Leadership
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Stephen Appel, Chief Executive Officer
For over thirty five years as a broadcast television executive Stephen’s responsibilities covered revenue generation, marketing, corporate oversight and eventually culminated in the single largest television turnaround in network history, ion media. Stephen was responsible for presenting and developing ion’s network television upfront presentation every year for the advertising industry. At ion, he was most proud of managing all revenues resulting in a previously unheard of 57 percent margin advantage and a RPE (revenue per employee) that beat Google, Facebook, Twitter and many others. Within ten years Stephen and his team had taken ion television from a $250 million dollar valuation to a $3 billion dollar sale in 2021 to Scripps Broadcasting company. Before ion, Stephen worked in management at Westinghouse, ABC, and NBC where he developed and managed revenue generating platforms that are still being used today. In his earliest years, Stephen helped direct many aspects of the launch of Bruce Springsteen’s career.
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Brian O'Rourke, Chief Operating Officer
Before acquiring his MBA in corporate finance at NYU’s Stern Business School and London’s School of Economics, Brian was a Navy Seal of the highest order and part of what has come to be known as the world renowned “Team 6”. In the Navy Seals Brian served as a Navy Medic and was awarded two patents for two night vision designs for SOCOM (Special Operations Command) and Next Generation Ballistic Combat Helmets. Brian served in Paramedic Special Operations Combat where he was responsible for overseeing medical care, developing and executing MEDEVAC plans for real world events, including contingency plans with with several high-level U.S. and Foreign government agencies. Brian was also an Enterprise Solutions Architect for The United States Special Warfare Command and worked in Soldier Survival Systems, R&D, Requirements and Acquisitions.
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Oded Shorer, Chief Design Officer
A multidisciplinary designer (UX, visual and industrial) with more than 15 years of experience in concept product design, Oded is also chief advisor for Cornell University’s Technology Startup Studio, Adviser to Pratt Institute’s Industrial Design Masters Program, Entrepreneur in Residence at The Dwight School in New York and Founder of Milestone Studio Labs.
Team Members
Susanne Kanter, Chief Marketing Officer
Susanne is a Senior Marketing Manger who focuses on quantitative and consumer insights and has twenty plus years experience in B2B/B2C market research, vertical/product marketing, and competitive intelligence. In her work with both Fortune 500 companies as well as start ups, Susanne made strategic recommendations based on market and competitive conditions, current & emerging trends, and industry-specific data. Susanne focuses on actionable insights that drive messaging an optimal product positioning. Susanne was a Fulbright Scholar and holds a Masters Degree from New York University.
Advisory Board
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Jessica Walsh, Chairman
Founder and CEO of Rx Bandz a medical device company that has created the world's smallest auto-injector.
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Daniel J. Leizman, M.D, Founder
Founder at AgeWell Corporation Specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation.
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Michael Bibighaus M.D, Design Director
President and Chief Medical Officer at UCM Digital Health.
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Jane Webster, Sustainability Director
Board Member for the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing and the Children’s Center Family Advisory Council.
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Jaya DixonJames Condon, Customer Service Manager
Managing Partner of the CC Group.