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go be green

Goby was founded by a veteran team of entrepreneurs and executives from consulting and enterprise software backgrounds. Among them, they have more than 50 years of Fortune 100 experience in supply-chain consulting, project management and process optimization. They have also helped introduce multi-year, multi-million dollar software implementations to some of the largest companies in the world.

This is the second company co-founded by Ryan Nelson and Chris Happ, and all three Goby founders have worked closely together throughout their highly successful careers. Their individual qualities and unique approaches complement one another well and also help them continually move toward achieving their shared passions and visions.

Robert Six, Board of Advisors

Since Bob Six joined Zeller Realty Group® in 2001, his role has grown along with the company's success.

As Chief Operating Officer, he oversees management and administration for all ZRG entities and properties and is a co-investor in the company's properties. He touches every aspect of the business, from acquisitions and dispositions to development, marketing, leasing and property management.

Earlier, as Executive Vice President of marketing, leasing and operations, he secured major additions to the ZRG portfolio. On his watch, ZRG acquired 401 North Michigan Avenue and 500 North Michigan Avenue on Chicago's Magnificent Mile, and Old Orchard Towers in suburban Skokie. Outside the Chicago market, Mr. Six was instrumental in the firm's expansion into Wisconsin with the purchase of over 400,000 square feet of institutional-quality suburban Milwaukee office properties.

Mr. Six came to ZRG as a Vice President after five years at Jones Lang LaSalle Americas, Inc. ("JLL"), where he was a Senior Vice President in the leasing and management group. Earlier in his career, he oversaw the Midwest portfolio of COMPASS Management and Leasing (later acquired by JLL) and managed the downtown leasing portfolio for U.S. Equities Realty, LLC.

Whatever his official role, Mr. Six derives his greatest professional satisfaction from cultivating talent within the organization and mentoring up-and-coming professionals in the commercial real estate community. For over a decade, he chaired the Education Committee for the Building Owners and Managers Association of Chicago ("BOMA/Chicago") and most recently was the Chairman of its Information Committee. He is now President of BOMA/Chicago and sits on the organization's Board of Directors. Separately, Mr. Six also serves on the Finance Committee and IDF Committee of BOMA International. Mr. Six has lectured on commercial real estate for the Illinois CPA Society as well as the MBA programs of both Roosevelt and Northwestern Universities.

Widely recognized for his industry leadership, Mr. Six chaired the Commercial Real Estate Awards Dinner benefit committee in raising more than $800,000 for the Greater Chicago Food Depository amid the recession of 2009. He serves on the Commercial Real Estate Organization's Advisory Board as well as the Board of Directors of the Greater North Michigan Avenue Association where he also serves as the Vice Chair of its Cornerstone Council. Mr. Six is the past president of COLBA (2004), CREO (1990-91) and the Real Estate Consortium (1991). Ask him about his family and his face will noticeably brighten as he talks about his wife, Bridget, his twin daughters, Kate and Meg, and his son, Mac.

Ryan Nelson, COO, Goby LLC

Ryan Nelson has spent more than 10 years consulting for Fortune 100 companies, including industry leaders such as Southwest Airlines, Chevron, AIG, Baxter, Honeywell and Hallmark. He began his consulting career at PricewaterhouseCoopers (now IBM consulting), where he focused on supply chain efficiencies and operations. From there he moved to the technology industry to enterprise spend management thought leader and dot-com high-flyer, Ariba. He eventually left Ariba to co-found successful start-up blueSolutions, a supply-chain strategy and consulting firm. After rapidly growing the business, he and his co-founder, Chris Happ, agreed to an acquisition by Hubwoo, an internet-based enterprise collaboration engine specializing in SAP on-demand technologies.

Nelson co-founded the Green Committee for The Mid-America Club and currently serves on the membership committee for the US Green Building Council Chicago Chapter. He is leveraging his considerable experience to help launch Goby and create a healthier, happier world for us all.

Chris Happ, CEO, Goby LLC

Chris Happ has spent more than 10 years consulting for Fortune 100 companies, including industry leaders such as Southwest Airlines, ExxonMobil, AIG, Pfizer, and Walt Disney. He began his consulting career at PricewaterhouseCoopers (now IBM consulting), where he focused on supply chain efficiencies and operations and contributed extensively to the world's largest online collaboration portal. From there, he moved to the technology industry to enterprise spend management thought leader and dot-com high-flyer, Ariba. While there, his work as Manager of Technical Strategy focused on utilizing technology to create an efficient supply chain. He eventually left Ariba to co-found successful start-up blueSolutions, a supply-chain strategy and consulting firm. After rapidly growing the business, he and his co-founder, Ryan Nelson, agreed to an acquisition by Hubwoo, an internet-based enterprise collaboration engine specializing in SAP on-demand technologies.

Happ currently sits on the board of UrbanUp, a firm focused on renewing America's cities through training and outsourcing to the underprivileged, rather than to other countries. He is also an advisor to Technology For The Poor, a not-for-profit enterprise focused on using technology to help make dramatic gains for third-world countries. He remains actively involved with the U.S. Green Building Council, regularly speaking at events and chairs the membership committee of more than 1,500 members for the Illinois Chapter.

Happ is leveraging his considerable experience to help launch Goby and create a healthier, happier world for us all.