The professional staff of Demonstratives, Inc. includes doctorate-degreed project managers, engineers, animators, illustrators, and video editors, many of whom helped to establish the litigation animation industry years earlier. DI’s experience and expertise make it the industry’s premier litigation animation services provider. Learn more about the DI Advantage.
Management Staff
Mark McGrory, J.D., Vice President / General Counsel
Mark joined DI in 2008 after 12 years at Sprint Corporation as senior counsel, where he oversaw all of Sprint’s intellectual property litigation, as well as Sprint’s most significant complex commercial litigation. As in-house counsel at Sprint, Mark worked with many major law firms across the country and participated in numerous trials, arbitrations and mediations. Previously, he was a member of the litigation department at Kansas City’s Morrison & Hecker firm (now Stinson Morrison Hecker) for 12 years, including 6 years as an equity partner. Mark received his juris doctorate from the University of Iowa and is rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell.
Daniel Kruger, Ph.D., President
Dan led the DI production team (KSR v. Teleflex) which created animations for KSR demonstrating the operation of adjustable foot pedals in the landmark unanimous U.S. Supreme Court decision on obviousness as applied to patent claims. He has been President of DI since 2004, and he was Vice President of DI from 2001 to 2004. Dan has supervised hundreds of litigation projects in a wide variety of case areas, and he has lent his expertise to a range of interactive, educational, and software projects. Prior to working at DI, Dan served as Senior Project Manager at EAI for six years. Dan earned his doctorate in Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics from Iowa State University.
Charles Fox, Ph.D., Vice President
Chuck led the DI production team (Affymetrix v. Illumina) that produced graphics illustrating DNA microarray technology, which helped Affymetrix’s attorneys show how Illumina infringed several Affymetrix patents, resulting in a $90 million settlement for Affymetrix. Chuck has been Vice President of DI since 2001, when EAI’s Litigation Services group became DI. Chuck has 13 years of experience leading projects in a number of technical disciplines, including biotechnology patent, pharmaceutical patent, medical device patent and accused personal injury from environmental exposure. Prior to working at DI, Chuck served as Director of Production at EAI. Chuck was a Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA Foundation) post-doctoral fellow at the University of Michigan and received his doctorate in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology from Iowa State University.
Lance Rewerts, Ph.D., Senior Project Manager
Lance led the DI production team (Sprint v. Vonage) that produced the animated tutorial that jurors said made Sprint’s patent claims regarding Vonage’s voice over Internet service easy to understand and subsequently produced an $80 million settlement for Sprint. Lance has been a Senior Project Manager at DI since 2001. Many of his projects have focused on electronic patent litigation, including semiconductor production, telephony, Internet, and computer-related technology. Prior to DI, Lance worked with EAI for two years as a Project Manager. Previously, he conducted post-doctoral research for the U.S. Department of Energy and served as a temporary Assistant Professor in the Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Aerospace Engineering/Engineering Mechanics at Iowa State University. Lance earned his doctorate in Mechanical Engineering from ISU.
Joel Schmidt, Ph.D., Project Manager
Joel led the DI production team (Agilent v. Affymetrix) which helped Affymetrix achieve a summary judgment in its patent interference case against Agilent. He joined DI in 2008 after receiving his doctorate in Biochemistry from Iowa State University. Joel’s doctoral research, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, focused on identifying relationships between plant metabolism and genetics. Prior to his doctorate, he studied, taught, and conducted graduate research in Biomechanics, Exercise Physiology, and Physical Therapy. Joel has a broad range of life science expertise, in areas such as molecular biology, analytical biochemistry, plant transformation and genetic manipulation, plant and human physiology, endocrinology, human anatomy, and biomechanics.
Jim Kurtenbach, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Jim has been on the DI Board of Directors since 2004. He is also a founding partner in the private equity and advisory service firm Prairie Oak Capital, LLC (www.PrairieOakCapital.com) and a professor in the Iowa State University Department of Accounting, with a focus on business valuation and financial analysis. In addition, Jim served as a Representative in the state legislature from 2003 to 2006. He holds a Ph.D. in Accounting from the University of Missouri-Columbia, a Master of Science in Accounting from the University of Tulsa, and a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Administration from Iowa State University.
Sharon Fox, Chief Administrative Officer
Sharon joined DI at its inception in 2001, taking over the accounting functions, management of vendor relationships, and eventually human resources and office management responsibilities. She had worked at EAI for five years in its marketing and accounting departments. Previously, Sharon worked for 12 years as a commercial lines underwriter for various insurance companies in Iowa and Michigan. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Iowa State University.
Production Staff
Shawn Loomis, Production Manager
Shawn is a production manager who has worked at DI since its inception, and previously EAI, as a modeler, animator, and in-house programmer developing applications for the web and internal networks. Prior to working at EAI, he was an architect. Shawn has both a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Iowa State University.
Rod Brewster, Engineer
Rod began working for EAI (now DI) as a modeler in 1995, and soon after began animating. He has worked on everything from patent infringement cases to naval war game reenactments for the Discovery Channel. Rod's main emphasis is on accident visualization, although he is also a programmer, writing a number of tools and scripts for in-house use. Rod has a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Iowa State University.
Ed Jackson, Engineer
While at DI, and previously EAI, Ed has produced animation for use in a variety of products, including entertainment and marketing, as well as litigation support. He emphasizes in cases involving electronics and mechanical systems. Ed holds a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Iowa State University.
Rich Matus, Engineer
Rich has worked on a wide variety of cases at DI, from vehicle accident simulation to biotech intellectual property, but his primary emphasis has been on electronic patent cases. Rich holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering and Computer Science from Iowa State University.
Ben Dorman, Technical Animator
Ben’s emphasis is on converting 2D reference images into accurate 3D models. He has experience in a broad range of 3D/2D software. Ben attended school specifically to learn 3D animation and the applications and techniques unique to it. He received an Associate Degree in Computer Animation from Full Sail University.
Jay Lueck, Technical Animator
Jay has been working as an animator with EAI/DI since 1997. Jay holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Iowa State University with an emphasis in drawing, painting, and printmaking, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Computer Graphics from CAD Institute in Phoenix, AZ.
Joel Lueck, Technical Animator
Since 2001, Joel has served as an animator/modeler for DI. Before starting with EAI (now DI) in 1994, Joel worked as a layout artist/drafter/designer. Joel is a graduate of the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art/Art Education, and he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Graphics from Teikyo-Marycrest University.
Tom Lueck, Technical Animator
Tom excels at translating 3D CAD data from clients for use in all types of animation tools and creating 3D CAD for devices from patent drawings. He is a technical animator with an emphasis in CAD modeling and mechanical animations. Tom holds a Bachelor of Science in Community and Regional Planning and a Bachelor of Science in Fisheries and Wildlife Biology from Iowa State University.
John Petersen, Technical Animator
John is involved with most of the biotech projects at DI, and in addition to being a modeler and animator, he specializes in 2D graphics for still graphics and web use. John holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biological/Pre-Medical Illustration from Iowa State University.
Jim Stage, Technical Animator
Jim specializes in using 3D Studio Max to create detailed models and animations depicting a wide variety of subjects, ranging from microscopic processes to large construction projects. Jim graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Art and Design in 1999, at which point he continued his career in computer modeling/animating for EAI (now DI) that began in 1997.
Liz Miller, Animation Artist
Liz works in a broad range of traditional and digital media to produce both 2D and 3D graphics that are clear and communicative. She graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Biological/Pre-Medical Illustration. Through this program, she learned numerous techniques for communicating science through art.
Brian Delk, Video Engineer
Brian is a DI Video Engineer with 15 years of editing experience. Brian specializes in non-linear editing on the Avid editing system. He prepares the final animations for delivery to clients and authors in finished DVDs, and he also does initial video editing. Brian holds a Bachelor of Arts in Telecommunicative Arts.
Kent Iverson, Video Engineer
Kent is a DI Video Engineer and Technical Animator who uses a broad range of programs to produce both 2D and 3D graphics. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Digital Arts from Northern Illinois University.
Board of Directors
James Bernard, Member, Board of Directors
Jim joined the DI Board of Directors in January 2008. He was one of the founders of EAI, which became a rapidly growing litigation animation company. In the early 1990’s, Jim often served as an expert witness in accident reconstruction cases, presenting complex information in easily understood animations. Jim served on EAI’s board of directors until 1995. His research interests include real-time applications of computer simulation and the interaction between technology and globalization. Jim has authored or co-authored more than 80 research articles, mostly in vehicle-dynamics related areas. He earned his doctorate from the University of Michigan. Jim joined the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Iowa State University in 1983, where he was director of the Virtual Reality Applications Center from 1990 to 2003. He was named Anson Marston Distinguished Professor of Engineering in 2000.
Mike Malecek, Member, Board of Directors
Mike joined the DI Board of Directors in 2007. He is a partner in Dewey & LeBoeuf’s Intellectual Property Litigation and White Collar Criminal Defense and Investigation Groups. Mike was previously the Chief Advocacy Counsel for Affymetrix, Inc., a Silicon Valley biotechnology company. While chief counsel, he obtained infringement verdicts on five Affymetrix patents and helped secure a $90 million settlement for the company. Mike has also served as Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern and Northern Districts of California, where he prosecuted intellectual property crimes, among other white collar crimes. Mike received his juris doctorate from the University of Virginia.
Alan Ryerson, Member, Board of Directors
Alan joined the DI Board of Directors in 2005. He is Senior Vice President and Secretary of BCC Advisers in Des Moines, IA. Alan has served as a business adviser and consultant for middle-market businesses, counseling them in areas like mergers and acquisitions and business valuations. In the early 1990’s, Alan was Chief Financial Officer of insurance agency Holmes Murphy & Associates. He is a Certified Public Accountant and an Accredited Senior Appraiser. Alan holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Accounting) from Drake University.