MEET THE TEAM

DENNIS “DJ” SCHMITT

Founder/CEO

Jana
SCHMITT

Co-founder/COO

Michael Finkelstein

Co-founder/Pres. of R&D

Dr. Keith
cronin, dpt

EVP of Commercialization

DR. Francis x. palmermo

Chief Medical Officer

Dr. George Maltezos

Director of Science

Monica Joshi

Director of Physical Rehabilitation

Frank
Grippe

EVP of Government Affairs

Alex
Goldstein

Christian Schweizer

Our Team

DENNIS “DJ” SCHMITT

Founder/CEO

Jana
SCHMITT

Co-Founder/COO

Michael Finkelstein

Co-Founder/Pres. R&D

Dr. Keith
Cronin, DPT

EVP of Commercialization

Dr. Francis X. Palermo

Chief Medical Officer

Dr. George Maltezos

Director of Science

Monica Joshi

Director of Physical Rehabilitation

Frank
Grippe

EVP of Government Affairs

Board of Directors

Alex Goldstein

Christian Schweizer

DJ

Dennis “Dj” Schmitt

Founder/CEO
DJ is a former 2nd Force Recon Marine with a 50% disability from his service. He served as a High Threat/Low Profile personal protection specialist for multiple government agencies (OGA). During his time in service, he earned a BS equivalent in Engineering. Utilizing his leadership, team building skills, and his vast network of relationships, DJ put his discipline and drive to work and became a serial entrepreneur after his service ended. He built the number one defense contracting ISP company in Southwest Asia serving NATO forces. Upon a successful exit from this venture, he returned to the United States where he continued with his entrepreneurial spirit. Struggling with recovery from his own injuries sustained while in service, DJ looked for non-opioid approaches to manage pain and avoid additional surgeries. Upon learning about EMS, DJ moved to Europe and worked for 7 years in the EMS industry, serving on the Board for multiple companies in Europe and Asia. During this time he identified several improvements that could be made to the technology, industry, and business model, which led him to create Neuro20 Technologies in 2021.
Jana

Jana Schmitt

Co-founder/Chief Operating Officer

Jana is an entrepreneur with experience as a self-employed businesswoman, with a BA degree in Management & Marketing. She has over 20 years’ experience managing various customer service-based global businesses. Jana successfully created and operated several businesses that include an ISP company on military bases in Afghanistan, as well as a holdings company with various business interests in real- estate, restaurants, franchises and marketing. Jana specializes in global brand development and awareness. Jana developed, implemented and managed multiple SOPs for various businesses. She designed & managed international campaigns with focus on the brand recognition and customer experience.

Jana is fluent in several languages and her analytical process helps run the back end of the business with expertise in administration, logistics, accounting and marketing platforms. Jana also sat on the  Board of Advisors for Digital Marketing for Executives Program at USF MUMA, College of Business in Tampa, FL.

M.A. Ed, M.S. Ed
Michael

Michael Finkelstein

Co-founder/Pres. R&D
Michael worked with medical providers and universities for the past five years to develop electro-muscle stimulation applications for EMS products in physical rehabilitation fields and human performance. His 19 years of experience in public administration and research, including graduate level grant writing, helped him bridge the gap between non-profit social research to transition to life sciences research and development. He holds a BA from Binghamton University, two graduate degrees, and additional graduate certificates, including from the Parsons School of Design. Michael has experience leading organizations, supervising 100+ employees and managing annual budgets in excess of $15 mil.
Keith Professional Picture

Dr. Keith J. Cronin

EVP of Commercialization

Dr. Keith J. Cronin is a physical therapist with a background in sales, marketing, lead generation, capital raising, and distribution through many sectors of healthcare. Keith previously ran Dynamic Tape in the US and has done consulting with over a dozen medical and rehab product companies over the past decade. In 2020, Keith helped co-found Syntacz, an organic marketing and lead generation company that accelerated from $10K a month in August 2020 to almost $2M in sales the next year. Keith is also FIRNA broker with Umergence and reviewer for the International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy. Keith previously wrote 8 CEU physical therapy courses and while in practice, appeared in concucssion documentary "The Smartest Team" on PBS and did local Fox News segments in St. Louis. 

Keith recently took his marketing company from less than $1M in revenue a year in 2023 to pacing for over $3M in 2024. In June of 2024, Keith put out the first position paper for the use of Whole Body Electrical Stimulation with Long Covid patients and has continued to push the medical community to look at the benefits to the Autonomic Nervous System via research. Keith is also set to launch an EHR that he is co-owner in called Emerge in early 2025. 

Keith lives in Western Colorado with his wife and two daughters and enjoys spending time skiing, hiking, biking, and anything that can be done on a mountain. 

MD MPH
Francis

Dr. Francis X. Palermo

Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Palermo is a highly respected businessman, physiatrist and inventor. He founded the neuro-rehabilitation program at the Department of Neurology at the Yale School of Medicine and was founder/medical director of the Gaylord - Yale New Haven Rehabilitation Center. He was the Medical Director of ACP, a division of Hangar Inc. and WAVi Inc. Dr. Palermo won the American Academy PM&R Central Nervous System Contribution Award (Inaugural). He has twelve Issued US patents for neuromuscular and cranial stimulation. He is a graduate of the US Airforce Academy, and he continues to work as a consultant for brain injury at the Denver VA. Dr. Palermo is also a neurological consultant for motor control in microgravity for NASA.
M.A. Ed, M.S. Ed, PhD
George Maltezoz

Dr. George Maltezos

Director of Science

Dr. Maltezos is an Electrical Engineer currently acting as the Executive Director of the WALK foundation, a non-profit devoted to promulgating the health benefits of electro-stimulation. Dr. Maltezos is a veteran of several start-ups and has raised over $50 million in equity capital. He is an inventor for over 25 patents and has participated in all aspects of intellectual property management. He has experience in medical device production, from ideation, manufacturing, FDA compliance, to patient adoption.

 

He served on the Board of Directors of two companies and advised several others. Dr. Maltezos studied at Columbia University and was a Director at the California Institute of Technology. He completed his Ph.D. under professors Axel and Scherer and Nobel Prize winner David Baltimore.

PT CMDT CSPT
Monica Joshi

Monica Joshi

Director of Physical Rehabilitation
Monica brings to the Neuro20 team 34 years of physical therapy experience. She is the President of Back in the Game Therapy, PC in New York City. She earned her degree in Physical Therapy from University of Bombay, India and has practiced consistently since that time. She has a Diploma in Sports Physical Therapy from the University of Manchester, England. She is the co-author of a book on physical therapy and Cervical Dystonia. She was the Physical Therapist for the World Champion India National Cricket Team.

She also served as an adjunct Instructor at System Island PT School. In her New York City private practice, she specializes in treating orthopedics and sports related injuries, movement disorders including Parkinson’s and Cervical Dystonia.
CSM (R) US ARMY
Frank Grippe

Frank Grippe

EVP of Government Affairs

Frank is a Retired Army Command Sergeant Major with a distinguished 34-year military career. Since January of 2015, Frank has engaged in numerous ventures in support of such companies as Spartan Race (former EVP), Revision Military, Grey Ghost Precision, and others. Within his LLC, he supports the following activities: Department of Defense as a Leadership Development Mentor, Veteran Non-profit advocate, Executive Coaching and Keynote Speaking for Military, Academia, Businesses and Community functions. He is currently an Ambassador for the Special Operations Warrior foundation. CSM Grippe’s final assignment was as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader for the United States Central Command located at MacDill AFB FL, (January 2011-July 2014).

 

Frank’s five highest military awards are the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Bronze Star for Valor (3rd Oak Leaf Cluster for service) and the Purple Heart. A few of the qualification badges he earned are, the Combat Infantryman Badges (2nd award), Master Parachutist Badge (1-Combat Jump Star), Pathfinder Badge and Ranger Tab.

Alex Goldstein

ALEX GOLDSTEIN

Alex has organized multiple successful start-ups. He retired as CEO of Configuresoft, a systems management software company, after it was purchased by EMC Corp. His primary skills are turnaround management and business disruption. Alex has worked for small technology as well as multiple Fortune 500 companies. He has managed many businesses and led each of the following functions: finance, marketing, IT, strategic planning, risk management, and acquisition and divestitures. Alex has an MBA from Harvard Business School and is an active angel investor.
Chris Shweizer

Christian Schweizer

Mr. Schweizer is the Head of Marketing Intelligence for Kaufman Rossin, one of the top CPA and advisory firms in the U.S., where he leads the mission for analyzing, reporting and optimizing the firm's marketing. He also advises clients on strategic business and marketing initiatives, as well as on data analytics and insights. Prior to joining Kaufman Rossin in 2019, Mr. Schweizer led the Global Business Analytics team for S&D Marketing at IBM, managing the Enterprise Marketing Analytics Centers which oversees all data, business & marketing insights. Prior to this role, in 2010, he set up a new Analytics Center in Bangalore for IBM's Hardware Marketing Analytics and led the team until 2014 from his U.S. location.

 

Before joining IBM he was the Product Marketing Manager for Dell Computers in Geneva, Switzerland from 1999 to 2002. Afterwards he joined IBM in Armonk New York, and since then has held various positions in marketing, operations and sales. Among them, leading the US. Federal Government account for Software Sales & Marketing and then Marketing Strategist for North America Public Sector. Mr. Schweizer was born in Geneva and raised in Zurich Switzerland. Upon graduating from the KaufmännischeBerufsschule of Zurich (KVZ) where he majored in finance & accounting, he served in the Swiss Military from 1989 to 1990.

 

After that, he took the role as regional manager of the Youth & Scouts Programs in Switzerland, where he established the YMCA Zurich office. He holds a degree in business administration from the University of Applied Sciences (HWV Winterthur) in Switzerland and is a GMP graduate of the Harvard Business School. He is an adjunct professor with University of Miami, he serves on the board of the HBS Club and is also the President of the HBS Alumni Angels of South Florida.

MA LAT ATC CCISM
Pat Karns

Pat Karns

EVP of Human Performance

Pat is a Certified Athletic Trainer. He has worked extensively with Olympic and Professional athletes for over 35 years, including time as the Head Athletic Trainer for the Colorado Avalanche Hockey Team during their two Stanley Cup wins; the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA; and Olympic sports, including soccer, luge, tennis, figure skating and ice hockey. Pat is currently the NATA District 7 representative for AT’s Care, providing peer-to-peer support for Athletic Trainers after critical incidents occur. As a former instructor at the University level, Pat’s research was published in numerous countries.

 

He is the only Athletic Trainer to receive the Chopper Travaglini Community Service award, given by Kroenke Sports Enterprises, recognizing his work with Colorado charities. Pat is a graduate of St. Cloud State University and holds a graduate degree from the University of Northern Colorado.