Howard J. “Trip” Wakefield III, President/ CEO
Mr. Wakefield has served as a director and chief executive officer since November 15, 2004. Prior to forming ThinAir, Mr. Wakefield served as president, CEO and Chairman of QVS Wireless Corporation, a CreataLink integrator providing AMR to the imaging (standalone copier) market, where Mr. Wakefield was responsible for redirecting AMR from “vending” to “imaging” machines.
He was the owner/operator for over 15 years of several businesses and consulting engagements, ranging from building businesses in the residential water and air filtration industry to sales/marketing of high-end automotive distribution throughout the United States.
He has also helped launch, build and create several companies and lead generation systems as well as participated on the representative side of several direct selling companies. Wakefield was the Master Distributor of his last venture and top producer during his tenure.
Trip lives in Houston with his wife, son and daughter.
Randall Habel, Vice-President & Interim CFO
Mr. Habel has served as a director and chief financial officer since October 15, 2006. For over 20 years, Mr. Habel has served as a business developer and fundraiser in the venture capital marketplace, specializing in strategic planning and venture funding for growing businesses. He currently serves as Chairman of MarketShare Group, Inc., a marketing consulting company providing development, marketing, and other consulting services to mid-market companies.
Prior to MarketShare, Mr. Habel was employed by GK Intelligent Systems (GKIS), a Houston-based developer and manufacturer of artificial intelligence driven software. While serving as Vice President of Business Development at the company, he was responsible for raising over $12.0 million of the $22.0 million invested in the company. He was also responsible for arranging strategic partnerships with National Geographic, The Smithsonian Institute, America Online, and actress Shelley Duvall, to co-develop intelligent educational products. Additionally, Randall was instrumental in moving the company from the OTC Bulletin Board to the American Stock Exchange.
Randall also served as Chief Executive Officer for Quantum MRI and Diagnostics, a Houston-based chain of MRI and diagnostic clinics. He was responsible for developing and marketing limited partnerships to raise money for clinic development throughout the nation. He raised capital and built 5 new centers in a ten-month period. To further facilitate expansion, he strategically negotiated and obtained a $15 million line of credit with Hong Kong Shanghai Bank. The company was later sold to a publicly traded healthcare entity.
Mr. Habel began his career in Bogota, Colombia with Western Geophysical, serving as Finance and Administration manager for that country. He subsequently moved to Lagos, Nigeria and set up the company’s land and marine operations for the West Coast of Africa.
Randall resides in Houston with his wife and three children.
Gerald Warnero, Chief Technology Officer
Mr. Warnero brings over 30 years experience to ThinAir Wireless from his employment with companies such as Phillips Medical Systems, RCA Video Control and Display Systems, Siemans Medical Systems, DOD SATCOM. He was employed by Time Warner/Warner Music Group/WEA Manufacturing and Warner Advanced Media Operations for 12 years. While at Time Warner, he served as a representative to the RIAA technical board representing Warner Music Group. He co-authored specifications for enhanced CDs and CD-ROM multi session and Blue Book for the Recording Industry Association of America, Inc. (“RIAA”) and the industry, as well as documenting the enhanced CD technology for the Warner Music Group.
Mr. Warnero represented Time Warner/WAMO at the DVD Forum Verification Task Force (“VTF”) as the Director of DVD-ROM Technical Development and its ten sub groups made up of technical representatives from each of the DVD Consortium Members.The goal of the VTF is to develop and define specifications for testing and evaluating DVD products, systems and discs to allow vendors to use the DVD logo on their products and discs. Mr. Warnero was instrumental in securing Time Warner/WAMO as the only Class A North American verification lab for DVD Technology and later headed this group before joining Greenleaf.
Mr. Warnero’s experience also extends into the Satellite Communications/Encryption field where he was employed by the Department of Defense , as well as, in Medical Diagnostic Radiology, and Video Control and Display Division of RCA.Mr. Warnero was also associated with Johnson School of Technology, in the Bio-Medial Technology Program as an instructor for Math, Physics and Bio-Medial Equipment Electronics. He also holds degrees in Electrical Engineering and Bio-Medical Technology from The Pennsylvania State University and Johnson School of Technology, respectively. Prior to joining ThinAir, Mr. Warnero was CEO and President of Greenleaf Research and Development, Inc.
Barrett Wakefield, Chief Information Officer
Mr. Wakefield has over 18 years of experience in business process, design, development and support of large-scale information systems. He started his career with IBM in 1993 and through many consulting engagements made his way to the dynamic energy industry. For over 8 years, Mr. Wakefield worked with Sungard and others to design and develop real-time trading, scheduling and risk systems for some of the largest energy companies in the world. Mr. Wakefield has also been involved with building IT infrastructure for several startup companies including Targa Resources.
Mr. Wakefield holds a BBA from the University of Texas at Austin.
