User:Nnssm/Johnny Ham

John Ham (born 1978) is co-founder and Chairman of the popular Silicon Valley, California-based internet broadcasting website Ustream.tv, the leading consumer live video site on the Internet.

Ustream.tv was recently selected as a PC Magazine Editor's Choice. Notable investors include Frank J. Caufield and the Band Of Angels. Recently, General Wesley Clark has joined Ustream.TV's board of advisors.

Early years
Johnny Ilman Ham was born on June 9, 1978 in Torrance, CA and grew up in Riverside, CA with his older sister (Susan). His parents are Chi Ho Ham, in real estate, and Sang Wha Ham, a registered nurse. Since childhood, he has shown an interest in entrepreneurship, at age 16, he started to invest in equities and options, and at age 20, he started his first consumer internet website.

He graduated from Riverside Poly High School, Riverside, California in 1996. He then went on to receive his B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from West Point. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army.

After West Point
After West Point, Ham was required to serve 5 years in the US Army. He served in various capacities around the world where he was a commander and a direct-report to a two-star commanding general.

In 2005, he left the military to pursue a civilian career.

Birth of Ustream
Ustream.tv was born when the founders (John Ham, Brad Hunstable, and Dr. Gyula Feher) wanted a way for their friends in the Army, who were deployed overseas in Iraq during the war, to be able to communicate with their families back home. A product like Ustream would provide them with a way to talk to all of their relatives at once when free time in the war zone was limited.

Previously, these three had worked together on an internet based event photo sharing website using technology created by Dr. Feher. In 2003, both John and Brad Hunstable were deployed to active duty, putting an end to this venture. After returning to civilian life, John and Brad discussed the idea of the general public using the Internet to share live video. Seeing this as a viable product, they contacted their former partner, Dr. Feher, in order to develop the technology required. Ustream.tv was founded in 2006, as experiments in broadcasting Brad's brothers's band proved successful.

Launching their public beta in March 2007, Ustream.tv was the first of a series of live video sites. As part of their launch, John decided to move to Los Angeles and streamed his life 24/7 as the world's first live streaming paparazzi. The company has seen large growth in the political, entertainment, and technology fields.

Ustream.tv has witnessed many notable people streaming from politicians such as Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and John Edwards to artists like Tori Amos and the Plain White T's. The technology community has also adopted Ustream to include Robert Scoble, Leo Laporte, Chris Pirillo, and Cali Lewis.

Ustream.tv recently announced partnerships with meebo and Bebo. .

Personal life
Ham is married to Ji Hye Ham and they live in Silicon Valley with their small dog, "Dabi."