Management Team / Advisory Board Bios
, Michael Hyon ChoiCEO & Board MemberMichael is a Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer at Ponix. He is a devoted entrepreneur with core skills in hydroponics, engineering, and business leadership. He has a decade of experience in growing a variety of crops indoors. As an engineer, Michael earned his A&P license from the FAA and performed routine maintenance on a fleet of aircrafts for Delta Airlines. He provides strategic, financial and operational leadership for the company, works closely his team, and is the driving force behind Ponix’s development and future path.
Please note Michael does not currently take a salary for his role, please refer to the Company's risk factors section in its offering materials for further details.
Patrick McGowanBoard MemberPatrick is a Co-founder and board member at Ponix, where he helped establish core technologies and products. As a serial entrepreneur, Patrick has built and invested in decentralization and sustainability for the past decade and currently runs a venture capital studio he started with founding members of Ethereum. He is experienced in product development, branding, and business development. Patrick has played key roles in successful fundraising for technology startups, raising over $4 million in equity.
Michael JinksBoard MemberMichael is a serial entrepreneur, angel investor, and serves as a board member. He has generated over $1 billion in revenue for his clients through his own marketing company. He is experienced in marketing, data science, e-commerce, FF&E equipment, and merchant services. He currently serves as a Managing Partner of Pollen Electric, an EV charging solution for enterprise fleets. Michael has had several successful company exits, serving as an executive - CEO, CFO, COO, and Board Member.
Dave Murray, CPA CGMACFO | Part-TimeDavid brings over 3 decades of experience working with companies and individuals to solve tax, accounting, internal operating, and corporate governance problems as a certified CPA. He also provides specialized accounting and CFO services to companies with annual revenues of $500k - $50mm. As CFO, he focuses on planning opportunities to minimize personal and corporate tax liabilities, capital management, and financial planning to support financial objectives. Dave served on the Board of Directors of Zandex, Inc., GetProof.com, Inc, and Appletree Homes. Dave serves as Owner/Operator for Accounts & Tax Consultants, LLC. He earned his Master’s in Accounting at Brigham Young University.
Dave works 5 hours per week on Ponix.
Derek Saunders, Esq.Legal Counsel | Part-TimeDerek brings over 3 decades of experience as a business and transactional attorney. He served as a General Counsel for a number of development stage companies, especially in regulated industries, and advised in many areas including procurement, SaaS and other cloud-based services agreements, technology licensing, intellectual property matters, M&As, joint ventures, securities offerings, corporate governance, startups, human resources, privacy policies and franchising. Derek serves as a Managing Attorney for L&F Brown, P.C. and has prior experience working as General Counsel for a publicly traded company. He earned his Juris Doctor at SMU Dedman School of Law and Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and History from Duke University.
Derek works 1 hour per week on Ponix.
Gigi GouraigeProject Manager | Part-TimeGigi is an experienced project manager who leads our team in planning, developing, implementing core projects. She brings a great deal of clarity to all team members, ensures stakeholder satisfaction, and solves issues that arise directly. She is an entrepreneur and founded her own digital agency company and has an impressive track record of designing and developing tools, solutions, and services to high-growth startups and Fortune 500 companies. Gigi serves as Head of Web3 at WebTheory, LLC and previously worked at The Home Depot as a Merchandise Planner. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration at Kennesaw State University.
Gigi works 10 hours per week on Ponix.
Taylor AndersonAccount Manager | Part-TimeTaylor is an experienced account manager who goes the extra step for our clients. She is a highly detail-oriented person, patient, empathetic and open to service for the needs of others. She develops and maintains strong relationships with new and existing customers and ensures their needs are understood and met. Taylor previously worked as an Asset Coordinator for The Walt Disney Company and an Office Production Assistant at Marvel Studios. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Education Studies and minor in Japanese Studies at Spelman College.
Taylor works 10 hours per week on Ponix.
Benjamin HolleranSystems Engineer | Part-TimeBenjamin brings over a decade of experience as a systems engineer and manages automated machinery that help simplify complex, repetitive, and time-consuming processes for our indoor farms. He has experience in electro-mechanical, software systems and developed innovative, cradle to cradle solutions for several tech-enabled companies. Benjamin earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Mechatronics, Robotics and Automation Engineering from Vermont Technical College.
Benjamin works 15 hours per week on Ponix.
Ryan HafnerSoftware Engineer | Part-TimeRyan is a seasoned full-stack software engineer who manages our automated, tech-enabled software system that monitors and controls every aspect of our indoor farms. He custom programs and maintains microcontrollers, series of sensors, IoT devices, and web/iOS applications that enable any user to manage their indoor farm through smart devices. Ryan serves as the Co-founder and Technical Director at Spinning Rock, LLC and earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Ryan works 15 hours per week.
Juliet EdenGrants & Partnerships Manager | Part-TimeJuliet is an experienced grants and program manager who develops public, private partnerships to implement project objectives focused around food equity, access, and providing sustainable agricultural solutions. Juliet serves as Marketing Coordinator at Second Helpings Atlanta and previously worked as Sustainability Coordinator for the City of Decatur, Food Access & Sustainability Program Manager for the City of Atlanta, and completed an internship at Ponix as Farm Manager. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Ecology, minor in Geography, and Certificate of Sustainability at the University of Georgia.
Juliet works 10 hours per week.
Edward JungStrategic AdvisorEdward is an avid inventor, thought leader, and technologist. He founded several companies setting strategic technology direction after leaving Microsoft Corp, where he was chief architect and advisor to executive staff. During his time at Microsoft, he co-founded many Microsoft teams, products and web services. Before joining Microsoft in 1990, Edward ran the Deep Thought Group, working on neural network chips for learning and parallel computation. He also consulted and wrote software for NeXT Computer, Apple Computer and its Advanced Technology Group, and the Open Software Foundation. An avid inventor, Edward holds over 900 patents worldwide and over 500 patent applications pending in the areas of biomedicine, computing, networking, energy, and material sciences. He served as an advisor to Harvard Medical School, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the Institute for Systems Biology, as well as a consultant to the Asia Pacific Federation, the Aspen Institute, the China Academy of Science, the National Academy of Sciences, and the World Health Organization.
Edward works 1 hour per week.
Cathleen RichardsonStrategic AdvisorCathleen is an accomplished classroom educator, thought leader, and a highly sought after keynote speaker. Cathleen is currently spearheading two $100 million national Community Education & Racial Equity and Justice initiatives at Apple Inc. She has been a pioneer educational technology specialist for over 25 years working closely with classroom teachers, district administrators and superintendents, policy-makers, government officials, collegiate presidents, non-profit organizations, and the public-at-large to achieve best practice technology into teaching and learning with high energy. As a keynote speaker, Cathleen has spoken at over 1,000 local, regional, and national conferences to educate and accelerate the transformational power that technology plays in the school and beyond. She served on the Board of Trustee for the National Coalition of Girls’ Schools and served on the Advisory Board for Tech & Learning. Cathleen earned her Bachelor’s in Mass Media from Clark Atlanta University and a Master’s in Instructional Technology at Troy State University.
Cathleen works 1 hour per week on Ponix.
Andrew HollisStrategic AdvisorAndrew is the co-owner and Vice President at Slater Infrastructure Group, a water and waste-water engineering and management firm based in Alpharetta, GA responsible for over 200 million gallons of water per day. He was trained as a wastewater operate at the Johns Creek Environmental Campus, an award winning, 15-MGD advanced wastewater treatment facility. He manages wastewater operations throughout the Southeast region of the U.S. and provides O&M solutions to municipalities, public entities and industrial corporations. Andrew is a licensed Class 3 Georgia Wastewater & Water Operator, certified Lean Six Sigma Green belt, and earned his MBA at the University of Georgia.
Andrew works 1 hour per week on Ponix.
George Tagg, Jr.Strategic AdvisorGeorge is a business leader, licensed attorney with a master’s in international affairs. He has over 20 years’ experience in the U.S. Congress, Department of State, Department of Defense, political campaigns, and global public policy. He has advised members of Congress, Secretaries of State and Defense, foreign heads of states, and global CEOs on a variety of sensitive issues related to global economics, energy, politics, and security. George has received multiple awards and commendations for developing strategic initiatives and solving complex problems for numerous U.S. government agencies, private companies, and foreign governments.
George works 1 hour per week on Ponix.
Ted AnastasiouStrategic AdvisorTed is an accomplished business leader and attorney who advises clients navigate opportunities and risks at the intersection of business, media and government, in addition to sourcing and negotiating partnership and acquisition deals. His clientele ranges from high-profile artists and athletes to multinational companies and venture-backed startups in fintech, healthtech, cannabis and web3. Ted's experience includes founding and scaling a political technology company, working as counsel for a publicly-traded hospitality company, and serving as an executive appointee and counsel for the New York Governor.
Ted works 5 hours per week on Ponix.