Executive Team

Rocky Wright

Chairman/CEO

Rocky Wright is an award-winning software entrepreneur who has founded multiple technology companies and developed more than two dozen applications, including the recently released Safe4r app, available on iOS and Android devices. Safe4r, the world’s first global social protection application, provides immediate support and visibility to users in crisis.

Wright began his career in the 1990s in the medical arena working in all areas of cardiopulmonary physiology, including in technology, for hospitals including UCLA Memorial Hospital and USC Medical Hospitals. He was recruited by Thermo Electron, which provides pediatric ventilation services, to help save the lives of premature babies.

In 1999, Wright began down the path of entrepreneurship and developed a platform for web-based seminars and conferencing similar to the massively popular Zoom screen-sharing system, which was acquired by a company in the UK. He then began creating software solutions for companies to more effectively reach end users, and 2013, became the third largest double opt-in database owner in the nation with more than 90 million double opt-in users.

Wright has since created multiple award-winning platforms. His Qubeey application received recognition in PC World and MAC World magazines, among others, garnered the Best in Show award at SXSW show in Austin, Tex., and was voted editors’ choice for the best technology at the prestigious 2013 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nev.

His Songstergram app, founded in 2012, serviced all major record labels within the music industry, was followed by his Blabeey and Storbeey messaging platforms which remain in use by consumers and businesses to this day. Many more applications have followed.

Wright attended Texas A&M University, studying biological sciences. He furthered his education while serving four years in the U.S. Air Force, studying at the Health Science Center of the Air Force. He is a graduate of LaSalle University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology.

Wright resides in Southern California with his wife and family.

Joel A. Nelson

President/COO

Joel A. Nelson is a seasoned executive with proven success in multiple organizations. He began his career at a Fortune 500 financial services firm where he was “Rookie of the Year” as a salesperson. He later was a national sales executive for that same company, Thrivent Financial. From Thrivent, he joined a Berkshire Hathaway Affiliate, HomeServices of America where he founded HomeServices Insurance and turned it into a multi-million-dollar nationwide division. From Berkshire Hathaway, Nelson was lured to a private-equity own organization in a completely different industry, merchandising. There, Nelson took a fledgling ten-million-dollar company and quadrupled revenue in just three years. Nelson then began his own consulting company and eventually was lured to Rocky Wright and Safe4r. The mission and the opportunity to address the major safety issues that our world faces today was what drew Nelson to Safe4r and taking over as President/COO.

Nelson was an All-American quarterback while receiving his Bachelor of Arts Degree at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, SD. He went on to receive his Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Minnesota. He resided in Minneapolis, MN for 30 years and recently moved to his spouse’s hometown of 2500 people in Southeastern Minnesota. He has been married for 23 years and together have a beautiful daughter who is a NICU Nurse in Minneapolis.

Michael M. Vekich

Senior Advisor

Michael Vekich is an experienced senior executive known for innovative and effective leadership of complex organizations. He has a proven track record of providing business and financial counsel, especially in the areas of strategically refocusing organizations, creating capital for companies, and mergers & acquisitions. Has been engaged in a broad range of activities, including identifying potential acquisitions, negotiating transactions and applying his leadership and management expertise in operational roles.

A veteran dealmaker, Michael has negotiated many merger and acquisition transactions for clients throughout his career. As a business owner and management consultant he has demonstrated expertise in strategic planning, finance, governance, succession planning and compliance issues. Through his decades of service as a board director for financial, medical and technology companies, governmental, industry/professional associations and non-profits he has obtained a deep background in governance and its importance for the ongoing success of an organization.

Michael is CEO of Vekich Chartered, Minneapolis, a management advisory firm specializing in strategic planning, acquisitions, mergers and acquisitions, refocusing organizations and refinancing. His prior business leadership roles include as executive chairman, president and CEO of Skyline Exhibits, a privately-held leader in trade show exhibit design; Chairman of the former Home Federal Bancorp (NASDAQ) and Home Federal Bank, Chair BNCCORP and BNC National Bank (publicly traded), CEO of Vekich Arkema & Company, Minneapolis, a public accounting firm that provided financial management advice to domestic and international clients, and as managing partner of Grazzini Pacquay & Company, a Minneapolis CPA firm.

Public service is another hallmark of Michael’s career. He currently serves by gubernatorial appointment as chair of the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, which manages U.S. Bank Stadium, and as chair of the Board of Trustees for Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU), which oversees 37 colleges and universities. Previously he served as the acting director of the Minnesota State Lottery under two different governors. He was vice chair of the Minnesota Ballpark Authority, which led to the development of Target Field, and a member of the Rochester Higher Education Development Committee.

Michael graduated from the University of Minnesota with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and business administration. He is a Certified Public Accountant, a Certified Board Advisor, Chartered Global Management Accountant, and a Diplomate of the American Board of Forensic Examiners. He has a CERT Certificate in Cybersecurity Oversight.

Cheryl Cappucci

SVP, Business Development

Cheryl Cappucci’s expertise is in relationship building, managing teams of professional salespeople, strategic selling, contract negotiation, motivation and mentoring. Her exceptional leadership, interpersonal and problem resolution skills give her the ability to thrives in both independent and collaborative work environments. Cheryl’s main area of focus has been selling and managing teams of salespeople for companies like Oracle and Target Corporate. She has been instrumental at delivering technology platform services to F500 companies throughout her career. Her partner clients ranged in various industries such as technology solutions (Healthcare & Medical), Retail, and Manufacturing.

Cheryl has an extensive background developing, selling and managing products and services for startups such as, genetic testing solutions, engagement and enrollment platforms, unique insurance and non-insurance products, healthcare technology platforms, wellness solutions, and marketing services. This diverse background has afforded Cheryl the opportunity to develop professional and personal growth, as well as broaden her skillset, and connected her to an exemplary network of partners across the country.

Cheryl lives in Minneapolis with her husband of 14 years.

David Lukens II

Principal
Pembroke Capital Partners, LLC Pembroke Capital Partners, LLC 2009 - Present2009 - Present 13 yrs. 8 Mr. Lukens is an attorney and the Founder and Principal of Pembroke Capital Partners, LLC, a venture capital firm focused on real estate, alternative energy, technology, and banking.

Mr. Lukens began his career with Trammell Crow Company in 1986 with responsibilities in development and leasing of warehouse and office/showroom space in the Las Colinas and DFW-Airport complex sub-markets in Dallas, Texas.

From there, he moved to Kansas City in 1991 as a Partner/Producer with Lockton Companies, a large national commercial insurance brokerage firm. Producing large commercial insurance and risk management accounts for middle market to Fortune 100 companies, Mr. Lukens developed many influential C Suite relationships, and helped grow the firm to one of the world’s largest insurance brokerages, before founding Pembroke Capital Partners in 2009.

He has served on various boards including, EEnergy Adams, a large ethanol producer, Enterprise Bank (NASDAQ:EFSC) Advisory Board, and Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Kansas City.

He is a 1983 graduate of Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, BBA in Finance, Cum Laude, and Southern Methodist University School of Law, 1986, with an emphasis in corporate and tax law. He is a licensed attorney in the State of Texas

Juan Duque

Juan F. Duque is Chief Executive Officer of Iron Range Cyber, a cybersecurity consulting firm helping small and medium sized organizations assess and control their cyber risk posture by creating custom solutions which enable business continuity, protection and resiliency of IT assets.

Mr. Duque is a retired Deloitte Principal who worked in the Federal Health Care Practice of Deloitte & Touche LLP based in Washington D.C. Mr. Duque served as the Americas Enterprise Risk Services Leader and the Americas Public Sector Leader.

He has more than 25 years of experience in managing the growth of technology and business risk to public and private sector entities. His experience includes enterprise risk management, information privacy, identity & access management, information security consulting, organization and process improvement, application design and implementation, application security, business continuity, privacy, and information systems auditing

Alex Riggs

Alex has a unique background as an IS specialist – spanning over 25 years. With extensive field experience and command of languages, Ms. Riggs has been ideally qualified to serve in dangerous, remote “hot spots” in over fifty countries on four continents. To keep a pulse on international issues and emerging technologies, Alex has remained as a senior partner in the international security consulting firm, Legion Global Ltd. All of those working with Legion Global volunteer, utilizing their expertise for Children’s Rescue Alliance.

Additionally, Alex brings thirty year’ experience as an advocate for survivors of violence, starting in New York City. Trained in peer counseling, legal advocacy, as well as case and crisis management, Ms. Riggs has worked and consulted at various domestic violence shelters for rape crisis throughout the United States and Asia. Alex also volunteers for Search and Rescue, along with her canine, Athena (serving in both the Katrina and Ike disasters), Red Cross and C.E.R.T. She is trained in ICS (Incident Command System) and NIMS (National Incident Management System). In 2010, while traveling for work internationally, Alex and the team literally stumbled upon a small child who had been kidnapped in the United States for the purpose of human trafficking. Filled with outrage, and always striving to make a profound difference, Ms. Riggs founded Children’s Rescue Alliance (CRA). Its mission is three-fold: (1st) Facilitate the rescue of American children who have been taken for human trafficking, and all kidnapped and trafficked victims regardless of age. (2nd) Education; (3rd) Public Policy and Advocacy. It was quickly determined that teaching safety awareness was paramount to minimize the prominent trafficking/kidnapping atrocities. As a result, Alex created Children’s Defense Alliance (CDA) – the educational division of CRA. Since December 2014, CDA’s team has taught over 300 classes with extremely favorable feedback at national schools, churches, libraries, synagogues and organizations to educate parents, educators, staff and clergy how to better protect their families and students, as well as teach children (age-appropriate classes) awareness, prevention, evasion and self-protection. All of the programs are centered on CDA’s trademark “Color Code of Awareness.” In November 2015 (to present), CDA rolled-out their national safety awareness pilot program for high school teenagers throughout the Los Angeles County libraries, which was selected and endorsed by the National Museum and Library Services. As a result of attending CDA’s presentations, a younger child learned how to effectively react to, and stop a repeat sex offender – after being victimized for months. In a separate circumstance, an American female college student knew what to ask and how to react to a male trafficker who pretended to be a college student (literally saving her from being one of the latest trafficking victims).

Edwin Parcher

Edwin is people centered leader with a passion for leveraging financial and cultural dynamics to drive profitable growth while increasing customer satisfaction. Edwin has over 30 years of professional experience that includes functional responsibilities in Finance, I.T., Customer Service, and operations in multiple fortune 500 companies.

Throughout his professional career, Edwin has been sought out for his finance and operations expertise to lead cross functional initiatives that grow revenues in a scalable way. While executing strategic objectives of the organization, Edwin is counted on to systematically align resources, technology and processes to maximize ROI while promoting transparent communication and collaboration between teams.

Edwin served in the U.S. Air Force and was awarded the Joint Services Achievement medal, while leaving with an Honorable Discharge. He received his Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Phoenix, and a MBA from the Carson School at the University of Minnesota.

As a father of 4 daughters, Edwin resides in southern California with his wife of 25 years and enjoys any and all competitive sports. In addition, Edwin has volunteered his time to server of the nonprofit boards of the Minnesota Change Management Network and 50/50 Leadership.

Nick VandenBrekel

A naval veteran, particle physicist, electrical engineer and aviator, Nick has over 40 years of experience in myriad aspects of technology, science, finance, strategic planning and business development. Technologies he created and co-created have created hundreds of billions of dollars in market capitalization and value including but not limited to pulse oximetry wavelength and photoplethysmogram systems, print-on-demand platforms, the universal biometric interface, bioclinic, smartscan, biovault and briteprint. He is the CEO of Positron Magnetics and Positron Aerospace which is introducing its first fully electric aircraft powered by the Positron Particle Accelerator in 2023. He is the Co-Founder and Chairman of PayLocal.Net. A member of the National Aeronautic Association, United States Naval Institute, Military Officers Association of America, Helicopter Association International and Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association he volunteers his time to Pilots for Kids, Miracle Flights, Angel Flight, Wings of Mercy and Freedom Aviation Network which combats human trafficking.