Experience:
COO, Microchip Technology

BIO:

Richard "Rich" Simoncic is Chief Executive Officer of Menlo Microsystems, where he leads the company's next phase of growth and commercialization as it expands the adoption of its groundbreaking switching technology across a range of markets including AI infrastructure.

A seasoned semiconductor industry executive, Rich brings more than 35 years of leadership experience spanning operations, product strategy, mergers and acquisitions, and technology innovation.

Prior to joining Menlo Microsystems, Rich served as Chief Operating Officer of Microchip Technology, where he spent his entire career following the company's founding in 1989.

During his tenure, he held a series of senior leadership positions, including Executive Vice President of the Analog & Interface Products Division, where he founded Microchip's analog business and helped grow it into a multi-billion-dollar business. He also played a key role in the company's strategic acquisitions, technology partnerships, and operational expansion, contributing to Microchip's growth to +$5 billion in annual revenue.

Throughout his career, Rich has been recognized for building high-performing organizations, driving innovation, and fostering a culture of operational excellence. He has championed advanced manufacturing, AI and machine learning adoption, organizational development, and leadership practices that empower teams to deliver sustained growth.

Rich holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering Technology from DeVry Institute of Technology and began his career in design engineering and failure analysis at General Instrument Corporation.

Experience:
Former Senior Research Scientist at GE Global Research Center

BIO:
Chris is a Co-Founder of Menlo Micro and has been at the heart of developing Menlo’s MEMS switch technology since its conception at GE Global Research.

He is responsible for Menlo’s technical strategy and leading its R&D activities. Prior to joining Menlo, Chris was a Senior Engineer at GE Global Research where he led its Metal MEMS Technology development for more than 12 years. ​He also has published more than 15 journal articles (Nature, APL, etc.), been granted more than 25 patents, organized symposiums on MEMS as part of the Materials Research Society conferences, given numerous invited talks on MEMS technologies and is a reviewer for technical journals. Chris holds a BS in Material Science from Cornell and a MSEE from Princeton.

Experience:
Former CFO at Wispry Inc

BIO:
As Menlo Micro’s first CFO, Mark is responsible for building-out and managing Menlo Micro’s corporate infrastructure consisting of its finance, accounting, legal, and IT functions.

Mark has over 20 years of experience managing, advising and investing in public and venture-backed technology companies across the hardware and enterprise software segments including RF MEMS (WiSpry) and next-generation semiconductor packaging (INCEP). In addition to his operational experience, Mark has experience in the private equity and investment banking industries. Mark earned his MBA in finance from USC’s Marshall School of Business and holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Loyola University of Chicago.

Experience: 
Former Sr. Director, Marketing & Communications, Analog Devices

BIO:
Jackie Rutter is an energetic leader with over 20 years of experience in marketing, sales, and engineering across diverse global markets. Currently the Senior Vice President of Corporate Marketing at Menlo Micro, she oversees global marketing and communications efforts to drive growth across the entire portfolio.

With a strong focus on innovation and customer centricity, Jackie is at the forefront of the company's mission to transform industries with cutting-edge switching solutions for critical applications.

Previously, responsible for Marketing and Communications at Analog Devices, she played a pivotal role in the company’s growth, supporting the organization from $3.5 billion to over $12 billion in revenue. Her leadership in managing high-profile acquisitions and executing scalable marketing and demand generation programs has had a lasting impact on ADI's success in industries like digital healthcare, mobility, and industrial automation.

Jackie has built and led high-performing teams at companies like Linear Technology, Optima Energy Systems, and Siemens Elasa. Her expertise spans brand strategy, PR, content strategy, and demand generation, and she is particularly skilled at driving market share and increasing customer engagement.

An active member of several industry associations, including IEEE & GSA Women Leadership Initiative, Jackie is passionate about supporting women in technology and engineering. She has been recognized with multiple awards and is committed to advancing both the industries she works in and the communities she serves.

Outside of her professional life, Jackie is a dedicated squash player and runner. She is also a passionate speaker, regularly sharing her expertise and leadership insights with organizations and events worldwide.

Experience:
Former VP of Operations at Kionix 

BIO:
As SVP of Operations, Mike is responsible for oversight of Menlo Micro’s wafer foundry partners in Ithaca, NY. 

Mike has over 23 years of experience in the semiconductor/MEMS industry.  He joined Menlo Micro as part of the 2023 fab purchase from Kionix, Inc and its parent company Rohm Semiconductor.  Most of his 15 years at Kionix were spent in Operations, where he oversaw rapid growth & capacity expansions in both Ithaca and Rohm’s Kyoto Fab. 

Prior to joining Kionix, Mike was a Process Engineer and Group Leader at Intel Corporation near Portland, Oregon, working in Etch and Lithography.  His Intel career exposed him to process development, early-stage production, & high volume manufacturing, across 8” and 12” wafer processes. 

Mike earned a bachelor's degree from Carnegie Mellon University and his PhD from Cornell University, both in Chemical Engineering.  He lives in Ithaca with his wife and three children, where he enjoys coaching and playing baseball and ice hockey. 

Experience:
Senior leadership roles in Marvell, Atheros, Qualcomm, and Intel

BIO:
Will brings more than 25 years of experience in sales, marketing, and business development within the semiconductor industry. He has held senior leadership roles at several leading companies, including Marvell, Atheros, Qualcomm, and Intel. With extensive international experience, including overseas assignments, Will contributes a strong global perspective and a well-rounded technical background to Menlo Microsystems.

As Senior Vice President of Sales, Will leads Menlo Micro’s worldwide sales and customer support organizations. In this role, he is responsible for expanding the company’s global customer base and ensuring the success of Menlo’s customers.

Will holds a bachelor’s degree from Dickinson College and a Master of Business Administration from the College of William & Mary.

Risa Stack is a Partner at The Production Board, which focuses on technology businesses in life sciences, food, agriculture, and software. Additionally, Risa is a co-founder and board member at Menlo Micro, where the aim is to transform electronic switch technology.

Previous roles include board member at Metagenomi, where oversight included the Audit and Transaction Committees, and several executive positions in healthcare innovation, including Entrepreneur in Residence at RA Capital Management, Managing Director at RS Bioventures, and Board roles at Drawbridge Health and Avitas Systems.

Risa has a Ph.D. in Immunology from The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and a BS with Distinction in Genetics and Development from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, in addition to being a Kauffman Fellow.

BIO:

Ben Sampson has over a decade of experience in venture investing, particularly in sectors such as transportation, logistics, manufacturing, energy and built environment.

Before joining Standard Investments, he was a director at GE Ventures, where he led investments in various early-stage companies. Ben holds a Master’s in Engineering Management and a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering from Dartmouth College.

As Managing Director, he oversees the Venture Capital investment platform at Standard Investments.

His role involves deploying capital flexibly across public and private markets, focusing on companies that leverage technology and innovative business models to drive industrial transformation.

BIO:

Jim Witham is a Senior Vice President and Strategic Advisor at Infineon Technologies, where he brings more than three decades of experience in semiconductors, power electronics, and advanced technologies.

He previously served as CEO of GaN Systems, leading the company through its growth as a global leader in gallium nitride (GaN) power solutions and its $830 million acquisition by Infineon in 2023.

Earlier in his career, Jim held CEO and senior leadership roles at Neoconix, Fultec Semiconductor, Aegis Semiconductor, and Tyco Electronics/Raychem. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and B.S. and M.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University.

Jim joins Menlo Micro’s Board with deep expertise in scaling innovative semiconductor technologies and commercializing solutions for high-growth markets.

BIO:

Mr. Litchfield most recently served as Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer of Microsemi Corporation, a provider of analog and mixed-signal semiconductor solutions that was acquired by Microchip Technology, Inc. in May 2018. Mr. Litchfield served in that position from 2009 until the closing of the acquisition by Microchip.

Previously, he served as Microsemi’s Vice President, Analog and Mixed Signal Group from 2006 to 2009, as its Vice President, Corporate Marketing and Business Development from 2003 to 2006, and as its Director, Business Development from 2001 to 2003. Prior to joining Microsemi, Mr. Litchfield was an equity research analyst at Banc of America Securities and a production engineer at Toyota Motor Corporation. Mr. Litchfield also serves on the board of directors of several early stage technology companies that are not publicly traded.

Mr. Litchfield holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Purdue University and a MBA from the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business.

BIO:

Fanie Duvenhage serves as Corporate Vice President at Microchip Technology, where he oversees the Analog and Discrete Business Units. This portfolio encompasses a diverse range of products, including Analog Power, Interface, Mixed Signal, Linear, Silicon Carbide, Power over Ethernet, and an extensive array of Specialty Discrete products.

Mr. Duvenhage's started with Microchip Technology 1996 following the acquisition of the Keeloq technology, where he began as a silicon design engineer. Over the years, he has progressed through various roles in applications engineering, architecture, marketing, and general management within the company's Microcontroller, Human Interface, and USB and Networking Business Units. His extensive tenure and varied experience afford him a comprehensive understanding of Microchip's operations across multiple levels and a wide spectrum of functional areas, including product development, operations, and support services.

He holds an Electronic Engineering Degree from the University of Pretoria in South Africa, a Masters in Business Administration and a Master of Science in Design from Arizona State University.

BIO:

Gregg Lowe is a seasoned semiconductor executive with decades of experience driving innovation, operational excellence, and market growth. He served as President and CEO of Freescale Semiconductor, leading transformative growth across automotive, industrial, communications, and embedded-processing markets. He also served as President and CEO of Wolfspeed, Inc., guiding the company through a critical period of strategic development.

Prior to these roles, Gregg spent 27 years at Texas Instruments, culminating as Senior Vice President and head of TI’s Analog business, where he oversaw global operations and helped shape industry-leading technologies. He also serves on several company boards, including Silicon Labs and Power Integrations, providing strategic guidance across high-value markets. He is also a trustee of North Carolina A&T University and a board member of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum, where he served as board chair from June, 2022 through June,2025.

Gregg completed the Stanford Executive Program at Stanford University and in 2014 received an Honorary Doctorate of Engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.

As an advisor to Menlo Micro, Gregg brings deep industry expertise and strategic vision at a pivotal time, as the company enters a significant growth stage with accelerating customer adoption. His counsel will help Menlo Micro deliver smarter, more reliable, and highly adaptable systems that empower customers to grow their business impact through enhanced performance, resilience, and efficiency.

Dr. Kurt Petersen is widely recognized as one of the founders and pioneers of the MEMS industry and is often referred to as “Mr. MEMS.”

He earned his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from MIT in 1975 and began his career at IBM, where he established a micromachining research group and pioneered silicon micromechanical devices.

His landmark 1982 paper, “Silicon as a Mechanical Material,” helped establish the scientific foundation for modern MEMS.

Over a distinguished career spanning research, entrepreneurship, and commercialization, Kurt has co-founded six high-technology companies, including NovaSensor, Cepheid, and SiTime, and has been granted more than 35 patents and authored over 100 technical papers.

He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and an IEEE Life Fellow. His honors include the IEEE Simon Ramo Medal, the 2019 IEEE Medal of Honor—the IEEE’s highest distinction—and the 2025 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Electrical Engineering.

Kurt has been a trusted technical and industry advisor to Menlo Micro for more than 10 years. Having worked on MEMS switching technologies himself in the 1990s, he brings a unique understanding of both the promise and challenges of commercializing MEMS switches.

As a Corporate Advisor, Kurt is personally committed to Menlo Micro’s success and continues to provide invaluable technical insight, industry perspective, and guidance as the company advances its Ideal Switch technology.