Executive Team and Innovation Experts
Our staff consists of business, intelligence and innovation specialists. We are committed to assisting you to achieve the vision you have for a your particular venture.
Susan J. Gorges Chief Executive Officer
Susan Gorges has extensive experience in the technology innovation sector. She worked in technology commercialization focusing on innovations out of the Los Alamos National Laboratory prior to taking a position as VP and general manager with a research and advisory company providing services to IT executives in the consumer products, life sciences, manufacturing and retail sectors.
She has worked as an executive with two different start-up companies: one in manufacturing and the other in software. Both companies grew to become global operations with more than $150 million in annual revenue. She has been the Board Chair of the Santa Fe Business Incubator as well as the Board Chair of the Coronado Ventures Forum. She has been a member of the Advisory Board for Mesa Ventures (a venture capital firm), the American Production and Inventory Control Society and an advisor to the Los Alamos Office of Commercialization.
(e)
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Jim George Director, Competitive Intelligence
Saskatoon office
As a serial entrepreneur, Jim George knows and understands completely the challenges and issues faced by founding and early stage CEO's - balancing the need to conserve cash and yet quickly get to market with the product offering typically in an under-capitalized environment and successfully close on early stage funding is no easy feat. Over his 20+ year career, Jim has successfully managed this effort in his two previous startup technology companies. Along the way, he has become an experienced technology innovator and product commercialization practitioner - more particularly in the fields of wireless applications, geomatics and global positioning systems (GPS). Jim is a professional engineer and a graduate of Geomatics Engineering from the University of Calgary. Jim also has one patent to his name and has co-authored several other patents all related to wireless location technology and services. He is based in SpringBoard's Saskatoon office.
(e)
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Lynda Dudley Director of Operations
Regina Office
Lynda Dudley ran her own business for a number of years. She brings to SBWI and our clients her business skills in bookkeeping, accounting, office management, human resources, benefits administration and customer service.
(e)
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Divyesh Patel Senior Innovation Officer
Regina office
Divyesh Patel provides the team with expertise in many aspects of commercialization of new technologies. He is an experienced researcher, and first gained experience in technology commercialization through the BC Cancer Agency's Technology Development Office.
Upon returning to Saskatchewan, he served as an investment analyst with Ag West Bio. Divyesh also worked with a promising biotech company in Calgary by assisting the product development process of a bacterial infection diagnostic kit, and working on toward regulatory approval for larger scale trials of an agricultural seed treatment product .
Divyesh is a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan, where his studies included biochemistry, biotechnology, microbiology and immunology.
(e)
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Joe Toth Senior Innovation Officer
Regina office
Joe Toth is a specialist in executive business mentoring and strategy development. His advising experience includes business planning, financial projections, debt or equity investments, marketing plans, technology plans, operations strategy, intellectual property strategy, commercialization strategy, technology transfer, corporate governance, financial modeling, change management, and equity valuations.
Through executive experience in the Information and Communications Technology, Defense, Medical Devices, and Agricultural industries, for 25 years Joe has helped organizations grow, and prepare for sale and IPO. A wireless triple play telecommunications company, with which he was involved from the outset, sold for $586 million. For an SME, he successfully sold to NASA and implemented a HDTV video link from the International Space Station to broadcast on Discovery Channel and NHK. He has extensive business startup experience that includes product technologies development and introduction, having created six novel products that are either patent granted or pending.
Joe is a registered Professional Engineer and holds Masters degrees in Business Administration and Science (Electronic Information Systems Engineering), and has completed the Canadian Securities Course. Through his Executive MBA program at the University of Regina, he traveled to Asia to learn about high volume manufacturing in China and Vietnam.
(e)
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Leah Nelson-Guay Senior Innovation Officer
Regina office
Leah Nelson Guay has worked in the consulting industry for more than 10 years —specializing in bringing new products and businesses into the market place by identifying and mapping out market pull strategies. Her specific skill sets include strategic and business planning for new ventures, market positioning and business process development and refinement. Prior to beginning her own freelance practice, Leah consulted with KPMG Consulting in a number of other areas including economic analysis, marketing, change management, customer value management and feasibility analysis. She works across many industries including forestry, utilities, tourism, oil & gas, industrial construction, information technology and education. She has carried out this work with private industry, government, First Nations, non-governmental organizations and individual entrepreneurs. She has also worked with a number of technology commercialization programs including the Innovation and Technology Development Office for the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology; the WestLink Technology Commercialization Internship Program.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Land Use and Environmental Science and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Saskatchewan.
(e)
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Lisette J.C. Mascarenhas Senior Innovation Officer
Saskatoon office
Lisette Mascarenhas has over twenty years of combined training and experience in applied research and business development gained from working with clinical and life sciences researchers, small and emerging companies and large and global life sciences companies. She holds degrees from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University in India, and the University of Saskatchewan.
In some of her previous positions she has managed large scale, cutting edge disease diagnostics projects, and worked with, and managed investments in health and life sciences start up and expanding companies. Prior to joining SpringBoard West Innovations, Lisette was a Vice President at Ag-West Bio, and a Senior Policy Advisor for Enterprise and Innovation Saskatchewan.
Lisette's goal is to work with and provide comprehensive support to innovators and entrepreneurs to fast-track their life sciences and biomedical technology-based ideas to market.
(e)
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Michael Leydon Senior Innovation Officer
Saskatoon office
With over 30 years of experience as an engineer, manager and business owner in the advanced technology industry, Michael has faced and met the challenges of commercializing a broad range of industrial, communication and information technologies. Michael has led the delivery of engineering, software development, project management and consulting services to organizations in a broad range of sectors, from telecommunications to transportation, energy, health care, education, finance and retail. Michael has one industrial patent. More recently, he has specialized in the business, technology and regulatory environment for wireless services.
Michael has grown a successful start-up business through various funding stages and has been involved in taking a company through an IPO. He has served on a public company Board of Directors and worked with a variety of public share structures. As such, he is intimately familiar with the requirements of operating a public company.
Michael is a Professional Engineer and has Engineering and MBA degrees from the University of Saskatchewan.
(e)
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Avi Shachar Competitive Intelligence
Avi Shachar was a former Lieutenant Colonel with the Israeli intelligence, and is a recognized expert on intelligence, CI, early warning systems, terrorism and securities fraud. Avi spent 16 years in senior roles with the Israeli Military Intelligence including head of Early Warning Section (Northern Command) and head of Research, Analysis and Early Warning Branch. In 2001, Avi was one of the founding members and Senior Intelligence Analyst of the Joint Securities Intelligence Unit at the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC), a unit that was created jointly with the RCMP to combat organized criminal activities in North American capital markets. In 2004, Avi founded Sprylogics International Inc., a developer of intelligence early warning and investigative software. Avi is a graduate of the Joint Military Intelligence College in Washington, DC.
(e)
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Bo Jiang Research Analyst
Saskatoon office
Bo Jiang is bilingual in English and Chinese (Mandarin) brings diverse experience to assist entrepreneurs gaining a competitive advantage. At SpringBoard, she provides in-depth market research and intelligence for commercialization and business development. Before joining SpringBoard, Bo has worked in university, government and not-for-profit organizations providing research, policy and program implementation, as well as communications and liaison support. Bo is a seasoned analyst and has designed and conducted numerous surveys, interviews and analysis, including market analysis, cost-benefit analysis, industry best practices, gap and SWOT (Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats) analysis. She has a distinction agricultural economics degree with a minor in biotechnology from the University of Saskatchewan.
Bo’s goal is to help clients in various industries to better understand the dynamics in the market place, empowering them to launch or develop businesses based on accurate, thorough and timely market and competitive knowledge.
(e)
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Doris Lam Research Analyst
Saskatoon office
Doris Lam joined SpringBoard West Innovations bringing research and analysis experience from the government, non-profit and ICT sectors. Much of her work centred on the health, liquor and gaming, and information technology sectors. She is a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan with an M.A. in Health Economics and a Bachelor's degree in Business Economics.
Doris has been living, studying and working in Saskatchewan for over a decade, and looks forward to helping entrepreneurs develop and commercialize technologies to contribute to the province's success.
(e)
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Jordan Toppings Research Analyst
Regina office
As a Research Analyst, Jordan works closely with the clients, catering to their specific research needs to help the client’s idea with the challenging transition to the market. Jordan has a genuine passion for research and analysis, and the opportunity to work in an innovative environment allows him to show his skills. Based on a client’s needs, Jordan conducts a wide variety of research in competitive analysis, market assessments, and business plan development in order to help the client make his/her dream a reality. Jordan has worked with a variety of clients in industries such as biotechnology, software, medical devices, manufactured products, and many more. Jordan values the relationships between Springboard and its clients, as he believes that the teamwork is essential for these start-up businesses to flourish. Jordan has recently earned a degree in Political Science from the University of Regina.
(e)
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Reade Holtslander Research Analyst
Regina office
Reade Holtslander received his major in both Economics and Business Administration. He provides Market Research to help businesses prosper.
(e)
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Riley Nadoroznick Research Analyst
Regina office
Riley Nadoroznick provides in-depth research and analysis on potential markets for new innovations, as well as competitive intelligence for all types of companies. He uses his experience in business planning, financial modeling, intellectual property assessment, patent filing, competitive analysis, and other areas to help develop an innovative idea into a viable business opportunity. He has worked on many different projects from a vast array of industries, including: information technology, biotechnology, software development, construction products, military vehicles, and others. Riley earned his degree in Economics and Society from the University of Regina.
Riley’s goal is to provide entrepreneurs with all of the information and knowledge they require to make proper, informed decisions regarding their businesses. When working with early stage entrepreneurs, Riley tries to educate them on why thorough research is a necessity for a successful business.
(e)
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Adele Flavel Administration Assistant
Regina office
Adele provides daily support to our CEO's and our team.
(e)
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Linda Benson Administrative Accounting Assistant
Regina office
Linda Benson contributes to the efficient day-to-day operations of SBWI by providing clerical and administrative support.
(e)
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Janice Yule Business Receptionist
Regina office
Janice Yule provides office support by smoothly and efficiently operating the front desk at SBWI plus greeting all vistors in a friendly and courteous manner.
(e)
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Tracy Trottier Co-op Student
Regina office
SpringBoard West Innovations welcomes Tracy to our staff. Tracy comes to us from SIAST for a one year term.
(e)
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
