Crains New York - November 26, 2012 - (Page 8)

PEOPLE ROVER CURIOSITY: Honeybee CFO Chris Chapman shows off the kind of tools that are helping NASA rovers sift soil for signs of life on the red planet. BUSINESS of NY households don’t have a bank account Source: Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. 9.6% EXECUTIVE MOVES Elektra Records: Jeff Castelaz, 40, joined as president. He was previously cofounder and chief executive of Dangerbird Records. Wired: Scott Dadich, 36, was promoted to editor in chief of the technology magazine. He was previously vice president of editorial platforms and design. The Jordan Edmiston Group Inc.: Chris Calton, 42, joined the investment bank as managing director. He was previously managing director at Avondale Partners. NBCUniversal: Don Nash, 47, was promoted to executive producer of Today. He was previously senior broadcast producer at the show. Music Choice: Tom Soper, 35, was promoted to senior director of ad sales at the media and entertainment company. He was previously director of ad sales. Duff & Phelps: John Pollock, 48, was named a member of the health care investment banking team at the financial advisory and investment banking firm. He continues to hold the post of managing director. Parsons Dance: John Krasno, 59, joined the contemporary dance company as executive director. He was previously executive director at the Oklahoma City Ballet. Soho Rep: Cynthia Flowers, 30, joined the theater as executive director. She was previously director of development at Atlantic Theater Company. Catholic Big Sisters & Big Brothers: Thomas L. Webber, 65, joined the nonprofit as executive director. He was previously superintendent and executive director of Edwin Gould Academy. RCA Records: Keith Naftaly, 45, was promoted to executive vice president and head of artists and repertoire at the entertainment company. He was previously senior vice president, artists and repertoire, at RCA/Jive Label Group. Digitas: Adam Shlachter, 36, joined as senior vice president of media at the integrated brand company. He was previously managing partner and digital practice lead at MEC. Fireman Hospitality Group: Paolo Del Gatto, 48, was promoted to executive vice president of the restaurant group. He was previously director of operations. Rob Marano, 38, joined as senior vice president. He was previously regional supervisor at Hillstone Restaurant Group. CBIZ MHM: Brian Ayers, 40, was promoted to director at the accounting firm. He was previously senior manager. GOTHAM GIGS They put Manhattan on Mars Honeybee Robotics helps NASA search for life As the spacecraft lands, ‘you’re waiting for signs of a pulse’ The night NASA landed a $2.5 billion rover on Mars, Chris Chapman sat anxiously at his kitchen table, hands over his face. Hell’s Kitchenbased Honeybee Robotics had devoted nearly a decade to building two research tools aboard the rover Curiosity, which was about to make the most complex rover landing in space history. Mr. Chapman, Honeybee’s co-founder and CFO, was waiting that evening in August for Curiosity to beam back its first signals. ¶ “You’re waiting for signs of a pulse,” Mr. Chapman said. “It’s the thrill of victory and agony of defeat.” ¶ Curiosity landed without a hitch. In October, the rover deployed Honeybee’s soil-sampling tools to help it explore Mars’ rocky terrain and determine whether the red planet once had conditions friendly for life. Curiosity is the size of a car and is basically a space laboratory on wheels. “When you put all that together, it’s so complex,” Mr. Chapman said. “There are so many different things that could possibly go wrong.” ¶ Mr. Chapman, 62, did not intend to go into the space industry. He studied music as an NYU undergraduate, and worked in the financial services industry in Ohio. He launched Honeybee in 1983 with his friend Steve Gorevan, who lured Mr. Chapman back to the Big Apple in 1986 to work full time as the firm’s CFO. ¶ Honeybee started as a firm specializing in parts that automated steps along assembly lines, then earned NASA contracts for robotic prototypes. The firm is on track to earn $8 million in revenue this year. One of its biggest breakthroughs came in 2003, when Honeybee’s technology flew aboard the first of three Mars expeditions. “It’s exciting,” Mr. Chapman said. “We’ve been able to fly on some cornerstone Mars missions.” —tania karas 8 | Crain’s New York Business | November 26, 2012 buck ennis

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Crains New York - November 26, 2012

Crains New York - November 26, 2012
IN THE BOROUGHS
IN THE MARKETS
THE INSIDER
BUSINESS PEOPLE
OPINION
ALAIR TOWNSEND
GREG DAVID
SMALL BUSINESS
REPORT: REAL ESTATE
THE LIST
REAL ESTATE DEALS
CLASSIFIEDS
FOR THE RECORD
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
SOURCE LUNCH
OUT AND ABOUT
SNAPS

Crains New York - November 26, 2012