Leadership Team
Eric Braun
Founder Director
Co-Founder of 30hands Learning and the Quincy Center for Innovation. Eric has spent over 20 years developing solutions in high tech companies, professional services organizations and startups. He has founded or co-founded 5 successful companies. At his first startup, he and his team designed and developed the first Internet-based proxy voting system that processed millions of votes. At EDS, he and his team implemented one of the first cost-effective, high volume image processing systems for Health Insurers. His companies have developed technology to automate processes and save money for the printing industry, internal corporate departments, health insurers, financial institutions and schools.
In addition to his work at 30hands, Eric teaches at Tufts University and Quincy College. Eric holds a BA in German/English from the University of Minnesota, a certificate of French from the Sorbonne in Paris, coursework in Biology/German from the University of Rochester and coursework towards a Masters in Computer Science from the University of Minnesota.
Chris Nahil
Co-Founder Director and PR
Founder and principal of Message & Medium. For more than 30 years he has created and executed marketing, communications and public relations programs that help organizations identify and communicate their unique stories. At Message & Medium, Chris specializes in working with fast-growing companies, from start ups to market leaders, to deliver the right message to the right audience at the right time.
Chris has served as a senior marketing and communications executive with several corporations and agencies. He boasts extensive experience in the technology, financial services, healthcare, education, hospitality and nonprofit industries.
Chris has spoken on communications and marketing topics for The Global Business Alliance of New England, The Quincy Chamber of Commerce, The Quincy Center for Innovation, The Cape and Plymouth Business Connect Expo, and the British American Business Council of New England. He has been a guest lecturer at Emerson College’s American Marketing Association chapter and at Quincy College.
He is a mentor at the Quincy Innovation Center and with MITX’s MITXUp marketing mentorship program. He also is a member of the advisory board for Y2Y Harvard Square, a peer-to-peer model homeless shelter dedicated exclusively to helping young adults who are homeless.
Steve Eby
Director and Operations
Steve Eby is the principal at SYBE Consulting, providing early-stage life science companies services regarding development pathway & strategy, R & D operations, budgets and timelines. In addition, he mentors and advises start-up through the Babson College BASE program.
For more than 20 years, has worked in various roles within the Pharmaceutical/Biotech Industry including Retrophin, Genzyme, Serono, and Wyeth. At Retrophin, he established the Program Management function, Cambridge Office, and initial R & D activities and organization. While at Genzyme, Steve served in an R & D Business Operations role responsible for global planning, forecasting, and resource planning, developing a preferred provider organization and creating a performance measurement and analytics group. Initially at Genzyme, he co-built the Pharmacovigilance and Medical Information department.
Prior to Genzyme, Steve held various roles in the Pharmacovigilance, Medical Information and Regulatory organizations at Serono and Wyeth. Steve has an MBA from Babson and B.S. degrees in Biology and Pharmacy. He is registered Pharmacist in Massachusetts.
Tim Perkins
Co-Founder Director and Marketing
Co-Founder/Vice President, Digital Collaboration Solutions and the Quincy Center for Innovation. Timothy Perkins is a senior operations executive with extensive experience in leading change in rapid growth/dynamic environments. Before forming Digital Collaboration Solutions, Tim worked with health information technology clients to provide strategic services through his company, CMOoutsourcing. Prior to healthcare, Tim was on the leadership team of a number of successful technology start-ups and high growth companies, which were either acquired or went public.
Tim continues his involvement with entrepreneurship activities as a member of the advisory boards for South Shore Innovation and the Quincy Center for Innovation. Tim holds a Bachelor of Science in both Accounting and Computer Science from the Carroll School of Management at Boston College.
Steve Towle
Director and Advisor
Steve Towle is principal of Towle Consulting, an innovative management consulting organization offering pragmatic solutions to today’s organizational and executive challenges. Steve brings extensive domestic and international experience to his the entrepreneurial community. He has experience in a wide range of industry sectors from service, manufacturing and technology. He is equally comfortable interacting with every level of an organization in pursuit of exceptional results. His corporate experience includes Senior Leadership roles as CEO and Chairman of the Board at Boston Financial Data Systems, Executive Vice President and Head of Financial Services at DST Systems, President and CEO at DST Customer Communications and Principal at Scudder, Stevens and Clark. In these roles, he has lead transformational change through the innovative deployment of new technology and the adoption of leading management practices.
While recognizing that every organization is unique, Steve believes that most organizations achieve success through a commitment to a leadership model that demands accountability. He expects to deliver immediate results while building a culture of inclusion and collaboration that delivers long term sustainable success.
Parna Sarkar-Basu
Director and Programming
Leveraging her two passions – technology and brand building – Parna has an innate skill of simplifying the complex, and tailoring programs that boost brand visibility and transform market perception. As a connector and accelerator, Parna also connects innovators with industry influencers and turns their vision into reality, fast.
Recipient of multiple awards, Parna serves as a strategic advisor to CEOs and founders and works with them on a variety of engagements, including launching companies, re-branding, global brand expansion, reputation and crisis management. Her efforts have been instrumental in creating category leaders and propelling small and mid-sized tech companies to the top of their respective industries in highly competitive and crowded markets, including enterprise software, storage systems, robots and retail. Companies that have benefited from Parna’s expertise include Kaminario, iCorps Technologies, iRobot, Invention Machine (acquired by IHS), Verivo Software (acquired by Appery), PTC and IBM Software. She also works with startups and local Boston-based businesses on growth strategies and product introductions.
A champion for STEM education and innovation, Parna serves on multiple boards, builds and supports programs to inspire future innovators and entrepreneurs.
Thank you to all the great people who have been advising us!
- Desh Deshpande: Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, Chairman of Sparta Group
- John Maguire: CEO, Friendly’s and Johnny Rockets
- Christine Mosholder: Co-Founder & Co-Owner, Fort Point Project Management
- Frank Apeseche: Investor, Advisor, Co-Founder of J. Locke & Company
- Drew Gaffney: Entrepreneur and Advisor
- Cara Belvin: Founder, empowerHER
And so many others who continue to provide advice, support and the collaborative means to achieve our mission!