Josh Coates, Chief Executive Officer
Josh Coates has built a career the way he builds a business—by reimagining the way things can be done. After his start in distributed systems research at the University of California, Berkeley, and Microsoft’s Bay Area Research Center, he founded Scale Eight, which developed a new approach to scalable storage software and attracted customers like Microsoft, Viacom and Fujitsu. Upon closing operations and selling Scale Eight’s intellectual property to Intel in 2003, Josh went on to found Berkeley Data Systems (Mozy.com) in 2005, which reshaped the world of data storage with a ubiquitous remote backup solution. Two years later, EMC Corp acquired Mozy for $76 million.
Josh now brings this imagination to the LMS world with Instructure. After seeing the opportunity to disrupt the current landscape, and in doing so, facilitate a better educational experience, he became an early investor before joining the board and becoming CEO in 2010.
Devlin Daley, Co-founder and
Chief Technology Officer
Devlin co-founded Instructure in 2008 with Brian Whitmer. The duo knew they wanted to build a better learning management system, but before writing any code, they embarked on a “product validation tour” of 17 colleges and universities to find out what faculty and students really wanted in an LMS. As Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Devlin brings education into the future while maintaining the delicate balance between connecting technology and connecting people. In other words, Devlin turns science fiction into learning platform reality.
Devlin earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees in computer science from Brigham Young University. During the final months of his master’s program, Devlin had the inspiration for Canvas. It grew from his own experience studying and using educational technology—and his desire to make it better.
Brian Whitmer, Co-founder and
Chief Product Officer
Brian co-founded Instructure in 2008 with Devlin Daley. Their joint “product validation tour”— made possible by Devlin’s Geo metro with no air conditioning—laid the groundwork for an open, elegant and easy-to-use solution: Canvas. As Chief Product Officer (CPO), Brian keeps the development of Canvas in line with his and Devlin’s founding vision. He makes sure the company is building the best learning platform for the present—and for the future.
Before applying his creative genius to building Canvas, young Brian built and sold floppy disk versions of RPG video games by mail. While earning his B.S. and M.S. degrees in computer science at Brigham Young University, he did extensive research in technology usability, which has shaped his approach to building Canvas.
Steve Kaminsky, Chief Financial Officer
Steve came to Instructure in 2012 to manage all of the company’s administrative operations, including accounting, finance, HR, legal, IT and daily Nerf gun wars. Since he began working with startups in 1995, Steve has been instrumental in raising over one hundred million dollars in funding and in building infrastructure for multiple successful acquisitions.
Before shifting his expertise toward startups, Steve worked as a CPA for Ernst & Young, the McDonald’s Corporation and TriZetto. He earned a B.S. in accounting from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an M.B.A. from UCLA Anderson Graduate School of Management.
Zach Wily, VP Engineering
When Zach joined Instructure in 2010, he was employee number nine. Not only did he bring more than a decade’s experience as a software developer, manager and consultant, he also brought Instructure’s unofficial mascot—the panda. As VP for Engineering, Zach leads the team of creative geniuses that designs and builds Canvas. Under his leadership, the vision for a powerful, user-centered learning platform has become a reality.
Before joining Instructure, Zach worked as a software developer for a number of companies, including Mozy.com.
Marc Maloy, Senior VP Worldwide Sales
Marc joined Instructure in 2013 to lead the company's fast-growing sales team. He’s super passionate about spreading the word about Canvas and its awesome ability to change how the world is educated. (Like all good Instructure employees, Marc understands that there’s no way to overuse the word “awesome” here.)
Marc began his career in operations and spent several years in customer support roles before moving into sales. Most recently, he was head of sales for HireRight and played a big part in growing the business from a startup through a successful IPO. Marc earned a B.S in both HR and operations management from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University.
Misty Frost, VP Marketing
After spending nearly eight years in the education space with Datamark, Misty joined Instructure in 2012. In her role as VP for Marketing, she guides her team toward bringing things like pretty words and pictures together with pesky things like numbers—and getting them to play nice.
Misty’s 20-year career in advertising and marketing has proven what’s possible when the relationship between a company and its customers is nurtured; her work has driven results for companies like Hyatt Hotels, Disney, Intel and more. Misty earned a B.S. in anthropology from the University of Utah.
Mitch MacFarlane, VP Product
In 2011, Mitch joined Instructure to help define and organize its Client Services team. As VP of Client Services Mitch was instrumental in scaling the organization from just three employees in 2011 to nearly 70 by the end of 2012. Late in 2012 Mitch assumed leadership of the company’s Product team. His dual affinity for code and customers has proven invaluable in ensuring that Canvas is responsive to current and future customer needs.
Mitch began his career in customer and technical support roles and spent a number of years as an engineer and development manager before taking a project management path. His love for working with clients to create innovative software solutions is rivaled only by his insatiable appetite for milkshakes and chocolate chip cookies. Prior to joining Instructure Mitch worked for companies including GE, Nu Skin and Mozy.com. He earned a B.S. and an M.B.A. from Brigham Young University.
Heather Kane, VP Business Development
Heather joined Instructure in 2010 as the company’s eighth employee. Since then, she’s been the engine of the sales team, signing the first major account and sparking rapid adoption of Canvas throughout her sales territory. Heather is driven by her unwavering belief that Canvas is the best learning platform—and by massive quantities of Diet Coke.
Before coming to Instructure, Heather worked for several successful startups, including one she founded herself. She studied business at Brigham Young University and the University of Utah.