Board of Directors

Nicholas is currently Senior Managing Director at Kidron Corporate Advisors LLC, a full-service investment banking boutique based in New York City that specializes in Corporate M&A and advisory work. He is one of four General Partners of The Kidron Opportunity Fund, a Private Equity fund targeting emerging growth companies. He sits on four Boards of privately-held technology companies helping develop and direct strategy and, as Executive Chairman, has secured strategic funding. He was the CEO and founder of Emosyn LLC, a fabless semiconductor company in the smart card and security markets. In April 2005 he sold the company to Silicon Storage Technology after growing the business to a $90m run rate with 16 patents issued. Prior to founding Emosyn, he was Vice President of Marketing for ATMI Inc, a semiconductor materials company where under his tenure the Company grew 10 fold to over a $1bn market cap. Nicholas also spent 10 years with Intel Corporation in Europe. He has a BSc (Honours) in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology.

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Dr. Jerome Baruffi has over 50 years of experience in both the dental and software industry. One of his earliest software ventures was bought out by Microsoft in 1985 and is now known as Microsoft Project Manager. He has been on the board of several local dental associations: He was re-elected to his position on the Washington Dental Service Board for 24 consecutive years, served as the Secretary of John Bastyr College of Naturopathic Medicine for two years, as a Member of their board for four, and was on the WSDA Board for three years. From 1970-1984 Dr. Baruffi worked with Comprehensive Development Company developing real corporate and residential real estate properties in the greater Puget Sound area. Dr. Baruffi graduated from Gonzaga University with a BS in basic Medical Science, a BA in Political Science, and received his Doctorate in Dental Surgery from the University of Washington in 1965. He has been a member of The South Center Dental Team since 1973.

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Diana leads all strategic and business operations at Sesame. She brings an 18-year success track record in marketing innovative technologies and fortifying brand positioning for dental companies in the professionals and consumer markets. Prior to joining Sesame, Diana was Vice President of Novalar Pharmaceuticals, launching the first in-class drug OraVerse^™. She also served as North America Director of Professional Marketing, Education and Professional Relations for Philips Sonicare and as a senior consultant to leading companies in the dental space. Diana holds an MBA in Management and Marketing as well as an MA in Sociology from Arizona State University.

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Gary is a Sesame investor and a board observer for Kidron Corporate Advisors LLC, a full-service investment banking boutique based in New York City that specializes in Corporate M&A and advisory work. His affiliation with Kidron began during his tenure with Frazier Technology Ventures, an early stage internet and software venture capital firm. Previously, he was an investor and Chief Marketing Officer of Visio Corporation, where he played a central role in positioning Visio as the leader in business drawing software. During his Visio years, the market capitalization rose from $25 million to $1.3 billion, after which the company was sold to Microsoft. His technology experience also includes four years serving as Vice President of Marketing at Microsoft, where he managed advertising, PR, research, channel, events, and direct marketing disciplines for Microsoft.

Gary is also a 16-year advertising veteran, principally with Ogilvy & Mather. He remains an active philanthropist, having founded the Gigot Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at Notre Dame and the United Way of King County’s “Out of the Rain” initiative to end homelessness. Mr. Gigot sits on the Mendoza College of Business Advisory Council and on the Board of Managers of Northwest Horticulture and the Foster Promise advisory board. He also is Chief Marketing Officer of Optimum Energy.

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Dr. Brian Povolny first conceptualized the idea that gave rise to Sesame Communications in 1999 and has been at the cutting edge of technology utilization in the dental office ever since. He has been instrumental in the design of many of Sesame Communications’ core technologies throughout the company’s history.

Brian has maintained a private practice in orthodontics for 20 years. Over the last 11 years he has focused on using online communications to boost the quality of the doctor’s relationships with both his patients and his colleagues.

Dr. Povolny graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Washington in 1973. He earned his DDS from the University of Washington in 1982 and later received a PhD in Oral Biology from the UW. He has lectured and published on scientific and clinical topics over the past several decades. Dr. Povolny is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists, American Dental Association, Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists, as well as several other professional organizations.

Mr. Matthew Schiltz is an experienced technology CEO and President with a proven track record of transforming companies into valuable high growth organizations ranging from those in start-up stage to over 600 employees (both private and public companies). With over 20 years of success, in five separate technology companies, Schiltz has used his extensive executive management experience and leadership to achieve tremendous company growth and success, resulting in each being named an Inc. 500 and/or Fast 50 award winner with a combined compounded annual growth rate in excess of 100%. Mr. Schiltz’s extensive experience includes all aspects of leading, building, growing, funding, and managing a successful high growth technology company.

An honors graduate in engineering from the University of Washington, Schiltz holds an MBA with honors from the Albers School of Management, Seattle University. Mr. Schiltz, a past director of the Washington Software Association, has been involved with several other technology-related organizations. He is an invited industry speaker and has testified as an expert witness on software, SaaS, technology, and telecommunications industry practices.

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