Our Leadership Team
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
Robert Gardos
Founder & CEO
Robert Gardos is an accomplished serial entrepreneur with a history of disrupting industries. He has driven an IPO and two exits for more than ten times revenue in the mobile, infrastructure, enterprise software and internet solutions areas. Rob has a passion for leveraging technology, process automation and AI to drive value for fragmented. inefficient industries. He was the CEO of Mediamorph (acquired by Whip Media Group), a B2B SaaS company that powered contract management and rights distribution for the Media & Entertainment industry. Previously, he was the CEO and founder of Gridapp Systems (acquired by BMC), an enterprise software solution that streamlined and automated database operations for Global 2000 companies. He was the CTO of register.com (IPO) where he established many of the fundamental processes around domain name registration still embraced by the industry today. Rob currently serves on several company boards including Techmate and Big Room. Rob has a keen interest in how educational technology can democratize the college advisory space.
Mitchell Lipton
Co-Founder and Advisor Chair
Mitchell Lipton currently serves as Director of College Guidance to the Frisch School. Prior to joining the Frisch faculty in 2019, Mitchell spent 23 years in higher education at Cooper Union as Vice President of Enrollment Services and Dean of Admissions. While at Cooper Union, Mitchell was a leader on the President’s Cabinet, and Academic Leadership Team, as well as the Title IX Coordinator and Equal Opportunity Officer. He actively participates in the New York State Association for College Admission Counseling (NYSACAC), NACAC, The College Board, Rockefeller Group Scholarship Committee and Hendrick Hudson School District Project Lead The Way Advisory Team.
Daniel Cohen
Technology & Co-Founder
Daniel Cohen is a software development professional with over 20 years of experience creating world class software. He has led teams to create and manage solutions in several different industries. Dan has architected software solutions using a wide array of technologies, choosing the best tools for the job at hand. He is inspired to build technology solutions to build a more equitable world.
Mason Evans
Technology
Mason Evans is an experienced engineering leader who has worked across multiple industries, focusing on using technology to solve problems and improve people's lives. Prior to Dabima, he was SVP, Engineering at Whip Media Group, leading teams of engineers, product managers and designers to build products for the world’s largest media & entertainment companies. Before working at Whip Media, he led customer engineering teams at InQuira, an enterprise search & knowledge management company acquired by Oracle. He’s excited to work with students, parents, and coaches to make the higher education process more accessible to everyone.
Karen Miller
Marketing & Communications
Karen Miller has built a 25-year career in leveraging marketing and communications for social impact. Karen has spent more than a decade at Women’s World Banking, the global NGO focused on women’s financial inclusion. While at Women’s World Banking, she served as Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, as well as Global Head of Leadership & Diversity Programs. Karen began her career in developing public education campaigns on sexual health issues. She served on the board of ZanaAfrica, a social enterprise designed to equip adolescent girls with the tools to safely navigate puberty and unlock their potential. Karen sees a world where all students, regardless of background, can achieve their dreams.
Ernest Verrett
Business Development & Co-Founder
Ernest Verrett is a sales leader with more than 25 years experience in customer-centered solutions. Prior to Dabima, Ernest was the Director of Advertising and Enterprise Software Solutions for Register.com (RCOM), an Internet organization specializing in domain name registration. Over the course of 3 years, Ernest introduced new advertising vehicles that were instrumental in building Ad Sales to over $10 million per year while maintaining personal sales of over $3.75 million per year. Prior to Register.com, he worked as the Manager of Affiliate Relations for Channel America, a Low Power Television Network. Channel America was a leading distributor of programs to neighborhood television stations and local origination cable channels. In less than 3 years, he doubled the network’s distribution. The increased distribution was integral in raising the next $2 million round of financing for the network. Ernest is committed to leveraging Dabima’s platform to provide more socioeconomically diverse students access to valuable tools to support the college application process.