Writing by Gia Miler, Perplexity and ChatGPT
We asked Perplexity and ChatGPT to help us write the bios for the tech experts who participated in our roundtable discussion. We combined and edited the versions together and read them aloud at the beginning of our discussion to introduce the experts to each other. They were modified for print due to space constraints, but here are the complete versions. To read the entire discussion, click here.
Herbie Calves, The Inventor
Herbie Calves is a seasoned C-level executive, board member, and entrepreneur with a 30-year career focused on building brands that promote healthy lifestyles. His expertise spans consumer packaged goods, digital technology, and health and fitness ventures. Currently serving as CEO of Fresh Health, a venture capital-backed health tech start-up, he is leading the development and commercialization of the Proclaim® Custom-Jet Oral Health System. Recognized on the 2018 FORBES CMO Next list, Herbie has a proven track record of developing high-performing teams and driving measurable success in various organizational settings.. Herbie’s career highlights include co-founding and successfully exiting two ventures: Link AKC and Myx Fitness, the latter of which he grew to over $100 million in sales before merging with The Beachbody Company. Herbie’s career also includes nearly 20 years in brand marketing for major consumer brands like Lysol, Woolite, Timex, Ironman, and LensCrafters, blending his foundational expertise in consumer packaged goods with cutting-edge digital technology.
Rob Kissner, The AI Guru
Rob Kissner is the program manager and small business advisor at GaelVentures, the student and community incubator at Iona University’s Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. He plays a crucial role in the SBA-funded Community Navigator Pilot Program (CNPP), helping veterans start and grow businesses through workshops, webinars, and personalized guidance. Rob also teaches entrepreneurship and design thinking at the Hynes Institute and is the founder and president of The Digital Arts Experience, a pioneering STEM education program in Westchester that he launched in 2011. Rob also designed and delivered City Labs, innovative projects pairing students with local municipalities to create solutions. As Designer-in-Residence at the Hynes Institute, he fosters a Makerspace culture and supports student prototyping efforts. Rob is an adjunct professor of Entrepreneurship, Ideation, and Design Thinking, guiding students in creating ethical and sustainable businesses. Passionate about learning and creative problem-solving, Rob has a strong background in media production and sound.
Yulia Ovchinnikova, The Connector
Yulia Ovchinnikova is the founder of OpenHub Project, an initiative aimed at empowering individuals and businesses through technology. With over 20 years of experience in integrated marketing and a strong technical background, Yulia focuses on bringing people together around technology, fostering meaningful connections, and enabling startups. Yulia’s expertise spans project management, product management, and business development, with a particular emphasis on helping companies realize their full market potential in the global marketplace. As the driving force behind OpenHub, she has developed a comprehensive ecosystem that support tech startups and mid-size companies with educational programming, networking, and collaborative opportunities. Her vision for OpenHub includes providing real skills training in programming and web development for career-shifting adults, supporting entrepreneurs in leveraging technology for business growth, and assisting freelancers in enhancing their services.
Swaroop Reddy, The Pessimist
Swaroop Reddy is an accomplished digital and customer experience strategy executive who is known for creating breakthrough digital strategies that drive transformative growth across various industries and global regions. As the CIO of Omnicom’s Precision Marketing Group, he leads internal and external transformation programs that leverage technology to innovate services and experiences. His expertise spans marketing, IT, and customer experience strategies, and his creative approach and analytical mindset allow him to excel in executing complex initiatives that connect brand, experience, business, and technology. Swaroop’s role at Omnicom involves establishing a global IT organization, developing data protection programs, and creating organizational models that enhance client-centric experiences across multiple agencies.
Karen “Kat” Schrier, The Empath
Dr. Karen “Kat” Schrier is a full professor and founding director of the Games & Emerging Media program at Marist College, where she also directs the Play Innovation Lab. A world-renowned expert in game design and emerging media, Dr. Schrier has an extensive background in both academia and industry. She is the founder and CEO of PlatyPlay, LLC, specializing in educational and inclusive game design, consults as a game designer for the World Health Organization and co-leads a Templeton Foundation Grant on VR and empathy. She’s also worked with major companies like Nickelodeon and Scholastic. Schrier’s research focuses on the intersection of games, ethics, and education, with over 100 published works to her name. She holds degrees from Columbia University, MIT and Amherst College, and actively contributes to various initiatives promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in the gaming industry.
This article was published in the September/October 2024 edition of Connect to Northern Westchester.
Gia Miller is an award-winning journalist and the editor-in-chief/co-publisher of Connect to Northern Westchester. She has a magazine journalism degree (yes, that's a real thing) from the University of Georgia and has written for countless national publications, ranging from SELF to The Washington Post. Gia desperately wishes schools still taught grammar. Also, she wants everyone to know they can delete the word "that" from about 90% of their sentences, and there's no such thing as "first annual." When she's not running her media empire, Gia enjoys spending quality time with friends and family, laughing at her crazy dog and listening to a good podcast. She thanks multiple alarms, fermented grapes and her amazing husband for helping her get through each day. Her love languages are food and humor.
