Experience Matters

Neil Diener is a co-founder of Emanate Wireless and is the CEO. He is leading the company to become a strategic provider of RTLS technologies leveraging WiFi, BLE, and the Cloud. Prior to launching Emanate Wireless, Neil was a member of the CTO office in Cisco’s Wireless Networking Business Unit. He came to Cisco through the acquisition of Cognio, Inc. in 2007, where he was co-founder and CTO. At Cisco, Neil worked on shaping Cisco’s wireless technology and product strategies, with a focus on the areas of RF innovations, Spectrum Intelligence, and High Density wireless deployments.

Neil has over twenty-five years of experience in the conception, deployment, and delivery of innovative software and communication products. He has played a visionary and leadership role in building several successful start-up companies including Cognio, Direct Hit (acquired by Ask.com), and Telogy Networks wireless division (acquired by Motorola). Neil holds a BS Electrical Engineering from MIT and a MS Computer Engineering from USC. He has been issued 25 patents in the area of Wi-Fi and spectrum management. In his spare time, Neil enjoys working out, dancing, and playing poker

Tom is a renowned technology executive, with more than 25 years of expertise in engineering and management – with skills ranging from building new companies to expanding and growing large enterprises. Most recently, Mr. McPherson was CEO of Cognio, a venture-backed wireless start-up that was acquired by Cisco. Prior to Cognio, Tom served as president and CEO at Hatteras Networks, a venture-backed company providing carrier Ethernet access products. Prior to that, Mr. McPherson held executive positions at enterprise networking companies including Nortel Networks, Network Equipment and Bay Networks. At Rapid City Communications he was founder and COO prior to their acquisition by Bay. Mr. McPherson also served as general manager of the DirectPC division of Hughes Electronics and COO of Hughes LAN Systems, and held management positions at Picture Element and M/A-COM.

Gary is a co-founder of Emanate Wireless and has over 25 years of experience in the conception, invention, design and development of digital communication products and technology. Gary has a great reputation as a creative force in leading breakthrough technology developments for both small and large companies.

Gary was an original founder of Cognio and led their development team of 30 people with a diverse skillset ranging from RF circuit design, UI development, and program management. While at Cognio, Gary invented the initial MIMO beamforming, SAgE, pulse-based signal identification, generic signal identification, and interferer location concepts. Upon the Cisco acquisition of Cognio, Gary became the Director of Engineering of the Wireless Networking BU. His team of over 90 engineers had responsibility spanning RF, digital, mechanical, antenna, compliance, PCB CAD, ASIC and DSP development disciplines. Gary’s team introduced Cisco’s leading edge “Clean Air” technology in Cisco's Aironet Access Points. Gary has fifty issued U.S. patents and holds a BS and MS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park. In his spare time, Gary enjoys playing guitar, travel and skiing.

Pradeep is a principle at Blu Venture Investors, and is the CEO & President of Hughes Systique Corporation (HSC), a company he co-founded in 2006. HSC has grown to over 400 employees and provides consulting and software engineering services for wireless access systems, multimedia switching systems, smart terminal based applications and digital networks for cellular and satellite based communication systems. Prior to launching HSC, he shared in the General Management of Hughes Network Systems (HNS) as an Executive VP of the company and a Member of the Office of the Chairman. In this capacity, he helped grow HNS from a $100M company, acquired by Hughes Electronics in 1987, to $1.5B prior to acquisition by News Corp. News Corp. subsequently was sold to Apollo Management, which took it public. Pradeep has extensive industry expertise in wireless technology, including Wireless/Cellular, Satellite Communications, Packet Data Networking, Smart Phones, Communication and Application Software Development.

Jack is CEO & President of Integrity Hospital Company. Jack is a highly skilled physician with two decades of experience in leadership, emergency medicine, and teaching. Recently, Dr. Mitstifer has served as President of a 500-bed teaching hospital during a successful 18-month turnaround and President of a 400 bed community hospital during its successful turnaround. He assists Integrity Hospital Company clients in the areas of emergency medicine performance improvement, strategic cost reduction and revenue improvement, physician integration, and leadership development. He assumed the Presidency of Integrity in 2014. Previously, Dr. Mitstifer was the Chairman, Department of Emergency Medicine of Akron General Health System, and President, General Emergency Medical Specialists, Inc. He is currently Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, Northeast Ohio Medical University. Dr. Mitstifer continues to practice emergency medicine in Northeast Ohio.