Michael J. Maples, Sr.

Advisor to Microsoft on strategic relationships and management initiatives, Maples is an Angel investor who has been active in the computer industry for more than 30 years, and is sometimes described as a "statesman of the computer industry." He grew up in Orville, Oklahoma and attended the University of Oklahoma. He received his B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering in 1965 and his M.B.A. degree from Oklahoma City University in 1970.

His distinguished career included serving as Executive Vice President of Microsoft's Worldwide Products Group and member of the Office of the President, reporting to co-founder and Chairman, Bill Gates. Maples held various management positions at Microsoft Corporation, a software products and services company, from April 1988 to July 1995, including Executive Vice President of the Worldwide Products Group. He also held the position of Microsoft Ambassador, in which capacity he advised the corporation on strategic relationships and management initiatives.

Prior to joining Microsoft, he spent 23 years at International Business Machines Corp. (IBM), a software products and services company, and served for a period of time as Director of Software Strategy. Maples has served on the Boards of J. D. Edwards & Co., Lexmark International, Inc., a laser and inkjet printer company, and Sonic Corporation, an operator and franchisor of drive-in restaurants, Mission Critical Software, Motive Communications, Alibre, and Concero (formerly PSW Technologies).

Very active in professional associations, he has served on the Boards of the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) and the American Software Association. Maples has also served on the Boards of several educational institutions, including the engineering colleges of the University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma. He has been a member of the Board of Visitors of the Engineering School at the University of Oklahoma and the College of Engineering Foundation Advisory Council at the University of Texas at Austin.