Synaptix Systems management relies on a world-class advisory board consisting of today’s foremost business leaders, with profound track records spanning numerous industries and management functions.
Company
Advisors
Dave Berkus
Chairman Emeritus, Tech Coast Angels
Managing Partner, Kodiak Ventures, LP
Managing Partner, Berkus Technology Ventures, LLC
Dave Berkus has a proven track record in operations and investing. As an entrepreneur, he has formed, managed and sold successful businesses in the entertainment and software arenas. As an investor, he has obtained healthy returns from liquidity events in over a dozen investments in early-stage ventures. As a mentor, he was recently named “Director of the Year” for his efforts with over 40 companies in the past decade.
Mr. Berkus was the founder of Computerized Lodging Systems Inc (CLS), which he guided as CEO for over a decade that included two consecutive years on the Inc. 500 list of America’s fastest growing companies, expansion to six foreign subsidiaries and twenty-nine foreign distributors while capturing 16% of the world market for his products. For his accomplishments in advancing technology in the hospitality industry, in 1998 he was inducted into the Hospitality (HFTP) “International Hall of Fame”, one of only twenty-two so honored worldwide over the years.
In the last ten years he has made 49 investments in early stage ventures, for which he has an IRR of 97%, which includes capital contributions to his two funds (Berkus Technology Ventures, LLC and Kodiak Ventures, L.P., for which he is the managing partner). He is also Chairman Emeritus of the Tech Coast Angels, one of the largest angel networks in the United States.
In recognition for adding significant shareholder value for emerging technology companies over the past decade, he was named “Director of the Year 1999” by the Forum for Corporate Directors of Orange County, California. Current boards: AuriQ Systems, Inc., Enhanced Simulation Technologies, Inc. (Chairman), EPC International, Inc. (Chairman), GlobaLink Access, Inc. (Chairman), Hotelware Corporation (Chairman), IP3 NETWORKS, Inc. (Chairman), Kodiak Ventures, L.P. (Managing Partner), LeisureLink, Inc. (Chairman). Recent Boards: Apogee Broadcasting Corporation, GameSpy Industries, Inc. (Past Chairman), Sulcus Hospitality Technologies Corp. (AMEX:SUL) sold to Eltrax, Inc.(NASDAQ: ELTX), Macro Educational Systems, Inc. (sold to NCS-Pierson AMEX:NLCS), Sonic Desktop Software, Inc., Word-Of-Net, Inc.
A graduate of Occidental College, Mr. Berkus currently serves as a Trustee of the College. Mr. Berkus is co-author of “Better Than Money!” – a book for emerging growth company executives addressing the issues resulting from rapid growth. He is a commercial pilot with instrument and multi-engine ratings, and holds Flight Safety International’s coveted “Pro Card” for airline transport pilot proficiency. He is listed in Marquis’ “Who’s Who In America” and “Who’s Who In The World”. Mr. Berkus serves as Board Member and Vice President of the Western Region, Boy Scouts Of America, and is Chairman of the Advisory Board of ABL/TECHNOLOGY, a networking organization of CEO’s in high tech businesses.
Albert J. Moyer
Board Member, Four (4) Public Companies
Private Investor
Albert J. “Bert” Moyer has served as a member of the board of directors for a number of publicly-traded companies. Since 2000, Mr. Moyer has also served as a private financial consultant.
From March 1998 to February 2000, Mr. Moyer served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of QAD Inc. (NASDAQ: QADA, QADB), a publicly held software company that is a provider of enterprise resource planning software applications. From August 1995 to March 1998, Mr. Moyer served as Chief Financial Officer of Allergan Inc. (NYSE: AGN), a specialty pharmaceutical company. Previously, Mr. Moyer served as Chief Financial Officer of National Semiconductor Corporation (NYSE: NSM) and as Chief Financial Officer of Western Digital Corporation (NYSE: WDC), a manufacturer of hard-disk drives for the personal computer and home entertainment markets.
Mr. Moyer also serves on the board of each of CalAmp Corp. (NASDAQ: CAMP), a provider of wireless communications solutions; MaxLinear, Inc. (NYSE: MXL), a provider of highly integrated radiofrequency analog and mixed signal semiconductor solutions; Collectors Universe, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLCT), a third-party grading and authentication service for high-value collectibles; and Virco Manufacturing Corporation (NASDAQ: VIRC), a manufacturer of educational furniture. From November 2007 to February 2011, Mr. Moyer served as a director of Occam Networks, Inc., a developer of broadband networking equipment, subsequently acquired by Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX), and from January 2005 to January 2011, Mr. Moyer served as a director of LaserCard Corporation, a provider of secure identification solutions, subsequently acquired by ASSA ABLOY A.B. (OTCOTHER: ASAZF).
Mr. Moyer received his B.S. in finance from Duquesne University and graduated from the Advanced Management Program at the University of Texas, Austin. Mr. Moyer holds a professional director certification from the American College of Corporate Directors, a national public company director education and credentialing organization.
Scott Raskin
President, Telelogic Americas & Asia/Pacific
Executive Team, Telelogic AB, Sweden
Scott Raskin is President of Telelogic Americas and Asia/Pacific divisions of Telelogic AB of Sweden (TLOG.Stockholm), the leading provider of solutions for advanced systems and software development.
With more than 18 years of experience in technology sales, marketing and business operations, Mr. Raskin joined Telelogic in May 2001 as President of the Americas. In July 2002, Mr. Raskin was also named President of Telelogic Asia/Pacific, which includes company operations in Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Thailand and Singapore. Today Mr. Raskin oversees P&L for operations in more than 14 countries staffed by over 325 employees.
Mr. Raskin was hired to spearhead Telelogic’s return to profitability and growth in the Americas, and is credited with increasing the company’s market share and improving the bottom line by 759 percent. Under his leadership, Telelogic re-organized and merged operations following the acquisition of four industry-leading technology companies, and has been profitable for 10 consecutive quarters while increasing software sales in target markets. Under Mr. Raskin’s guidance, Telelogic has emerged as the undisputed technology leader and innovator for systems engineering and embedded software development tools. Telelogic DOORS is both market share and technology leader according to analyst firms including META Group, Standish Group, Yphise, OVUM and IDC. In addition, the Software Council of Southern California recently named Telelogic Software Developer of the Year for the 2002 and finalist for Software Company of the Year for 2003.
Before joining Telelogic, Mr. Raskin was a member of the start-up management team at Nexgenix Inc. As Vice President, Sales and Business Development, Mr. Raskin developed a national sales organization and increased revenues organically from US$600,000 to US$55 million while maintaining positive bottom line profitability. After assuming the role of Vice President, Corporate Development, Nexgenix introduced several innovative offerings, added 300 employees and expanded its delivery operations to 13 cities. Before joining Nexgenix, Mr. Raskin held Senior Management positions at several leading technology companies including Bachman Information Systems, MAI Basic Four and Bluebird Systems.
Mr. Raskin has a bachelor’s of business administration with emphasis on Finance and Marketing from the University of Texas at Austin, School of Business.
Bob Stephens
Former CEO, Adaptec, Inc.
Board of Directors, Finisar (NASDAQ: FNSR)
Bob Stephens joined Adaptec as Chief Operating Officer in November, 1995, became president in October, 1998, and CEO in April 1999 holding both roles through May 2005. During this period Bob drove the diversification of the business direction from I/O hardware to broader storage products including storage software.
Before coming to Adaptec, Mr. Stephens was the founder and chief executive officer of Power I/O, a start-up company that developed serial interface solutions and silicon expertise for high-speed data networking, including fibre channel. Power I/O was acquired by Adaptec in 1995. Prior to founding Power I/O, Mr. Stephens was president and CEO of Emulex Corporation. During his tenure there, he redirected the company’s operations to the development of ASIC technology and networking products. His restructuring efforts helped create rapid growth for the company’s networking division, and led to the spin-off of its SCSI and Fibre Channel businesses as QLogic Corporation. Before Emulex, Mr. Stephens was senior vice president, general manager, and founder of the Microcomputer Products Group at Western Digital Corporation. His career began at IBM, where he served over 15 years in a variety of management positions.
Mr. Stephens currently sits on the Board of Directors for Finisar Corporation (NASDAQ: FNSR). He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from San Jose State University.