statements, inventory reports, product-usage reports, purchase orders, invoices, training certificates, timesheets, and licenses.
Executive Team
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Shirley Clawson |
Shirley became Windward's President/CEO in June 2009, following a 3-year tenure as Windward's VP of Operations. Her career spans more than 25 years of leadership in the software industry, including enterprise solutions, document management, legal, mortgage processing, entertainment and educational software. Prior to joining Windward, she held positions with IBM, Wonderland Hill Development Co & Interlinq Software. Shirley has a degree in Business from CSU.
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David Thielen |
Dave is a senior software developer with more than 30 years of experience, including work at startups SiTera (sold to Vitesse), QuickStreet, & Newmerix, in addition to four years at Microsoft. If you're really interested in the compulsory list of impressive-sounding titles he has held, check out Dave's LinkedIn profile. What the profile doesn't tell you is Dave once created a game so compelling (Enemy Nations) that a now-professional World of Warcraft player lost his job because he played it incessantly on company time.
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Lisa Harris |
Lisa has two decades of expertise in marketing technology products and services, publications, websites and conferences. Lisa joined Windward in 2006 as VP of Marketing. After managing both sales and marketing from 2008-2010, she now focuses on marketing strategy and programs as well as expanding Windward's active global partnership program. Prior to joining Windward, Lisa was President of Digital ID World, Consumer Marketing Director at Primedia, and Circulation and Database Manager at Athletic Business Publications.
Lisa holds a Master's of Arts from the University of Wisconsin and a Bachelor's of Arts from Scripps College in Claremont, CA.
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Jeff Nissley |
Jeff is a 15-year veteran of technology sales and business development. He specializes in connecting companies with high-tech applications ranging from reporting solutions to telecom to 3D CAD. Prior experience includes Director of Sales at PlastiComm Industries, Director of Sales at CDM Optics, and Sales Manager at MCAD Technologies, where he ranked as a top-five Rocky Mountain regional salesperson for three years running.
Jeff holds an MBA from the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado and a BSEE from Florida Tech.