Board of Directors

Board of Directors

Eitan Gertel is Chairman of the Board, in addition to his duties as President and Chief Executive Officer of Optium Corporation. Mr. Gertel brings over fifteen years of experience in broadband microwave and fiber optic systems including his most recent position as founder and Vice President/General Manager of JDS Uniphase's TSD Division from 1995 to 2001. In this position, Mr. Gertel had full P&L responsibility for the sub-system division as it transitioned from start-up status to a multi-hundred-million-dollar operation. Mr. Gertel earned a BSEE from Drexel University.

James Barbookles has served as a director since September 2006. Mr. Barbookles is the chairman and chief executive officer of Nova Analytics Corporation and Nova Technologies Corporation, suppliers and integrators of electrochemistry and flow analysis instrumentation. Mr. Barbookles joined Nova Analytics Corporation in September 2003 and Nova Technologies Corporation in June 2006. Prior to joining Nova Analytics Corporation, Mr. Barbookles served as president and chief executive officer of Orion Research Inc. and Thermedics Detection Inc., wholly owned subsidiaries of Thermo Electron Corporation, from December 1995 through March 2003. Mr. Barbookles holds a B.S. in electrical engineering from Buffalo State University and a M.B.A. from Renssalaer Polytechnic Institute.

Joseph Chinnici has served as a director since June 2007. Mr. Chinnici was formerly Chief Financial Officer of Ciena Corporation, his position from 1997 to 2007 after joining the company in 1994 as Controller. Prior to joining Ciena, Mr. Chinnici held key financial roles for Halston Borghese Inc. and Playtex Apparel, Inc. (now a division of Sara Lee Corporation). He received his B.S. degree in accounting from Villanova University and an M.B.A. from Southern Illinois University.

Christopher Crespi has served as a director since November 2005. Mr. Crespi is co-founder and president of Pacific Realm, LLC, a small investment fund which invests in private growth companies and equity funds. Mr. Crespi worked as managing director of Banc of America Securities LLC from November 1999 until his retirement in January 2004. Mr. Crespi holds a B.S.E.E. from University of California at Davis and an M.B.A. from Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.

Kerry DeHority has served as a director since March 2006. Mr. DeHority is the chief executive officer of Global Upside Corp., an outsourcing solutions provider for finance, accounting and document management. Prior to Global Upside, Mr. DeHority held multiple senior management positions within JDSU. From 1997 to 2000, Mr. DeHority served as vice president and corporate controller for JDSU and was vice president of business development concentrating on the company’s merger and acquisition efforts during 2000 and 2001. Mr. DeHority has held certified public accountant licenses in the states of Virginia and California and holds a B.S. in accounting from Old Dominion University.

Steven Foster has served as a director since March 2004. Mr. Foster is a managing director at TPG Ventures, a venture capital firm and a stockholder of Optium. Mr. Foster has been with TPG Ventures since 2000. Mr. Foster was a partner at Crosspoint Venture Partners, a venture capital firm from 1998 to 2000 and a director of business development for 3Com Corporation from 1995 to 1998. Mr. Foster holds a B.S. in commerce from Santa Clara University and an M.B.A. from Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.

Russell Johnson has served as a director since March 2004. Mr. Johnson is a partner at Kalkhoven, Pettit, Levin & Johnson Ventures LLC, a venture capital firm and a stockholder of Optium. Mr. Johnson worked as senior vice president of global sales and marketing at JDSU from May 1998 to September 2000.  Mr. Johnson holds a B.S.E.E. from New Mexico State University and an M.B.A. from Purdue University.

Morgan Jones has served as a director since November 2000. Mr. Jones is a general partner at Battery Ventures, a venture capital firm and a stockholder of Optium. Mr. Jones has been with Battery Ventures since 1996. Mr. Jones holds a B.S. in engineering science from Harvard University and an M.S. in electrical engineering from Stanford University.