About

Our mission is to create a transformational programmatic platform with radical observability and the highest performance possible for both publishers and advertisers.

Our love of gaming is what led us to the creation of Launch Media Network in 2006. Before PubWise, in 2016, we were publishers ourselves, providing tech and content for gamers – we wanted to do right by our audience and do better for ourselves.

After a long, frustrating road of expensive consultants delivering empty promises, combined with the arrival of Header Bidding to the adtech scene, we got wise to the murky, sometimes dishonest and inefficient programmatic advertising world; we decided to create the technology ourselves – to see the data inside the black box.

We created a header bidding solution for our own sites and quickly realized how we could provide a fully-transparent and observable adtech solution that works for every publisher.

At PubWise, we believe in radical observability, and we are on a mission to bring forward the true value of digital advertising. We were first to offer Header Bidding-as-a-Service, and now we’re giving publishers and advertisers a single, end-to-end connection so you can see inside the black box too.

Next-generation optimization technology

PubWise delivers end-to-end control of the supply chain with multiple patents pending related to Prebid optimization, OpenRTB bid stream compression, traffic shaping and demand path optimization.

Our Smart Path Optimization Technology® (SPOT) transacts smoothly up and down the supply chain in an imperceptible manner, utilizing machine learning and hyper-automation to adapt and learn to deliver value to both supply and demand partners over time.

The company owns its core technology, and has native expertise in cloud services, process automation, and machine learning along with big data at scale.

Meet the team

Stephen F. Johnston, Sr.

Chairman/CEO

Stephen brings to PubWise a depth of experience in operations, mergers, and acquisitions with multiple successful exits in his career. Stephen formed Clear communications Group in 1990 and was a pioneer in the cellular telephone industry owning, building and operating cellular telephone markets. Clear rebranded in 1999 as o2wireless while Stephen as Chairman and CEO managed the acquisition of more than 35 companies to form a leading provider of integrated network solutions to the global wireless telecommunications industry. Stephen took the company public in 2000 with over 700 employees and $150M in annual revenue. Stephen’s experience provides critical insights that inform the high growth strategy of PubWise.

Stephen F. Johnston Jr.

Founder/CTO

Stephen has 25 years of experience building online software and organizing teams to create and grow SaaS software companies. He founded PubWise in 2016 to deliver on Launch Media Network’s need for a header bidding management platform. PubWise has since been awarded the Tag Top 40 Award, which recognizes the Top 40 technology companies in Georgia, and a Pacesetter Award, as one of the fastest growing companies in Atlanta. Prior to PubWise, Stephen built early prototypes of online medical diagnostic systems, large volume data systems at Land America and e-commerce sites for Fortune 500 companies, including Cox Communications. He has a B.S. in Psychology from Northeastern University and greatly enjoys the intersection of humans and software.

Dwight Ringdahl

CRO

Dwight Ringdahl has over 30 years of experience in software and hardware engineering, product development, advertising technology and advanced R&D. He is an accomplished executive and entrepreneur, building and selling several companies. He previously served as acting CTO at RhythmOne, a publicly held AdTech company, providing access to an extensive network of C-Level partners. An engineer by training, Dwight served nearly 10 years in the US Air Force.

Carter Dages

CFO

Carter has spent his 35 year career enhancing all sizes of businesses and industries through all phases of their lifecycle. Collaboratively working with a diverse group, he has contributed significantly to many organizations’ financial, marketing and operational successes. Always energized and productively applying his time and talents, Carter enjoys engaging with others who will benefit from his diverse business experience as owner of Dages Company, LLC, Vice President and CFO of Highway Service Ventures, Inc., Controller of Rappahannock Electric Cooperative; and CPA with KPMG. He obtained his MBA from the University of Richmond and a BS in Accounting from Radford University. Active in his community, he serves on the Board of Big Brothers Big Sisters and has organized fundraising events to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project.

Kyle Johnston

Head of Customer Success

Kyle Johnston has been with Launch Media Network since 2015, and Pubwise since 2017. He is an engaged problem solver who specializes in publisher monetization strategy and new business development, with demonstrated success increasing publisher revenues and implementing customer success programs for SaaS technology in the digital space. A 2003 NSCA Junior All-American, he currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia, and previously served as a Managing Partner of Lucid Communications Services.

Rachael Johnston

Head of Sales and Operations

For more than 20 years, Rachael has been at the forefront of internet technology operations. Rachael’s experience spans manufacturing digital modernization, internet commerce, online content and digital advertising. She is a champion of product growth, a tenacious advocate of customer experience and uses this broad base of experience to collaborate with customers to ensure optimal solutions. Rachael graduated from Northeastern University with Entrepreneurship and MIS degrees.

Brian Schaaf

Senior Software Engineer

Brian’s passion for video games led him to learn/start writing code at just 14 years old. Capitalizing on his technical education and role as Webmaster for his college newspaper, he now specializes in data systems, visualization and user experience. Brian leads data ingestion and revenue reporting platform that enables PubWise to maintain data connections with our clients and partners. He also ensure that our reporting provides customers the power to utilize PubWise’s AdTech offerings for their specific needs.