Richard Spangler
Richard Spangler is a leading business development consultant and
recognized change accelerator who creates actionable results. An original founder of PlazaBridge Group, he has an intense desire to help growth companies migrate through the maze of issues and to help the executive/entrepreneur accelerate into success while minimizing errors. His expertise includes product strategy and management, entrepreneurship, mergers & acquisitions. Richard has over 25 years of experience in large corporate branding beginning with product management, corporate development and acquisitions for Compaq Computer Corporation. Following Compaq, Richard was the Program Director of Wireless Strategy at IBM, where he redefined the wireless application business. He continued at IBM as the Worldwide Brand Manager overseeing the Aptiva consumer product and new licensing programs for the IBM logo. After IBM, Richard leveraged his extensive experience in web merchandising, technology and strategic management to create 6 startups including Planet Portal Inc., Square Loop Inc., Creative Leadership Adventures, Interpretis Inc. and his current non-profit, foglift.
Richard holds a B.S. from Guilford College and an M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. Beyond the PlazaBridge doors, you can find Richard flying, golfing or playing the guitar with his band, The Headless Chickens.
Phil Williams
Phil Williams LLC provides extensive technology development and management consulting services to global companies within the aerospace, automotive, defense, electronics, and related market segments. Backed by more than 40 years of hands-on work defining, designing, developing, and deploying complex systems design in Durham, NC, and products, combined with founding, building, and divesting technology companies, Phil has developed innovative concepts and winning strategic plans for key clients that close technology gaps, surpass stakeholder business goals, and drive diverse revenue streams.
Brandon Conover
Brandon Conover, PhD continually seeks innovative methods to solve challenges for his collaborators, customers and co-workers. The founder of Practical Scientific Solutions, Inc., he integrates multi-disciplinary teams across functional domains to create products, systems and processes primarily to meet urgent national security gaps. Brandon has over 12 years of experience in project management, business development and R&D leadership backed up by deep skill sets in basic and applied engineering. He has served as CTO for successful defense startups such as Bennett Aerospace, Inc. and BioMojo, LLC while also providing a wide array of scientific consulting services for technology firms including Applied Research Associates and LORD Corporation. Brandon’s background in electromagnetics, advanced materials, analytical mathematics, biotechnology, software engineering, and prototype design/build/field-testing enables foglift to maintain an active portfolio of seemingly disparate IP while creating cross-platform connections for technological breakthroughs ahead of their time. Brandon holds a PhD and MS in Electrical Engineering from North Carolina State University and a BSE in Computer Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh. He remains committed to the growth, health and prosperity of his local community while understanding that we must create achievable solutions to global challenges. Beyond his startups, community and family, Brandon is passionate about human-wildlife conflict resolution in Southern Africa and seeking tranquility in the mountains of North Carolina.