Springboard| E.I.R Program

CONNECT is fortunate to draw upon a pool of highly-qualified individuals who volunteer their time to serve as Springboard Entrepreneurs in Residence. Entrepreneurs in Residence are invited to serve based upon their experience in raising venture capital and growing successful companies.

Currently CONNECT has close to 100 EIRs volunteering their time and expertise towards the Springboard program.

Springboard Entrepreneurs in Residence

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Our current Entrepreneurs- in-Residence are:

Michael Adam

Background:  SVP Drug Development - Anadys Pharmaceutical

Expertise:  Pharma-, Drug Development

Owens F. Alexander

Background:  Former President and CEO, Titan Wireless

Expertise: Telecommunications, Wireless, and Utilities

William R. Atkinson

Background:  Former CEO, XLNT

Expertise: LAN, SAN, wireless, semiconductor, sales channel development, turnarounds and restructuring

Thomas M. Bergmann

Background:  Former Vice President, Gartner, Inc.

Expertise: Software, defense, government services

Jai Bhagat

Background:  CoB Axestel, CEO SkyTel

Expertise:  Wireless, Telecom, Internet, Service Provider

Vince Bianco

Background:  Former CEO, Risk Data Corporation

Expertise: Software CEO, insurance/retail spaces

Daniel P. Brogan

Background:  COO Smith Consulting Architects, CEO, Earl Walls Associates, CFO KA Architects

Expertise: C-Level Exec, licensed Architect, construction, clean/green, insurance, some heavy manufacturing

Danen Butler

Background:  CEO Applied Control Concepts

Expertise: High-tech computing platforms; repeat CEO

Larry Bock

Background:  General Partner, CW Venture, founder/CEO of Nanosys, Inc.

Expertise:  Life Science/Nano-tech; serial entrepreneur, VC

Mario Bourdon

Background:  CEO La Jolla Institute for Molecular Medicine

Expertise:  Life Science, cancer/tumor biology

Dan Caulfield

Background: Chairman & CEO, Hire a Hero

Expertise:  Military, technology, public-private military transition program, ability to develop innovative digital marketing and branding strategies

Robert Ciardella

Background:  Former Founder and President, Asymtek

Expertise: Engineering and automation

Dennis Clerke

Background:  CEO Alignent Software

Expertise: Software, IT, Interactive Content

Jim Comeaux

Background:  Co-Founder and CTO Redwire

Expertise: Wireless, Voip, ISP

Martha Dennis, Ph.D

Background:  Former Venture Partner, Windward Ventures

Expertise: Telecommunication, wireless, software

Bill Diller

Background:  CEO Netresults

Expertise: C-level High-tech and consumer products and services

Jeff Donahue

Background:  Former CFO, SKY MobileMedia, Inc.

Expertise:  Corporate finance, development, restructuring and operations

Jack Dollard

Background:  Former EVP&COO AMS, SVP Global Operations Gateway Computers, President QPE Qualcomm/SVP Global Operations

Expertise:  Electronics, Hi-Tech, Wireless, Computer Products - global P&L operations inclusive to manufacturing, supply chain, engineering, logistics, distribution, quality, six sigma, business development, and sales

Bruce I. Doyle, III, Ph.D

Background:  Former CEO, Impres

Expertise: Networking, Telecom, Energy, Automation, Electronics, Semiconductor Equipment

Hunt Eggleston

Background: Former VP and Officer, AT&T

Expertise: Bandwith delivery, compression, search engines, wireless, cellular, software

Tom Fisher

Background:  CIO DriveCam, CIO Qualcomm (QCT), CTO-Ebay

Expertise: Technology, ecommerce, SaaS, wireless

Stephen F. Flaim, Ph.D

Background:  Former Senior Vice President, Research & Development, Galileo Laboratories

Expertise: Drug discovery, preclinical and clinical product development, strategic planning, project management, operational planning and execution

Dan Flanagan

Background:  President, founder Soapbox Mobile

Expertise:  High-tech Marketing, advertising, creative development, product management

Bill Gerhart

Background: Former President and CEO, Mpex Pharmaceuticals

Expertise: Biotech and pharmaceutical companies

Frank Hewitt

Background:  CEO and Founder

Expertise: Defense Technology

Devin Hughes

Background:  Regional Sales Director, West Coast, Genzyme Biosurgery

Expertise: Sales & Marketing; medical devices

Andy Jedynak

Background: President & CMO Kidzui

Expertise:  Digital Media, Internet, mobile, video

Matthew Jenusaitis

Background: Partner, ConceptTx Medical; former President ev3 Inc.; EIR Warburg Pinkus

Expertise:  Healthcare, Medical Devices, Venture Capital

Larry Jordan

Background:  CEO TouchStone Software

Expertise:  High-Tech, Software, turn-around, repeat CEO

David S. Kabakoff, Ph.D

Background:  President, Strategy Advisors LLC; Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Salmedix, Inc.

Expertise: Technology and product development programs in the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, drug delivery and medical diagnostics fields

David Kaplan

Background:  Currently Principle Partner, Xlerate Solutions; EVP & Co-Founder, DecisionView Software

Expertise:  Strategic planning, operations, business development, and marketing in life science software, ecommerce, enterprise software

Brian Kelleher

Background:  Founder/President Paragon MedSystems (CRO)

Expertise:  Medical Device development and manufacturing

Stanley Kim

Background:  COO and GC Softmax

Expertise:  Bio-tech and hi-tech, IP counsel

David Kramer

Background: Former CFO, Somanta Pharmaceuticals, Gen-Probe Incorporated

Expertise:  Finance in high tech, life sciences

Michael N. Krupp, Ph.D

Background:  Former Sr. Vice President of Business Development and Chief Business Officer, Chugai Pharma USA

Expertise: Biotech and pharmaceutical companies, licensing

Jay Kunin

Background:  President/Founder RxSys Int'l

Expertise:  Healthcare & Life Science IT, TCA VP Life Sciences

Mario C. Larach

Background:  Chairman, Kai BioEnergy Corp.

Expertise: Clean-tech, hi-tech, signal processing, semi-conductors, consumer electronics

Michael R. Lee

Background:  Managing Partner, C5 Networks, founder and former CEO, IP3 Networks

Expertise: Telecommunications, wired and wireless networks

Brian Leeper

Background:  VP of Operations, Whalen Manufacturing

Expertise:  Operations, supply-chain, medical devices, consumer goods; global supply chain management, system implementation, strategic sales, P&L management, forecasting, product development/launch, and integration of acquisitions

Bob Lipton

Background:  Former CEO of SMART Safety Group

Expertise:  Marketing, business development

William Lofft

Background:  CEO, CFO Modern Postcards, Adcom 

Expertise:  Consumer Marketing/Advertising

Chuck Longanecker

Background:  CEO Digital Telepathy/ Founder Rebel

Expertise:  Web 2.0 / on-line business builder.incubator; web 2.0 forum

Jean Luc Lembert

Background:  CEO DelfMems, VectraWave

Expertise:  Hi-tech, repeat CEO, semi-conductors, wireless, telecom

Milton (Milt) Lohr

Background:  Corporate Director,Former Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition;
Former Exec VP Flight Systems;
Panel and Board member Various Government Science Advisory Boards.

Expertise:  Hi-tech, repeat CEO, semi-conductors, wireless, telecom

Bruce F. Mackler, Ph.D, J.D.

Background:  TCA, Consultant

Expertise: FDA legal/regulatory experience in biomedical products, including biologics, drugs, nutraceuticals, medical and in vitro diagnostic devices, food and cosmetics

Linda Manaster

Background:  Founder CEO Larkin Foods, Compucook

Expertise:  CEO Consumer Products, product concept to launch

Vicki Marion

Background: President and CEO, Viadux

Expertise: Telecommunications

Thomas B. Marsh

Background:  Former CEO, Viking Systems, Inc.

Expertise: Finance, marketing and business development, especially as it relates to mergers and acquisitions in small public companies

Keith McCrone

Background:  CEO AUTOonline

Expertise: Automotive, Insurance, SaaS

Mike McKeever

Background:  Former CEO, Qwest - IBM Broadband Hosting Services

Expertise: Telecommunications, networking and the Internet. Applications, ASPs and SaaS. Enterprise software, supply chain, banking and financial services. B2B, B2C, JVs and Partnerships

Mike Miller

Background:  Former CEO IntegriCo Companies

Expertise: Composite materials, food, automotive, aerospace

Michael Morrison

Background:  Former founder and President Naprotek, Inc

Expertise: Electronic contract mfg. & design services, semiconductors, capital equipment and instrumentation markets.

Roger S. Moyers

Background:  Former CEO, Astute Networks, Inc.

Expertise: Semiconductor, software, telecommunications

Greg Naeve, Ph.D

Background:  President, CSO and Co-founder, Parallax Biosystem, Inc.

Expertise: Molecular neuroscience

Daniel Negroni

Background:  Founder, President & CEO, Govzilla.org

Expertise: Consumer goods, hi-tech/web 2.0, operations, and marketing

Steven F. Osinski

Background:  Former President/CEO, SMART Group, Former Vice President of Marketing TMP Worldwide (renamed Monster Worldwide in 2002)

Expertise: Advertising/Marketing, wireless industry

David Overskei

Background:  Former CEO, Polexis, Inc.; SVP General Atomics and SAIC

Expertise: Defense and energy technologies, medical systems, optical communications, advanced software

Mark Palmer

Background:  Prior CEO Alvarado Hospital Medical Center/ Prior President and CEO for West Penn and Forbes Hospitals

Expertise: Healthcare, hospital operations management

Amish Parashar

Background:  Founder, NeoVention, LLC
Founder, CEO, The International Humanitarian Foundation, Inc.

Expertise: Medical technologies, process/quality improvement, engineering, and intellectual property creation and management

David C. Pearson

Background:  Former Life Science CEO, COO, GM at Nidus, Noxxon, BioBlocks and Novartis

Expertise:  General Management, Sales and Marketing, International, e-Business, Outsourcing

John Plavan

Background:  President/CEO, Plavan Petroleum, Inc.

Expertise:  Commercial/industrial distribution, Petroleum products marketing

Stephen Poludniak

Background:  COO, founder In Vogue Industries

Expertise:  Consumer Products, biz.dev., sales

Bob Preston

Background: CMO Lightpointe

Expertise: CMO, CEO Telecom, IT, H/w and S/W

Paul Roben

Background:  Director of Biotechnology for the Enterprise Ireland, CSO, founder Target Protein Technologies, Inc.
Expertise: Life science, bio-tech, food sciences, venture capital

Dan Ruchman

Background:  Former CFO, Phyton Biotech and Inslaw Inc.; former Director of Corporate Planning, Bausch & Lomb
Expertise: Finance, planning, bus. dev., operations & governance in life sciences and high tech

Norrie Russell

Background:  CSO Invitrogen

Expertise:  CEO, CSO Life Sciences, Pharma

Mary Ann Russo

Background:  CEO Fitforall

Expertise:  Wireless, Internet, Financial Services

Killu Sanborn

Background:  Former Managing Director, Hercules Capital; Principal/Fund Manager, IngleWood Ventures

Expertise:  Life science VC (equity/debt), startup formation, commercialization

Dario Santana

Background:  CEO of NTN Buzztime

Expertise:  Media, Inter-active TV, entertainment, private equity, telecom, fire and security equipment and services

Stefan Scheinert

Background:  President Scheinert Telecom;
Former CTO LGC Wireless High-tech;
Former CEO Ibis Telecom;
Former CEO Littlefeet

Expertise:  High-tech, telecom, wireless and fixed wireless

Daniel Schumann

Background:  Co-founder board member MediPhysics, Inc

Expertise:  Medical Devices, automotive, business strategy, operations, marketing, product development

Jim Scott

Background:  CEO Iliad, Inc.

Expertise:  e-commerce, on-line content, IT, Software

Joe Sheehan

Background: Former President and COO, TruePosition

Expertise: High-tech s/w, telecom, wireless, LBS, MRM/automatic vehicle location, aerospace

Brad Shoen

Background: Serial Founder, CEO, YPO Chair

Expertise: Hi-tech, e-commerce, gaming, RFID, Bio-tech

Larry Stambaugh

Background:  Founder & CEO, Maxim Pharmaceuticals, Former Chm & CEO ABC Laboratories, Recognized corporate governance leader and current Principal of Apercu Consulting

Expertise: Life Sciences, Clean Tech, Banking, Manufacturing, Acclaimed Board and Corporate Governance Leader

Bob Stein

Background:  Managing Partner RCS & Assoc, Inc.

Expertise: New Product Intro Process, Consumer durables, Active sports, Brunswick, Black & Decker

Dan Trudo

Background:  General Partner, TrueVest LLC

Expertise:  Semiconductor, internet, IT/computing, manufacturing sales, marketing

Marty Turock

Background:  GM/VP - business unit mgmt.

Expertise:  Internet, Transportations, Wireless Sensors, Plastics

Rick Valencia

Background:  Founder & Chairman, Profitline

Expertise: Telecom, B2B, wireless

Rob Vickery

Background:  Former President of Sales & Marketing, Pacific DataVision; Co-founder Change.com

Expertise: Marketing, business development, wireless, high-tech, e-commerce

Armando Viteri

Background:  CEO - Neubloc, President and CEO of RF Code, Inc.

Expertise: Hi-tech, enterprise computing, software, networks

Thomas Waechter

Background:  Repeat CEO, COO, VP

Expertise:  Hi-tech chips, wireless communications

Brad Wallace

Background:  Repeat COO, Typhoon Security Technology

Expertise:  Hi-tech, explosive detection, MP3 players/CE

Scott Weinbrandt

Background:  Former SVP Business Division, Gateway and Company Officer

Expertise: Enterprise computing, server and storage hardware, software, wireless, web, product development, sales, marketing, operations, professional services, supply chain management, turn around business due diligence

Christopher Williams

Background:  COO, Verance Corporation

Expertise: Information technology and product engineering

Jon Van Winkle

Background:  Vice President of Sales & Marketing, eMolecules

Expertise: Software, Internet technologies

Jim Woodman

Background:  Founder, Active.com

Expertise:  Web, Internet

Mary Zoeller




Program Contact:


Ruprecht von Buttlar
Springboard Director
Email: rvonbuttlar@connect.org
Phone: (858) 964-1309
Fax: (858) 964-1301

Steve Hoey
Program Manager
Email: shoey@connect.org
Phone: (858) 964-1308
Fax: (858) 964-1301

Mailing Address
8950 Villa La Jolla Drive
Suite A124
La Jolla, CA 92037

Office Address
CONNECT
8950 Villa La Jolla Drive
Suite A124
La Jolla, CA 92037

Phone: (858) 964-1300
Fax: (858) 964-1301