Jeff Gibson, President Lextech Labs
Advisory Board Member
Jeff was previously the president and founder of GoTreo Software, Inc. Incorporated in 2004, GoTreo was formed to design, develop and deliver software that enables Palm smart phone devices to truly be “smart phones”. GoTreo’s software uses the unique information in the device to automatically transform the device’s features to its user’s changing life style. Jeff grew this business from ground-level to a multi-million dollar business in less than a year. Jeff leveraged his entrepreneurial and visionary skills to design and deliver innovative applications for the Palm Treo and Centro devices. He has created over 10 essential applications for Palm devices. Prior to GoTreo Jeff was employed by Mercury Interactive. At Mercury Jeff was a trendsetter for reforming the technical presales process and activities. His pre-sales teams were responsible for driving over $100M annually for Mercury. Before joining Mercury Interactive, Jeff was employed by AT&T and worked as a developer on the UNIX operating system. Jeff holds a Bachelors and Masters degree in Computer Science from Bradley University.
Ray Bratton
Advisory Board Member
Ray has been involved in product development and manufacturing for over 41 years, including Motorola, Inc., International Jensen, Inc., Illinois Tool Works, and QuickSet International, Inc. His background includes roles in engineering, product management, Director of New Business, Group VP of R&D, VP & General Manager, Executive VP of Advanced Development, and President. His experience includes two way radio and communications products & systems, police dispatch control centers, spread spectrum data link radios, RF wireless modems, automotive electronics, and smart camera/antenna/sensor positioning systems.
He has worked with many premire aerospace/military/homeland defense contractors as well NASA and other US government agencies.
Ray also operated a video production company producing primarily industrial videos, and is an advanced amateur photographer, skilled in videography and digital photography.
Ray received his BS degree in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University and an MBA from Loyola University of Chicago.
Edward J. Condon, Jr.
Advisory Board Member
Ed Condon is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Paradigm Group, Ltd. in Chicago. Paradigm, a company Condon formed in July 1993, specializes in financial advisory, refinancings, and venture investments.
Condon was Vice President and Corporate Treasurer of Sears, Roebuck and Company. He retired in 1993 after 27 years with the company. He was first elected Assistant Treasurer in 1976 and in 1984 assumed additional responsibilities as Corporate Director of Banking worldwide. In this capacity he oversaw banking for all Sears entities including their principal subsidiaries — Allstate Insurance Company, Dean Witter Reynolds, and Coldwell Banker. As the company’s primary representative to the financial community, Condon worked with more than 3,500 banking relationships and arranged for committed credit facilities in excess of $16 billion.
Condon currently serves as a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Audit and Valuation Committees of Northern Trust Company’s family of mutual funds in Chicago; Member of the Board of Advisors of AAVIN Venture Capital, Cedar Rapids, IA; Member of the Board of Directors of the Alzheimer’s Research and Resource Foundation, Washington, D.C.; Member of the Board of Directors of LightBridge Healthcare Research, Inc., San Antonio, TX; Founding Member and on the Board of the Illinois Venture Capital Association; Member of the Board of Governors of The Metropolitan Club, Chicago; Member of the National Advisory Board of the National Domestic Violence Hotline, Austin, TX; Member of the Economic Development Council Technology Commercialization Task Force; Chicago; and Member of the Board and past President of the Graue Mill Homeowners Association, Hinsdale, IL; past Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee of Financial Pacific Company, Seattle, WA; past Member of the Board of Managers and Audit Committee Chair of The Liberty Hampshire Company LLC, Chicago; past Member of the Board of Trustees of Dominican University, River Forest, IL; past Member of the Board of Directors of the Chicago Children’s Museum; past Member of the State of Illinois External Investment Advisory Board; and past Member of the State of Illinois Technology Fund. Professional memberships include the National Association of Corporate Treasurers, Financial Executives International, Japan America Society of Chicago, and Investor’s Circle.
A native of Chicago, Condon is a 1963 graduate of the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. He served as a First Lieutenant in the United States Air Force.
Art Roldan
Advisory Board Member
Art is a seasoned technology entrepreneur with more than 25 years of experience in the software industry. He is presently Executive Chairman and CEO of ISD Corporation.
Prior to joining ISD Art was the CEO of SecurePipe. While at SecurePipe, Art led an impressive transformation of the technology service firm into a leading provider of managed network security services resulting in the expansion of the company’s client base to over 1,000 clients and four consecutive years of 65%+ revenue growth. SecurePipe was acquired by TrustWave in December 2006
Prior to joining SecurePipe, Art was the president and CEO of Novarra, a wireless software company and raised $30,000,000 in venture capital within an 18-month period. Drawing on his experience and leadership, Art grew Novarra from a seed start up of three to a mature team of sixty professionals that developed cutting-edge products and acquired blue chip customers and strategic partners. Prior to joining Novarra, Roldan was president and CEO of The Premisys Corp., a leading sales engineering automation software company that was acquired by J.D. Edwards (Oracle). Art’s considerable experience with growing other start-up companies has resulted in their acquisition by public companies.
Art is a board member of the Illinois Technology Association and AFS Technologies has been recognized in Crain’s Internet 100 Executives. He is also a sought after speaker for the entrepreneur programs at Northwestern’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management and the MBA program at The University of Chicago. Art began his career at IBM and holds a BS in business administration from DePaul University.
