Mr. Jim Phillips, Chairman / CEO

Mr. Phillips is internationally credited with being very instrumental in launching instant messaging, the PDA, Cable Modem, PCS, Fixed Cellular, Time Magazine's Medical Invention of the Year- the VeinViewer, and iPix, at the time, the world's largest provider of digital imaging infrastructure for the internet, in such areas as online real estate, auction listings, and classified ads.

Throughout his business career, Jim has held numerous prominent positions and founded and co-founded many successful corporations while introducing many products used by millions worldwide. He started his career in 1975 with Northern Telecom, when the company was the 2nd largest telecom manufacturer in North America rising in management to Vice-President; became President & Co-Founder of SkyTel - the nation's largest messaging company; President & Vice Chairman of Telular Corp.; Corporate Vice President and General Manager of Motorola, PCS and Multimedia divisions, where his team invented the cable modem and pioneered telephone service over television cable networks worldwide. Mr. Phillips received the Motorola Patent Disclosure Award.

As President and Vice-Chairman of Telular Corporation (WRLS) Jim took the company public (NASDAQ) and was instrumental in the development of the wireless local loop; cellular voice and data telephone (wireless dialtone); pioneering machine to machine communications (M2M) for wireless telemetry applications around the world in energy, transportation and agriculture; and wireless security alarm systems protecting hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses across the U.S.

Mr. Phillips served as Senior Vice-President of Mobilecomm, the second largest provider of cellular and paging services in the U.S. at the time.

Jim also Co-Founded iPIX Corporation where he served as Chairman and CEO. During his tenure with iPIX, he led the company to become what Forbes called "the Kodak of the Internet." The company revolutionized imaging across the internet, inventing virtual tours that are a staple on real estate, hotel & entertainment websites and the only 360x360 security camera system used by the White House and many government agencies and corporations. Millions of internet users experienced immersive imaging and "telepresence" for the first time through iPIX. In addition, through the acquisition of Bamboo.com and Picture Works, Jim's team oversaw the development of the popular image submission process utilized by millions of e-Bay users everyday.

Mobilecomm Corporation was sold to BellSouth Corporation, SkyTel Corporation was sold to MCI Verizon, and iPIX was sold to Sony Corporation.

While furthering his management career in the financial sector, Mr. Phillips served as CEO in Residence and Special Advisor to the Private Equity and Investment Banking Groups at Morgan Keegan & Co.

As Founding Chairman and Executive Director of the FedEx Institute of Technology (FIT), he helped establish this leading research park on the campus at the University of Memphis. Information Week called FIT "the technology industry's newest center for innovation" and WIRED Magazine compared it to the Media Lab at MIT.

In 2004, Jim was named an Information Week Magazine "Innovator of the Year". That same year, he became Chairman and CEO of Luminetx Corporation and led with his management team the development, FDA clearance, and commercialization of the breakthrough medical device called the "VeinViewer" named by Time Magazine as "Coolest Medical Invention of the Year," and Red Herring Magazine featured Luminetx Corporation at the top of the list of North America's 100 Best Technology Startups in 2006 under Mr. Phillips leadership. Mr. Phillips personally named and branded VeinViewer, Luminetx, Skytel, SkyPager, SkyWord, SkyMail, PCSone, CellDock, CyberSurfer Cable Modem, Snowflake Technologies, and the CPX Cellular Phone Exchange.

Jim also founded and served as Chairman and CEO of Snowflake Corporation - a leader in biometric identification technology awarded the 2009 Frost & Sullivan Innovation of the Year Award for the biometrics market.

Among his many honors and awards, Jim won the CLIO Award, the 2005 BENNY Chairman's Award, the University of Memphis Distinguished Graduate Award, the Fogelman College of Business Distinguished Executive of the Year, the Herff College of Engineering Distinguished Service Award, the National Golden Key Award, and was named Tennessee Businessman of the Year in 1999 by the U.S. Small Business Administration. In 2006, he was inducted into the Memphis Entrepreneurial Society.

His innovative contributions and business leadership have been chronicled in many national publications including: Forbes, Fortune, Business Week, The Standard, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and USA Today. He has made numerous appearances on Fox News, CNN, CNNfn, CNBC, the BBC and CBS Morning News. His business affiliations include:

• Member, Council on Competitiveness (Executive Committee)
• Member U.S. Technology Leadership Council
• Member U.S. Manufacturing Initiative
• Trustee of National Health Museum
• Board Member Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee (Audit, Compliance & Investment Committees)
• Trustee University of Memphis
• Trustee Memphis Music Foundation
• Board Member Memphis Bioworks Foundation
• Board Member Herff College of Engineering
• Board Member Fogelman School of Business
• Member, Memphis Entrepreneurial Society
• Vice Chairman - Memphis Chamber of Commerce
• Vice Chairman - Tennessee Technology Development Corp
• Director-EmergeMemphis

Jim holds BBA and MBA degrees from the University of Memphis, graduating with academic honors. As a student, he was President of the Tennessee Student Association, Cadet Commander of the largest ROTC Detachment in the U.S. and Vice President of the SGA. He was commissioned as a Lieutenant and attended Jet Pilot Training at Webb AFB in Texas. He was honored with the Professor of Aerospace Studies Award and the United States Air Force Distinguished Military Graduate Award.

Jim and Barbara Phillips (his wife of 34 years) have three sons, Parker, Preston & Palmer and reside in Rogers/Bentonville, Arkansas, and Memphis, Tennessee. Mr. Phillips is eternally grateful for the many brilliant colleagues, fellow employees, and wonderful friends that have made it possible for him to play a role, along with them, in launching companies and introducing new technologies and products that have made a positive contribution to society.

He can be reached at jim.phillips@nanomech.biz.

Dr. Ajay Malshe, Founder / EVP / CTO

(PhD. 1992) calls himself a "Profeneur" (Professor plus Entrepreneur), 21st Century Knowledge-Age Inventors and Industrialists.

He is the Founder, Executive VP and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of NanoMech (www.nanomech.biz). NanoMech Inc. is a nanotechnology platform innovations company with nanomanufacturing factory and products in four green application sectors. NanoMech associates ThinkSmall™ to deliver big product innovations. Company's award winning innovations in critical application sectors are making a difference to improve quality of life. NanoMech was founded in 2002 and today the company has delivered to the world breakthrough nano innovations in machining and manufacturing, lubrication and energy, packaging for fresh produce supply chain, biomedical implant coatings and strategic military applications. NanoMech invests in world class people, ideas and tools to increase competitiveness in the global market. Company brings ideas from innovation to implementation, introducing nanomanufactured product platforms to market- Machining (ex. TuffTek®) and Lubrication (NanoGlideTM), Sustainable and Biocide Additives (nGuardTM) and Functional Nanopowders (ElementXTM).

Nanomanufacturing is already a huge market and is anticipated to continue to grow rapidly. A recent Lux Research study predicts that nanomanufactured goods will grow from $147 billion in 2007 to $3.1 trillion in 2015. Clearly no single company is going to compete across the entire breadth of this market. However, NanoMech has focused on platform nanomaterials and platform manufacturing technologies that offer a broad range of high value market opportunities. The vision of NanoMech is to be the world leader in nanomanufacturing innovation and product development with an emphasis on platform technologies that are scalable for efficient mass production.

Malshe as an inventor has received 31 awards/recognitions, including Fellowship of American Society of Mechanical Engineering (ASME), voted in NanoBusiness Alliances Selected Most Influential Nanotechnology Leaders of 2010, nomination in Marquis Who's Who in America (2009; 63rd Edition) and 2005 Frost and Sullivan Technology Excellence Award for research, education and service achievements (1996-2008). Also, he is a Fellow of Institute of Physics, London, UK. He has authored over 200 plus peer reviewed publications, 13 books and book chapters, and holds 10 patents. He has an extensive track record of global collaborations with academic institutions and companies from Australia, Japan, India, Germany, Ireland, etc. He is a member of professional societies such as ASME, SME, IEEE, MRS, ASEE and IMAPS. At NanoMech he is directing a team of world-class scientists and engineers.

He is also 21st Century Endowed Chair Professor of Materials, Manufacturing Processes and Integrated Systems at the Department of Mechanical Engineering and adjunct-faculty of Microelectronics and Photonics Program at the University of Arkansas. He is the Director of the Materials and Manufacturing Research Laboratories (MMRL; a cluster of 5 laboratories). Malshe has multidisciplinary research programs in the fields of nanomanufacturing, IC, MEMS and micro and nano device packaging and integration, and surface engineering for advanced machining. He has graduated over 45 graduate students (PhD/MS), trained numerous post-doctoral fellows, and provided research experience to several undergraduate and high school students. His graduates work at leading organizations, such as IBM at Almaden, University of Florida, Qualcomm Technology, Texas Instruments, etc.

Ruth Whitney, Director

Ruth H. Whitney is the founder and CEO of InVeritas Research & Consulting, Inc. She serves as a strategic advisor to corporate, political, and non-profit clients nationwide based on her expertise in law, government, politics, and public opinion. Her public affairs clients include Fortune 500 corporations Baxter Healthcare, Chesapeake Energy, Northrop Grumman and Wal-Mart, as well as Arkansas Capital Corporation, The Paper Tigers, and Youth & Family Centered Services. In addition, Ruth has worked with Congressman Marion Berry (AR), Governor Mike Beebe (AR), Attorneys General Thurbert Baker (GA), Jim Hood (MS), Chris Koster (MO), and Dustin McDaniel (AR), and Secretary of State Charlie Daniels (AR).

Ruth graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and earned her Juris Doctorate from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Before founding InVeritas, Ruth built and managed the Arkansas office of Global Strategy Group where she specialized in executing winning campaigns in the public and private sectors. Prior to joining GSG, Ruth served as Counsel and Chief of Staff to Attorney General Mike Beebe and developed professional relationships with Attorneys General across the country. As Chief of Staff, she was responsible for the legislative and intergovernmental affairs bureau, the public affairs division, as well as the divisions of communications, and community relations. Ruth has extensive legal and management experience, including over 10 years as a healthcare and administrative lawyer with the Arkansas Department of Human Services; Counsel to Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard law firm; and as Director of the Division of County Operations and Director of Youth Services for the Arkansas Department of Human Services.

Rick Barrows, Director

Rick Barrows is an accomplished business leader in Northwest Arkansas. He is the founder and President of Multi-Craft Contractors, a leading supplier of mechanical and electrical contracting services, as well as provider of metal fabrication and specialized engineering and design capabilities. Multi-Craft employs over 400 people and supplies products and services to companies around the world. Mr. Barrows began his career as a mechanical tradesman in 1970 and became president of Multi-Craft Contractors, Inc. in 1989. Since that time, Multi-Craft Contractors has grown from $7 million dollars per year to $50 million dollars per year in revenue and is now the largest mechanical and second largest electrical contractor in Arkansas. Mr. Barrows presently serves as a director for Arvest Bank and has been involved in numerous civic and community activities, including Chairman of the Planning Commission and President of the local chapter of Rotary International.

 

John Steuri, Director

As a private investor, Mr. Steuri works with several small, developing businesses, in Arkansas, to provide financing assistance as well as management advice and counsel as needed. He is a founder and managing member of Venture Capital Investors, LLC and also it's successor, the Fund for Arkansas Future, LLC, which provides early stage angel funding to small, developing Arkansas businesses to enhance job creation and economic development in the State. In 1996, Mr. Steuri retired as Chairman and CEO of ALLTEL Information Services, Inc. (formerly Systematics Information Services, Inc.), Little Rock.

Before joining Systematics, Mr. Steuri was with IBM Corporation for 24 years, where he held a number of senior executive and general management positions until his retirement from IBM in 1988. Prior to joining IBM, Mr. Steuri was an information systems manager with Southwestern Bell Telephone Company from 1961-1964. Mr. Steuri is a director of the Central Arkansas Radiation Therapy Institute, Inc. (CARTI) and Safe Foods Corporation, both in Little Rock, Arkansas. He is also a director of Heartland Agri Partners' Insta-Pro International, Ltd. in Des Moines, Iowa. He retired in May 2009 after serving for fifteen years as a Trustee on the Board of Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company of Milwaukee. Mr. Steuri was a director of both Superior Financial Corporation (Holding Company) and Superior Bank, F.S.B., Little Rock, from 1999 until the two banking companies were acquired by Arvest Bank in August 2003.

He was also a director of National Computer Systems, Minneapolis, for nine years. Mr. Steuri was a director of the ALLTEL Corporation from 1990 until his retirement from ALLTEL in 1996. Mr. Steuri is currently serving on the Arkansas BioVentures Advisory Board at the Biomedical Biotechnology Center at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), the Arkansas Community Foundation Finance Committee and as an Advisory Trustee on the Baptist Health Foundation.

Mr. Steuri was named the Outstanding Citizen in 1995 as part of KARK – TV's annual Arkansas Community Service Awards and in 1999 he received the Lugean L Chilcote Award for extraordinary service to Arkansas by the Arkansas Community Foundation. In 2004, Mr. Steuri and his wife, Grace, were named Arkansas Citizens of the Year by the Arkansas Chapter of the March of Dimes and in 2006 they were given the Emily Bissell Award for Philanthropy by the American Lung Association. In 2010, the Arkansas Association of Fundraising Professionals named them Philanthropists of the year.

 

Michael D. Easterly, Director

Mike is a veteran of the investment banking business and co-founder and organizer of the Legacy companies and most recently served as the Chairman of Legacy Securities Corp. and Legacy Investment Group, Inc. Mike was Chief Manager of Legacy Lodging II, LLC and a Principal of Legacy Capital Partners, LLC (the firm's venture affiliate). Mike is CEO of Legacy Media Holdings, LLC, which operates radio stations in Memphis, Tennessee and south Atlanta, Georgia.

Currently Mike is CEO of Brookwood Hill Group, Inc., a 20 year old family investment company with interests in multiple areas. Through Brookwood Hill Group, Inc. Mike continues to provide a broad array of corporate financial advisory services, including buying and selling businesses and raising capital.

Previously, Mike was Head of Investment and Merchant Banking at Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc. He was President and Chief Executive Officer of Morgan Keegan Merchant Banking Fund, Ltd., which he organized, Chairman of the Corporate Commitment Committee and a member of the firm's Management Committee. Prior to that, Mike held Partner or Managing Director positions with several prominent regional and national investment firms including Prudential Securities, Thomson McKinnon Securities Inc., William Blair & Company, and The Robinson-Humphrey Company, Inc.

Mike has been active in many professional, civic, and charitable organizations. He was previously Vice Chairman of the Georgia State University Robinson College Advisory Board, as well as Chairman of its Facilities Task Force, and is past Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Georgia State University Foundation. Mike is Past President and Director of the Atlanta Chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth and a former member of the Board of Directors of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. Mike has previously served as President of the Georgia State University Alumni Association, the Georgia Economic Development Association and Chairman of both the Red Carpet and Green Carpet Tours of Georgia.