Board of Directors

Ted Mocarski, having made 3 investments with Novacap, became a Senior Partner in 2013. Mr. Mocarski has over 20 years of experience as a private equity investor acquiring businesses in the telecommunications and internet infrastructure sectors. During this time, his investments include iWeb, 365 Main, Exodus Communications, InterXion, AtlantaNAP, Integra Telecom, Dobson Communications, FairPoint Communications, Verio, OpSource, and Optasite. Mr. Mocarski served as a General Partner of Nautic Partners, where he was responsible for managing the funds’ investment efforts in the communications infrastructure and services (CIS) sectors. He was also co-founder and General Partner of Key Venture Partners. The majority of his investments were in tune with Novacap’s investment strategy. He was a consultant for Novacap in 2012 while a General Partner at Bank Street Capital Partners, a private equity fund focused on growth equity, which he managed and co-founded in 2010.

Mr. Mocarski is currently Chairman of the Board of Syntax, Oxford Networks, BroadandOne, and Host.net and also serves on the Board of Directors of Onstream. He is also a member of the Board of Overseers of Colby College and on the Investment Committee for the City of Providence Retirement System. Previously, Mr. Mocarski was a member of the Board of iWeb, Exodus Communications, InterXion, Integra Telecom, Dobson Communications, MJD Communications, OpSource, Optasite, Fibrenoire, and GNAX.

Stéphane Tremblay joined Novacap in 2006 and is a Senior Partner. Mr. Tremblay’s experience in the Canadian TMT industry spans more than two decades. Prior to joining Novacap, he was an investor and CEO of Memotec Inc., a data communication equipment manufacturer, which he bought, restructured and sold to Comtech/EF Data. Mr. Tremblay’s prior experience includes working at Future Electronics, a leading electronic component distribution company. From 1989 to 1993, he held a Regional Sales Manager position at Allan Crawford, a data communication equipment company. Mr. Tremblay is a founding team member of Microcell, where he was responsible for building the first GSM network in Canada. In 2000, Mr. Tremblay became President and CEO of Espion/ESP Media, the first MVNO in North America. From 2001 to 2003, he was President and CEO of Kontron Canada, a division of Kontron A.G. Mr. Tremblay holds a BSEE from Université de Trois-Rivières, which he earned in 1985.

Mr. Tremblay is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Syntax, Dialogic, Nitrex Metal, Oxford Networks, Host.Net, and SynergX. Previously, Mr. Tremblay was on the Boards of iWeb, Kontron, Technomedia, Fibrenoire and Memotec.

Kristian Valenta is an Associate at Novacap. Prior to joining the firm in 2014, Mr. Valenta was a Senior Analyst at KPMG Corporate Finance in Montreal where he was involved on a number of mergers & acquisitions and corporate finance advisory transactions in various industries including TMT, healthcare, and education. Prior to that, Mr. Valenta worked as an Analyst for TMX/CDS. Mr. Valenta holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree, majoring in Honors Finance from Concordia University’s John Molson School of Business.

Mr. Valenta is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Syntax Systems and Nitrex Metal, and serves as an observer on the Board of Directors of Chemical Computing Group, Dialogic, Firmex and Octasic.

Prior to joining Syntax, Chris was President & COO at Dialogic, a Novacap company. He oversaw R&D, operations, marketing, product management, finance, and administration. Chris has over 25 years industry experience, much of it in executive roles with public and private growth-oriented companies in operations, engineering, delivery, sales, and general management roles. Chris spent the early part of his career at Sun Microsystems where he initially joined as a Pre-Sales Engineer. In his thirteen years with the company, he held a number of key management positions in Montreal, Toronto, and Menlo Park California where he served as VP Partner and Alliances, Sales Director, Client Executive and Business Development Manager for ERP and E-Commerce solutions.

Chris then joined Bell Canada where he spent six years in various executive roles. He joined as General Manager of Infrastructure Services and subsequently held the roles of Vice President of Client Service Delivery, and Vice President of Sales with Bell Canada. He then took on the role of President and COO of iWeb Technologies, a leading provider in cloud solutions. Chris supported the team in the development and execution of next generation cloud and managed services delivering double-digit revenue and ebitda growth.

He holds a Bachelor Degree in Management Information Systems and a Masters of Business Administration(MBA) from McGill University in Montreal, Canada.

Ryan Etinson is currently Co-President of Syntax. Since joining the company in 1996, he has held several executive positions including Managing Partner, Vice President, and Executive Vice President. After becoming a high-value Oracle JD Edwards partner over 17 years ago, Ryan has helped to expand Syntax’s offerings over the years across different industries, platforms and geographies. Over the last five years, he has been directly responsible for changing the company from one that primarily served customers in Eastern Canada into a North American success story. He holds an MBA with honors from John Molson School of Business and completed his undergraduate studies at McGill University.

Kenny Etinson is currently Co-President of Syntax. Kenny began his career working at IBM, then joined Syntax in 1994 to build a hardware infrastructure practice servicing ERP clients all over North America. He has helped solidify a long standing partnership with IBM where Syntax is now recognized as a premier partner. In 2007, Kenny launched an ERP centric Enterprise Cloud offering, and helped pave the way for a new cycle of corporate growth. Thanks in great part to Kenny’s efforts, Syntax is now recognized as an industry leader in secure Enterprise Cloud Offerings. He has excellent expertise, industry knowledge, and a thorough understanding of his customer’s needs. He holds a Bachelors degree from McGill University and has been an active member of EO (Entrepreneurs’ Organization) since 2007, regularly applying his experience and knowledge to help drive and improve Syntax’s processes and growth.

Michael Etinson is the founder and Principal of Syntax, which was established in 1972. Over the last four decades, Michael has been instrumental in the evolution of the company and growth of its diverse customer base. A major industry milestone for Syntax, thanks to Michael, was the company’s introduction of Syntax Distribution Management (iSDM) software in 1983. After becoming a high-value Oracle JD Edwards partner in 1997, Michael has helped Syntax expand its North American footprint with offices in Toronto, New York, and Boston. Michael continues to help Syntax expand the scope of its strategic capabilities with outstanding technology industry leadership and vast industry knowledge. Michael has a Bachelor of Science from McGill University, and has done tireless work as a Community Leader.