THE KEPLER—SCS TEAM
JEFFREY DOWNARD, CO-FOUNDER
LAW and ETHICS
has over 20 years of experience as a professor at Northern Arizona University with research and teaching experience in law, ethics and the logic of inquiry. His interests in blockchain and smart contracts are centered on making legal resources more widely available using innovative and cost-effective approaches. In order to help realize these goals, Jeff is on the lookout for like-minded groups and individuals who want to help research and build the resources needed to evolve a more level playing field for all. He is a father to three young adult children and is always up for an outdoor adventure. Jeff graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a J.D. and Ph.D. in philosophy
DAVID WATTS, CO-FOUNDER
COMPUTER SCIENCE and MATHEMATICS
David has over 10 years experience teaching, developing, and advising. With problem-solving experience in the worlds of digital marketing and business systems architecture, David is now oriented on the problems of blockchain scalability and predictable legal outcomes in the burgeoning space. He lives in Flagstaff, Arizona, and enjoys mountain biking and playing the piano. David graduated from Northern Arizona University with Master’s Degrees in writing and mathematics.
SARAH J. HOLCOMB, BOARD OF ADVISORS
BUSINESS LAW and ESTATE PLANNING
Sarah was a senior lecturer in accounting at the W.A. Franke College of Business Northern Arizona University from 2007-2020. As a multi-preneur, she has owned and operated a boutique law firm since 2005 and a private trust company since 2009. She holds the degrees of J.D. and L.L.M. taxation cum laude. The focus of Sarah’s legal work has been providing effective, amicable, holistic solutions to her clients varying legal needs in the fields of business law, estate planning, estate administration, real estate and tax law. Sarah was the 2011 recipient of the Young Athena Award from the Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce for her work mentoring young women in the community. Outside of her professional life, Sarah is a dedicated mom, active community volunteer serving in a variety of capacities on nonprofit boards, and avid outdoors women.
TOM DIETRCH, BOARD OF ADVISORS
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY and CONTRACT LAW
Tom is a trusted corporate advisor with over 13 years of experience in intellectual property and business litigation and counseling. He’s litigated cases over Spawn and The Walking Dead for Image Comics, defended patent lawsuits for Experian and won a judgment at trial on trade dress and copyright claims for a famous furniture designer. Tom advises companies of all sizes. He handles trademark and copyright registration and management, mitigation of litigation risks, preparation of employment and independent contractor agreements and distribution contracts, and regularly counsels corporate leadership. Tom also mentor startups at Flagstaff’s business incubator. Before moving to Flagstaff, Tom practiced with international law firms—Crowell & Moring and BakerHostetler—in Orange County, California. There, he worked on patent, copyright, right of publicity, and trademark litigation, as well as white collar defense in DOJ and SEC investigations. Tom earned his J.D. from University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 2007 where he served on the Hastings Law Journal.
DAVE DEFAZIO, BOARD OF ADVISORS
FINTECH and MATHEMATICS
Dave has found great success and satisfaction in exploring the intersection of data, marketing, and technology. StrategyCorps partner, Dave’s extensive financial services experience and continuous research in the field help him ensure that each product and service meets the needs of today's financial institutions. Across the industry, Dave is a highly sought-after speaker who has shared thought leadership on innovations in financial technology, retail banking, mobile banking, customer engagement, product and customer profitability, product design, bank marketing, and changing consumer behaviors in an increasingly mobile-centric world. At StrategyCorps, he leads and manages the company’s direct sales efforts while working directly with financial institutions to design, build, and implement a variety of checking solutions. Dave graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with a B.A. in Economics and Mathematics.
CRAIG BERMAN, BOARD OF ADVISORS
COMMUNICATIONS and PUBLIC RELATIONS
Craig led public relations for Amazon Entertainment, cementing its reputation as a major force in the new tech-forward, streaming era of Hollywood. Previously, he advised Jeff Bezos on corporate and crisis communications, led consumer public relations for Amazon’s retail business--including launching the Kindle, Fire and Alexa products--and spearheaded communications for Amazon’s global fulfillment network. Most recently, has served as Senior Vice President of Global Communications at LivePerson.
STEPHEN LENHART, BOARD OF ADVISORS
DECISION THEORY, DATA ANALYSIS and MACHINE LEARNING
Lenhardt currently serves as a Data Analyst and programmer in Applied Machine Learning at LockerDome. For the prior decade, he taught and conducted research as a Senior Lecturer in Logic, Decision Theory and Philosophy of Science at Northern Arizona University. He earned his Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Arizona.