Board of Directors
Robert J. Vander Zanden, Ph.D.Chairman of the Board
Dr. Robert J. Vander Zanden, Board Member since 2004, was elected Chairman of the Board in early 2009. Having served as a Vice President of R&D with Kraft Foods International, he brings a long and distinguished career in applied technology, product commercialization, and business knowledge of the food science industry to Aikido. In his 30-year career, he has been with ITT Continental Baking Company as a Product Development Scientist; with Ralston Purina’s Protein Technology Division as Manager Dietary Foods R&D; with Keebler as Group Director, Product and Process Development; with Grupo Gamesa, a Frito-Lay Company, as Vice President, Technology; and with Nabisco as Vice President of R&D for their International Division. With the acquisition of Nabisco by Kraft Foods, he became the Vice President of R&D for Kraft’s Latin American Division. Dr. Vander Zanden retired from Kraft Foods in 2004. He currently holds the title of Adjunct Professor and Lecturer in the Department of Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences at Clemson University, where he also is a member of their Industry Advisory Board. His focus on achieving product and process innovation through training, team building and creating positive working environments has earned him multiple awards for product and packaging innovation. Dr. Vander Zanden holds a Ph.D. in Food Science and an M.S. in Inorganic Chemistry from Kansas State University, and a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin – Platteville, where he was named a Distinguished Alumnus in 2002.
Tim Ledwick
Mr. Ledwick is currently the Chief Financial Officer of Management Health Solutions, a private equity-backed company that provides software solutions and services to hospitals focused on reducing costs through superior inventory management practices. In addition, since 2012 he has served on the board and Chair of the Audit Committee of Telkonet, Inc. (TKOI) a smart energy management technology company. From 2007 to 2011, Mr. Ledwick provided CFO consulting services to a $150 million services firm and, in addition, from 2007-2008 also acted as special advisor to The Dellacorte Group, a middle market financial advisory firm focused on transactions between $100 million and $1 billion. From 2002 through 2006, Tim was a member of the Board of Directors and Executive Vice President-CFO of Dictaphone Corporation playing a lead role in developing a business plan which revitalized the company, resulting in the successful sale of the firm and delivering a seven times return to shareholders. From 2001-2002, Ledwick was brought on as CFO to lead the restructuring efforts of Lernout & Hauspie Speech Products, a Belgium-based NASDAQ listed speech technology company, whose market cap had at one point reached a high of $9 billion. From 1999 through 2001, he was CFO of Cross Media Marketing Corp, an $80 million public company headquartered in New York City, playing a lead role in the firm’s acquisition activity, tax analysis and capital raising. Mr. Ledwick is a member of the Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants and received his BBA in Accounting from The George Washington University and his MS in Finance from Fairfield University.
Greg Blattner
Greg Blattner is a Director at Agio, a progressive Managed IT and Cybersecurity Cervices Provider. A noted leader in the alternative investment technology space, Greg developed his career building and maintaining superior technology and operations solutions for Wall Street firms during a time when the industry’s technological complexity and data dependency experienced rapid evolution. Prior to Agio, Greg held Business Development and Operations Management positions at Reuters, American Express, JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley and Deloitte. He received his undergraduate degree from Iona College in New York.
Anthony C. Hayes, Esq.
Anthony C. Hayes is the CEO of AIkido Pharma Inc., a NASDAQ-traded (ticker: AIKI) technology commercialization company. Hayes began his tenure by overseeing AIkido’s transformation from a biotechnology company into a diversified corporate entity, committed to advancing innovation by participating in the development of new technologies across several sectors.
As CEO, Hayes developed and implemented a strategic plan to advance AIkido’s mission and objectives and to significantly promote company growth. He identified and brought about multimillion-dollar M&A acquisitions that resulted in some of the largest transactions in technology patents. Hayes is also involved in all aspects of investor relations, representing AIkido in shareholder meetings, at domestic and international conferences, and in television and print media (such as Bloomberg Television and Forbes).
An attorney and former partner of an Am Law 100 firm, Hayes previously co-founded and was managing member of JaNSOME IP Management LLC, an intellectual property monetization firm. JaNSOME provided consulting and advisory services to individuals and companies on best practices for monetization of the asset class.
President George W. Bush gave Hayes special recognition for creating the Wills for Heroes program, a national 501(c)(3), in response to the September 11 attacks (willsforheroes.com). Other honors include IAM IP Personality of 2013, American Board of Trial Advocates Young Lawyer of the Year and “20 Under 40” in Columbia, South Carolina.
Education: Juris Doctor from Tulane University Law School (1995); Bachelor of Arts in economics from Mary Washington College (1990)
Bar Memberships: District of Columbia; Florida; New York; South Carolina
Publications: “Avoiding the Post-Crisis Crisis: How to Prevent Post-Crisis Donation for Victims from Leading to Litigation” (ICMA Journal, January/February 2008)
As CEO, Hayes developed and implemented a strategic plan to advance AIkido’s mission and objectives and to significantly promote company growth. He identified and brought about multimillion-dollar M&A acquisitions that resulted in some of the largest transactions in technology patents. Hayes is also involved in all aspects of investor relations, representing AIkido in shareholder meetings, at domestic and international conferences, and in television and print media (such as Bloomberg Television and Forbes).
An attorney and former partner of an Am Law 100 firm, Hayes previously co-founded and was managing member of JaNSOME IP Management LLC, an intellectual property monetization firm. JaNSOME provided consulting and advisory services to individuals and companies on best practices for monetization of the asset class.
President George W. Bush gave Hayes special recognition for creating the Wills for Heroes program, a national 501(c)(3), in response to the September 11 attacks (willsforheroes.com). Other honors include IAM IP Personality of 2013, American Board of Trial Advocates Young Lawyer of the Year and “20 Under 40” in Columbia, South Carolina.
Education: Juris Doctor from Tulane University Law School (1995); Bachelor of Arts in economics from Mary Washington College (1990)
Bar Memberships: District of Columbia; Florida; New York; South Carolina
Publications: “Avoiding the Post-Crisis Crisis: How to Prevent Post-Crisis Donation for Victims from Leading to Litigation” (ICMA Journal, January/February 2008)
Paul LeMire
Paul LeMire is a Managing Director of Day Hagan Asset Management where he is responsible for National Sales and Distribution. Paul has been employed in Financial Services for over 25 years. Among other things, Paul has been responsible for positioning investment solutions across multiple channels and, as a result, he has a deep understanding of Capital Markets, Marketing and Distribution of financial products. Prior to his 25 years on Wall Street, Paul was a Director of Marketing at Grumman Aerospace (now known as Northrop Grumman). At Grumman, Paul provided marketing solutions and support to the international sales force. Paul received a BS in Engineering from Manhattan College, a Master in Engineering from Brooklyn Polytechnic, and an MBA from Adelphi University. Paul is also a Veteran of the U.S. Air Force
Robert Dudley
Robert Dudley is the Eastern Division and Metropolitan NYC Regional
Sales Manager for Select Sector SPDRs. *
Select Sector SPDRs are unique ETFs that divide the S&P 500 into eleven sector index funds. So now you can customize your investments by picking and weighting these sectors to meet your specific investment goals. Select Sector SPDRs have the diversification of a mutual fund, the focus of a sector fund, and the tradability of a stock. You can buy or sell Select Sector SPDR shares on NYSE Arca throughout the trading day.
Prior to joining Select Sector SPDRs in 2008, Bob held several managerial positions at Merrill Lynch from 1981 through 2007. Bob began his career in the Merrill Lynch White Weld Capital Markets in Corporate Bond Syndicate, later moving to Sales Manager for Taxable Fixed Income and Equity Marketing. Bob was on the original Select Sector SPDR team at Merrill Lynch in 1998 when Merrill brought the ETFs to market.
Later Bob managed Merrill Lynch Consults for the NYC District and ended his career as a Financial Advisor and Sales Manager at the Merrill Lynch Rockefeller Center Branch office.
Bob resides in Staten Island NY with his wife of 39 years, Lorraine. His son is currently a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch.
• Bob Dudley is a Registered Representative of Alps Portfolio Solutions Distributor Inc.
Sales Manager for Select Sector SPDRs. *
Select Sector SPDRs are unique ETFs that divide the S&P 500 into eleven sector index funds. So now you can customize your investments by picking and weighting these sectors to meet your specific investment goals. Select Sector SPDRs have the diversification of a mutual fund, the focus of a sector fund, and the tradability of a stock. You can buy or sell Select Sector SPDR shares on NYSE Arca throughout the trading day.
Prior to joining Select Sector SPDRs in 2008, Bob held several managerial positions at Merrill Lynch from 1981 through 2007. Bob began his career in the Merrill Lynch White Weld Capital Markets in Corporate Bond Syndicate, later moving to Sales Manager for Taxable Fixed Income and Equity Marketing. Bob was on the original Select Sector SPDR team at Merrill Lynch in 1998 when Merrill brought the ETFs to market.
Later Bob managed Merrill Lynch Consults for the NYC District and ended his career as a Financial Advisor and Sales Manager at the Merrill Lynch Rockefeller Center Branch office.
Bob resides in Staten Island NY with his wife of 39 years, Lorraine. His son is currently a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch.
• Bob Dudley is a Registered Representative of Alps Portfolio Solutions Distributor Inc.
Kyle Wool
Kyle Wool, President
Revere Wealth Management
Head of Revere Private Wealth Management
Kyle’s Group provides integrated strategies designed to help build, manage and preserve wealth for wealthy families, Endowments and Foundations.
Previously Kyle was an Executive Director at Morgan Stanley and the head of The Wool Group. Previously to Morgan Stanley, Kyle was employed at Oppenheimer and Co., Inc. He was also Based in Hong Kong from 2010 until of 2013, Where he served as a Managing Director of the Professional Investors Group for Oppenheimer Asia Ltd. He still maintains his interests in the Asia-Pacific investment space. Kyle has been a featured speaker on Executive Services and Wealth Management at the China Entrepreneurs CEO & CFO Forum. He has also been a featured speaker on U.S. Markets and Foreign Direct Investments at the Fujairah U.A.E. International Business Forum.
Kyle is also active in various philanthropic endeavors both domestically and abroad. He currently serves as a board member of LifeLine NY, a charity foundation focused on attain medical equipment for the underprivileged children of Serbia Headed by HRH Crown Princess Katherine of Serbia, Kyle is also is a board member of the CIRSD (Center for International Relations and Sustainable Development) headed by Vuk Jeremic, the 67th President of the United Nations General Assembly and Project Rousseau, who’s mission is to empower youth in communities with the greatest need to reach their full potential and pursue higher education.
Kyle is also a Board Member of Lang Lang International Music Foundation, Which believes that all children should have access to a music education, regardless of their background. At the Lang Lang International Music Foundation®, we strive to educate, inspire, and motivate the next generation of music lovers and performers.
Revere Wealth Management
Head of Revere Private Wealth Management
Kyle’s Group provides integrated strategies designed to help build, manage and preserve wealth for wealthy families, Endowments and Foundations.
Previously Kyle was an Executive Director at Morgan Stanley and the head of The Wool Group. Previously to Morgan Stanley, Kyle was employed at Oppenheimer and Co., Inc. He was also Based in Hong Kong from 2010 until of 2013, Where he served as a Managing Director of the Professional Investors Group for Oppenheimer Asia Ltd. He still maintains his interests in the Asia-Pacific investment space. Kyle has been a featured speaker on Executive Services and Wealth Management at the China Entrepreneurs CEO & CFO Forum. He has also been a featured speaker on U.S. Markets and Foreign Direct Investments at the Fujairah U.A.E. International Business Forum.
Kyle is also active in various philanthropic endeavors both domestically and abroad. He currently serves as a board member of LifeLine NY, a charity foundation focused on attain medical equipment for the underprivileged children of Serbia Headed by HRH Crown Princess Katherine of Serbia, Kyle is also is a board member of the CIRSD (Center for International Relations and Sustainable Development) headed by Vuk Jeremic, the 67th President of the United Nations General Assembly and Project Rousseau, who’s mission is to empower youth in communities with the greatest need to reach their full potential and pursue higher education.
Kyle is also a Board Member of Lang Lang International Music Foundation, Which believes that all children should have access to a music education, regardless of their background. At the Lang Lang International Music Foundation®, we strive to educate, inspire, and motivate the next generation of music lovers and performers.
Soo Yu
Soo is a female Executive with over a decade of experience in the Financial Services space. She currently maintains her professional designations, Series 7 and Series 66. In the past Soo has also maintained the Series 79 (Investment banking) and a series 24 (Principal) Designations.
Soo’s main focus is developing and cultivating international business and banking relationships with expertise in Asians markets. Soo is a US citizen originally from South Korea and continues to bridge the business, gender and cultural centers of these diverse market places.
Soo along with her husband are very active in various children’s Philanthropic endeavors globally.
Soo’s main focus is developing and cultivating international business and banking relationships with expertise in Asians markets. Soo is a US citizen originally from South Korea and continues to bridge the business, gender and cultural centers of these diverse market places.
Soo along with her husband are very active in various children’s Philanthropic endeavors globally.