About
Chat Sports is a sports media startup based in San Francisco. Launched in April 2011, the company delivers the most comprehensive sports coverage available while offering a fan-centric social platform to debate and interact. The Chat Sports content delivery platform provides the highest quality and most relevant news and rumors from local and national sources and well as popular blogs and athlete Twitter accounts for each team. Additionally, Chat Sports has an army of dedicated sports writers providing in-depth coverage and content found nowhere else on the web. Interested in writing? Check out our writer page.LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook
Management Team
James Yoder
CEO & Co-Founder
Prior to co-founding Chat Sports, James worked for Verizon Wireless as a Technology Consultant. Focusing on Verizon's wireless internet and smartphone product development, James has vast experience at the forefront of mobile industry technology. Prior to Verizon, he worked for the college sports giant, Rivals.com. Working as a staff writer for Rivals, James was immersed in covering NCAA athletics and recruiting. James graduated with a degree in Business Management from the University of Toledo.
His favorite sports moment was attending the 1997 Michigan vs. Ohio State football game with his father in which Michigan capped a perfect season by beating the rival Buckeyes.
LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook
Nick Cohen
CTO & Co-Founder
Prior to co-founding Chat Sports, Nick was a Senior Staff Software Engineer at Motorola. He has extensive experience in embedded software architecture, design, and development for smart phones and other mobile devices. Nick has an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, a Master's degree in Computer Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign and is a graduate of Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology with a B.S. double major in Mathematics and Computer Science.
Nick's favorite sports moment was watching the Green Bay Packers win Super Bowl XXXI. Nick is looking forward to Brett Favre's permanent retirement so Nick can again become a Favre fan.
LinkedIn
John Kobs
Chairman, Board of Directors & Co-Founder
John is the CEO and co-founder of Vertical Brands, a San Francisco-based startup that runs a nationwide network of real estate websites. Prior to co-founding Realty Nation, John worked at TICC Capital, where he invested capital in internet companies and other technology-related firms. Prior to TICC, John was an investment banker at both Thomas Weisel Partners and KeyBanc Capital Markets. John is also the co-founder of Fernhurst Investments, LLC, an Ohio-based real estate investment firm. John graduated from Case Western Reserve University with a degree in Business Management and a concentration in Finance.
John's favorite sports moment was attending the 'Bugs' Indians vs. Yankees playoff game in 2007 at Progressive Field with his sister; the epic swarm of bugs that seized the mound fueled a late inning rally that helped the Indians to win the game and eventually take the series.
LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook
Jeff Sklarin
Sports Marketing Manager
In addition to working at Chat Sports, Jeff is a sophomore at The University of Michigan majoring in Political Science and minoring in Marketing. Prior to enrolling at Michigan, Jeff resided in Atherton, CA where he worked for Stanford University in the athletics department. While working at Stanford, Jeff was the equipment manager and counselor at Stanford All Sports Camp.
His favorite sports moment was attending The Big Chill with his dad in Decmber 2010, watching the Wolverines hockey team beat Michigan State 5-0 in The Big House.
Chat Sports Advisory Board
Kyle Doherty
Morgenthaler Ventures
Kyle Doherty joined Morgenthaler Ventures as a Senior Associate on the Information Technology team after graduation from Harvard Business School. Kyle is based in Menlo Park, CA and primarily focuses on investments in the consumer internet sector. Prior to business school, Kyle was a Research Associate at Morgan Stanley, focusing on wireline and wireless telecommunications equipment, healthcare services and information technology. Previous experiences include working as a Research Associate at Thomas Weisel Partners, covering consumer financial products, and marketing for New Relic, a cloud services company. Kyle completed his undergraduate studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Chris Herndon
Founder of Vertical Brands
Prior to co-founding Vertical Brands, Chris spent several years as an investor, most recently with GTCR Golder Rauner, a Chicago-based private equity firm. Before that, he worked in the Merchant Banking division of Goldman Sachs. Chris is a co-founder and advisor to the 40 Acres Group, an Austin-based real estate investment firm that owns and operates a portfolio of student rental properties. He is also a co-founder and board member of Philanthropedia, a new website that helps ordinary donors make smarter giving decisions. Chris has an MBA from Stanford University and a BBA from the University of Texas at Austin. Hook 'em Horns!
Michael Sroka
Product Manager at Zynga
Prior to Zynga, Mike was the founder and CEO of OneSeason.com. Previously, he was the Director of Business Development at Kalydus Asset Advisors LP, a private investment company and began his career as an Analyst at Hudson Advisors L.L.C., managing agent for the Lone Star Opportunity Funds. Mike holds a B.S. in Economics with Finance Applications from Southern Methodist University. As a lifetime Cubs, Bears and Mustangs fan, he is an eternal optimist.
