Meet the Team.
CEO / Founder
Steven Grabenheimer
Steven, as Covspect's CEO, leverages his successful 20 years of technology and SaaS sales to tackle real-world infection control challenges. Steven architects Covspect's growth. Drawing inspiration from advancements in UV-C technology and his own expertise in technology procurement, Steven embarked on this ambitious project with a vision to empower industries worldwide with an industry leading biosafety marketplace and a revolutionary API tool that ensures effective UV-C dosing for disinfection. His continuous drive to push boundaries redefines how we view indoor public health and AI. A second-time founder with a successful previous exit, and a global UV market expert, Steven ensures Covspect's pathogen control solutions reach far and wide. Beyond business, he advocates for safer indoor environments, and enjoys family time with his newborn son Mateo, while hiking and cycling.
Chief Scientific Officer / Co-Founder
Arely Guerrero Valderrabano L.C.N.
Results-oriented, entrepreneurial, and innovative Clinical Nutritionist with a track record of operating within a Municipal Puebla, Mexico-based state-funded government institution recognized at the national level for providing care to people susceptible to vulnerability, through programs that lead to nutrition-based clinical counseling, while promoting values and actions as a means to consolidate a better society. As a climate tech and sustainability advocate, Arely was immediately drawn to the notion of improving IAQ standards in food and beverage production by deploying UV-C over traditional chemical sprays. You can catch Arely practicing meditative yoga when she’s not contributing to the growth of Covspect.
Chief Technology Officer
Taras Teslyuk Ph.D.
Taras holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science and touts over a decade of leadership and experience in software engineering. Having spearheaded the design and development of over 80 projects, he embodies a great blend of academic prowess and practical expertise. Driven by a passion for innovation and a desire to revolutionize safety standards, Taras embarked on a mission to create the world's first UV-C dosing database API tool with Covspect. Fascinated by the potential of ultraviolet light’s disinfection prowess, Taras recognized the need for a comprehensive database tool to optimize UV-C dosing targeting various vectors. With a keen eye for innovation, Taras has established himself as an expert in product development, mobile app development, and hardware development. When Taras isn’t woking as an engineer he lectures at Universities and mentors junior Engineers. Taras founded TetaLab LLC, a pioneering technology firm specializing in Mobile, IoT, web, and product design. Under his leadership, TetaLab grew into a team full of leading software developers across the EU and North America.
Advisor
Dr. Tatiana Koutchma Ph.D.
Dr. Tatiana Koutchma is a Research Scientist at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Guelph Research and Development Centre where she leads research in novel food processing and safety engineering. Previously, she has worked as a Research Associate Professor at the Illinois Institute of Technology, National Center for Food Safety and Technology in Chicago, IL. Tatiana’s activity focuses on application of novel processing technologies to enhance microbial safety and functionality of foods and feed, addresses issues of chemical safety including regulatory approvals, validation and technology transfer. Tatiana initiates, directs and performs integrated fundamental and applied research, interacts extensively with international government agencies and collaborates with industry and academia partners. Tatiana is an active promoter of novel food processing and science-based regulations to professional community. She is a Scientific Editor of the Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, Journal of Food Process Engineering, Food Science and Technology International, and Frontiers. She is a co-founder of UV4Good non-profit organization, founder and chair of UV&Food Working Group of International UV Association (IUVA) and a member of the advisory committee of UV Solutions magazine. Tatiana is a Past Chair of Nonthermal Processing Division of Institute of Food Technologies (IFT), a former member of IFT leadership committee and a lead in food engineering track of Annual Meeting Scientific Program Advisory Panel (AMSPAP). She authored and co-authored 9 books, 14 book chapters, and more than 100 publications in peer reviewed and trade journals
Advisor
Richard Mariita, MSc., Ph.D.
Richard Mariita holds an M.Sc. in Medical Microbiology, a Ph.D. in Molecular Microbial Physiology and Bioinformatics, and did his postdoctoral fellowship (President’s fellow) at Brown University in Biological Chemistry. He spearheaded scientific and biosafety activities for Crystal IS, an Asahi Kasei Company located in Upstate New York that manufactures UVC LEDs. He managed projects in water, air, and surface disinfection with a client base ranging from the automobile, HVAC, hospital surface disinfection, medical device, and water disinfection sectors. Richard has won numerous awards and has several scientific publications in the fields of UVC and infectious diseases. He is a member of the NSF/ANSI 55 committee (water disinfection standards), IEEE (air disinfection standard development), ASHRAE, and the American Society for Microbiology. Richard is fascinated by the potential of UVC to curb infectious diseases, especially in marginalized communities, as well as Climate Tech strategies and molecular imaging. His innovations are centered around this potential. He is a co-founder of Airbuild, Maji Safi UV Organization, UV4Good, and Microbial BioSolutions. Currently, Richard works at the Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC) as a Principal EHS Specialist/Biosafety Compliance Supervisor. He also consults for the UVC LED industry. Richard loves traveling with his beautiful wife and daughters, walking everywhere as much as possible, reading, trying food from different cultures, watching MMA, listening to classical music and African Jazz, and supporting his favorite soccer team, Arsenal FC.