Team
Richard W. Berenson - Managing Director: Rick@venzyme.com
Rick has been leading organizations and developing practical, break-through strategy for more than twenty years. He has been CEO or COO at nine companies -- brought in by the investors on an interim basis to effect a new strategic direction. Rick has worked across a broad range of industries and can master new technologies and markets with speed -letting him get right to work addressing the fundamental business issues which otherwise keep you from succeeding.
Rick began his career at AT&T Bell Laboratories as a member of technical staff where he helped launch internal ventures. He then spent several years at software startups in the Boston area before joining McKinsey & Company as a management consultant. Subsequently, Rick has been CEO of ActivBiotics (early stage biotech), Banton Precision Wood Products (consumer products manufacturer), NewSphere (knowledge management software), Student.Com, Inc. (new media), and TVGrid (technology for the entertainment industry). He has also served as COO at ChannelHealth.Com (healthcare information and services), Morpace Pharma Group (medical market research), and AltiComm (telecom). Rick has been president of the US operations for Paris-based ALLIANCES Management Consultants and, more recently, a senior partner at Monadnock Associates - where he helped québécoise companies seeking US financing. Rick received a JD-MBA from Harvard Business and Law Schools in 1984 and is a graduate of Harvard College.
Associates
David Tischler - Associate: David@venzyme.com
David has been actively involved in developing new scientific technologies since early in his professional career. His scientific background matched with his organizational ability and enthusiasm allows him to work effectively with young companies in many fields. His entrepreneurial drive and passion for creating commercially viable therapies has led him to Venzyme, where he assists client companies in a wide variety of projects.
David began his career working in Dr. Anthony Atala's Tissue Engineering Lab helping lay the groundwork for breakthroughs in tissue regeneration. He then worked with the Pancreatic Research Group, a UCLA-affiliated lab studying the underlying mechanisms behind Pancreatitis and Pancreatic Cancer. While working in LA, his entrepreneurial nature led David to produce and finance a documentary film. More recently, David has consulted to start-ups and established companies on strategies for establishing a presence on social networking platforms. David attended the Stanford Graduate School of Business Summer Institute for General Management in 2007 and graduated with a BS in Biology from the Honors College at the University of Michigan.
Specialists
Fran Rubin - Executive Recruiter: Fran@venzyme.com
Fran brings over 20 years of experience in helping clients to develop and implement innovative recruitment, retention, downsizing and outplacement strategies. She brings extensive cross-industry knowledge from serving both Fortune 500 and startup companies within the consulting, technology, healthcare, biotechnology, financial services, and retail sectors.
Fran's client roster features Navigant Consulting, Simplayer Sports, AltiComm, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Morepace Pharma Group, Arthur D. Little, Accenture, Delta Dental, Life Plans, Inceptor, Timberland, and Comp USA.
Fran's special talent is sourcing, recruiting and hiring key players cost effectively. She has filled a wide variety of positions with quality candidates, ranging from junior to senior consulting staff, Chief Financial Officer, General Counsel, VP Marketing, VP Sales, Chief Technology Officer, as well as sales, marketing, product development. software development, web design, quality assurance, database administration and information technology jobs. Fran holds a Bachelor of Arts from Queens College in New York and has completed extensive graduate work in Human Resource Management at Lesley College. She is an active member of the Society for Human Resource Management, and the Human Resource Council.
