On this Page:
Keynote Speakers
Panelists
Presenters - Lunch & Learn Networking Session


Keynote Speakers
Roger Newton, Ph.D., CEO, Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.; Co-discoverer of Lipitor®
Dr. Newton, the original Co-founder, President and CEO of Esperion, again leads the 'new' Esperion. The Michigan-based life science company is a recent spinout from Pfizer. Dr. Newton has 27 years experience in the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries. He is the former Senior Vice President of Pfizer Global Research and Development and Director of Esperion Therapeutics, a Pfizer Inc. company that was acquired in 2004 for $1.3 billion USD. In July 1998, he served as the Co-founder, President and CEO of Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ESPR). Prior to co-founding Esperion, Dr. Newton was with Warner-Lambert/Parke-Davis (now Pfizer) from 1981-1998. As a distinguished scientist and chairman of the Atherosclerosis Drug Discovery Team, he co-discovered and was product champion of what is now the most prescribed cholesterol reducing drug in the world, atorvastatin (Lipitor®).

Sam Wyly (MBA ’57), Entrepreneur & Investor
Sam Wyly, a self-made billionaire of Scottish and Irish descent, grew up in Louisiana and attended local schools before going to Louisiana Tech University to study journalism and accounting. He won a scholarship to the University of Michigan Business School, where he earned his MBA. His autobiography, 1,000 Dollars and an Idea: Entrepreneur to Billionaire (Newmarket Press, September 2008), is his first book, and he is currently at work with his daughter Christiana on a book about green entrepreneuring.

Sam has been a working entrepreneur for nearly half a century. He has founded and/or grown successful companies in online computing, computer software products, oil refining, insurance, steakhouse franchising, arts-and-crafts retailing, hedge fund investing, environmentally friendly electricity and Internet carbon offsets. Among the companies he created and grew are University Computing, Sterling Software, Sterling Commerce, Earth Resources, Gulf Insurance, Bonanza Steakhouses, Michaels Stores, Maverick Capital and Ranger Capital. An active proponent of clean air through clean energy, he created Green Mountain Energy (and BeGreenNow.com) and Green Bull Fund.

Sam and his wife, Cheryl, are generous contributors to countless philanthropic organizations, including the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts and the Aspen-Pitkin County Animal Shelter. Sam has also endowed alma maters Louisiana Tech and the University of Michigan Business School. Sam and Cheryl recently purchased Explore Booksellers and Bistro in Aspen, Colorado. Sam has six children, ten grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. He has lived most of his adult life in Dallas, Texas, and also spends time in Aspen and in New York's Greenwich Village.


Panelists

Launching & Growing Your Business
Mary Jo Cartwright, VP Strategy & Development, HealthMedia Inc.
Mary Jo is responsible Marketing, Alliance Management, Product Strategy, Pre-Sales Support, New Contract Business Analysis, Industry and Competitive Analysis, and Industry Consultants. She has 25 years experience in implementing and leading innovative teams in the development of computer-based and web-based applications and products for various industries including healthcare, education, design and engineering, and manufacturing. Mary Jo has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Eastern Michigan University.

Jeff Williams (MBA ’92), President & CEO, HandyLab, Inc.
Jeff has been President and CEO, and a member of the Board of Directors, since joining HandyLab in March of 2004. He was previously President and CEO of Genomic Solutions Inc., an Ann Arbor-based life science products company he co-founded in 1997. Jeff led Genomic Solutions through a period of rapid growth culminating in an IPO on NASDAQ in 2000 and merger with Harvard Biosciences, Inc. in late 2002. After the merger, Jeff remained with Genomic Solutions as its President and joined the Harvard Biosciences Board of Directors. Prior to Genomic Solutions, Jeff was Chief Operating Officer of International Remote Imaging Systems (IRIS), a publicly-traded in vitro diagnostic company located in Los Angeles. Prior to IRIS, he spent approximately five years at Boehringer Mannheim (now part of Hoffman LaRoche), a $4 billion healthcare company with interests in clinical diagnostics, orthopedics, therapeutics, and research chemicals. In his last position at Boehringer, Jeff was located in the company's global headquarters in Mannheim, Germany, where he served as Vice President and Global Business Manager for a $100+ million in vitro diagnostic business. Jeff held previous positions with Boehringer in general management, strategic planning and marketing. Prior to Boehringer, he was employed in the Organon Pharmaceutical division of Akzo Nobel. Jeff received a BS in Biology from Alma College and an MBA from The University of Michigan.

Robert Wolfe, Founder, MooseJaw
Robert Wolfe founded Moosejaw in 1992. He manages all sales and marketing functions, operations, finance, manufacturing and vendor relationships for the Company. Robert has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan in 1992.

Moderator: Antonio Diosdado (MBA ’09), Ross School of Business

Financing Your Business: From Angel Funding to Raising Venture Capital
Douglas H. Adams, Vice President, SBA Lending, Comerica Bank
As a Vice President in Comerica Bank’s SBA Lending division, Douglas' primary focus is to identify, package and underwrite new loans. Since joining Comerica in1999, he has identified and placed numerous deals. Business units with which he has worked over the years include: Middle Market (sales >$10MM), Commercial Real Estate, Small Business, SBA, Private Banking, Municipalities, and Comerica Securities, and Comerica Insurance. In 2002 and 2003, Douglas earned membership in Comerica’s “Million Dollar Investment Club.” Douglas serves on the boards for the City of Taylor’s Tax Increment Finance Authority (TIFA), Economic Development Corporation, and Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (BRDA), the latter as Chairman. Prior to joining Comerica Bank, Douglas worked as a Project Manager for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) in Lansing. While at the MEDC, Douglas was awarded a fellowship to Michigan State University for the Michigan Political Leadership Program in 1997, and in both 2004 and 2005, was a Regional Finalist for a White House Fellowship. In 1996 Douglas received his Ph.D. with distinction from The University of Louisville’s College of Business and Public Administration. In 1992, Douglas received his Masters degree in Public Administration from the University of Toledo. Preceding this, he received his Bachelor’s degree from The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in 1989.

Robert J. Savage, Founder & Managing Partner, CoreNetwork
Bob brings a wealth of experience to the CoreNetwork management team, working with both early and growth-stage companies. In addition to managing CoreNetwork, he is the Founder and President of Savage Consulting, an organization which has supported regional businesses for more than 12 years via business and funding strategy, negotiation, financial analysis, strategic sales management and contract management. A graduate of the Wharton School of Business, Bob has previously worked as the General Manager and Director of International Sales at New Waste Concepts and as a consultant at Monoky & Associates. He serves on a few corporate boards in addition to several community boards/committees, including the Investment Committee of the Toledo Community Foundation and on the board of the Toledo Chapter of Rotary International.

Michael Singer, Founder & CEO, Leapfrog Holdings LLC
Michael has extensive operating experience in acquiring, building and expanding companies in the technology field. He was former President and Co-Owner of Entyre, a leading provider of software and services for mortgage lenders. He led the sale of Entyre to Wolters Kluwer Corporate & Financial Services, a division of Wolters Kluwer nv (headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands). Prior to acquiring Entyre, Michael was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Car.com (www.car.com), one of the largest data aggregators and providers of automotive consumer leads. In addition to helping grow, streamline and improve Car.com's business processes, Michael was responsible for structuring, negotiating and leading the Car.com team through its very successful sale to Autobytel (Nasdaq: ABTL). Michael started his professional career in New York City, spending 12 years as a management consultant. Michael holds an MBA in finance from Columbia Business School and a bachelor of science degree in accounting from University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business.

Christopher Sklarin, Associate & Director of Business Development - Upper Midwest, Chrysalis Ventures
Chris joined Chrysalis in 2006 as an Associate and as Director of Ohio Business Development. Based in Cleveland, he sources deals in Ohio, Michigan, and western Pennsylvania, and provides analytical support for Chrysalis' three primary investment sectors: healthcare services and technology, media and communications, and business services. Prior to Chrysalis, Chris worked for JumpStart, Inc. as an Investment Associate in their Cleveland offices where he specialized in early stage investment analysis and transactions. Prior to JumpStart, Chris was Vice President of Business Development for Inspherion, an Ohio-based business intelligence software company. From 1996 to 2002, he worked at Priority Call in Boston and Berkeley, CA in various engineering and sales engineering roles. Prior to Priority Call, Chris was a software engineer from 1988-1995 at several high growth startups in Boston. Chris has a BS in Electrical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an MBA from the Haas School of Business, University of California at Berkeley.

Moderator: Anne Delaney (MBA ’09), Ross School of Business

Legal Considerations for Start-ups
Richard Brandon, Assistant General Counsel, University of Michigan Office of General Counsel
Rick Brandon joined the UM Office of Technology Transfer and the Office of the Vice President and General Counsel in 2000 and works on patent and technology transfer legal issues. Prior to joining the University, he was a partner in a Chicago intellectual property law firm, where he practiced since 1991. He has had significant experience in domestic and foreign patent prosecution, licensing, and other technology and IP related issues. He also has substantial experience in patent litigation in various United States Federal District Courts, as well as reexamination, reissue and protest proceedings in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Rick received concurrent bachelor degrees in Chemistry and Spanish from Wayne State University and his law degree from the University of Michigan.

Steven H. Hilfinger, Partner, Foley & Lardner LLP
Steven H. Hilfinger is a partner with Foley & Lardner LLP, where he is co-chair of the firm's Automotive Industry Team and a member of the Transactional & Securities Practice. Mr. Hilfinger was a founding partner of the firm’s Detroit office in 2000 and served as Detroit office managing partner from 2002 to 2006. Mr. Hilfinger focuses his practice in corporate and securities law matters, including mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings, venture capital transactions, debt and equity finance transactions, business formation and corporate governance, and general corporate and contract counseling. Mr. Hilfinger's practice includes representation of automotive suppliers, venture capital and other private equity funds, financial institutions, and other publicly and privately held businesses. Mr. Hilfinger is a member of the Transactional & Securities, Private Equity & Venture Capital and International Practices. His international practice focuses on China matters, and he is active in supporting the automotive industry work out of the firm’s Shanghai office.

Mr. Hilfinger is a member of the Board of Advisors of the Detroit Chinese Business Association and a member of the China Strategy Council of the Original Equipment Suppliers Association (OESA). Mr. Hilfinger obtained his B.B.A. degree (concentration in accounting) with high distinction from the University of Michigan in 1984, where he received Phi Beta Kappa honors. Following graduation, he was awarded the William A. Paton Award for achieving the highest score on the Michigan CPA examination. Mr. Hilfinger graduated magna cum laude with a J.D. degree from Northwestern University in 1987, where he was selected for the Order of the Coif and served as editor-in-chief of the Northwestern University Law Review in 1986-87.

Richard Hoeg, Associate, Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP
Richard Hoeg is an associate in the Ann Arbor office of Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP who specializes in working with early stage technology companies. He is a member of his firm's Corporate and Securities department whose work includes everything from advising clients of the many steps necessary to initially form a company, to helping negotiate the sale of those same companies after years of hard work. A lifelong Michigan native, Richard graduated from Hillsdale College with a degree in Economics, summa cum laude, before advancing on to receive his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School, magna cum laude. In addition, he currently serves on the Public Policy Committee of the Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce.

Carrie Leahy, Partner, Bodman LLP
Ms. Leahy concentrates her practice in corporate and business law. She counsels both established and emerging businesses on general corporate transactions, mergers and acquisitions, compliance with securities, regulations, and issues involving venture capital funding. Ms. Leahy has drafted and negotiated transactional documents fro both publicly and privately held entities involved in mergers and acquisitions ranging in size from $250,000 to more than $1 billion. She has drafted and negotiated operating and joint venture agreements and advised corporate boards in connection with various transactions. She has also advised clients on entity formation, corporate governance and other general business issues. Ms. Leahy's securities law experience includes representing clients in connection with public and private securities offerings, preparing registration statements and other disclosure documents, and advising clients generally on their securities law obligations. Ms. Leahy has authored materials on Choosing a Business Entity for ICLE (1988 and 2002).

Moderator: Ian Dailey (MBA '09), Ross School of Business

Growing Emerging Companies in the Tech, Life Sciences and Energy Market Sectors
William Brinkerhoff, M.B.A., M.S., Chief Operating Officer, Cerenis
Mr. Brinkerhoff is a co-founder of Cerenis, which focuses on the development of HDL related therapies, and has raised over $83 million in venture capital financing since its inception in 2005. Previously he was vice president of business development at Esperion, overseeing all strategic partnering activities prior to the company’s acquisition. Mr. Brinkerhoff has more than 19 years of commercial and management experience. Prior to joining Esperion, he was responsible for U.S. business development, market planning and sales operations for Sankyo, a leading Japanese pharmaceutical company.

Jeff McDaniel, Director, Business Development, Velocys
Jeff McDaniel drives many of Velocys' commercial activities, including those to establish a leadership position in the biofuels and synthetic fuels markets. He has formed strategic alliances with international industrial partners to fund development efforts and establish demonstration facilities. He also established and manages a research program with the U.S. Army to develop and demonstrate microchannel reactor systems for modular, synthetic fuel facilities. Jeff's background includes roles at Battelle Memorial Institute and General Electric. He holds seven U.S. patents and has authored or co-authored over two dozen papers and presentations on microchannel technology. He has a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Texas A&M University, and an MBA and an M.S. in Environmental Studies from the University of Michigan.

Levi Thompson, Ph.D., Co-founder, T/J Technologies and Inmatech; Richard Balzhiser Professor of Chemical and Professor of Mechanical Engineering; Director, Hydrogen Energy Technology Center, University of Michigan
Professor Thompson earned his B.ChE. from the University of Delaware, and M.S.E. degrees in Chemical Engineering and Nuclear Engineering, and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan. After working for two years at KMS Fusion, in 2000 he joined the faculty of the Department of Chemical Engineering. From 2001 to 2005, he served as Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education. Research in Professor Thompson’s group focuses on novel catalytic, electrocatalytic and adsorbent materials. In addition, his group is developing advanced methods to fabricate hydrogen production systems and fuel cells. Professor Thompson’s publications include an invited contribution on batteries for the World Book Encyclopedia and he has been awarded 10 patents. He is currently Director of the Hydrogen Energy Technology Laboratory, a unit within the Michigan Memorial Phoenix Energy Institute.

He is co-founder, of T/J Technologies, a developer of nanomaterials for advanced batteries that was acquired by A123Systems in 2006, and recently founded Inmatech to commercialize catalytic materials and processes discovered and developed in his UM laboratories. Professor Thompson is Consulting Editor for the AIChE Journal, and a member of the External Advisory Committee for the Center of Advanced Materials for Purification of Water with Systems (NSF Science and Technology Center at the University of Illinois), National Academy’s Committee on the Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives Programs, AIChE Chemical Engineering Technology Operating Council and National Academy’s Chemical Sciences Roundtable.

Representative from Energy Industry - TBA

Moderator: Laura Bruce (MBA '09), Ross School of Business

Presenters

Student Luncheon & Roundtable Discussions: Launching While Earning Your Degree
Merrill Guerra (MBA '08), CEO & Founder, RealKidz, Inc. (RealKidz Clothing)
Merrill Guerra is the CEO and Founder of RealKidz, Inc. RealKidz addresses the issue of childhood obesity by providing clothing to the largely untapped children’s plus-size market and will launch a social network for parents in 2009 to provide healthy lifestyle support. Merrill was recognized by Zell Lurie as its MBA Entrepreneur of the Year in 2008 and was featured in the June 20, 2008 issue of Business Week. The RealKidz business plan developed and refined during Merrill’s time at Ross has resulted in over $24,400 in awards through various business plan and grant competitions including being Runner Up for the Pryor Hale Best Business Award at the Michigan Business Challenge, 2007, and Runner Up in the New Business Idea category at the Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest. Merrill raised $85,000 in pre-seed capital which enabled RealKidz to launch its online store and consultant network with a test market line of clothing in May, 2008. RealKidz celebrated the launch of its inaugural Back to School line of clothing this August. .

Paul Kirsch, Program Manager, Zell Lurie Institute, Ross School of Business
As the Program Manager for the Zell Lurie Institute, Paul is responsible for mentoring Ross students through the business development process by creating programs that encourage students to follow their entrepreneurial goals. In addition, he provides external entrepreneurial experiences at intercollegiate competitions, trips to entrepreneurial conferences, one-on-one consultations with experienced entrepreneurs, and other events as they are scheduled during the year. Before joining the Ross School of Business, he contributed to the Tauber Manufacturing Institute's early growth through student development, team-based internships and recruiting, and building corporate relationships. Paul held logistics and consulting roles for the automotive industry for 11 years prior to joining the University of Michigan. He graduated with a BS in business logistics from Pennsylvania State University (1989) and an MBA from Wayne State University (1999).

Satish Malnaik (MBA ’03), Co-founder & CEO, NextServices, Inc.
With over 15 years of experience in IT/ ITES, Operations and Business processes, Satish currently serves as the CEO of NextServices and also manages the US operations. Through NextServices, his current goals are to bring to market the technology, efficiency, productivity gains and knowledge management of developmentally matured industries to the healthcare domain with the primary focus being on maximizing revenues. Prior to starting NextServices, Satish co-founded and led a successful ERP and Business Process consulting firm serving Fortune 500 companies, primarily focused on financial, IT and healthcare companies. In this role, he was responsible for business growth and development and also executed large scale consulting agreements. Satish has an MS (Engineering) from the University of Toledo and an MBA from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.

Mark Maynard, Marketing Manager, U-M Tech Transfer
Mark serves as Marketing Manager for UM Tech Transfer. As such, he is responsible for the Tech Transfer presence as it develops on-line, in print and through programs, partnerships and special events. Mark's responsibilities also include the marketing of University of Michigan technologies on the internet, the management of intern and mentor programs, and the handling of issues relative to new business development. When not in the office, Mark is active with the Ann Arbor IT Zone and other local organizations dedicated to the creation and promotion of Ann Arbor as a viable technological center, capable of supporting University of Michigan start-ups. Before joining the staff, Mark was the Director of New Products and Services for The International Satellite Group (INSAT). Previous to that, he has worked in such diverse fields as historic archeology and publishing. Mark earned his BA from the University of Michigan in American Studies, with a concentration in Literature and Intellectual History, in 1993.

Robert Mazur (MBA '03), Co-founder & President, B.A. Maze, Inc. (PurrFect Opener)
Robert Mazur is the inventor of the PurrFect Opener®, co-founder of B.A. Maze, Inc. (established 2002), and 2003 MBA graduate from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business. The PurrFect Opener® is a handheld tool used to open prescription and over-the-counter medication. The patented design has national exposure thanks to articles in Fortune Small Business, Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek Online, Good Housekeeping, Arthritis Today, and through television on the QVC Home Shopping Network. An award-winning business plan written while at the Ross School of Business resulted in awards totaling $56,000. Since graduation, the company launched the DogGone Opener™ and is currently developing future innovative products for an aging population. Prior to his MBA, Robert received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Michigan and had seven years of automotive engineering experience.

Sherman Powell (MBA '08), Founder, ArmyProperty
Sherman Powell, Ross ’08 MBA graduate and 1995 MIT / Sloan School of Management graduate, spent 11 years as an Army tank and infantry officer, with company-command assignments in Korea, the U.S. and Iraq, and responsibility for up to $42M of property and equipment at a time. He spent a total of thirty-two months as a company commander, in addition to other assignments including his final position as the Commanding General’s Aide of the U.S. Army’s Third Infantry Division. He maintains ties with dozens of Soldiers currently serving throughout the Army, as well as retired service members in the defense contracting and consulting community.

Todd Sullivan (MBA '05), Founder & CEO, Spirit Shop, Inc.
Todd Sullivan is a seasoned entrepreneur with ten years of startup experience. Having launched three consumer product companies in that time-frame, he has raised angel funding, received one patent with two pending, licensed technology, set up offshore manufacturing and distribution facilities, and achieved one successful exit. Mr. Sullivan graduated from Yale University as Berkeley College’s Athlete of the Year and went on to play professional ice hockey. He earned his MBA from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business and was selected as the Ross school’s 2005 MBA Entrepreneur of the Year. Today, Mr. Sullivan is the Founder and CEO of Spirit Shop Inc., the first company to allow students, parents and alumni in K-12 U.S. educational markets to fully customize and purchase their own school-branded apparel and merchandise online with no minimum orders. This latest company was developed with his classmates, professors and the Zell Lurie Institute staff dur ing his MBA program.

Chair: Yogev Shimony (MBA '09), Ross School of Business