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Help us build a more Purposeful world
Help us build a more Purposeful world
Purpose is the heart of our company, and our solution.
Our founder’s journey.
Our purpose is to create bigger lives, stronger organizations, and healthier communities by helping people find and live their purpose each day.
We are behavior designers, data scientists, technologists, and psychologists. We are researchers, communicators, innovators, and client-partners. We fuse advances in neuroscience, AI and machine learning, the latest behavior change and habit formation models, cutting-edge digital experience design, and real-time sentiment analysis to create positive change in a way that’s both scalable and enduring.
Does this sound like you? Want to join us on our mission to build a more purposeful world? Check out our open positions.
Meet Our Team
I'm my best self when I am supporting others, loving the people and animals in my life and learning along the way.
Angie Merkel, SR Vice President Customer Success
I'm at my best when I'm helping others to succeed.
Chris Bach, Technical Lead
I'm at my best when I'm applying my skills and creativity to help improve health and quality of life.
Haitham Maaieh, Sr. Software Engineer and Data Scientist
My purpose is to create experiences that bring out the best in people. I also like making music and people laugh.
Tim Pituch, Director, Product
I am at my best when I am exercising my mind and body.
Bruce Bielawa, Software Quality Assurance Lead
At my best, I'm customer focused and inspiring. I strive to be supportive and connected. That's my fuel
Dennis Bricker, Vice President, Sales
At my best, I handle each obstacle as an opportunity to be better than I was yesterday.
Riley Griffis, QA and End User Support Specialist
I'm cheerful, creative, and present at my best. My purpose is embrace love over fear.
Brian McCormick, Director, Revenue Operations and Channel Development
At my best, I'm curious and creative. My purpose is to get you out on life's dancefloor!
Vic Strecher, Founder and Chief Purpose Officer
At my best, I am following Christ to love those around me and being obedient to His word.
Joe Blough, Technical Lead
At my best, I'm seeing the best in you and me.
Maureen Metzger, Director, Research
At my best, I am optimistic and active. My purpose is to help you live a happy, healthy, and meaningful life.
Julie O'Brien, Director, Consumer Engagement
At my best, I am a catalyst for growth and positive change. I strive to create a purposeful environment that engages and connects us all.
Abby Bishop, Sales Development Representative
At my best, I collaborate and design with others to create meaningful experiences.
Ashwin Malik, UX Designer
I'm at my best learning new things and sharing knowledge with others, while using my skills for the betterment of society.
Mike Behnke, Technical Lead
At my best I'm learning and trying to lift others up.
Jonas Zebari, Software Engineer
I'm at my best when I'm applying my creativity to solve problems and create a great software product for our customers
Lisa Schutte, Chief Technology Officer
At my best when I'm problem solving through creativity, listening and learning.
Marc DeCubber, Senior Visual Designer
At my best, I am optimistic, energized and solving meaningful challenges for others.
Breana Mercer, Chief Operations Officer
I'm at my best when I'm learning and pushing myself to see old things in new ways.
John Feltz, Sr. Software Engineer
At my best I'm working to become a better version of myself and providing resources for others to do the same.
John Holmes, Software Engineer
At my best, I’m caring, optimistic, and motivated, with the ultimate goal of acquiring and utilizing new knowledge to help those in need.
Ashish Kamath, Software Engineer
My purpose is to enourage, support and positively impact others and to challenge myself and learn from life's journey....
Bob Carr, Chief Medical Officer
At my best, I'm creative, connected, and inspiring. I work to support and bring out the best in others.
Eric Zimmerman, Chief innovation officer | Chief commercialization officer
Our leadership team
Vic Strecher, PhD, MPH
Founder and Chief Purpose Officer
Vic Strecher (PhD, MPH) is a leader and visionary in the fields of purpose and wellbeing, creating new solutions that operate at the intersection of the science of behavior change and advanced technology. In 1998, Vic created Health Media pioneering Web-based “digital health coaching.” Since January 2014, Vic has given keynote presentations about the role of purpose in life to over 1,500 organizations. Kumanu was launched as a major paradigm shift in how individuals engage in the pursuit of purpose, meaning and wellbeing while offering organizations a more insightful means to support positive culture and behavior change.
Eric Zimmerman
Chief Innovation Officer and Chief Commercialization Officer
Eric brings global experience in design, launch, and commercialization of breakthrough digital health solutions focused on population health, connectivity, community, and collaboration. Before joining Kumanu, Eric led strategic marketing, product management, business development, and behavior design as Chief Marketing Officer at RedBrick Health. He previously held leadership roles at RelayHealth, Mirixa, Medscape and StayWell. Eric earned his B.A. in Ecology Behavior and Evolution at UCSD’s Revelle College, his MPH in Behavior Science and Health Education from UCLA, and his MBA from Pepperdine University.
Lisa Schutte,
PhD
Chief Technology Officer
Lisa has a PhD in engineering from Stanford University and extensive experience in the software industry. At Ideomed, she built and led the product development team and served as the company’s initial privacy and security officer for HIPAA compliance. Lisa held product management and product development leadership roles at MSC Software, Mechanical Dynamics, and Engineering Animation and earlier in her career she was a Senior Scientist at Transom Technologies.
Robert Carr, MD, MPH, FACPM
Chief Medical Officer
Robert Carr was most recently Senior Vice President & Corporate Medical Director at GlaxoSmithKline and on the faculty at Georgetown University. He received his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Miami School of Medicine and his Masters of Public Health and Preventive Medicine Residency from the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Hygiene and Public Health. Bob also served as the President of the American College of Preventive Medicine.
John Ternes
Chief Financial Officer
John has extensive financial and accounting background leading startup companies like HealthMedia (acquired by Johnson & Johnson) and LLamasoft (acquired by TPG) through multiple funding rounds, significant increase in valuation, and successful navigation of sell-side and buy-side acquisitions. John holds a B.B.A. from the University of Michigan and is a certified public accountant (CPA).
Breana Mercer
Chief Operations Officer
Breana brings extensive experience in developing and delivering health and wellbeing solutions for employers and health plans. Prior to joining Kumanu, Breana held marketing, product management, and operational leadership roles at Stella, RedBrick Health, HealthPartners, and UnitedHealth Group. Breana has a B.A. in Math and Economics from the University of North Dakota.
Uncle Lenny
Chief Energy Officer
Famed for leading numerous team members on brisk walks around the neighborhood, Uncle Lenny’s many years of dogged, paws-on experience in energy leadership are foundational to fulfilling Kumanu’s purpose. Known for an intense, almost compulsive interest in nutrition (his own), Uncle Lenny leads the team in both daily calories expended and power naps — both essential ingredients for sustained energy. As Chief Energy Officer, his passion for energy is unparalleled and contagious.
Vic Strecher, PhD, MPH
Founder and Chief Purpose Officer
Vic Strecher (PhD, MPH) is a leader and visionary in the fields of purpose and wellbeing, creating new solutions that operate at the intersection of the science of behavior change and advanced technology. In 1998, Vic created Health Media pioneering Web-based “digital health coaching.” Since January 2014, Vic has given keynote presentations about the role of purpose in life to over 1,500 organizations. Kumanu was launched as a major paradigm shift in how individuals engage in the pursuit of purpose, meaning and wellbeing while offering organizations a more insightful means to support positive culture and behavior change.
Eric Zimmerman
Chief Innovation Officer and Chief Commercialization Officer
Eric brings global experience in design, launch, and commercialization of breakthrough digital health solutions focused on population health, connectivity, community, and collaboration. Before joining Kumanu, Eric led strategic marketing, product management, business development, and behavior design as Chief Marketing Officer at RedBrick Health. He previously held leadership roles at RelayHealth, Mirixa, Medscape and StayWell. Eric earned his B.A. in Ecology Behavior and Evolution at UCSD’s Revelle College, his MPH in Behavior Science and Health Education from UCLA, and his MBA from Pepperdine University.
Lisa Schutte, PhD
Chief Technology Officer
Lisa has a PhD in engineering from Stanford University and extensive experience in the software industry. At Ideomed, she built and led the product development team and served as the company’s initial privacy and security officer for HIPAA compliance. Lisa held product management and product development leadership roles at MSC Software, Mechanical Dynamics, and Engineering Animation and earlier in her career she was a Senior Scientist at Transom Technologies.
Robert Carr, MD, MPH, FACPM
Chief Medical Officer
Robert Carr was most recently Senior Vice President & Corporate Medical Director at GlaxoSmithKline and on the faculty at Georgetown University. He received his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Miami School of Medicine and his Masters of Public Health and Preventive Medicine Residency from the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Hygiene and Public Health. Bob also served as the President of the American College of Preventive Medicine.
John Ternes
Chief Financial Officer
John has extensive financial and accounting background leading startup companies like HealthMedia (acquired by Johnson & Johnson) and LLamasoft (acquired by TPG) through multiple funding rounds, significant increase in valuation, and successful navigation of sell-side and buy-side acquisitions. John holds a B.B.A. from the University of Michigan and is a certified public accountant (CPA).
Breana Mercer
Chief Operations Officer
Breana brings extensive experience in developing and delivering health and wellbeing solutions for employers and health plans. Prior to joining Kumanu, Breana held marketing, product management, and operational leadership roles at Stella, RedBrick Health, HealthPartners, and UnitedHealth Group. Breana has a B.A. in Math and Economics from the University of North Dakota.
Uncle Lenny
Chief Energy Officer
Famed for leading numerous team members on brisk walks around the neighborhood, Uncle Lenny’s many years of dogged, paws-on experience in energy leadership are foundational to fulfilling Kumanu’s purpose. Known for an intense, almost compulsive interest in nutrition (his own), Uncle Lenny leads the team in both daily calories expended and power naps — both essential ingredients for sustained energy. As Chief Energy Officer, his passion for energy is unparalleled and contagious.
Science Advisory Board
- Vic Strecher, PhD, MPH, (Chair), Professor of Public Health, Director for Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship, University of Michigan
- Tony Burrow, PhD, Associate Professor and Director, Purpose and Identity Processes Laboratory, Cornell University
- Robert Carr, MD, MPH, FACPM, Immediate Past President, American College of Preventive Medicine
- Elissa Epel, PhD, Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco
- Emily Falk, PhD, Professor of Communication, Psychology, and Marketing, University of Pennsylvania
- Ken Resnicow, PhD, Professor of Public Health and Chief Scientific Lead at the Center for Health Communications Research, University of Michigan
- Robert E. Quinn, Professor Emeritus, Professor Emeritus of Management and Organizations, University of Michigan