About Us

Clever Name Here Inc. was founded in 2001. We specialize in developing effective web sites, content management systems, and custom database applications to not-for-profit organizations and NGOs.

Sam Nelson, President, Founder

After graduating from Harvard University with honors in Mathematics, Sam Nelson worked as the computer coordinator for the Casablanca American School. Returning to the United States, he became the Senior Software Engineer at Small World Software, a startup Web development company, and helped it grow from three employees to more than 50. He then became the Director of Software Development at The New York Times Electronic Media Company, where he managed a team of 30 Java developers, database managers, and Solaris system administrators maintaining and developing applications for the Times' online properties. He left the Times to found Clever Name Here Inc., primarily providing open-source technology solutions to unions and non-profit organizations like the Guggenheim Museum and UNITE HERE.

Lani Offen, Senior Project Manager

Lani Offen has thirteen years of experience as a database programmer and project manager. In addition to her work with CNH, since 2005 she has been a senior producer with Team Articulate supporting Conde Nast's enterprise-wide conversion to a new content management system for titles including House and Garden, Bon Appetit, Jane, Golf Digest, and GQ. She was a partner at Mathematicus Labs, a software development firm providing custom solutions to financial services corporations; the technical director for Innovative USA, a children's publisher and educational toy importer; a senior project manager at Pedestal Capital, an online exchange for mortgage-backed securities; and the Director of Operations at Hamilton-Stone Consulting a small technology consulting firm. Lani studied engineering at The Cooper Union and received her BA in Political Science from CUNY.

Litza Stark, Programmer

Since 2001, Litza Stark has been the Manager of Internet Systems at the National Center of Poverty, where she develops and maintains websites and databases. She helped to create and continues to maintain and improve NCCP's online data tools, which provide ways of interactively modeling state policies and of analyzing demographic and policy data. She has also co-authored research on developing software to model language acquisition and on creating user interfaces for audio search engines. She holds a degree in computer science and Spanish linguistics from the University of Delaware and is nearing completion of a Master in Public Health at Columbia's Mailman School.

Rene Christen, Programmer

Rene Christen has been creating interactive media in a number of areas over the past 6 years. Outside of graduating with an honors degree in Electronic Arts and continuing on to receive a scholarship to do his Masters in the field, his work has ranged from creating educational games for children isolated in Australia's outback to interactive gallery installations and a variety of web work, ranging from working with non-profits and arts organizations to working with clients such as Conde Nast Publishing. Rene takes an aesthetically conscious approach to code, both with regard to it's output and it's source, and is very concerned with user interface and interactivity. Using open source solutions wherever possible he has gained a wide breadth of technical and creative experience in dealing with the variety of projects he has undertaken.

Sean Oakes, Designer

A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, Sean Oakes has over 12 years of interactive design and project management experience. As principal of Sean Oakes Studios, Inc., he has created award-winning work for a broad range of clientele, from emerging start-ups to Fortune 500s. Before starting his own studio in 2000, Mr. Oakes was the Art Director for the children1s media company, MaMaMedia for five years. There he created the comprehensive look and feel for everything from online games to a quarterly print magazine. He hired and managed a 13-person design/illustration department. He also provided senior level art direction of online products including site-wide interface design, advertising, games and activities. Prior to MaMaMedia, Mr. Oakes worked on AT&T's Interactive Television trial as an interface designer. See Sean's portfolio

Joanne Pasila, Designer

Joanne Pasila has been designing and art directing for over ten years and has broad experience across web and print, from concept development through print supervision. Her focus has been to serve clients in the fields of culture, education, health care and not for profits. She currently consults for a number of LGBTQ and education non profit organizations in NYC and is an active volunteer with Develop - Don't Destroy Brooklyn, The Center for Urban Pedagogy and Open House New York. Before moving to Brooklyn, she helped to set up an award winning community based creative arts school in Western Massachusetts where she taught programs for children and teens. Joanne graduated from the visual arts studio program of the Ontario College of Art in Toronto, Canada and earned her MFA in the Department of Architecture and Department of Video at the Kunstakademie Dusseldorf, Germany. With funding from the Dutch Film Funds and Dutch Architectural Funds, she researched and developed a feature length creative documentary which took a critical look at the work and thought of three contemporary architects and design/builders working throughout Europe, North America and Africa. Her art work has been included in the Chautauqua National Exhibition of American Art, juried by Robert Storr and the Plane Space Gallery's 2006 summer exhibition in NYC. She currently lives and works in Brooklyn. Joanne is the founder of onex2, where her portfolio can be seen.

Wingo, Inc

Clever Name Here Inc. is proud to partner with Wingo, Inc.
We help organizations establish and nurture effective relationships with donors.

We can shape and deliver your message, not only by planning and implementing fundraising programs, but also by writing and designing your fundraising collateral.

We are the cost-effective, one-stop resource for forward-thinking organizations wanting to increase their bottom line.

ARTiculate

Clever Name Here Inc. is proud to partner with ARTiculate.
ARTiculate is an innovative, full-service web development team that specializes in the unique needs of media and cultural institutions. We believe in simple, smart solutions. The web presences we conceive, design, and build are beautiful, interactive, and easy to use. Equally important, everything we create is designed to help clients better articulate their identity and purpose. Our name itself expresses this core mission.