Cynthia Figge is co-founder of EKOS International. Cynthia has led the development of new business ventures for major North American companies over the past 18 years. She is currently a consultant to Microsoft, Ballard Power Systems (the leading fuel cell company), the City of Seattle, and new Internet companies.  Prior to founding EKOS, Ms. Figge was Vice President of New Services Development for McCaw Cellular and LIN Broadcasting (now AT&T Wireless). From 1981 to 1991, Ms. Figge developed advanced organizational and operational systems with Weyerhaeuser Company and Tribune Company, and assisted new ventures. She was the production operations team leader for the start-up of Weyerhaeuser's first Structurewood (oriented strand board) mill in Grayling, Michigan. Following this start-up, she served as an internal consultant to the President and General Manager of Norpak, a Weyerhaeuser - Jujo Paper Company joint venture, helping to improve the distribution system, build high performance work teams. Ms. Figge graduated from Lawrence University with a degree in Economics, and attended Harvard University where she received a Masters in Business Administration from the Harvard Business School in 1981.