Board of Directors

Jesse Drake
Jesse Drake
Board Member

Jesse Drake is Chief Operating Officer of Kyra Medical, Inc. Prior to joining Kyra, Jesse consulted with numerous medical device startups providing product development assistance, regulatory/quality advice, and help with marketing launches. Jesse holds over twenty-five patents in the surgical patient positioning market and served as R&D Director for both Allen Medical and Alimed.

Jesse has successfully developed quality management systems from the ground up and has brought over one hundred new products to market in his career. Jesse hold Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering & Biology from Northeastern University, studied Neurobiology at Oxford University and is pursuing his MBA at Boston University.

Howard Miller
Howard Miller
Board Member

Howard Miller is President & CEO of Kyra Medical, Inc. Prior to joining Kyra, Howard held the role of President of Teleflex Cardiac Care where he significantly grew revenue and operating income. Howard also held roles with Hill-Rom as General Manager for the Patient Environment Division and then at Allen Medical Systems, and, as Vice President, Sales for the Home Therapy Division.

Howard began his career with Johnson & Johnson where he held numerous sales, marketing and operational roles of increasing responsibility. Howard holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Auburn University.

Erik Tuveson
Erik Tuveson
Board Member

Erik Tuveson has been actively involved in Hillenbrand Capital Partners (HCP) for the past fifteen years. Erik’s responsibilities have included overseeing the investment, banking, legal, risk management, estate and tax planning affairs of retired Hillenbrand Industries CEO, Gus Hillenbrand and his family.

Prior to forming HCP, Erik held roles in Strategic Planning and Business Development at Hillenbrand Industries and its subsidiary company, Hill-Rom (NYSE: HRC). Erik earned his MBA from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. He earned a MA in American History from the University of New Hampshire and a BA in History from Colgate University.

 Joe Raver
Joe Raver
Advisory Board

Joe Raver has a long track record of successfully leading companies while developing and executing strategies for profitable growth. As CEO of Hillenbrand, Inc. (NYSE: HI) from 2013 to 2021, Joe was instrumental in transforming the company from a $600 million domestic casket manufacturer into a $3.0 billion global diversified industrial company. Joe has a strong background in strategy development, lean business practices, M&A, organization and talent development and investor relations.

Prior to his role as CEO of Hillenbrand he held a number of operating and strategic roles at Hill-Rom. Joe earned his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a B.A. from Dartmouth College.

Michael Buettner
Michael Buettner
Advisory Board

Managing Director, CFI
Board of Advisors, Aero Industries
BS Accountancy, University of Illinois
CPA, State of Illinois (inactive)
Certified Licensing Professional (inactive)

  • 30+ years as CEO/CFO/VP Corporate Development, most recently Chairman of the Board of S&S Cycles, Inc.
  • led numerous private equity funded companies to successful exits
  • expert in funding and financing companies and achieving outstanding financial performance
  • extensive Wall Street and private equity network
  • experience as board member/outside director providing advice on capital structure, governance, corporate development and strategy
  • successful experience in both acquisitions and divestment of operating divisions for Fortune 1000 companies
  • Board member – Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation
Dr. Joseph Gauta
Dr. Joseph Gauta
Advisory Board

Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Tulane
MD, Medicine, Albany College of Medicine
BA, Biology, Siena College

  • founder of the Florida Bladder Institute
  • Entrepreneur & Founder of Frontier Medical
  • mentor Preceptor: Boston Scientific, Medtronic and Olympus ACMI
  • rated in the top 1% of all physicians in patient satisfaction by Press Ganey Survey
  • Vitals.com recipient of the top 5% Patients’ Choice Award.
Bill McGowan
Bill McGowan
Advisory Board

BA, Nathaniel Hawthorne College

  • over 30 years of operational and supply chain management to his advisory role at Kyra Medical, Inc.
  • Instrumental in scaling a garage start-up to a global market leading manufacturer of medical equipment.
  • Prior to his retirement in 2012 he served as Director of Operations at Amatech/Allen Medical Systems.
Kenneth E. Carrier
Kenneth E. Carrier
Advisory Board

President, KEC Consulting

Ken Carrier has over forty years of regulatory compliance and quality
assurance experience within the medical device industry. Ken spent seven
years (1977 to 1984) as an investigator with the US Food and Drug
Administration’s Boston district office before beginning his career in the
medical device industry. He has held various regulatory and management
positions in medical companies.

For the last 35 years, Ken has been the President of KEC Consulting which
provided simulated FDA style audits and regulatory training programs for
medical device firms, worldwide. Ken still currently serves as the US Agent
for several companies.

Ken has a BA in Biology from the University of Massachusetts, Boston