Power Moves: Net Health named two new tech execs

Power Moves is a column where we chart the comings and goings of talent across the region. Got a new hire, gig or promotion? Email us: pittsburgh@technical.ly.

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The 30-year-old, Strip District-based company that specializes in electronic health record systems is gaining an experienced veteran in the form of Gabe Hesse as he takes on the chief technology officer position. And coming in as the chief product officer is Kevin Keenahan, who founded the Net Health-acquired Tissue Analytics and previously served as Net Health’s VP of strategy.

“Net Health’s mission is exciting,” said Hesse, a Denverite who previously worked as CTO for that city’s Arrive Health and Havenly. “The reason I keep coming back to healthcare is I want work that has meaning. Helping companies grow is incredibly rewarding but there are inevitably rough days as you progress towards your goals. Making a material difference in at least one person’s life is all the salve I need to keep getting back on the horse.”

This news comes in the wake of the Net Health’s announcement that its Tissue Analytics platform was deemed worthy of US Food and Drug Administration breakthrough designation. Josh Pickus, CEO of Net Health, said that with their creativity and professional experience combined, both Hesse and Keenahan will elevate the company in their new roles.

“The healthcare industry continues to seek innovative technology solutions to meet the needs of patients, providers and payers,” Pickus said in a press release. “Gabe and Kevin have the experience, creativity, and passion to help us support our clients in their efforts to be successful in today’s dynamic marketplace.”

Meet the URA’s new deputy executive director

The Urban Redevelopment Authority has a new deputy executive director. Susheela Nemani-Stanger is a Pittsburgh native who returns to Pittsburgh’s economic development agency after previously working as director of economic development for 13 years. In between these roles, she also Allegheny County Economic Development’s deputy director.

Nemani-Stanger brings a background in planning, financing and implementing transportation, infrastructure, and public space projects throughout the city. In a statement, she said she looks forward to implementing plans that honor the organization’s mission and serve the community.

“Over the past 15 years, I have had the good fortune to learn from dedicated experts in the field of economic development and am committed to continuing the spirit of care and collaboration with the URA staff and our partners,” Nemani-Stanger said. “We are uniquely positioned to affect positive change in our communities by bringing together the diverse goals and energy of leaders, residents, businesses, and civic partners. At its best, the URA is an organization that acknowledges the deep history of Pittsburgh as it implements appropriate plans for our diverse communities.”

Argo AI launched the Argo Safety Advisory Council

Argo AI decided one way to bring autonomous vehicles to the world safely would be by convening industry experts and leaders to weigh in on safety and security best practices.

Accordingly, the AV company’s new Argo Safety Advisory Council consists of individuals with backgrounds in the transportation, medicine, law enforcement and cybersecurity fields. Argo hopes that by being proactive about potential safety issues will be a show of good faith to the public, with the long-term goal of introducing its products into a world that trusts them.

The advisory council members are:

• Christopher “Todd” Doss, senior managing director of cybersecurity at Ankura and former assistant director of the FBI
• Dr. Mitchell Garber, senior managing consultant at ESi and former medical officer for the National Transportation Safety Board
• David Kelly, principal and CEO at Storm King Strategies and former acting administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Annette Sandberg, principal and CEO at TransSafe Consulting and former administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
• Robert Sumwalt, executive director of the Center for Aviation and Aerospace Safety at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and former chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board

Argo noted that it recently began driverless operations in Miami and Austin.

The safety council announcement comes a few weeks after the company laid off 150 staffers, citing business prudence.

UpPrize announced its semifinalists

UpPrize Social Innovation Challenge, the competition hosted by Innovation Works and funded by the BNY Mellon Foundation of Southwestern Pennsylvania, kicked off August by announcing the 2022 semifinalists. For its fifth year, UpPrize is focusing on technologies that support racial and economic justice as well as equity and inclusion among entrepreneurs and businesses in Southwestern PA.

The competition is scheduled to wrap up in November after a final showcase, at which point the winners will receive $150,000 for first place, $100,000 for second place, and $50,000 for third place. For now, here’s a list of the semifinalists:

• Kangaroo Birthing and Maternity
• Toyz Electronics LLC
• Behavior AI
• DisSolves
• de-bias
• Meerkat Village
• Precision Neuroscopics
• Make it Home Safe
• The Young Dreamers’ Bookstore
• Ayudate

More Pittsburgh leadership changes and kudos

• Niche named finance veteran Tosin Okojie as its new chief financial officer.
• Peptilogics added Atul Deshpande and Nicholas Pachuda as chief strategy officer and chief operating officer, respectively.
• UPMC is set to partner with Microsoft on an analytics project that seeks to leverage artificial intelligence with the help of UPMC’s data.
• Ansys is a part of a $10 million University of Central Florida research project on jet fuel, supported by NASA.
• Pitt-Titusville, the University of Pittsburgh’s satellite campus, promoted Stephanie Fiely from assistant executive director to executive director of its Education and Training Hub.

Atiya Irvin-Mitchell is a 2022-2024 corps member for Report for America, an initiative of The Groundtruth Project that pairs young journalists with local newsrooms. This position is supported by the Heinz Endowments.