Lewis Jaffe

All businesses are the same; they exist for the sole purpose of “gaining and retaining customers, profitably, in order to create stakeholder value.”

Lew Jaffe is an entrepreneur, former high-tech CEO, award winning college professor, philanthropist, and has founded three companies. In his career, he has created over $1 Billion in shareholder value through growing businesses and executing successful exit strategies. Many consider Lew to be the "Godfather of Video Conferencing," as his company, PictureTel, created the first video conferencing systems for use over telephone lines, long before Skype and FaceTime.

Since 2013 he has been a Clinical Professor At Loyola Marymount University, and won professor of the year in his second year of teaching. Currently, he is on the Board of Reed’s Inc (REED:NYSE), Fitlife Brands (FTLF:OTCBB) and Yorktel Corporation. Lew served for 8 years as the lead independent director on the board of; Benihana Inc. (BNHN:NASDAQ) and led the go private transaction prior to his leaving the board, with an expertise in both Strategy and Tactics as well as Corporate Governance. As part of his Board duties, Lew has led special committees for boards that were formed to: explore strategic alternatives, options for capital raising, investigations on HR issues, insider trading allegations and strategic committees for the targeting of potential acquisitions.

Lew’s greatest strengths include leadership, vision and building plan that teams can execute with great success. He is a customer focused leader that understands complex market dynamics, the intricacies of distribution channels and maximizing corporate assets including human capital and leveraging a balance sheet. Lew’s focus is on business to business companies but also has experience with business to consumer. Much of his concentration has been in telecommunications, manufacturing, media/content delivery.

He is and sought after public speaker on various topics, including; Leadership, Management, Strategic Planning and Problem Solving, Convergence in Telecom and Corporate Renewal.

Mr. Jaffe has been a guest on numerous business shows for CNBC, MSNBC and ABC, and has been quoted in a variety of business and trade publications including Forbes Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Business Week and the Boston Globe.

Additionally, Lew is a YPO resource as well as a former member of YPO New England Chapter and currently YPOG Santa Monica Bay Chapter. He has also served as both Education and Chapter Chairman.

Lew’s education includes: University of Pennsylvania, LaSalle University and Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. Additionally, he holds his Masters Certification in Public Company Directorship from the American College of Public Company Directors