Speaker Bios

John Adler, General Partner of Silver Creek Ventures Mr. Adler joined Silver Creek Ventures as a General Partner in 2007. His areas of expertise include data and voice communications, semiconductors, and wireless applications. Mr. Adler has also served as a board member of the Texas Venture Capital Association since its inception in 2004. Prior to joining Silver Creek, Mr. Adler served as a Partner with InterWest Partners since 2001, a leading diversified venture capital firm in information technology and life sciences. Representative investments include Covaro (acquired by Adva Optical), kajeet, Nuventix, Venturi Wireless and VizionWare. Prior to InterWest Partners, Mr. Adler developed 17 years of operating experience in product management and engineering from Rockwell International, Alcatel, Monterey Networks and Cisco Systems. Mr. Adler received a BSEE and MBA from Southern Methodist University and has authored or co-authored four US patents. Back To Top ^

David Humphrey, COO of Oklahoma Equity Partners Prior to joining the Fund, Mr. Humphrey served as a principal of Davis, Tuttle Venture Partners (DTVP). DTVP is the oldest venture capital firm in Oklahoma with 30+ years of operating experience. One of its managing partners has received a lifetime achievement award from the venture capital industry and the managing partners' three previous funds had a gross IRR in excess of 23%. In his role with DTVP, Mr. Humphrey participated in all aspects of the operation of the $45 million venture capital fund. These responsibilities included deal sourcing, preliminary evaluation, term sheet development and negotiation, due diligence, closing and board responsibilities. Also within his role, Mr. Humphrey reviewed 200-300 deals per year, developed the firm's due diligence and investment log system and participated in four closings. Prior to joining DTVP in 1997, Mr. Humphrey was a senior business development coordinator at Texaco Natural Gas Liquids. During his two-year stay with Texaco, he led ten major acquisition and expansion projects. Mr. Humphrey also played a key role in the development of the strategic plan for Texaco's natural gas liquids business. Prior to joining Texaco in 1996, Mr. Humphrey spent thirteen years with Koch Industries, Inc. At Koch, Mr. Humphrey led over $300 million of acquisitions/expansions and was the CEO of a $200 million business where he increased profitability six-fold. Mr. Humphrey earned his Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin and his Masters of Business Administration from Texas A&M University. Back To Top ^

Michael Levin of Ml Levin & Associates Michael Levin is a proven executive with 20 years experience in technology (specializing in ecommerce and telecommunications) with particular expertise in new business growth, including both early-stage start-ups and business unit launches within the corporate environment. As the Principal of ML Levin & Associates (www.mllevin.com), Michael has been working with technology related firms with revenues ranging from under $1 million to $15 million annually to help accelerate sales growth. Previously, as Executive Vice-President of LaGarde, Michael wore virtually every non-technical hat as head of Sales, Marketing and Business Development, leader of Corporate Development and fund raising efforts and partner, advisor and confidant to the Founder and CEO. Under Michael's leadership, LaGarde grew to over $8 million in sales in 2006 from a $1.2 million annual run rate in mid-2002, when he first joined the Company. In the process, he successfully established LaGarde as a recognized leading national player in the ecommerce market, culminating in a west coast Venture Capital $6 million investment at a valuation eight times the Company's value when he joined it. Previously Michael spent 15 years with Sprint; including Marketing launch responsibilities for the Broadband Wireless Group and the Sprint Hospitality Group as well as Corporate Development responsibility for the $400 million acquisition of Paranet. Back To Top ^

Jimmy Lewin, Director of WBTshowcase and Team Leader, NSF SBIR/STTR Commericalization Planning Jimmy Lewin's background includes over 25 years in international, commercial and investment banking, and nearly a decade as the principal shareholder and CEO of a rapidly growing manufacturing and distribution business in California. He was most recently the Managing Partner of BizPlanIt, LLC, a consulting firm that assists clients in business planning and preparing to raise capital. During his 20 years at Security Pacific Bank, Jimmy served in a number of senior management positions in the U.S. and internationally. Applicable assignments included responsibility for the funding of all of the institution's subsidiaries and affiliates domiciled outside of the U.S., general management of two overseas affiliates and general management of the bank's California staff departments. For two years, he served as President, Director and CEO of Guardian Bancorporation, Los Angeles, California. Jimmy has extensive senior management and Board of Director experience within public companies. He is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati where he earned his B.A. in Political Science. Back To Top ^

Lance Manning, President of Prenosis Lance Manning is the President of Prenosis, a professional services firm that supports science, technology, and health policy initiatives for government and small business clients. Mr. Manning serves on the advisory board of the Medical Automation Organization, as advisor for National Science Foundation SBIR grant awardees, and member of the American Telemedicine Association and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. Short History: Supported the Department of Defense (DARPA) program manager for advanced biomedical technology in the design and fielding of a virtual autopsy IT system and the successful prototyping of a mobile, tele-surgical operating room. Mr. Manning was formerly employed by Unigraphics Solutions. He led enterprise IT sales campaigns and implementations for CAD/CAM software leading to increased product development and manufacturing efficiencies at aerospace, consumer products, and high tech companies. He received his MBA from The George Washington University and graduated with a B.S. in Manufacturing Engineering from Brigham Young University. Back To Top ^

Felipe Matos of Instituto Inovação Felipe is both Director and Founder of Instituto Inovação, a private business accelerator in Brazil. Instituto Inovação has spent the last six years helping dozens of universities and research centers to qualify and evaluate new technologies. They have analyzed more than 500 technologies using their own methodology, "Innovation Dilligence®", generating new start-ups and license contracts. This experience led big companies such as Johnson & Johnson and Nestlé to look for Instituto Inovação's help in finding technologies related to their needs in Brazil. Their customer's portfolio includes more than a dozen of stock listed companies from many industries, including oil, energy, food and beauty. Instituto Inovação also manages a seed fund of $50 million to invest in start-up technologies. Its funds come from the Brazilian National Development Bank (BNDES). Currently, Instituto Inovação has projects which will expand internationally by establishing partnerships with other companies that might have demands for their technologies or even technologies that match their customer's needs. Back To Top ^

Fred Patterson, President and CEO of The Commercialization Funding Coach, Inc. Fred Patterson has been involved with guiding companies through technology development into commercialization for over forty years, including having worked with the SBIR Program and all of its aspects virtually since its inception. As a co-founder and executive officer of two of Texas' most successful SBIR award winning companies (SPEC and Radiant Photonics), he has been involved in the execution of over 150 SBIR and STTR contracts and grants, one third of those Phase II programs, totaling nearly $50 million, and led efforts which secured Phase III commercialization funding in excess of $25 million. Currently enjoying a well-recognized nationwide consulting practice as "The SBIR Coach", Fred teaches his dozens of client companies the SBIR "ropes" and guides them in the process of producing clearly articulated and reviewer-focused proposals, effectively doubling their chances of obtaining funding. He then guides his clients through successful execution of the resulting contract or grant, and coaches them in the process of ensuring follow-on funding from Phases II and III. In addition to SBIR and other Federal government sponsored funding programs, Fred also works with several State sponsored technology accelerator initiatives, including the Texas Emerging Technology Fund (as "The ETF Coach"), Virginia's Center for Innovative Technology (CIT), and international groups such as The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE). Fred's company also works with many Angel, Venture Capital, and other private sector investment sources to continually refine its trademarked "Funding Readiness Level (FRL)TM" index (a combination of Technology Readiness, Business Readiness, and DealsmanshipTM) that the company uses to help its clients prepare for the challenges of seeking, securing, and managing funding for commercialization and growth. Fred holds a BS in Mathematics from Clarkson University, and an MS in Computer Science from the University of Wisconsin. He has been Director of Planning for a Fortune 500 Aerospace company, and held just about every "CXO" position there is at several technology start-up companies. He has also been Adjunct Faculty at four universities, including having taught in the MBA Program at St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas. Fred currently resides in the DFW area, in North Richland Hills, Texas. Back To Top ^

Lonnie Roberts, Partner of The Allen Austin Lonnie's practice is focused on finding the best talent and the right fit for companies in the financial services and technology industries. He specializes in executive search consulting for companies in the Banking, Credit Union, Electronic Bill Payment, Venture Capitalist, Private Equity, Investment Banking and Insurance sectors. Lonnie has diverse experiences in business start-up, sales, strategic development, accounting, market analysis and marketing. He held numerous positions in Fortune 200 companies as well as started his own entrepreneurial ventures. Lonnie has over 10 years of experience in the financial services industry. He assisted in expanding and improving the existing Electronic Bill Payment suite of a Fortune 200 financial services company by working hand-in-hand with bill pay providers such as Checkfree, Metavante, and Intuit. He is well versed in the life, health, property, and casualty insurance fields. His experience includes claims, servicing, selling, marketing, of insurance products and annuities.He also has aided venture capital firms, private equity firms, and investment banks in all stages of their investment cycle from idea generation thru the due diligence phases. Previously, Lonnie worked with companies in the launch of new products to add to their existing line of business as well as expand into new markets.Most recently, Lonnie opened a restaurant. He oversaw the construction and managed the day-to-day operations. During this time, Lonnie gained recognition for his locations profitability and customer satisfaction by creating an exciting work environment and developing novel marketing concepts. Back To Top ^

Darlene Ryan, Executive Director of TECH Fort Worth and the City of Fort Worth Before joining TECH Fort Worth and the City of Fort Worth in 2006, Darlene was the founder and CEO of a pharmaceutical manufacturing company from 1994 to 2006. She successfully raised bank financing and private equity, applied for several patents, and negotiated licenses of her company's technology. Under her direction, the company was on the Inc 500 list of the fastest growing private companies in America for three consecutive years and on the Dallas 100 list for five consecutive years. Darlene was named the 2003 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in Life Sciences for North Texas and a 2004 Leading Woman Entrepreneur of the World. Another honor that she proudly displays is a declaration by the City Council of Fort Worth naming April 6, 2004, as "Darlene Ryan Day." Prior to her career as an entrepreneur in the life sciences, Darlene was a partner with a worldwide accounting firm, working in Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles and San Diego during her 18-year tenure. One of the firm's first female partners, Darlene was also a trailblazer as an entrepreneur within the firm. She was a member of a five-partner team that began a tax software business within the firm, developing and licensing software to other accounting firms. As an international tax partner, she focused primarily on technology-oriented clients. She was actively involved in the CONNECT venture capital forum at the University of California - San Diego, coaching entrepreneurs through their presentations. Throughout her career, Darlene has been actively engaged in the communities in which she has lived. In Fort Worth since 1994, Darlene currently serves on the UNT Health Science Center Foundation Board and as a board member for Junior Achievement of the Chisholm Trail. Additionally, she is a member of the advisory councils for the UNT Murphy Enterprise Center, the UNT College of Arts and Sciences, the Fort Worth Women's Business Center, and Arlington-based Helping Restore Ability. Nationally, Darlene sits on the board of the Association for FrontoTemporal Dementia and was until recently a board member and long-time officer of the Generic Pharmaceutical Association. She is a Trustee for DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. Darlene graduated from DePauw University with a B.A. with a double major in mathematics and German. She also holds an M.B.A. in accounting and finance and a minor in marketing from the University of Chicago, and is a Certified Public Accountant. In addition to being a frequent guest lecturer at the University of North Texas, Texas Christian University, and the University of Texas at Arlington, Darlene is an adjunct professor at the University of Dallas. Back To Top ^

Mark Shaffer of Shaffer, Bock & Antonoplos, P.L.L.C. Mark L. Shaffer's areas of expertise include corporate transactions, product development funding, government contracts, intellectual property, licensing, real estate development and construction, white collar criminal defense and civil litigation, employment, and national security. Mr. Shaffer assists start-ups to organize, focus, and secure capital. He works closely with potential government contractors to identify opportunities and evaluate the merits of options offered to U.S. government agencies such as the DoD, OTT, TTP and DARPA, the Federal Laboratory Consortium, DOE, USNSWCCD, NASA, NIH as well as various state agencies. He is familiar with the issues that a new contractor faces in the performance and administration of all forms of offerings including procurement contracts, SBA small business and minority owned business "set-aside contracts", non competitive procurements, and R&D relationships such as SBIR grants, IR&D program applications for compensation, CRADA joint ventures, Section 845 "other transaction awards," or Space Act Agreements. In addition to his transaction practice, Mr. Shaffer has successfully prosecuted or defended many civil and criminal actions in trial and appellate courts and before federal and state regulatory agencies. He holds a high-level federal security clearance that enables him to represent government contractors participating in the Defense Industrial Security Program, contract bid protests, and as well as others embroiled in congressional and administrative investigations. Between 1978 and 1986, Mr. Shaffer served in the U.S. Department of Justice as senior trial attorney in the Employment Litigation Section of the Civil Rights Division. Mr. Shaffer supervised and conducted investigations and litigation of complex actions against state and local governments and Executive Order 11246 actions against chartered banks. He also defended federal regulations against legal challenges. Mr. Shaffer twice received the Attorney General's Outstanding Achievement Award. In 1992, Mr. Shaffer left private practice to serve as Associate Majority Counsel for the United States House of Representatives October Surprise Task Force. The purpose of this task force was to resolve allegations that members of the 1980 Reagan for President Campaign had violated the Logan Act. Between 1986 and 1991, Mr. Shaffer was a principal in the Washington D.C. firm of Leibowitz and Shaffer. Between 1993 and 1997, he was a partner in the firm of Freer, McGarry, Bodansky and Rubin. Between 1998 and 2002 he was a partner in the firm of Baise & Miller. Mr. Shaffer is admitted to practice in California, the District of Columbia, Maryland, the U.S. Court of Claim and various Federal Circuit Courts of Appeal and District Courts, and the International Trade Court. He has litigated cases in many States. Back To Top ^

David M. Shaw, President of Global Uni-Docs Corporation David has twenty-four years experience introducing new products and working with early stage companies. He has successfully secured customers, formulated strategy, prepared business plans and pro-forma financial statements, raised capital, validated new products, and developed early sales strategies. These products/services ranged from introducing the Xerox Memorywriter, one of the first desk-top memory devices, to being a development General Partner on a $30 million high-rise office tower to his most recent endeavor introducing Content-Centric Security (CCS) with Global Uni-Docs (GUD). David is the President of Global Uni-Docs Corporation (GUD). GUD is a software and services start-up company with proprietary authentication technology, Content-Centric Security (CCS) provides a game-changing solution by looking outside of traditional security techniques to secure content. CCS, for the first time, creates content that is self-governing after distribution without the need for a central authority. CCS facilitates secure peer-to-peer (P2P) file exchange and secures content after downloading or exchanges between users. CCS can be used for most content and file transfers and all modes of operation, including mobile. Since the "smart" content becomes self-governing, the power of CCS transforms the way we think of secure data because the content determines who, when, where, what, and how it is to be used. CCS also enables content to protect itself against viruses and malware, since the content cannot be altered once it is generated. David has two degrees from the University of Texas at Austin; a BBA in Finance from the McCombs School of Business and an MS in Technology Commercialization from the internationally renowned IC² Institute. In addition, he has served as a SBIR panelist for the National Science Foundation, assisted Development Capital Network' early-stage companies, and acted as a Mentor for WBTS companies each of the past four years. Back To Top ^