Meet the Balaya Team

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Bob Nunnally, CEO brings 26+ years of international and domestic operational experience to his position as CEO. Prior to helping co-found Balaya, Bob served in a number of senior leader positions in the US Air Force and as a Senior Consultant at Toffler Associates, the Executive Advisory firm founded by Futurists Alvin and Heidi Toffler. Bob has deep experience building award-winning organizations and in developing successful tech solutions for communication and content management. Bob's primary claim to fame is he grew up with comedian Jeff Foxworthy and lived to talk about it.

Tom McLain, Advisor is a co-founder of Balaya and a member of the Board of Advisors. He has successfully led business units in the digital, publishing and marketing arenas and rounded out his career as a venture capitalist committed to building high-potential digital startups and taking them public. Tom has served on the boards of five privately held companies. Balaya is Tom’s 16th start-up.

Currently, Tom is the Chairman of JETERA, an industry leader in the delivery of dynamic, targeted content to airline passengers.

Prior to JETERA, Tom was CEO of e-Commerce & IT at Spencer Trask & Company, a venture capital investment bank headquartered in Manhattan, NY. He was also founding partner of Spencer Trask Intellectual Capital Company, formed to purchase companies or divisions spun-out of Fortune 500 parents. Tom’s deep experience comes from 30 years of successful leadership roles at Spencer Trask & Company, Dun and Bradstreet, and IBM.

Tom is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh with a BS in Advertising and Marketing. He also attended the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Business and Columbia's Executive Management Program at Arden House. When not connecting the dots for a great business opportunity, Tom can be found looking for the dots needed to create the next endeavor.

Jeff McChesney, Advisor is a co-founder of Balaya and a member of the Board of Advisors. He has managed thousands of people in large, far-flung organizations, but he is an entrepreneur at heart; Balaya being his fifth startup.  Jeff brings leading-edge technology know-how and strategic focus to the Balaya venture.

He is currently the CEO of JETERA, an industry leader in the delivery of dynamic, targeted content to airline passengers. At JETERA, Jeff has raised millions in seed capital and received a Breakthrough Technology Award from Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine in 2006.

Prior to founding JETERA, Jeff founded e-JITI, Inc., an enterprise content-management services company.  His other key leadership roles include VP, Operations/Process Excellence at Atlas Air, Inc., the third largest air-cargo carrier in the world, and completing a 20-year career in the US Air Force as a Colonel and combat trained fighter pilot.

Jeff is a Distinguished Graduate of the Air Force Academy and  alumnus from  Columbia University and Harvard University. When not fine-tuning the flux capacitor, Jeff can be found streaking down the ice, hockey stick in hand and puck under control.

Ian Bramson, Advisor brings 15 years of experience in strategic planning,  organizational development, marketing and communications. He honed his strategic vision as a Senior Consultant at Toffler Associates; Futurists Alvin and Heidi Toffler's Executive Advisory firm. Ian also brings deep experience to the team from his days with Coca-Cola and consulting fortune 50 technology companies on their marketing, sales and organizational development efforts. During football season, Ian can be found manning his grill and offering "advice" to the television. 

Gretchen von Iderstein Bramson, COO brings 20 years of experience in business planning,  organizational development, workforce efficiency and operations. She has an accomplished record of success consulting technology companies on sales force efficiency, managing corporate and product launches, as well as founding a successful firm specializing in strategic planning, communications and business launches. When she's not busy with Balaya, you can find Gretchen in her backyard garden growing way too many tomatoes.

Michelle McWhinney, Public Relations Director brings over a decade of strategic communications experience including developing public relations and marketing plans, business and product launches, grassroots public awareness campaigns and legislative advocacy.  She has counseled Fortune 100 companies and start ups alike on how to best approach the market and ensure their message resonates and supports sales efforts.  When away from the lap top, Michelle is outside, soaking up any sunshine she can find.  

Jeri Epstein, Director of Sales is a skilled business development specialist with more than 15-years experience in crafting tactics and sales strategies that trigger steady, rapid growth in emerging technology companies. Jeri demonstrates leadership in aligning product development, and changing market conditions, with unique customer business needs. Her business solutions result in channel partner relationships that enable quick, pervasive penetration of emerging markets. As a resident of Washington, DC she actively works for DC Voting Rights and has a license plate that reads “ Taxation Without Representation”.

Seth Michalak, Assistant Director joins Balaya with a strong background in marketing and broadcst communications. A veteran of marketing and customer service in the cable TV industry and higher education, he is happy to bring his expertise in electronic media to Balaya. Seth is a former DJ and sportscaster; that's even his voice you hear on the Tick-it screencast. A native of Western New York, Seth is still waiting for that Bills' or Sabres' championship.

Surface2 Communications, Graphic Design Partner