Curreri has grand plans for his latest venture

BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Mike Curreri loves the sea.

But for the president and chief executive officer of Baltimore-based AVIcode Inc., he spends more time in front of a keyboard than at the rudder.

For the Naval Academy graduate, creating a company desirable enough to be acquired by a big-name business is the ultimate compliment.

“I really look forward to the day when [our shareholders] get a good return on their investment,” said Curreri, 55. “At the same time, that creates opportunities for our entire team. That is the ultimate goal for a company of this size.”

Curreri has grown AVIcode to the point where it is the only Microsoft-recommended monitor of .net applications on the Internet. The company is in such good standing with Microsoft that its technology is imbedded in the newest Microsoft product line. AVIcode is working with Quest Software to create imbedded software as a rebranded product for it as well.

Starting the company in 2004, Curreri and his investors discussed several options, but they went with Baltimore and received $150,000 in startup capital from the Department of Business and Economic Development. Twelve months later, after experiencing rapid growth, AVIcode was named incubator company of the year by the University of Maryland’s Baltimore campus.

Since that time, Curreri has networked within the community, earning spots on different technology roundtables and boards in the region, including the Maryland Business Council.

“Mike is a very young guy in spirit, action and deed, he is a lot of fun to be around and very dynamic,” said Jason Hardebeck, executive director of the Maryland Business Council. “He never says no and never backs away and is willing to do whatever he can to assist, whether or not there is personal benefit.”

MIKE CURRERI

» First job: Lifeguard at the Alcazar Hotel on Cathedral Street

» Education/credentials: Graduated from the Naval Academy with a degree in computer applications, a Juris Doctorate from Notre Dame School of Law and a Master of Laws from George Washington University’s Armed Forces Institute of Pathology

» Best job perk: Being the guy who is ultimately responsible

» Essential Web sites: Salesforce.com, avicode.com, googlefinance.com

» Daily e-mails received: 150 to 200

» Daily voicemails received: 6

» Career objective: Making sure the company reaches its top potential

» Favorite gadget: Qphone

» Hometown: Baltimore

» Birth date: Sept. 6, 1951

» Original aspiration: Become a governor

» Sports/hobbies: Boating on the sea, swimming and running

dcarey@baltimoreexaminer.com

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