FirstWave is a highly entrepreneurial company, driven to success by: It’s process, it’s people, and it’s culture. We have invented, and keep inventing, superior approaches to commercializing ideas and technology. We fuel this innovation by recruiting talented, creative people and promoting an invigorating and collaborative work environment. FirstWave is committed to the constant pursuit of excellence, and the belief that a meritocracy of ideas, not hierarchies, drives decision-making. We deliver on this by staying at the cutting edge in understanding our markets and our business. We bring collectively over 200+ years of combined experience to bear with some of the world’s greatest thought-leaders – typically not found in most early-stage ventures.

Wayne Hellman - International Manufacturing and Product Development

Mr. Hellman is founder of Advanced Lighting Technologies Inc. (ADLT) and has served as its Chief Executive Officer since the company's inception in 1983 to 2010. Prior to this, he worked at General Electric for 16 years; the last four years of which he was one of the venture managers reporting to GE Chairman Jack Welch. From 1983 to 2010, Mr. Hellman has grown the company from $900,000 in first year revenues to $250 million for the year 2010.

Mr. Hellman conducted an IPO in 1995, three secondary offerings raising $150 million and a high-yield debt offering of $100 million at an 8% coupon. During this time, he also made seven acquisitions and four manufacturing joint ventures in the Asian Pacific market. In 2003, he took the company private which it remains today. Manufacturing locations are Germany, U.S. India, and China with 70% of sales outside the U.S.

MANAGEMENT

Brian Bell – CEO and Director

Dave Rowlands – President FWPG

Doug DuFaux –Technical Director

Dennis Guopil – Technical Director

Joe Fina – Vice President of Sales and Marketing

Bradley Fuhrman – MD, Founder & Chief Scientific Officer

Mark Dowhy – Founder & Chief Technical Officer

Diane McMahon – Vice President and Legal Counsel

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The strength of any organization is its people. First Wave's Board of Directors is made up of nationally and internationally renowned individuals whom have founded, managed or invested in companies worth hundreds of millions to billions of dollars. The Directors are all actively invested in the company and projects both financially and active time commitments in order source, develop and commercialize best of breed solutions.

Joel Kanter – Chairman

Brian Bell – CEO and Director

Albert Culliton – Director

Gene Burleson – Director

Dr. Eugene Bauer – Director

Dean Hautamaki, M.D. – Director

Wayne Hellman, M.D. – Director