Our team of Mobile and Wireless technology experts offer highly diverse backgrounds, a fierce dedication to client success and world-class business skills which are just some of the reasons executives around the globe trust 151 ADVISORS to help solve their most pressing business problems.

Valerie Kahn
Managing Partner

Valerie has over 25 years of experience helping build some the world's most successful mobile and wireless technology and service businesses, including Cingular Wireless, AT&T, Dun & Bradstreet, AXA Group, Citibank, and SunGruard.

Valerie's extensive technical, operating, marketing, and business development experience spans corporate, venture and entrepreneurial business environments.  During her distinctive career, she has managed Fortune 100 business units, helped found numerous new businesses, and was instrumental in some of her industry's largest mergers and acquisitions.

Prior to co-founding 151 ADVISORS, Valerie served as EVP for Emitac Mobile Solutions (EMS), VP Business Channel Marketing, Sales and Business Development for Cingular Wireless, led the first introduction of BlackBerry products by a U.S. mobile operator, and held the position of SVP of the AXA Group; Paris, France, where she was responsible for eBusiness activities in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. 

Bill Rom
Managing Partner

A serial entrepreneur with Fortune 500 executive experience, Bill has over 25 years of sales, marketing, operational, technical and capital raising experience.  His extensive executive and entrepreneurial background, together with his operating and executive management success, spans corporate, venture and entrepreneurial settings.

Prior to co-founding 151 ADVISORS, Bill was COO of EMS, a Dubai-based provider of mobile and BlackBerry solutions, where he was instrumental in launching the company in the UAE.  Prior to the formation of EMS, he held executive management  positions at Outercurve Technologies and Vaultus Mobile Technologies, and co-founded Mobile Computing Solutions, a mobile computing integrator and managed services company.

Earlier in his career, Bill led the development and creation of wireless solutions such as the NCR Virtual Office, the first solution integrated with commercial wireless services.  He also served as Regional Sales Manager for NEC Technologies and held executive sales positions at LinkData and Victor Electronics.

Andy Maunder
Principal, Corporate Development

Andy's background is in building companies. He has over 25 years experience assisted companies from start-up fund raising, through later stage growth, and eventually through Initial Public Offering and M&A transactions. Andy has built a reputation for strong leadership and strength in operational and financial management and is effective at all levels including board, executive, and advisory levels. He has served as a board member for numerous companies in the United Kingdom and the United States and served as a member of the Executive Committee for the Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA).

Before joining 151 ADVISORS, Andy served as CFO of Traffic.com, a market leader in the collection, processing and delivery of traffic information to consumers, media groups and businesses. During Andy's tenure he was instrumental in taking the company public and its subsequent sale to NAVTEQ. 

Prior to Traffic.com,  Andy co-founded and served as CEO of Kayak Interactive Corporation, a publisher of community and multiplayer mobile games to wireless carriers,  and of Valaran Corporation, a premier infrastructure software company providing enterprise-level business process modeling, application and network interoperability and integration solutions.

Earlier in his career, Andy served as CEO of Telesciences which he took public and subsequently sold, and as CFO for UK-based Oxford Molecular which he took public on the London Stock Exchange.

Steve Brumer
Partner

Steve has over 25 years experience in the wireless/mobile space and has unprecedented knowledge of the industry.   During his accomplished career, Steve has been a dynamic entrepreneur with proven expertise in sales, marketing and channel development. His expertise is helping wireless/mobile products and services find the right distribution and channels to ensure commercial success.

Before joining 151 Ventures, Steve co-founded and served as CEO of Wireless Rain which helped wireless carriers, manufacturers and solution providers build  channel programs for B2B products, machine-to-machine products, and professional services.

Prior to Wireless Rain, Steve co-founded and served as President of Global Wireless Data, a national master dealer and value-added distributor of wireless products and services. Under his tenure GWD grew from a self-funded start-up to the largest master dealer for AT&T Wireless, Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile and Sprint.

Earlier in his career, Steve founded and served as CEO of Wireless Data Corp, and held executive management positions at Millicom Radio, Timeplex, Ossmann Computer Technologies, and RAM Mobile Data & BellSouth Wireless.

Steve serves as a Board Member of Maverick Wireless, Georgia Technology Council, Mobile Enterprise Magazine, CTIA's Wireless Internet Caucus, and the Enterprise Mobility Foundation.

He is an active presenter/speaker in the wireless industry, having spoken on wireless technology, products and future trends at CTIA, Wireless IT, CIO Symposium, C3 Expo & AFSM.

Trevor Leb
Director, Marketing & Business Development

Trevor Leb has nearly 10 years of marketing, communications, product management, and operational experience helping to build successful enterprise and consumer technology brands. His experience spans corporate, venture and entrepreneurial settings, including key marketing positions at some of the world's most admired technology companies.

Prior to joining 151 ADVISORS, Trevor developed and executed the go-to-market strategy for Access Networks, a wireless networking provider for the residential market. He also implemented and managed online marketing and social media strategies for Mapcidy.com and Smorgas Chef Restaurant Group, where he utilized his expertise in social media, search engine optimization, and public relations to drive rapid web traffic growth.

As marketing manager at ZocDoc.com, a consumer healthcare technology startup, Trevor directed all marketing and communications activities and successfully secured critical press coverage from major outlets including USA Today, ABC TV and TechCrunch.

Previously, Trevor managed marketing and corporate communications campaigns for technology and consumer brands at Access Communications, a leading tech-focused marketing and PR firm (now a subsidiary of Ketchum Worldwide). During his tenure, his clients included Intuit and Trend Micro, one of the world's largest anti-virus and IT security companies.

Trevor graduated cum laude from the University of California, Berkeley with dual Bachelor's degrees in Business Administration and Mass Communications.

George Rivers
Associate

George is a dynamic wireless marketing and business development executive with over 25 years of experience in the Canadian wireless industry. He is recognized as a major contributor to the growth of the Canadian wireless industry with direct involvement with companies like Rogers Wireless, Bell Mobility, PageNet Canada, Dejero Labs, and Advanced Wireless Data Inc.

George brings extensive 'hands-on' experience in marketing, sales, business development, first-round funding and operations consistently demonstrating creativity and entrepreneurial flair in developing and managing organizations.

As COO at Advanced Wireless Data, George demonstrated strategic vision in establishing Advanced Wireless as the leading Canadian provider of managed wireless  and mobile infrastructure. He also successfully lead negotiations with Industry Canada to secure wireless spectrum and overcame various regulatory hurdles in quick succession.

He also played a critical role in obtaining first-round financing for Dejero Labs for their innovative live television broadcast system that bypassed traditional satellite/microwave trucks in favor of "live" broadcasting of events utilizing mobile for wireless backhaul networks. After securing the necessary funding George went onto negotiate re-sell airtime agreements with major international wireless carriers.

George brings a unique, well-rounded skillset to 151 Advisors combining deep relationships in the Canadian wireless market with a pull-up-the-sleeves mindset necessary for early stage growth companies, or companies looking to expand into the North American market.