The FARAD CONNECT Networks and Media Group have been created by an internationally diversified and experienced group of technology, financial and business professionals, having created billion dollar brands, services and products. They serve the FARAD CONNECT family with passion, conviction and a heart for paying their success forward. Advocates for a better life, they are:
Nick VandenBrekel
The Architect and Founder
Nick is a seasoned serial entrepreneur, navy veteran, technology, biotech and financial services innovator. With over 40 years of experience in myriad aspects of technology, science, finance, strategic planning and business development, he has been responsible for, and has contributed to ground breaking technologies in the healthcare, communications, financial, banking, medical, hardware, software, security, social media and enterprise systems industry.
A native of the Netherlands, Nick attended the Operational School Royal Netherlands Navy where he trained in naval radio communications and then continued into communication technology systems applications. His accomplishments include but are not limited to the founding of Crystal Technologies, a personal computer manufacturing company which was acquired by Ashima Technologies in 1986. PTV (Projector Tele Video), a groundbreaking technology that enabled automated content transfer from 8mm video to VHS video format. Founder and creator of the IAMSPORT athletes social network empowering over 25 million members and OLYMPIANS.ORG which provides internet communication and social media to all Olympic Athletes in the world, which was subsequently merged into the World Olympians Association.
Founder of Quest Print and First Publish which introduced the world to the innovations of on-demand publishing and print-on-demand, providing services and products to clients and partners such as Amazon, IBM, McGraw Hill, Hitachi, Fujitsu and Thompson Financial. One of the most successful products of QuestPrint was the IRP (Internet Remote Print) technology to drive high volume printing devices for clients such as Danka, Kinko’s, FedEx and universities such as Florida State University where more than 36,000 students utilized the IRP platform.
As founder of Constellation Biometrics and Sequiam Corp, he brought Consumer Lifestyle Biometrics to the world in the early 2000’s. Products such as the BioVault, the world's first biometric gunsafe, BioScan, SmartScan, BioMail, BioClinic, TouchScan, UBI Universal Biometric Interface, were just a few of the technologies designed and created by the companies. Clients and partners included such established names as Black and Decker, Fujitsu Micro Electronics, Royal Shell, National Rifle Association, Hewlett Packard, Microsoft, Coca Cola, Arrow Electronics, Analog Devices and Authentec Inc. Authentec was subsequently acquired by Apple Inc for $356 million and in September of 2013, the iPhone 5S was unveiled, introducing the biometric fingerprint recognition feature named TouchID. The company acquired BritePrint, a patented light-emitting, diode-based light source developed to enhance the detection of latent fingerprints. Frost and Sullivan named the company a global leader in consumer biometric technologies. High impact products such as BioClinic which, in partnership with Stellenbosch University, was designed to ensure that patients were correctly identified and correlated with their laboratory test samples in the use of real time application of molecular epidemiology and viral contamination tools, to improve the management of tuberculosis patients in Africa. Nick is also the CEO and Founder of Advanced Global Research Innovation Systems or AGRISYS, a research firm which develops innovations in defense, law enforcement, energy, electrical, agriculture, financial, banking, software and hardware verticals.
Nick is the co-founder of Storbeey, an innovations technology company with a revolutionary new perspective on augmented reality and creator of Geo Tag Technology, Storbeey, patent pending Augmented Virtuality and Mixed Reality as well as Dimensional Orb technology.
Nick is the founder of iTrypz Technologies, maker of the iTrypz RideShare platform which enables drivers and riders to negotiate their own ride price and the driver keeps a 100% of whatever has been negotiated and agreed on. A new revolutionary perspective on RideShare and giving true independence to drivers.
He is the co-founder and Chairman of PayLocal a prominent financial technology services and merchant processing gateway corporation.
Nick is the founder and CEO of Positron Magnetics, creators of the Positron™ Particle Accelerator and Proton Capacitive Power Cell technologies.
He attended St. Michaels College in the Netherlands and the Rietvelden Technical School before entering the Royal Navy where he attended the OPS Operational School before continuing his naval career. He holds degrees and diplomas in electrical engineering, communications, neurophysiology, neurophysics, particle physics and various programming and expert systems. Nick has a passion for building and the architectural design of quantum physics, quantum computing, dynamic learning, artificial intelligence, energy generation and robotics systems.
Nick is an Instrument Rated Fixed Wing, Single Engine, Multi Engine and Helicopter Aviator and a United States Coast Guard US Merchant Marine Officer with both Masters and Commercial endorsements. He has been awarded the Merit of the Eagle Eye, XPLOR Speakers Award and was 2001 Business Man of the Year, awarded by the National Congressional Committee Business Advisory Council. In 2007 he was awarded the Gold Excellence in Design Award for Biometric Identification Technology. He has been published in USA Today, the Chicago Tribune, Florida Trend Magazine, Consumer Report (product of the year), Tech News, Orlando Business Journal, Orlando Sentinel and his products has made various television appearances on shows such as ABC Morning Show, Fox News, CNBC, CBS Today Show and Squawk Box. His associations include the Navy League of the United States, the United States Naval Institute, the Military Officers Association of America, International Association of Diving Schools, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Helicopter Association International, Naval Aviation Museum Foundation and Pilots for Kids Organization.
Alain Grangé
International Operations and Marketing FARAD Advocate
Alain Grangé, Founder of the Grangé Group, a recognized leader in its field, with over 40 years of successful global experience in Real Estate Projects, Hospitality, Resorts, Residential, Memberships, Clubs , Commercial and Finance Businesses.
Alain and his Group have created, marketed and managed some of the highest quality global ventures, with financial successes , products quality and customer satisfaction, for and with branded and unbranded Hospitality, Real Estate, Memberships and Club companies , Stock Companies, etc, world wide.
Amongst others , Alain and his Group have brought to successful conclusions a number of global ventures, projects and have partnered with brand owners to create, manage and market Memberships and Clubs for Iberostar , Melia Int’l, Strategic Hotels and Resorts, Mayakoba , Punta Mita , Wyndham , Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton, Banyan Tree , Rosewood , Atlantis , Fairmont , Starwood , Westin, St Andrews, BallenIsles, Helen, Cendant, RCI etc., together with over 100 projects worldwide and millions of global members.
Alain also founded Resorts Golf Clubs, Int’l, Vistana International Inc, Global Vacation Real Estate Leaders with operations in 40 countries, over 300,000 members around the world, which as a member of the leadership team, participated in the successful listing on the NYSE, with a subsequent then industry record sale to Starwood Hotels and Resorts.
Alain has served as President, CEO of Cendant IRG, RCI International, Starwood VOI and Managing Director Strategic Hotels and Resorts, managing global projects and global membership base of several millions of members. He has participated in operations, general management, and finance with Holiday Inn, Intercontinental, Grand Metropolitan, Amstel, Carlton, Plaza Athénée. George V, Metropole , Carlton, Splendido, Imperial, Castellana, Steingenberger, etc.
Alain is a French American national, multilingual, has done prolific business on 5 continents and speaks 6 languages. He attended the French CNAM, business, EHP hospitality schools and Cornell University Executive Programs. Alain is a frequent speaker for ARDA, AMDETUR, WTO and other associations in the real estate, membership, product development, hospitality and tourism industries.
Robert Smith
Information and Security FARAD Advocate
Rob is both an entrepreneur and founder of numerous enterprises, comprising over thirty five years in the business, providing consulting services in development, security, and operations to Fortune 500 companies such as Microsoft, CSC Dyncorp, Sprint, Michelin, Harbor Branch, Foster Wheeler, Sony Corporation, an NFL club, energy company, and several large municipalities.
With over three decades of experience in the computer hardware and software industries, building extensive business, financial and technical expertise.
Former Chief Information Officer of Premier Trade, he managed a multi million dollar annual budget and a staff of 50 employees. Rob was Chief Technology and Information Officer for Vintage Corporation, a technology advisor to GTE Federal Systems Division in support of the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), and a senior architect for Computer Task Group, Grumman Aerospace and Electronic Data Systems.
He has authored six patents, five in the storage, retrieval, delivery, and stream switching of digital video images, and one in the knowledge base management system discipline.
Rob is a 1985 graduate of Florida State University with a BA in computer and information sciences. He is also a Certified InformationSystems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), Certified Hacking Forensic Investigator (CHFA) and Oracle Certified DBA (OCA). He is a member of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Infragard and former member of the Nation Committee on Information Technology Standards.
Dr. Max W. Hooper
Growth Strategy FARAD Advocate
Max Hooper is responsible for the management and growth strategy of Merging Traffic, serving as the corporate liaison to multiple industries and various capital formation groups. Prior to starting Merging Traffic, Max was co-founder of Equity Broadcasting Corporation -- a media company that owned and operated more than one hundred television stations across the United States. Dr. Hooper was responsible for activities in the cable, satellite, investment banking and technology industries, , and during his tenure, it grew to become one of the ten largest broadcasting companies in the country. Dr. Hooper has started multiple businesses in the technology, lodging, internet and service industries. Additionally, he served as President of Mergers and Acquisitions for a national financial services company. Max has served on the investment committee of several venture capital and angel funds, and has completed "work out" transactions as a Certified Debt Arbitrator representing banks and private transactions. A lifelong learner, Dr. Hooper has earned five doctorate degrees, Ph.D, D.Min, Th.D, Ph.D, D.Min, from a variety of institutions. As an avid runner, he has completed more than one hundred marathons, an additional twenty ultra-marathons, which are fifty or one hundred mile runs, and the Grand Slam of Ultra Running. Dr. Hooper is committed to his family and is a husband, father to five children, and grandfather to seven grandsons. He is active in many organizations and serves on various boards of directors, and works globally with several ministries and non-profit aid groups. Max had the honor of speaking at the United Nations in New York in 2015.
Roy W. Reid
Business Communications and Public Relations FARAD Advocate
Roy Reid is a leading authority on public relations, business communications, and marketing with extensive experience in healthcare. He works with business leaders as a counselor, strategist, and coach to grow, maintain, and protect their interests.
Roy is the Executive Director of Communications for Adventist Health System. Formerly, he was a senior executive at the University of Central Florida College of Business, prior to that he was a partner with Consensus Communications, an Orlando based public relations firm and served as Director of Corporate Communications for the nation’s largest hospital, Florida Hospital. In 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017 the group Trust Across America/Trust Around the World named him as one of the Top 100 Thought Leaders Influencing Trusted Business Behavior.
He has worked with Fortune 500® companies, healthcare organizations, entrepreneurs, professional service firms, and public agencies. He successfully worked with leading brands, including Wal-Mart, Walt Disney Resorts, 5/3 Bank, CSX Transportation, Tavistock Group, Lake Nona, Progress Energy, and Burger King. In 2015, the Florida Public Relations Association/Orlando named Roy, Public Relations Professional of the Year.
Roy is a sought after speaker on numerous business topics including trust, issues management, crisis communications, ethics, change, and other related topics. He is the author of Outrageous Trust®, a program that provides a framework and understanding of how to improve results by improving relationships through a more intentional and mindful effort to earn, cultivate, and restore trust. He is active in the community serving on the boards or in an advisory capacity with Junior Achievement of Central Florida and the JA Academy at Oak Ridge High School, The Friends of Nanjing (China), The Cure Bowl, and Grace Medical Home.
Roy earned a degree in Business Administration with a minor in Communications from the University of Central Florida, where he also served as student body president. In 2007, he was recognized by the College of Business as its Alumni of the Year, and in 2010 he was inducted into the Nicholson School of Communications Hall of Fame. Roy is Accredited in Public Relations (APR) and an active member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). He is a Certified Public Relations Counselor (CPRC) of the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA). Roy is a student and instructor of martial arts and holds a fourth degree black belt in Taekwondo.
Vincent Kosmac (1959-2018)
Technology FARAD Advocate
Both an accomplished entrepreneur, technology specialist and former Marine, Vince was the founder of CWB, Inc, which developed processing products utilizing tools to access bank card networks for address verification, authorizations and data capture.
At NYSE Vince was responsible for design and implementation of the Gateway Equities and Options Trading C++ Entity Controller for order routing and client side hashing with access times measured in micro and nano seconds. He was part of a four person team that designed and implemented a new C++/C NYSE gateway with round trip transaction times across the gateway in sub three digit micro seconds.
At LexisNexis Vince was a Hadoop Design Architect where he designed and implemented a slave node Hadoop/Cloudbase Streaming API using High Performance Cluster Computers. Vince was Project Manager and Lead Developer for Virtual Inventory and Status Tracking at Verizon Inc.
Vince spent over 10 years with AT&T, designing and implementing Objected Oriented UNIX C++ applications that processed SNMP traps through MQ Series messages for Call Center Product Alarming Systems and managed a UNIX based distributed data entry application.
Vince was project manager and coordinator for designing computerized personnel records for the National Guard and Department of Military Affairs. Vince served four years active duty in the US Army and four years in the Army National Guard. Vince is a 1987 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh with a BA in computer and information science and a minor in business management.
Sadly our good friend, collaborator, brilliant contributor and all around great guy passed away in July of 2018. We
miss him dearly and out of respect, admiration and to keep his memory alive, he will remain listed 'in memoriam' on
this site so that all who read his biography and through his accomplishments might have an opportunity to glance
into the amazing person he was. Rest in peace Vince, you will never be forgotten!
Bill Findley
Investment and Crowd Funding FARAD Advocate
Bill brings a unique ability in building and maintaining client relationships through his thirty-four years in the investment industry. During his tenure at The Russell Investment Company in Seattle, WA, Bill had the responsibility for the development of new innovative retail mutual fund distribution initiatives as a Regional Director for the Mid-Atlantic region of the country and the state of Florida.
As a Regional Vice-President of Dreyfus Institutional Services in NY, Bill was responsible for developing the southeastern United States for all institutional markets including major banking relationships in multiple channels, government and corporate entities, and non profit sectors of the financial markets. In addition to his skills in the financial industry, in the last few years Findley broadened his experience by becoming a wealth advisor through the G. A. Repple Organization.
Bill is an honor graduate and received his BA Degree from Clemson University with one year of postgraduate work at The University of South Carolina School of Law. He is a graduate of National Trust School, and a designated investment advisor in Collaborative Law. He received wealth management training from The Cannon Financial Institute, and financial training in banking from the Institute of Financial Education.
Bill has a passion for Christian filmmaking and is a Managing Member of a media company in Orlando, Florida, which has exposure in publishing, merchandising, and film production markets. Bill is an Eagle Scout, and he along with his wife Pam, are currently involved in helping others through their training with The Association of Certified Biblical Counseling. Bill has three grown children and a passion for staying balanced physically, mentally, and spiritually.
William Cumbie
Legal FARAD Advocate
Bill serves as in house counsel for FARAD and has over 32 years of experience in myrad aspects of the law, including transactional, litigation, entertainment, international and strategic business. He has worked with both novice and highly sophisticated clients to find solutions to legal issues and to providing collaboration on everything from complex concept matters to innovative instrastructure approaches.
Bill is the former in house counsel to Universal Studios in Florida where he provided legal advice to various departments, including advice involving corporate alliances, sponsorships, promotions, marketing, special events, sales and merchandise.
A graduate of Florida State University, College of Law with a B.S. in finance from Stetson University, he has been awarded the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, interned for the Florida State Senate committee for Executive Business and is a valued member of the FARAD family.
Heather Stiles
Financial Services and Strategies FARAD Advocate
Heather is a financial professional with over 27 years of investing and asset management experience. Her career began in the managed futures industry where she worked at a highly successful managed futures fund with responsibilities including system testing, trade execution, accounting, compliance, and capital raising. She went on to work for Merrill Lynch in Chicago and Prudential Securities in New York, concentrating on brokerage and asset allocation.
Heather's trading and capital market experience broadened while at Dynegy and TXU Electric, trading real time and forward electricity. Shen then returned to managed futures trading for a private family office with commodity interests in the livestock and oil and gas industries.
Mr. Stiles founded Alazan Asset Management, LLC in 2009 to provide risk management, asset management, and capital allocation services utilizing futures, managed futures and other alternative investment vehicles. In 2014, Santa Cruz Capital Management, LLC , a Commodity Trading Advisor, was founded to focus on investing in global forex exchange markets.
Heather earned a B.B.A. in Finance from the University of Texas at Austin and is NFA Series 3 and Series 34 licensed.
Mohammed Sajin
Project Management FARAD Advocate
Sajin is a seasoned systems project manager with over 9 years of experience managing large dynamic software projects, coordinating development teams including but not limited to software developers, programmers and coding professionals.
He also oversees quality control, design and server support as well as budget analysis and allocations.
With his primary skills focused in the areas of business modeling, analysis, change management and UAT testing, his abilities extend into HPH, HTML, DBMS and he is also a certified RHCE (Red Hat Certified Engineer)
Sajin has a B.Tech in Information Technology, an MBA in Systems Management and is finishing his Masters Degree in Psychology
Vishnu M.
Web Application Development FARAD Advocate
Vishnu is an experienced Software Engineer with over 4 years of web application development. He specializes in PHP development and HTM, CSS, jQuery and SQL. He also oversees MVC, extensive database design, Agile Development, GIT, REST/SOAP and Linus.
Vishnu has a BA Engineering in Computer Science.
Neha Thomas
Application Quality Control FARAD Advocate
Neha has over 4 years of IT and software testing and quality control experience. Her skill set extends but is not limited to CSTP, Jmeter, PHP, SQL, CAKEPHP, Ajax, Javascript and Linux.
Neha oversees all quality control and application testing on both FARAD web applications as well as the FARAD mobile device applications.
She has a Bachelors Degree in Technology (Electronics and Communications)
Philip Francis
Software Engineering FARAD Advocate
With over 4 years of web application development experience, Philip works on all FARAD software systems and integration. His strong competencies included Core PHP, MVC, DB, GIT, REST/SOAP and Network Security.
Philip has a post-graduate degree in Computer Science
Anand Pillai
Senior App Development FARAD Advocate
Anand oversees FARAD’s Android and iOS App platforms. He has over 5 years of experience in App development, including Swift, Object C and Java. He integrates the advanced FARAD functionality cross platform and is responsible for analysis, design and overall development.
Anand has a B. Tech in Computer Science and Engineering