Akira Hirai - Managing Director

Phoenix, AZ

With 20 years of experience in entrepreneurship, management, business planning, financial analysis, software engineering, operations, and decision analysis, Akira has the breadth and depth of experience needed to quickly understand entrepreneurs' businesses and craft the most suitable solutions.

Before founding Cayenne Consulting in early 2001, Akira started two Internet companies in Silicon Valley. Previously, Akira held various management positions in New York at Salomon Brothers, most recently as Vice President in Fixed Income Derivatives Trading, focusing on new business development and risk management. He has also worked as a senior financial risk management consultant to the financial services industry; software engineer; advertising sales manager for the popular Let's Go travel guide series; general manager of an advertising and graphic design agency; and engineering intern at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center.

Akira is a regular guest speaker on the topics of business planning, financial forecasting, and capital formation at the Phoenix chapter of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation's FastTrac entrepreneur training program and at various programs affiliated with Arizona State University (ASU). He also mentors companies preparing to present before the Arizona Angels and the Arizona Venture Capital Conference (AVCC). Akira has also served on the Board of Directors for ITASA (Information Technology Association of Southern Arizona). He was named Entrepreneur of the Week in October 2000 by vCapital.com.

Akira earned his BA in Engineering Sciences from Harvard University.

Phillip Blackerby, M.P.Aff. - Principal Consultant

Phoenix, AZ

Phillip has over 35 years of experience in management and management consulting to help organizations transform into high-performance enterprises. He coaches executives to envision a more successful future, develop strategies to accomplish it and organize resources to make it happen.

Phillip's two careers include 18 years of consulting experience specializing in business planning, strategic planning, business process improvement using lean practices and grant-writing. He also served 17 years in government, specializing in public finance and program evaluation. As an entrepreneur he has started several businesses, including a travel agency, an architectural-engineering firm and a retail store. He has raised millions of dollars in grants for social services.

His wide-ranging experiences include negotiating banking relationships, running an e-business, managing complex long-term projects, facilitating strategic decision-making, grant-writing, legislative lobbying, analyzing financial markets, improving cost-accounting and managing a $96 million budget. He has published several articles on strategic planning, budgeting and public affairs.

Previously, Phillip was Lead Project Manager for the Arizona Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), helping small manufacturers improve productivity. He managed the Lean Enterprise and Professional Business Advisor product lines at MEP headquarters at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, where his team won the coveted Uriano Award. He developed the FastTrac Manufacturing business planning training program, published four volumes of manufacturing transformation and improvement case studies, and evaluated grant applications. He served as Associate Deputy Treasurer of Texas, budget director for the Texas Comptroller, and management auditor for the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO).

Phillip He is a certified executive coach and trainer (CCUI) and FastTrac business planning instructor. He earned a Master’s degree from the LBJ School, The University of Texas at Austin, and a bachelor’s degree with honors in economics from Brown University, Providence.

Ryan Chester - Principal Consultant

Phoenix, AZ

Ryan offers over twelve years of experience in management consulting, entrepreneurship, creating executable growth strategies, and financial analysis. He has hands-on experience in running start-up companies and in managing new strategic initiatives within established organizations.

Before joining Cayenne Consulting, he spent five years advising start-ups and early stage companies. He prepared dozens of business and financial plans, created and implemented new internal business channels, facilitated international negotiations, migrated operations offshore, and formed strategic partnerships. He began his career at Synaptix Impulse, a telecommunications/broadband industry consulting firm later acquired by Paladyne Corp., where he developed and grew xDSL channels for their largest client, U.S. West Communications.

Ryan has worked with clients across a range of industries including Internet and e-commerce, media and entertainment (music, film, and publishing), consumer products and services, industrial software, healthcare, medi-spas, fitness equipment, internet retail, web services (SaaS), modeling/promotion, IT management, manufacturing, medical devices, marketing services, real estate foreclosure assistance, travel and hospitality, rental property management software, and health food vending.

Ryan earned his BS in Business Marketing at University of Phoenix.

Tom Dykstra, MBA, CFPIM - Principal Consultant

Phoenix, AZ

Tom has over thirty years of business experience in strategy development, software design, engineering management, sales, marketing, channel creation, consulting, business modeling, decision analysis, capital acquisition, and new venture start-ups.

He is the co-founder of two ERP software companies: Effective Management Systems (ERP for discrete manufacturers) and EMS Solutions (ERP for automatic merchandising companies). Effective Management Systems appeared on the Inc 500 twice (28 and 37), acquired venture funding, and was taken public.

Before founding Effective Management Systems, he was with the Data Systems Division of AO Smith Corporation, a Fortune 500 diversified manufacturer. He was responsible for all financial and HR systems used by the corporation and the service bureau customers. He also founded the firm's small business computer line of business and the IT consulting practice.

He currently serves on the board of directors of Synergex International, a software firm.

As an adjunct faculty member at Grand Canyon University and Arizona State University, he has taught graduate and undergraduate courses in strategy, supply chain / operations management, project management, information systems, statistics, business modeling, and decision analysis.

Tom has an MBA from the University of Chicago and a BA in Mathematics from Hope College. He is also a Certified Fellow of the American Production and Inventory Control Society.

Julie Fletcher, MBA - Principal Consultant

Phoenix, AZ

Julie offers over 20 years of experience in business management and training. Her specialties include new business formation, business planning, business development, small business management, organizational development, operations planning, human resources, and insurance.

Prior to joining Cayenne, Julie founded Lanick Corporation, a small business consulting and coaching company. Previously, she co-founded and operated a successful small business development firm for eight years. This company expanded into the Arizona market quickly and within the first five years in business opened six offices statewide. During these years, Julie was recognized as a market leader in the construction licensing and surety bond industry, taught business law seminars, trained and led her team to reach their objectives year after year, consulted and coached hundreds of small business owners one-on-one, and assisted in setting up over 4,000 new Arizona businesses.

As an entrepreneur, Julie understands your reason for doing what you do. Her philosophy to success is simple: "you must be willing to learn and commit to follow-through! So many people dream, so few act." Through training and assistance, she guides you through a transformational process that opens doors to new opportunities and allows you to not only see your success, but actually experience it.

Julie earned her MBA with a concentration in Human Resources from the Keller Graduate School of Management, and holds a BS in business operations from DeVry University.

Richard Hasenpflug, MBA - Principal Consultant

Phoenix, AZ

Richard has been bringing Fortune 100 expertise to startups and small to mid-sized businesses since 1985. He is both a consultant and serial entrepreneur and has participated in several startup teams either as CEO or CFO. After an extensive career in Silicon Valley, he relocated to Arizona in 2008.

Richard has worked with clients spanning a variety of industries, both domestically and overseas, including healthcare, high-tech market research, international trade, multinational operations & marketing, offshoring, publishing, semiconductor equipment, supply-chain management, and telecommunications.

Richard’s focus internationally has been on building strong multi-national teams and bringing the lessons learned in Silicon Valley to other industries and countries. He was active in Russia during the 1990s, working with privatized state-owned companies and supporting local startups and multinational joint ventures. He also led the creation of a worldwide trading network focused primarily in Europe.

Prior to 1985, Richard held a variety of management, development, finance and marketing positions in international and high-tech companies. Based in Singapore, he was Director of Finance and Corporate Credit for Monsanto Corporation’s Asian operations for several years, establishing corporate risk levels throughout the region and actively working with and supporting customers. Richard has served as an officer and/or director of several industry associations and non-profit organizations. He was named Los Altan of the Year in 2002 for his many years of work in support of local education, worldwide AIDS education, and international understanding.

Richard earned an MBA in International Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management, a BA in History from The Ohio State University, and graduated from the Marketing Management Executive Program at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business.

Jimmy Lewin - Principal Consultant

Phoenix, AZ and Deer Valley, UT

Jimmy's background includes over 35 years in international, commercial and investment banking, and nearly a decade as the principal shareholder and CEO of a rapidly growing manufacturing and distribution business in California. Today, Jimmy splits his time between working with early stage technology entrepreneurs including National Science Foundation grantees and advising and consulting entrepreneurs on matters related to business planning, as well as capital markets and funding strategies.

During his 20 years at Security Pacific Bank, Jimmy served in a number of senior management positions in the U.S. and internationally. Applicable assignments included responsibility for the funding of all of the institution’s subsidiaries and affiliates domiciled outside of the U.S., general management of two overseas affiliates and general management of the bank’s California staff departments.

For two years, he served as President, Director and CEO of Guardian Bancorporation, Los Angeles, California. Jimmy has extensive senior management and Board of Director experience. He is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati where he earned a B.A. in Political Science.

Harry Phillips, J.D. - Principal Consultant

Phoenix, AZ

Since 2004, Harry Phillips has worked closely with companies spanning the start-up through middle market stages in sectors including healthcare and medical devices, consumer products and services, high tech, financial services, energy, industrial products, telecommunications, retail, and automotive. With his assistance, his early stage clients have raised over $65 million in start-up and growth capital.

Before that, he developed business plans, financial models and investor presentations as a member of a team of leveraged buyout specialists at a $1.2 billion private equity firm. He played a key role in 20 transactions through which $9.5 billion in financing was raised to create a portfolio of companies whose aggregate annual sales exceeded $10 billion. He has worked closely with CEOs and CFOs of Fortune 500 companies, and played a significant role in managing a $4 billion a year, publicly traded auto parts manufacturer.

Previously, Harry was involved with investor relations, business development, marketing, finance and operations in a broad range of industries. His corporate management experience includes financial analysis, strategic planning, budgeting, marketing, and corporate communications.

Harry earned a B.A. from Harvard University and a J.D. from Pace University School of Law.

Jan Knight, MA - Market Research Specialist

Tucson, AZ

Jan delivers both marketing and advertising experience to her role as our market research specialist. Her focus is on providing customized business intelligence and secondary market research. Her work has helped to shape business plans, marketing strategies, and new business development for a diverse set of clients. She has research experience in fields such as medical devices, software, IT, healthcare, publishing, beverages, and many others. Jan has access to professional subscriber-only databases that provide authoritative data, nationally and internationally and help her to far beyond what the Internet alone can offer.

Previously, Jan has spent over 15 years working as a client liaison for two successful Advertising/Marketing Agencies and as a Purchasing/Manufacturing Manager for an international educational publisher. She regularly speaks to business groups on the topic of advanced online search strategies and market research related topics. Most recently Jan has begun working with a number of start-up companies researching both government grant funding as well as research for the companies’ SBIR/STTR proposals.

Currently Jan is an active member of the Association of Independent Information Professionals and has been active in both committees and conferences for over 9 years. She has previously served as a Board Member for the Greater Tucson Chapter of National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) and on committees for the American Marketing Association.

Jan earned her M.A. in Information Resources & Library Science from the University of Arizona, and her B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley.