Enabling A Data-Rich Future

Steven J. Santamaria is the Chief Executive Officer at Folio Photonics Inc. Steve is a seasoned technology executive, entrepreneur and student of disruptive technologies. During his 14 year career at Intel Corporation, he led an array of strategic projects including: the Microsoft partnership (Wintel), investment in China Software Park Program (with launches in Hangzhou, Nanjing, Shenzhen and Chengdu), global expansion of the Intel Developer Program, formation of the Visual Computing Group to move Intel into more graphics oriented businesses such as VR and 3D animation and the launching of various Intel Service businesses including Intel Online Services, AppUp and Tizen. Prior to Intel, Steve had a successful sales and business development career with companies including: Control Data, Ceridian, Parametric Technology and Giga Information Group. Most recently, Steve has started two companies: WebTuner Corp., an OTT video streaming company and Envelop VR, which created the first Windows desktop environment for virtual reality. Steve’s passion is working with cutting edge and disruptive technologies. He is well versed in identifying trends, understanding ecosystems and creating strategic plans that position technologies into industry control points, generating market presence, share and value. A graduate of Allegheny College, with a degree in Economics, Steve’s education has been further augmented by the Intel Leadership Program and various business and management classes at the Harvard Business School.

Kenneth D. Singer is the Founder, Executive Chair of Board and Chief Innovation Officer of Folio Photonics Inc. Dr. Singer is the Ambrose Swasey Professor of Physics and Professor of Macromolecular Science and Engineering at Case Western Reserve University. He spent eight years at Bell Laboratories as both a Member and Distinguished Member of Technical Staff before joining CWRU’s faculty. He is the Founding Director of the Engineering Physics degree program and Faculty Director of the Materials for Opto/electronic Research and Education Center (MORE). Singer is a leading expert in nonlinear optics, optical and electronic properties, and devices formed from organic materials with over 200 publications in these subject areas and several patents. Organizing a team of about 10 researchers, he helped realize the first demonstration and its progress towards commercialization.

Irina Shiyanovskaya serves as Chief Operations Officer & Chief Technology Officer overseeing operations, technology, product and business development. She has served as Principal Scientist and R&D/NPD Manager in several startups and was Principal Investigator in many government and industrial grants. She authored over 50 publications and 11 patents in optics, organic electronics, flexible displays and photophysics. She serves as a technical advisor to several Fortune 500 companies. Irina has Ph.D. in Physics and Mathematics, MS in Materials Science, and Technology Entrepreneurship Education from Weatherhead School of Management. She is Adjunct Professor of Physics at Case Western Reserve University.

David Blankenbeckler is the Vice President of Engineering for Folio Photonics Inc. and directs the Folio Photonics Longmont, Colorado office where they are developing dynamic test systems, OPU’s, and drives for Folio Photonics multilayer optical media. Dave has extensive experience in technology and product development and business development in both startup companies and fortune 500 companies. He has experience managing multidisciplinary teams, both domestic and international, and developing innovative data storage products from early concept stage through mass production. Dave has 27 patents in the data storage and data security fields and has authored 5 publications. Dave has a MS in Electrical Engineering from Santa Clara University and a BS in Electrical Engineering from Colorado State University.

Al currently provides CFO Services/Financial Leadership through Securis Advisors to high growth/high potential organizations who are either looking to raise capital to fund development and ultimately participate in a sell side acquisition. Al has provided this service to over 100 companies since 1995. Al started his career at Deloitte where he specialized in publicly held companies, including extensive work on IPO’s. Al earned his BS and MBA from Marquette University.

Maria has been in Accounting and Finance for over two decades. During this time, she has provided financial management services for 9 companies based in countries from Mexico to China where she has been Controller and CFO. Maria has used her skills to help start companies, as well as improve established ones. Maria has a Master in Business Administration.

Felix Brueck is a Director Emeritus of McKinsey & Company in the Cleveland office. He began his McKinsey career in 1983 and also spent time in their German and Tokyo offices. Mr. Brueck led McKinsey’s Manufacturing Practice in the Americas, building up their lean manufacturing capability. Mr. Brueck is a Trustee of the Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network (MAGNET), a regional nonprofit that has as its mission to strengthen the regional economy. He is also on the Board of That Can Be Me, a non-profit created to enable lifelong learning. Mr. Brueck holds a Masters of Mechanical Engineering from the RWTH Aachen in Germany and a Masters of International Management from Thunderbird School of Global Management. He has co-authored the books Simplicity Wins and Quality Pays. Over the last decade has consulted extensively to leading companies in the Enterprise Storage Industry on issues ranging from strategy to engineering, operations and Go-To-Market.

Bob, based in Cleveland, OH and Silicon Valley, CA, joined Morgenthaler in 1969 and has been a Partner since 1971. From 1990 to 1992, he served as President and then Chairman of the National Venture Capital Association. As an angel investor, Bob backs several young companies each year. He sits on the Board of Directors of Batteroo, Folio Photonics, Forte Ventures, Oasis Consumer Healthcare, Qnovo, R2 Semiconductor, and TempoQuest. In addition he serves on the Board of Trustees at Case Western Reserve University and Commonfund Capital. Bob has led investments in companies – such as Apple Computer, Atria Software (acquired by Rational Software), Illustra Information Technologies (acquired by Informix), New Focus, Peregrine Semiconductor (acquired by Murata), Synernetics (acquired by 3Com), and Synopsys. He received a BS in physics from The College of William & Mary, an MS from Columbia University, and an MBA from the Harvard Business School.

Ronn Richard is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Cleveland Foundation. He joined the foundation in 2003 after several senior management positions in government, private enterprise and non-profits sectors. Early in his career, Ronn was a U.S. diplomat serving at the American Consulate General in Osaka/Kobe, Japan and at the U.S. State Department. During his 13 years at Panasonic, he served in several executive management positions, including the head of the company’s research and development operations. Prior to joining the Cleveland Foundation, Ronn was the Chief Operating Officer and Managing Partner of In-Q-Tel, the CIA’s venture capital fund. Ronn has served on a number of non-profit boards including the Council on Foundations, Spelman College, International Biomedical Research Alliance, Greater Cleveland Partnership, and the Ohio Business Development Coalition. He also serves on several corporate boards including Emergent BioSolutions, Inc.

Established in 2017 by Tim Schigel, Refinery Ventures is an investment firm focused on disruptive, early-scale companies. Drawing from his extensive experience in founding and serving as CEO of ShareThis, the most recognizable icon on the Internet, to creating the Cintrifuse Syndicate Fund, where he raised over $57 million, Schigel built Refinery Ventures to bridge the gap between the midwest and the coasts. Refinery Ventures is located in Cincinnati Ohio. For more information, visit refinery.com.

Joe served as Chairman & CEO of Panasonic Corporation of North America for seven years retiring in December of 2017 after a 34 year career with the largest subsidiary of the Panasonic Corporation. He the first American Executive Officer and Managing Executive Officer of the parent, the Panasonic Corporation, as well as the first non-Japanese executive to serve as Chairman & CEO of Panasonic Corporation of North America. Joe Taylor successfully led the company’s business transformation, shifting its focus from consumer electronics products to business-to-business solutions. The transition led to significant growth in revenue and profit each year of his tenure. He also created Panasonic’s Smart City initiatives, which demonstrate how public-private partnerships can work to improve the quality of live of residents.

Joe currently serves on several Boards of Directors as well as being the Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the New Jersey Institute of Technology where hr received a Doctor of Science PhD (h.c.).

Dr. Sharkawy is a Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Material Impact, a unique venture fund that focuses on investing in and building companies with material-based technology innovations making a large impact. He serves as member of the Board of Directors for many companies including Soft Robotics, Fusion Coolant Technologies, NextGen Jane, Orbion Space Technologies, Nohbo, and BloomerTech where he serves as Chair. He also serves on the Graduate School Board at Duke University.

Previously, Adam held a series of operating roles on the executive leadership team of publicly traded healthcare companies such as the Medicines Company where he led a number of acquisitions and ran the Surgical Care division, Smith & Nephew’s Emerging Market division, Abbott’s Medical Device division, and Guidant’s Vascular Intervention division. Prior to large corporate roles, Adam was an entrepreneur in the Silicon Valley where he helped start Ventrica (technology acquired by Medtronic), Heartport (acquired by Johnson and Johnson) and Advanced Cardiovascular Systems (acquired by Eli Lilly). Dr. Sharkawy received his Ph.D. from Duke University in Biomaterials / Biomedical Engineering, an MSME in Chaos Theory from Texas A&M and a BSME from the American University, Cairo. He is a scientific inventor and holds 23 issued U.S. patents and numerous international patents.