John T. Owens, Esq. – Chairman
Mr. Owens commenced his professional career as an attorney. His areas of practice included work as a trial lawyer and a specialist in corporate law. The seven days a week which his practice continuously required eventually turned Mr. Owens away from the practice of law and into a businessman investing for his own account.
In 2003, Mr. Owens partnered with John Burris and they purchased MediGuide America, now MediGuide International. Today Mr. Owens participates in the management of the Company. He is an owner of a corporate services company in Wilmington, Delaware, and a commercial real estate development company in New Hampshire. Mr. Owens is a member of the Bar in both Delaware and Pennsylvania and a former Deputy Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In his earlier years, Mr. Owens also served as an Administrative Law Judge for the Pennsylvania Department of State.
John M. Burris – Chairman
Mr. Burris is the rare combination of a highly successful business leader and an equally successful political leader. Burris Logistics is a prominent Delaware-based family owned business for which Mr. Burris has held various executive positions and today serves on its Board of Directors. In his own right, Mr. Burris has started and developed several thriving small businesses.
As testament to both Mr. Burris’ business acumen and political accomplishments, he was elected President and CEO of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce, a position which he held for over 10 years. He also served lengthy terms as Chairman, State of Delaware Management Institute, President, Delaware State Retail Council, and President, Delaware State Manufacturers Association. Mr. Burris created and served as President and CEO of the highly acclaimed Delaware Public Policy Institute. Over the past decade the Institute initiated numerous public policy projects dealing with health care, economic growth, education, water and wastewater and many other compelling issues.
Mr. Burris’ success in the business world is mirrored in the world of public service. At age 29, he was the youngest person ever to serve as Majority Leader of Delaware’s House of Representatives. Perhaps more remarkable is that Mr. Burris was elected to this leadership position by his fellow legislators, though he had been a member of the House for just three years. He also is distinguished for having been nominated as his party’s chosen candidate for the United States Senate (1984) and Governor of Delaware (2000). As Majority Leader, Mr. Burris helped to engineer the passage of the Financial Center Development Act which drew the credit card industry to Delaware and created some 45,000 jobs for the State.
Richard Gillespie
Mr. Gillespie is the former Founder and President of Gillespie, Inc. one of the 65 largest advertising agencies in the United States at the time of its purchase by McCann Erikson/Interpublic Group in 1998. Following the firm’s acquisition, Mr. Gillespie stayed on as President of the agency as well as a member of both the North American and Worldwide Boards of McCann Erikson’s direct response/digital division, MRM Worldwide.
Starting with just $1500 and no clients, Mr. Gillespie built an agency that handled major American corporations, particularly with the financial and pharmaceutical segments. Mr. Gillespie left the agency business in 2006 and immediately joined a group that founded The Bank of Princeton where he has served as a Board Member since its inception and more recently as Chairman of the Board. The Bank has in excess of $1 billion in assets with 13 branches and has been recognized by American Banker as one of the 25 top community banks in the United States. He has served as a partner and Vice Chairman of MediGuide International since 2007.
He is a graduate of Duquesne University and has six children. Mr. Gillespie has been very active in charitable activities serving both Catholic Charities and Thomas Edison State University Foundation where he has served as a Board Member for more than 30 years and as a former Chairman of the Foundation.