Ann Arbor, Mich., April 3, 2013 – Blaze Medical Devices is pleased to announce the addition of two distinguished business leaders as “Board Advisors” to its team.
Paul A. Glantz, CPA, holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with High Distinction from Wayne State University and a Master’s Degree in Taxation from Walsh College. Mr. Glantz possesses an in-depth understanding of business, having acquired substantial experience through progressively more responsible positions in finance, insurance, real estate and cinematic exhibition. Since 1989 Mr. Glantz has focused his efforts on building entrepreneurial businesses. Particularly noteworthy was his decision, in October 1990, to assume the position of Vice President of Finance & Administration with Proctor Financial, Inc., (“PFI”) a leading provider of specialized insurance services to mortgage servicers nationwide. Under Mr. Glantz’s leadership, as President, Proctor Financial, Inc. consistently generated the largest single-year operating profit of any Brown & Brown profit center. Mr. Glantz has also been the driving force behind the development and operation of metropolitan Detroit’s Emagine theatres. In May, 2011, Wayne State’s Irvin D. Reid Honors College named him one of their first ever “Pillar Award” recipients as an alumnus affiliated with the college who has distinguished himself in his profession and in service to humanity. On October 29, 2011, at its annual leadership awards dinner, Walsh College honored Paul with its 2011 Distinguished Alumnus Award. Additionally, Ernst & Young awarded Paul the “Entrepreneur of the Year” Award in 2011. Mr. Glantz is also actively involved in numerous philanthropic endeavors.
Terry Cross, after graduating from Wayne State University with an MBA in Finance, he entered the machine tool business in Detroit, Michigan, with The Cross Company, (publicly traded) the world’s leader in Automated Machine Tools. Mr. Cross entered the securities business through a training program with Eastman Dillon Union Securities in 1972. In 1974, Mr. Cross joined Kidder, Peabody & Company in their Detroit, Michigan office and remained there until 1985 when he was transferred to Kidder’s flagship Park Avenue office in New York City. Terry was transferred to Kidder Peabody, San Francisco, in 1985 where he was associated with their technology practice to cover technology companies and venture capital firms where he remained until Kidder was acquired by PaineWebber in 1995. Mr. Cross left PaineWebber in July of 1998 to pursue private investments. In 2002, Mr. Cross returned to Michigan and founded Windward Associates, a private investment partnership, where he focuses on capital formation advisory. He currently serves as Board Chairman of Fusion Coolant Systems, Ann Arbor, MI, a Director of Monarch Antenna, a Delphi Corp. spinout, NextGen Metabolomics of Ann Arbor, MI, ArdentCause L3C., and NextCAT of Detroit, MI. Since 2002, he has mentored over 50 company founders in Southeast Michigan and has been instrumental in helping entrepreneurs raise in excess of $ 100 million of capital funding. Mr. Cross was named The Distinguished Alumni in 2005 by The School of Business Administration at Wayne State University where he is also their first Executive in Residence-Entrepreneurship. He currently serves as business plan evaluator for the SEIC Michigan 21st. Century Jobs’ Fund Pre Seed Fund, the SEIC Michigan 21st.Century Jobs Fund Accelerator Fund, The Great Lakes Entrepreneurs’ Quest and The First Step Fund in Detroit, MI. and the Michigan Economic Development Authority Venture Match Fund.
Current Advisory Board:
Timothy Faley, PhD, MBA: Tim is assuming the role of “Advisor Emeritus”. While we appreciate Tim’s excellent counsel, unfortunately his increasingly hectic schedule no longer allows for regular guidance. He will continue to be available to us for special consultations. He currently serves as a Managing Director of UM’s Zell-Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies, and was founding Director of the UM College of Engineering’s Technology Transfer Office. He came to the University from the Dow Chemical Company, where he worked in research, new business development, and corporate venturing. He has been associated with seventeen new ventures throughout his career.
James E. Nicholson: Jim has an impressive track record in the medical device industry as the founder of several medical device start-up companies including Mitek Surgical Products, Innovasive Devices, and Cortek, Inc. Eyetect is Jim’s seventh venture. He led both Mitek and Innovasive through successful IPOs and both companies were subsequently acquired by Johnson & Johnson. He serves as an advisor or Director on several companies. Jim holds BS/MS degrees from MIT in Aeronautical Engineering and has been awarded 40 patents.
About Blaze Medical Devices
Blaze Medical Devices is a medical device company focusing on increasing the efficacy and safety of transfusions while reducing transfusion-related costs and reducing the use of blood. Blood units differ in properties based on donor-to-donor differences and processing differences, resulting in significant and unpredictable variability in transfusion outcomes. Blaze is working with hospital blood bankers and transfusion physicians to provide tests which can meet their growing desire to access more knowledge about individual units of blood product for better patient outcome. Blaze also researches potential correlations between in vitro Red Blood Cell properties and their in vivo behavior or performance.
For more information, visit www.blazemedicaldevices.com.
For Details, Contact:
David Weaver
Blaze Medical Devices
Phone (248) 540-3758
dweaver@blazemedicaldevices.com
