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 Thilo Koslowski is Vice President and Lead Automotive Analyst at Gartner Inc., the largest technology advisory company in the world. Mr. Koslowski assists business and IT leaders in the automotive industry to unlock the potential of technology to drive growth and manage technology's impact on business models and processes. His analysis centers around critical topics related to the automotive demand & supply chains, in-vehicle information & communication applications and IT trends.
Before joining Gartner, Mr. Koslowski was a Lead Consultant in GartnerConsulting's Executive Market Analysis Program, where he managed global consulting assignments for vendors in the e-business and emerging technologies markets. Prior to that, he worked in various marketing positions for a premium, European automaker. Mr. Koslowski graduated with honors from the Technical University (RWTH) Aachen in Germany and holds a master's degree in Business Studies with majors in Marketing, European Economy and Production Engineering.
As Gartner’s lead analyst for the automotive industry, Mr. Koslowski is regularly quoted in global publications, TV and radio broadcasts including the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, New York Times, BBC, Automotive News, ABC News and others.
Olaf Groth is CEO of Emergent Frontiers Group LLC, where he signs responsible for EFG’s key client relationships, its global development and affiliations. Over the past 20 years, he held senior advisory and executive roles in strategy; corporate, business, market and operations development; government relations and public policy with Monitor Group, Qualcomm, Boeing, Vodafone, AirTouch, and a transportation startup. In these roles, he counseled clients and helped qualify, negotiate and develop new ventures and initiatives in 30+ countries with opportunity sizes between approx. $100M to $2billion dollars.
Olaf is a senior fellow at the Institute for Business in Global Context at Tufts University, an advisor at the Pacific Cities Sustainability Initiative, a judge for GE’s Ecomagination Challenge, co-chair of the Pacific Council’s Energy and Environment Committee, a member of the Research Council of the Bay Area Economics Institute, the International Institute for Strategic Studies, Clean Economy Network, Talent Ideas and Enterprise Silicon Valley, and the Transatlantic Forum of the BMW Foundation.
Olaf holds professional school M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in international affairs with concentrations in international political economy, business relations, technology policy & management and negotiation from the Fletcher School at Tufts University and the Monterey Institute of International Studies of Middlebury College. He teaches courses on the intersections of foresight-based strategy, energy and innovation at Hult International Business School.
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 Oliver is an entrepreneurial minded marketing and business development professional with extensive experience in international and intercultural environments. Oliver was born and raised in Germany, and lived and worked in Sweden, Bangkok, and Silicon Valley. He founded his first company at the age of twenty, and worked with global companies, such as Siemens and Merck.
Oliver has spent more than 2 years with Red Herring and advises numerous international startups. He graduated from Pforzheim University of Applied Science in Germany, and received his Master's Degree with Distinction from CTF Research Center at Karlstad Universitet in Sweden. Oliver can be reached at first initial and last name at gmail dot com.
Gunther joined The Brenner Group in 2008 in the Financial Advisory Services Group. His background includes extensive work in valuations, M&A, venture capital, and corporate finance. He has significant international experience in small firms as well as global corporations. Specific industry expertise includes automotive, software, semiconductors, and renewable energy.
Prior to the Brenner Group, Gunther was vice president of The Perrault Birmingham Group LLC, a boutique investment bank focusing on strategic advisory, private placements, and M&A for small high tech companies. Before that, he was the founder of Xiledge Technology Corporation, a French-American semiconductor IP firm. Before Xiledge, he held various senior management positions at DaimlerChrysler AG and DaimlerChrysler (DC) Venture. At DC Venture, he headed up the U.S. office and oversaw all aspects of management, deal sourcing, due diligence, valuation and portfolio company support. Gunther has also held a number of management positions at several German-based firms.
Gunther earned a Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering and Business Administration from Darmstadt University of Technology in Germany, and was a Visiting Scholar at UC Berkeley and ISEP, France. He is a holder of the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation, and is an accredited valuation analyst. Gunther is Treasurer and member of the Board of Directors of the German American Business Association (GABA).
 E.J. is the President & CEO of YES Partners, a global Executive Search Firm. He helps building and growing companies in Europe, Asia and North America by helping companies to find their Management Teams. He held positions as SVP for the US-Northeast-Region and MD(ManagingDirector) Japan, MD South Korea and MD UK. He has been responsible for operations of 270 staff. EJ managed the operation of projects for Hewlett-Packard, lectured at the 'Japan Market-Entry Competition' in Tokyo (Chambers-of-Commerce from Europe, USA and Canada), and presents in Europe and Asia about “Market-Entry USA” strategies.
His native language is German, but he also speaks English, Spanish, French and can communicate in Japanese. EJ has a MBA and is an Alumni with IMD (Lausanne/Switzerland) and the New York World Trade Center on International Trade, and has a degree from the German Chamber of Commerce.
EJ is a member with NACD (National Association of Corporate Directors), SVASE, a Chair for HR (Human Resources) with GABA, Churchill Club, IBDN, World Affairs Council, KASE & KIN (Korea IT Network), Japan Society, JCCNC (Japanese Chamber of Commerce), and serves as a Director for World Service with Rotary International. He is also a Board-director of WCL.
 Jennifer Vessels, CEO of Next Step, leads a team of seasoned consultants who maximize clients’ revenues and profits through proven sales, marketing and management techniques. Her practical approaches have le to success for companies ranging from Cisco Systems to Palm and many SMB oorganizations in all indusries. Prior to founding Next Step in 1998, Jennifer was European Marketing Director for Ungermann-Bass, the built the European operation for Promptus Inc. and expanded Tandberg Telecom’s international presence including launch into the US.
Jennifer holds an MBA from San Jose State and a Masters of Occupational Psychology from the University of London, as well as being a Certified Management Consultant (CMC). Today, Jennifer is an active member of the Silicon Valley community. She is a Vistage certified speaker, and Board Vice President for Achievekids, as well as a member of NAWBO, WIC, IMC and numerous other community organizations. She is a frequently requested speaker by Silicon Valley Bank; Gartner Group: Rotary; Vistage; National Association Business Women Owners; Institute of Management Consultants; Public Relations Society of America and other industry groups.
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 Angelika Blendstrup, Ph.D. is the founder and principal of Angelika Blendstrup & Associates, www.professional-business-communications.com. She holds a Ph.D. from Stanford University and a Master's from UC Berkeley. In addition to English, Angelika speaks and teaches in French, Spanish, Portuguese, and German. Angelika coaches international executives and entrepreneurs on US business communication in Silicon Valley and delivers classes at Stanford University's Continuing Studies, Haas Business School and UCLA Anderson School of Management on US business communications, personal branding and US business presentations. Angelika is the author of They Made It! - featuring interviews with major foreign-born leaders of Silicon Valley, and co-author of Communicating the American Way.
Dr. Mihaescu is Principal Engineer at Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals LLC, where she has been employed since 1994. She also serves as Project Manager for multiple projects on the Bayer Berkeley site. Her projects include R&D and Process Sciences Labs, QC Lab Buildings, Manufacturing, Sterile Filling and Freeze Drying Areas, a Vivarium, as well as Qualifications of Facilities and Equipment. Prior to her current position she worked in the Project and Plant Engineering Departments. Before joining Bayer, Edda Mihaescu worked as a Cleanroom Specialist and Mechanical/HVAC Engineer on projects for other Biopharmaceutical Companies, as well as on Medical Facility, and Nuclear Engineering projects.
Dr. Mihaescu received her doctorate in Mechanical Engineering at the Technical University of Bucharest and is certified as a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of California and she also obtained an Engineering Management Certificate from California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, CA.
 Ulrike Ruppelt is the founding member and chairwoman of the Interest Group Life Sciences / Healthcare at the German American Business Association GABA. Her expertise is in international Business Development, Marketing and Public Relations with a solid background in Science and Technology.
Ruppelt founded the consultancy Ticular Strategies for Success and was Director of International Synergy and Marketing at M+W Zander, a global architectural, engineering, construction and facility management firm. Before that she was the delegate of Fraunhofer Gesellschaft to the European Commission in Brussels, and Public Relations Officer at Fraunhofer Gesellschaft’s headquarters in Munich, Germany.
Ruppelt earned her masters in communication and media consulting and her bachelor in chemistry from Technical University, Berlin, Germany. She is a member of GABA, BayBio, ISPE, CoreNet and SMPS.
Florian Brody is an internationally acclaimed digital media specialist with more than 25 years experience in Europe and the U.S. Florian is the vice president marketing at Envizio Inc, San Francisco, a privately held company developing a secure platform for retail offers and payment. He headed marketing and business development efforts at multiple start-ups in the Silicon Valley, including Cimbal, Visuvi, YouSendIt, Zinio, and A9.com an Amazon.com company. At Red Herring he served as Director Business Development and Marketing and relaunched the online and print magazine. In 1999 he co-founded AlcheMe Inc., a start-up in San Francisco and served as its CEO.
Florian has been instrumental in developing groundbreaking media solutions and communication strategies for Fortune 500 companies, including Kodak, Apple and Accenture. Florian co-invented Voyager’s Expanded Books, the first electronic books to be read on a laptop, in 1991. He served as strategic consultant in new media for the Austrian Federal Ministry of Science and was advisor for the European Commission Multimedia Task Force.
Florian studied Computer Linguistics at the Vienna University, worked as researcher in computer linguistics and film theory, held the chair for multimedia at the University of Apllied Sciences in Salzburg. and taught at Art Center in Pasadena and Austrian universities. He is published in the field of digital media and electronic publishing. Florian is the founding president of ASCINA, the Association of Austrian Researchers and Scientists in North America and active in fostering collaboration and exchange between Europe and the Silicon Valley.
 Mr. Hoelzle is the founding partner of Feldberg Pacific Law Group, a boutique law firm in San Francisco, CA. His firm specializes in representing German and U.S. clients in Start-up Company, VC, cross-border M&A, and licensing matters. His clients benefit greatly from his vast network of contacts in the technology, media, solar and venture capital industries in Europe and the U.S. Mr. Hoelzle is admitted to practice law in California and Germany and has over 14 years of experience in advising clients in corporate and technology transactions in Germany and the U.S. Prior to founding Feldberg Pacific Law Group he was a senior attorney with Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison in Palo Alto, CA. Please contact Mr. Hoelzle at ahoelzle at feldbergpacific dot com for more info.
 Pamela is a New Media professional, focusing on new media advertising and promotion campaigns. She most recently worked for Lieberman Productions (Guthy-Renker) in San Francisco, and was responsible for the international marketing of Sheer Cover and Youthful Essence product lines to the German marketplace.
In addition to her analytical skills, Pamela is fluent in German and English, has worked as an actress, producer, public speaker, and moderator of political debates, and as Executive Producer, brought a student film to the 2004 Cannes Film Festival. In addition, Pamela has appeared on German TV, and has produced and hosted her own TV show aired to the greater Los Angeles area.
Pamela recently earned a BA in Mass Communication at the University of California, Berkeley, and is a graduate of the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute in Los Angeles. Pamela was born in Hamburg, and currently resides with her husband in Palo Alto, CA.
Gunther joined The Brenner Group in 2008 in the Financial Advisory Services Group. His background includes extensive work in valuations, M&A, venture capital, and corporate finance. He has significant international experience in small firms as well as global corporations. Specific industry expertise includes automotive, software, semiconductors, and renewable energy.
Prior to the Brenner Group, Gunther was vice president of The Perrault Birmingham Group LLC, a boutique investment bank focusing on strategic advisory, private placements, and M&A for small high tech companies. Before that, he was the founder of Xiledge Technology Corporation, a French-American semiconductor IP firm. Before Xiledge, he held various senior management positions at DaimlerChrysler AG and DaimlerChrysler (DC) Venture. At DC Venture, he headed up the U.S. office and oversaw all aspects of management, deal sourcing, due diligence, valuation and portfolio company support. Gunther has also held a number of management positions at several German-based firms.
Gunther earned a Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering and Business Administration from Darmstadt University of Technology in Germany, and was a Visiting Scholar at UC Berkeley. He is a holder of the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation, and a member of the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts.
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Steffen Bartschat, Co-Chair
Steffen Bartschat is currently COO at LUMOback, an early stage startup in the casual health sensor/smartphone space. Steffen is also the Entrepreneur-In-Residence at Faurecia Westworks Automotive Accelerator. Faurecia is a $20B global tier-one supplier in the automotive industry.
Steffen recently graduated as a Sloan Fellow (earning an MS in Business Management) from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business. He also holds BS and MS degrees in Electrical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University.
Through previous opportunities to shape corporate strategies and R&D processes both domestically and internationally (China and Germany), Steffen has developed expertise to not just select the most effective technical approach, but also to engage teams and individuals to make those plans a reality. Before being invited to study at Stanford, he has worked in senior leadership positions in high visibility consumer software companies such as Sonic Solutions/Roxio, Broderbund, Electronic Arts and IBM.
Steffen also enjoys running an efficient government agency while adapting to the challenges of climate change as President of the Board for the Tamalpais Community Services District in Mill Valley, California. In his spare time, he volunteers as a docent leader for the National Park Service, leading hikes in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Muir Woods covering local history, flora, and fauna.
Steffen was born in Germany and emigrated to the US as a teenager. He is fluent in both English and German.
 Uwe Wagner is the Principal and Founder at Tiburon Consulting LLC. Tiburon Consulting LLC is a San Francisco Bay Area boutique consulting firm, dedicated to coaching the growth and success of European high-tech entrepreneurial ventures and university spin-off’s by connecting ideas, technology and people. We work with a network of San Francisco and Silicon Valley's leading entrepreneurs, industry experts, venture capitalists, private investors and technologists to provide insights about how to effectively grow high-tech ventures amidst dynamic market risks and challenges. In a world where markets change at breakneck speed, knowledge is a critical source of competitive advantage. Through our enabling and technology partner ecosystem we offer an excellent opportunity for our clients to network and learn about pivotal business issues, emerging industries and the latest technologies.
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 Thomas Neubert is a Co-Founder of GABA and in his profession is heading the Group Business Development and Partnering activities for the Deutsche Telekom in the US. Previously as a sales and business development executive he was actively evangelizing video conferencing for the enterprise, smb market and mobile enabled devices for the consumers.
Born and raised in Germany, Thomas came to Silicon Valley in 1991 and has been passionate about multi-cultural environments and every technology that brings people together ever since.
For the last 16 years as a sales & marketing executive, Thomas started and managed numerous companies with disruptive technologies, from start-up, M&A to IPO, in a global environment. Growing domestic and international companies between Germany and the US has been his motivation to be deeply involved in an organization like GABA. Thomas holds an advanced degree in Computer Engineering and Communications and is a graduate of the Stanford Executive Program at Stanford University Graduate School of Business. In his spare time, he is also an advisor/mentor for the MBA students at the Monterrey Institute for International Studies. Thomas is also a Board Member of the Telekom Council Silicon Valley.
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 Linda Kotzot Cleary is a GABA Director and Chair of the GABA Women in Business Group, created in 2007 to provide a forum for international business-minded women in the Bay Area. Previously she served as GABA's first president from 2003 to 2005.
Linda is also currently Senior Demand Generation & Customer Marketing Manager for Dell Boomi, where she delivers campaigns, programs and events to drive revenue for the cloud integration provider.
She is German-born and California-raised, is an outdoor enthusiast and enjoys writing. She can be reached at lindakcleary at gmail dot com.
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 Mandy is a young professional who moved to the Bay Area in 2009. She was born and raised in Germany and studied both there and the United States. After graduating from university she moved to Chicago to work for the German American Chamber of Commerce (GACCoM) in Marketing and PR. Mandy holds a Master's Degree in German Literature, History and Communications and while a student, she worked in the Marketing department of a non-profit consulting organization.
She currently works as a Search Marketing Specialist for the start-up Become, Inc., where she manages the PPC campaigns for major German comparison shopping engines. After relocating to California she joined GABA and made important business contacts who helped build her career and professional network. She wants to help other young professionals starting their professional careers in the Bay Area. Mandy can be reached at mherrmann at gaba-network dot org.
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