Management
Steve Bederman, Chief Executive Officer
Steve was a founding TouchStar team member and he has been the driving force behind TouchStar's growth. Steve's passion, vision, and demand for excellence are the foundation of TouchStar's Core Value.
Steve studied English and Business Administration at Southern Illinois University. Prior to TouchStar, Steve founded Bederman & Associates, a sales and management consulting firm. He was Vice President of Strategic Marketing for ChemLawn Corporation North America. Steve is currently on the Board of Directors for The Foundation for Independent Living. Steve is a song writer and he enjoys playing the guitar, skiing, running, and mountain climbing.
Robert "Bob" Garber, Chief Technical Officer
Bob has been a contributor in the call center industry for over 25 years. In 1983, he founded Digisoft Computers, a software company that developed PC-based marketing and call center solutions. Bob was the primary developer of Digisoft’s products, including its Telescript family of call center solutions.
In 2005, Mr. Garber became TouchStar's Chief Technical Officer when TouchStar acquired Digisoft. Mr. Garber has degrees in Mathematics and Economics from the University of Michigan and a law degree from Columbia University.
Shawn Suhrstedt, Chief Financial Officer
Prior to joining TouchStar, Shawn owned and operated Cascade Callworks, a blended call center and one of the nation’s largest DISH Network retailers. Shawn joined TouchStar after selecting TouchStar for his own call center and operating it for more than a year. Prior to Cascade Callworks, Shawn was a Senior Consultant at Deloitte that specialized in system integration and project management. Shawn also served as an electronic warfare non-commissioned officer in a Russian linguist intelligence unit of the U.S. Army.
Shawn holds a Master’s Degree from Purdue University in Industrial Administration with a focus on Finance and Operations research. As an undergraduate at the University of Texas, Shawn completed a Bachelor’s degree in Economics.
Rick Morris, Chief Operating Officer
Rick began his career in Information Systems while working for Apple Computers. Rick left Apple to accept the position of Manager of Information Technology with Bendata Software. After GoldMine Software merged with Bendata, Rick was asked to head the Information Technology Department for GoldMine. Rick managed the growth of GoldMine’s IT division, which prompted the organization’s growth from 200 to over 1,600 people on four continents. Rick left GoldMine to join TouchStar Software 2002. Rick attended the University of Colorado at Boulder where his major was Chemistry.
