Meet the Staff

• California Staff
• Washington Staff
• Arizona Staff
• Board of Directors

CALIFORNIA STAFF

Renee L. Griffith
Position:	CEO and Founder
Training since:	1993
Degrees:	BS Psychology, University of Southern California
Certifications:	Certified Microcomputer Instructor Certified Accounting Instructor Certified Speech Recognition Instructor Executive Director Dragon Certified Instructor Scansoft Dragon Certified Instructor
Employee since:	1993
Profile:	Renee L. Griffith, CEO and original Founder of Zephyr-TEC, became disabled in 1991 with DeQuervaine's disease bilaterally while working as a senior staff accountant for a Bay Area software company. In 1993, with the help of her vocational rehabilitation counselor, she developed a self-employment plan that utilized speech recognition software to start Zephyr-TEC, now a global leader in the successful implementation of speech recognition software. She is an invited speaker at many regional and national events involving employee safety, disability and ergonomics and is considered an industry expert on the subject of speech software. She actively uses speech software and still trains clients in order to ensure that the services provided by her company are of the best quality and produce the best results.

Marc Cohen

Position:	Instructor
Training since:	1998
Degrees:	BA in Linguistics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Certifications:	Certified Microcomputer Instructor Dragon Certified Instructor Scansoft Dragon Certified Instructor
Employee since:	1998
Profile:	Marc Cohen began using voice dictation software after developing repetitive stress injuries from computer use. He started working for Zephyr-TEC in October 1998, teaching voice dictation software to other injured and disabled people. Over the years, Marc has trained students to use Dragon NaturallySpeaking, DragonDictate, L&H VoiceXpress and Kurzweil Voice. He has also contributed to the development of training materials and macro sets. Marc enjoys the challenge of teaching voice software and helping people acquire the skills to return to work. With a background in linguistics, he particularly likes learning about students' individual dialects and speech variations.

Linda Harren

Position:	Director of Training
Training since:	1983
Degrees:	BA in Communication
Certifications:	Certified Microcomputer Instructor Dragon Certified Instructor Scansoft Dragon Certified Instructor Computer Programming Certificate
Employee since:	2000
Profile:	Linda Harren has been involved with computers for many years. Her training experience is extensive and includes a wide range of programs. She really enjoys teaching and helping to make someone’s life easier by showing them the quickest way to accomplish a task. She learned most of what she knows by trial and error. She took some training courses to improve her skills and found that she preferred to be in front of the class. She was soon doing just that. She had not experienced the speech recognition software until coming to Zephyr-TEC and found that she was able to learn and adapt to it very quickly. Now she couldn't be without it. The most important aspect of attempting a new application or product is the amount of motivation that you have to succeed.  Without the drive to be adventurous and—well—just plain being nosy, you can't get too far with it. Training is an important part of this adventure because it allows you to avoid the pitfalls that are always in an unfamiliar application or product and gets you up to speed quickly.

Chris Mantani

Position:	Instructor/Program Coordinator
Training since:	1997
Degrees:	BA Merchandising/Business
Certifications:	CTT (Certified Technical Trainer) Certified Instructor - Computer Operations, Basic Certified Instructor - Computer Software Engineering Dragon Certified Instructor Scansoft Dragon Certified Instructor
Employee since:	2002
Profile:	Chris became injured in 1991 with bilateral carpal tunnel and bilateral ulnar nerve problems. In 1994 she was no longer able to continue working in her position as a Patient Account Representative at a hospital and was taken off work by her doctor. As part of her vocational rehabilitation plan, Chris was given the opportunity to utilize speech recognition software. After completing her vocational rehabilitation plan, Chris was offered a position with another Dragon NaturallySpeaking reseller and has worked in the business since 1997. Zephyr-TEC acquired the voice software and training portion of Chris's former company in June 2002 and offered Chris a position as a trainer. Due to her injuries Chris is a daily user of Dragon NaturallySpeaking software.

Todd Kermit

Position:	Contract Trainer
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Julie Coontz

Position:	Contract Trainer
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WASHINGTON STAFF
John Collier
Position:	Senior Instructor/Programmer/Webmaster
Training since:	1998
Degrees:	BA Math/Physics, Carleton College MA Astronomy, University of Washington
Certifications:	Dragon Certified Instructor Scansoft Dragon Certified Instructor
Employee since:	1998
Profile:	I believe that education never ends. All knowledge is inter-related, and one should never stop striving to understand everything (though that is obviously an impossible task). I enjoy both aspects of training; the sharing of my knowledge with others as well as the learning about them and their job. The best thing about Zephyr-TEC is the relaxed atmosphere and team environment.

ARIZONA STAFF

Page Filson
Position:	Instructor/Web Instructor
Training since:	1995
Degrees:	BA in Fine Arts
Certifications:	Certified Microcomputer Instructor Dragon Certified Instructor Scansoft Dragon Certified Instructor
Employee since:	1995
Profile:	Born in Cleveland, Ohio, I received a B.F.A. from Cleveland Institute of Art. In 1982 I moved to the San Francisco Bay area to pursue an art career. I held various jobs over the years while exhibiting in galleries and competitions. In 1993 my life drastically changed when I had a brain aneurysm which left me partially paralyzed and unable to use my left-hand. Employment, which had always been so easy to obtain, now held few prospects. I was given the opportunity to work for Zephyr-TEC in 1995. At that time, the only speech recognition software available was "discrete speech," where text was dictated one word at a time. The process was laborious and only people with a compelling need would consider using speech recognition. My job, both as an instructor and personally, was to help injured workers find ways to use the technology as efficiently as possible. Fortunately for all of us, software and computers themselves have improved dramatically. I now live in Sedona, Arizona where I continue to train injured workers as well as professionals who wish to use speech recognition as a productivity tool. Most recently, I am developing courseware and the Web-based training programs for Zephyr-TEC.

Nevada Staff

Bill Griffith
Position:	Chairman
Training since:	1995
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Zephyr-TEC Board of Directors

Renee L. Griffith is the CEO and Founder. Renee founded Zephyr-TEC in 1993 as a result of becoming disabled in both hands due to a Repetitive Strain Injury. Renee holds a BS Degree in Psychology from USC.

Dr. Mark R. Griffith is President, Chief Technical Officer and Founder. In December 1995, Mark started the Pacific Northwest operations of Zephyr-TEC headquartered in Seattle. Mark received his BA in Physics from UC Berkeley and his Ph.D. in Astrophysics from MIT in 1993.

Bill Griffith is Chairman, Secretary and Founder. Bill has been a Founder and/or CEO of six companies of which he has taken two to the public market. Bill is also Chairman and CEO, since 1975, of GC International, Inc., a manufacturer of specialized non-ferrous castings and audio recording masters. Bill is a seasoned and highly experienced business leader and his companies have made seven acquisitions. Bill received his BSEE from Purdue University in 1954.

David G. Ernest, Director. Mr. Ernest holds a BS in Business Administration from Penn State and a BS in Business Law from the Peninsula University. Mr. Ernest has over 39 years of hands-on and consulting experience in business, financial and operations management. For the past 21 years, Mr. Ernest has been consulting in turnaround management for Clayton, Dublier and Rice, the leveraged buy-out firm.

John Van Dyke, Director. Mr. Van Dyke is an active entrepreneur in Silicon Valley and is a member of the Band of Angels, an early stage venture group. He is Chairman and President of Dakota Water Systems, a high-tech provider of desalinized water.

Don and Terri Eli, (information coming soon).