Brett Craig joined QSpex in November 2013 as a Board of Director, and then assumed the President and CEO role in December...
QSpex’s proprietary technology was created and directed by Dr. Kai Su, the company’s founder. For 15 years, Dr. Su served...
Karen Reid brings to QSpex more than 20 years of finance and accounting experience. Most recently, Karen served as CFO of...
Peter Zieman was previously a Vice President of an electronic eyeglass company competing in the same category as Google...
Danny Cruz joined QSpex Technologies, Inc. in 2010 with over 30 years of experience in the Optical Industry. Prior to...
Christophe Mahaut brings to Qspex over 20 years of international experience in all aspects of the Supply Chain...
Michael O’Connor has over 25 years of experience in spectacle lens manufacturing. His previous positions included...
Jack White has over 25 years of experience in the ophthalmic, precision optics and medical device industries...
Nelson Whiting has over 17 years business experience in Accounting, Supply Chain and IT disciplines. He...
Kathy Hoover has been with QSpex Technologies, Inc. since its inception. She brings with her over 20 years of experience...
QSpex has assembled an impressive Board of Directors, consisting of seasoned capital partners and executives from the eyecare industry.
QSpex strives to provide its capital partners best-in-class financial returns, and its customers distinguishable and meaningful value.
Brett Craig joined QSpex in November 2013 as a Board of Director, and then assumed the President and CEO role in December 2013. With more than 15 years of experience in the eye care industry, Brett was previously the President and CEO of an electronic eyeglass company competing in the same space as Google Glass™. Prior to this assignment, Brett was President and Chief Operating Officer of Transitions Optical, the world leader in photochromic lenses, which was recently sold to Essilor with an enterprise value of $3.4 B. During his tenure at Transitions, he also held capacities as General Manager and Managing Director, for Asia/ Australasia and Europe, Middle East, and Africa.
Brett holds a B.S. in Economics from The University of Wisconsin - Madison and an M.B.A. from Cox School of Business at SMU.
QSpex’s proprietary technology was created and directed by Dr. Kai Su, the company’s founder. For 15 years, Dr. Su served as the Executive Vice President and Head of Research for CIBA Vision’s Advanced Technology Division. He has invented over 100 vision care patents, many of which contribute to one third of CIBA Vision’s annual revenue of $1.6B.
Dr. Su holds a B.S. in Chemistry from Tamking University (Taiwan) and a Ph.D. in Polymer Chemistry from Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn.
Karen Reid brings to QSpex more than 20 years of finance and accounting experience. Most recently, Karen served as CFO of Conisus, a private equity-backed medical communications company. Prior to Conisus, Karen was a Vice President at Citigroup in corporate banking and transaction/ capital structuring and held accounting positions at Frederick’s of Hollywood and LaRoche Industries after getting her start in auditing at Arthur Andersen.
Karen is a graduate of UCLA Anderson (MBA) and Wake Forest University (BS-Accounting) and obtained her CPA and Series 7 and 63 licenses.
Peter Zieman was previously a Vice President of an electronic eyeglass company competing in the same category as Google Glass™. Prior to this assignment, he was Vice President of Laboratory Technologies at Essilor America, UK Service Director Dolland and Aitchison PLC, Managing Director Cheshire Optical UK, and past Chairman of the Comprehensive Prescription Manufacturing Association in the United Kingdom.
Peter was educated at St. Thomas More Academy, Manchester University Business College and the Institute of Production Engineering.
Danny Cruz joined QSpex Technologies, Inc. in 2010 with over 30 years of experience in the Optical Industry. Prior to joining QSpex, Danny was Vice President of Sales, North America at National Ophthalmics where he helped build an emerging company to $30 million in 2 years.
Danny holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.Sc.), Applied Economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an Ophthalmic Dispensing License from the state of New York. He is also ABO & NCLE certified.
Christophe Mahaut brings to QSpex over 20 years of international experience in all aspects of the Supply Chain. Prior to QSpex, he served as Vice President of Supply Chain at L’Oréal in the US and led for the same multinational various executive roles and business transformation programs developing the Americas and European Markets across multiple channels including Medical, Mass, Luxury products and e-commerce.
Christophe holds an engineering degree from the EISTI, a European International School in Information Technology and Business Management.
Michael O’Connor has over 25 years of experience in spectacle lens manufacturing. His previous positions included Regional Director for Essilor of America and Senior Vice President of Manufacturing for Davis Vision. He is certified with the American Board of Opticianry (ABO) as well as the American Society for Quality (ASQ).
Michael holds a B.A. from State University of New York (SUNY) and M.B.A. from St. John’s University.
Jack White has over 25 years of experience in the ophthalmic, precision optics and medical device industries. He has led engineering organizations in international and US-based corporations. He currently has 24 issued US product and process patents with additional patents pending.
Jack holds a Bachelor’s of Mechanical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Nelson Whiting has over 17 years business experience in Accounting, Supply Chain and IT disciplines. He led the global business intelligence program for Schlumberger in Paris France before joining Cellnet Technologies in Atlanta in 2004. Nelson held positions as Director of Supply Chain and Director of IT Operations during the period that Cellnet and subsequently, Landis & Gyr-Toshiba, became a smart grid leader in the energy industry. As a process consultant, Nelson has worked with various businesses in SEC Reporting, Auditing, Systems Implementation and Program Management.
Nelson is a presidential scholar with a B.S. in Accounting from the University of South Alabama, is a licensed CPA and is a member of AICPA.
Kathy Hoover has been with QSpex Technologies, Inc. since its inception. She brings with her over 20 years of experience in human resources, benefits and accounting with 18 of those years in the optical industry. Kathy was named one of Vision Monday's 2013 Most Influential Women in Optical.
Kathy holds a B.B.A. with a concentration in Accounting from Emory University and an M.B.A. from Georgia State University.
One of two founding Managing Directors of Essex Woodlands, Mr. Sutter was educated in chemical engineering and finance and has more than 30 years of management experience in operations, marketing, finance & venture capital. Directly involved with over 30 Essex Woodlands portfolio investments, he has served on numerous Boards of Directors of public & private companies.
Dr. Melrose’s 24 years in the Healthcare industry includes experience in operating, clinical & investment (both public & private), research, clinical practice, education & health policy. As the Founding Managing Director of Spindletop Capital, he provides expansion capital for healthcare investments. As Founding Managing Director of PTV Sciences (venture capital firm) & Director with Burrill and Company (life science private equity/venture capital firm) he has also public board & operating experience, including partnerships & IPOs.
Dr. Ellisor specializes in laser vision co-management, family optometry care, contact lenses and treatment of eye disease. He is therapeutically certified, is an Optometry Glaucoma Specialist, founded Vision Source and has served as President and Chairman of the Board since its inception in May 1991. In addition to QSpex, Dr. Ellisor has served on advisory panels for Ciba, Pilkington-Barnes Hind, Bausch & Lomb, Wesley Jessen and Alcon.
Mr. Anton is the founder and Chairman (retired) of Anton Airfood, Inc. and Managing Partner of Anton Venture Capital Fund, LLC. He serves on a number of Board of Directors and Trustees including Air Chef Corporation, Media Research Corporation, William F. Harrah College in University of Nevada, National Restaurant Association Education Foundation and British Restaurant Association. Mr. Anton is Chairman Emeritus of Board of Trustees for Culinary Institute of America and serves on the Board of Governors for Thailand Foundation for Mental Health at Cedars-Sinai.
Mr. Grootegoed has more than 30 years of experience in the ophthalmic industry at both the manufacturing and wholesale levels. His experience includes sales, marketing, new business planning, purchasing, business startup, distribution, customer service, personnel/HR, environmental compliance, information resources and telecommunications. Mr. Grootegoed is a Former Executive V.P. of Walman Optical, member of Executive Committee, ESOP BOD, Finance Committee & Board of Directors as well as services as a consultant for The Magnum Group, Inc. & Technology Editor for trade magazine, Optical Lab Products.
Mr. Martin has been with QSpex since August, 2008. In 2001 Mr. Martin retired from Ciba Vision Corporation, a Novartis Company engaged in the research, manufacture and sale of contact lenses, lens care products and ophthalmic pharmaceuticals. He founded Ciba Vision (lenses and lens care) in 1980 and the ophthalmic pharmaceuticals division, Ciba Vision Ophthalmics, in 1990. He and his team grew sales of the combined companies to over $1.2 Billion with more than 6,000 employees. He has assisted several start-ups in raising equity capital. He has served as a director on the boards of numerous public and private companies. Steve is a graduate of Wake Forest University and attended the Woodrow Wilson College of Law. He holds 6 issued U.S. Patents for his inventions and a number of European patents.
Brett Craig joined QSpex in November 2013 as a Board of Director, and then assumed the President and CEO role in December 2013. With more than 15 years of experience in the eye care industry, Brett was previously the President and CEO of an electronic eyeglass company competing in the same space as Google Glass™. Prior to this assignment, Brett was President and Chief Operating Officer of Transitions Optical, the world’s leader of photochromic lenses, which was recently sold to Essilor with an enterprise value of $3.4 B. During his tenure at Transitions, he also held capacities as General Manager and Managing Director, for Asia/ Australasia and Europe, Middle East, and Africa.
QSpex’s proprietary technology was created and directed by Dr. Kai Su, the company’s co-founder. For 15 years, Dr. Su served as the Executive Vice President and Head of Research for Ciba Vision’s Advanced Technology Division. He has invented over 100 vision care patents, many of which contribute to one third of Ciba Vision’s annual revenue of $1.6B.
With $2.5 billion under management, Essex Woodlands Health Ventures is one of the largest and oldest venture capital firms, pursuing investments in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, health care services and health information technology.
Since its founding in 1985, Essex Woodlands has maintained its singular commitment to the healthcare industry and has been involved in the founding, investing, and/or management of over 100 healthcare companies ranging across all sectors, stages and geography. The team is comprised of 25 senior investment professionals with offices in Palo Alto, Houston, New York, and London.
Spindletop Capital, founded in 2011, is a healthcare investment firm focused on providing expansion capital for commercial stage healthcare companies. Based in Austin, Spindletop Capital is managed by an unrivaled team of investment professionals and advisors with deep operating, technical, and transactional experience.
Spindletop Capital leverages the organization’s deep experience, broad network and proprietary access to Texas resources to enhance value for management teams and financing syndicates. Spindletop Capital invests nationally across all sectors of healthcare including medical devices, diagnostics, healthcare services, healthcare IT, specialty pharmaceuticals and biotechnology.