our

ensemble

Yael Swerdlow

Chief Executive Officer & Founder

Yael Swerdlow is the CEO and Founder of Maestro Games, SPC. Yael is co-founder of the Women's Empowerment Foundation, on the Advisory Boards of First Amendment Voice, Solution Point+, and a consultant at USC's Game Pipe Labs. She serves on both the National Small Business Association's Leadership Council Advisory Board (NSBA) and the Small Business Technology Council (SBTC) and is formerly co-chair of the national leadership council of Games for Change.

David Shapendonk

Chief Technology Officer & Partner

David Shapendonk has worked for 30+ years on technology development in the fields of Entertainment, Healthcare & Cybersecurity. As an avid pianist, who was introduced to a wide range of music at an early age, David joined Maestro Games because of the scientific evidence showing that music can be integral to fostering mental resilience.

Richard W. Peterson

Education - Culture - Marketing Advisor 

Richard Peterson is President & CEO of the U.S. Cultural & Heritage Marketing Council. His professional contributions have been shaped by his global interactions capturing the diversity of art, music, cultures, cuisine and communities. Richard serves on the U.S. Travel Association At-Large Board of Directors, the National Council of Attractions & Experiences Advisory Board and the California Travel Association Board of Directors - and contributes his time to global cultural and heritage sustainable programs & thought leadership initiatives.
 

Dr. Hemalee Patel

Medical Advisor

Dr. Hemalee Patel is a board certified practicing physician in Internal Medicine and the medical advisor at Maestro games.

Dr. Patel's area of interest and research lies in evidence based lifestyle medicine with the goal to empower individuals to achieve optimal health and mental well-being.

Dr. Noël Lipana

Moral Injury, PTSD, & Department of Homeland Security and Anti-Terrorism Advisor 

Dr. Noël Lipana Noel is President of the DJD Art Foundation, which uses performing arts to educate communities about moral injury and trauma.  Noel served in various Air Force and Army units throughout his twenty-year career, including time in Afghanistan as a counter-IED specialist. The Disabled American Veterans - California Chapter named him their 2020 Veteran of the Year.

Steven M. Miska

Miltary Advisor

Steve Miska founded Servant, Leader, Citizen (SLC) Consulting, Inc. after retiring as a Colonel with 25 years in the Army. Previously, Steve served as the Army Chair at Marine Corps University, and in the White House under President Obama as Director for Iraq on the National Security Council.  He earned top academic honors as a Counterterrorism Fellow at the College of International Security Affairs and has taught economics at the United States Military Academy, West Point. Steve holds degrees from Cornell University, National Defense University, and West Point.

Our Advisory Board

Thea Campbell

Health & Wellness Partnership

Rob Holliman

Philanthropy and Grant

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Dr. Lisa Aziz-Zadeh

Cognitive Neuroscience

Vijay Gupta

Celebrity Board Advisor