And One

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Game-ification hits organizational development

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Previously, we did a little post announcing our advisory board (complete with A-Team matching game).

We’re sort of awestruck that the who’s who graciously signed up for the trek – folks we’ve worked with, always wanted to work with, and just plain admired.

We’ve been lucky enough to have some solid successes, built some great things and taken solid strikes at solving very tricky problems, all why having adventures along the way.  But one of the key things we’ve learned on the journey is that you simply want to identify the best – the very best folks – you can find and work with them… as advisers, as partners, as clients.

Anything really worthwhile, or truly meaningful, we’ve ever done – or even seen – has flowed from that.

Don’t kid yourself – there is simply no substitute for working with excellence.

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Get a badge on the one on the left

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Life is too short to settle for mediocrity in general, and if you choose it your odds of success go way down – and the likelihood of doing something spellbinding is basically nil.

But this isn’t a time for generalities.  This time, the opportunity is too big – the upside too amazing.  The opportunity cost of not swinging for the fences too high.

Our advisory board is made up of folks who are not just killer strategists, but folks who actually do things (seize market changes and reform, found companies and take them to exits, take risks and waive off the safe play to take the shot).

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*Harvard also has descent academic programs

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It’s our pleasure to add Luke Merrow, (MIT & Harvard Business School, co-founder of Adheris and most recently co-founder & CEO of Eliza) to RowdMap’s Advisory Board, joining the likes of:

Abir Sen

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Dave Dickey

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David Wenneberg

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Kyle Rolfing

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Marshall Votta

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We’ll save the glowing accolades about Luke (info below) but it’s our extreme pleasure to have him on board, one of the finest folks we’ve ever worked with and someone with whom we’ve done so closely over the past few years.

(And it’s our general thinking that it will take a ratio of 2:1 – with a pair of solid, grounded advisers to keep each of us [Mel, Burak & Josh] in check.)

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Okay, maybe 3:1

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In any case, welcome to the party!

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You can’t imagine the recommendations we get from Google

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Luke

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[Advisory Board Member, Luke Merrow]

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Luke co-founded Eliza Corporation, where he also serves as CEO.

As CEO of Eliza, the pioneer and leader in Health Engagement Management, Luke is responsible for setting the strategic, financial, and organizational direction for the company.

Before founding Eliza, Luke co-founded Adheris (acquired by inVentiv Health 2006).  There, he served as Vice President of Operations building the pieces of the business such as their pharmacy network, proprietary technology, pharmaceutical relationships, and program management to position them as a leading firm in prescription compliance management and informatics.

Luke’s history includes DEKA R&D Corporation, where he led the development and launch of breakthrough medical devices including the IBOT personal transporter and also worked extensively in developing the firm’s patent portfolio and licensing business.  Prior to DEKA Luke worked as a strategy consultant at Corporate Decisions, Inc., where he specialized in healthcare, IT, and wireless communications.

Luke’s holds a BSEE from M.I.T where he focused on digital signal processing, speech and image recognition, and controls for real time systems.  He also holds an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

“Fun fact:  [editor's note, Luke was unable to come up with a fun fact - his family is vehement that he is in fact, not "fun," as the term is commonly used].