With Academic Innovation Partners, Inc. you get to collaborate with a team of experienced entrepreneurs, consultants, MBA’s, scientists, engineers, academics, and business development aficionados all dedicated to using their years of experience to help you succeed.
Core Team
JASON POTTINGER
Chief Executive Officer
Jason earned an MBA at the Schulich School of Business, York University, Canada specializing in international business & marketing. His undergraduate work was completed at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, where he earned an economics degree. Jason has negotiated and...
DONALD KUK
Chief Transformation Officer
Donald Kuk is an innovative, multiple industry award winning Global Transformation, Operational Excellence and Quality Management Executive with more than 20 years of delivering record setting top line growth, customer and employee satisfaction, and margin improvement leading rapid Enterprise Transformation...
DR. GABRIEL GRUIONU
Chief Scientific Officer
Dr. Gruionu is a researcher, entrepreneur and technology development consultant. For the last eight years, he worked at the Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts General Hospital, most recently as Assistant Professor of Surgery and Director of Innovation. He is...
DONALD REPPERT
Chief Marketing Officer
A former U.S. Navy pilot, Don started his business career with The Service Bureau Company as a Systems Marketing Exec after leaving military service in 1978. In that role, Don participated in the implementation of some of the early Yield...
Dr. DONALD THOMAS III
Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Thomas graduated from Howard University College of Medicine with an M.D. in Medicine and earned his A.B. in Physical Science and Genetics at Harvard University. He also created and reshaped clinical care delivery systems in 30+ healthcare organizations in...
DR. SONNY RAI
Biotechnology Strategist
After completing a bachelor’s degree from Pacific University, Oregon, Sonny earned his MD from the American program at Karol Marcinkowski Medical School, Poland. He brings over a decade of broad therapeutic pharmaceutical & medical device strategy consulting and advisory experience...
DR. ANGIE PURVIS
Chief Quality and Regulatory Officer
Angie completed her PhD (Biochemistry) and post-doctoral training at Washington University at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute in the field of Hematology/Oncology. Since leaving academia, she has held several executive positions with medical device and diagnostics companies. Dr. Purvis is...
CRAIG TAGGART
Investor Relations
Craig Taggart provides almost a decade of experience in the fields of Mergers & Acquisitions and Business Financing. Craig works with each client at the highest level to achieve the highest value for their business within the capital markets. Craig's...
YAN CAMPOS
Engineering and Product Development
Yan studied Biophysics at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro where he worked as an assistant researcher at the Laboratory of Conjunctive Tissue. Yan also studied Mechanical Engineering and Computer Aided Design Technology at the British Columbia Institute of...
DAVID S. MURAYAMA
Strategy & Planning
David obtained his MBET degree at the University of Waterloo, Canada specializing in new ventures and innovation management, and his BSc in Economics at Suffolk University, US. David has extensive experience as an early-stage business consultant with proven ability in...
MACKENZIE KIM
Business Analyst
Mackenzie joined Academic Technology Ventures in 2018 from Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), where he structured financial derivative products for the investment banks’ clients and worked on developing strategic initiatives across film, entertainment, technology, and real estate. Prior to MUFG,...
LIZ AVELAR
Marketing & Special Projects
Liz is highly experienced as a marketing & sales consultant focusing on brand identity development, psychology of consumer buying habits, sales process architecture & implementation, and has specialized training in product launch techniques from the top consultancy firms in the...
MARIE L. FRANKO
Medical Technology Associate
Marie, RN, BSN, has over 15 years experience within the healthcare industry. She has a unique combination of medical industry work experiences to understand clinical information workflows & interdepartmental nursing procedures with advanced business operations experiences, training, and education that...
SANDY FOX
Public Relations/Copywriter
Sandy brings 25 years of professional writing and skills as a direct response copywriter with a focus in the financial field. Her writing helps clients understand the benefits of a product and want to take action. She is skilled in...
ROBERT LONG
Business Development
Robert has a passion for business development. This has been demonstrated with his success-driven results across lean manufacturing, finance, marketing, and retail industries. He has over 20 years of experience streamlining processes within the business world. His communication and account...
NAEEM TARIQ
Website and Graphic Design Manager
Naeem is a Senior Web Developer & Graphic Designer with over 5 Years of experience in the I.T. Industry. He earned a BS-Hons (I.T) from the University of the Punjab. He has worked on different projects which include personal websites...
STEPHANIE KHOELER
Business Administrative Assistant
Business Administrative Assistant, Stephanie has a passion for business as demonstrated from her experiences attending the C.T. Bauer College of Business where she earned a degree in Business Foundations and a Corporate Entrepreneurship certificate. She is currently continuing her studies...
AMANDA BLEVINS
Business Administrative Assistant
Amanda has over 15 years in Management and Customer Service. She attended Everest University where she obtained her BA in Business Management and later her AS in Criminal Justice from the University of Phoenix. Owning and operating her own businesses...