Edward G. Viltz is president and founder of the Internet Collaboration Coalition (InternetCC). He has over 25 years of international executive management, consulting and entrepreneurial experience in the information technology marketplace.

He was the founding President of the Public Interest Registry (PIR), manager of the .ORG top level Internet domain, serving from 2002 through 2006. During that time PIR experienced phenomenal revenue growth from $1.9 million to over $32 million. In addition, .org domain names under management grew from 2.6 million to 5.3 million while attaining all budget and financial objectives.  The .org domain is now growing at a greater percentage rate than both .com and .net.

He previously formed Technology Integration Solutions (TIS), an international consulting company, as a project management and business development firm focusing on setting up school-based Internet and technology partnerships between the United States and African countries. He was vice president and chief operations officer for Pulsar Data Systems. He also co-founded and served as president of Enterprise Integration Corporation (EIC) and held a variety of key management posts with the IBM Corporation.

During his IBM career, he helped develop multiple new business distribution and industry channels. In addition, he held several executive-level and management positions nationwide, and he was recognized for business management, revenue growth and human resources development. Most notable, he was a Loaned Executive from IBM to the small disadvantaged business community, and he developed a national network of technology companies owned by female and minority entrepreneurs.

Currently, he is on the board and is past chairman of Progressive Life Centers. He also is on the board of the School of Information Studies, Syracuse University; and the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC).  Additionally, he served on former White House councils on small business and closing the digital divide. He is also a member of the Bulgarian President’s IT Advisory Council and has consulted to governments, civil society organizations and corporations internationally.

He has a bachelor's degree from Southern University in New Orleans (SUNO) and has done graduate studies at Harvard University school of business and also holds a master's degree in organizational management from the University of Phoenix. In 1993, he was inducted into the Who's Who in Black America.

Michael Palage, Esq., Board Member

Michael Palage is an intellectual property attorney and an information technology consultant. He holds a Bachelors of Science in Electrical Engineering from Drexel University, and a Juris Doctorate from the Temple University School of Law. He has been actively involved in ICANN operational and policy matters since its formation in various capacities, including a three-year term on its Board of Directors. 

He provides consulting services to domain name registration authorities and other technology related companies.  He has also testified before the United States House Judiciary Subcommittee regarding the accuracy and access of domain name Whois data, and as an expert witness in a number of Internet legal proceeding on behalf of law enforcement and large corporation.

R. Benjamin Johnson, Ph.D., Board Member

Dr. Johnson has a reputation for personal integrity and toughness, his expertise spans over two decades of nationally recognized leadership in management and public policy.  He serves as Senior Counselor to numerous firms, including Porter Novelli, Ogilvy, the National Cancer Institute and Spectrum Sciences, to name a few.

Ben has the distinction of being one of the longest serving African American members in White House history. He served two years under President Jimmy Carter and was one of 30 staff members to serve the entire eight years with President Clinton. In the Carter White House, he served as Director of Consumer Programs and was an assistant to noted consumer advocate Esther Peterson.

One of the highest-ranking African Americans in White House history, Johnson last served as Assistant to the President and Director of the President's Initiative for One America. In that capacity, he oversaw the first freestanding White House office in history to examine and focus on closing the opportunity gap that exists for minorities in the US. He served as the White House point person for promoting the President's race relations goals. He was also responsible for coordinating the race relation work of all federal agencies.

Ben joined the White House staff in 1993 as an Associate Director in the Office of Public Liaison and later became the most promoted White House staff member in the Clinton White House. He served as Special Assistant to the President, and was responsible for all areas of outreach to the African American community. He later served as Deputy Assistant to the President, with an expanded portfolio that included all areas of outreach to various constituencies, including seniors, Hispanics, Jewish, White Ethnics and members of the Disability Community. He is a strong advocate for opportunity and responsibility.

Ben has served in key positions in local and federal governments. After leaving the Carter Administration, he was appointed Administrator of the Business Regulation Administration in Washington, DC. In that capacity, Ben regulated all corporations doing business in the District of Columbia, issued all business licenses, and enforced all food protection laws. In 1988, he was appointed the Administrator of the Housing and Environmental Administration where he directed the enforcement and compliance of all housing and environmental laws in the nation's capitol.

He is the recipient of numerous awards, including two honorary doctorate degrees for public service. He has lectured at many institutions and organizations including Harvard University, the Brookings Institute, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the Aspen Institute. He is involved in charity work and currently chairs the board of the One America Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes dialogue between the races and assists low-income youth of all races.

He is a former deputy chairman of the Democratic National Committee and serves on the DNC’s Rules and the Bylaws Committee.  Ben has been married 30 years to Jacqueline Johnson and has five children and nine grandchildren.

Consulting Team

Henry Quiero 

Henry Quiero serves as the CEO and President of Diverse Community, Inc. During his 15 years at Bell Atlantic (Verizon) and Bellcore (Bell Labs), Henry held positions in Engineering, Information Systems Management, Product Management, Marketing, Sales, and lastly as a General Manager of a Network Consulting startup. He was then employed by VeriSign, Inc. as the Director of International Business Development. Henry holds an Engineering degree from Rutgers University and an MBA from the Stern (NYU) School of Business Henry’s varied experience in multiple disciplines of the product cycle gives him a unique perspective and insight to execute this plan.  His technical and business skills are integral in architecting a system that provides the scalability and flexibility to adapt to competitive forces.