Leadership Bios
Donald Frugé
President and Executive Director, Global
As a member of the LGBTQ community, Donald has a passion for assisting other historically disenfranchised entrepreneurs. He specializes in building companies through concept and strategy, with a solid focus on branding, intellectual property strategy, commercialization, and national and global business development.
Throughout his career, he lives a philosophy of sharing knowledge and experiences with other entrepreneurs. From expanding access to high quality healthcare for underserved communities, to providing HIV awareness & prevention to marginalized communities starting at the age of sixteen, Donald feels privileged to have worked with so many amazing people around the world. Over the past two decades, he has had the honor and privilege of working with startups in healthcare, legal services, and product development. He is currently working on the launch of a food tech company. He is the co-founder of a global commercialization and IP law firm dedicated to the advancement of life sciences and technology.
Alexandra Candelas
Member
Alex is a leader, innovator, and visionary that has four issued patents, four publications, and drives innovation for high-impact international projects. She leads product design teams with a focus on User Experience and brilliantly designed User Interfaces. She is a Lecturer for the Digital Media Program, College of Professional Studies at Northeastern University.
Alex brings sharp creative insight to a wide array of problems. She understands users, sees the potential of technology, and facilities the creation and implementation of smart solutions. Alex also has a knack for discovering and encouraging talents in others.
Liz Ward
Director – United Kingdom
Liz Ward is the Founder and Principal of Virtuoso Legal, having established the firm in 2007. Liz has operated as a leading international intellectual property solicitor for over 30 years. Liz has an academic background in science and prior to founding Virtuoso Legal worked for a number of international law firms where she specialised exclusively in IP. Liz did note, however, that intellectual property was neglected within larger firms and that there was an opportunity for a commercially-focused and technical IP specialist practise to enter the market. Liz now leads a team of uniquely talented specialists who offer some of the most straight-forward, transparent and impactful intellectual property strategy available today. Liz has been sought after for comment on intellectual property issues from the BBC, Forbes and MSNBC.
Michael Embree
Member
Mike has 17 years of experience in the financial services industry, with the last 14 of those spent with Merrill Lynch. Mike is an Assistant Vice President with the company and his role as a Financial Solutions Advisor in Providence has him providing clients insight into the best products and services that fit their lifestyle and needs; while taking into consideration their current and future lifetime stages. Prior to this role, he was part of an advisory team down on Cape Cod that primarily worked with LGBTQ clientele. Mike brings with him a lot of background in and excitement for working professionally with members of our community.
Mike comes to Good Company with a passion for connecting with members of the LBGTQ community and helping others to make those same connections. He has a desire to see those connections provide growth professionally and personally, and foster a greater sense of community and belonging for all.
Tony Woolard, M.S., JD
Legal Advisor, United States
Working with an international law firm for several years, Tony specializes in business agreements, patent and trademark prosecution, licensing agreements. He is also part of the life sciences and mechanical patent teams at the firm. He graduated from Harvard Extension School with a Master of Biology and Roger Williams University Law School. While completing his work at Harvard, Mr. Woolard worked as a postgraduate researcher at Yale University under the direction of Dr. Naftali Kaminski, the Chief of the Pulmonary Critical Care and Sleep Medicine Department. While he specializes in various biological and chemical inventions, most of Mr. Woolard’s contributions to science are highlighted by proteomic and genomic breakthroughs in the context of IPF. His contribution to various projects has resulted in multiple publication including a first author abstract titled, “Overview of Multicenter Genomic Research in Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency and Sarcoidosis (GRADS) and Biorepository” which was presented with an award at the American Thoracic Society.
Jared Gaudet
Member
Jared is currently Director of Leasing at TCC Realty Group in Boston. He previously spearheaded the one of the newest luxury apartment complex in New England. Through successful sales and marketing efforts, it has been the fastest lease-up in the company’s history. With a keen understanding about small business community, he has been able to create co-marketing experiences and become involved with numerous organizations like Venture Café, MassChallenge, and The Men’s Event Fenway Health. He is pursuing his MBA at Boston College. He has a passion of expanding Good Company and reaching out to LGBTQ+ professionals throughout the world.
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