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Management

Jared Saul, M.D., Chief Technical Officer

Dr. Saul oversees Howbility’s technical operations. He is committed to utilizing technology to deliver high quality educational materials and information to consumers. In 1995 he co-founded, built and ran Petfinder.com, which became one of the most popular sites on the Internet and the largest animal related web site in the world. In 2006 he sold Petfinder.com to Discovery Communications and subsequently oversaw technical operation of the site at Discovery as a Senior Vice President until 2009. Dr. Saul has created several other Web sites focused on health and animal welfare, including Teleradiologyservices.com , Petvideo.com, and athletesforanimals.com. Dr. Saul received his M.D. from Robert Wood Johnson Medical school in 1996 and completed a radiology residency there in 2000. Following a two year Neuroradiology fellowship at the University of Arizona he continued on as faculty for two years followed by private practice radiology in New Jersey.

Eric Theis, Executive Vice President, Business Development

Eric oversees all of the company’s relationships with non-profit associations, sponsors, and distribution partners.  Prior to co-founding Howbility, Eric served as Senior Vice President at Discovery Communications after Discovery acquired PetsIncredible.  A long time pet parent and volunteer at his local animal shelter, Eric had co-founded PetsIncredible in 2004 in order to bring high quality pet parenting content to other new and prospective pet parents. In that role Eric established a number of strategic partnerships with the industry’s leading non-profit organizations as well as major sponsors such as Proctor & Gamble, Colgate Palmolive, Bayer, and Arm & Hammer. Prior to PetsIncredible Eric had a 15 year career in financial services, including serving as a vice president at Bank of America and Morgan Stanley.

Dan Sheeran, Chief Executive Officer

From 2001 until 2009, Dan held a variety of executive management roles at RealNetworks, Inc. This includes serving as Senior Vice President of Marketing, during which time he created the company's search and affiliate marketing programs and oversaw a full rebranding of the company, as well as Senior Vice President of Music and Video, where he oversaw the award winning Rhapsody music service, RealPlayer, and advertising supported properties such as Film.com. During this time Dan completed major distribution deals for Rhapsody with MTV Networks, Microsoft, Comcast, Best Buy, and Yahoo!, and Real's music business grew to over $150 million in revenue and over one million subscribers. Dan also drove creation of a $300 million joint venture between Viacom, RealNetworks and Verizon Wireless. Prior to RealNetworks Dan served as Senior Vice President, Worldwide Sales and Marketing at nCUBE a leading provider of video-on-demand and advertising management technology to the cable television industry. Dan advises and supports several non-profits that help consumers and families gain economic self sufficiency through improved literacy, job training, and financial education. 

Dan holds a B.S. from Georgetown University, and MBA from the Kellogg School at Northwestern University.

Investors

Second Avenue Partners

Second Avenue Partners is a Seattle-based provider of management, strategy, and capital for early stage companies. The partners invest their own money, typically directed at emerging Internet businesses in the high-tech field. Second Avenue Partners' investment approach is to make early-stage investments in promising ventures and build long-term relationships, actively assisting its portfolio companies in becoming market leaders. Visit Second Avenue Partners

Speedwell Media Ventures, LLC

Speedwell is a Tampa, Florida based leading incubator of new media and other start-ups. Speedwell’s principals have founded a number of media and consumer-oriented businesses over the last 15 years, including BabyBumbleBee, Inc., Ignite Media Solutions, LLC, and PetsIncredible (sold, together with Petfinder, to Discovery Communications in 2006, in an Advertising Age “Top Ten New Media Deal of the Year”).

CMM Ventures, LLC

CMM Ventures is a Washington DC based investment fund focused on emerging companies in the advanced technology, media, enterprise software and telecommunications sectors. CMM Ventures’ portfolio companies include Ecologic Leasing Services, Emigra Group, iCore Networks, Ignite Media Solutions, and Pixelligent Technologies.

Board

Mike Slade

Mike Slade began his career at Microsoft in 1983 and spent seven years there in a variety of product marketing roles. Products he introduced to the market at Microsoft include Excel (1985), Works (1987), and Microsoft Office (1989). He served as director of corporate marketing in Microsoft's systems software division before leaving in late 1990. He formerly served on the boards of two public companies; Metricom, Inc (1994-96); and The CKS Group (1996-98).

Slade joined Starwave, Paul Allen's trailblazing venture into the Internet and multimedia products arena, in 1993 after briefly serving as vice president of special projects for Asymetrix Corp., reporting to Mr. Allen. While at Starwave, Slade launched ESPN.com, ABCNews.com and the Go.com network, among other premier websites that have now become household names. Mike Slade retired as chairman and chief executive officer of Starwave Corporation upon the completion of its sale to the Walt Disney Corp. in late 1998.

Slade spent 1991-92 as the VP-Marketing for NeXT Computer, Inc., reporting to Steve Jobs. From 1998 until 2004 Slade consulted for Apple Computer CEO Steve Jobs, where he sat on the executive team.

Slade has also worked as a strategic consultant for the NBA, Starbucks, Real Networks, Disney, the NFL and various Paul Allen companies. Slade co-founded the venture capital company Second Avenue Partners in 2000. He currently sits on the boards of the following companies: Azaleos; EmptySpaceAds; Fanzter; Fantasy Moguls; GotVoice; Inkd; Professional Bowler's Association; RealSelf; Talentspring and TheWrap.com. In 2000 he became a co-owner of the Professional Bowlers Association and is actively involved in that company today.

Slade earned a B.A. in Economics from Colorado College in 1979, and an MBA from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business in 1983. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of Colorado College, and serves on the board three other nonprofits: Broadway Bound Children's Theatre; Pandrillus and Seattle Theatre Group. He has two teenage daughters and he and his wife, Megan, have two young sons.

Andrew Ray

Andrew Ray, member of the Board of Managers, represents public and private companies and financial sponsors in a broad range of corporate and finance matters. Andy has extensive experience in the telecommunications, media and technology (TMT), energy, health care, and life and health insurance sectors. Prior to joining Bingham, Andy served as a clerk to the Hon. James M. Sprouse of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Andy also has taught at George Mason University School of Law as an adjunct professor. Andy is a native of Buffalo, New York.

The Howbility Team

Jon Hunsinger, Executive Producer

Favorite Causes
Animal Welfare, Autism Speaks

Favorite Howbility DVD
The Howbility Guide to “Going Green”

Favorite Quote
"In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king." - Desiderius Erasmus

Jeff Yarlett, Director

Favorite Causes
Child Welfare, Global Warming

Favorite Howbility DVD
The Howbility Guide to “Caring for your Newborn”

Favorite DVD
The Doors

Favorite Quote
"A picture is worth a thousand words. A video is worth a million." - Unknown

Jon Harrison, Senior Designer

Favorite Causes
Child Welfare, Animal Welfare

Favorite Howbility DVD
The Howbility Guide to “Caring for your Newborn”

Favorite DVD
Crash (2005)

Favorite Quotes
"Sometimes a teacher, forever a student." - Unknown
"Never mistake motion for action" - Ernest Hemingway
"The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor." - Vince Lombardi

Paul Coombs, Relationship Manager

Favorite Causes
Keeping the Ocean Clean, Chemical Free Agriculture

Favorite Howbility DVD
The Howbility Guide to “A Healthy Lifestyle”

Favorite DVD
To Kill a Mockingbird

Favorite Quote
“Nothing is so commonplace as to wish to be remarkable.” - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

Jim Bissett, Business Development

Favorite Causes
Animal Welfare, Save The Rainforest

Favorite Howbility DVD
The Howbility Guide to “A Healthy Heart”

Favorite DVD
Tombstone

Lee Ann Means, Writer/Producer

Favorite Causes
Fine Arts Programs for all Schools, Infant, Child and Teen Welfare, Environmental and Sustainability Issues

Favorite Howbility DVD
The Howbility Guide to “Caring for Your Newborn” and "Going Green"

Favorite Quote
“The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win you're still a rat.” - Lilly Tomlin

Technical Consultants

Ginger Kanzer-Lewis RN, BC, EdM, CDE, Senior Education Consultant, former AADE President

Ginger is a nationally recognized diabetes educator and has spent over thirty years as Director of Education, Staff Development and Patient Education in health care facilities throughout the United States. A well-known national and international speaker, Ginger is often the keynote at many diabetes and patient education conferences. Ginger is a Registered Nurse, graduated from St John’s Episcopal Hospital in New York, and earned a Masters Degree in Education from Harvard University. She is certified in both Diabetes and Continuing Education and Staff Development.