Five Cloud Computing Services Experts to Watch, Feb. 10

Each Friday, we update the Talkin’ Cloud 200 with five new names. Each executive is an expert on cloud computing and cloud services. You’ll see names from cloud aggregators, cloud brokers, VARs and managed services providers. So, who are the latest executives to land on the Talkin’ Cloud 200? Here are our five latest entries:

1. Lucas Carlson, founder and CEO, AppFog. Twitter: @appfog

Carlson built AppFog to deliver a cloud-based PaaS solution. It is used by more than 10,000 developers to build and deploy cloud-based applications without worrying about managing or running the underlying infrastructure. Previously, Carlson led the development of MOG, a music-based, social networking app. Lucas has also made a number of contributions to the PHP and Ruby communities.

2. Michael Crandell, CEO, RightScale. Twitter: @rightscale

Under Crandell’s leadership, RightScale has grown to manage 3 million servers, doubling the total compute power managed and seeing its average monthly revenue per customer increase by 2.5 times in the last two years. Crandell has also worked to broadened the reach of RightScale around the globe. The company now offers 10 public clouds globally as well three private cloud partners.

3. Davide Petramala, EVP of sales and Cloud Evangelist, Esna Technologies. Twitter: @UCforGoogleApps

Petramala leads Esnatech’s cloud-enabled unified communications efforts. With the rapid adoption of public cloud applications such as Salesforce.com & Google Apps—more than 3 million companies to-date—businesses are increasingly moving critical operations to the cloud, Esna Technologies claims. Petramala identified and is addressing the need for enterprises to have premise-to-cloud integration.

4. Treb Ryan, CEO, OpSource. Twitter: @OpSource

Ryan leads OpSource, a cloud and managed hosting business recently acquired by Dimension Data, a leading global provider of IT integration and cloud services. At the time of the Dimension Data Deal in mid-2011, OpSource employed 150 staff and supported more than 600 enterprises, service providers and Software-as-a-Service Independent Software Vendors (ISVs). Each of those figures has grown significantly in recent months, Talkin’ Cloud believes.

5. Jason Wagoner, CEO, Cloud IT. Twitter: @CloudITdotTV

Wagoner positioned Cloud IT to help small to midsize businesses cloud. It’s still early Cloud IT offers a full range of Cloud Services from Cloud Consulting to Custom Cloud applications. Based in York, Pa., Cloud IT helps its clientele migrate to Office 365, Google Apps, Rackspace Cloud and other SaaS platforms. Admittedly, we don’t have business stats on Cloud IT — but Talkin’ Cloud has a habit of putting the spotlight on small-business entrepreneurs like Wagoner.

Who’s Next?: Nominations Please

Check out the entire Talkin’ Cloud 200 list — so far — right here. To nominate a cloud computing expert for our Talkin’ Cloud 200, simply fill out this form. Thanks to all of those who have been sending in nominations.