Management

The C4CUBE teams includes personnel who have experience in all aspects of business required to manage this venture, build new businesses, and deliver a return on the investment. C4CUBE management team include (Please Click on Anyone Below to Get Their Full Description):

Center for Unique Business Enterprises (CUBE)

Norman Smith, Executive Director,

Norman Smith has 30 years executive management experience specializing in startups and cutting edge innovations in retail, technology, manufacturing, and international business development. He founded 9 successful startups and raised over $250 million in startup funding taking their annual revenue from startup to over $100 million. His ability to assist young startups comes from his personal experience that includes: building world class management delivering world class services and products. He took a failing U.S. manufacturing firm from $1/2 million in sales to $120 million while winning state awards for handling of hazardous materials and waste water treatment. He started and managed international joint ventures in Hong Kong, Thailand and China, with an average annual growth of 1500%. He took manufacturing technology services and consumer product retailing from 43 locations to 216 locations with no change in cash flow tripled revenues and increased profits by 11%. He is nationally recognized for innovative programs and job growth while serving on the board of the Contra Costa Software Business Incubator Board, as a University Regent for several Non Profit(s), and as a board member for Regional governance and Private industry. When not starting a new company his leisure time passions include travel scuba diving and animal rescue.

Lynne Keller, Director of Communications,

Lynne Keller has been recognized as an “outstanding women in the gaming industry” in Northern Nevada. Her thirty-two years of experience encompass most all areas of the gaming administration from clerical positions to Controller to Executive Vice President and General Manager of a local casino in Reno, Nevada. Lynne has witnessed first hand the growth of gaming into a sophisticated business utilizing the latest technology to enhance its profitability. She learned early on that the growth of any business is based on customer service, teamwork and a strong community involvement. Her community involvement began in the 80’s with leadership positions in the PTA both locally and regionally, and in the 90’s with the Senior Alliance board and the Senior Citizens Center in Reno and Treasurer of a Storey County General Improvement District. Through her leadership employees of the casino she managed raised thousands of dollars for the Children’s Cabinet, March of Dimes, the Girl Scouts, Toys for Tots, St. Judes Children Hospital, and a local community outreach program providing food for those less fortunate at Thanksgiving and Christmas. She has also been a strong advocate and contributor to the Nevada Women’s Fund, the Boys & Girls Club of Western Nevada, and the local Public Broadcasting Station in Northern Nevada.

Lexi Fox, Marketing and Administration,

C4CUBE Venture Accelerator

Lee Ky Good, Managing Director,

Ky co-founded C4CUBE in 2006 with a vision to establish an Incubator in Northern Nevada to help bridge the “gap” between entrepreneurs and industry and contribute to bringing start-up companies into the region. In 2003, Ky co-founded iN3 Partners, which is an on-going business development and consulting firm, that focuses at working with entrepreneurs and early stage growth companies. In addition, Ky currently serves in varying management capacities to 3D Armor Systems Inc. (advanced materials protection system developer), Eye-Com, Inc. (a biosensor and communications controller device developer), Center for Technical Investments (a venture fund currently being formed in Nevada), Scheelite Technologies LLC (a direct methanol fuel cell system developer), ETECHS (an engineering focused charter high school), and provides executive advisory to several other pre-Series A funded high technology startup companies. Prior to 2003 and back to 1992, Ky served in various executive and corporate officer roles for several start-ups including Research & Development Laboratories, Alidian Networks, Advanced Fibre Communications, and DSC Communications. During this time, Ky lived and worked overseas yielding a depth of business and personal contacts throughout the United States and international marketplaces, with a strong focus in Asia Pacific. Prior to 1992, Ky spent five years in marketing and product management with Nortel Networks and 15 years with Verizon and South Central Bell (now BellSouth) holding a wide range of engineering and management positions. Ky brings his significant expertise in a number of technologies, US and International business development, entrepreneurship, and applied engineering to identify emerging markets, develop investment opportunities and business alternatives.

Jim Holmes, Director of Investments,

Mr. Holmes serves and has served on the board of directors of numerous public and private companies. He holds or has held positions of chief executive officer, chief financial officer providing management support in executive, administrative, financial and marketing functions. Currently he is president of Carson Capital Management, Inc., management, merger/acquisition and investment banking consulting firm. Mr. Holmes has formerly served as assistant controller of Bio Rad Labs(AMEX); CEO of Harvest Industries(OTC); vice-president of North Coast Investments, a venture capital firm and on the audit staff of Pricewaterhouse Coopers. Mr. Holmes is a mentor and judge in the University of Notre Dame’s business plan competition program. He has been a guest speaker at San Jose State-DeAnza College’s Entrepreneurial Incubator program and guest lecturer at University of Nevada, Reno’s Business Development, and Venture Capital program. He completed graduate studies at Golden Gate University’s MBA program and holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business from San Jose State University, and has also completed Stanford’s Advance Management College. Mr. Holmes is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Financial Economics at Rushmore University.

Larry Udell, Director Industry Relations,

Lawrence J. Udell co-founder of C4CUBE is Executive Director of both the Center For New Venture Alliance and the California Invention Center. He has created and taught “New Ventures and Entrepreneurship” courses for over 30 years, plus a special course on, “Technology Marketing” at the Cal-State Hayward, School of Business and Economics. He served as a Lecturing Professor at U.C. Berkeley, teaching a course on Technology Transfer & Commercialization, and has also taught other courses for other universities in the U. S. and Canada. He is an active member of the Licensing Executives Society, and is co-founder and managing director of the Silicon Valley Chapter of LES. Founder of over 20 corporations, he also provides consulting to both start-ups and Fortune 500 companies, plus lectures frequently at inventor, corporate and government functions throughout America and in other countries for the World Intellectual Property Organization

Robert Unmacht, Business Development,

Robert has 30+ years of experience founding, running and serving as an advisor to a large number of companies. In addition, throughout his career, Robert has owned and operated several radio stations, principally in the Pacific Northwest. Robert is the founder and former Chief Executive Officer of the M Street Corporation, a broadcasting trade publication and market research firm. After 15+ years with M Street, Robert sold M Street to Clear Channel Communications, the largest operator of radio and television stations in the United States. Realizing the absence of quality financial and operational advisory services for small to medium sized radio, internet, television and print companies, Robert teamed with Doug Fleming in 2002 to form a new investment banking and strategic consulting firm specializing in communications. That firm is now iN3 Partners, Inc. Robert is a recognized industry expert in communications, having worked with all areas of the industry and having been quoted in hundreds of publications domestically and internationally.

Matthew Benardis, Investment Banking and Development,



C4CUBE is honored to have a highly distinguished Advisory Board containing industry and academic leaders from northern Nevada and northern California. These local leaders in their communities have provided outstanding support to C4CUBE and its clients.

Advisors

  • Dave Archer, Managing Director Nevada’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology
  • Ted Batchman, PhD.: Director of Redfield’s Renewable Energy Center, University of Nevada Reno
  • Joe Boeddeker; former Director of NASA International Incubator
  • Marie Alice Dibon; PhD. Industrial Pharmacy; Principal Alice Communications
  • Don Evans, founder and Chairman Evco Plastics, 11 manufacturing plants world-wide.
  • John Fowler, Partner – Woodburn & Wedge Law Firm, NV, Corporate Attorney
  • Charles Glasser, former CEO of numerous private companies, Angel Investor, Entrepreneur
  • James Graham, City of Reno, Economic Redevelopment Manager
  • Gordon Ho, Partner – Cooley Godward Kronish Law Firm, CA, IP and International Attorney
  • Dick Johnson, Commissioner, State of Nevada Real Estate Division/Owner, The Johnson Group Real estate Development
  • Manos Maragakis, PhD, Dean of School of Engineering, University of Nevada Reno
  • Donald Maund, former NASA Systems Engineer, Entrepreneur, CEO Technovations
  • Cleve McDaniel, PhD: SVP. Finance and Administration and COO; Desert Research Institute
  • Greg Mosier, Dean of School of Business, University of Nevada Reno
  • BJ North; Plumas Bank, VP Business Development
  • Nelson Publicover, PhD: Chair Biomed and Electrical Engineering, University of Nevada Reno
  • James V. Taranik, PhD. Director, Mackay School of Earth Sciences & Engineering; University of Nevada
  • William C. Torch, M.D., M.SC., Founder/Chairman Eye-Com, Inc and Washoe Sleep Disorder Center

About

C4CUBE consists of two dynamic customer driven companies focused at creating jobs, increasing fundable deal flows, and building those new companies into sustainable business entities. The Center for Unique Business Enterprises (CUBE), which is a non-profit, privately funded business incubator located in Reno, NV, will assist in the development of early stage businesses by providing a broad range of support and services, which will enable the client companies to become successful, self-sustaining enterprises.