You have conceived a concept, a project, a product or a company. What do you do now? You may not know the best answer to what to do next. You may not even know the right questions to ask to get those answers.

The Baiada Institute’s Startup Advisory Committee is a group of successful business people who are there to provide wise counsel on a wide range of startup issues- legal, marketing, financial, cost accounting, product development, et al-  that can help you succeed in your business.

Before scheduling a meeting, the Startup Advisory Committee recommends that you read the following guide to getting started:

Guide to Getting Started

Our Startup Advisory Committee is comprised of a number of respected industry professionals including:

Milton Silver, Ph.D.

Dr. Milton Silver, through his wide-ranging experience in teaching, writing, and consulting activities, is recognized as a leading authority in management and organizational studies. His specialization in strategic planning and control systems, analysis and design of information systems, and executive and management development and training enables him to integrate sophisticated academic material with the practical management environment. He has helped many governmental and industrial clients with their leadership and organizational needs.

Thomas Bonney

With more than 20 years of experience in financial, operations, technology and business development areas, Tom Bonney brings an informed, broad, and deep level of expertise to strategic and tactical issues across many industry groups (manufacturing, retail, professional services, technology, and pharmaceuticals). He is a recognized expert on middle market operations, integration of acquisitions, European/U.S. business relationships, and business strategies. Bonney also serves as the Audit Committee Chairman at NovaDel Pharmaceuticals (AMEX:NVD). In addition, he serves as an adjunct professor at Temple University, where he teaches business strategy and continues to foster entrepreneurship at local universities as a judge for business plan competitions.

Angelo J. Devita

Angelo Devita is currently the vice president for sales and client engagement for AllOne Health Group – a national health, wellness and employee productivity company. AllOne employs over 300 people with operations in seven states and has clients throughout the world. In 2005, Devita co-founded PTM Solutions, a consulting firm dedicated to assisting companies architect and execute successful sales programs. PTM's clients include both startup companies preparing to launch as well as established businesses that are either lagging in their growth or looking to create new initiatives through differentiation and product introductions.

Heidi M. Gray

Heidi M. Gray is a seasoned sales executive and sales management professional with a proven track record of increasing sales performance and exceeding revenue goals. In 2005, Gray co-founded PTM Solutions, a consulting firm dedicated to assisting companies architect and execute successful sales programs. PTM's clients include both startup companies preparing to launch as well as established businesses that are either lagging in their growth or looking to create new initiatives through differentiation and product introductions.

Terry Wall

Terry Wall, CMC, founder and president of T.G. Wall Management Consulting, LLC, consults on a wide range of issues essential to increasing profitability and productivity. He is a recognized expert on strategy, leadership, and productivity and specializes in strategic planning, leadership development, change management, corporate culture, and productivity improvement. Wall works in a wide range of industries, including service and manufacturing, nonprofit, and large and small organizations. He is a skilled facilitator who also provides coaching on individual, executive, or team levels.

John A. Willis

John A. Willis is a founding partner and CEO of Hunter, a strategic marketing and brand consulting firm located in the Philadelphia area. Hunter has developed a proprietary process of brand development called On-Target Branding to help organizations assess the clarity, congruency and relevance of their brand. Willis works with Drexel University's LeBow College of Business both as an adjunct to the Executive MBA Program where he teaches Strategic Marketing and as a consultant to the Baiada Institute's Growth Acceleration Program.

Parag Amin

Parag Amin is a global entrepreneur with business interests in technology, banking, retail and real estate. He was a member of a team that won the ’95 EMMY for pioneering of Direct To Home (DTH) Satellite TV. In the field of technology, he globally advises businesses and government entities. He is a frequent speaker and recently spoke at the prestigious festival of thinkers. Parag holds a B.S in Computer Science from Stockton State College and an M.S in Computer Science from Drexel University. His company Radiqal, provides solutions for digital TV and Gaming industries and is based in Horsham, PA.

Lori F. Banks

Lori F. Banks has worked in New York City, designing multi-media shows and television graphics. She has worked as a European Creative Consultant for (RTL) Radio Television Luxembourg, in Luxembourg, Paris, and Brussels, where she created computer graphics for television, collateral materials, and consumer advertising campaigns. From 1982-2008, Lori was president of LF Banks + Associates, a graphic design/web and corporate branding company. LF Banks was sold to a Philadelphia design firm in 2008. Since then, Lori has pursued abstract painting. which is being sold and exhibited nationally. She is also teaching and is involved in several new business ventures. Lori received her B.S., from Cornell University.

Tim Bosworth, Ph.D.

Tim Bosworth, Ph.D, currently owns Sherpa-PIF, a business consulting firm. With more than 30 years of experience in market research especially in health care, real estate, and general business consulting, he has authored two books on community health needs assessment. He earned his M. A. and Ph. D. in American History from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and his B.A. in History and Philosophy with distinction from Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio.

Hugh Chairnoff, Ph.D.

Dr. Chairnoff is a co-Founder and Partner in SevenOaks Capital Associates, a commercial finance company in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, founded in 1997. Hugh is the retired Executive Vice President and Treasurer of the former NatWest Bancorp, New York and its subsidiaries. He headed the Financial Markets Group and was Chief Executive Officer of NatWest Financial Markets Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries. Dr. Chairnoff served on the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board and the Board of the American Bankers Association Securities Association and chaired the Association’s Funds Management and Capital Markets Committee for two years. Prior to NatWest, Mr. Chairnoff held the positions of Senior Financial Economist and Chief Lending Officer with the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia for 13 years. Mr. Chairnoff is the retired President of the North 34th Street Foundation for Jewish Campus Life a/k/a Hillel at Drexel University. Hugh is a member of Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business Advisory Committee, the University President’s Visitors Committee, the Drexel 100 and the Judaic Studies Program. He also mentors students and alumni at the Close College of Entrepreneurship. Hugh earned a B.Sc. degree from Drexel University (1961), a M.B.A. degree from Florida State University (1962), and a Ph.D. in Business Administration from Michigan State University (1966).

Christopher Fried

Christopher Fried is an attorney and expert in business formation, founders’ agreements, contracts, and other fields crucial to entrepreneurship. He received his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, J.D. from Seton Hall Law School, and his MBA from Drexel University.

Hank (Henry) Guckes

Hank Guckes has over 40 years of experience in the IT and insurance industries. He worked at IBM for 16 years where he held several marketing and technical management positions. He helped lead the team that implemented the first digital computer used to manage the Penn Jersey Maryland power grid, and helped develop the IBM PC. After leaving IBM, Hank held senior positions in organizations such as Reliance Insurance, Continental Insurance and Independence Blue Cross. He served as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Insurance Data Processing. Hank currently consults with Allied InfoSecurity, The Philadelphia Arts and Business Council, and Princeton Information. He earned a BSEE and MSEE in Electrical Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania.

Ehud Israel

Ehud Israel is a serial entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in small businesses. Since 1995, he has been the co-owner of Search Innovations, Inc., a boutique executive search firm. More recently he founded infoStrategies, LLC, a company with the mission of developing software applications and conducting angel investing deals. In April, 2010, the company launched the Retirement Calculator with VestingPoint.com. Ehud holds a B.S in Computer and Systems Engineering and an MBA.

Michael Kerman

Michael co-founded ECI Technology when he was 22 and has spent 20+ years in the high-technology industry. He has held executive-level positions in marketing, engineering and line management at several Fortune 1000 companies and has conducted business in over 20 countries. Michael is a frequent speaker, consultant and trainer on leadership, innovation, new product development and corporate change management. Michael holds a B.S degree in Chemistry, a certificate in Computer Science and an MBA.

Jerome J. Neff

Jerome J. Neff is president of DV Corp., an investment company. Neff retired after 60 years in the furniture business, during which times he was involved in every facet of the industry with an emphasis on marketing. He founded Delaware Valley Distributing Corp., Prussia Trucking Co., and Mid-Atlantic Furniture Sales. He is a speaker, counselor, and one-on-one mentor with S.C.O.R.E. Association of Philadelphia. He received his B.S. in Economics, from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

Al Scott, CFE

Al Scott is Principal of NSD Bio Group, LLC which provides targeted and high-level special analyses in the Biotechnology, Nanotechnology, and other emerging sectors. With a focus on China and other emerging markets, Al has acquired substantive industry operational and advisory experience in the Biotech space. Mr. Scott received his BSc in Chemical Engineering; International Certificate from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and MSc in Biology with an emphasis in Neuroimmunology from the University of California, San Diego. In addition, Al is a member of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, serves as a mentor to the University of Maryland University College Biotechnology Program, and has deep experience in Compliance and Fraud-related issues on corporate and government internal controls and governance requirements. Scott earned a Baccalaureate (or BSc) from the University of Nebraska.

Michael Suckle

Michael Suckle has over 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry, most recently serving as Vice President, Finance - Government Programs at Independence Blue Cross. He received his B.S. in management from Penn State University and his MBA from Temple University. He is an expert in finance, information services, project management, contract negotiations, budgeting and strategic planning.

Joan Weiner, Ph.D

Joan Weiner is Professor of Management and the faculty advisor to the Drexel Smart House and the Drexel Student Consulting Group. Trained in systems sciences and interested in educational innovation and system design, she works in an interdisciplinary research team, The New University Research Group, with both private and public sector organizations. Active in professional and community affairs, she serves on various regional and national boards.

Marty Brennan

Marty has over 50 years of Information Technology experience. He spent 26 years with CIGNA Corporation and has a unique background with over 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry and 20 years in the Property and Casualty business. Marty has held senior management positions in every aspect of IT including Project Development, Computer Architecture, Data Center Operations, and Strategic Planning. He was the CIO for Cigna Worldwide, CIGNA Healthcare, Independence Blue Cross, and Pacific Dental Benefits not only leading the IT organizations but also providing senior leadership in the transformation of the business. As CIGNA Worldwide CIO his organization provided systems development and technical support to over 70 countries around the world. As CIGNA Healthcare CIO Marty was not only responsible for leading the IT organization’s 1500 people and managing a $200mm budget but also assumed responsibility for the companywide strategic reengineering project, establishing and running the Customer Service/Inquiry Centers, and the Enrollment organization. For the past 5 years Marty has been a Partner in FluidEdge Consulting Company, a Healthcare Management Consulting Company, and an executive consultant helping companies such as Liberty Dental Plan and Lovelace Health Plan assess their organizations stabilize their operating environment, develop their IT Strategy, and served as interim CIO helping them establish an effective IT organization.

Richard Schmeltzer, CPA

Richard Schmeltzer has served as President of Brahmns Consulting, Inc. since June 2003. He was a founder and managing shareholder of The Schmeltzer Master Group and is a retired partner of Eisner Amper LLP. His area of industry concentration included manufacturing and distribution, construction and real estate, as well as family-owned, closely held businesses and worked with high income and high net-worth individuals. He has extensive experience in accounting, auditing, tax and litigation support services. A graduate of Temple University and has served on the Boards of the Abramson Center for Jewish Life, Fox Roach Charities, Brain Injury Association of Pennsylvania.