Mannys Event
February 25 2013, 3:30 AM
Date: Sun, 24 Feb 2013 23:27:34 -0500
From: Manny Ratafia
Subject: Creating and Building a Technology-Based Company - March 13 in
Fairfield
To: Manny Ratafia
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On March 13, a panel of successful entrepreneurs will discuss building companies from technical projects, followed by Q&A and discussion. Dean Jack Beal will also present a short talk on the Fairfield University School of Engineering. The program will be preceded by networking and will be followed by a wine reception and additional networking. Our speakers are: Bernie Keppler Hengstler, Interflex, Time Link, LaborLogic, NLP & EllipsonData Scott Nevins Bernstein, E-Tran, Protegrity, GiantBear, ClientSoft & GE Capital Mark Noonan UBS & Nootools Jon Russell Presence Studios & SafeStart Systems Nick Shkolnik GEN3, EnGen & LiquidPiston Steve Shwartz Esperant Technology, Computershare, Tangoe, SPS Ventures & device42 Jim Whitney Dictaphone, Pitney Bowes, Lee & Satterlee Associates, Whitney & Associates & Woodland Power Products Speaker bios and other details, including how to register, are below.
I look forward to seeing you there. Manny manny@ratafias.com 203-387-7348
P.S.: Feel free to forward this announcement to others who may benefit from the meeting. If this has been forwarded to you and you would like to be added to the list, please send me an e-mail with PLEASE INCLUDE in the subject line. To be removed from the list, send me an e-mail with PLEASE REMOVE in the subject line.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From Engineering Project to Successful Business
Panelists Relate their Experiences and Provide Advice Wine Reception and Additional Networking Afterwards Primary Sponsor:
Fairfield University School of Engineering
Date: Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Location: Alumni House, Fairfield University, 1073 North Benson Road, Fairfield, CT 06430 Time: 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Registration, Networking and Refreshments from 4:00 pm to 4:45 pm Opening remarks, Introductions and Comments by Dean Jack Beal from 4:45 pm to 5:10 pm Presentations and Q&A from 5:10 pm to 6:40 pm
Wine Reception from 6:40 pm
RSVP by replying to this e-mail. Fee:
$35 if payment is received or postmarked by February 25
$45 if payment is received or postmarked by March 6
$55 if payment is received or postmarked after March 6
$55 at the door by cash or check (if space is available, seating is limited) ( ) Yes, I will attend and
( ) A check is being mailed
Make check out to ³Ratafia Ventures² and send to Ratafia Ventures, 3 Penny Lane, Woodbridge, CT 06525
( ) Please e-mail me an invoice for paying by credit card online ($3 processing fee) ( ) No, I cannot attend Name (s): _________________________________________ Affiliation:_________________________________________ E-Mail: ___________________________________________ Telephone: _______________________________________
Cancellation and substitution policy: We adhere to a policy of no cancellations, no refunds, no application of registration fees to future events, but substitutions are welcome. To send a substitute in your place, email us your substitute's complete contact information at least 24 hours prior to the starting time of the event..
e-mail to manny@ratafias.com or call 203-387-7348 A Ratafia Ventures Event The presenters are: Bernie Keppler Hengstler, Interflex, Time Link, LaborLogic, NLP & EllipsonData Scott Nevins Bernstein, E-Tran, Protegrity, GiantBear, ClientSoft & GE Capital Mark Noonan UBS & Nootools Jon Russell Presence Studios & SafeStart Systems Nick Shkolnik GEN3, EnGen & LiquidPiston Steve Shwartz Esperant Technology, Computershare, Tangoe, SPS Ventures & device42
Jim Whitney Dictaphone, Pitney Bowes, Lee & Satterlee Associates, Whitney & Associates & Woodland Power Products Presenter bios:
Bernhard KepplerBernie Keppler has been involved in the commercialization of a number of technologies in a variety of industries. At the first company he joined in 1970, The Hengstler Group, as Vice President of Marketing and Sales, he helped grow the Flextime Division within 4 years to $ 40 million in sales, 180 employees, and international leadership in Europe. The Hengstler Group was later sold to Dana Corporation. In 1976, Bernie co-founded Interflex Data Systems which grew to the largest security and time and labor data collection vendor in Europe. Interflex was sold in 2001 to Ingersoll-Rand. Bernie Keppler founded Time Link International Corporation in 1986. At Time Link, he pioneered the large scale deployment of biometric devices, user portal concepts and software hosting for workforce management solutions. As CEO of Time Link International, Bernie built a successful SAP Software Partnership and entered into worldwide partnership/marketing agreements with Oracle, Bosch Security Systems and others. He sold his share in the company to investors in 2003. In 2004, Bernie started a venture offering cloud-based labor reporting and payroll services to small and medium sized companies. Today, the company, LaborLogic LLC, has over 300 customers in New England. In 2008 Bernie Keppler acquired the exclusive worldwide license to MedLEE, a patented natural language processor developed at Columbia University and founded NLP International Corp. to commercialize the application. The processor extracts and codes critical medical information from unstructured medical texts. In 2011 he accepted an offer by Columbia to buy back the MedLEE license. In Bernie¹s most recent venture, he received a European patent in October 2012 (US application in progress) for a mobile, biometrically supported method to collect, verify and securely communicate physiological data of a living being. He is in the process of evaluating the commercialization of his patent through his new venture EllipsonData LLC. Bernie received his Masters Degree in Human Resource Management from the Fachhochschule Pforzheim, Germany in 1970. In 1969, Bernie published ³Flextime in Practice.² This book was the first on the subject and contributed to substantial changes in workforce management practices in Germany and most other European countries. Scott NevinsScott Nevins was the CEO of E-Tran, a financial services firm serving banks which was one of the few non financial firms the Federal Reserve approved to accept ACH payments over the banking network. Prior to that, Scott was CEO of Protegrity, a database security company, and before that he was the president and COO of GiantBear, a wireless technology services company. Earlier, he was the CEO of ClientSoft, a market leader in extending IBM mainframe applications to the internet and wireless. He previously held sales and technology management positions at GE Capital. Over his career, he completed fourteen rounds of venture financing. Scott is now a Senior Investment Advisor in Bernstein Global Wealth Management¹s New York office where he provides asset allocation and wealth planning advice to individuals, families, endowments and foundations, and entrepreneurs. Scott holds a BA, cum laude, from Fairfield University. He received Ernst & Young¹s Entrepreneur of the Year award in 1999 and 2000 and Deloitte and Touche¹s Fast 50 award in 2000. He serves on the boards of the World Affairs Forum, the Association for Corporate Growth, the Angel Investor Forum, and Crossroads Venture Group (Fairfield County). Mark NoonanMark Noonan is the Founder and CEO of Nootools LLC. Since founding Nootools 10 years ago, Mark has conceived, designed and launched a variety of products. He and Nootools have built a product concept portfolio of over 100, primarily mechanical, products, with over a dozen in the market at various stages, including sales through major retailers. Mark has, through Nootools and other companies he controls, over two dozen patents awarded or in progress in hardware, home, pet products, electronics, infant products and defense-related technologies. Most of the product concepts are initiated by Mark. He usually does a series of pencil sketches to test out overall configuration and virtually run through several iterations to refine the basic approach and geometry, and then streamlines the design to reduce the number of parts and improve intuitiveness and ease of use. Concepts are usually compiled and ranked against key metrics such as market size, consumer need, ability to develop solution and finished products, price point, and most importantly, to assess whether the product is novel Mark then works with his engineer, with CAD development through pre-production prototyping as the last design stage. Packaging is outsourced. The company focus is on hi-tech¹ designs of low-tech¹ products with long patent lives and low product obsolescence risk. Products Nootools has already launched or soon to launch include: Snow Wolf wheeled snow shovel (Time Magazine Best Inventions) Leaf Loader yard cleanup tool Raxstars portable ski and snowboard racks and broader racking system Paint Gards, low-cost paint preserving disposable Flat Funnel adjustable aperture funnel and cutting board (for powders, granulars, etc.) Ball magnet tennis safety net, nearly invisible adapter net that funnels over 90% of balls that are hit into the net down to the court surface at the base of the net for easy clean up Garden lopper/shear system that greatly improves power, range of motion and comfort Universal bottle brush one-size, universal brush that adapts to inside apertures and efficiently applies pressure even to hard to reach vases, decanters, etc. Breeze Outdoor Chair Covers self storing and covers/uncovers in seconds Solo Transfer Wheelchair permits patients to self-transfer to beds, toilets or sit showers (or with only one caregiver). Mark Noonan holds a BA in Economics (with significant studies in physics and mathematics) from Duke and an MBA from Wharton. Prior to founding Nootools, he had nearly 20 years in corporate finance and investment banking experience, having been Head of Arbitrage Products Equity Derivatives at UBS and Executive Director at UBS Investment Bank. Jon T. RussellJon Russell is Founder and Managing Director of SafeStart Systems LLC.
In 1980, Jon started his first company, Presence Studios; a high technology audio production studio which became one of the top 30 facilities of its kind in the world; as certified by the Los Angeles based World Studio Group. With an international client base of the most prestigious names in Music, Film, Television and Corporate Management, Presence Studios continues as a successful business after over 30 years. The inspiration for SafeStart Systems came in 1999, when a power tool accident nearly cost Jon his left arm. In response to the accident, he embarked on a technological journey into the world of electrical safety. His recognition and personal experience of the unintentional restart of electrical power tools and equipment, identified by OSHA / NIOSH as a ³dangerous restart² set the stage for the development of the SafetyGate #82397 circuitry; a multi-patented miniaturized and low cost solution to the restart hazard inherent in over 1.3B power tools, appliances and small machines. From 1999 until 2003, Jon, along with a few design and engineering colleagues, developed and perfected the circuitry. In 2003, they applied for and later received the first US patent, with additional applications and subsequent approvals coming in 2008 and 2012. Jon raised $500,000 in Angel capital, and by doing so was able in 2009 to design, receive UL approvals and manufacture release a CPG line of electrical safety products designed to eliminate the hazard of electrical restarts. Sales and re-orders continue to grow from leading institutions including NASA, Cal Tech, United Launch Alliance, US Geological Survey, ITT C¹Treat, Waste Management, Sierra Nevada Aerospace, Yale University EHS, Kirkland AFB, and Eaton Corp.SafetyGate products also continue to increase sales in the general tool and woodworking market through distribution at over 250 retail stores in the US & Canada. Awards Jon has received include a Grammy Award, IMAX large format film award, World Studio Group top 30 facility award, Parent Tested Parent Approved Award & Metro Mom's Best and a Hottest Product Award (SafetyGate Consumer Product). Nikolay ShkolnikNick Shkolnik is the co-inventor of the LiquidPiston engine, and is a co founder of LiquidPiston, Inc., a venture capital backed startup working to bring a breakthrough high speed diesel engine design from concept to production. LiquidPiston raised $6.5 million in its Series B investment round, completed in December 2011. An MIT incubated R&D company, LiquidPiston is poised to transform ten years of breakthrough thermodynamics research into the world¹s most efficient rotary engine. With a fundamental design that scales from lawnmowers, to locomotives, LiquidPiston has the potential to add fifty years to the life of the internal combustion engine industry in a resource-constrained world. Prior to LiquidPiston, Nick was the Program Manager for the Clean Energy Group at GEN3 Partners, in Boston, where he managed dozens of engineers, physicists and chemists in a variety of consulting projects typically for Fortune 500 companies. He has served in a variety of positions over 9 years of employment with GEN3, including as Vice President of Research and Development for EnGen, a spin-off of GEN3 which developed fuel cell based stationary power applications and high performance redox-based supercapacitors. Dr. Shkolnik is one of less than a few dozen experts nationally in the science of TRIZ, which is a proven systematic approach to solving many technical problems, and is utilized extensively by GEN3 and now by LiquidPiston. Nick has 9 publications, 4 conference presentations, 8 patents, 14 patent applications pending, and is the recipient of the Motorola award for creativity. He received his PhD in Theoretical Physics from the University of Connecticut in 1984, and an MS in Mechanical Engineering, from Kiev Polytechnic Institute, Ukraine, 1975. Steve ShwartzSteve is a co-founder of device42 which has created a software platform for data center inventory management. The company is off to a fast start and has acquired some big name customers around the world. Prior to device42, Steve was at Tangoe where he was one of the early angel investors, a board member, and then CTO for his last 3 years. Tangoe analysts are forecasting close to $200M in 2013 revenue. Tangoe was one of the top 10 IPO¹s of 2011 and is the global leader in mobile expense management and a major player in mobile device management. Steve started his career as a research faculty member at Yale University in the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory of the Computer Science Department and was a co-founder of two companies in the artificial intelligence area, one of which, Cognitive Systems, had an IPO in 1986. He was also Co-Founder and CTO of Intelligent Business Systems, developer of EasyTalk, a patented natural language product that was hailed by the Gartner Group as a ³breakthrough technology². In 1991, Steve started the company that developed Esperant, one of the leading business intelligence tools of the 1990¹s and was named Product of the Year by two major national industry publications in 1995. Steve sold his company, Esperant Technology, to Software AG. Steve was an interim CTO for a number of companies during the dotcom era and was the CTO of Computershare (largest global stock transfer agent) for 5 years. Steve is also the author of a book on natural language processing, has spoken at dozens of industry and academic conferences, has published numerous trade and academic articles, and has received two patents. He received his PhD from Johns Hopkins University. Steve is also an active angel investor through his firm SPS Venture, is on the board of the Angel Investor Forum, and is a member of New York Angels. James C. WhitneyJim Whitney is Founder and CEO of Woodland Power Products, Inc., which was formed in 1997 to manufacture and market a product line named the Cyclone Rake. Jim invented and designed this product during 1994-1996, initially for his own use. Startup capital was raised from his Whitney & Associates consulting clients. The company started operations in mid-1997 and was an immediate success, selling its products by direct marketing to homeowners throughout the U.S. and Canada. From a corner in the basement of a derelict building in West Haven, CT, it has grown to become a significant employer, with customers in every state and province, and is one of the largest suppliers in the United States of its product category. Jim Whitney¹s career began at Dictaphone Corporation, which he joined in 1970 as an entry-level product design engineer. He progressed through various positions including Project Engineer, Engineering Manager, Director of Advanced Development and Vice President of R&D, a position he held 1976 through 1983, with worldwide responsibility for technology and product development. In 1978, while Jim was at Dictaphone, the company was acquired by Pitney Bowes where Jim stayed until 1983. During 1983 to 1986, he joined the venture capital firm Lee & Satterlee Associates as an Associate, where he was responsible for assisting with the startup of various new ventures, primarily in telecommunications and IT. In 1987, Jim founded Whitney & Associates, a consulting firm, which he ran until 1996. The firm provided business development services and M&A assistance to companies in the Mid-Atlantic and New England area. He assisted more than 22 clients in fields as diverse as electronic components, cosmetics, military guidance systems, catalog direct marketing and waste fiber recycling. Clients ranged from small family businesses to divisions of major corporations. Jim is a graduate of the Fieldston School, holds a BS in physics from the California Institute of Technology, and MS and PhD degrees from the Columbia University School of Engineering & Applied Science. Moderator and Meeting OrganizerManny RatafiaManny Ratafia is an entrepreneur, management consultant, and angel investor. He has founded and run ventures in a variety of technology areas, organized conferences and meetings, and has consulted to owners and senior executives of companies on a range of management, market, and technology issues. His educational background includes a bachelor¹s degree in Mechanical Engineering from The Cooper Union and master¹s degrees in Mechanical Engineering from MIT and in Engineering and Applied Physics from Harvard, and an MBA from Dartmouth. He has served on the boards of directors and advisory boards of several start-up companies and non-profit organizations. Manny Ratafia¹s research and opinions have been published and quoted in more than 100 general, business and scientific publications in the U.S., Europe, and Japan. Manny is a member of the Fairfield University School of Engineering Advisory Board.
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DIRECTIONS TO ALUMNI HOUSE, FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY 1073 NORTH BENSON ROAD, FAIRFIELD, CT 06430 From New York via Connecticut Turnpike (I-95):
Take exit 22 in Connecticut - Round Hill Road. Continue straight through the stop sign at the end of the ramp. At the traffic light, take a left onto North Benson Road (Rt. 135) and continue straight for 0.8 miles (through two traffic lights.) The sign for the main entrance to Fairfield University will be on the left. Turn left into the entrance. Alumni House is the first building on your right. Drive straight ahead, past Alumni House, until you see a large parking lot on your right. Park there and walk back to Alumni House. From Providence and New Haven via Connecticut Turnpike (I-95):
Take exit 22 in Connecticut - North Benson Road. Turn right at the end of the ramp onto North Benson Rd. (Rte. 135). Go straight for 0.8 miles (through two traffic lights). The main entrance to Fairfield University will be on the left. Turn left into the entrance. Alumni House is the first building on your right. Drive straight ahead, past Alumni House, until you see a large parking lot on your right. Park there and walk back to Alumni House. From Hartford or Vermont via I-91:
Take I-91 South to I-95 South in New Haven. Take exit 22 in Connecticut - North Benson Road. Turn right at the end of the ramp onto North Benson Rd. (Rte. 135). Go straight for 0.8 miles (through two traffic lights). The main entrance to Fairfield University will be on the left. Turn left into the entrance. Drive straight ahead, past Alumni House, until you see a large parking lot on your right. Park there and walk back to Alumni House. From New York via Merritt Parkway (Rt. 15):
Take exit 44. Turn left off the ramp and turn right onto Black Rock Turnpike. (Rt. 58) at the light. Proceed 2 miles to Stillson Rd. (Rt. 135) and turn right. Bear left, at the second light, onto North Benson Road. The University entrance will be on your right. Turn right into the entrance. Alumni House will be the first building on your right. Drive straight ahead, past Alumni House, until you see a large parking lot on your right. Park there and walk back to Alumni House. From Hartford and New Haven via Merritt Parkway (Rt. 15):
Take exit 44, take a quick left off the ramp, then take another quick left onto Black Rock Turnpike. (Rt. 58), proceed 2 miles to Stillson Rd. (Rt. 135) and turn right. Bear left, at the second light, onto North Benson Road. The University entrance will be on your right. Turn right into the entrance. Alumni House will be the first building on your right. Drive straight ahead, past Alumni House, until you see a large parking lot on your right. Park there and walk back to Alumni House. From Boston/New Hampshire and North:
Take the Mass Pike (Route 90) West to I-84 West (exit 9). Merge onto I-91 South. I-91 merges into I-95 South in New Haven. Take exit 22 - North Benson Road. Turn right at the end of the ramp onto North Benson Rd. (Rte. 135). Go straight for 0.8 miles (through two traffic lights). The main entrance to Fairfield University will be on the left. Turn left into the entrance. Alumni House is the first building on your right. Drive straight ahead, past Alumni House, until you see a large parking lot on your right. Park there and walk back to Alumni House. For directions by train, go to http://www.fairfield.edu/about/about_directions.html
From: Manny Ratafia
Subject: Creating and Building a Technology-Based Company - March 13 in
Fairfield
To: Manny Ratafia
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On March 13, a panel of successful entrepreneurs will discuss building companies from technical projects, followed by Q&A and discussion. Dean Jack Beal will also present a short talk on the Fairfield University School of Engineering. The program will be preceded by networking and will be followed by a wine reception and additional networking. Our speakers are: Bernie Keppler Hengstler, Interflex, Time Link, LaborLogic, NLP & EllipsonData Scott Nevins Bernstein, E-Tran, Protegrity, GiantBear, ClientSoft & GE Capital Mark Noonan UBS & Nootools Jon Russell Presence Studios & SafeStart Systems Nick Shkolnik GEN3, EnGen & LiquidPiston Steve Shwartz Esperant Technology, Computershare, Tangoe, SPS Ventures & device42 Jim Whitney Dictaphone, Pitney Bowes, Lee & Satterlee Associates, Whitney & Associates & Woodland Power Products Speaker bios and other details, including how to register, are below.
I look forward to seeing you there. Manny manny@ratafias.com 203-387-7348
P.S.: Feel free to forward this announcement to others who may benefit from the meeting. If this has been forwarded to you and you would like to be added to the list, please send me an e-mail with PLEASE INCLUDE in the subject line. To be removed from the list, send me an e-mail with PLEASE REMOVE in the subject line.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From Engineering Project to Successful Business
Panelists Relate their Experiences and Provide Advice Wine Reception and Additional Networking Afterwards Primary Sponsor:
Fairfield University School of Engineering
Date: Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Location: Alumni House, Fairfield University, 1073 North Benson Road, Fairfield, CT 06430 Time: 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Registration, Networking and Refreshments from 4:00 pm to 4:45 pm Opening remarks, Introductions and Comments by Dean Jack Beal from 4:45 pm to 5:10 pm Presentations and Q&A from 5:10 pm to 6:40 pm
Wine Reception from 6:40 pm
RSVP by replying to this e-mail. Fee:
$35 if payment is received or postmarked by February 25
$45 if payment is received or postmarked by March 6
$55 if payment is received or postmarked after March 6
$55 at the door by cash or check (if space is available, seating is limited) ( ) Yes, I will attend and
( ) A check is being mailed
Make check out to ³Ratafia Ventures² and send to Ratafia Ventures, 3 Penny Lane, Woodbridge, CT 06525
( ) Please e-mail me an invoice for paying by credit card online ($3 processing fee) ( ) No, I cannot attend Name (s): _________________________________________ Affiliation:_________________________________________ E-Mail: ___________________________________________ Telephone: _______________________________________
Cancellation and substitution policy: We adhere to a policy of no cancellations, no refunds, no application of registration fees to future events, but substitutions are welcome. To send a substitute in your place, email us your substitute's complete contact information at least 24 hours prior to the starting time of the event..
e-mail to manny@ratafias.com or call 203-387-7348 A Ratafia Ventures Event The presenters are: Bernie Keppler Hengstler, Interflex, Time Link, LaborLogic, NLP & EllipsonData Scott Nevins Bernstein, E-Tran, Protegrity, GiantBear, ClientSoft & GE Capital Mark Noonan UBS & Nootools Jon Russell Presence Studios & SafeStart Systems Nick Shkolnik GEN3, EnGen & LiquidPiston Steve Shwartz Esperant Technology, Computershare, Tangoe, SPS Ventures & device42
Jim Whitney Dictaphone, Pitney Bowes, Lee & Satterlee Associates, Whitney & Associates & Woodland Power Products Presenter bios:
Bernhard KepplerBernie Keppler has been involved in the commercialization of a number of technologies in a variety of industries. At the first company he joined in 1970, The Hengstler Group, as Vice President of Marketing and Sales, he helped grow the Flextime Division within 4 years to $ 40 million in sales, 180 employees, and international leadership in Europe. The Hengstler Group was later sold to Dana Corporation. In 1976, Bernie co-founded Interflex Data Systems which grew to the largest security and time and labor data collection vendor in Europe. Interflex was sold in 2001 to Ingersoll-Rand. Bernie Keppler founded Time Link International Corporation in 1986. At Time Link, he pioneered the large scale deployment of biometric devices, user portal concepts and software hosting for workforce management solutions. As CEO of Time Link International, Bernie built a successful SAP Software Partnership and entered into worldwide partnership/marketing agreements with Oracle, Bosch Security Systems and others. He sold his share in the company to investors in 2003. In 2004, Bernie started a venture offering cloud-based labor reporting and payroll services to small and medium sized companies. Today, the company, LaborLogic LLC, has over 300 customers in New England. In 2008 Bernie Keppler acquired the exclusive worldwide license to MedLEE, a patented natural language processor developed at Columbia University and founded NLP International Corp. to commercialize the application. The processor extracts and codes critical medical information from unstructured medical texts. In 2011 he accepted an offer by Columbia to buy back the MedLEE license. In Bernie¹s most recent venture, he received a European patent in October 2012 (US application in progress) for a mobile, biometrically supported method to collect, verify and securely communicate physiological data of a living being. He is in the process of evaluating the commercialization of his patent through his new venture EllipsonData LLC. Bernie received his Masters Degree in Human Resource Management from the Fachhochschule Pforzheim, Germany in 1970. In 1969, Bernie published ³Flextime in Practice.² This book was the first on the subject and contributed to substantial changes in workforce management practices in Germany and most other European countries. Scott NevinsScott Nevins was the CEO of E-Tran, a financial services firm serving banks which was one of the few non financial firms the Federal Reserve approved to accept ACH payments over the banking network. Prior to that, Scott was CEO of Protegrity, a database security company, and before that he was the president and COO of GiantBear, a wireless technology services company. Earlier, he was the CEO of ClientSoft, a market leader in extending IBM mainframe applications to the internet and wireless. He previously held sales and technology management positions at GE Capital. Over his career, he completed fourteen rounds of venture financing. Scott is now a Senior Investment Advisor in Bernstein Global Wealth Management¹s New York office where he provides asset allocation and wealth planning advice to individuals, families, endowments and foundations, and entrepreneurs. Scott holds a BA, cum laude, from Fairfield University. He received Ernst & Young¹s Entrepreneur of the Year award in 1999 and 2000 and Deloitte and Touche¹s Fast 50 award in 2000. He serves on the boards of the World Affairs Forum, the Association for Corporate Growth, the Angel Investor Forum, and Crossroads Venture Group (Fairfield County). Mark NoonanMark Noonan is the Founder and CEO of Nootools LLC. Since founding Nootools 10 years ago, Mark has conceived, designed and launched a variety of products. He and Nootools have built a product concept portfolio of over 100, primarily mechanical, products, with over a dozen in the market at various stages, including sales through major retailers. Mark has, through Nootools and other companies he controls, over two dozen patents awarded or in progress in hardware, home, pet products, electronics, infant products and defense-related technologies. Most of the product concepts are initiated by Mark. He usually does a series of pencil sketches to test out overall configuration and virtually run through several iterations to refine the basic approach and geometry, and then streamlines the design to reduce the number of parts and improve intuitiveness and ease of use. Concepts are usually compiled and ranked against key metrics such as market size, consumer need, ability to develop solution and finished products, price point, and most importantly, to assess whether the product is novel Mark then works with his engineer, with CAD development through pre-production prototyping as the last design stage. Packaging is outsourced. The company focus is on hi-tech¹ designs of low-tech¹ products with long patent lives and low product obsolescence risk. Products Nootools has already launched or soon to launch include: Snow Wolf wheeled snow shovel (Time Magazine Best Inventions) Leaf Loader yard cleanup tool Raxstars portable ski and snowboard racks and broader racking system Paint Gards, low-cost paint preserving disposable Flat Funnel adjustable aperture funnel and cutting board (for powders, granulars, etc.) Ball magnet tennis safety net, nearly invisible adapter net that funnels over 90% of balls that are hit into the net down to the court surface at the base of the net for easy clean up Garden lopper/shear system that greatly improves power, range of motion and comfort Universal bottle brush one-size, universal brush that adapts to inside apertures and efficiently applies pressure even to hard to reach vases, decanters, etc. Breeze Outdoor Chair Covers self storing and covers/uncovers in seconds Solo Transfer Wheelchair permits patients to self-transfer to beds, toilets or sit showers (or with only one caregiver). Mark Noonan holds a BA in Economics (with significant studies in physics and mathematics) from Duke and an MBA from Wharton. Prior to founding Nootools, he had nearly 20 years in corporate finance and investment banking experience, having been Head of Arbitrage Products Equity Derivatives at UBS and Executive Director at UBS Investment Bank. Jon T. RussellJon Russell is Founder and Managing Director of SafeStart Systems LLC.
In 1980, Jon started his first company, Presence Studios; a high technology audio production studio which became one of the top 30 facilities of its kind in the world; as certified by the Los Angeles based World Studio Group. With an international client base of the most prestigious names in Music, Film, Television and Corporate Management, Presence Studios continues as a successful business after over 30 years. The inspiration for SafeStart Systems came in 1999, when a power tool accident nearly cost Jon his left arm. In response to the accident, he embarked on a technological journey into the world of electrical safety. His recognition and personal experience of the unintentional restart of electrical power tools and equipment, identified by OSHA / NIOSH as a ³dangerous restart² set the stage for the development of the SafetyGate #82397 circuitry; a multi-patented miniaturized and low cost solution to the restart hazard inherent in over 1.3B power tools, appliances and small machines. From 1999 until 2003, Jon, along with a few design and engineering colleagues, developed and perfected the circuitry. In 2003, they applied for and later received the first US patent, with additional applications and subsequent approvals coming in 2008 and 2012. Jon raised $500,000 in Angel capital, and by doing so was able in 2009 to design, receive UL approvals and manufacture release a CPG line of electrical safety products designed to eliminate the hazard of electrical restarts. Sales and re-orders continue to grow from leading institutions including NASA, Cal Tech, United Launch Alliance, US Geological Survey, ITT C¹Treat, Waste Management, Sierra Nevada Aerospace, Yale University EHS, Kirkland AFB, and Eaton Corp.SafetyGate products also continue to increase sales in the general tool and woodworking market through distribution at over 250 retail stores in the US & Canada. Awards Jon has received include a Grammy Award, IMAX large format film award, World Studio Group top 30 facility award, Parent Tested Parent Approved Award & Metro Mom's Best and a Hottest Product Award (SafetyGate Consumer Product). Nikolay ShkolnikNick Shkolnik is the co-inventor of the LiquidPiston engine, and is a co founder of LiquidPiston, Inc., a venture capital backed startup working to bring a breakthrough high speed diesel engine design from concept to production. LiquidPiston raised $6.5 million in its Series B investment round, completed in December 2011. An MIT incubated R&D company, LiquidPiston is poised to transform ten years of breakthrough thermodynamics research into the world¹s most efficient rotary engine. With a fundamental design that scales from lawnmowers, to locomotives, LiquidPiston has the potential to add fifty years to the life of the internal combustion engine industry in a resource-constrained world. Prior to LiquidPiston, Nick was the Program Manager for the Clean Energy Group at GEN3 Partners, in Boston, where he managed dozens of engineers, physicists and chemists in a variety of consulting projects typically for Fortune 500 companies. He has served in a variety of positions over 9 years of employment with GEN3, including as Vice President of Research and Development for EnGen, a spin-off of GEN3 which developed fuel cell based stationary power applications and high performance redox-based supercapacitors. Dr. Shkolnik is one of less than a few dozen experts nationally in the science of TRIZ, which is a proven systematic approach to solving many technical problems, and is utilized extensively by GEN3 and now by LiquidPiston. Nick has 9 publications, 4 conference presentations, 8 patents, 14 patent applications pending, and is the recipient of the Motorola award for creativity. He received his PhD in Theoretical Physics from the University of Connecticut in 1984, and an MS in Mechanical Engineering, from Kiev Polytechnic Institute, Ukraine, 1975. Steve ShwartzSteve is a co-founder of device42 which has created a software platform for data center inventory management. The company is off to a fast start and has acquired some big name customers around the world. Prior to device42, Steve was at Tangoe where he was one of the early angel investors, a board member, and then CTO for his last 3 years. Tangoe analysts are forecasting close to $200M in 2013 revenue. Tangoe was one of the top 10 IPO¹s of 2011 and is the global leader in mobile expense management and a major player in mobile device management. Steve started his career as a research faculty member at Yale University in the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory of the Computer Science Department and was a co-founder of two companies in the artificial intelligence area, one of which, Cognitive Systems, had an IPO in 1986. He was also Co-Founder and CTO of Intelligent Business Systems, developer of EasyTalk, a patented natural language product that was hailed by the Gartner Group as a ³breakthrough technology². In 1991, Steve started the company that developed Esperant, one of the leading business intelligence tools of the 1990¹s and was named Product of the Year by two major national industry publications in 1995. Steve sold his company, Esperant Technology, to Software AG. Steve was an interim CTO for a number of companies during the dotcom era and was the CTO of Computershare (largest global stock transfer agent) for 5 years. Steve is also the author of a book on natural language processing, has spoken at dozens of industry and academic conferences, has published numerous trade and academic articles, and has received two patents. He received his PhD from Johns Hopkins University. Steve is also an active angel investor through his firm SPS Venture, is on the board of the Angel Investor Forum, and is a member of New York Angels. James C. WhitneyJim Whitney is Founder and CEO of Woodland Power Products, Inc., which was formed in 1997 to manufacture and market a product line named the Cyclone Rake. Jim invented and designed this product during 1994-1996, initially for his own use. Startup capital was raised from his Whitney & Associates consulting clients. The company started operations in mid-1997 and was an immediate success, selling its products by direct marketing to homeowners throughout the U.S. and Canada. From a corner in the basement of a derelict building in West Haven, CT, it has grown to become a significant employer, with customers in every state and province, and is one of the largest suppliers in the United States of its product category. Jim Whitney¹s career began at Dictaphone Corporation, which he joined in 1970 as an entry-level product design engineer. He progressed through various positions including Project Engineer, Engineering Manager, Director of Advanced Development and Vice President of R&D, a position he held 1976 through 1983, with worldwide responsibility for technology and product development. In 1978, while Jim was at Dictaphone, the company was acquired by Pitney Bowes where Jim stayed until 1983. During 1983 to 1986, he joined the venture capital firm Lee & Satterlee Associates as an Associate, where he was responsible for assisting with the startup of various new ventures, primarily in telecommunications and IT. In 1987, Jim founded Whitney & Associates, a consulting firm, which he ran until 1996. The firm provided business development services and M&A assistance to companies in the Mid-Atlantic and New England area. He assisted more than 22 clients in fields as diverse as electronic components, cosmetics, military guidance systems, catalog direct marketing and waste fiber recycling. Clients ranged from small family businesses to divisions of major corporations. Jim is a graduate of the Fieldston School, holds a BS in physics from the California Institute of Technology, and MS and PhD degrees from the Columbia University School of Engineering & Applied Science. Moderator and Meeting OrganizerManny RatafiaManny Ratafia is an entrepreneur, management consultant, and angel investor. He has founded and run ventures in a variety of technology areas, organized conferences and meetings, and has consulted to owners and senior executives of companies on a range of management, market, and technology issues. His educational background includes a bachelor¹s degree in Mechanical Engineering from The Cooper Union and master¹s degrees in Mechanical Engineering from MIT and in Engineering and Applied Physics from Harvard, and an MBA from Dartmouth. He has served on the boards of directors and advisory boards of several start-up companies and non-profit organizations. Manny Ratafia¹s research and opinions have been published and quoted in more than 100 general, business and scientific publications in the U.S., Europe, and Japan. Manny is a member of the Fairfield University School of Engineering Advisory Board.
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DIRECTIONS TO ALUMNI HOUSE, FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY 1073 NORTH BENSON ROAD, FAIRFIELD, CT 06430 From New York via Connecticut Turnpike (I-95):
Take exit 22 in Connecticut - Round Hill Road. Continue straight through the stop sign at the end of the ramp. At the traffic light, take a left onto North Benson Road (Rt. 135) and continue straight for 0.8 miles (through two traffic lights.) The sign for the main entrance to Fairfield University will be on the left. Turn left into the entrance. Alumni House is the first building on your right. Drive straight ahead, past Alumni House, until you see a large parking lot on your right. Park there and walk back to Alumni House. From Providence and New Haven via Connecticut Turnpike (I-95):
Take exit 22 in Connecticut - North Benson Road. Turn right at the end of the ramp onto North Benson Rd. (Rte. 135). Go straight for 0.8 miles (through two traffic lights). The main entrance to Fairfield University will be on the left. Turn left into the entrance. Alumni House is the first building on your right. Drive straight ahead, past Alumni House, until you see a large parking lot on your right. Park there and walk back to Alumni House. From Hartford or Vermont via I-91:
Take I-91 South to I-95 South in New Haven. Take exit 22 in Connecticut - North Benson Road. Turn right at the end of the ramp onto North Benson Rd. (Rte. 135). Go straight for 0.8 miles (through two traffic lights). The main entrance to Fairfield University will be on the left. Turn left into the entrance. Drive straight ahead, past Alumni House, until you see a large parking lot on your right. Park there and walk back to Alumni House. From New York via Merritt Parkway (Rt. 15):
Take exit 44. Turn left off the ramp and turn right onto Black Rock Turnpike. (Rt. 58) at the light. Proceed 2 miles to Stillson Rd. (Rt. 135) and turn right. Bear left, at the second light, onto North Benson Road. The University entrance will be on your right. Turn right into the entrance. Alumni House will be the first building on your right. Drive straight ahead, past Alumni House, until you see a large parking lot on your right. Park there and walk back to Alumni House. From Hartford and New Haven via Merritt Parkway (Rt. 15):
Take exit 44, take a quick left off the ramp, then take another quick left onto Black Rock Turnpike. (Rt. 58), proceed 2 miles to Stillson Rd. (Rt. 135) and turn right. Bear left, at the second light, onto North Benson Road. The University entrance will be on your right. Turn right into the entrance. Alumni House will be the first building on your right. Drive straight ahead, past Alumni House, until you see a large parking lot on your right. Park there and walk back to Alumni House. From Boston/New Hampshire and North:
Take the Mass Pike (Route 90) West to I-84 West (exit 9). Merge onto I-91 South. I-91 merges into I-95 South in New Haven. Take exit 22 - North Benson Road. Turn right at the end of the ramp onto North Benson Rd. (Rte. 135). Go straight for 0.8 miles (through two traffic lights). The main entrance to Fairfield University will be on the left. Turn left into the entrance. Alumni House is the first building on your right. Drive straight ahead, past Alumni House, until you see a large parking lot on your right. Park there and walk back to Alumni House. For directions by train, go to http://www.fairfield.edu/about/about_directions.html