ADVISORY TEAM
MEDIA AUTHORITIES
Rich Sabreen
Rich Sabreen Enterprises, Former EVP Global Media at Reuters
Rich Sabreen Enterprises, LLC, is a multiple Emmy Award-winning TV production and marketing company. Our production team produces the Emmy Award winning public TV series "Keeping Kids Healthy," which is in U.S. national and international distribution. The series is also distributed to schools, hospitals and libraries through a distribution arrangement with Aquarius Productions.
Our consulting team uses market segmentation techniques to help key clients develop their businesses, audiences and circulation. Clients include: ABC News, "The New York Times," Hallmark Channel, McGraw-Hill, Resort Sports Network (RSN), Time Warner and Scholastic.
Robert Levin
Editor-in-Chief & Publisher, New York Enterprise Report
Robert Levin founded The New York Enterprise Report in 2003 to serve the needs of the small business community with which he has worked so closely throughout his professional career. Available both in print and online, The New York Enterprise Report is the only media that caters exclusively to decision makers in the New York tri-state area’s small business market. Featuring award-winning "how-to" articles written by experts, each issue of NY Report provides critical knowledge that makes it a must-read for those looking to grow their businesses. In addition to its print and online properties, NY Report also produces events for business owners as well as hosting the annual Small Business Awards.
Matthew A. Hege
EVP, The Broadway Channel
The Broadway Channel® is a full-service multimedia company that produces high quality video productions, streaming media and television programming for Broadway, Off-Broadway, Performing Art Centers and Regional Theatres. The Broadway Channel® also has a partnership with Time Warner Cable with a direct fiber feed of its television programming, which further expands The Broadway Channel® audience by reaching additional Manhattan hotel guests. These programming segments include Broadway and Off Broadway Previews, both part of The Broadway Channel® digital network.
Heather Myers
SVP, Strategic Planning and Business Development, Scholastic
Seasoned business development executive with 15+ years experience in entertainment and other intellectual property-based businesses. Wide-ranging experience in M&A, post-merger integration, strategic planning, new business development, and start-up general management.
Jim Lane
Editor & Publisher, Biofuels Digest
Daily global biofuels news on producers, research, policy and finance via web and email newsletter. Most widely-read biofuels daily. Home of Biofuels Digest Index™. Monthly distribution: 400,000.
FINANCE/LEGAL AUTHORITIES
Wilfried Jackson
EVP, Chief Operations/Technology Officer First Southern Bank, Former CEO National Credit Cards and Retail Bank, Citibank Nevada, NA
Reports directly to the President and CEO of this $400MM domestic Community Bank, works closely with Board of Directors and participates in monthly ALCO, Audit Committees and Board of Director Sessions. Joined Bank in Executive Officer capacity to develop operating platform in support of planned accelerated asset growth. Bank successfully doubled assets from $200M to $400M in 4-yr period. Identified and selected key Senior Executives and Board Members to support strategic plans and M&A activities.
Bob Finkel
CFO, Metro USA, Former VP Finance, CBS Television Stations
Leads teams handling all financial activities for Metro New York, Metro Boston and Metro Philadelphia, the three domestic publications of world's largest free daily newspaper. Financial partner of a start-up television station group with plans to acquire and operate stations in small to mid-sized markets. Led an international staff in Accounting, Contracts, and Supply Chain Management for Bloomberg LP, a $2 billion global provider of financial news, information and analytics.
G. Patrick McGunagle
COO, Pan-American Life Insurance Group, Former Managing Director, Citigroup
Senior professional with more than 25 years of broad global leadership experience across the financial services spectrum for top tier banking, insurance, and securities firms including Citibank, Global Trade Finance, Fortent, AXA. Demonstrates line management skills in strategic planning, new product development, sales, product management, sales, operations/service management, financial results, re-engineering, change management, customer relationship management. NASD licenses, former Securities Operations Committee member, ACAMS certification (Anti-Money Laundering). Available for coaching, consulting, line management challenges on short or longer term basis.
Gerard Callaghan
Managing Director, Bank of America, Former Managing Director, Citigroup
Specialties in technology platforms, finance, organizational development, change and redesigning organizations.
VENTURE CAPITAL/PRIVATE EQUITY AUTHORITIES
Karen Rands
President, Launch Funding Network, Inc. www.Launchfn.com
Seven Years as a Venture Catalyst, during which time Karen launched Kugarand Holdings, LLC (2001) to provide access to resources and capital for early stage and growing businesses. This led to the founding of Launch Funding Network in 2004, which provides business development and operational strategies for companies to move through the funding cycles as they grow. Recognizing that angel investors are the heartbeat of economic development and a critical source of capital for early stage companies, Karen authored the “Learn to Be an Angel Investor©” series of e-Books educating over 2000 prospective investors, and acquired the Network of Business Angels and Investors (NBAI) in 2005. NBAI was founded in 1994 and is currently the most active angel investor organization in the Southeast, with members investing in over 59 transactions valued at over $36M. With our Funding Planet, investors will have access to information for investment decision making like eTrade, but the efficiency in identify relevant early stage deals like a Match.com, with the social aspects and community of a Facebook with the launch of OurFundingPlanet.com in 2009.
David Anthony
Managing Partner, 21Ventures LLC.
21Ventures is a venture capital fund focusing on the technologies and ideas that will dominate the 21st century. Our fields of expertise include clean technologies, mobile software and security. We invest primarily in early-seed companies possessing proprietary technologies poised to change the market landscape. We are not traditional venture capitalists. Early stage companies might possess the technologies to change the world, but great ideas do not always lead to great returns. That is why 21Ventures believes in taking a hands-on approach to investing. 21Ventures leverages not only its financial capital, but its human capital as well, utilizing the diverse expertise of its partners and management to support our portfolio companies from their earliest stages through profitability, acquisition or IPO. Our partners are our strategic backbone, providing a vast network of business relationships alongside years of business and technological experience. 21Ventures leads its companies and its investors to success by providing the resources, marketing tools, scientific expertise and professionalism needed to thrive in an ever evolving, global marketplace. With over $250 million under management, we are constantly seeking out new opportunities for investment and return; therefore, we work overtime to shift quickly and strategically into new opportunities.
Ian Fallmann
CEO, Kensington Enterprises Ltd., Former Asia-Pacific MD of Bloomberg LLP
Ian spent 21 years in Japan, 15 of which with Bloomberg as Asia-Pacific Managing Director. In 2003 he moved back to London from Japan and set up his own coaching business. He has been coaching owners of SMEs in London and executives at large corporates for the last 5 years.
TECHNOLOGY AUTHORITIES
Edmundo Llopis
Managing Partner, sentaire Partners, Former EVP, Citigroup
sentaire Partners is a boutique strategic management consulting firm with expertise in Information Technology, Operational Risk, Process Optimization, Strategic Cost Management, Acquisitions, and Organization Modeling. We assist clients in developing and implementing strategy in the areas of Risk Management, Information Frameworks, Business Processes, Strategic Staffing and Research.
sentaire Partners consist of a team of former Financial Services senior executives and “Big Four” consultants that are highly experienced professionals who are passionate about results. Our mission is to enhance our clients’ performance and profitability. We focus on advising Financial Services Institutions, Capital firms and Health Care professionals. Assisting our clients to make informed decisions regarding their IT investment strategy, portfolio management and operational efficiencies, by leveraging the knowledge and experience of our subject matter experts — all who have extensive real world international experience in their respective arena.
Structural soundness, pragmatism, resilience, efficiency, security, control and compliance is the core DNA of all our staff
Maryellen Erica Evans
Managing Director, Evans Resource Group, Former COO Optigenex Inc.
Maryellen Evans is an IT Entrepreneur and Management Consultant qualified by more than 15 years of fast-track success and a wealth of expertise in both business and technology disciplines. During her career, she has delivered outstanding achievements in business development, project management, offshore development applications, process management, new business development, business solutions development, revenue recognition, technology integrations, and technology and global outsourcing. She is recognized for expertise in resolving complex business challenges, driving products and services to market, and ensuring companies operate profitably.
Guillermo Kopp
Executive Director Fellow Tower Group, Former Regional Director, US at Citigroup
Guillermo is Executive Director and Global Research Fellow at TowerGroup, where he has been advising the financial services industry for seven years. Guillermo's advice on a wide range of business and technology trends and directions has influenced fundamental change at leading institutions and vendors. He speaks frequently at industry events and is featured by the media on strategic topics. Prior to joining TowerGroup, Guillermo served for 16 years in Citigroup in diverse information technology and business process leadership roles globally, to include the Private Bank in New York and Citibank’s global credit, risk and funds transfer application systems. He had also managed Citibank’s technology for Latin America serving 21 countries, and led the transformation of the payments system in Saudi Arabia. Guillermo’s earlier technology career was at the airline industry as CIO of Aerolineas Argentinas, and he also served in the International Air Transport Association in Switzerland.
Daryn Hornby
Interactive Design Manager, Giovatto
Creative Director, Curv Networks Design Studio
Daryn is the master of a high level of design creativity and incorporates those elements into everything from web design and development work to flash presentations. He provides expert advise about concepts that work well and how to properly execute them. He enjoys challenges and thinks “out of the box”, focusing on execution and delivery.
SUPPLY CHAIN AND OPERATIONS AUTHORITIES
Tony Donofrio
President, US Mgmt Services, Former Chief Supply Chain Officer, Linens N Things
Policy level Senior Executive recognized for outstanding bottom line results and share growth at 4 Fortune 50 companies. Solid record of exceeding business targets and producing impressive results. Significant experience spearheading business, manufacturing and new product strategies. Redesigned global supply chains and operating architectures. Operationalized joint ventures, leading new business development and turnaround missions. Action-oriented, visionary leader committed to customers, team building and organization development. Reputation for taking on tough challenges, creating growth opportunities and outperforming the competition. Earned PepsiCo’s “Chairman’s Award” for leading a supply chain redesign strategy and migration plan.
CONSUMER PRODUCTS AND SERVICES AUTHORITIES
Edward F. Nesta
President, Luxury Experience Company (www.L-E-Company.com), Former VP, GE
Edward F. Nesta is President of E. F. Nesta & Associates, LLC, an international consulting boutique providing operations and marketing management services, whose motto is, “business concept innovation – providing totally objective and experienced consulting and hands-on management services.” In addition, Mr. Nesta is President of Luxury Experience Company (www.L-E-Company.com) specializing in Internet Marketing and eCommerce solutions for the upscale market across business segments, as well as, Mr. Nesta is Publisher for Luxury Experience Magazine (www.LuxuryExperience.com), a monthly on-line strategic marketing tool, which features experiential marketing articles to a readership reach in 80+ countries and over 100,000 readers per month.
Jonathan Soares
Founder and CEO, Q Products Inc.
Jonathan M. Soares is the Chief Executive Officer at Q Products, Inc., a national specialty food company, which he founded in May 2005. He is an expert in marketing, developing strategic partnerships, national account sales, viral & social media, packaging design, product development, brand pioneering, in-store-marketing, innovation ideation, new product launches and funding allocation. He has extensive experience in developing national distribution along with implementing regional and national broker team management. Jonathan has a keen understanding of the specialty and natural food trades both on a regional and national level across various channels of distribution.
UNIVERSITIES AND NON-PROFITS
J. Preston Jones D.B.A.
Executive Associate Dean, H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship
Dr. J. Preston Jones is the Executive Associate Dean of Academic Affairs in Nova Southeastern University’s H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship. In his sixteen years at NSU, Dr. Jones has helped to lead the development of the Huizenga School’s online distance learning education programs to business administration and accounting. He is also an accomplished professor with considerable experience in delivering face-to-face and online instruction to adult learners across the United States and around the world.
Tom Pyle
Executive Director, Strathmore University Foundation, Former Chairman, TerraCycle, Inc.
Strathmore University Foundation supports Strathmore University in Kenya as a US based 501 (c) 3 registered Non-Profit organization that:develops academic and program alliances between Strathmore University (Kenya) and academies and institutions in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and elsewhere, organizes alumni worldwide in its work with the Strathmore University Alumni Association, cultivates material and financial resources among corporations, foundations, agencies, and ndividuals in support of Strathmore University's advancement.
HUMAN CAPITAL AUTHORITIES
Louis Carter
President and CEO Best Practice Institute
The association provides highly qualified senior executive research and development, train the training manager certification, research, and publications around human resources development for North American, European, and Asian industry leaders, professors, and human resources development professionals. If you are interested in starting your own division in your country and are able to meet the standards and expectations, please contact me at www.bpiworld.com
Nancy A. May
President & CEO, The BoardBench Companies
Board and senior level executives representing large and mid-cap corporations worldwide.
Nancy has served on the Board and actively supports a number of national and international organizations including the International Women’s Forum, American Women’s Economic Development Corporation, The Entrepreneurial Women’s Network, and Women in Management, among others. In 1998 she was honored by the Small Business Administration for her work and support of women as the State of Connecticut's Women’s Business Advocate of the Year, and was invited to meet President Clinton as one of the Nation’s top business leaders. She is a member of the Economic Club of New York, the World Affairs Council and served on the Board of Directors of the Girl Scout Council of Connecticut. She also serves on the advisory council of NeuroSonics, Inc. and is listed in Who’s Who of Global Business Leaders and has been a guest lecturer for business and professional organizations, The Conference Board, National Geographic Films and numerous University graduate school programs.