Rene Vishneyrvishney@vcgconsult.com  As President of the Vishney Consulting Group, Mr. Vishney served in senior level positions as Partner in a European Consulting firm, CEO, VP sales, VP marketing, consultant, and CIO.
As an entrepreneur and founder of several software companies, his experience covers manufacturing, auto industry, insurance, semiconductors, food services, information technology software, Internet, security applications, and graphics compression software. As Chairman/CEO he founded a world recognized software company, AWARD Software Inc., and successfully ran it for ten years before selling it. AWARD Software licensed its software to the largest PC OEMs Globally and still has a Brand presence in that its logo appears every time a PC is booted on over 230,000,000 machines World Wide. As a senior VP of sales Mr. Vishney sold software at the “c” & Owner level in a wide range of companies all over the world – from Global 1000 to owner operated businesses – in addition he developed and motivated sales teams in solution sales. His sales personnel were able to secure multimillion-dollar contracts for the firms. Vishney also has worked in start up environments requiring the installation of systems for sales processes, goals, reporting, budgets etc. As a senior marketing executive Mr. Vishney developed strategies that allowed his company(s) to enter a variety of global markets. He positioned companies, products, and developed strategies for numerous product and market situations supported by his extensive background in software, sales and distribution, and product planning. In his role as VP of Marketing he built marketing teams from the ground up to encompass all marketing functions. As a CIO he trained staff, set up IT departments, developed and directed the implementation of global enterprise wide IT systems covering a variety of functions including but not limited to Manufacturing, Finance Sales, and Distribution. He has been consulting for various companies in software, graphics, security, and has developed outstanding opportunities for his clients. He has been instrumental in licensing image detection, Biometric software products, parental control software, security software, Bio-detection, voice recognition, etc. Mr. Vishney has helped build companies using his domestic and international business experience. Vishney speaks excellent German and a little French. Vishney holds an Associate degree in electrical engineering from New York State University and a B.S. from Ohio State. Mike Mellinmmelin@vcgconsult.com Top  Mr. Mellin is the founder and CEO of Resource 11 International a noted offshore development company in Asia Pacific and Eastern Europe. He was former president and CEO of uWink Entertainment a global entertainment software company. Prior to that Mr. Mellin was CTO and a Senior Vice President of Engineering at several large corporations including SunGard Data Systems, BabyGear and Prodigy in NY, a Times Mirror Director, and Manager of Engineering for Rockwell International and Cardkey Systems.
Mr. Mellin has previously lived and worked in Europe as Managing Director for an international software company, Vertisoft / Dunhill. Mike holds a BSEE from California State University, Northridge, and studied his MS at Northridge, UCLA and USC Graduate Schools. Mr. Mellin is a former Naval Submariner, private pilot, state cross country ski champion and now enjoys open ocean and regatta racing in his NY40 racing sloop. Edward W. Pullen ewpullen@vcgconsult.com Top Mr. Pullen is a Marketing consultant focusing on marketing and customer satisfaction survey research and analysis for technology services. Ed’s marketing experience includes customer survey research, competitive analysis, market analysis and forecasting at ZD Market Intelligence, Computer Intelligence, Dataquest and Quantum Science Corporation. Ed’s IT experience includes management of database development at Standard & Poor’s (NY) and Memorex Corporation. Ed holds an engineering degree from UCLA, an MS in engineering and an MBA in accounting and operations research from the University of California at Berkeley. Jon Peddiejon@vcgconsult.com Top  Dr. Peddie is one of the pioneers of the graphics industry, starting his career in computer graphics in 1962. After the successful launch of several graphics manufacturing companies, Peddie began JPA in 1984 to provide comprehensive data, information and management expertise to the computer graphics industry. In 2001 Peddie left JPA and formed Jon Peddie Research (JPR) to provide customer intimate consulting and market forecasting services. Peddie lectures at numerous conferences on topics pertaining to graphics technology and the emerging trends in digital media technology. Recently named one of the most influential analysts, he is frequently quoted in trade and business publications, and contributes articles to numerous publications including as well as appearing on CNN and TechTV. Peddie is also the author of several books including Graphics User Interfaces and Graphics Standards, High Resolution Graphics Display Systems, and Multimedia and Graphics Controllers, and a contributor to Advances in Modeling, Animation, and Rendering.
Dr. Peddie has the following degrees: ASEE – from AIST, BSEE – from AIST, BA -from Columbia Pacific, MBA –from Columbia Pacific, PhD. –from Columbia Pacific Daniel W. Zipkinzipkin@vcgconsult.com Top  Mr. Zipkin currently serves as an independent management consultant and has over 30 years of experience in the health care, and computer industries, and has spent the better part of the last twenty years in developing business strategies on a global basis.
Mr. Zipkin has served as the President and Chief Operating Officer of Personal Computer Products, Inc. (“PCPI”), San Diego, California a publicly traded company that designed and manufactured intelligent micro-processor based products for the PC and laser printer industries. Dan was involved in the start-up of this company and was instrumental in raising both private, and public funds while developing strategic relationships and licensing agreements with other companies on a global basis. Prior to joining PCPI, Mr. Zipkin served as Vice President of Long Island College Hospital, Brooklyn, NY, Associate Director of Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY, and Administrative Extern at Brookdale Hospital Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY. Mr. Zipkin is a graduate of the State University New York College at New Paltz, and has an MS from the Columbia University, School of Public Health and Administrative Medicine, New York, and an MS in Psychology from Springfield College, Springfield, MA. David Lewisdrlewis@vcgconsult.com Top  Mr. Lewis is a Senior Managing Director of Kingsdale Capital Corporation a leading national integrated financial services institution with numerous ancillary consulting and financial business services with headquarters in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
David Lewis’ dynamic 30 year executive career includes but is not limited to guiding corporate financial/operational policy, accountability to shareholders by delivering strong, measurable, and sustainable results in driving value creation in companies, conceiving and advancing of strategy and tactics at the board level, plus hands-on involvement in developing strategic partnerships, recruiting senior management, evolving corporate, organizational and governance structures, and implementing corporate finance and M&A (mergers and Acquisitions) initiatives. His background includes more than 15 years in the high-tech industry with specific software and Internet experience in the B2C and B2B global marketplaces. Mr. Lewis has held the position of CFO a number of publicly listed companies. He most recently was CFO and Corporate Secretary for SoftQuad Software Ltd., a global, internationally recognized developer of XML enabling technologies and commerce solutions for e-business (sold to Corel Corporation in 2002). Prior to SoftQuad, Mr. Lewis was CFO, Corporate Secretary, and Treasurer for SUMmedia.com Inc., a global, Internet media and marketing company in the content management applications and solution sectors; CFO of Alya International Inc., a software company engaged in the electronic security industry; CFO, Corporate Secretary, and Director of Net Nanny Software International Limited, a software company involved in the personal computer e-commerce business; CFO, Director and Corporate Secretary for Big Server Software Limited, a software company which developed enterprise-wide business databases; and CFO of Weir Jones Automotive Ltd., a developer of patented automotive security devices. Mr. Lewis obtained his Chartered Accountant designation while with Coopers & Lybrand in Toronto and holds a Bachelor of Engineering from Dalhousie University. Charles Ericksoncee@vcgconsult.com Top  Mr. Erickson is a business consultant specializing
in CEO coaching, interim CEO / COO positioning, and project management (CTO / COO). He has recently held positions of corporate President / CEO, CTO, Managing Director, and Technical Director of entrepreneurial management teams in start-up and turn-around companies.
Mr. Erickson is an executive with over twenty-five years of management experience focused in the areas of innovative software and hardware development, international business and corporate operations. He is the General Manger of the Software Business Cluster in San Jose California a high technology incubator. He has extensive international experience in software and hardware development, marketing, and manufacturing. He has demonstrated ability to identify opportunities quickly and act decisively to implement strategies to take advantage of them. Mr. Erickson was President and CEO., Digital Pathways, Inc. (now a division of Axent Technologies, Inc.) Starting in February 1991, Mr. Erickson rebuilt this obsolete and virtually bankrupt business into an industry leader in data security software and secure client/server applications. At the end of 1995, the Company had a valuation in excess of $200,000,000. Mr. Erickson has a significant amount of international experience. he held the position of President of Olivetti Advanced Technology Center, the U.S. based development arm of Ing. C. Olivetti Sp.A, the ($7,300m) Italian Electronics Company. During 16 years with Olivetti, Mr. Erickson held a variety of positions of increasing responsibility in the product development arena, from Manager through Director to President. Prior to Olivetti, Mr. Erickson held key engineering positions with Victor Comptometer, Warwick Electronics and 3M. Mr. Erickson holds a BSEE from Illinois Institute of Technology, has done post-graduate studies at The University of Chicago, and has taught at IIT, Penn State University and San Jose State University. He is an active volunteer (and Eagle Scout) in the Boy Scouts of America, holding positions of Council President, Executive VP, and Area President. He has also served as Chairman of the Board for Eastfield Ming Quong, a child and family services non-profit agency. Brigitte A Brownbabrown@vcgconsult.com Top  Brigitte A. Brown, entrepreneur and international business consultant
Born, raised, and educated in Germany, Ms. Brown has extensive hands on consulting experience for hospitality businesses, restaurants, nursing home facilities, troubleshooting high employee turnover, and product finding. It is her direct “hands on” management style has achieved outstanding results for her clients. Ms. Brown experience comes from owning and operated a large hotel in Germany, two large tourist oriented restaurants, and her own international consulting company in the US. She has the ability to easily join and understand a management’s vision and work with them to find solutions quickly. Her out of the box thinking has produced winning marketing strategies that were easy to implement and produced quick successes. Ms. Brown’s approach, gives the team pride in their work, training and motivation. She is known as a reliable and professional team player with the ability to get results in accomplishing her assignments by getting results for her clients. Haus Am Koenigsmoor: One of Northern Germany’s largest senior citizen and nursing homes with over 250 beds. The German Government was ready to close this outdated facilities, and high employee turnover, and only 36% occupant rate at this time. Within a year Ms Brown was able to get the facility re-certified and increased its occupancy to 75% and employee turnover was virtually eliminated for the next 3 years Haus Am Berghang: An out of date hotel in the Bavarian Forrest with 40 rooms, and 2 apartments, no guests. Ms. Brown renovated and re-opened it within 3 months with its 120 place restaurant plus 60 place garden seating, fully operational including the bowling alley, and swimming pool. Through innovative marketing, was able to increase it to 85% occupancy within 90 days. IDS – International Distribution Service, Inc.: An international consulting and product finding company. Ms Brown had built this company from a shoestring operation to a $ 500.000 gross income organization within 8 months in the position as CEO for 2 years. Top | 
