Michael C. O'Brien

Michael (Mike) O'Brien, CEO of Climber.com, was most recently co-founder and CEO of financialaid.com, a pioneer in providing college finance solutions online. Founded in 2000, financialaid.com became one of the most successful student loan companies in the U.S., capitalizing on Mike's direction and innovative Internet marketing strategies. Today, financialaid.com funds more than $45 million in student loans each month. At financialaid.com, Mike conceptualized and created CampusDirt.com (at the time, the number one online college search engine), RateYourCampus.com (online feedback community) and CampusClix.com (a college social networking website). In October of 2004, Mike sold financialaid.com and properties to Education Lending Group (now Student Loan Xpress) which in turn was purchased by CIT (NYSE: CIT) for $400MM in January 2005. He remained CEO/President of financialaid.com until his exit in December 05.

Utilized as a media expert in higher education finance and Internet marketing, Mike has been interviewed by numerous national television and print news media -- including The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, NBC Nightly News, Fox News Network, the Chicago Tribune and Kiplingers -- regarding the widening college affordability gap and the resulting growing demand for student loans, student loan consolidation and online marketing trends. Mike also has delivered speeches on Internet marketing trends and techniques at the CEO West Conference (Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization) and the National CEO Conference in Washington, DC.

Currently, Mike is an investor and Board Member of UnderstandSurgery.com, LLC and TopSwingLeasing.com, LLC and a consultant to College Player World Series. With his brother Matt, O'Brien owns OBI, LLC a small venture capital and real estate investment company. Mike received a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from California State University, Fresno. O'Brien is currently board member for the Fresno State Alumni Association.