Leadership Team
Our experienced, multidisciplinary team serves Avoca customers with a rich diversity of domain expertise, including speech recognition, embedded software and electronics design, telephony systems, silicon chip design, and the management of innovative projects for creating new applications, new products, and successful partnerships.
Iain Scott – President
An electronics engineer by training, Iain is an experienced technology innovation executive. As VP and General Manager of MOSAID’s Semiconductor Division, he grew the team to become the world’s largest independent memory design house. Along the way he pioneered application specific memory technologies for ASIC and DRAM processes, as well as championing the establishment of new standards for wide-word and synchronous DRAM products. Previously he led product marketing and development teams at Gennum, where he identified new markets, and delivered cutting edge products, for broadcast quality video switches. He began his design career with Marconi and National Semiconductor.
Yves Normandin – Senior Advisor, Speech Technologies
Yves is a leading authority in speech recognition technology and spoken dialog systems, with over 15 years of experience in the field spanning research, product and application development, as well as market & business development. He was the key founder and leader of Locus Dialog, a speech recognition company with technology and products installed in over 600 customer sites in North America and Europe. Prior to that he spent ten years building the highly respected speech recognition group at CRIM (Computer Research Institute of Montreal). He holds a Masters Degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University and a Ph.D. in speech recognition from McGill University. Known as a technology innovator, Yves has published over 30 papers in the field, and some of the techniques he pioneered are now used in the most advanced speech recognition systems.
Gord Harling – CTO
Gord has over 25 years of experience in the telecom and datacom IC industries. Recognized as a technology innovator, he has led design teams for ICs in voice signal processing, on-chip memory for portable devices, and satellite imaging applications. He was design team leader at NovAtel on the first single chip digital section for a cellular radio. Gord founded Goal Semiconductor, an IC design services company, and was CEO for 8 years prior to it being acquired by Mosel-Vitelic. He was founding CEO of Elliptic Semiconductor in 2002 and is presently Chairman. Gord has also held senior management and technical positions at Mitel Semiconductor, Dalsa, and ATMOS, and has acted as a private consultant for semiconductor companies and venture capital investors.
Bruce Watson – Senior Software Developer
Bruce’s distinguished 20 year career includes extensive development experience over multiple platforms and user interfaces for on-line, real time systems and embedded systems. His technical skills include a strong knowledge of multiple programming languages, object oriented programming, event handling systems, network communications, device drivers and database management. Most recently, Bruce was responsible for the systems architecture and software design at PortalSphere, a company with web-to-handheld content distribution products and services. Prior to this Bruce held technical positions at Gandalf Technologies, Plaintree Systems, Telesat Canada and SHL Systemhouse.
Brian Buitenhuis - Regional Manager
With over 25 years of experience in the technology industry, Brian has held management and leadership roles in a variety of areas including research and development, product engineering, manufacturing and quality assurance with Gennum Corporation. He has demonstrated strong operational excellence through collaborative teamwork, strategic business planning and cost management, supporting many key initiatives. His responsibilities with Avoca customers are well served by his experience with the new product introduction process, and his overseeing of complex operations that delivered high quality products, ensuring the satisfaction of distribution channels and end customers.
Robert Young - VP Business Development
A graduate of McGill University, Robert has been involved in the technology and software industries for the past 20 years. In pursuit of customer satisfaction in growth markets, Robert fosters an organization constantly challenged to improve standards for products and achievement. Himself an entrepreneur and founder of two successful start-ups, Robert has contributed to the success of various high-growth companies, and has held senior management roles at Algolith, ICP Solar Technlogies, Spider Telecom, and Miranda Technologies.
Peter R. Fillmore – VP Marketing and Sales
Educated as an electrical engineer, Peter has over 25 years of technology product innovation, marketing and sales experience. His sales career began at IBM, with success built on understanding customer business needs and nurturing new application projects. Peter’s service with early stage companies includes SiGe Semiconductor (chips for mobile products), Dipix Technologies (factory vision systems), and Megalith Technologies (text retrieval; acquired by Open Text). He also established a niche consulting firm in technology market strategies, and shares what he has learned through over 60 articles published on advanced technology marketing.
Richard Shorkey – Chief Financial Officer
Rick is a Chartered Accountant with more than 25 years of experience in senior financial and general management roles. Working across a broad range of industries – from software to semiconductors – in the last 10 years he has held CFO positions with several companies including Bitflash Inc. (scaleable vector graphics software) and ATMOS Corporation. Previously he was VP Finance and Administration for GMSI Inc. (formerly Gandalf Mobile Systems Inc.), a world leader in mobile data communications.