Elizabeth A. Davison
Elizabeth Davison is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Minds Island. She
brings her organizational and management skills to the team. Much of her career has
been spent developing and designing new products and robotics for research projects
and consumer products companies. Her most recent work involved the
conceptualization and implementation of personal hygiene products for Tambrands,
Inc. She dealt with issues ranging from consumer product testing, product
functionality, production and distribution, and sales and marketing strategies. She
was awarded two patents for product and equipment design while employed at
Tambrands, Inc. Between 1992 and 1997, Ms. Davison took time off to start a family.
She co-founded and spearheaded HC Davison Editions in1998, a publisher of
limited-edition fine art prints. She co-launched HeidiCoutu.com in 1999, an on-line
gallery/shop site. Ms. Davison received a Bachelor of Science degree with high
honors from Purdue University and a Master of Science degree from Boston
University’s School of Science and Technology.
Mr. Gothner is an invaluable member of Minds Island‘s Board of Directors, given his
rich background in investment banking and business. He is Managing Director and founder
of Adirondack Capital, LLC, a private merchant banking firm which focuses on serving
small and mid-size growth companies. Mr. Gothner has been active as a merchant banker
focusing on small and mid-size growth companies for his entire career. His work has
focused on companies experiencing rapid growth as a result of introducing new
technologies and products or by entering new markets. Mr. Gothner has advised and
worked with clients on a broad array of issues. Mr. Gothner joined Kleinwort Benson
Limited in 1986 and from 1987 through 1990, Mr.Gothner acted as the General Manager of
the KB Mezzanine Fund, L.P., a specialized fund which invested in the equity and junior
capital of small and mid-sized businesses. In 1990, Mr. Gothner joined Barclays Bank as
Senior Vice President responsible for establishing an investment banking unit to serve
small and mid-sized companies. Upon the sale of Barclays’ "middle
market" businesses at the end of 1992, Mr. Gothner founded Adirondack. Mr. Gothner
has served as a Director of: Ashton Technology Group, Inc., Gomez Inc., Universal
Trading Technology Corporation, and Mobile P.E.T. Systems, Inc. Mr. Gothner received a
Bachelor’s of Art from Columbia College and an MIA from Columbia University’s
School of International Affairs.
Carla Santia is Minds Island‘s direct link to the art business community. For more than twelve
years she has established herself as one of the top corporate art consultants in New England,
specializing in the healthcare arena. She has been the art acquisition agent and curator of
rotating exhibits for a fortune 500 company, and managing consultant for one of the top 100
hospitals in the country. Her expertise in regional art has been recognized by being the
host/interviewer of a national award winning cable television series along with being curator and
presenter of the annual art auction for public television. Her professional relationships with
world -renowned artists provide many inroads to a vast, influential artists‘ community. Ms.
Santia received a foreign language honors degree from Wellesley College.
Ms. Coutu is an artist who participated in the founding of MindsIsland. She is a
member of the company‘s board of managers. Ms. Coutu received a bachelor of arts degree from
Mount Holyoke College.