The body never stops talking. Sleep is where we started listening.

The wizard behind Nuream, Rob has combined his entrepreneurial success, military background, firsthand experiences of PTSD/TBI and sleep difficulties and his commitment to sleep science into creating Nuream with his two partners. His journey kicked off with a fascination for the neurological and psychological magic of sleep, and his quest to support individuals with unique health challenges stemming from sleep. As a successful entrepreneur and military veteran, Rob leveraged his out-of-the-box thinking and boundless curiosity to craft the perfect sleep environment and keep Nuream innovating and pushing the limits of sleep technology.

Whether it is in the boardroom or on the battlefield, Rob brings a relentless commitment to leadership, creativity, and success to everything he does. When he is not revolutionizing your slumber, you might catch Rob tinkering with the latest sleep gadgets or diving into fascinating sleep studies.

Nobody knows wellness better than Lauren as she has dedicated her entire business and personal life to championing health in all its forms: mental, physical, and environmental. As Nuream’s wellness warrior, Lauren brings a strong background in mental health and a deep understanding of neurological challenges, while also possessing the same entrepreneurial spirit and business success as her partners.

Lauren brings a wealth of expertise to Nuream, from production and logistics to finance and sales. Her background in the furniture industry combined with her passion for sleep and sustainability drives her mission to make nights more restful for everyone. When she’s not leading wellness initiatives, Lauren is busy sharing holistic living tips and exploring the latest sleep science advancements to enhance the well-being of friends, family, and the Nuream community.

With 25+ years in the furniture industry, Nathan knows how to make a bed, literally, as well as how to successfully grow a business. He is not only a furniture expert and sleep enthusiast who fuels the creativity behind every one of Nuream’s creations, but he brings a strong background in operations, financial management, sourcing, product development and sales. Like his two partners, Nathan is a successful entrepreneur, responsible for growing companies from a startup to an industry leader in the furniture industry, something he is focused on doing now with Nuream.

Loleta Robinson, MD, MBA is the Chief Medical Officer and Advisor for Nuream, bringing a dynamic blend of entrepreneurial vision and strategic expertise in healthcare innovation. A seasoned physician entrepreneur, Dr. Robinson has co-founded and advised multiple healthcare startups, helping them navigate the challenges of commercialization, funding acquisition, and market access. With experience as an Entrepreneur in Residence at NIH-SEED, ARPA-H, and BCBS Nebraska, she has guided early-stage companies through critical phases of growth, from product development to securing significant investments. In her role at Nuream, Dr. Robinson supports the company’s mission by advancing strategic initiatives, cultivating partnerships, and steering impactful innovations to market. Her focus on sustainable growth and equitable healthcare access underscores her commitment to developing solutions that address unmet needs, particularly in women’s health. Dr. Robinson’s work has been instrumental in the establishment of corporate venture funds, non-dilutive funding strategies, and competitive market insights that drive value and position emerging companies for long-term success. Dr. Robinson holds an MD from the University of Kansas School of Medicine, an MBA in Health Administration from the University of Colorado-Denver, and a BA in Microbiology from the University of Kansas.

Michael Preston is a trusted financial leader and operational team member who helps turn visions for venture capital-backed and lower middle-market PE companies into successful operating plans. Preston has an operations, finance & legal background, foundational skills in Corporate Finance, business model insight from being a venture capitalist, and significant experience driving growth for investor backed companies. As a CFO, he partners with CEOs and Boards to help them navigate high-performance environments when it comes meeting growth challenges. His leadership experience spans Fortune 500 companies, startups, closely held firms, and both venture capital and private equity-backed organizations. As a CFO, Preston’s legal and capital markets experience enable him design and implement growth strategies with a proven track record of raising capital and executing M&A transactions. Mike has found success in multiple industries including technology, manufacturing, professional services, and healthcare. He is a results-oriented, entrepreneurial integrator & value creator, working alongside CEOs to achieve strategic, operational, and return on investment goals.

Dave Zar is an innovator, team builder, and leader with 15+ years of experience in Chief Technology Officer roles, specializing in hardware and software development. As a visionary team builder with extensive knowledge and training in start-up development, team coordination, and navigating between technical and business aspects of system production, Dave helped bring numerous successful products to market. He is a goal-orientated leader with substantial experience with securing external funding, ensuring product standards and regulatory compliance, and guiding diverse teams through highly technical processes of product design. Some of his specific experience, in addition to technical abilities, runs from hiring and managing teams to getting products designed and through regulatory (FDA and CE) process for sale. He is well versed in software/hardware engineering and regulatory quality processes (such as ISO 13485, IEC 62304, ISO 9004, etc.). He’s created and implemented SDLC SOPs for two companies; as part of this, we created automated test systems within our Agile development teams. He has also managed groups supporting cloud computing, SaaS, IoT, and related technologies.

Dr. Stephen Lee served 26 years as the U.S. Army Research Office Senior Scientist for Interdisciplinary Science, which includes planning and developing the future vision of basic research for the Army Research Office while maintaining an active research program. The position involves coordination of the individual extramural programs within the Army Research Office with the needs of the Soldier and Army intramural laboratories. Dr. Lee received a Bachelor of Science from Millsaps College, Jackson, Mississippi, in Chemistry and Biology and a Doctorate of Philosophy from Emory University in Physical Organic Chemistry. Dr. Lee has served as the ARL Chief Scientist and the ARO Chief Scientist over his career. His work at the Army Research Office included basic research directed towards hazardous materials management, including studies in decontamination, detection, and protection. He coordinated and managed the research programs in the Army focused on basic and applied research needs for Military Working Dogs (MWDs). Dr.Lee in this role led the Army S&T Enterprise with his research for Military Working Dogs and biomimicry. The MWD research includes science and technology to supplement the capability of the canine as well as veterinary needs and overall conditioning. Dr. Lee has been involved in the fielding and transition of many technologies and capabilities to the Soldier including decontaminants, detectors and sensors, field protection equipment, and overall MWD gear. Ultimately, Dr. Lee has support the commercial success and transition of technology to national security capability with 100’s of new capabilities. He has been awarded the Army’s Greatest Invention twice for his work in the development of sensors. In 2008, Dr. Lee was awarded the Ten Outstanding Young Americans Award from the U.S. Jaycees and in 2011 a Presidential Rank Meritorious Award. Dr. Lee won the 2020 Tibbets Small Business Award for his support of small businesses and their transition of their capability to commercial products. Also, in 2020 he won the Theodore Roosevelt Leadership award for his commitment and success supporting national security of the United States of America.

Whether it is in the boardroom or on the battlefield, Rob brings a relentless commitment to leadership, creativity, and success to everything he does. When he is not revolutionizing your slumber, you might catch Rob tinkering with the latest sleep gadgets or diving into fascinating sleep studies.

U.S. Army Lieutenant General (retired) Telita Crosland, MD, MPH, is a proven transformative leader in military healthcare with over 36 years of military service.  She served as the Director of the Defense Health Agency (DHA), where she oversaw the global healthcare of the U.S. Department of Defense and managed a $61.4 billion budget for the Military Health System (MHS). In this role, she led 130,000 personnel in delivering healthcare to 9.5 million beneficiaries. Dr. Crosland is a visionary in healthcare transformation, focusing on patient-centered care that is accessible, equitable, and holistic. She led the military health system through the development and implementation of a digital strategy, prioritizing a $30 million investment in patient-centered technologies. Through novel partnerships, she advanced the “Digital Front Door” a transformative solution that leverages telehealth and digital enhancements to support an integrated healthcare model. Board-certified in Family Medicine, her expertise spans global healthcare, financial management, and international relations.  She provides strategic guidance to organizations navigating healthcare policy, risk management, and operational excellence.

Dr. Abernethy, originally from Concord, North Carolina, moved to Raleigh for college and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Meredith College in 2001 with a degree in biology and a minor in chemical physics. Her journey towards dentistry began unexpectedly when she experienced a dental emergency during her college years, leading her to explore the field through externship programs. Witnessing a patient’s life-changing smile makeover after a car accident inspired her to become a dentist. She pursued her dental education at UNC-Chapel Hill Dental School and has been practicing in Raleigh for over 20 years as both a clinician and practice owner. Dr Abernethy is a fellow of the ICOI, member of the AACD, ADA, NCWCDS, and has her Advanced Anterior Certification in the Bioclear dental technique. She has served as an adjunct faculty member at Spear Education Center where she started her journey on both dental esthetics and airway prosthodontics. She uses innovative technologies to help patients identify underlying sleep and breathing issues, offering customized oral appliance therapy, bite and airway evaluations, and restorative solutions designed to support healthier sleep and long-term wellness. With a whole-health approach and advanced training in airway development, she blends functional dentistry with compassionate care to help patients breathe better, sleep better, and live better.

Dr. Amy Bair is a trusted leader in performance psychology, advanced biometrics, and applied psychophysiology practices. She is currently a Special Operations Cognitive Enhancement Practitioner with Kelly, Brown, and Root (KBR) Space and Missions Solutions. Her experience spans 25 years designing and implementing performance training programs for elite caliber athletes, active-duty service members and combat war veterans. Her background combines neurocognitive knowledge with practical application to develop comprehensive strategies associated with productive learning, performance, and leadership. Her specialties include peak performance principles, intervention techniques, biofeedback and neuroscience technologies utilized to increase awareness and exercise control over psychophysiological responses to high-pressure situations. Amy holds a PhD in Educational Psychology, a Master of Science in Counseling and Psychological Services with a concentration in Athletic Counseling, and is board certified in Biofeedback and mentor for the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance.

Antonio E. Puente, PhD, was born in La Habana, Cuba and emigrated to the US in 1960. Puente received his PhD from the University of Georgia. He has taught at the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) since 1981 and prior to that at St. George’s University School of Medicine. His primary teaching activities include Brain and Behavior, Clinical Neuropsychology, and History of Psychology. Puente is the founding director of UNCW’s Centro Hispano, and his research focuses on the interface between culture and neuropsychology. Puente founded and edited the journals Neuropsychology Review and Journal of Interprofessional Education & Practice as well as a neuropsychology book series. He has published 10 books, 93 chapters, and 123 scientific articles in several languages. Puente is a Professor of Psychology at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, maintains a private practice in clinical neuropsychology, and is the founder (2002) and co-director of mental health services at the Cape Fear Clinic, a bilingual multi-disciplinary health center serving the indigent. He served as APA’s advisor for 15 years to the American Medical Association’s (AMA) Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) prior to serving for an additional 8 years as one of 17 members of the AMA CPT Panel. Puente served as president of the NC Psychological Association, NC Psychological Foundation, the Hispanic Neuropsychological Association, National Academy of Neuropsychology, Society for Clinical Neuropsychology (Division 40 of APA), and Society for Behavioral Neuroscience and Comparative Psychology (Division 6 of APA), as well as President of the American Psychological Association. He is currently the Chair Elect of the Board of Trustees of Albizu University.

Dr. Alcorn is an experienced clinical chemist and molecular biologist with more than 25 years of experience in the healthcare industry. Throughout his career he has worked in a variety of healthcare sectors including reference laboratories, medical device manufacturing, medical software development, in vitro device development, and pharmaceutical development. He has extensive experience in infectious diseases having been the laboratory director at LabCorp’s Center for Molecular Biology and Pathology where he developed advanced clinical assays and ran a laboratory that generated over $50 million in revenue. In addition, he was Director of Clinical Affairs at Janssen Diagnostic Inc. where is helped bring new diagnostics and software to the global market to support the launch of drugs for the treatment of HIV and HCV. Dr. Alcorn has also overseen the development and global commercialization of medical devices including a handheld ultrasound device and wearable sensors for monitoring ECG and patient vitals. Dr. Alcorn served on the scientific advisory board for Roche Diagnostics for several years as well as other diagnostic companies. In addition, he has authored numerous publications, book chapters, and international clinical chemistry guidelines. Over the years Dr. Alcorn has also gained significant experience in global reimbursement, health economics, and commercialization. Additionally, Dr. Alcorn has experience in device and diagnostic regulations and has helped numerous companies develop regulatory strategies for their products. Currently Dr. Alcorn is an adjunct professor at the Johns Hopkins University’s graduate regulatory science department where he teaches courses in IVD regulation and translational biotechnology. Dr. Alcorn is a HIPAA Privacy and Security Expert and served as the privacy officer for a health medical records system.

Dr. Ahmed ElSaid is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. He holds a Ph.D. in Computing and Information Sciences from the Rochester Institute of Technology. Dr. Ahmed’s research centers on time-series data prediction using machine learning and artificial intelligence, with publications in top-tier venues focusing on machine learning, Neural Architecture Search, and Neuroevolution. With a background in aerospace engineering and civil aviation, he seeks to bridge the gap between engineering and computing.

Mr. Lloyd Smith is an entrepreneur and business owner whose company, Cortech Solutions, Inc., develops and supports equipment and software used in basic and applied neuroscience. His academic training in experimental psychology and neuroscience underpin his 35-year career in R&D, sales, and support for neuroscience research instruments and software. He has scoped, delivered, installed, and supported thousands of complex research instruments for diverse clientele in settings including psychology, neuroscience, sports medicine, rehabilitation, neural engineering, drug and device trials, consumer neuroscience, aerospace, defense and more. He has been involved both in basic science and entrepreneurial business development from formation through exit. Through this experience, Mr. Smith has developed unique insights into the technical and regulatory challenges involved with design and manufacturing of biosignal measurement systems and software, as well as marketing and sales of these complex solutions to scientists working in a wide range of contexts. Mr. Smith has a passion for entrepreneurship and community, as evidenced by his involvement with community organizations focused on sustainable economic development in NC and the Wilmington region.

Andrew Burt is a seasoned sales executive with over 18 years of experience in the bedding and furniture industry. As Vice President of U.S. Sales at Heritage Sleep Concepts, he plays a key role in driving business growth, strengthening market presence, and expanding the company’s reach in the competitive luxury sleep market. Before joining Heritage Sleep Concepts, Burt held leadership positions at top industry brands, including Ashley Furniture Industries and Tempur-Sealy Inc. His expertise in product development, sales strategy, and market expansion has contributed to the success of multiple companies, earning him a reputation as a dynamic leader in the bedding sector. Known for his ability to foster strong retailer relationships and implement innovative sales strategies, Burt brings a hands-on approach to business development. His insights and leadership have consistently driven revenue growth and enhanced brand recognition across the home furnishings industry.

Jordan Beck serves as the Chief Operating Officer at Heritage Sleep Concepts, a leading mattress manufacturing company based in Rome, Georgia. As the fifth generation in a family that has been manufacturing mattresses for over 100 years, Jordan has played a pivotal role in growing Heritage Sleep into one of the nation’s top independent mattress manufacturers. His expertise spans key areas such as sales and marketing, raw material sourcing, hiring, and research and development, all of which have been integral to the company’s success. Jordan’s deep understanding of the industry, combined with his strategic approach, enables him to guide product development and sourcing for Nuream, ensuring the creation of world-class products. In 2021, he was recognized as a Rising Star by Furniture Today for his outstanding contributions to the field. Jordan graduated from Hampden-Sydney College with a degree in Government & Foreign Affairs, where he was also an active participant in football and wrestling. Outside of work, he enjoys golf, traveling with his wife, Ali, and reading.