Board of Directors

Dr. Hans P. Black

Dr. Black is a native of Europe and received his Bachelor of Science degree, magna cum laude, from Union College in New York, where he was elected a Phi Beta Kappa scholar.  He studied law in France and subsequently graduated from McGill University in Montreal with a Doctorate in Medicine.  Dr. Black is currently Chairman and chief investment strategist of Interinvest, a global money management firm for private wealth clients which he founded in Montreal in the mid 70's, with offices in Boston and affiliate offices in Bermuda, London and Zurich.  He is a member of the board of Abitibi-Consolidated Inc., a member of the board of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, a member of the board of la Fondation Institut de Cardiologie de Montreal, a member of the board of Fondation Jeunesses Musicales du Canada, a member of the Advisory Council of The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies of Johns Hopkins University, and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Washington National Opera.  In addition, he serves as chairman of the board of the Quebec-based food company, Les Aliments Soyummi Inc.

Mr. Norman Steinberg

Mr. Steinberg is co-chair and a member of the Executive Committee of Ogilvy Renault, a full service business law firm where he has practiced corporate and commercial law since 1976.

In addition to conducting numerous Canadian and Canada/U.S. cross-border and international financings, Mr. Steinberg has also been involved in a number of high-profile mergers and acquisitions and privatization transactions.  He also frequently advises boards of directors on various matters.

Mr. Steinberg has sat on various public, private and not for profit bards, including Montreal Symphony Orchestra and The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts Foundation.  Mr. Steinberg is a long-standing member of the Advisory Committee to the Autorite des marches financiers.  Mr. Steinberg holds a B.C.L. and B.Sc. from McGill University.

Dr. Reza Ahy

Dr. Ahy is a seasoned Chief Executive Officer with over twenty years of progressive achievements, focused on growth and results-oriented leadership plus execution for technology companies from the conception through revenue stages.  He has led major strategic partnerships and achieved design wins with many of the world's major carriers (Telefonica, VSNL,BSNL,Telmex,Sasktel,Centurytel, Etisalat,LRTC,Entel, Sprint-Nextel, and Covad).

Most recently, Dr. Ahy was the CEO, Chairman, and Founder of Aperto Networks, a WiMAX leader for Carrier Global Markets.  Prior to founding Aperto Networks, he was the VP of Engineering and CTO of RadioLAN, a networking and enterprise infrastructure company focused on WiFi solutions for the enterprise and carrier markets.  Other high level positions held by Dr. Ahy have been with Varian Research Center in the communications infrastructure and instrumentation area where he focused on next generation product development, and with Microwave Technology and Harris Corporation where he led the development of RFICs, MMICs, and subsystems for wireless communications and defense markets. 

He received his PhD.EE from Stanford University, where he was a Rockwell and Stanford Center for Integrated Systems Fellow, and his MSEE and BSEE from the University of California, San Diego.   He has been awarded more than 15 patents to date (more in process), has over 45 publications in international technical journals and conference proceedings, and has contributed as a keynote speaker at many major industry events.

Michael Chertoff

Most recently, Mr. Chertoff served as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.  As Secretary, he led a 218,000 person department with a budget of $50 billion.  Mr. Chertoff developed and implemented border security and immigration policy; promulgated homeland security regulation; and spearheaded a national cyber security strategy.  He also served periodically on the National Security and Homeland Security Councils, and on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.

Michael Chertoff is Chairman & Founder of the Chertoff Group, a security and risk management advisory firm with offices in Washington, D.C., New York, and London.  The Chertoff Group specializes in Judge Chertoff is also senior of counsel at Covington & Burling LLP's Washington, D.C. office and a member of the White Collar Defense and Investigations practice group. 

Prior to his appointment to the Cabinet, Mr. Chertoff served from 2003 to 2005 on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.  Before becoming a federal judge, Mr. Chertoff was the Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.  In that position, he oversaw the investigation of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and formed the Enron Task Force, which produced more than 20 convictions, including those of CEOs Jeffrey Skilling and Kenneth Lay.

Mr. Chertoff's career includes more than a decade as a federal prosecutor, including service as U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, and Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.  As a federal prosecutor, Mr. Chertoff investigated and personally prosecuted significant cases of political corruption, organized crime, and corporate fraud.

From 1994-2001, Mr. Chertoff represented major corporations and individuals in numerous white collar investigations and trials.  Among other matters, he successfully represented the nation's largest hospital company in a four year, multi-jurisdictional criminal and civil investigation, represented major corporations in corruption scandals, and obtained acquittals at trial for individual criminal defendants.

Mr. Chertoff has received numerous awards including the Department of Justice Henry E. Petersen Memorial Award (2006); the Department of Justice John Marshall Award for Trial of litigation (1987); NAACP Benjamin Hooks Award for Distinguished Service (2007); European Institute Transatlantic Leadership Award (2008); and two honorary doctorates.  His trial experiences have been featured in over half a dozen books and many news articles.

General Peter Pace

General Pace was the sixteenth Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and served as the principal military advisor to the President, the Secretary of Defense, the National Security Council, and the Homeland Security Council.  Prior to becoming Chairman, he served as Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.  General Pace retired from active duty on October 1, 2007.

He is currently serving on the Board of Directors of several corporate entities involved in management consulting, private equity, and IT security.  He served on the President's Intelligence Advisory Board, and is currently on the Secretary of Defense's Defense Policy Board.  General Pace served as leader-in-residence and the Poling Chair of Business and Government, for the Kelley School of Business, Indiana University for the 2008-2010 Tenure. 

General Pace is a graduate of United States Naval Academy, holds a Master's Degree in Business Administration from George Washington University, attended the Harvard University Senior Executives in National and International Security program, and graduated from the National War College.

Dr. Rob Roy

 Dr. Rob Roy is a well-recognized entrepreneur in the field of wireless and VLSI design.  He was a co-founder and Chief Technology Strategist of Mobilian Corporation, a fabless company with the first chipset achieving simultaneous Wireless LAN and Bluetooth connectivity, which was acquired by Intel Corporation in September 2003.  His previous experience includes engineering and management positions at Intel, NEC, GE and AT&T Bell Labs.  Dr. Roy is also the co-chairman of the Advisory Board of Zenasis Technologies, an EDA company where he was previously serving as Vice President of Marketing and Business Development.

Dr. Roy has published over 50 research papers in prestigious journals and international conferences.  He has been an adjunct faculty at Princeton University and University of Massachusetts, Amherst.  Currently he serves as an Adjunct Professor at Amrita University, Coimbatore, India.  He is a Golden Core Member of IEEE Computer Society and has been the Chair of ACM Doctoral Dissertation Award Committee.  Dr. Roy has been granted seven US and International patents and has several applications pending.  Dr. Roy serves on the Board of Directors of Alumnus Software Limited and SimBioSys Biowares.

Dr. Roy received his B.Tech (Hons) degree in Electronics & Electrical Communication Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology in 1984.  He also holds a M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1989 and 1992, respectively.

Michael R. Sonnenreich

Mr. Sonnenreich has vast experience in the global pharmaceutical industry. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, the University of Madrid, Spain, and Harvard University Law School. He is currently Chairman and CEO of Kikaku America International, and Vice Chairman of PharMa International Corporation of Tokyo. He is a Director of Wi2Wi, Palo Alto, Amorfix Life Sciences, Toronto, Ltd. and Les Aliments SoYummi, Inc., Montreal.  He is a member of the Board of Advisors of Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies and a member of the Board of Overseers of Tufts University Medical School. Mr. Sonnenreich has in the past been Board member and Trustee of numerous important companies and universities, such as the ABD American Capital Market Funds, the Integra Fund, Continental Steel Inc., Scientific American, Medical Tribune International, Clark University, the Maret School and has long-term involvements with many nonprofit institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution, the Washington National Opera (President 1996-98; 2002-2006), Sackler/Freer Galleries of Art (Smithsonian Institution), D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities (Mayoral Appointment as Commissioner, 2008-present), the New England Conservatory of Music, the North Carolina Museum of Art Foundation, the University of Virginia Art Museum, the Richard Tucker Music Foundation, and served as President of the National Coordinating Council on Drug Education.  In 2008, he was named Distinguished Washingtonian by the University Club of Washington, D.C.

Mr. David Tahmassebi

Mr. David Tahmassebi has over 15 years of experience in the marketing, sales, and engineering management of wireless and consumer-related semiconductor products.  Prior to joining WK Technology Fund, Mr. Tahmassebi served as president, CEO and co-chairman of Berkana Wireless, a fabless semiconductor start-up focused on CMOS RF transceivers for the cellular market.  In addition to raising $15M of venture funding, Mr. Tahmassebi guided company strategy and drove the efforts to transition Berkana's first product from samples into production with two major Korean handset OEMs.  His efforts ultimately resulted in the sale of the company to Qualcomm for $56M in 2005.  Earlier, Mr. Tahmassebi was co-founder, president and CEO of Resonext Communications, an 802.11 fabless semiconductor company where he raised $68M in venture funding and sold the company to RFMD for $133M after achieving a number of major design wins.  Before Resonext, Mr. Tahmassebi had full P&L responsibility for the consumer business unit at VLSI Technology where he grew annual revenue to $80M.  Mr. Tahmassebi began his career at Stanford Telecom, a leading provider of semiconductor and system solutions to the telecommunications industry and holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Maryland.

Harry J.F. Bloomfield, Q.C.

K.J.St.J., B.A., LL.B., M.B.A.

Principal of Bloomfield & Avocats, Member of the Bar of Quebec, President of Eldee Foundation, President of the Humane Society of Canada.
Attorney Harry Bloomfield, Q.C. - Special competence in Canadian Federal and Provincial Corporate Law, International Finance, Securities Matters; International Taxation law.

Harry Bloomfield, Q.C. is also active in International Banking, Shipping, and Canadian Federal Patent and Trademark Law; Finance and M & A.

James Andrew (Jim) Wyant

James Andrew (Jim) Wyant has filled a number of roles in public and private companies. He was President of Wyant & Company, a public corporation listed on the NASDAQ which he took public in 1997 after steering the company through a series of mergers and acquisitions. He presided over the successful sale of Wyant & Company to Cascades Inc. in 2000.  Mr. Wyant presently operates a consulting business advising businesses on issues of strategic planning and financing. He also is a franchisee of the Referral Institute, an organization that develops skills in the networking area.

Mr. Wyant is Chair of the board of Vermont Public Television and in 2000 became head of the Public Television Association of Quebec board. He was awarded the Public Broadcasting Service Leadership Award in 2003. He is also treasurer of Pavilion Foster, an addiction treatment organization in southern Quebec.

John W. Weaver, Ph.D.

John Weaver was President and Chief Executive Officer of Abitibi-Consolidated from 1999 until the formation of AbitibiBowater in October 2007 when he was named Executive Chairman. Mr. Weaver has an extensive background in the pulp and paper business beginning in the early 1970s when he earned a Ph.D. from the Institute of Paper Science and Technology (IPST).

Mr. Weaver has held a number of key positions with various companies in the forest products industry. As CEO of Abitibi-Consolidated, John grew the Company through merger and acquisitions, and subsequently lowered the Company's overall cost-structure, capital expenditures and selling, general and administrative expenses.

Mr. Weaver was instrumental in the merger with Bowater announced in early 2007. AbitibiBowater produces a wide range of newsprint, commercial printing papers, market pulp and wood products. Mr. Weaver announced his retirement in July 2008.

In parallel, John is a Director of AbitibiBowater and the not-for-profit U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities.

David Oksenberg

Mr. David Oksenberg is founder and president of BioCern, Inc, which he formed to pursue novel livestock-related applications of emerging bio-separations technologies.  He previously served for fifteen years as a United States Army infantry officer, commanding air assault, light, and headquarters infantry units and serving in staff and advisory roles in Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and Germany.  He is a 2004 graduate of the Harvard Business School and a 1989 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York.