About Us : Our Leadership

SPI's co-founders and managing partners bring diverse and complimentary expertise and experience to the four branches that make up Solutions Partners, Inc. Most members of the leadership team have worked together in different companies and situations over many years, giving them a unique synergy and making for a competent, skilled leadership dynamic.

Jack Cartmell, Co-Founder, CEO of Solutions Partners, Inc.

Jack is a seasoned leader, and a successful entrepreneur, with an extensive background in information technology.

His executive experience ranges from positions with Fortune 500 companies to smaller businesses and to startups.

At software company EDS he managed Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Standard Business Accounts, then joined Information Resources to help build the software company into HP's second largest VAR, resulting in a merger with Hewlett-Packard.

At HP, Jack held diverse positions as Sales and Support Manager, R&D Manager, and Marketing Manager.

Always moving forward, Jack left HP to form a consulting practice for the process manufacturing industry. This company was folded into Core Technology Group where Jack served as VP of Sales and Marketing. Jack helped grow Core to a point where it was then purchased by Future, where he continued to serve as VP of Sales.

In 2001 Jack was inspired to co-found Solutions Partners, Inc to bring his technology expertise, and that of his parnters, to mid-sized businesses in Silicon Valley and the greater Bay Area.

Jack holds degrees in both Computer Science and Business Administration from Washington State University.

Donna DeGrande, Co-founder, CEO of HR Solutions Partners

Donna DeGrandeWith more than 25 years experience in human resources and organizational development, Donna is the force that guides our human resources division.

Based in her deep understanding of both the interpersonal and the analytical sides of human resources, Donna applies a high-touch, client-centric approach to human resources consulting and outsourcing.

Donna's human resources experience includes executive and leadership positions in several companies, and spans diverse industries, including high-tech, biotech, life sciences/medical devices, networking/communications and finance, with organizations ranging from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies.

Prior to helping found Solutions Partners, Donna was Sr. Vice President of Willis' HR Consulting Services division. Donna came to Willis from a predecessor company, PRIMARY Worldwide. In both companies she had executive responsibility for the development and administration of the HR Consulting & Outsourcing Services.

As Sr. Vice President of Human Resources for FutureNext, she was responsible for the company's national human resources, including all administrative, compensation, benefits, training, recruitment, merger and acquisition activity, HRIS, organizational development, internal communications and reward and recognition processes and systems.

At Core Technology, Donna was Vice-President of Human Resources. Prior to Core, she built a successful Silicon Valley consulting practice that focused on executive coaching and team building.

Other experience includes executive management positions with SCVTA, County of Santa Clara, and Kaiser, as well as various positions with Ford Motor Company. Her previous employee relations/management roles encompassed responsibility for workforces of up to 14,000 employees.

Donna received her Bachelor's degree from the University of San Francisco.

Don Gootee, Managing Partner of CloudSPI

A serial entrepreneur in the tech and finance indstries with over 30 years experience, Don is our Cloud/On Demand services guru.

Through his efforts, we have become certified partners with Salesforce.com and Xactly, and continue to selectively add cloud-based services to our offerings.

Before becoming a partner with SPI, Don was a founding investor and a member of the board of directors for Legacy Bank. Legacy has since been purchased by United Securities Bank.

Don was the co-founder and CFO of Core Technology Group, Inc., a premier information technology consulting firm specializing in business system applications such as Oracle, PeopleSoft and JD Edwards, as well as leading edge E-commerce applications. Besides playing a major role in business administration duties, he was key in developing company strategy and customer and partner relations. In 1996 Core received an award from Oracle for implementing 42% of all Oracle applications sold in the General Business space in the Western Region. In 1997 Core was named 193 in the Inc. Magazine Top 500 Fastest Growing Companies list. Core was purchased in 1999.

Don was a Senior Analyst Programmer for Seagate Technology, and he spent five years in the United States Air Force from 1977 to 1982 where he specialized in Civil Engineering, supporting bases in southern Florida and Europe.

He is active in various charity organizations and was recently a board member for the National Junior Basketball Association. Don has coached youth basketball for 12 years and has also coached Little League baseball, youth soccer, volleyball and lacrosse.