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Victor F. Russo, PhD., Advisor - Vic F. Russo is President and Chief Executive Officer of Ben Franklin Technology Center of Central and Northern Pennsylvania, Inc. and Managing Member, Penn Venture Partners. Vic Russo directs the activities of the Center located at Penn State. The Center's mission is to grow small technology companies and provides financial support spanning the full range from Research and Development to raising capital from private sources. The total program consists of company investments, operational assistance and support for activities with Venture Capital and private investors. The Center is a Joint Venture participant with Zero Stage Capital in one of the SBA's conditionally approved New Markets Venture Capital Companies. Prior to Ben Franklin, Vic was Director of Technical Programs with United Technologies Corporation in Shanghai, China where he opened the first wholly foreign-owned technology center in China. He established several joint ventures with the largest companies in China, including Aviation Industries of China. Previously, he was Director of European Operations for United Technologies Research Center based in Munich, Germany where he opened UTC's first European research center in Aachen, Germany. He established JV's with Daimler Benz, Finnmechanica and British Aerospace. Prior to these international assignments, he was Director of Business development for UTRC. Vic Russo has a diploma in Advanced Management Program from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a Ph.D. in Physics from Penn State and a BS Physics from University of New Hampshire.
Malcolm Elvey, Advisor - Forty years of entrepreneurial experience in more than 10 countries coupled with his academic experience, Malcolm Elvey is a seasoned entrepreneur with a strong global track record. As CEO of Collaborative Partners, he advises clients in the areas of strategy, structure, and finance. Malcolm demonstrates strength in astute analysis and evaluation of concepts plus possesses the unique ability to introduce and mentor exceptional entrepreneurial management skills. He has raised funds for early-stage companies including Angel & VCs, and has vast experience in M&A, IPOs, and secondary offerings. Throughout his career, he has established a network of powerful domestic and international investors and entrepreneurs. As CEO of several companies in the U.S. and abroad, Malcolm has demonstrated his vision in leveraging technology to gain a competitive advantage. He has used technology to drive the success of numerous pioneering business concepts, including warehouse clubs, off-price retailing and industry consolidations. Mr. Elvey serves on the Boards of Algol, a public company headquartered in Milan, Italy and numerous other U.S. companies. Malcolm frequently speaks on industry-related topics. Recent engagements include: Venture Capital /Private Equity Panelist at the University of Chicago, Graduate School of Business: “Entrepreneurial Edge” conference; Panelist at the CIO eBusiness Venture Capitalist Roundtable Summit; Judge and Panelist for the New York “I-Startup Fever” conference. Panelist at Columbia Graduate School of Business Judge at NYNMA “Cybersuds” 2001. A Chartered Accountant, Malcolm holds an MBA degree from the University of Cape Town, South Africa, where he was also a member of the faculty lecturing on finance and business policy. Malcolm has been an active participant in the YPO/WPO organizations since 1973. He is an Arbitrator for the National Association of Security Dealers and holds Series 7,63 and 24 licenses.
William Chang, Advisor - William Chang is a Director in the Capital Markets Group of M&T Bank. In such capacity, Mr. Chang serves as the Director of the Bank's private placement activities and corporate advisory services. Mr. Chang's primary responsibilities include funding raising in the private placement market with products ranging from senior institutional debt, mezzanine debt, to equity. Mr. Chang has worked with companies across various industry segments as well as different stages of development. In addition, Mr. Chang assists companies in an advisory role in areas such as mergers and acquisitions, strategic evaluation, valuation, buyouts and divestitures, and general corporate advisory services. Immediately prior to joining M&T Bank in 1992, Mr. Chang was a senior manager in the Financial Services Practice of KPMG Peat Marwick's New York Office. In such capacity, he was responsible for managing audit engagements of multinational financial institutions, including top tier commercial banks and investment banks. During his tenure, he was also responsible for managing the firm's “Asian Desk” in coordinating firm-wide efforts on Asian financial clients. Mr. Chang also managed the publication of several of the Firm's technical literature addressing issues affecting the financial services industry. Mr. Chang holds a M.B.A. degree in finance from New York University and is a magna cum laude graduate of Pace University. He is a CPA, a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New York State Society of CPAs. Mr. Chang is a board member of the Queens Botanical Garden, having served as its Chairman for three years between 1997-2000. In such capacity, Mr. Chang spearheaded many of the Garden's strategic initiatives, including the launching of a master construction plan involving total funding of over $60 million. Mr. Chang worked closely with many local and state government representatives, private citizen groups as well as corporate supporters in carrying out his board responsibilities.
Erika Geimonen, PhD,
MS, Advisor - Erika Geimonen, PhD, MS is Assistant
Director for Life Science, Office of Technology and Industry Relations
for Stony Brook University.
Jonathan M. Conrad, Advisor - As CEO and founder of Sconset Media, and a former investment banker and senior energy executive, Jonathan Conrad brings a unique blend of creative, financial and operational management expertise to Greenhills Ventures. As the Executive Producer of Sconset Media, he leads a production team that had previously produced and directed productions that received numerous international and US film festival awards including an ACADEMY AWARD, EMMYs, CABLE ACE Awards and CINE Gold Eagles. Sconset’s first project was the documentary short Dow Jones Averages 1886-1996 for Dow Jones and Company, the publishers of The Wall Street Journal. Mr. Conrad is currently working on a primetime special for WETA/PBS titled The Power: The Information Revolution in Our Lives, which will examine the promise and peril of the Internet and related technologies as they impact security, democracy and the growing global divide. His experience in senior management positions has been with organizations ranging from a multi-billion-dollar bank to a mid-size public company and includes start-up ventures and financial advisory assignments. From 1987 to 1992 he was a senior executive officer of a publicly held company, Allegheny and Western Energy Corporation, reporting to the CEO. In a difficult oil and gas market, he led a successful effort that raised a large percentage of all U.S. private drilling equity by the industry during the period. Earlier experience included management positions in the fields of investment banking and commercial lending, with an emphasis on emerging technology companies. Jonathan Conrad has also been actively involved with the government and nonprofit sectors. From 1977 to 1979, while a commercial banking officer of a national bank, he testified before and worked with the Senate Finance Committee, chaired by Russell B. Long (D-La.), and was instrumental in helping to create the federal legislation enabling broad-based use of Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs). During the Reagan Administration, he was appointed to the Commercial Space Advisory Committee of the US Department of Transportation, created by executive order of the President. Mr. Conrad currently serves as an Advisor to the X PRIZE Foundation, which fosters innovation through competition. On October 4, 2004, the X PRIZE captured headlines around the world when Mojave Aerospace Ventures, LLC, led by Burt Rutan and Paul Allen, flew the world’s first private spacecraft, which it had built, into space to win the $10 million ANSARI X PRIZE. He currently serves on the International Advisory Board of WildAid a leading non-profit that works to protect against illegal wildlife trade. Mr. Conrad is a Medalist of The Explorers Club, where he serves as a Director. His diverse experience in business, government and the nonprofit sector reflects his versatility and creativity and his management skills. He is a graduate and trustee of Washington and Jefferson College and lives in New York City with his wife.
Bradley Melnick, Junior Advisor - Mr. Melnick is a management consultant for Booz Allen Hamilton, specializing in Information Technology strategy. While pursuing his MBA, Mr. Melnick led the financial due diligence efforts for several of GreenHills Ventures (GHV Fund, LP) portfolio companies. Prior to business school, Mr. Melnick was a Consulting Services Manager with Strata Decision Technology. With Strata, Mr. Melnick led the implementation of financial software in healthcare organizations and contributed to the design of the applications. Before joining Strata, Mr. Melnick was a consultant in the Business Recovery Services Group with PricewaterhouseCoopers where he advised clients in Chapter 11 and helped to secure financing for distressed companies. Mr. Melnick is a Certified Public Accountant, holds a BS in Finance from the University of Illinois, and a MBA from New York University Stern School of Business.
Outside Counsel Mark Krassner, Outside Counsel -Mr. Krassner is founding partner in Cohen & Krassner, LLP with offices in midtown New York City and Bergen County, New Jersey. Mr. Krassner obtained his law degree from Brooklyn Law School in 1980, and admitted to the Bar in federal and state courts of New York and New Jersey, and later formed the firm of Cohen & Krassner, LLP in 1989. Cohen & Krassner, LLP specializes in litigation and trial experience in the state and federal courts of New York and New Jersey. The firm provides other practice areas including corporate and contract law, business transactions, real estate. The firm represents several clients including real estate management companies, small and privately held businesses, national collection agencies and a myriad of family offices and individual investors. |
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ADVISORS
