Berson & Associates

 PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 

1981 – Present Founder, Berson & Associates, Morgan Hill, CA

Specializing in long-term interim management, sales and business development and management consulting. Experience spans the range from startups to emerging companies to Fortune 100 companies, mergers and acquisitions, DOD and non profits..  Have participated in eight companies which have had successful IPOs and a number that have been acquired

 

2007 - Present Consulting Assignments

AIM, Paratek Microwave, Morgan Hill Downtown Association, ReadyPath. CentralTech

2005-2007- Vice President of Sales & Marketing, First Contact Engineering

Developed  focused market program for this wireless product development company. Developed 600 contact lead database based on company visits, emails, cold calling and conference contacts.  Developed strategic relationships with Motorola, Nordic Semiconductor, SST Semiconductor, Kleer Semiconductor, 11engineering among others. Created email marketing program for company.

 

2001-Present- CEO Stronger Medical Instruments –Berson & Associates

Negotiated 10 year agreement with Chinese manufacturer of instruments for ophthalmic surgery... Made eight visits to China to date. Introduced full line of titanium instruments for eye surgery in the west. Worked with leading surgeons to develop novel new instruments featured in leading eye surgery magazines. Exhibited in several major conferences. Customer base includes Mayo Clinic, Stanford University Clinic, the Veterans Administration and other leading surgery centers and leading ophthalmic surgeons...

 

1999-2001 CEO, BROADPAC Communications, Inc. San Jose, CA

 

As CEO, founded the company based on a unique network technology concept, which was recognized by major consulting firm as having the power to dominate the market. Raised over $2M in seed capital and recruited a staff of 40 (30 engineers) during the most difficult recruiting environment in history.  Filed a patent. Developed the technology to the point of prototype demonstration.

 

1998 – 1999 ACTING CEO, HomeNet Santa Clara, CA

Raised several hundred thousand dollars in seed capital. Wrote the business plan. Worked on creating strategic alliances to facilitate rapid market entry. Folded activity back into parent company.

 

1997-1998 COO, Whisper Communications Santa Clara, CA

Started this company as a spinout under the auspices of a major venture capitalist. Raised over $15M in seed and first round funding. Negotiated the largest order in the history of the industry (>$75M). Recruited a staff of 50 including the permanent executive staff.

 

1995-1996 COO, Innova Corporation Seattle, WA

Turned this seven-year-old, struggling company into a success by creating a team that brought a critical wireless system to market. Created a strategy and scenario for fund raising, and obtained certification for the product in Europe, the fastest growing market. Instrumental in hiring a permanent CEO for the company. The company was then able to go public within a year and then was acquired. The product will soon form the majority of sales for the acquiring company.

 

1980-1981 VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER Avantek, Semiconductor Division, Santa Clara, CA

Restructured an internal service operation into a business unit by adding marketing, finance, and quality assurance. Grew the division 40% to $10,000,000 while earning greater than 10% after tax profit.  Obtained $ 500,000 in government R&D funding.

 

1973-1980 MANAGER OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT Hewlett Packard, Microwave Semiconductor Division, San Jose, CA

Built the R&D department from beginning into an effective new product team with over 90  employees, establishing at least one major new product line per year.  Supported the growth of the division from its inception to over  $35,000,000 in sales with over 6% after tax profit.

 

MANAGER OF MICROWAVE DEVICE DEVELOPMENT 1966-1973 RCA David Sarnoff Research Center, Princeton, NJ

 

Built a product development laboratory of 25 people supporting RCA device and systems business. Supported this group by personally selling over $500,000 in R&D contracts to the  government annually.

 

SENIOR PHYSICIST 1962-1966 General Dynamics, Pomona, CA

Developed and managed laboratory for the measurement of the electronic properties of materials.   Obtained several hundred thousand dollar in government R&D contracts.

 

 NON-PROFIT EXPERIENCE

American Institute of Mathematics (AIM)

Peninsula Open Space Trust

United Fund

American Cancer Society

United Jewish Appeal

 

LOCAL GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE

Member Morgan Hill Sister City Committee

Member Steering Committee for Yes on Measure  A

Steering Committee Santa Clara county Library Tax campaign

Co-managed successful Morgan Hill campaign

Member Morgan Hill Library Commission

Member West Windsor Board of Health

Member West Windsor Township Conservation Commission

 

PRESS

USA Today, “More Firms Court Couples”, December 14, 2000

Forbes, “Wings”, October 30, 2000

 

PUBLIC POSITIONS

Member, Blue Ribbon Panel to Review the Department of Defense $1 Billion Dollar ”MMIC" Initiative. 

Columnist and member of Editorial Review Board, Microwave Systems News. 

Member, Advisory Group on Electron Devices, U.S.   Department of Defense. 

Member, Board of Directors, International Microwave Society  

 

UNIVERSITY AFFILIATIONS

Visiting Research Scientist. Department of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA   1993-1995    

Affiliate Professor, Department of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science, Washington University, St. Louis MO 1987-1993

 

EDUCATIONAL SUMMARY

M.S.E.E, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York-1963

B.E.E, City College of New York, New York, New York- 1960

Additional Graduate Studies: UCLA, Newark College of Technology

 

 HONORS

 Department of Defense Meritorious Civilian Service Award

 Microwave Society Recognition Award

 RCA Laboratories Outstanding Achievement Award

 New York State Fellow

 New York State Regents Scholarship

 Honorable Mention, Westinghouse Motors National Scholarship

 

 PUBLICATIONS and PATENTS

 Over 100 technical papers and presentations

 Contributor to several books

 Two patents issued, several pending