The Picolight management team is comprised of industry leaders who have substantial experience in creating and developing successful startup organizations, coupled with strong market focus and industry recognition. The Picolight management team’s technical competencies include: optoelectronic component design and fabrication, with emphasis on VCSEL and high-speed detectors; fiber-optic transmission standards; laser, detector and transceiver reliability; integrated circuits and optical packaging. On the business front, the Picolight management team brings extensive sales, marketing, business development, supply chain, and offshore manufacturing experience for datacom, storage area and telecom products gained both within startup and large company environments.
Steve Hane, President and Chief Executive Officer
Steve brings more than two decades of telecommunications industry experience to the role of leading Picolight. Coming to Picolight in May of 2004, Steve has focused on driving a business model and market strategy that leverages the company’s core competencies in VCSEL technologies from a base of manufacturing and operational excellence. Coupled to that experience are roles he has held as the VP of Business Development for LightPointe, as well as the VP of North American Sales for ADC Telecommunications’ Business Broadband Group, giving him experience in all aspects of business development from start-up stage on through $500M in annual revenue run-rate. Steve has extensive experience in partnership development (in both domestic and international markets), venture capital funding processes, and strategic sales and marketing strategies for products ranging from component level up through full network systems and architectures. Steve holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Geological Engineering from the University of Minnesota Institute of Technology.
Jack L. Jewell, Chief Technical Officer
Jack is internationally recognized as a major contributor in the development and commercialization of VCSEL technology. In 1991, he co-founded Vixel Corp. (originally Photonics Research, Inc.) He formerly worked at AT&T Bell Laboratories (1984-1991) and received the AT&T Bell Labs Distinguished Member of Technical Staff Award in 1991, the Distinguished Inventor Award in 1991, was an IEEE/LEOS Distinguished Lecturer in 1991-92, and won Best Technical Advance in Optical Communications award in 2001 at Optix 2001. Jack has 50 U.S. patents and has authored over 150 publications. He earned his doctorate degree in Optical Sciences from the University of Arizona.
Martin Lundie, Chief Financial Officer
Martin has more than 20 years experience in the capacity of Chief Financial Officer. Most recently, he was Vice President and CFO of Lightwave Microsystems Corporation, a manufacturer of planar lightwave circuit products including optical multiplexors, demultiplexors and variable optical attenuators. Prior to that, he was interim CFO of Vixel Corporation, a manufacturer of hubs and transceivers. Martin was a founder and CFO of Read-Rite Corporation, a leading thin film head manufacturer. He was also General Manager, CFO and founder of Read-Rite’s Thailand subsidiary. He was a founder, CFO and the seed investor of Polystor Corporation, a lithium ion battery manufacturer. Martin received a B.S. in Accounting and an LLB (J.D.) from the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa. He was admitted to the Bar in South Africa and successfully completed all parts of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Examination (AICPS).
Joe Janega, Vice President, Operations
Joe has more than 20 years of experience in Supply Chain, Purchasing and Operations at Maxtor, Iomega, EchoStar and Exabyte Corporation. He has been a key figure in driving strategic supplier relationships, lean manufacturing practices and Asian manufacturing. His experience spans product development, strategic sourcing, inventory planning and management, manufacturing, and supply chain. Joe received his BS in Nuclear Physics and Applied Mathematics from the University of New Haven.
Tom White, Vice President, Components
Tom has more than 20 years of experience in semiconductor and communications engineering, process development and management at NCR, AMI, Ford, Harris, Samsung and Vixel Corp. He has been a key figure in these companies, managing the development of new technology into commercial products including the use of VCSELs in datacom products. His experience covers silicon, gallium arsenide and optoelectronic semiconductor materials and processes. Tom received his BS in Electronic Technology from the University of Houston.
Neil Cannon, Vice President, Advanced Development
Prior to joining Picolight, Neil was Director of Development for Infineon Fiber Optics. While at Infineon, Neil assembled and led Infineon’s Fiber Channel, Ethernet and Access transceiver development teams. He has extensive experience in Engineering Management, Business Development, including equity financings in the Fiber Optics industry from key positions at Iolon, and at Siemens Fiber Optics. Neil has a BA and an MS from Dartmouth College.
Vidya Sharma, Vice President, Marketing
Vidya brings more than eighteen years of domestic and international experience in the data communications and telecommunications industry. Prior to Picolight, he has held various management positions in product marketing, product management, business development, and strategic marketing at LightPointe, Metera, Nortel and Gandalf. While at Nortel, Vidya developed Nortel’s metro Ethernet portfolio and "Go to Market" strategies. He is the author of several articles and co-author of a forthcoming book, “The Business of Optical Communications.” Vidya holds a BS and an MS from PA University, Panjab, India and an MBA from the University of Ottawa, Canada.
Doug Smidl, Vice President, Sales and Customer Service
Doug has over 20 year's experience in the telecommunications industry, including senior positions in sales and marketing. Prior to Picolight, he was Vice President of Worldwide Sales at VPI Systems, a management software company. Before VPI Systems, Doug worked at LightPointe as Vice President of Worldwide Sales. At LightPointe, Doug successfully built a sales and support organization that tripled revenue through key channel partnerships including Cisco, Huawei, Corning and Siemens. While at ADC Telecommunications, as Vice President of Sales for ADC’s Broadband Access and Optical Transport Groups, Doug drove sales revenue to a record $800 million and established relationships with leading service providers. Doug has a BS in Business Administration from Iowa State University and an MBA from the University of Minnesota.
