THE NETWORK
Paul A. Masson, MBA
Managing Director, StarNet, LLC
Paul Masson, MBA has 25 years experience in financial syndications, startup companies, technology partnerships, and multi-party innovation alliances. As Managing Director, Paul coordinates the StarNet, LLC team projects and provides personal guidance in the areas of technology financing, multi-party alliance design, alliance facilitation (creation and troubleshooting) and public/private partnerships.
Paul formed StarNet, LLC in the mid-1990’s with an eye toward using the syndication methods of large financial institutions to organize multi-party innovation alliances that combines startup companies, research laboratories and large government organizations. This form of multi-party, innovation alliance is the most difficult to build, but also yields substantial innovation performance. As a consultant for SRI International, Paul first proposed this method to NASA. In turn, they began to fund the legal research into the method leading to formation of the NASA Joint Sponsored Research Program (JSR) in 1982. This program was led by a former colleague of Paul's at SRI.
Prior to forming StarNet, LLC Paul was Vice President/Director of Technology Commercialization at American Technology Alliances (AmTech), a non-profit funded by NASA to implement the Joint Sponsored Research Program. Prior to joining AmTech, Paul was project manager at three Northern California startup companies and a senior consultant at SRI International (formerly Stanford Research Institute).
Paul holds a BS Economics (Honors) from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and an MBA in Finance also from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.
Representative Alliance Engagements
- Wells Fargo- Multiple syndications for large scale energy and constructions projects
- NASA/SRI- R&D partnering to increase technology commercialization
- Phillips NV- IT systems development partnerships w/MAD Computer
- NASA/JSR Program- Multiple small scale alliances across different aviation, information systems, food, robotic and software products
- Carnegie Mellon University- Diagnostic and correction of failure to advance robotics software development at CMU Robotics Engineering Consortium
- State of Connecticut- Multiple alliance and collaborative designs to advance economic development spanning maritime industries, software, hydrogen fuel cells, biotech and aerospace
- State of California- Multiple energy technology commercialization programs utilizing alliance structures
- Department of Defense- Multiple feasibility assessments for innovation alliances; design of one innovation alliance currently in process
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Barry B. Grossman, PhD, MBA
Human Systems Organization Development, Inc. (HSOD)
Barry B. Grossman, Ph.D., MBA is an organization consultant with over 26 years of experience, combining business expertise with an ability to engage managers and executives in reaching breakthrough solutions to complex questions. As a member of the StarNet, LLC network team, Barry advises StarNet, LLC project clients on a variety of organizational and group teaming issues that achieve maximum collaboration. He specializes in helping groups and individuals overcome barriers to resolving difficult problems that are in urgent need of action.
Dr. Grossman’s primary practice is through Human Systems Organization Development (HSOD, Inc.) and spans multiple industries including financial management, retail and healthcare on topics of business strategy development, team effectiveness and executive coaching. His healthcare consultations include work with physician practice, national representation, clinical quality and new technologies.
Prior to his external consultant role, Barry was Manager of Human Resource Development for Syntex International where he was responsible for programs on executive development, translating corporate culture into operational terms and training Human Resource Generalists to become more effective internal consultants.
Dr. Grossman is currently an Adjunct Faculty member at the University of California, Berkeley, where he teaches several courses in the behavioral science/organization development track in the School of Business. He is also Senior Lecturer at Alliant International University training organization psychologists in consultation skills.
Barry is an invited speaker at national conferences on topics ranging from professional development for consultants to wellness and business strategy.
Barry holds BA and MA degrees in English literature, a PHD in Developmental Psychology and an MBA in the Management of IT Organizations.
Alliance Experience
- Governance models for public/private alliances
- Executive coaching for alliance leadership
- New team development, team operation for technical teams
- System planning and design for alliance structure
Industry and Technology Experience
- Healthcare
- Information systems
- Financial systems
Representative Engagements
- SATS/NCAM- Aviation alliance organizational design
- Association of Strategic Alliance Professionals (ASAP)- Training course design
Keith R. Gale, BSE, MBA
Gale Consulting
Keith R. Gale, BSE, MBA is a technology commercialization and engineering project management consultant with over 20 years of technology commercialization experience with an ability to identify the commercial feasibility of complex technology systems and their precedent developments. As a member of the StarNet, LLC team, Keith assists clients in technology due diligence, project team organization, engineering analysis and technology commercialization tracking. He specializes in developing and tracking the performance metrics necessary to assist the commercial feasibility of emerging technologies.
Mr. Gale operates as an external consultant in the fields of advance product development and federal technology policy development to corporations, technical teams, research organizations and public-benefit organizations. His experience spans multiple industries including information systems, aviation transportation, energy generation, robotics, commercial space, materials, and communications. His information systems consultations include work with DARPA in the field of high performance computing and IDG in the field of emerging information systems demand.
Prior to his external consultant role, Keith was Manager of Information Systems projects at American Technology Alliances (AmTech) and Manager of both nuclear and aerospace projects for Westinghouse and WesSpace. Mr. Gale was team leader and member of several Westinghouse technology development alliances with both commercial and Federal government organizations.
Keith holds an MBA (honors) from University of San Francisco in International Business and Marketing and an BS in Mechanical Engineering from Northwestern University specializing in Power Generation. Mr. Gale has completed advanced degree work in Electrical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU).
Alliance Experience
- Software development consortium design
- Technology due-diligence
- Joint technology development team design
- Technology commercialization metrics
- Technology team facilitation
Industry and Technology Experience
- Information Systems (hardware, software, artificial intelligence)
- Internet (hardware, communications)
- Alternative Energy (nuclear, solar, co-generation)
- Robotics
- General Aviation
Representative Alliance Engagements
- NASA
- DARPA
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William M. Lennett, MBA CPA
Government Contract Associates (GCA
http://www.govcontractassoc.com/
gcaconsult@earthlink.net
William (Bill) Lennett, MBA, CPA is financial management and government contract consultant with over 25 years experience combining commercial sector expertise, and government contract knowledge to assist clients in successfully navigating the complex field of government sales. As a member of the StarNet LLC team, Bill designs and implements financial management compliance systems for the government funding element of innovation alliances. He specializes in the complex area of translating between GAAP and CAS accounting necessary to support public/private innovation collaboration.
Mr. Lennett’s primary practice is Government Contract Associates (GCA) through which he provides advice and assistance to the management of client companies on all types of government procurement, accounting, financial and contracting matters. His area of expertise includes accounting and estimating systems, preparing proposals and claims, indirect rate submissions, Cost Accounting Standards, and Federal Acquisition Regulations. In addition, Mr. Lennett publishes the GCA Report, a widely read newsletter addressing changes to accounting and contracting regulations.
Prior to his external consultant role, Mr. Lennett served as Chief Financial Officer and Controller of ABB Government Services, Inc., Government Compliance Specialist for numerous ABB companies and Manager of Internal Audit and Government Compliance at Hexcel Corporation. Mr. Lennett also served five years with the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) as an auditor and supervisor.
Mr. Lennett has audited both large organizations (e.g. GE, IBM, Litton, Allied Signal, PRC, BDM, Westinghouse, Johns Hopkins University and Singer Kearfott) and small companies on contracts for DOD, DOE, NASA and the US Army Corps of Engineers.
Bill is a Certified Public Accountant, received his Bachelors degree from the University of California, Berkeley, with honors (Magna cum laude and elected to Phi Beta Kappa) and his MBA from the Harvard Graduate School of Business.
Alliance Expertise
- Alliance financial reporting systems
- Government funding financial reporting systems
- On-site audits for performance and financial compliance
Industry and Technology Experience
Aviation/Transportation
Representative Engagements
- American Technology Alliances- Redesign of basic internal financial management
- AGATE Alliance- Financial and compliance management systems
- Michigan SATS Lab- Financial and compliance consultation
- National Consortium of Aviation Mobility- Financial and contract compliance audits
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Howard R. Lieberman, BSE, MSEE
Silicon Valley Innovation Institute (SVII)
www.svii.org
hlieberman@svii.org
Howard R. Lieberman, BSE, MSEE is an innovation management consultant and product development manager with over 25 years experience combining engineering knowledge, product development, financial management, and intellectual property management to managers to achieve breakthroughs in innovation. As a member of the StarNet, LLC team, Howard advises StarNet project managers and clients on a variety of technology development and intellectual property issues. He specializes in building the values, incentives and practices to connect internal innovation to commercial development.
Mr. Lieberman primary professional activity is as Chairman and CEO of the Silicon Valley Innovation Institute, Inc. (SVII), which supports multiple initiatives designed to create and nurture innovation cultures within large corporations. His experience spans work within major corporations such as Bose and Apple and leadership of five start-up companies ranging from hardware development to adaptive software and most recently improved cellphone acoustics.
Prior to founding SVII and practice as an external consultant, Howard was the Dean of External Affairs and Distinguished Lecturer of Innovation Management and Aesthetic Engineering for Cogswell Polytechnical College, a 120 year old technical institution in Silicon Valley.
Mr. Lieberman's expertise includes work in Intellectual Property and he has been a member of the Silicon Valley Intellectual Property Association (SVIPLA), the Intellectual Property Society (IPS) and the Licensing Executives Society (LES). He recently chaired a Summit on the Globalization of Technology and chaired the SCI3 Foundation Board.
Howard holds a BS in Physics from the City University of New York, an MS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Rhode Island and conducted Post Graduate work at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Acoustics & Image Processing.
Alliance Expertise
- R&D partnership development
- Supply chain partnership development
Industry and Technology Experience
- Information Systems
- Communications and Acoustics
