NV: As the new leader of NovaVision, what will be your primary focus for third and fourth quarters of 2008.
RM: Most importantly, to properly educate myself in the history of the Company by learning as much as possible from our experienced and highly intelligent employees, Board Members, Clinicians and Advisors. I will draw on this information to validate the changes I hope to execute that will dramatically improve the adoption of our technology by a larger population of patients. We intend to roll out a new business model, reduce the cost of our technology, advance our efforts in obtaining CMS (Medicare) reimbursement, and complete the necessary clinical studies to expand the indications of our therapy.
NV: What are your plans to create awareness around the therapy and provide greater access of VRT to patients?
RM: We intend to expand our sales & marketing efforts from our existing and valued Institutional/Center approach to a more “patient-centric” approach by allowing our referring clinicians to prescribe our therapy to more patients. We also plan to establish a more aggressive “direct-to-consumer” marketing plan to increase the awareness of our therapy by both the patient AND the broad base of clinicians who may touch these patients in the assessment and treatment of their vision loss.
NV: What do you foresee as the biggest challenge (s) coming into an organization that has been in business for several years verses starting a company from the ground-up?
RM: Taking the appropriate time to learn the “good, bad and ugly” of what they have already experienced so we don’t make the same mistakes going forward. Companies always need to be re-defining and “fine-tuning” their strategies and operating plans. There is a great deal of faith that leaders need to have in their employees as they are asked to execute these plans and starting a company gives you the opportunity of hand-picking the team. Joining an existing organization is like joining a new marching band…requiring each member to get to know each other’s nuances before everyone can more forward as a well-organized unit.
NV: What do you like most/least about working with start-ups
RM: I really enjoy meeting new objectives on a monthly and quarterly basis! What I like least?....I’ll let you know.
A little about Rudy outside the office ...
Birthplace: Pittsburgh, PA
Night owl or early bird?: Both
Coffee or tea?: Coffee
Beatles or Rolling Stones?: Rolling Stones
Beach or mountains?: Mountains
Favorite sports: Rugby, Raquetball, Skiing
Last good movie you saw: 300
Last good book you read: Younger Next Year
Furthest place you’ve been from home: Australia
Favorite quote: "Carpe Diem!"
Overall motto: I’ll sleep when I’m dead. |