Team Huvr, Our Mission
Our mission as Team Huvr is to ignite global opportunity to communities and economies at scale. We do this by creating jobs that supply experiences in real-time via our virtual travel app. Unlike anything on the market today.
Huvr Leadership
Herman has spent his career at the apex of creative content creation, business development, and technology. With a Master's Degree in Communication Studies and a Ph.D. in Education, Herman has set himself up to compete with the best minds in business and marketing.
After 13 years in senior-level Government where he held titles such as Program Manager III, Chief of Communications and Director of Technology, managing multi-million dollar budgets for State and Federal agencies, he took his talents to the private business world.
Along the way he has tallied some major accomplishments. From album and video creation with major and former #1 music artists to filing patents on major technology products that were sold to public companies, to partnerships with major Big Box Retailers such as Target and Best Buy, Herman has proven his ability to take an idea from thought to fully executed business.
In addition, Herman has run original idea companies that were nationally distributed. He lead one of the largest music distribution companies in the early 2000’s where he personally secured contracts with Sony, Warner, Universal, EMI and more. He co-founded an innovative social media micro-business start up who held contracts with the NBA Players Association, Lou Ferrigno and more and he built and patented an innovative tech-sales tool currently licensed by Major League Baseball. Herman has always sought out and excelled at challenges in the business world.
Herman is also a Decorated Veteran of the Gulf War where he honorably served in the US Air Force.
James’ career has focused on digital transformation through smart cloud solutions and integrating, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning innovation over the last 15 years.
He helps organizations enable sustainable growth and an excellent client user experience. With a Bachelor of Science Degree from Penn State University in Management Information Systems, and a Masters in Leadership James has operated in high-level senior roles leading and building global operations and client services groups.
His entrepreneurial experience began when he established a web development company in 2004 and co-founded and led the development of an innovative social network focused on premium content, partnering with the likes of the NBA and elite athletes globally.
He’s an All-American Athlete and a standout State Championship Coach, with a focus on mindset performance.
David brings over 25 years of sales, business development, partnership development and management consulting experience. Early in his career he alternated between sales and technical positions, having roles he would eventually sell to with a first-hand understanding what was important to his customers.
Working with and for companies ranging from start ups to Fortune 50, nationally and internationally, his focus had been driving the growth of companies and territories through new sales, account penetration, exceptional customer service and partnership development.
David’s diverse business and technical background enables him to develop relationships quickly and become a trusted advisor that can understand complex needs and deliver relevant and valuable solutions.
Clay has 25 years of IT Experience and is a certified professional with proven success as a Director/Manager and consultant in a diverse array of profit and non-profit business environments. He has a strong ability to develop and execute processes and procedures that improve company efficiencies.
He has demonstrated skills in overseeing tasks from concept to completion ensuring their on-time, on-budget, and on-scope delivery. He has a background in learning and finding solutions to customer and organization requirements and is an accomplished communicator skilled in building and strengthening relationships across functions to drive cohesive, strategic operations.
His entrepreneurial experience began when he established an IT consulting company in 2002 focused on helping small medical service companies establish necessary controls for regulatory requirements.
Advisory Board
Dick Wingate is Principal, DEV Advisors, a digital entertainment consulting firm that provides expertise to technology companies, content owners and investors (www.devadvisors.com).
With more than 40 years of experience in the music and tech industries, Wingate helped pioneer the digital music business from its infancy as SVP, Content Development at Liquid Audio, Inc, playing a critical role in their 1999 IPO and negotiating the first digital distribution licenses from the major record labels. He subsequently served as President, Media Development & Chief Content Officer for Nellymoser, an early leader in streaming mobile application services for music and media companies, creating the first mobile apps for ABC-TV, Warner Music, MTV and others.
He has held senior A&R and marketing positions at Arista, PolyGram, Columbia and Epic Records and was integrally involved in the early careers of Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Aimee Mann, Peter Tosh, Pink Floyd, Garland Jeffreys, Eddy Grant, Sarah McLachlan and many others.
He has spoken at dozens of industry conferences, has been quoted in the Wall St Journal, the NY Times, Billboard, Time Magazine, USA Today, the Los Angeles Times and NY Times Magazine and has been granted lifetime membership to NARAS (the Grammys) .
Ryan is currently President of Peritus Enterprises, through which he invests in and provides consulting services to various companies.
From 2010 until 2020, Ryan served as President and CEO of Proxibid, an online marketplace for buying and selling highly valued items, including fine art, antiques and collectibles, automobiles, construction equipment, farm equipment, trucks, commercial and industrial equipment, and real estate. Proxibid’s 4000 sellers and two million buyers engaged in approximately $6B in sales volume annually, primarily through an auction format. In February 2020, Ryan led the company through a successful acquisition by a private equity group in the United Kingdom.
From 2001 to 2009, Ryan served as one of the top executives at PayPal, a leading online payment service. As Senior Vice President of Worldwide Operations, Ryan was responsible for approximately 5700 FTEs engaged in numerous functions, including consumer service, merchant service, sales, compliance, and risk operations. In addition to his PayPal responsibilities, Ryan also managed eBay Global Customer Support, which included an additional 6000 FTEs, from 2007 to 2008.
From 2000 to 2001, Ryan served as Chief Executive Officer for eTopia Technologies, Inc., an Omaha-based web development and IT consulting firm. Before that, he was a partner at the law firm of Bartlit Beck Herman Palenchar & Scott in Denver, Colorado, where he specialized in complex commercial litigation.
Ryan currently serves on the Board of Directors for Assurity Life Insurance Company in Lincoln, Nebraska. He also serves on several nonprofit boards, including Bellevue University, NorthStar, King of Kings Lutheran Church, and the Corporate Advisory Board for the Raikes School of Computer Science and Management at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Ryan earned a B.S. in Agricultural Sciences in 1991 from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1994. He was born and raised on his family’s farm outside Hershey, Nebraska, and currently resides in Springfield, Nebraska with his wife, Valerie, and their three children, Emily, Lauren, and Carson.
Delen Wong is a member of the Corporate Development & Strategy team at Expedia Group responsible for M&A and investments as well as group level strategy and business development.
During his tenure, Delen has been involved with the acquisitions of Pillow and ApartmentJet, raising $4B of financing, and led a corporate simplification & divestiture initiative. Prior to this role, he was on the investment team at NewSpring Capital, a multi-strategy private equity firm.
While at NewSpring, Delen closed multiple deals across industries and transaction types including minority growth equity, leveraged buyout and mezzanine debt. Delen started his finance career at Credit Suisse as an equity research analyst.
Delen holds a bachelor's degree from Lehigh University in Integrated Business and Engineering with concentrations in Finance and Information & Systems Engineering.
A bestselling author and editor of numerous books, including New York Times bestsellers, currently, Lavaille is President and Publisher of two imprints, One Street Books and Ebony Books in partnership with HarperCollins Publishers.
With a Master’s in Education, Lavaille has worked as an investment broker, school teacher, school district administrator, speechwriter, marketing executive and served as special advisor to former US Secretary of Education, Dr. Rod Paige, (US Department of Education 2001 – 2005)
Lavaille is a Founding Board Member and the first President of the Luanda Africa Sister City Association. She is involved in a number of international charitable ventures. Lavaille facilitated a MOU between US Airport Systems and the Angola Africa Airport System as well as an agreement between the Port of Angola Africa and U.S. Ports.
Over the past 20 years Lavaille has used her branding, merchandising and sales expertise to manage a number of business ventures with well- known celebrities and athletes in the publishing, aviation, food, retail and sports industry.
Lavaille combined three of her passions (Time Management, Leadership, Volunteerism) with the creation of the 86400 Seconds Movement, “Making a Difference, Being The Difference.” There are 86,400 seconds in a day; the 86400 Seconds Movement is the instigator for a renewed life of intention and relevance. Her book, 86400, offers guidance and examples on how to live every second of each day purposefully and with renewed life. The message of 86400 inspires and helps individuals use their time in ways to accomplish more in their lives and make a positive difference in the world.
Lavette is also the author of the best- selling children’s book series, Steve Harvey presents The Adventures of Roopster Roux and The Adventures of Roopster Roux sports series. The Roux series has received numerous accommodations from cities around the USA and the first ever convenience store/gas station with a literacy purpose (The Roux) launches in Chicago 2020, therouxstore.com.
Beyond her work in publishing, community engagement, nonprofit and the marketing spheres, Lavette is co-founder of Every Child An Author, (ECAA) Class-by-Class, School -by School. ECAA is on a mission to make every child in America a published author, one grade level at a time! (everychildanauthor.com)
In her leisure time, Lavaille enjoys skateboarding, cooking and spending time with her husband John, family and friends.
