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X PRIZE Staff

Besides our full-time staff members, we are also supported by countless volunteers and supporters worldwide. To contact a staff member, please use our contact form and your message will be forwarded to the appropriate person. Interested in joining the X PRIZE? Jobs, Internships & Fellowships.

Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, Chairman and CEO

Dr. Diamandis is the Chairman and CEO of the X PRIZE Foundation (www.xprize.org), which awarded the $10,000,000 Ansari X PRIZE (www.xprize.org) for private spaceflight. Diamandis is now focused on building the X PRIZE Foundation into a world-class prize institute whose mission is to bring about radical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity. The X PRIZE is now developing X PRIZEs in fields such as Genomics, Automotive, Education, Medicine, Energy, and Social arenas.

Diamandis is an international leader in the commercial space arena, having founded and run many of the leading entrepreneurial companies in this sector. Diamandis also serves as the Chairman and CEO of Zero Gravity Corporation (www.gozerog.com) a commercial space company developing private, FAA-certified parabolic flight utilizing a Boeing 727-200 aircraft. He is the Chairman & co-founder of the Rocket Racing League (www.rocketracingleague.com). Diamandis is a Managing Director and Co-Founder of Space Adventures (www.spaceadventures.com), the company which brokered the launches of four private citizens to the International Space Station.

In 1987, Diamandis co-founded the International Space University (ISU) (www.isunet.edu) where he served as the University’s first managing director. Today he serves as a Trustee of the $30M ISU that is based in Strasbourg, France. Prior to ISU, Diamandis served as Chairman of Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS) an organization he founded at MIT in 1980. SEDS is the world’s largest student pro space organization.

Dr. Diamandis attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where he received his undergraduate degree in molecular genetics and graduate degree in aerospace engineering. After MIT he attended Harvard Medical School where he received his M.D. In 2005 he has was also awarded an honorary Doctorate from the International Space University.

He is the winner of the 2007 Arthur C. Clarke Award for Innovation, the 2006 (inaugural) Heinlein Award, the 2006 Lindbergh Award, the 2006 Wired RAVE Award, the 2006 Neil Armstrong Award for Aerospace Achievement and Leadership, the Konstantine Tsiolkovsky Award, twice the winner of the Aviation & Space Technology Laurel, and the 2003 World Technology Award for Space. In 8th grade, while living in New York, Dr. Diamandis won first place in the Estes rocket design contest.

Diamandis’ mission is to open the space frontier for humanity. His personal motto is: “The best way to predict the future is to create it yourself!”

Robert K. Weiss, President and Vice Chair

Mr. Weiss is the President and Vice Chair of the X PRIZE Foundation (www.xprize.org). The X PRIZE Foundation’s mission is to foster revolution through incentivized competition.The Foundation has active competitions in Genomics, Automotive Technology and Lunar Exploration and is now developing X PRIZEs in Healthcare, Bionics, Energy, and Oceanographic Exploration.

Weiss is a veteran Hollywood television and film producer having produced over 20 feature films and TV series during the past 25 years. He began his career in the late 1970’s producing the feature film, KENTUCKY FRIED MOVIE and later produced the ABC television program POLICE SQUAD! as well as the three NAKED GUN movies starring Leslie Nielsen.

Weiss produced the international hit, THE BLUES BROTHERS for Universal Studios. His other feature filmsproduced for Universal include AMAZON WOMEN ON THE MOON and DRAGNET.Weiss was the Executive Producer forthe television series WEIRD SCIENCE and SLIDERS (that he co-created).

As president of Broadway Pictures at Paramount, Weiss joined forces with Saturday Night Live Executive Producer and creator Lorne Michaels. Weiss executive produced many films at Paramount including TOMMY BOY, A NIGHT AT THE ROXBURY, SUPERSTAR, and THE LADIES MAN. He went on to producethe international hits SCARY MOVIE 3 & 4, and most recentlySUPERHERO MOVIE for Dimension Pictures.

Weiss has served as a consultant and team partner to the Boeing Corporation in the development of a global consortium dedicated to the distribution of space related multimedia entertainment and educational programs, products and services.

Additionally, he served as Executive Producer for the American Rocket Company producing multimedia connected with the development, testing and launch attempt of their pioneering hybrid rocket.

Weiss served on the Board of Directors of IS Robotics (now called iRobot in Cambridge, Massachusetts) from 1990 to 1994.

In 2000, he was Executive Vice President and Executive Producer for the Blastoff! Corporation in Pasadena, California; an entertainment company founded to conduct actual space missions as the foundation for high value media and marketing platforms.

Weiss currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Rocket Racing League, a 21st Century sport launched to become the NASCAR of the skies (www.rocketracingleague.com).

Under the banner of Earthlight (a multimedia production company),Weiss has produced award winning productions for the X PRIZE Foundation, The Boeing Company, the Zero Gravity Corporation and Anousheh Ansari, the first female private space explorer.

Mr. Weiss has been the Vice Chairman and Executive Producer for the X PRIZE Foundation since 1996. In the fall of 2004, he produced the award-winning live telecast & webcast of the Ansari X PRIZE space flights. Weiss has been the President of the X PRIZE Foundation since July, 2008.

X PRIZE Foundation Senior Leadership

Amy Y. Day, VP, Creative Services

Day has been producing award-winning films for nearly twenty years with some 300 projects to her credit. She co-founded The Edge Picture Company (www.edgepicture.com) in 1991, still one of the UK's leading corporate image and communications production companies based in London's Covent Garden, and handled key client accounts including Shell, KPMG, Vauxhall Motors (part of GM), Price Waterhouse Coopers, Victoria & Albert Museum and BT (British Telecom) plc. She also served as Director on the Board of the International Visual Communications Association, the largest business media communications trade association in Europe. Her commitment to quality has been rewarded with many prestigious awards. In 2001, Day was part of the V&A Museum team that was nominated for a BAFTA (British Academy of Film & Television Arts), Britain's top media award. In 2005, she relocated to the US. Before joining the X PRIZE Foundation, Day completed work on 'Inside Rio Carnaval' for PBS and produced the one hour documentary 'The Real Roswell' for National Geographic.

Francis Béland, VP, Prize Development

Francis comes to The X PRIZE Foundation with more than 17 years of experience in large-scale project design, development and funding. This experience will allow him, as VP, Prize Development, to help the Foundation achieve its aggressive goal to fund and launch ten new prizes over the next five years. Prior to joining The X PRIZE Foundation, Francis served as vice president and partner at Montreal-based Sid Lee, an industry leader in commercial creativity. During his time as VP and partner, Francis helped global brands like Cirque Du Soleil, Red Bull and Adidas recognize the commercial potential of creativity by creating brand experiences through products, services and spaces. He also helped market these experiences through advertising, branded content and interactive communications.

Trained in oceanography, Francis started his career building large-scale aquarium attractions around the globe, including the the Biodôme, the Biosphere, the Vancouver Aquarium and the Shark Reef Aquarium. Francis made his mark in the Las Vegas skyline in 1999 with the design and creation of the Shark Reef Aquarium. A $50M project that broke all the rules in traditional collection-based attraction: a fully-themed immersive experience in the underwater world of earth deadliest predators. The Shark Reef aquarium went on to win Las Vegas’ best family attraction for years running. In a creative leadership role, Francis went on the break new grounds in the design of a new immersive and multi-disciplinary public attractions, the Springs Preserve. The Springs Preserve is today one of America’s greenest community-led tourism attractions having the first two Platinum LEED public venues in North America. A $500M project, the Springs Preserve has become a strong public education asset for the community of Las Vegas and with an impressive public outreach and marketing initiatives, the tourism market now has a place where they can learn and appreciate this city they call ‘The Meadows.
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David Donell, Chief Financial Officer

Donell comes to the X PRIZE Foundation with extensive experience building, strengthening and leading the financial function for companies in various stages including start-up, stable and high-growth. In 2005, Donell co-founded Intuitive Associates, Inc., a company handling, among other things, complex corporate tax assignments and forensic work in association with corporate and securities fraud assignment. Prior to founding Intuitive, Donell served as CFO for Avega Health Systems, where he drastically improved overall financial efficiency, positioning the company for eventual sale to MedAssets, Inc. Donell also worked as a Controller for Fasturn, Inc., where he managed human resources matters and staff in addition to his financial duties, and as the Vice President of Finance for Jalmar Properties, Inc. Donell holds a BS in Accounting from San Diego State University, and is a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Fraud Examiner and Certified Information Technology Professional.

Sarah Evans, VP, Communications

Evans has 15 years of experience in senior and executive public relations and marketing positions. Before joining the X PRIZE Foundation, Evans served as VP of Communications at the Prostate Cancer Foundation and as the Practice Leader of the social marketing and lifestyle division at CarryOn Communication. While at CarryOn, she directed the national multi-award-winning Ansari X PRIZE media operation. Prior to CarryOn, Evans was a vice president at Porter Novelli, a top ten global public relations firm where she directed several Fortune 100 accounts. She was director of marketing for the Peace Corps during the Clinton Administration and also served as the press secretary of the National School-to-Work Office at the U.S. Department of Education. Evans has on-air experience as a national public affairs television show panelist, and has served as a spokesperson on CNN and National Public Radio among others. She started her career as part of the communications team for Senator John F. Kerry (D-MA). Evans earned a BA with honors in political science from Boston College.

MaryAnn Guerra, Executive Director, Life Sciences Prize Group

MaryAnn brings more than 25 years of experience in business, health, cancer technology and genomics research management to the X PRIZE Foundation, where she will oversee the Archon X PRIZE for Genomics and development and management of new prizes that are created in the Life Sciences area.

Prior to joining the Foundation, Ms. Guerra served as President of TGen Accelerators, LLC and Chief Business Officer at TGen. Ms. Guerra is well experienced in creating novel programs to accelerate the transfer of technology from the lab into useful products and new business opportunities thus enabling TGen to quickly advance its research agenda. Ms. Guerra has spent the past 20 years managing and operating successful and progressive health, science and technology businesses, as well as interacting with private, public and academic institutions. Ms. Guerra is an expert at business development and strategic planning initiatives that create organizations poised to deliver clinical and research outcomes. Her knowledge and experience in the field provides for effective leadership when responding to and creating specialized services that reflect the unique and distinct requirements needed across the health and technology arenas.

Ms. Guerra served as Executive Vice President of the Matthews Media Group, where she was responsible for developing and implementing a strategic business plan that expanded and enhanced services and extended relationships with the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Ms. Guerra has also held various senior level positions at the National Institutes of Health, including: Deputy Director of Management at the NCI; Executive Officer of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; and Chief of the Technology Transfer and Intramural Management Branch at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease.

As the Deputy Director for Management, National Cancer Institute (NCI), Ms. Guerra oversaw all the business operations of an organization with an annual budget in excess of $4 billion in appropriated funds and a staff of over 5,000. Ms. Guerra has received numerous awards for her work, including the Business Journal’s “Power People” award, the Girl Scouts “Women of the Future World Award,” and Vice President Gore’s National Partnership for Reinventing Government Hammer Award for the NIH IntraMall.

Ms. Guerra holds an undergraduate degree from The Ohio State University and an MBA from George Washington University in Science, Innovation and Technology.

Cristin Lindsay, VP, Prize Operations

Before bringing her process-driven expertise to the X PRIZE Foundation, Lindsay was the Director of Operations for X1 Technologies, helping the desktop search company develop its innovative software and grow from 0 to 40 employees from 2002 to 2006. Before X1, Lindsay worked on several ground-breaking startup companies at Idealab, including Energy Innovations, Omnilux, and XBeams. She also managed Idealab's knowledge management and intranet efforts. Lindsay was part of the Leadership and Organizational Development group at Times Mirror before it was bought by Tribune Company in 2000. She started her career in Advertising Operations at the Los Angeles Times. Lindsay holds a BA in History with a minor in Anthropology from UCLA.

Arron Robinson, Interim VP, Communications

Arron Robinson joined The X PRIZE Foundation in February, stepping in for Sarah Evans during her maternity leave. Arron has a long history with The X PRIZE Foundation and was instrumental in the success of the history-making Ansari X PRIZE for which she managed and credentialed the event’s 700+ member press corps. As a result, the communications campaign for this “Race to Space” generated 1.5 billion media impressions worldwide. Arron also worked with the Foundation as a consultant to announce the PRIZE sponsor for the Google Lunar X PRIZE and to develop media strategy around the Foundation’s “Incentive 2 Innovate” conference to be held at the United Nations Headquarters in June. In addition to her work with The X PRIZE Foundation, Arron has developed and executed comprehensive awareness-building communications programs for a variety of nonprofit organizations and health, beauty and entertainment brands, including: The John Kobal Foundation, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Last Chance for Animals, IDP Education Australia, OLAY® and Nature Made® Vitamins, Lexy, DefJam Mobile, American Greetings and the World Wide Motion Picture Company.

Ferris Thompson, VP, marketing & Sponsorship

Ferris comes to X PRIZE with 22 years of experience in creating and packaging sponsorships, integrated brand campaigns and strategic alliances for Fortune 100 companies.

In his last corporate role as President of the Entertainment practice at Edelman, the world’s largest private communications firm, he lead a team that developed comprehensive marketing and communications campaigns for clients such as GlaxoSmithKline, Unilever and the US Government.

Prior to Edelman, Ferris was the Head of Marketing for United Talent Agency where he developed branded entertainment programs and sponsorships with clients like Celine Dion/Chrysler and Blockbuster/NBC. Before UTA Ferris served as the VP Universal Studios Corporate Marketing and Partnerships Group where he was responsible for developing new studio-wide sponsorships and overseeing the activation and servicing of partnerships with PepsiCo, Panasonic, Chrysler and Kodak.

His efforts to help change the world began with a career as an outdoor educator (e.g. Outward Bound). He graduated with a BA from Prescott College, a progressive liberal arts institution with a mission focused on the sustainability, environment and social responsibility. For Ferris the X PRIZE Foundation represents an exciting opportunity to apply his experiences in media and sponsorship toward creating a better world.

X PRIZE Foundation Management
Bethann Buddenbaum

Bethann Buddenbaum, Manager, Team Development & Relations, Progressive Automotive X PRIZE
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Eric C. Cahill, Senior Director, Progressive Automotive X PRIZE

Eric joins the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE with over 15 years experience directing complex, technology-intense enterprises in a broad range of industries. He has dedicated his career to the commercialization of cleaner alternatives in the automotive and energy sectors. At GM Powertrain, Eric assessed the market for alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies. Later, as Program Manager of a government-funded hybrid electric vehicle program, Eric led the team responsible for developing the electric drive train technology for the forthcoming Fisker Karma luxury plug-in hybrid.

Prior to joining the X PRIZE Foundation, Eric served as COO and founding member of Internet start-up company AbouTime, Inc. and provided project management consulting services to BP Alaska’s North Slope Operations. Eric is a veteran of the US Navy Civil Engineer Corps and Intelligence communities and a former project manager at Boeing where he led key IT product development initiatives in the Program Management Office of the $22B Future Combat Systems program.

Eric earned a joint MS degree in Engineering & Management from the System Design & Management (SDM) program at the MIT Sloan School of Management and a MS in Technology & Policy from MIT’s Engineering Systems Division. He holds a BS in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Southern California, a Masters Certificate in Applied Project Management from Villanova University, and is a registered Project Management Professional (PMP) with the Project Management Institute. He resides with his wife Amy in Huntington Beach, CA where they are expecting their first child.
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Heather Carter, Director, Human Resources

Winona Dorris, Manager, Financial Analysis
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Aaron Fyke, Director, Energy Prize Development

Aaron Fyke has dedicated his career to the success of clean technology companies, first in engineering and operational roles, and as a Partner in Australia’s largest venture capital firm. He has led a number of key initiatives relating to new product development, manufacturing, and commercialization in the energy, automotive, and aerospace industries.

At Starfish Ventures, Aaron focused on early stage cleantech investments in Australiasia and the US. Previously, Aaron led the manufacturing product development of a solar concentrator as part of the pre-funding team for early stage start-up, Soliant Energy. Prior to that, he managed the start-up of a new manufacturing facility, led the formation and growth of several new multi-million dollar organizations, and worked to commercialize a new ocean power technology for AeroVironment, a leading clean technology and aerospace company. Aaron provided consulting services to Visteon, and was a key engineer in the development of direct methanol fuel cell technology for Ballard Power Systems.

Aaron earned his MBA from the Leaders for Manufacturing program at the MIT Sloan School of Management, his MS in Mechanical Engineering from the MIT School of Engineering, and his BEng in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Victoria. He has achieved certification as a Professional Engineer in Mechanical Engineering both in California and British Columbia.
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Mark German, Director, Education, Progressive Automotive X PRIZE

German has a 15-year record of achievement in content development, educational publishing, and program management. As Director of Sponsored Programs, he supported Intel Education’s K–12 worldwide philanthropic initiatives, including the Intel Learn Program, a partnership between governments and non-governmental agencies that helps youth in emerging nations develop 21st century skills, focusing on digital literacy, critical thinking, and collaboration. German also served as Editorial Director, Middle and High School Education for Scholastic, as VP, Content and Programming for ThinkBox, as VP, Education for Futurekids, and as a public school teacher. He has contributed to numerous publications and presented to audiences on 5 continents. German holds a BS in Human Development and Social Policy from Northwestern University, a MA in Teaching from National College of Education, and a MA in Communications Management from USC.
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Vijay Goel, M.D., Senior Director, Healthcare Prize Development

Vijay comes to X PRIZE Foundation with a strong background in innovation, health systems, and technology. He initially entered medicine with the desire to become a preventive medicine pediatrician and realized the current system would not fund this type of practice. During medical school, he started to explore the broader health system and how it worked. Following completion of his medical degree, he was a consultant with McKinsey & Co, with a focus on consumerism in healthcare and new product development in the health and life sciences. Post-McKinsey, he founded HealthShoppr.com, a company allowing consumers to comparison shop for healthcare appointments. Vijay holds a B.S. in Physiological Sciences from UCLA, a M.D. from USC-Keck School of Medicine. He lives in Santa Monica with wife Elizabeth.
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Mark Krynsky, Manager, Web Production, Creative Services

Mark comes to the X PRIZE Foundation with over 10 years of experience in the online space, most recently having held project management positions at CitySearch and Traffic Marketplace. He has a passion for technology both personally and professionally that is translated in his work ethic. Mark is a leading advocate of open source platforms which are essential to the Foundation and other non-profits. In addition to his work at the foundation Mark is a strong advocate for the use of social media services and a leading expert on the concept of lifestreaming.

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Cathleen Lewis, Account Director, Sponsorship Services
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Jon Madjidov, Manager, IT

Meghan Murphy, Director, Alliances

Murphy joins the Foundation with a rich background in business development, marketing, and market analysis. Most recently, she served as a Senior Marketing Manager at ServiceSource, a technology services firm in San Francisco, where she was active in corporate positioning and messaging, market strategy, sales team enablement and demand generation activities. Murphy also worked in business development for Yahoo! Search Marketing in Burbank. Prior to earning her Masters in Business at UCLA, Murphy spent four years on Wall Street in Equity Research for Salomon Smith Barney.

Murphy has a B.A. in History from Princeton University , and an MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management. She was also a NCAA Division 1 Squash Champion in 1998 and 1999 while at Princeton. A native of McLean, Virginia, she now resides in Santa Monica.

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William Pomerantz, Senior Director, Space Prizes

Pomerantz holds a BA in Earth and Planetary Sciences from Harvard University, and a Masters of Science in Space Studies from the International Space University in Strasbourg, France. In addition to his work on the X PRIZE Foundation's space prizes, Pomerantz also serves as a coach for the Zero Gravity Corporation, joining passengers in weightlessness on parabolic flights. He is a graduate of the NASA Academy at Goddard Space Flight Center and has formerly worked at Harvard University, Brown University and the Futron Corporation, an aerospace consultancy based in Bethesda, Maryland. Pomerantz is a co-founder of SpaceAlumni.com, an online news and networking tool for young space professionals around the world, and served as Chief Editor for two years. He is currently Vice President of the ISU-USA Alumni Association. From 2006 through early 2007, Pomerantz proudly served on a National Research Council Federal Advisory Committee producing a report on "Meeting the Workforce Needs for the National Vision for Space Exploration."

Marc Schulman, Director, Event Management, Creative Services

Schulman came to the X PRIZE Foundation in August of 2006 with 10 years of marketing experience from his previous position with the Fiesta Bowl Foundation. During his tenure at the Fiesta Bowl Foundation he served in a multitude of roles supporting various events in and around the state of Arizona. He began his career as Event Coordinator, managing the 50+ events that make up the Fiesta Bowl and Insight Bowl Festival. In 1998, Schulman transitioned into a marketing and sponsorship role. In this capacity he was responsible for generating revenue based on sponsorship sales and partnership gifts to support the Fiesta Bowl Foundation's varied events. Schulman holds a B.A. in journalism from the University of Missouri.

Michael Timmons, Manager, Communications

Sharon Wang, Manager, Accounting
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Julie Zona, Director, Team Development and Relations, Progressive Automotive X PRIZE

Julie Zona comes to the Progressive Automotive X Prize team with fifteen years of experience in the automotive industry. With her early years spent working in environmental coordination at Mayco Plastics, then Chrysler Corporation, she soon turned her focus to product development. With a career spanning more than thirteen years at Chrysler, Julie held a variety of positions including roles in manufacturing, vehicle development, product planning/strategy, Dodge marketing, and program management for current and future Chrysler programs. Most recently she worked at Saleen Inc. as the Director of Marketing and Program Planning, with responsibility for planning and overseeing the execution of all current Saleen and Racecraft programs from concept to launch. Julie holds a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Detroit. She is a native of Michigan, and will represent the X PRIZE team from an office outside of Detroit.

Operations & Administration

Valerie Arias, Associate, Communications

Edmond Bina, Associate, Production, Creative Services

Lindsey Burris, Executive Assistant, Marketing & Sponsorship

Mike Fabio, Associate, Google Liaison, Google Lunar X PRIZE

C-David Jones, Office Assistant
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Nicole Jordan, Associate, Team Liaison, Google Lunar X PRIZE

David Locke, Executive Assistant, Prize Operations

Lina Morlando, Associate, Prize Development

Claudia Munoz, Receptionist

Angela Ohren-Kurian, Associate, Life Sciences Prize Group

Deborah Page, Executive Assistant, Office of the CEO

Heidi Pancake, Executive Assistant, Office of the President

Stephanie Schneider, Associate, Marketing & Sponsorship

Gianelle Smith, Associate, Marketing & Sponsorship

Stacy Smith, Associate, Human Resources

Elke Stoll, Associate, Accounting

Taryn Wiliams, Executive Assistant, Prize Development