Michael Panesis is an accomplished entrepreneur, educator, and angel investor with a wealth of experience in a broad range of industries. With roots in information technology, he has held various executive positions across software engineering, operations, product management, corporate and business development, and emerging technologies. Panesis holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science for Business from DeVry University and an MBA in Marketing from Rutgers Graduate School of Management.

He currently serves as the Steven Dorfman Professor of Practice at California Lutheran University, where he previously held the position of Executive Director of the Steven Dorfman Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship. Additionally, he has served on the board of several organizations, including Elite Robotics Corp, SOCIETY FOR ARTS ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION, Sensor Industries, Camarillo Chamber of Commerce, RCMakes, and Whistle Inc.

Panesis's particular strengths lie in being the "first" COO, CIO, or CTO and realizing value from information technology investments. He is also skilled in startups, early-stage investing, entrepreneurship in higher education, corporate development, strategy, business development, project management, and turnarounds.