Meet the Team

Decades of C-suite experience. Multiple disciplines. One team you can trust.

The BlueConnect Partners IoT consulting team is made up of senior partners and consultants with decades of C-suite and executive experience in consumer electronics, IoT, and the smart home industry. We’ve held senior roles at Monster Cable, Nortek, Legrand, Microsoft, Amazon, and Best Buy, so we know product development, business development, marketing, and operations from the inside. We build each engagement around your needs, whether you’re a startup navigating early growth or an established company managing a turnaround.

BlueConnect Partners doesn’t stop at advice. Our connected product consultants work alongside your team to execute strategy, from planning and business development to product development and IP strategy. The result is big-agency expertise with the agility of a boutique firm: an IoT consulting team that helps consumer technology and smart home companies turn opportunity into results.

Senior Partners

Avi Rosenthal

Managing Partner

Avi has held leadership roles throughout the IoT industry, including Nortek, Legrand, Evolve and Superna. His unique industry experience and knowledge has helped both startups and established companies leverage the IoT revolution.

Lew Brown

Senior Partner

Lew offers a wealth of executive experience as a CEO, COO, President, VP of Business Development and VP of Sales & Marketing throughout the consumer technology sectors, with extensive expertise in IoT products and services.

David Kaplan

Senior Partner

David’s work at the executive level has involved the complete commercial cycles of the high technology industry with a focus on audio technology and channels including expertise in purchasing, merchandising, and new product introduction.

Colin Burke McClure

Senior Partner

Colin is a seasoned technology executive with 25 years in consumer electronics, IoT, and SaaS. He has held senior roles at Monster Cable, Niveus Media, Atlona, and MiOS, driving innovation and product strategies. Colin combines product vision, marketing acumen, and operational insight.

Mary Miller

Partner

From start-ups to Fortune 500 companies, Mary has led global marketing efforts for brands such as Sega, Disney and Hasbro Interactive and has served in leadership roles at retail, agency and in manufacturing. Her holistic approach drives maximum results from scarce resources.

Laurie Dennis

Partner

Laurie specializes in developing and executing go-to-market strategies, optimizing P&L management, and driving sustainable revenue growth across diverse channels and markets. She excels in helping businesses from startups to billion-dollar enterprises.

Mitchell Klein

Partner

Mitch has spent 35+ years building the smart home market as an integrator, executive, and ecosystem builder. He has led the Z-Wave Alliance and held senior roles at CEDIA, Silicon Labs, and Universal Remote Control, and he helps clients turn strategic partnerships and channel programs into growth.

Noah Herschman

Partner

Noah is a veteran retail and ecommerce executive with 35+ years of global leadership at Microsoft, Amazon, eBay, and more. Expert in digital transformation, AI-driven solutions, and marketplace strategy. Fluent in Mandarin; passionate about innovation, growth, and cross-cultural collaboration.

Mike Buckingham

Partner

Mike has a strong success record selling both hardware and software solutions within the IoT industry. He offers deep insights into market trends and customer needs, with demonstrated ability to drive business growth and forge strategic partnerships.

Senior Consultants

Dan Quigley

Senior Consultant

Dan Quigley is a technology executive, systems architect, and product strategist with more than three decades of experience turning emerging technologies into practical, market-ready solutions. His work spans software, hardware, RF communications, home automation, voice interfaces, enterprise mobility, and commercial radio systems. He previously held roles at Microsoft, Motorola, and Amazon, and co-founded Premise Systems.

Grace Guo

Senior Consultant

A creative problem solver with expertise in cross-border supply chain and marketing strategy, Grace bridges cultural and business nuances to drive impactful outcomes in the US and Asian markets, working with Fortune 500 and leading tech firms alike.

Ryan Tykwinski

Senior Consultant

As a former Senior Merchant and Director of Strategy & Technology for Best Buy, and as a consultant with Sprosty Network, Ryan has led and been responsible for assessing, identifying, launching and managing hundreds of significant new technology categories and products.

Chris Palmisano

Senior Consultant

As an Intellectual Property and Business Strategy Adviser and Registered Patent Attorney. Chris helps clients identify and secure intellectual property rights using patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets.

Rich Bira

Senior Consultant

Rich is driven professionally and personally by the vision of how technology can improve people’s lives in their homes. Rich offers exceptional expertise at the intersection of smart homes, real estate and proptech.

Advisors & Affiliates

Bill Scheffler

Senior Advisor

Bill is a highly connected, customer-centric solution finder and opportunity maker with a 30+ year history of building and nurturing partnerships that have opened new multimillion-dollar revenue streams for technology companies and their customers in the smart home space.

Jake Alamat

Senior Advisor

Jake is a technology executive with 20+ years of P&L leadership at Silicon Labs, NXP, and TI. Expert in semiconductors and connected solutions across IoT, automotive, medical, and industrial markets. Jake helps companies accelerate growth through strategic innovation and operational excellence.

Shaun Schuetz

Senior Advisor

Shaun has over 25 years of executive experience in consumer tech across North America, APAC, and Latin America, including four years in Taiwan. His career ranges from retail sales to executive P&L, helping clients align strategy, build channel partnerships, and make decisions.