Victor J. Melfi, Jr., Chief Executive Officer
victor@prairielaw.com
Victor comes from a strong marketing background in both traditional and Internet businesses. He brings over 20 years of experience in direct marketing, strategy and technology. Most recently, he was Chairman & CEO of Virtual Spin, Inc., a Bellevue, WA developer of e-commerce software solutions, which he led through an acquisition by Qsound Labs. Previously, he was President and CEO of Multiple Zones International, a catalog/web reseller of computer products. He took that company public in 1996.
Victor’s direct marketing background came through a variety of senior roles at Reader’s Digest. He was in the strategy practice at the management consulting firm of Booz-Allen & Hamilton, where he focused on marketing and publishing clients. He began his career as an application developer at Xerox and National Computer.
Victor earned his MBA from the Yale School of Management and did his undergraduate and graduate work at Oxford University. He sits on the boards of several Seattle-area technology companies. He leads company strategy, capitalization, business and product development at Prairielaw.com.

Kevin O'Keefe, President and Founder
kevin@prairielaw.com
Kevin founded Prairielaw.com in January of 1998 while practicing law as a plaintiff's trial attorney in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. The site is the embodiment of his passion - giving ordinary people the legal guidance they need. During his career as an attorney, Kevin represented injured people in both North America and the west coast of Ireland. He earned his B.B.A. from the University of Notre Dame in 1978, and his J.D. from the McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific in 1982. He is a sustaining member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, he served on the Board of Directors for the Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers, and is licensed to practice law in Wisconsin and California. In the summer of 1999, Kevin closed his law firm and moved with his family to Seattle to focus on Prairielaw.com full time.

Melissa French, Chief Technology Officer
melissa@prairielaw.com
Prior to joining Prairielaw.com, Melissa served as Director of Development for Kindred Communications, a marketing communications company. Melissa was responsible for initiating and building the Internet Development department. This department grew exponentially, creating many success stories. Working with clients and partners like Microsoft, Electronic Arts and Amazon.com, Melissa and her team built intranets, strategic partner extranets and community-driven Internet sites. Before joining Kindred Communications, Melissa worked with System 1 and Paradigm Software promoting their Internet strategies. She brings over 13 years experience in project, program and team management, and has been building commercial web sites and technology since 1994.

Jill Hodges, Vice President, Content
jill@prairielaw.com
Before joining Prairielaw.com, Jill was at ABCNEWS.com, where she was part of the editorial team that launched the network's award-winning Web site in 1997. She also developed and supervised the site's Travel section and special projects. She has more than 15 years journalism experience at publications including the Star Tribune in Minneapolis, the Riverside Press-Enterprise and The Washington Post. She has covered labor, law, travel and workplace issues. She has a master's degree from Yale Law School, a Diploma in Commerce from the University of Auckland in New Zealand and a B.A. from Carleton College in Minnesota.

Kevin McNett, Business Development Manager
kevinm@prairielaw.com
Prior to joining Prairielaw.com, Kevin served as the Western Region Sales Manager for e logistics, specializing in account management and distribution logistics. Kevin also created a division to develop, market, and manufacture brands within the Toy Industry. Prior to e logistics, Kevin worked at Mattel, Inc. in RS Management and Special Market Sales. Kevin was responsible for establishing new channels of growth for Mattel USA Sales, and the management of existing Special Market Accounts, including key industry leaders: Disney, ESPN, and Buena Vista Pictures. He has a B.A. in Fine Arts from the University of Washington.