Erin M. Defossé: Director, ATI Wireless

Erin M. Defossé is the Acting Director of ATI and the Director of ATI Wireless. He is responsible for identifying promising early stage companies and providing them with the necessary strategic business assistance needed to help them achieve their growth objectives. Erin has significant experience in startup environments having founded three startup companies, raised angel and venture capital, and led the companies in the areas of market and technology strategy, business development, product development, and operations.

Before joining ATI, Erin was the Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Isochron Data Corporation, a provider of wireless data communication and enterprise software for the management of remote devices and equipment. Prior to Isochron, Erin co-founded and was President of Navtrax, a developer of wireless tracking systems that utilized GPS and cellular data technologies to track and manage vehicle fleets.

Erin also worked for over five years as a spacecraft mission design engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. At JPL, Erin was involved in systems engineering efforts across a variety of interplanetary spacecraft programs including Galileo, Cassini, Mars Observer, Rosetta, SIRTF, and the next-generation microspacecraft project.

Erin is currently the Chairman of the Austin Wireless Alliance, a non-profit association promoting the growth of the wireless industry in Central Texas. He also serves on the board of several startup companies including Monebo Technologies, gNumber, and Affinegy.

Erin holds an MBA and a BS in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas and an MS in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Stanford University.

Frank Hanzlik: Managing Director, Wi-Fi Alliance

Frank Hanzlik is Managing Director of the Wi-Fi Alliance and a 17 year veteran of the wireless industry.

Prior to the Wi-Fi Alliance, Frank was Vice President of Marketing and Product Management at Mobilian Corporation, a fabless semiconductor start-up company. As an early member of the executive team, he built the marketing and sales organization, successfully positioning Mobilian as an early leader in multi-standard wireless chipsets, and launching the world's first chipset to support the simultaneous operation of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

Before joining Mobilian, Frank was a senior manager at Dell Computer Corporation, where he built a communications product marketing organization to support Dell's $11 billion dollar consumer and small business product lines. There, he launched several market leading products in wireless, home networking, and broadband, including the company's first Wi-Fi product in 1999, an industry first.

Prior to Dell, Frank spent 11 years at Motorola in a variety of positions of increasing responsibility in the sales and marketing of cellular and land mobile radio products. There, he drove the definition and implementation of the world's first digital land mobile radio product. Later, he ran the product management organization for Motorola's Intelligent Network business, which delivered enhanced voice and data services to cellular operators worldwide.

Frank holds an MBA from Northwestern University's J.L. Kellogg School of Management and an undergraduate in Business Administration from the University of Illinois, Urbana/Champaign. He has been a member of the Wi-Fi Alliance since 2000.

Cheré Heintzmann: Chief Operating Officer, SeaMobile

Cheré Heintzmann is currently the Chief Operating Officer of SeaMobile, Inc., a company delivering wireless and data communications services at sea. Cheré has over 20 years experience in the telecom industry, including 15 years in senior management at McCaw Cellular Communications, AT&T Wireless, and Qwest.

Cheré has executive level experience in all facets of wireless operations, sales, engineering and finance and has contributed to the successful finance and launch of several wireless companies. In addition, she has co-founded two companies, has lead financing efforts for small growth companies in excess of $250 million, and sits on the Board’s of two Texas based technology companies.

Prior to SeaMobile, Heintzmann was President and Chief Operating Officer of Extend America; a full service telecommunications provider based in the Midwest. In addition, Cheré was formerly the Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Qwest Wireless, a Colorado based telecom provider and SVP of Field Operations for AT&T Wireless and McCaw Communications, a Washington based telecom provider.

Prior to her work in the telecommunications industry, Cheré was an auditor for the State of Texas for ten years. Cheré holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Texas.

Elizabeth F. Maxfield: Former Senior Vice President, CTIA

Liz Maxfield has worked in telecommunications for 25 years. Liz began her career at the Federal Communications Commission in 1979 as an attorney/advisor, and then as Deputy Director, of the FCC Office of Public Affairs. In 1982, Liz joined Becker, Gurman, Lukas, Meyers, O’Brien and McGowan, a communications law firm specializing in paging and radio common carrier issues. While at Becker, Gurman, she participated in the application and licensing process for the first cellular systems in the top 90 markets.

Liz joined the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association (CTIA) in November 1984 as the second employee of the new association. She held the position of Senior Vice President for Industry Affairs when she left in 1998. Liz served as Acting President of CTIA from September 1991 until June 1992.

During her tenure at CTIA, Liz was involved in regulatory issues, standards and program development, crisis management and member recruitment. She formed CIBERNET Corp., a CTIA subsidiary providing financial settlement services, and served as its President from October 1988 until December 1997 and on its Board of Directors from 1988 until July 1998. She supervised CIBERNET’s expansion through the formation of an international subsidiary in London in 1995.

Liz received a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Southern Methodist University and a law degree from the University of Texas at Austin.

Richard Schwartz: CEO, SoloMio

Richard Schwartz is President and CEO of SoloMio, a global software company that delivers innovative call management network applications to cellular and fixed-line carriers. He has repeatedly created and led new organizations to innovate and develop software with each resulting in significant impact to the market.

Prior to founding SoloMio, he was senior vice president of technology at Vignette Corporation. He joined Vignette in June 1999 via the acquisition of his company, Diffusion, where he was founder and CEO. Prior to Diffusion, he was chief technology officer and senior vice president of technology for Borland International during the period of revenue growth from $30M to $650M. At Borland, Richard was responsible for overall product and technology strategy. From 1990-93 at Borland, Richard created and developed the pan-European business and the European Development Center. Richard joined Borland via the acquisition of his company Ansa Software. He co-founded Ansa Software and was the co-creator of Paradox, the first relational database software that was widely used by business professionals and sold over 10 million copies.

Richard holds a PhD in Computer Science from UCLA. After completing his PhD, he was senior computer scientist at Stanford Research Institute (SRI International) prior to founding his first company.

Ben Scott: Venture Partner, Austin Ventures

Former CEO, PrimeCo Personal Communications

Ben Scott joined Austin Ventures in 2002 as a venture partner and focuses on hardware investing. At Austin Ventures, Ben has worked with companies such as Navini, Netrake, and Spatial Wireless.

Previously, Ben was a partner in Quadrant Management, where he was involved in early-stage investment for the telecom industry.

From 1997 to 1999, he served as chairman and CEO for IXC Communications, where he managed the company’s transformation from a wholesale long-distance provider to an international broadband and Internet backbone provider (IXC merged with Cincinnati Bell and became Broadwing Communications).

Before IXC, Ben was president and CEO of PrimeCo Personal Communications. Previously, he held positions as chief operating officer of Bell Atlantic’s U.S. wireless business and CEO of its international wireless business. Earlier, Ben spent 20 years at AT&T, ending his tenure as president and CEO of AT&T Canada.

Ben received his BA from Virginia Tech.

Moris Simson: CEO, WaveNet

Moris Simson has a proven record of leadership in commercializing the applications of technology for over 25 years with companies ranging from large multinationals to pioneering technology start-ups. His experience includes 18 years with Nortel Networks starting at their R&D laboratories and culminating in top executive positions with two of their highest growth business units: Network Applications and Data. He is widely recognized for pioneering world’s first commercially successful, network-based speech recognition technology. After his Nortel career, he has pursued global entrepreneurial opportunities in wireless communications with the backing of two industry leaders: Canada’s BCE and Japan’s DoCoMo. More recently, as Sr.VP at Mitel in charge of strategy, technology, & marketing he led the successful corporate restructuring of a business portfolio in excess of $1.3 Billion, including the spin-off of a start-up in photonics of which he became the CEO.

He currently lives in Texas and is the CEO of WaveNET, an advisory firm he has founded to guide enterprises with the identification, selection and implementation of strategic business and investment choices.

Moris who is a graduate of Harvard Business School also holds post-graduate degrees in electrical engineering, computer science, and business administration from France. Fluent in four languages and with distinguished business contacts in three continents, he serves on the advisory boards of the University of Ottawa’s School of Management, the ATI, and a few privately held start-up companies.

Dr. Jim Lansford: CTO, Alereon

Dr. Lansford is Chief Technology Officer of Alereon, one of the pioneers in UltraWideband personal area networks; where he is also involved in business development activities with strategic partners and key customers. He has over 25 years of experience in communications system analysis and design as well as digital signal processing.

In addition to developing advanced technologies and architectures for future UWB systems, he is heavily involved in a number of standards, trade group and regulatory activities. Dr. Lansford is currently Co-chair of IEEE802.15.3a, the High Rate WPAN Task Group, and was formerly the chair of 802.19 (Wireless Coexistence Technical Advisory Group) within IEEE 802. He was a significant contributor to 802.15.2 and 802.11g.

Prior to Alereon, Dr. Lansford was CTO of Mobilian Corporation, where he promoted Mobilian’s multi-standard radio technology, including advanced interference management techniques. Prior to Mobilian, Dr. Lansford was a Wireless System Architect with Intel Corporation, and was the Co-Chairman of the Technical Committee for the HomeRF Industry Working Group, a wireless technology industry consortium of over 100 companies. In addition to his experience with Alereon and two previous startups, he has served on the teaching and/or research faculty of Georgia Tech, the University of Colorado – Colorado Springs, and Oklahoma State University.

Dr. Lansford received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Oklahoma State University in 1988, his M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1982, and his B.S. in Electrical Engineering, with highest honors, from Auburn University in 1980.

Dr. Ted Rappaport : Director, Wireless Networking and Communications Group

The University of Texas at Austin

Theodore S. Rappaport is an active teacher, researcher, and entrepreneur. He received BSEE, MSEE, and Ph.D. degrees from Purdue University in 1982, 1984, and 1987, respectively. From 1988 to 2002, he was on the faculty of Virginia Tech.  He joined the University of Texas in 2002 as the William and Bettye Nowlin Chair in Engineering, and is the founding director of the Wireless Networking and Communications Group (WNCG) at UT’s Austin campus.  He has over 100 US or international patents issued or pending and has authored, co-authored, and co-edited numerous books in the wireless field, including the popular textbooks Wireless Communications: Principles & Practice (Prentice-Hall, 1996, 2002), Smart Antennas for Wireless Communications: IS-95 and Third Generation CDMA Applications (Prentice Hall, 1999), and Principles of Communication Systems Simulation (Prentice Hall, 2004). He was recipient of the 1999 Stephen O. Rice Prize Paper Award from the IEEE Communications Society.

Dr. Rappaport currently serves on the Technological Advisory Council for the Federal Communications Commission, and has serv ed on National Academy of Science panels pertaining to telecommunications research in the US.   He also serv ed as Technical Program Chairman for the IEEE Global Communications Conference in 2004. He is series editor for the Prentice Hall Communications Engineering and Emerging Technologies book series, and serves on the editorial board of International Journal of Wireless Information Networks (Plenum Press, NY) and the advisory board of Wireless Communications and Mobile Computing for Wiley InterScience. He is a Fellow of the IEEE, and is active in the IEEE Communications and Vehicular Technology societies.

In 1989, Rappaport found ed TSR Technologies, Inc., a cellular radio/PCS software radio equipment firm that he sold in 1993, and in 1995, he found ed Wireless Valley Communications, Inc., a pioneering creator of software products for the design, measurement, and management of wireless networks. He is a register ed professional engineer in the states of Virginia and Texas, and is a Fellow and past member of the board of directors of the Radio Club of America. He has consult ed for over 25 multinational corporations and has serv ed the International Telecommunications Union as a communications consultant for emerging nations.