Meet Our Team

Our team includes lawyers, data scientists, auditors, and experienced technology professionals across an expansive list of industries and backgrounds from top global organizations…

Shawnna Hoffman

President - Guardrail Technologies

Responsible AI, Blockchain & Cybersecurity Subject Matter Expert

Ms. Hoffman is an accomplished leader and expert in the fields of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Blockchain, with a distinguished career spanning industry and government. Prior to her current role, she served as the Chief Technology Leader of Legal Strategy and Operations at Dell Technologies and spent a decade at IBM in Digital Transformation and Strategy, including as Co-Leader of the Global Watson AI Legal Practice. Her expertise in AI and Blockchain has earned her invitations to speak at prestigious events such as the Blockchain for Impact held at the UN in 2018 and the UN Data Forum in 2020 and 2021.

Ms. Hoffman was also appointed as Chair of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission's (CFTC) Distributed Ledger Technology and Market Infrastructure Subcommittee for the 2018 - 2021 term. She has testified in front of the CFTC on multiple occasions, including "Blockchain Privacy & Confidentiality" and "The Current State of Blockchain Adoption."

In June 2019, Congress submitted to the Congressional Record the paper she co-authored “Diversity in Blockchain’s Initial Review of Facebook’s Project Libra.” Ms. Hoffman has one published patent for "Detecting Clusters and Relationships in Large Data Sets" (20180096047) and one pending patent for "Method and System for Pattern-based Home Network Configuration" (END820160894). Additionally, she is the co-author of the book eDiscovery Plain & Simple (ISBN-13:97814394079) and the co-founder of Women in eDiscovery (founded in 2007) and Diversity in Blockchain (founded in 2017).

She is a Harvard graduate who holds a Certificate of Leadership Development in National Security and Strategy from the U.S. Army War College. Her extensive experience and impressive accomplishments make her a highly respected figure in the world of Responsible AI and Blockchain.

Harvard University

Guardrail Technologies

Former Chief Technology Leader of Legal Strategy and Operations Dell Technologies

Former Chair of U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s Distributed Ledger Technology & Market Infrastructure Subcommittee – 2018-2021

Michael Byrd Ph.D.

Head of Product, Co-Founder

Dr. Michael Byrd is a founding team member and the head of product at Guardrail Technologies. He is a computer scientist and a forensic accountant and has broad experience in developing and implementing data analytics solutions. Dr. Byrd is a Certified Public Accountant and has extensive experience running global investigations and data analytics projects at Big-4 accounting firms. He specialized in the use of electronic evidence in forensic investigations and has recently been focused on research and technology commercialization.

Michael received his Ph.D. in Management Information Systems from The University of Arizona, his Master of Business Administration from The University of Texas at Austin, and his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Mathematics from Missouri State University.

Ph.D. Management Information Systems, The University of Arizona

Master of Business Administration, The University of Texas at Austin

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science & Mathematics, Missouri State University

Larry Bridgesmith

Head of Consulting

Larry’s work with Guardrail is the culmination of a career successfully integrating technology, law, and business. Pushing the boundaries of legal innovation has resulted in well-deserved recognition and accolades. Notably, Larry was honored with the Legal Innovation award by the President of the Tennessee Bar Association, as well as the prestigious Janice Holder award for legal innovation from the Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice. His groundbreaking contributions to the realm of legal technology innovation earned him the distinction as a finalist in the 2021 British Legal Technology Awards. He was further acknowledged by Law.com as the leading Innovator of the Year for 2023 in the Southeastern United States.

Wayne State University of Law

Lipscomb University Institute for Conflict Management

Adjunct Professor Vanderbilt University of Law

Michael McCarthy

Head of Data Science

Michael “Mike” McCarthy currently serves as a tenured Associate Professor at Utica University and founder of its Data Science program. He is passionate about teaching students the ethics and social responsibility required to be proper stewards of the data and models used throughout our world. He received his Bachelor of Science from the United States Military Academy at West Point and his Master’s and PhD from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Dr. McCarthy’s professional experience spans academia to governmental service, from big tech to startups. As a senior research scientist at Amazon developing global forecasts and a healthcare analyst conducting quantitative and qualitative analysis for the Veterans Administration, Mike sought to answer the difficult questions. Prior to graduate school, Michael served in the U.S. Army as an officer and pilot deployed to Iraq. Mike enjoys traveling, scuba diving, and hiking with his family.

Founding Director and Associate Professor of Data Science

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) & Master of Arts, Geography

Senior Research Scientist

Kyle Wiley

Director of Government Affairs

Co-Founder at Connector Labs focused on government relations and cross-industry collaboration. Kyle has a strong background in government, where he served as a Senior Advisor at the U.S. Department of Energy, focusing on industry engagement while promoting technology transfer and commercialization. Previously, Kyle was as a Federal Relations Advisor at Barnes & Thornburg, an AmLaw 100 firm. He holds a M.A. in Management, B.A. in Political Science, and a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Fundraising. Currently, Kyle serves on the Board of Directors for GET: Global Energy Transition, Data4America, and is a Mentor at The Fund for American Studies.

Connector Labs, Inc.

University of Georgia

John Conkling

Manager Marketing Communications

A Marketing and Business Development Professional with a proven record of accomplishment in planning and leading comprehensive business growth and marketing strategies in support of business goals and objectives for both established corporate entities and start-up enterprises.

Expertise in creating marketing tools and executing marketing programs using cutting-edge social media as well as traditional approaches. Has demonstrated repeated success in driving growth in various targeted markets within both the B to B and B to C arenas.

Solid leadership skills; able to build, guide, and motivate top-performing marketing and sales teams. Adept at communicating with all levels of management and vendors to coordinate overall marketing efforts. I can be reached by email at jcon22@gmail.com

Specialties: Marketing, Social Media, Marketing Research, Purchasing, Database Development, Data Mining, Business Development, Start-ups, New Product Launch, Construction and Commodities Information, Retail Product Placement, Licensing, Lenticular Printing

Suny Brockport - BS in Business

Mcgraw-Hill Construction

JCC Consulting

Rich Banholzer

Business Consultant

Rich dedicated 17 years at 3M, serving in management capacities across agriscience, construction, and retail divisions, handling sales, brand management, and senior roles. Transitioning to Wall Street, he assumed the role of VP & General Manager at McGraw Hill Integrated Solution S&P.

Rich then formed a series of companies in FinTech which was subsequently acquired by various Fortune 500 companies.

Rich holds an MBA from Opus School Business at St Thomas University in Minnesota.

VP & General Manager at McGraw Hill Integrated Solutions S&P

MBA - Opus School of Business at St Thomas University

JCC Consulting

Dominic Tallarico

Business Consultant

With an extensive background in business development, I have honed a keen strategic acumen that enables me to effectively guide the commercialization of cutting-edge technologies across diverse sectors such as industrial, commercial, financial, healthcare, and government. My expertise spans the intricate domains of marketing, sales, new technology commercialization and channel strategy, including equipping organizations with the necessary tools to leverage the transformative potential of AI while adeptly navigating associated risks.

In my consultancy role, I am committed to supporting organizations in aligning their strategies and needs with emerging technologies. Through collaborative partnerships, I facilitate the seamless integration of AI technologies and other complementary solutions tailored to client objectives. By incorporating robust cybersecurity measures, I help ensure that these integrations are safeguarded against potential threats. My consultative approach focuses on delivering tangible value and driving sustainable success for my clients.

Dominic holds an MBA from Opus School Business at St Thomas University in Minnesota.

Served as 3M's Director of Business Development

MBA from Opus School Business at St Thomas University in Minnesota

Diwa Ratnam

Business Consultant

Diwa brings over 43 years of global product development and commercialization expertise to Sino Katana, overseeing technology development and product design. He honed his skills in senior management roles at 3M and Nike, spearheading the commercialization of various renowned products globally. At 3M, he led the commercialization of several major 3M brands. At Nike, he pioneered the groundbreaking NikeiD Business, allowing customers to customize their footwear, achieving instant success.

As Managing Principal at Portofino & Associates, Diwa provided consultancy on business leadership, strategic planning, branding, marketing, and new product commercialization. With a track record of launching products amounting to over $10 billion in sales for Fortune 100 companies, Diwa now serves on multiple growing businesses' boards.

Diwa holds a B.E. in Chemical Engineering with a Bioprocess Minor from the University of New South Wales and an M.S. in Chemical Engineering with a Bioprocess Minor from the University of Minnesota.

B.E. in Chemical Engineering with a Bioprocess Minor from the University of New South Wales

M.S. in Chemical Engineering with a Bioprocess Minor from the University of Minnesota

Served in Senior Management

Served in Senior Management Pioneering NikeiD Business

Yonko Chaushev

Business Consultant

Yonko Chaushev has over 20 years of trading of commodities including agriculture products. He has expertise in trading finance with extensive hands-on knowledge and direct relations with major commodities producers across the world.

Yonko holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Economic Relations and Business from the University of National and World Economy in Sofia and is fluent in five languages.

Bachelor’s Degree in International Economic Relations and Business from the University of National and World Economy in Sofia

David J. Stob

Business Consultant

Diverse background in various marketing and business development roles with executive management experience. Created new incremental business and product lines that have generated million's in sales internationally and have managed product categories with gross sales of over $80 million.

A entrepreneurial hands on Marketer skilled in all areas of the marketing discipline including P&L responsibility for product categories, product management, creation of sales literature/ collateral, new product development from cradle to grave, product life cycle management, branding/corporate identity development, channel marketing strategies, retail packaging & merchandising/display programs, trade show management, planogram development, public relations/media affairs, strategic business/marketing plan development, sales presentations, international business development, marketing/sales leadership, global purchasing and sourcing, profitability/loss analysis, web creation/development, and digital/social media.

Industries sectors and markets served have been grocery retail, agriculture/oilseed production, organic/non-GMO foods, hand hygiene, commercial cleaning & sanitation, plumbing fixtures, building products, lawn & garden products, decorative siding, medical devices, and out of home advertising/digital media.

Manufacturing knowledge of materials such plastics, aluminum, glass, brass, stainless steel, iron oxides, and electronics. I’m Experience with manufacturing processes which include, injection-blow-rotational-vacuum form molding, extruding, laminating, sonic welding, and metal fabrication.

Experienced in multiple channels of distribution in the B2C and B2B markets such as big box DIY retailers, mass merchants, warehouse clubs, grocery, 2 step distribution, OEM, manufactured housing, RV/mobile home, installer networks, contractors, wholesale both in North America and Europe.

University of Georgia Small Business Development Center

Anisha Sharma

Executive Assistant/ Project Associate

Your performance matters the most when no one is watching - I am in constant pursuit to grow professionally. This mindset empowers me to work well under pressure, take ownership of my work and turn mistakes and feedback into chances to learn and grow.

I am an executive assistant with 3+ years of experience in administration, operations and support the CEO with extensive calendar management, travel, and project coordination.

Supervises all aspects of office management using sharp multi-tasking skills and sound judgements. Communicates timely and effectively with all stakeholders, vendors, and agents. 3 years’ experience with Microsoft Suite with an expert level of Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint. Takes extreme ownership of the job and achieve results with accuracy, efficiency, and superiority.

Brainware University

Advisory Board Members

Dr. Adel Elmessiry, Ph.D.

AHCE Middle TN Pane on Artificial Intelligence

Tech entrepreneur, published expert on AI and Blockchain with 20+ years Healthcare, Mentor, Advisors & Speaker. Adel serves as the president chief technology officer for AlphaFin, a Draper Goren Holm portfolio company.

Nashville Entrepreneur Center

AHCE Middle TN Panel on Artificial Intelligence

Combiz Abdolrahimi, Esq., J.D., LL.M.

Combiz Abdolrahimi is a Global Emerging Technology & Innovation Leader, having served as a national security lawyer, policymaker, financial regulator, and chief innovation officer, advising Presidents/Heads of State, Ministers/Cabinets, Congress/Parliaments, Regulators & Global CEOs on technology, strategy, policy, & innovation.

ServiceNow

Georgetown University Law Center

Douglas Gilmer, PhD

Department of Homeland Security – Human Trafficking Researcher, Historian, and Trainer

Retired Senior Law Enforcement Liaison/Advisor at Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Engaged with allied partners, academic institutions and the financial industry, utilizing artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency and interoperable functionality to combat human trafficking.

Department of Homeland Security

Ph.D. Organizational Leadership - Columbia International University

Dr. Mimi Zou

Professor | Co-founder | Lawtech / Regtech / Fintech. - International panel on the information environment

An award-winning expert in commercial law, digital law, lawtech, regtech and fintech. Nearly two decades of experience as a dual-qualified and multilingual business and regulatory lawyer, deep tech innovator and entrepreneur, and senior adviser and board member to governments, businesses and international organizations.

International Panel on the Information Environment (IPIE)

University of Oxford

Anil Jain

Transformation Leader | Tech Executive, AI/ML, Cloud | Media, Games, Retail, CPG | Board Director & Advisor

Anil leads the global strategic consumer industries team at Google Cloud, driving Google Cloud's strategy for helping Media, Games, Retail & CPG companies transform their businesses through innovative solutions spanning AI/ML, data & analytics and global, planet-scale infrastructure.

Google -Global Strategic Consumer Industries

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Douglas Rainey

Former IBM CTO Watson Legal

A leader the Computer Science field since joining the Air Force in early 2003, Douglas has worked with many great companies where he developed his technical abilities and consulting skills. Since 2011 Douglas has worked with Cognitive and Advanced Analytics in the Watson division of IBM. Currently he serves as the Chief Technical Officer for Cognitive Legal practice at IBM.

Four S Solutions

The University of Texas at San Antonio

Mark Sunday

With two decades as CIO at Oracle and Siebel, following ten years with Motorola, Mark has transitioned into a new chapter that allows him to apply his experience and insights in fresh ways. His time is now divided among three pursuits: actively engaging in the industry through board roles and advisory positions, giving back by serving on the advisory boards of the Eccles School of Business and the Kahlert School of Computing at the University of Utah, as well as contributing to Utah’s STEM Action Center, lecturing, and mentoring.

University of Michigan