Expert Resource Board
The SPARK Expert Resource Board is comprised of experts in the fields of finance/legal/marketing/patents/sales/HR/logistics/operations/strategy/international business development and other core disciplines. These experts can provide advice virtually or through weekly meetings where an entrepreneur can hear from 3-5 experts at a time who will provide strategic guidance and connections to resources. This will infuse new ideas and keep the entrepreneur focused on their milestones. Contact Britany@AnnArborUSA.org for Expert Resource Board meeting times.
Matthew L. Benavides, J.D., LL.M.
Matthew is a Partner at Ilagan Law Group PLC, a Michigan based Intellectual Property Law Firm. He is a registered patent attorney and has experience in patent and trademark prosecution, copyright matters and patent litigation support. Matthew also has extensive patent research and analytics experience including patentability, invalidity, accelerated examination, patent landscape, infringement and freedom to operate type research. For example, Matthew has provided patent landscape studies to determine relatively untapped or emerging fields of technologies so that clients may sharpen their focus with respect to their short term and long term niche in the market. Regarding these and other related matters, Matthew has served independent inventors, small businesses and several large corporations.
mlb@ilaganlawgroup.com
Mark Beyer
Mark is a market analyst and communications specialist steeped in the entrepreneurial process with a focus on market preparedness. Mark helps you get your product or invention from prototype to marketplace by leveraging stakeholders to initiate production, targeting specific customers with the highest potential for sales, and developing the necessary marketing tools to attract customers to your offering. As former Director of Marketing & Communications for NextEnergy in Detroit, Mark is particularly attuned to the alternative/renewable energy and Cleantech markets. Mark can help you develop s successful business plan and marketing plan, supply grant writing and investor outreach expertise, and generate market awareness, public relations opportunities, and sales for your organization.
mark.beyer@hotmail.com
Laura Boudette, Communications Expert
Laura has worked on several European-wide initiatives in the field of corporate communications, public relations and journalism. Her work experience was primarily in the IT industry.
lauraboudette@yahoo.com
Steven Calef, CFO Consultant
Steve is a seasoned financial leader with 30 years of experience in financial and operations management. His background represents a broad spectrum of organizations from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies in several industries. Steve's track record includes multiple rounds of VC funding, transition from R&D stage to commercialization, implementation of ERP systems, and a state tax credit award.
stevecalef@gmail.com
Paul Davis, Sales Expert
Paul has repeated success leading strategic account teams; managing profits centers of technical products with service business groups; directing technical support and product development; conducting benchmarking,customer satisfaction and market niche studies;developing marketing literature; teaching strategic selling and large account management for client sales efforts at target accounts; coaching and mentoring.
paul@accountdev.com
Joseph C. DeLuca, Senior Communications Executive
Joseph has experience and a successful track record in planning, strategy development and integrated program execution. He is an accomplished researcher and writer, able to distill complex subjects into simple, engaging messaging. He has extensive hands-on and functional management experience. Joseph is experienced in brand management, product support, media relations, executive and web messaging, vendor selection, evaluation and management, event marketing, web site design, project leadership, financial/budget management and research. He is also an experienced company spokesperson.
deluca.jc@gmail.com
Steve Feinman
Over 30 years successful experience for small and medium size firms in business development, marketing and program management for start up and ongoing businesses in government contracts, IT operation, software development, and construction. Participated in family owned small businesses in construction, restaurants, and hardware. Served as Director of Public Works for two municipalities as well as on several municipal authorities.
sfeinman@mindspring.com
Raymond J. Gaynor
President of International Solutions LLC, a specialized management consulting firm helping small and medium size companies successfully enter or expand into the international market. Ray has been in international business development for 24+ years. His experience and knowledge in international operations for engineering software, medical products, and consumer products have resulted in growing successful international businesses and increasing Michigan’s export revenue. He has a comprehensive knowledge of international sales operations and distribution channels with solid experience in sales and marketing strategic planning, business negotiations, revenue generation and innovative sales marketing. Some of his previous positions have been:
- Global Vice President Sales and Business Development – About Golf Ltd.
- Vice President of Americas Business Development – MSC Software, Inc.
- Vice President Asia Pacific Operations – Mechanical Dynamics, Inc.
- Country Manager Australia – Schlumberger / Applicon
Ray attended Eastern Michigan University and majored in Business Administration. He has spoken at many of the Michigan World Trade Conferences and International Seminars on a variety of international subjects.
Lee Gorman
Lee is an insightful, results-oriented executive with over 25 years of diverse experience in strategic and product planning, implementation, marketing and leadership. She has particular expertise in assisting organizations to understand and articulate their missions and visions, and then to identify and focus on priorities to achieve their goals. Prior to establishing Barton Consulting Services, LLC, Ms. Gorman’s employment included being Chief Engineer, Town Car and Product Planning Director, Sport Utility Vehicles at Ford Motor Company; Manager, Strategic Planning at Allied Signal Automotive; and Consultant with The Carroll Group. She has also held various positions in finance, marketing, engineering, and program management. Ms. Gorman holds both an MBA and a BBA from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business and a BSME from Lawrence Technological University. Professional education included Ford’s Strategic Marketing Program at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.
Babette Ten Haken – Sales Engineering and Business Development Expert
Babette works with engineering-intensive manufacturing and service companies creating an effective toolkit for the sales-engineering interface. Being able to put yourself in the shoes of your investors and customers – whether they are technical or not – can make the difference in your successfully achieving new customer acquisition, retention and revenue generation. Babette has over 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical, IT and industrial manufacturing arenas, working with companies repositioning and diversifying their product and market mix, new product development, and creating sales engineering and marketing strategies for emerging technologies.
babette@salesaerobicsforengineers.com
Gary Hessenaur, President and owner of Hessenaur & Associate, C.P.A., P.C.
The firm provides a full range of accounting, tax, consulting and part time CFO services. The firm focuses on small to mid-size businesses with a specialty in start ups and technology businesses. Start up business clients have been funded through owner funds, grants, angel and VC investors. Gary is board member and business coach for the New Enterprise Forum, mentor at SPARK boot camps, SPARK Accelerator consultant and helps counsel businesses through Michigan SBTDC. He is very well networked in the start-up and financing community.
Nicole Nessler-Stuhec
Nicole advised many companies of different sizes, industries and stages during her many years working for Ernst & Young and HVB Group, a major financial institution in Europe. She holds a Masters Degree in Business and has done academic research in the Internationalization Process of Born Globals, which are defined as small, technology-oriented companies that operate in international markets from the earliest days of their establishment. She has a passion for supporting start-ups as a mentor and coach providing expertise in the area of Finance, Strategy, Business Plan and Development as well as Internationalization.
Stan Jelic, Patent Expert
Stan Jelic is the founder of Jelic Patent Services, which provides patent-related services for individual inventors and small companies.
sjelic@jelicpatent.com
Debbie Keipper, Marketing Expert
Debbie's expertise is in creating, executing and overseeing strategic marketing, branding and communications programs for the automotive and financial service industries. As Marketing Director for Intellitrends, she provides strategic insight and direction to client marketing and branding initiatives from concept to execution.
dlkeipper@hotmail.com
Chris Kochmanski, Marketing and Design
Chris Kochmanski is a partner in DesignHub, Inc., a creative services and strategic marketing firm headquartered in Saline, Michigan. Clients look to DesignHub when they want to feel confident their marketing investments will yield true business-building results. Chris provides clients with marketing strategies and plans, creative concepts, copywriting services, and consultation in Web strategies and approaches, along with account and project management. Before joining DesignHub in May 2002, Kochmanski worked in marketing communications, marketing management, and business development for such leading Michigan companies as Mechanical Dynamics, Interface Systems, Cleo Communications, and ADP Network Services. He has over 30 years of professional marketing experience. Chris graduated from the University of Michigan with a BA degree in journalism in1978. He is a native of the Detroit area who has resided in Saline since 1979.
chris@design-hub.com
Andrew M. Kulpa
Andrew M. Kulpa acts as in-house counsel for ETC Capital, a private equity fund, focusing of large-scale start up operations. He is actively involved with negotiating and drafting transactions for start-ups, general contract matters, joint ventures, and mergers and acquisitions. Previously, Andrew was an associate at one of the largest law firms in metro-Detroit concentrating his practice in corporate and limited liability company organization and operation, corporate transactions, and finance law.
akulpa@etccapital.com
Nancy Mathias, Organizational Development Expert
Focus Leadership Development (FLD) creates positive leadership and group dynamics through individual, team and organizational development programs comprising one-on-one business and executive coaching, targeted workshops, and team and group experiences. The most productive teams or organizations exhibit three attributes: trust, chemistry, and intention. The mutual trust between members, the positive, supportive chemistry co-created by members via their business relationships and each individual’s personal intention for the collective are the defining qualities required for forming and sustaining effective, high performance teams, organizations and collaborations. FLD partners with clients to co-produce and deliver custom coaching, training and development programs, offers business management consulting on strategic and tactical planning and provides meeting facilitation to sustain and grow you, your staff and organization. Nancy Mathias, a certified, professional coach gained her skills and knowledge as senior director of global project management, team leader of global cross functional teams, project manager of multimillion dollar projects for two Fortune 500 companies, as well as in private practice with individuals, for-profit and non-profit organizations.
Nancy@focusld.com
Vita Merlotti, Strategy Expert
Vita is the President of Avalon LLC and offers 23+ years proven P&L experience with start-up organizations and multi-nationals alike, driving Strategy, Market Insight, Operational Excellence & Technology ROI. Whether you need assistance with your operations – business planning & strategy, financial services, HRIS, sales & marketing, office services & technology – or you need assistance driving efficiency, scalability & enabling technologies into a mature or expanding environment, Vita can help you drive measurable & effective solutions.
merlotti@comcast.net.
Stew Nelson, Insurance Expert
Stewart V. Nelson is a founding member of the Kapnick Insurance, KICK Team that specializes in insurance and benefits for Life Science, Information Technology and IT dependent businesses.
snelson@uferinsurance.com
Charlie Penner, Small Business Expert
Charlie Penner has served as the Regional Director for the MI-SBTDC@WCC for five years. In this capacity he has provided counseling and training to many diverse small businesses.
CPenner@wccnet.edu
Pete Schroeter
Pete Schroeter is Principal of Schroeter & Associates—an independent supply chain consulting practice located in Plymouth, Michigan near Ann Arbor. His focus is on four key areas of service:
- Supply chain network planning (manufacturing and distribution)
- Demand and supply planning (including S & OP)
- Manufacturing and packaging efficiencies (OEE measurement and process change)
- Logistics and distribution operations
Pete is a 30-year supply chain management expert, with 18 years in industry and 12 years in consulting. He has held various managerial positions with The Upjohn Pharmaceutical Company (acquired by Pfizer), Domtar Corporation—Gypsum Business Group (acquired by Georgia Pacific), The PopStraw Packaging Company, and Cleveland Consulting Associates (acquired by CSC Consulting). Pete holds bachelors and masters degrees in Industrial and Operations Engineering from the University of Michigan, and an MBA in Finance from Western Michigan University.
peteschroeter@comcast.net
Patty Schwartz, HR Expert
With over 35 years in Human Resource Management, Patty Schwartz recently retired from Ann Arbor’s NSK Corporation as the Director of Human Resource.
Kevin Stolz, Entrepreneurial Finance
Kevin has 25+ years of experience in public accounting, commercial banking, entrepreneurial management, and, since 1999, working with entrepreneurs to understand, structure, and manage their business finances. With over 100 clients, Kevin has worked in a wide variety of industries, including a broad array of manufacturers, distributors, and service providers.
Kpsbas@aol.com
Scott Trossen, HR Expert
Scott Trossen has expertise in talent management,organization development and training, compensation and benefits, and HR compliance. His firm, Trossen HR Group, assists in selecting and strengthening staff, managing and mitigating risk, and improving business processes.
scott@trossenHR.com