Steve Malliaris Chairman of the Advisory Board
Steve graduated with a degree in Mathematics from MIT, and is currently a PhD candidate in Finance at Yale University. Steve has faithfully served as an advisor to American Pioneer Ventures since its inception in 2006, and continues to provide invaluable strategic advice to the company on a daily basis.
Pallas Snider Business Advisor
Pallas Snider is a graduate of Harvard College where she majored in Social Studies with a focus in Culture, Goernment, and Entrepreneurship. During her time there, she started a catering company, Cheapside Foodery, which won Harvard's business plan competition, the I(3) Innovation Challenge and later became acquired by Harvard Student Agencies, the largest student-run corporation in the world.
Pallas is passionate about both education and entrepreneurship. She is the founder and head advisor to the International Student Alliance for Global Entrepreneurship (ISAGE), an international organization now in North America, South America, and Asia that aims to help student entrepreneurs from around the world connect with each other and learn about entrepreneurship in other countries. She has also served on the Anne Arundel County School Board in Maryland for a district representing 75,000 students and with a $800 million dollar budget. Currently, she works as an independent college counselor and is writing a book on college search and selection for international high school students who are looking to study in the United States.
Albert Ho Patent Advisor
Albert Ho is a vice president in American Patent Agency's Boston office. His practice as a patent agent covers the areas of software, electrical and mechanical arts. Prior to joining APA, Albert worked as a software engineer at KD Secure, a mobile industrial software startup, where he was a co-inventor of a system covered by US Patent 7,793,850. Albert has also previously worked at the Wall Street investment banks of Goldman Sachs (in credit risk management) and Banc of America Securities (on the mortgage-backed securities trading desk). As a serial entrepreneur, Albert got started in 2007 as a co-founder of CourseHero, an online learning resource for college students. Albert is licensed to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Albert received his undergraduate degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Cornell University in 2007.
Lillian Nin Sales Advisor
Lillian Nin has had the opportunity to serve many organizations from a marketing point of view. Early in her career, she contributed to the Massachusetts General Hospital Marketing Department by aiding with their brand development efforts. Later she became the Marketing Director for KD Secure where she devised, oversaw, and implemented the company's marketing strategies.
Shortly thereafter, she joined the Marketing team at Siemens Enterprise Communications North America, where she was responsible for the development of the North American Executive Briefing Centers and the successful implementations of Executive Briefings across all of North America, including Canada. Lillian graduated from Wellesley College and enjoys staying active in her lifestyle and community.
Dru Erridge Computer Science Advisor
Dru Erridge currently is working towards a B.S. in computer science at USC as well as leading an APV Mobile Apps company. His paper on clean coal energy and enhanced oil recovery systems placed semifinalist in the Siemens Competition in Math, Science, and Technology. He continues to expand on that work and apply his research skills for American Pioneer Ventures.
Sam Slaughter Business Advisor
Since graduating cum laude from Harvard with a degree in Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Sam has founded and worked for two companies in Kenya that focus on propagating the use of renewable energy systems in the region. He also has experience working in the construction and real estate industries, as well as in finance. Sam is passionate about innovation and entrepreneurialsm, and believes in the power of well-run businesses to change our country and our world for the better. Sam has held leadership positions in several organizations other than his two companies, including a varsity team at Harvard.
Austin Szelkowski Business Development Advisor
Austin Szelkowski is currently skating across America as The Freedom Skater, caring a message of entrepreneurship, ambition, and freedom to American youth. The Freedom Skater Tour is a joint venture between Austin Tells LLC and American Pioneer Ventures.
Austin obtained his B.S. in mechanical engineering at Kettering University in Flint, MI (formerly GMI). He spent one semester of his undergrad studying in Esslingen, Germany and has a passion for foreign cultures and languages. He is conversationally fluent in German.Austin is a new breed of inspirational speaker, because he connects his speaking to the real world of business as he lives it. Austin is focused on movement and specializes in bringing ideas from concept to market. He views business as a vehicle for social change and envisions economic and social reform driven by the passion people find for the work of their own hands.
Ajit Dash, MD, PhD Medical Advisor
Ajit Dash graduated in medicine from India, following which he specialized in clinical pharmacology. After a stint as a medical advisor for pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer, Parke-Davis and Nicholas Piramal India Ltd., he enrolled for a doctoral program in molecular toxicology at MIT where he successfully developed a liver bioreactor with widespread applications in the biotech and pharmaceutical industry. Ajit has served on the institutional review board of Fenway Community Health Center, Boston, reviewing and approving clinical trials, and currently works as a post-doctoral associate in the biological engineering department at MIT.
Calvin Newport Computer Science Advisor
Cal Newport earned his Ph.D. degree in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was the co-founder of Princeton Web Solutions and is the author of three books including How to Become a Straight-A-Student, How to Win at College, and How to Be A High School Superstar: A Revolutionary Plan to Get into College by Standing Out (Without Burning Out).
Brett Mattingly, PhD, MBA Nuclear Systems Advisor
Brett graduated from MIT with a PhD in nuclear engineering in 1999. His original research, under the direction of Prof. Neil Todreas, was in the area of nuclear reactor safety analysis - specifically developing new containment analysis computer simulation capabilities in support of the NRC license application for the Westinghouse AP600 reactor design. Brett also has an MS in nuclear materials from MIT, and a BS in electrical engineering from Clarkson University. In 2005 he completed an MBA at the MIT Sloan School of Management, specializing in corporate finance & strategy and international mergers.
Brett has over ten years of experience in technology development, operations management, business development, and strategic leadership. He currently leads his own consulting practice, Freed-Mattingly Technology Group, and serves as VP of Finance for his family's group of agri-businesses in western New York State.
Thomas M. Feichtel Congressional Relations Advisor
Tom has worked in a leadership capacity in both government and private sector for the past 6 years. His experience includes leading initiatives in the Defense Community, Homeland Security/Homeland Defense, Intelligence Community and Federal Law Enforcement fields. Throughout the 108th-109th Congresses, Tom worked for the United States House of Representatives as professional staff in charge of appropriations affairs for Chairman John Murtha and the Subcommittee for Defense. Tom has lead the federal programs department as the Manager, Federal Programs for L. Robert Kimball & Associates and currently is the Chief Executive Officer for Kusters Engineering America. Tom also stays involved in the community in which he resides. He currently serves as a member of the board of directors of the ARTWORKS in Johnstown and the American Red Cross. Tom lives with his wife and three children in Johnstown, PA.
Walter B. Fair, Jr., P.E. Petroleum Advisor
Walter earned both a bachelor's and master's degree from the University of Austin with a thesis on "Prediction of Critical Temperatures of Multi-component, Predominantly Hydrocarbon Mixtures." He has over 34 years experience in petroleum engineering and computer applications in the oil and gas industry. Experience includes production and reservoir engineering as applied to reservoir characterization, field studies, project surveillance, property evaluation, and enhanced oil recovery. Walter is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Texas (#76129) and is also fluent in Spanish.
Dan Goldman Executive Advisor
Being a serial entrepreneur since his days in high-school, Mr. Goldman is a veteran of the Internet industry, having started one of the first internet service providers in Israel in 1995. Mr. Goldman has been in the forefront of internet technologies, online commerce, information technologies and more. With online services both domestic and global, Mr. Goldman has been involved in many projects over the years and has amassed significant experience in the field. With projects relating to infrastructures, internet access services, video on demand, live video services, video conferencing, online commerce, micro-payments, online gaming and more, Mr. Goldman has been a pioneer in the industry.
Over the past several years, Mr. Goldman has diverted his attention to the global energy arena, in a deliberate shift of focus from the internet industry, realizing the next big window of opportunity for the next 20 years is in energy. As a first move within this industry, Mr. Goldman has invested in a privately held start-up company in the U.S., developing technology for oil and green electricity production. Mr. Goldman brings his experience and relentless energy to American Pioneer Venture clients, helping them achieve their goals.