Team Meet the G-Form Team
Daniel Wyner, Chief Executive Officer
Dan Wyner is an inventor/entrepreneur with a large portfolio of patented technology focused mainly on developmental applications for advanced materials. In 2005, Dan was inducted into the Space Foundation’s “Space Technology Hall of Fame” (managed cooperatively with NASA) for several of his patents that allowed commercialization of textile temperature-regulating phase change microspheres that had been originally developed for the NASA space program. Dan is an avid cyclist, tennis player and a private pilot – now flying mostly small experimental aircraft. He is a recent past-president of the RI chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and currently is a part time Masters student in Computer Science at Brown University.
Danny Warshay, President
Danny Warshay has devoted his career to building, managing and harvesting high-growth entrepreneurial ventures. As an undergraduate student at Brown University, he co-founded Clearview Software which Apple acquired in 1989. He then co-developed Specialized Systems and Software, a custom software development firm sold to Medline Industries, and led the growth of Anchor Communications, a startup magazine and Internet publishing company sold in two parts to A.H. Belo Corporation and Miller Publishing Group. As co-founder and managing director of Health Business Partners — the nutrition industry’s premier venture capital and financial advisory firm — Danny built and led the firm’s venture capital practice. Danny’s corporate experience came at Procter & Gamble as a member of the Duncan Hines Brand Management team, where he managed the development and marketing of new products. He has served on the boards of numerous startups and on a variety of non-profit boards focused on health and education.
As an adjunct professor at Brown University, Danny teaches Entrepreneurship and New Ventures which The Critical Review ranked as the highest rated course at Brown.
Danny received a B.A. in History, magna cum laude, from Brown University, and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. In addition to spending time with his wonderful wife and three terrific children, Danny loves the mental and physical challenges and rewards of vinyasa yoga. He is also an avid (and tortured) Cleveland sports fan. >> Full Version
Andy Greenfield, Chief Marketing Officer
After brief careers as both a philosophy professor and a ski instructor, Andy took the next logical step and founded Greenfield Consulting Group (now Firefly) in 1983. For 26 years, he built Greenfield into North America’s leading qualitative research firm, before passing the torch onto the next generation of leadership in 2009. (Andy sold the firm to WPP in 2002—WPP is the world’s largest provider of marketing communications services.)
In 1993 Andy also founded Greenfield Online, the world’s pioneer in bringing marketing research onto the web. Greenfield Online was the leading global provider of online panel data for conducting marketing research. Andy sold this business to a private equity group in 1999. The company was subsequently taken public, and then sold to Microsoft. In 2002, he was awarded the Ernst &Young Entrepreneur of the Year in the Business Services category.
The ‘Greenfield Everyday Heroes Foundation’ was founded by Andy in 1994, and for the past 18 years has provided college scholarships to students who have overcome adversity (in Norwalk, Stamford and Danbury CT.)
In 2009 Andy founded Colgate University’s ‘Thought into Action Institute’, a program in which successful alumni entrepreneurs provide mentorship to student entrepreneurs.
Joining G-Form in 2011, Andy believes that G-Form’s real mission is to increase the amount of pleasure in the world by eliminating pain from everyday life, via enhanced impact protection.
Andy holds a B.A. from Colgate University (where he majored in skiing) and an M.A. and A.B.D. in Philosophy from Brown University (where his primary area of study was squash and Frisbee).
Ami Newsham, VP of Sales
A Rhode Island native, Ami Newsham is an avid road cyclist and has a long history of competitive running. As a founder, she is responsible for the direction of sales for G-Form and also contributes to the development of its innovative products. She currently makes her home in Providence, RI.
Bill Reifsnyder, VP of Marketing
As a former professional distance runner, Bill won two National Championships in the marathon. Professionally, he brings over 15 years of brand and sports marketing experience spanning from Fortune 500 companies to startups. Bill’s is responsible for G–Form’s brand marketing, social media, sports marketing and PR, and when not in the office, you may find him at the gym, riding his bike, or on the golf course.
Thomas Cafaro, VP of Innovations
A self-proclaimed all around athlete, Thomas Cafaro has played both soccer and tennis at the NCAA level and now competes in cycling, road races and sprint triathlons. As a founder, he is responsible for identifying product opportunities that can be enhanced with G-Form performance technology. When he is not fronting his rock-n-roll band at a gig he enjoys spending time on his horse farm in Foster, RI.
Jeff Bowie, Guru
After a career spent molding and prototyping Jeff is now spending his time helping G-Form develop new products to improve cycling. Jeff has been a dedicated cyclist for 30 years. Beside being a part of G-Form, he devotes his time to the struggle to fight cancer as coach for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society cycle team in RI. “It is the perfect way for me to volunteer; I get to bring new people into cycling as well to the fight against cancer.”
Dan Chapman, VP of Operations
Dan is a RI native and graduate of URI. Having held several senior managerial positions with leading home decor companies he successfully ran his own consulting company for the past ten years with his partner. After several months of consulting with G-Form Dan made the decision based on the invitation of G-Form to join the team as a full time permanent employee. He enjoys all outdoor activities, reading and traveling around the world.
David Foster, Creative Director
As a commercial photographer and former elite rower, David Foster has been involved in marketing campaigns for some of the world’s biggest sports-related brands and has been involved in competitive athletics since grade school. David mixes humor and experience to develop the brand identity of G-Form from the ground up, usually being the one to voice what everyone is thinking but afraid to say. He’s currently blamed for involving the G-Form team to compete in the 2010 Mt. Washington Hillclimb and lives in southern Massachusetts with Steven, his son and bodyguard.
Rick Garrard, Director of Research & Development
A former Marine and long time employee of the Department of Defense, Rick directs the R&D efforts at G-Form. He enjoys the outdoors, a variety of sports (tennis tops the list), history, world travel, ongoing education, and the culinary arts.
Stephanie Thorn, Director of Product Design
Stephanie is from Chepachet, RI and is a woman of multiple talents. She is an avid camper, fisher and skier in addition to spending time painting and sewing. Stephanie graduated from Rhode Island College with a degree in Graphic Design, Magna Cum Laude. She is also fluent in American Sign Language and often volunteers at community events acting as a translator for the hearing impaired.
Jim Gaudet, Research and Development Specialist
Jim lives in Blackstone, MA with his wife and three children and enjoys anything outdoors. Jim is involved in local youth sports and has been on the board of directors for the Blackstone valley Boys & Girls club since 2007. Jim founded Taurus woodworking, which he owned and operated until 2000. He then joined a local urethane manufacturing company where the same creative energy was used, first in mold and model making then the development of new products and manufacturing equipment. Jim was the research and development manager and then became the plant manager.
He now joins the research and development team of G-Form where his expertise in both product development and the manufacturing process used in the G-Form product line will guide both the R&D team and the designers to create new products and technologies.
Rick Couto, Senior Graphic Designer
The question remains unanswered: is Rick Couto a designing drummer or a drumming designer? Frankly, Rick has little time to think about it. He’s G-Form’s Senior Designer on weekdays, a first call drummer on weekends, and a master of balance at all times. Since graduating from the Rhode Island School of Design, Rick has enjoyed a textured career as a graphic designer, product developer and creative director. His travels to Asia turned him into a seasoned product developer. No matter what the challenge at hand has been – from Santa Claus catalogs, to photovoltaic furnace ads, from product logos to his beautifully stylish CD packaging – Rick’s skills, clarity and intuition always prevail.
Rick is father to Max, stepfather to Claire and hopelessly at the mercy of his granddaughter, Taya. Settled right in the middle of a three-generation chain of drummers (between father Joe and son Max), Rick’s been a working musician for decades, on stage and in the recording studio. His category-defying musical portfolio is staggering in longevity and diversity, embracing rock, blues, jazz, Latin and African flavors. His exercise routine really kicks in on weekends, with 4 or 5 hours of unrelenting drumming, sandwiched between grueling sessions of loading and unloading his drum kit.
Lily Wray, Director of Marketing Research
Lily Wray grew up in Arcadia, California and moved to Providence, Rhode Island where she attended Brown University. After Brown, she was a consultant at McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm, before joining G-Form. She is game for a wide variety of sports, from fencing to tennis to competitive sailing/racing.
Jeremy Russell, Director of Sales
A native of St. Albert, Alberta, Canada Jeremy Russell found his way to Providence to play for the Brown University Men’s Ice Hockey Team. Playing for Brown, Jeremy developed into a defensive mainstay and Assistant Captain for the Bears. Along with his solid hockey career, Jeremy graduated with a unique combination of both an A.B. in Economics, as well as a Sc.B. in Neuroscience. Jeremy also loves cooking, golf and camping.
Meghan S. Downing, Assistant to the CEO
After a career in the non-profit world managing the RI Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training program and work at Crossroads RI for a health care for the homeless site, Meghan has switched gears and is redefining how she uses her knack for organization, communication and teamwork with G-Form as their Chief of Staff. Meghan’s interests vary from recreational cycling to wine and travel; her passport is up to date and she’s always on board for the next adventure… even if that includes jumping out of a plane for an atypical workday at G-Form.
Andrew Scarella, Social Media and Internet Manager
Andrew grew up Westport, CT and moved to Los Angeles, CA after college to work in the movie industry. After a career change to internet marketing, he worked in Social Media for Save the Children and now brings his social media and internet expertise to G-Form. Andrew is a big Patriots fan and when not working, he can be found kayaking, at the gym, hiking or doing other outdoor activities.
David Brownschidle, Marketing Manager
David is a New Jersey native who graduated from Brown University with a B.A. in Economics. While he was there he played D1 ice hockey for the Bears, captaining the team his senior year. Afterwards, he continued on to play professionally for the Wheeling Nailers and Gwinnett Gladiators of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL). In his free time he enjoys golf, snowboarding, fishing and water sports.
Dave Gentile, Accounting Manager
Dave comes to G-Form after a five year career at Touchstone Crystal, a Division of Swarovski. He received his Bachelor’s Degree focusing on Accounting as well as his Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Rhode Island. In his spare time, Dave enjoys following the Boston sports teams, playing softball, being lead singer in his Rock Band, and spending time with his soon-to-be bride, Amanda.
Maria Macrina, Design Engineer
Maria grew up in Upstate New York, where she became all-too familiar with the outdoors. She’s a designer here at G-Form by day and an aspiring pastry chef by night, immersing herself in everything Italian. She learned to hold her own playing soccer, softball, volleyball, and tennis, largely thanks to her two insufferable brothers. Maria enjoys the simple life, woodworking, drumming, and goats.
Sara Duphily, Customer Service
Sara Duphily is a recent graduate of the University of Rhode Island where she studied Communications, Spanish, and Anthropology. Her last venture as an intern for Sexy Period, another Providence-based start-up, sparked her interest in entrepreneurship. Her love of the start-up environment, as well as her strong background in customer relations lead her to become the Customer Service Manager at G-Form. She enjoys a variety of activities, from reading and world travel, to Latin dance. Although she is self-admittedly no athlete, she is an avid Ping-Pong enthusiast.
Lea Furia, Customer Service
Lea Furia is a part -time hair stylist at Seiren Salon in Providence. Besides her interests in the art and fashion world, Lea has always had a knack for computers and technology. Lea studied business and social work at CCRI. Her strong customer service and organization skills landed her here at G-Form. She enjoys spending her free time with her 2 children and of course, shopping!
Ervin Hamzo, Buyer/Planner
A first generation Albanian immigrant, Ervin has embarked on setting the bar high. Ervin became the first sibling of seven to receive a college education and is currently looking into MBA programs. He is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island where he studied Political Science and Business Administration. Ervin joins G-Form as a Buyer/Planner where he plays an integral role in growing the company’s current production line. In addition to helping manage G-Form vendor relationships, Ervin also assists in creating production schedules, as well as the purchasing of goods and/or services for manufacturing purposes with the goal of ensuring that all the customers’ demands are met. When he is not working, Ervin enjoys snowboarding, traveling, working out, spending time with his family, and is an avid New England Patriots fan.
Brett Robichaud, Sales Manager
Hailing from the Providence region of RI, Brett traveled across the country to Southern California where he attended the University of Redlands, graduating with a Business Degree. Upon his return to the East Coast in 2010 he worked at the Wheeler School teaching a multitude of classes and coaching soccer for the Middle and Upper School. On both coasts, Brett has been an avid martial artist in several styles and a competitive judo player. When not working at G-Form, he can most likely be found on the mat training for his next competition. Brett also loves cooking, traveling the world, and playing guitar.