Doug Schaedler (Executive Director)
Mr. Schaedler serves as CEO of UTEK and brings valuable experience in both business development and operations. Prior to joining UTEK, Mr. Schaedler served as a Principal at Praxis, a software and telecom investment company. Previously, he was the Director of Corporate and Strategic Development at VerticalNet, Inc., and was a founder of Buyersunite, an innovative purchasing aggregation firm he started while in business school. Mr. Schaedler received a B.A. in economics from Tufts University and an M.B.A. in finance from the University of Chicago, Graduate School of Business. Mr. Schaedler is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Ybor City Chamber of Commerce in Tampa.
Keith A. Witter, J.D. - Chairman (Non-Executive Director)
Served as a director since April 2003. Since 1982, Mr. Witter has been the President of FFP Investment Advisors, Inc., a financial services company. Mr. Witter is an attorney specializing in business, estate, and financial planning. From 1975 to 1980, he served as partner at the Dunlap Law Office in Rochester, Minnesota. From 1973 to 1975, he worked as an accountant after receiving his undergraduate degree at Gustavus Adolphus College in Business Administration and his law degree from the University of Minnesota. Mr. Witter serves as a director of Voice and Wireless Corporation.
Mark Berset (Non-Executive Director)
Served as a director since July 2009. Mr. Berset currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Comegys Insurance, a family owned agency, which is recognized as one of the largest independent insurance agencies in the United States. He is also a member of the Board of Directors at Northstar Bank Holding Company. Mr. Berset is the Chief Executive Officer of Strategic Agency Network of Tampa Bay, which is the largest aggregator of property and casualty insurance premiums in Florida. He is the immediate past President of the Bayfront Hospital Foundation in St. Petersburg and continues to serve as a member of the Foundation’s Board. Mr. Berset received a Bachelor in Business Economics from St. Ambrose University and a Masters in Business Management from Georgia State University and currently lives in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Kwabena Gyimah-Brempong, Ph.D. (Non-Executive Director)
Served as a director since May 1998. Dr. Gyimah-Brempong is a Professor of Economics and Chairperson of the Department of Economics in the College of Business at the University of South Florida. Dr. Gyimah-Brempong has also served as economics program director at the National Science Foundation from 2000 to 2004. Between May 1998 and December 1998, Dr. Gyimah-Brempong served as the Director of University Partnerships and was responsible for helping University Partnerships build relationships with American universities. Dr. Gyimah-Brempong has been a consultant to many international organizations, including the United Nations' Economic Commission for Africa, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, and African Capacity Building Foundation.
Henry Chesbrough, Ph.D. (Non-Executive Director)
Served as director since February 2010. Dr. Henry Chesbrough is the pioneering thought leader of the global open innovation movement. Dr. Chesbrough currently serves as Adjunct Professor and Executive Director of the Center for Open Innovation at the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. His groundbreaking book Open Innovation: The New Imperative for Creating and Profiting from Technology (Harvard Business School Press) brought the term “open innovation” into the language of global business and propelled firms to accelerate their core business growth by dramatically increasing the percent of IP licensed and acquired from outside their organizations. Dr. Chesbrough has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Yale University, Summa Cum Laude; an MBA from Stanford University with the Highest Honors; and a PhD in Business Administration and Public Policy from the Haas School of Business, University of California at Berkeley.
Holly Callen Hamilton (Non-Executive Director)
Served as a director since September 2004 and is the founder and President of Callen & Associates Financial Services, Inc., an investment firm specializing in the areas of venture capital, private placement offerings, retirement planning and charitable giving. Prior to founding Callen & Associates, Ms. Callen Hamilton was affiliated with Paine Webber from 1981 to 1983, where she was tax planning and insurance products coordinator. From 1991 to 1996, Ms. Callen Hamilton was the Director of Development and Fundraising for the University of Minnesota Women's Athletic Department. Ms. Callen Hamilton has a B.S. from Indiana University and a M.A. from the University of Illinois.
John J. Micek III, J.D. (Non-Executive Director)
Served as a director since June 2001. Since 2000, he has been a managing director of Silicon Prairie Partners, LP, a venture fund. Since September 1998, Mr. Micek has also served as President of JAL Enterprises (formerly Universal Assurors, Inc.), a member company of Universal Group, Inc., a Midwest group of insurance companies. From July 1997 to July 1998, he served as Chief Operating Officer for Protozoa, Inc., a digital media and animation company. From April 1994 to February 1997, Mr. Micek was General Counsel for Enova Systems, Inc., a developer and manufacturer of digital power management and conversion systems for mobile and stationary applications. He also serves as a director of Armanino Foods of Distinction, Inc., a public company that produces and markets frozen and refrigerated food products. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of Santa Clara in 1974 and a Juris Doctorate from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 1979.
Charles L. Pope (Non-Executive Director)
Served as director since February 2010. Mr. Pope is a 30 year veteran in executive management, finance and accounting. During his 20 years at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Mr. Pope served as a Partner in the Audit and Financial Advisory Consulting Divisions, and was a Partner in the Accounting and SEC Directorate. Currently, Mr. Pope serves as the CFO and COO of the Palm Bank in Tampa, Florida. Previously, he held CFO positions for public companies including, Aerosonic Corporation, Reptron Manufacturing and SRI/Surgical. He also served as CFO for UTEK Corporation from 2001-2002. Mr. Pope is active in the community, serving on Boards with such organizations as the Boy Scouts of America, Gulf Ridge Council, Junior Achievement of Tampa Bay, and Auburn University, Tampa Bay chapter. He holds Bachelor of Science degrees in Economics and Accounting from Auburn University, is a Certified Public Accountant in Florida and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
