Team
Dr. Christopher D. Near, Founder and CTO
Ph. D. and M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University, B.S. in Electrical Engineering and B.S. in Applied Mathematics, Northwestern University.
Dr. Near is the inventor of the CODA technology. While at AT&T Bell Laboratories, he built the world's third largest expert system. He invented an expert system testing system that generated a near-minimum number of test cases from detailed system specifications, that successfully generated 200,000 test cases to achieve 100% test coverage for his expert system. Over the last 20 years, while providing telecommunications consulting to over 250 Fortune 500 companies and 49 international carriers, he pursued the CODA technology.
Ph. D. and M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University, B.S. in Electrical Engineering and B.S. in Applied Mathematics, Northwestern University.
Dr. Near is the inventor of the CODA technology. While at AT&T Bell Laboratories, he built the world's third largest expert system. He invented an expert system testing system that generated a near-minimum number of test cases from detailed system specifications, that successfully generated 200,000 test cases to achieve 100% test coverage for his expert system. Over the last 20 years, while providing telecommunications consulting to over 250 Fortune 500 companies and 49 international carriers, he pursued the CODA technology.
Steven C. Wight, Director
B. A., California State University, Fullerton and an M.B.A. from the University of Southern California
Since 2007, Mr. Wight and certain entities controlled by him have been the principal financial sponsors of Spectare’s development. Mr. Wight served as Managing Director of Triton, the world’s largest owner-lessor of marine intermodal cargo containers with approximately 15 percent market share of the global leased fleet. Triton operates in 42 countries on six continents. In 2011 a controlling interest in Triton was acquired by Warburg Pincus and Vestar Capital from certain Pritzker business interests.
B. A., California State University, Fullerton and an M.B.A. from the University of Southern California
Since 2007, Mr. Wight and certain entities controlled by him have been the principal financial sponsors of Spectare’s development. Mr. Wight served as Managing Director of Triton, the world’s largest owner-lessor of marine intermodal cargo containers with approximately 15 percent market share of the global leased fleet. Triton operates in 42 countries on six continents. In 2011 a controlling interest in Triton was acquired by Warburg Pincus and Vestar Capital from certain Pritzker business interests.
Dr. Jack C. Martin, Consultant
Ph. D. Math, TCU.
Dr. Martin has over 40 years of experience in software technology and management. He built a CMMI-certified offshore software development house as Senior VP & CTO, ACS BPO Solutions and the technology organization for Perot Systems, including centers in object technology, networking, data mining, data warehousing, workflow/imaging and internet/intranet technology. While at IBM, he was a key member of IBM’s Applications Development Architecture Board, held leadership role in PL/AS compiler development, and was Language Control Board Chairman leading the architecture and design of the PL/X language.
Ph. D. Math, TCU.
Dr. Martin has over 40 years of experience in software technology and management. He built a CMMI-certified offshore software development house as Senior VP & CTO, ACS BPO Solutions and the technology organization for Perot Systems, including centers in object technology, networking, data mining, data warehousing, workflow/imaging and internet/intranet technology. While at IBM, he was a key member of IBM’s Applications Development Architecture Board, held leadership role in PL/AS compiler development, and was Language Control Board Chairman leading the architecture and design of the PL/X language.
Donna L. Near, Director of Information Technology
B.A., Sociology, Rutgers University
Ms. Near has over 25 years in the computing and information fields. She held the positions of Director of Customer Service and Technical Support and Marketing Research Director for Ibrix, Inc. which was later sold to HP. While working at Princeton University she planned and implemented the change from a paper-based call tracking system used by six people to a fourth generation call-tracking and knowledge-base system (Apriori) used by ~200 technical support providers and thousands of customers. She later helped migrate users from Apriori to Tivoli. She initiated and negotiated service level agreements among Computing and Information Technology (CIT) departments and between CIT and outside departments. Ms. Near created and maintained a call-tracking relational database of client data, client problem histories, knowledge-base documents, symptoms, keywords, and links between client information and solutions. Links were used to generate statistics to assess resource allocation and training needs. She created and maintained web and e-mail interfaces to the call-tracking and knowledge-base systems. She wrote and maintained documentation, managed 45 consultants to help customers diagnose and resolve computing problems on Windows, Windows NT (workstation & server), Macintosh OS, Unix (Sun OS, Solaris, & Irix), and IBM mainframe (VMS/CMS), with Novell, NT, TCP/IP, and Wireless networking, as well as with e-mail and remote access. While at Princeton University and at Bryn Mawr College, Ms. Near created and implemented diverse training programs for faculty, staff, and students, wrote and edited technical materials, produced publications and audio-visual components for training.
B.A., Sociology, Rutgers University
Ms. Near has over 25 years in the computing and information fields. She held the positions of Director of Customer Service and Technical Support and Marketing Research Director for Ibrix, Inc. which was later sold to HP. While working at Princeton University she planned and implemented the change from a paper-based call tracking system used by six people to a fourth generation call-tracking and knowledge-base system (Apriori) used by ~200 technical support providers and thousands of customers. She later helped migrate users from Apriori to Tivoli. She initiated and negotiated service level agreements among Computing and Information Technology (CIT) departments and between CIT and outside departments. Ms. Near created and maintained a call-tracking relational database of client data, client problem histories, knowledge-base documents, symptoms, keywords, and links between client information and solutions. Links were used to generate statistics to assess resource allocation and training needs. She created and maintained web and e-mail interfaces to the call-tracking and knowledge-base systems. She wrote and maintained documentation, managed 45 consultants to help customers diagnose and resolve computing problems on Windows, Windows NT (workstation & server), Macintosh OS, Unix (Sun OS, Solaris, & Irix), and IBM mainframe (VMS/CMS), with Novell, NT, TCP/IP, and Wireless networking, as well as with e-mail and remote access. While at Princeton University and at Bryn Mawr College, Ms. Near created and implemented diverse training programs for faculty, staff, and students, wrote and edited technical materials, produced publications and audio-visual components for training.
Spectare Advisory Board
Dr. David D. Moran
Ph.D., Hydrodynamics and Mathematics from University of Iowa, B.S. and M.S. degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is also a graduate of the Federal Executive Institute and the JFK School at Harvard University. Dr. Moran is a former director of industrial outreach for advanced technology for the Office of Naval Research, (ONR) (1991-1996). His professional experience in management, research and development include: President, Technology International Partnerships (1998-2013); President, National Technology Transfer Center (1997-1998); and Director, Industrial Outreach. His professional experience in research and teaching include: Full Professor, Adjunct 2006-2013 at West Virginia University; Full Professor, Adjunct 1973-2013 George Washington University; Full Professor, NSEA Research Chair 1980-1981.Dr. Moran has authored 102 scientific and management publications and holds 12 patents.
Ph.D., Hydrodynamics and Mathematics from University of Iowa, B.S. and M.S. degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is also a graduate of the Federal Executive Institute and the JFK School at Harvard University. Dr. Moran is a former director of industrial outreach for advanced technology for the Office of Naval Research, (ONR) (1991-1996). His professional experience in management, research and development include: President, Technology International Partnerships (1998-2013); President, National Technology Transfer Center (1997-1998); and Director, Industrial Outreach. His professional experience in research and teaching include: Full Professor, Adjunct 2006-2013 at West Virginia University; Full Professor, Adjunct 1973-2013 George Washington University; Full Professor, NSEA Research Chair 1980-1981.Dr. Moran has authored 102 scientific and management publications and holds 12 patents.
Dr. Jennifer Brower
Dr. Brower completed a National Research Council postdoctoral fellowship at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C. She holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering and Microbiology from Harvard University, and two Bachelor degrees in Engineering from Dartmouth College and the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College.
She has been a Prometheus Principal Scientist and Administrator for 17 years. While at Prometheus she has developed technology applications for Prometheus algorithms, co-developed a DCAA approved accounting system, and managed several Prometheus efforts in mathematics and business development. While at RAND, Dr. Brower was Co-Director of the Congressionally-mandated Advisory Panel to Assess Domestic Response to Terrorism Involving Weapons of Mass Destruction (the Gilmore Commission). As part of this well-regarded multi-year project, she supervised more than 50 personnel and developed and oversaw the research agenda for the panel, which included research on technologies to combat (biological, chemical, and infrastructure) terrorism as well as policies and procedures in the areas of critical infrastructure, border protection, and health and emergency services. Dr. Brower has also led or been a key scientist on numerous smaller technology projects for Prometheus Inc., DARPA, and INNF. Dr. Brower Dr. Brower has co-authored several peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and books.
Dr. Brower completed a National Research Council postdoctoral fellowship at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C. She holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering and Microbiology from Harvard University, and two Bachelor degrees in Engineering from Dartmouth College and the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College.
She has been a Prometheus Principal Scientist and Administrator for 17 years. While at Prometheus she has developed technology applications for Prometheus algorithms, co-developed a DCAA approved accounting system, and managed several Prometheus efforts in mathematics and business development. While at RAND, Dr. Brower was Co-Director of the Congressionally-mandated Advisory Panel to Assess Domestic Response to Terrorism Involving Weapons of Mass Destruction (the Gilmore Commission). As part of this well-regarded multi-year project, she supervised more than 50 personnel and developed and oversaw the research agenda for the panel, which included research on technologies to combat (biological, chemical, and infrastructure) terrorism as well as policies and procedures in the areas of critical infrastructure, border protection, and health and emergency services. Dr. Brower has also led or been a key scientist on numerous smaller technology projects for Prometheus Inc., DARPA, and INNF. Dr. Brower Dr. Brower has co-authored several peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and books.
Katherine Wallace Brown
Ms. Brown is a strategic consultant specializing in partnership development and process optimization. For the past 20 years she has developed and sustained valued partnerships among business, non-profit, university and government entities, She has also worked closely with numerous science and technology start-ups to translate mathematical and scientific discoveries into useful applications and innovative business models. She is a former Vice President and Sector Director for MBNA. During her 10 years with the company she developed many innovative programs and held numerous leadership positions.
Ms. Brown is a strategic consultant specializing in partnership development and process optimization. For the past 20 years she has developed and sustained valued partnerships among business, non-profit, university and government entities, She has also worked closely with numerous science and technology start-ups to translate mathematical and scientific discoveries into useful applications and innovative business models. She is a former Vice President and Sector Director for MBNA. During her 10 years with the company she developed many innovative programs and held numerous leadership positions.
Elie Kawand
B.S., M.S., Ph.D. Computer Science (pending) from New York University Polytechnic Institute, and 1-yr Executive Masters program at The George Washington University School of Business
Mr. Kawand has spent over 20 years in senior executive positions at IBM Global Services, Viacore (Partner), New Jersey Consulting Group (founder), Oracle Corporation, Lucent Technologies Professional Services, and AT&T Business Services. Prior to that, he was an Artificial Intelligence scientist at AT&T Bell Laboratories, a Computer Science Faculty at New York University Polytechnic Institute, and a senior researcher at the New York Center For Advanced Technologies In Telecommunications. He completed acquisition & integration of Viacore into IBM. He grew Viacore from Start-up into a leading global service provider; oversaw the acquisition, management, and operations of multi-year Business Process outsourcing contracts servicing thousands of clients across the United States, Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East. He advised leadership teams and boards at Fortune 500 firms on business operations at NJCG. He managed Telecommunications Industry Services Division at Oracle. He grew Lucent Technologies Start-up Professional Services business from 0 to $100M+ in revenue. He led the building and commercialization of numerous advanced technologies to the global market at AT&T.
B.S., M.S., Ph.D. Computer Science (pending) from New York University Polytechnic Institute, and 1-yr Executive Masters program at The George Washington University School of Business
Mr. Kawand has spent over 20 years in senior executive positions at IBM Global Services, Viacore (Partner), New Jersey Consulting Group (founder), Oracle Corporation, Lucent Technologies Professional Services, and AT&T Business Services. Prior to that, he was an Artificial Intelligence scientist at AT&T Bell Laboratories, a Computer Science Faculty at New York University Polytechnic Institute, and a senior researcher at the New York Center For Advanced Technologies In Telecommunications. He completed acquisition & integration of Viacore into IBM. He grew Viacore from Start-up into a leading global service provider; oversaw the acquisition, management, and operations of multi-year Business Process outsourcing contracts servicing thousands of clients across the United States, Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East. He advised leadership teams and boards at Fortune 500 firms on business operations at NJCG. He managed Telecommunications Industry Services Division at Oracle. He grew Lucent Technologies Start-up Professional Services business from 0 to $100M+ in revenue. He led the building and commercialization of numerous advanced technologies to the global market at AT&T.
Thomas Wolf
M.S. Computer Science, Columbia University,
Mr. Wolf has over 30 years of professional software engineering experience in security, telecommunications, finance, and academia, including AT&T Bell Laboratories, Morgan Stanley, Integrasolv, Ihtaka, and BlackStratus. He has designed and implemented software solutions in numerous programming languages (Assembly, C, C++, Objective-C, Java, HTML, Javascript) ranging in size from thousands to millions of lines of code. His specialty is the development of innovative user interfaces.
M.S. Computer Science, Columbia University,
Mr. Wolf has over 30 years of professional software engineering experience in security, telecommunications, finance, and academia, including AT&T Bell Laboratories, Morgan Stanley, Integrasolv, Ihtaka, and BlackStratus. He has designed and implemented software solutions in numerous programming languages (Assembly, C, C++, Objective-C, Java, HTML, Javascript) ranging in size from thousands to millions of lines of code. His specialty is the development of innovative user interfaces.