Forest Barbieri, CEO and founder of Skills for Success, has started and currently maintains multiple businesses within the United States and Russia. His varied businesses are known for their leading edge products and strategies. One of his companies was started out of his home and ended up selling for 1.3 billion dollars in 1996. A subsequent company, started in 1999 was sold to his former company’s new owners in 2004. His strategic awareness, ability to see market opportunity, international experience and management skill, have made him a much sought after keynote and featured speaker with thousands of speaking engagements. Many of his former managers now run and manage several leading American companies. Forest is the recipient of numerous achievement awards, served on numerous companies’ board of directors, and maintains a network of high profile business leaders as colleagues and friends.

Former Johnson & Johnson President, Michael is involved with many high level investment groups and serves as an Industry expert. He is currently on many publicly traded companies Board of Directors and is highly regarded within the entire business community.

From October 1997 to February 2002, Mr. Casey served as the Chairman, President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of Matrix Pharmaceutical, Inc. From November 1995 to December 1996, Mr. Casey was Executive Vice President at Schein Pharmaceutical, Inc. In December 1996, he was appointed President of the retail and specialty products division of Schein. From June 1993 to November 1995, he served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Genetic Therapy, Inc. Mr. Casey was President of McNeil Pharmaceutical (a unit of Johnson & Johnson) from 1989 to June 1993 and Vice President, Sales and Marketing for Ortho Pharmaceutical Corp. (a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson) from 1985 to 1989. Mr. Casey is also a director of Bone Care International, Inc., Allos Therapeutics, Inc., Cholestech Corporation, OrthoLogic Corp. and Durect Corp.

Michael is currently on the Board of Directors for these publicly traded companies:

• Director for Cholestech Corporation (CTEC)
• Director for Allos Therapeutics Incorporated (ALTH)
• Director for Durect Corporation (DRRX)
• Director for Orthologic Corp. (OLGC)
  

Mr. Battista has been an entrepreneur since his early 20’s. Mr. Battista has held various leadership positions inside educational and healthcare companies, including President and COO of the largest specialty health and educational film distribution company (United Learning, Chicago) serving public/private schools, public libraries, Universities, Medical Schools, Hospitals and Clinics. Most recently, Mr. Battista was a partner of a $100 million biotech pharmacy (TheraCom, Bethesda) specializing in drug distribution and reimbursement services for biopharmaceutical special needs patient populations

Mr. Battista has been active in the mergers and acquisitions market as well, and has consummated several dozen transactions in the health and education marketplace. Mr. Battista currently is an owner and Executive Vice Chairman of Sunburst Technology Corp, the largest software production and distribution company in the K-12 educational marketplace, (www.educationalresources.com and www.sunburst.com). Mr. Battista led the acquisition of Sunburst Technologies from Vivendi Houghton Mifflin with the support and partnership of Thayer Capital, a Washington DC based $1.5 billion dollar private equity firm (www.thayercapital.com).

Mr. Battista earned his MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management and has a strong orientation toward building lasting companies in the helping hands industries of healthcare and education. Mr. Battista has focused his contributions in the areas of transformational change in the healthcare industry. He believes systemic improvements in the delivery of quality healthcare is possible through the application of a focus on improved clinical outcomes using Evidence-Based Medicine and expert patient advocacy. Given the proper resources, Mr. Battista believes that physicians and their patients can and will make informed decisions about their healthcare.

Entrepreneur, Advisor, Consultant to CEO’s, Dr. Clifford is a frequent guest speaker on the ABC,NBC,CBS,Fox and MSNBC National USA Television Networks.

Dr Clifford’s relationship as both an investor in Grand Canyon University, Phoenix, Arizona and personal friend and colleague of Ken Blanchard, http://www.kenblanchard.com/ , best selling business management author, helped create the Ken Blanchard & Tom Peters School of Management within the University.

His core business is confidential consulting services for select CEO's. Combining a unique global network of high-value relationships combined with marketing, sales and business development expertise.

Focusing on quietly and effectively creating partnerships, joint ventures, affiliations and strategic alliances for companies domestically and internationally.

Dr Clifford is a truly success-based-compensated business development expert. His team works side by side with a CEO to help achieve their growth-goals quickly, creatively, and cost-effectively. We work confidentially, and can maneuver outside the normal management structure if required (a real benefit to some boards and CEOs).

Significant Ventures is also a unique holding company that was established to identify, invest in, and grow relationships within the Software, Real Estate, and Distance Learning sectors. We like stock as payment for services.

He has provided management, contacts for global strategic relationships, crisis public relations, turn-a-round strategies, financing options, board creation to create business, consulting to accomplish specific objectives, and other support to CEO's companies in return for equity participation. His seasoned group includes experience from the traditional Fortune 100, Venture and Private Equity.

Our team offers a full range of financial services including mergers, acquisitions, investment capital, and the sale of a business.

Significant Ventures is a seasoned business development consultancy with remarkable relationships.

www.ourfinest.org - www.gcu.edu