The World's Leading Provider of OEM Categorization Solutions
About Rulespace
For over 12 years RuleSpace has been a leading provider of OEM Web categorization services. We offer the most comprehensive URL category databases and accurate real-time web categorization technologies available. Our solutions are designed to power Internet security products and services, parental control products, safe search functionality, contextual advertising services and brand protection products. RuleSpace technology is currently deployed at leading ISPs, mobile network operators, and Internet security companies serving over 170 million users worldwide. RuleSpace is a privately-held company headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon with offices in the United Kingdom.
Management Team
Alistair Allan, President and Chief Executive Officer
Alistair is responsible for all aspects of Engineering, Finance and Operations at RuleSpace. He joined the company in 2000 to lead development. Alistair has more than 25 years of experience in software development. Prior to joining RuleSpace, he spent 11 years at Sequent Computer Systems, a computer manufacturer that was acquired by IBM. Alistair also has held software development positions at First Interstate Bank of Oregon (now Wells Fargo), Philips Electronics in The Netherlands and Polaroid (UK) Ltd in Scotland. His background lies in computer networking technologies. Alistair holds an HND in Computer Studies from Glasgow Caledonian University, Scotland. He also spent five years as a white water rafting guide. He lives in Oregon with his wife.
James Dirksen, Vice President of Business Development and Managing Director
James is responsible for sales, business strategy and strategic partnerships at RuleSpace. He joined the company in 1999 and worked in Engineering to design and deploy the first generation of RuleSpace solutions. He currently manages RuleSpace product strategy, sales and partnerships. He serves on the board of the Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) (formally ICRA), and advises for child protection strategies for industry, regulators, and law enforcement worldwide.
Prior to joining RuleSpace, James worked at Coopers and Lybrand (now PriceWaterhouseCoopers) and Northrop Grumman. James holds Bachelor’s degrees in Chemistry and Biology from Point Loma University, San Diego, California. He lives in Washington State with his wife and six children.
Gary Thomassen, Vice President of Enterprise Products
Gary is responsible for RuleSpace’s product strategy and OEM business development activities for the Internet security market. Gary has over 18 years of IT security industry experience and has been responsible for managing a wide variety of endpoint, messaging and web security products and technology partner relationships.
Prior to RuleSpace, Gary has held several senior management positions at market-leading technology companies including Symantec, Sophos, MessageLabs, Clearswift and Citrix. Gary holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration and double minors in General Engineering and Applied Mathematics from Oregon State University. Gary lives in England with his wife and children.
Katharina Maraglia, Editorial Services Manager
Katia is responsible for managing the RuleSpace Categorization Labs and creating formal ontologies for digital content as well as the ensuring the quality of the categorization at RuleSpace. She joined RuleSpace in 2000 to facilitate the creation of the European ontologies and to bring about cultural equivalence and content consistency within the products.
Katia has seven years of experience in ontologies and content categorization and an additional seven years of sales experience in international markets. Prior to joining RuleSpace, Katia worked at IXOS Software AG, building up distribution channels for IXOS throughout Europe. She has managed large, multinational projects in the US and European Union, including Microsoft, Yahoo, AOL, European Patent Office, Siemens, BMW, SAP and Dutch Broadcasting. Katia’s studies have included English Linguistics and Literature at Ludwig–Maximilian–University in Munich, Germany. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband.
Shane Gibson, Senior Operations Manager
Shane is responsible for all customer-facing systems and services at RuleSpace. He joined RuleSpace in 2007 and brings a history of excellence in customer support and world-class operation design and delivery.
Shane has 19 years of experience in network architecture and security. Prior to joining RuleSpace, he held key roles at Acxiom Digital (formerly Digital Impact), the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, the Santa Cruz Operation and the Marine Corps developing highly available and secure application delivery solutions and networks. Shane lives in Portland, Oregon with his wife and competes in adventure racing, cyclocross, mountain bike racing, Orienteering, duathlons and Kayaking. He also enjoys hiking, snowshoeing, downhill skiing and motor boating.
Jack Schifferdecker, Chief Counsel
Jack is responsible for RuleSpace’s general corporate and licensing needs. He has over 22 years of experience in private practice representing high-growth technology companies, and was a long-time partner and head of the High-Growth Company practice at Ater Wynne LLP in Portland, Oregon.
Jack lives with his wife and two children in Oregon.
