Our Team
Board of Directors
Flip Flippen, Chairman
Flip Flippen is the author of the New York Times and USA Today Best Seller, The Flip Side: Break Free of the Behaviors That Hold You Back, released in May of 2007. He developed the concept of Personal Constraints™ as a means to overcome performance inhibitors and to accelerate the growth of many of the world's greatest executives, educators, and professional athletes. Using his background in psychotherapy, Flip and his research group developed The Flippen Profile, a powerful behavioral assessment tool, which uncovers the unique constraints and strengths of an individual in order to improve performance. This breakthrough tool is used in corporate, sports, and educational arenas on a global basis. Flip is also the founder of The Flippen Group, which was voted by Texas Monthly magazine as the Number Two best place to work in the state of Texas. The Flippen Group is one of the largest educator training companies and one of the fastest growing leadership development organizations in North America. The company's breakthrough educational processes and curricula are in use at 5000 school districts and campuses in 42 states. The success of his efforts has been documented on The Today Show, The Super Bowl Pre-Game Show, and Speed Channel's NBS 24/7, as well as in countless publications over the years. Flip also contributes monthly blog submissions for SUCCESS Magazine. The first sixteen years of his professional life was spent building a non-profit organization that worked with gangs and throw-away kids. In the process, he also built a 500-acre residential facility for young people. Flip and his wife Susan's mission is to "bring out the best in people." They have done this in their businesses, as well as in their personal life, as they have helped raise more than twenty children.
James "Spider" Marks, Chief Executive Officer/Director
Major General (Ret.) James A. "Spider Marks" is the CEO of InVisM, a firm that develops training, simulation, and visualization products for industry and government. Previously, he was a Managing Partner at Ergo, a primary research and consulting firm in New York City. Before joining Ergo, he was President and CEO of Global Linguist Solutions, a private company which provides linguistics services to the U.S. military in Iraq and was the largest employer of native Iraqis. General Marks served in the U.S. Army for over 30 years, including assignments as a senior intelligence officer in multiple theaters of operation to include the Balkans, Korea, and Iraq. He concluded his service as the senior intelligence officer for the coalition land forces during the liberation of Iraq and as the Commanding General of the United States Army Intelligence Center. He was a military and intelligence analyst for CNN from 2004-2007 and currently contributes to Fox News. He is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University's Center for Peace and Security Studies. He holds degrees from West Point and the University of Virginia.
Russel Phelps, Founder/Director
Russel is a leading expert on the use of training and commercial gaming technology for governments and industry. A retired U.S. Navy Commander, he specialized in innovative uses of new technology, linguistics, and training experimentation during his military career. Since founding InVisM, he has become a well-known speaker and educator on the use of gaming technologies and advanced visual media to support adult learning and education. He has many years of experience working with the U.S. Armed Forces helping them make the transition from traditional learning methods to new approaches in-line with the younger generations. Russel has a long history of travel to the Middle East and with an education in Arabic and Middle Eastern studies as well as a Master of Science from the U.S. Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island.
Eason Jordan, Director
Eason Jordan is the co-founder and chief executive officer of Poll Position, and Headline Apps. Poll Position is a next generation public opinion and market research company. Headline Apps produces unique, timely applications for the iPhone and other electronic platforms. From 2005 through March 2010, Jordan served as the chief executive officer of Praedict, a provider of exclusive, customized insights and guidance on and from the world's most challenging regions. From 1982 until 2005, Jordan worked with CNN, where he rose through the ranks to become the network's Chief News Executive and President of Newsgathering and International Networks. Jordan oversaw CNN's news coverage, international outlets, global expansion, and international relations. Jordan's journalistic honors include Emmy Awards, Peabody Awards, Edward R. Murrow Awards, Headliner Awards, ACE Awards, The Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award, The Vanguard Award, the Livingston Award, and the first Charles Weltner Freedom of Information Award. Jordan has written op-ed articles that appeared in dozens of newspapers including The New York Times, The International Herald Tribune, The Wall Street Journal, and The Atlanta Journal Constitution. He attended Georgia State University and DeKalb College. Jordan serves on the board of directors of the International News Safety Institute and the leadership council of the Committee to Protect Journalists. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the ONE Campaign.
Jim Barnett, Director
Jim Barnett is the co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of SeaCure Associates, LLC, a group committed to making a difference and helping other companies understand the intricacies of working with the US Government. From 2005 through April 2010 Jim worked for Northrop Grumman Corporation in Business Development, Government Relations, and Customer Relations. He was on the Professional Staff of the Senate Intelligence Committee from 1998 to 2005. He held the National Reconnaissance Office, National Security Agency, and Special Reconnaissance Office portfolios. In addition, he was the primary staffer working for Senators DeWine (R-OH), Snowe (R-ME), Lott (R-MS), Inhofe (R-OK), and Mikulski (D-MD). As such, he was involved in a wide ranging set of highly classified issues of National and Global significance. As a Naval Officer he served for 33 years from the rivers of South Vietnam (serving with the Vietnamese SEALS, as an advisor, and right door gunner) to the highlands of North Yorkshire, England. Jim worked on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations, the Secretary of the Air Force, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Secretary of Defense. Jim graduated from the US Naval Academy and attended a wide variety of Universities doing post graduate work and teaching.
Corporate Officers
Randy Roberts, President
Mr. Roberts is a retired USAF Colonel with over 35 years of senior management experience, coupled with technical knowledge of the United States Intelligence Community (IC) to include applications of serious gaming and video technology for military and IC instructional applications. Mr. Roberts began his military career as an Electronic Warfare Officer on the B-52H and RC-135S Cobra Ball aircraft. He held various headquarters staff positions at the Pentagon, HQ SAC, HQ USAFE, in addition to four command assignments up to a wing equivalent for the National Security Agency. His last active duty assignment was at RAF Menwith Hill Station as the first-ever USAF station commander leading a complex organization of over two thousand government personnel and contractors for a multi-national, multi-agency, and quad military service center supporting international, national, and tactical customers with time-perishable information. His formal education includes a Masters Degree in Aeronautical Science, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration/Marketing. Mr Roberts joined InVisM in September of 2008 and he is currently the President for InVisM responsible for oversight of all corporate day-to-day operations.
Steve Weyl, Executive Vice President
With over 30 years of technology industry experience and a decade of general manager expertise, Steve has worked in research, engineering, marketing and sales and has oversight of innovation and development for InVisM. Prior to InVisM, Steve was President of Ricoh Innovations, Inc., a subsidiary of Ricoh Company Ltd of Japan. There he executed Ricoh's acquisition of IBM's Printing Systems Division and led Ricoh's corporate venture capital group and corporate entrepreneurship programs in the U.S. Before Ricoh, Steve founded three Silicon Valley startups, led the Network Services Integration Division at IBM, and directed Apple Computer Tools Groups. Early in his career, Steve performed advanced research and engineering work at SRI, Stanford, Exxon, and American Express. Steve holds an M.S. in computer science and B.S. in mathematics from Stanford University and an MBA from Harvard University, where he was a Baker Scholar.
Rick Schmidt, Chief Technology Officer
Rick is a technology expert with over 21 years experience delivering technology-based solutions. He is a retired Naval officer and a subject matter expert in Technology Innovation and Software Development, Network Security and Radio Frequency Identification. A recognized leader in the fields of software and technology development, computer network operations, and training, Rick has successfully managed vital Naval and commercial operations and was responsible for building an award winning training and simulation platform. Rick holds a BS degree in Computer Science, an MS in Information Systems, as well as certifications as an Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID+).
Ken Granville, Chief Information Officer
Ken is a highly experienced professional with a background of over 28 years in public service and defense industry positions. Having served 12 years in the U.S. Air Force as well as 16 years as a defense contractor in support of several government organizations, he brings perspectives of both a customer and a service provider. Ken has performed in System Engineering and Technical Advisory roles resulting in the funding and execution of top-level mission operations priorities. His breadth of experience in both operational and support roles, combined with experience in program management, quality management, software configuration management, IT support, operations of complex systems and enterprise level engineering allow him to quickly identify potential issues. He holds a degree in Information Systems.
Mike MacDonald, Chief Government Solutions
Mike is a seasoned intelligence community professional with experience in Joint, National and Tactical training and education solutions and specializing in the application of gaming and simulation technologies. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and after 30 years of service retired as a Lieutenant Commander. He is a recognized authority in systems engineering, research and development, prototyping, testing and fielding of advanced technology and translating emerging technology requirements into operational capability. He holds a BS degree in Business Management from Saint Leo College and is a member of the American Society of Naval Engineers.
Mike Ricks, Chief Financial Officer
As Chief Financial Officer, Michael Ricks brings over twenty-four years of experience in strategic business operations to InVisM. His expertise as a finance executive to high technology companies ranges from Fortune 500 companies to start-up ventures. Past companies include MediaOne Group's Atlanta region (now Comcast) and Transaria Inc., a wireless broadband and network services firm. In addition to serving as chief financial officer to both aforementioned companies, Michael's accomplishments include directing corporate finance and investment banking teams overseeing mergers and acquisitions, business development, international investments and divestitures. Michael earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Indiana University and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Arkansas.
Board of Advisors and Consultants
Rick DeGolia, Senior Business Advisor
Rick is currently a member of the Angel's Forum LLC in Silicon Valley. From 1996–2001 he served as senior vice president of strategic planning and business development at Genesys Telecommunications and had oversight of its initial public offering in 1997 and subsequent $1.8 billion sale to Alcatel in 2000. Prior to joining Genesys, Rick was a partner with Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati, a large Silicon Valley-based law firm, where for more than 11 years he represented clients through formation, private financings and initial public offerings in the software, semiconductor and telecommunications industries. He also represented several venture capital firms in connection with private equity investments, including Sequoia Capital; New Enterprise Associates; Benchmark Capital; IVP; and Burr, Egan & Deleage, as well as several investment banking firms in connection with their underwriting practices, including Goldman Sachs, Robertson Stephens and Alex Brown. He holds a B.A. in American Studies from the University of California at Berkeley, where he graduated magna cum laude and joined Phi Beta Kappa, and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.
COL Alan King (USAR), Cultural Advisor
Colonel King is one of the top experts on Middle Eastern Cultural affairs. His recently published book, Twice Armed, is the 2008 Colby Award winner and is acclaimed for its insights into culture interaction in the Middle East. Awarded two Bronze Stars for Valor and seriously wounded in Iraq, he conducted over 3,500 meetings with Sheiks and clerics and was made an honorary Sheik of the largest tribe in Iraq. Mr. King has been a guest speaker/instructor for the Army, State Department, DOD and many other agencies and organizations.
Dr. Richard Duda, Project Consultant
Dr. Duda is an Emeritus Professor of Electrical Engineering at San Jose State University. He is widely recognized for the textbook on pattern recognition that he co-authored with P. E. Hart and D. G. Stork. For the past decade, he has collaborated with V. Ralph Algazi at the University of California, Davis on signal processing for spatial sound recording and reproduction, which resulted in the development of the patented MTB or Motion-Tracked Binaural technology. He received his BS and MS in Engineering from UCLA, and his PhD in Electrical Engineering from MIT.
V. Ralph Algazi, Project Consultant
Ralph is research professor emeritus of the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, Davis, where he has held a number of leadership positions in administration, management, and research through the years. His research has been centered on properties of human perception and their application in design of processing algorithms for images, speech, and sound. He received his BS degree from the Ecole Superieure d'Electricite in France and MS and PhD degrees from the MIT, where he has also served on the faculty.
Rajesh Krishnan, Business Manager and Product Commercialization
Rajesh has 11 years of experience in business development, finance, engineering, and intellectual property development. Prior to working with InVisM, Rajesh was at IBM's Systems and Technology Group where he worked on a variety of corporate development activities, including joint development agreements, IP licensing, mergers and acquisitions, and divestitures. Prior to that, he worked in strategy and marketing for IBM's storage division, including the launch of IBM's Storage Software division as it ramped from 0 to over 1,000 clients by the end of its second year in operation. Rajesh holds a B.S. in Science, Technology, and Society from Stanford University and an MBA from Chicago GSB.
Dan Kikinis, Inventor and Intellectual Property Expert
Dan has more than 25 years experience in engineering and intellectual property development across a broad range of technologies, built on bedrock knowledge of systems, computer and software architecture. He has invented and/or participated in registering more than 750 patents worldwide in areas including interactive television, telecommunications, wireless communication, networks, systems, PCs, and Net/Web. Dan is expert at managing the entire patent process, from intellectual property mining and development to patent prosecution to licensing and enforcement, including portfolio management. Prior to working with InVisM, Dan founded Lextron and Elonex Technologies (Oakleigh Systems), where his innovative designs in the field of personal computers received industry recognition worldwide. Dan is a graduate of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, with B. Sc. EE and M. Sc. Computer Sciences degrees.
Michael Rader, Special Security Officer
Mike is a credentialed subject matter expert with over 33 years of experience in multiple security disciplines. Since 1996, he has served as a defense contractor in the capacities of Program Manager for SPARTA Incorporated, Multiple Operations Manager for The Boeing Company, Senior Analyst for Trawick & Associates, and Program Control Officer for Information Technology & Applications Corporation. Mike served in the United States Air Force from 1974 to 1996, retiring as a master sergeant from the North American Aerospace Defense Command - United States Space Command. Mr. Rader is a graduate of Augusta Military Academy.
Partners
Foundation 9/Pipeworks
Foundation 9 Entertainment is a collection of independent studios, specializing in creating on time, fun, quality, and franchise-based videogames on every major platform. Foundation 9 provides fantastic service at a competitive price for their clients and publishing partners. With 10 studios across the United States, Canada, the UK and India, F9E is the largest independent game developer in the world, employing nearly 900 of the most talented people in the industry.
Pipeworks Software was founded in 1999 by a group of people who came together with a commitment to making high quality games and delivering a satisfying experience to our clients. Those ideals continue to drive everything that we do today. Pipeworks is a versatile developer of console and PC games, with an emphasis on absolute dependability for our publishing partners. Pipeworks is part of Foundation 9 Entertainment, a collective of independent game development studios located all over the world.
To learn more about Foundation 9 or PipeWorks, please visit their respective websites at www.f9e.com and www.Pipeworks.com.
EffectiveUI
EffectiveUI is an award-winning user interface design and development firm, enabling companies to maximize their business results while offering exceptional interactive experiences. Leveraging emerging technologies and expertise in user experience, strategy, design and development, EffectiveUI helps today's most respected brands deepen customer engagements by creating more compelling, dynamic and useful customer interactions. EffectiveUI has developed groundbreaking applications for organizations across multiple industries, including eBay, GE Health, NBC Universal, Viacom, Discovery Channel, Dow Jones, Adobe, and Microsoft.
For more information and examples of EffectiveUI's work, please visit www.effectiveui.com.
Combat Film Productions
Combat Film Productions is dedicated to multi-media projects with the highest resolution of Cinematic and Tactical truth through use of Evolutionary Filmmaking Technology and our core staff of U.S. Armed Forces Veterans.
Combat Film Productions' scope of production includes feature films, television, internet webisodes, advertising campaigns, Department of Defense training films, corporate and industrial films, print advertising campaigns, game platforms, and live events.
Combat Film Productions staff are not only Filmmakers — they are also Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines.
Combat Film Productions honors those men and women who serve, past and present.
To learn more about Combat Film Productions, please visit their website at www.CombatFilmProductions.com.
Quest Pictures
Quest Pictures, LLC is an award-winning post-production studio that seamlessly combines high-end, creative editing with innovative visual effects. Through integrating live-action footage with computer-generated imagery, Quest Pictures creates realistic scenes that would otherwise be too costly, dangerous or impossible to capture on set. From on-set supervision to editing and visual effects, Quest Pictures delivers premier level quality and efficiency that often transcends expectation.
Continuously breaking new ground, Quest Pictures offers its services to a diverse client base, with a specialization in military and classified government projects. Recently, Quest Pictures edited and produced No Ignoring, a documentary that chronicles American soldiers serving in Iraq, which received two bronze Telly Awards.
In addition, Quest Pictures teamed up with Invism and Combat Film Productions to create the military training video series U.S. Army’s 360 Cultural Awareness. Quest’s contribution helped win this project a bronze Telly Award in 2009 and a prestigious Stevie Award at The 2009 American Business Awards. Additional projects include InVisM’s GeoStorm, ITT’s They Never Saw Us Coming and the US Army Artillery School Fire Supporter.
To learn more about Quest Pictures, please visit their website at www.QuestPictures.com.