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Alberto Elli
Alberto Elli is Chief Executive Officer of Taza Aya. Alberto offers a unique set of leadership skills necessary to guide Taza Aya through early-stage development and fundraising. This assignment permits Alberto to continue his career coaching engagements, as well as advising other startups and VC funds in idea generation, validation, and commercial traction.
“When in 2020 I met Taza Aya co-founders, Herek and Mike, I was intrigued by their unique technology and the significant potential to develop commercial applications. When Taza Aya won a sizable grant from JLabs, we were excited about developing a wearable visor to protect wearers from airborne pathogens.
Now with technology transfer from the University of Michigan executed, a strong suite of patents, and a $1 million grant from the USDA, it was time to join the team as CEO. We have a clear path in terms of product development, product fit to several markets, and early adopters. The opportunity to build a fast-growing business that solves life-changing problems and creates a strong, diverse, and motivated Team is incredibly motivating.”
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Herek Clack
Dr. Herek Clack is an associate professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Michigan, and co-founder and Chief Science Officer of Taza Aya. Herek holds an S.B. degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from MIT, M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and has 25+ years of research experience in air quality engineering, with about 10 years spent focusing on biological air contaminants such as airborne viruses and bacteria.
“I often promote engineering to students by playing up the rivalry between scientists and engineers. Theodore von Karman, a noted scientist, said ‘Scientists study the world as it is, engineers create the world that never has been.’ “
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Michael Drake
Michael Drake is Executive Director of Research Relations for the University of Michigan College of Engineering, and co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Taza Aya. Michael is a board member at Applied Dynamics International and served in the Peace Corps in Kyrgyzstan for two years. He holds a B.S. degree in Business Management and Marketing from Cornell University.
“From serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Kyrgyztan to building partnerships at the University of Michigan for the past two decades, solving problems and creating impact are central themes for me. My time growing up in upstate New York and attending Cornell University established a great foundation for serving as a change agent.”
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Brian Bascom
Brian Bascom is the Director of Business Development within Taza Aya. He has twenty years of experience in sales, business development, and marketing and brings a wealth of customer development and new business expertise.
Brian’s experience working with executive team leaders to define strategies, establish important relationships with key customers, identify potential business opportunities, and manage customer discovery makes him an asset to our growing organization.
Brian’s career highlights include contributions at Steelcase Health, and Herman Miller, and leading new business initiatives in sustainable products at Forbo. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Taylor University.
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Emma Pfeiffer (alumna)
Emma Pfeiffer, an engineering intern alumna, recently graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.S. in chemical engineering. A specific interest in biochemistry began during her 2022 winter semester at U of M when she took her first college biology course. After discovering a passion for both biology and chemistry, Emma declared a biochemistry minor.
Emma aspires to pursue a career in biotechnology or drug design with an aim to make a difference in the health field. When she is not busy tutoring other students and peers in biology and biochemistry, Emma loves to watch the TV show “Survivor” and explores different coffee shops in Ann Arbor.
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Samuel Sugarman (alumnus)
Sam Sugarman, an engineering intern alumnus, recently earned an M.S. in aerospace engineering from the University of Michigan. His educational focus, aerodynamics, and propulsion, lend itself well to advancing the air curtain technology at the core of Taza Aya’s mission.
Sam already holds a B.S. in aerospace engineering from U-M. His educational and work experience is evident in his problem-solving skills and the scientific intuition to tackle unique problems.
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Gary Hess
Gary Hess is currently an independent engineering contractor working in the areas of electrical and mechanical design for Taza Aya.
Gary has experience in several startup companies in the Ann Arbor area and held positions in operations and supply chain management as well as in engineering. He has several years of experience using Altium software for schematic capture and printed circuit board layout and SolidWorks for mechanical design. Gary holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management.
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Kethan Gudi
Kethan Gudi, engineering intern, is working towards his BSE in Computer Science. After enjoying a circuits class in the Summer of 2023, he began his Electrical Engineering Minor. Upon graduation, he plans on getting an MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering, focusing on Power and Energy.
Professional interests include EVs, nuclear fusion, and next-gen public transportation systems. He enjoys reading, tennis, and working on the SPARK Electric Racing project team in his free time.
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Pannaga Sudarshan
Pannaga Sudarshan is an engineering intern at Taza Aya, currently pursuing an M.S. in Robotics Engineering from the University of Michigan. Having developed a keen interest in deep learning for robot perception, his primary interest lies in applying computer vision to smart manufacturing to streamline process flow and eliminate human intervention.
Pannaga aspires to pursue a Ph.D. down the line in either perception or robot motion control using vision. His professional interests encompass 3D robot perception through deep learning techniques, scene reconstruction, and robot motion control. In his free time, he enjoys photography, playing the guitar, and going on long drives.
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Dylan Weiss
Dylan Weiss, an engineering intern, is pursuing a BSE in Biomedical Engineering. Her passion for biotechnology was sparked after taking her first materials science class, leading her to declare a minor in materials science engineering.
Dylan aspires to a career in biotechnology, aiming to develop reliable and affordable devices that help people live happier, longer, and healthier lives.