Meet Our Team
Sanjeev Shetty
Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder
As CEO and Co-founder, Sanjeev leads HelloGard from the front. A thought leader in the aging services and hospitality industries, he brings 25 years of experience in technology strategy and innovation to the organization. Prior to HelloGard, Sanjeev was President of Dbsync, an integrated services platform. Prior to that, Sanjeev spent two years at Connected Living as its Chief Strategy Officer. Sanjeev has consulted extensively in the senior living space, working on strategic partnerships and aging in place healthcare solutions. He also spent his early years working at Time Warner and later Spectrum, running large technology, process, and revenue operations. Sanjeev holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and earned his MBA in Competitive Strategy. He is passionate about robotics and artificial intelligence (AI).
Johan Rahardjo
Chief Technology Officer and Co-founder
Johan leads all things technology at HelloGard and is one of our Co-founders. He is also Managing Director of Can-Am Wireless LLC where he leads the company vision to be a solution provider of advanced Internet of Things (IoT), Telematics, and Mobility Solutions for public and private sectors. Prior to leading Can-Am, Johan spent 17 years at Dell Technologies developing end-user computing and enterprise datacenter solutions that drive business success. Before that he held an engineering role at General Electric’s motion control division, developing industrial vehicle motor control solutions. He has authored 28 patents in the USA in the field of computing technology to help customers in their digital transformation journey. Johan holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering and a Master’s Degree in Computer Engineering.
Dan Phelps
Vice President, Sales
Dan is dynamic, tenacious, and versatile, with leadership experience in business development, sales, sales management, marketing, and operations. A US Air Force veteran with strong relationship management skills, Dan nearly always develops an instant rapport with clients and colleagues. He strongly believes in work cultures that promote transparency and open communication. Dan operates with great finesse and agility across the board and has made success a habit. He specializes in aligning sales and marketing to achieve strategic business growth, increase market share, and improve revenue streams. For more than a decade, he has devoted himself to helping senior living communities improve workflows and profitability utilizing technology. Truly a people’s person, his success hinges on a collaborative approach to relationship-building that leads to long-term partnerships.
Richard Ward
VP Strategic Partnerships
​
Richard Ward is a seasoned entrepreneur with over 45 years of experience spanning technology, services, healthcare, and mobile robotics. With two successful business exits, he has demonstrated a keen ability to identify emerging trends, develop innovative solutions, and drive operational efficiencies at scale.
Richard has been at the forefront of robotics innovation, playing a pivotal role in the development and integration of some of the most groundbreaking autonomous solutions in the commercial sector. His collaborations include the world’s first fully autonomous commercial cleaning robot, the Cyberclean Systems AVC-1 in 1996, and the successful deployment of the first semi-autonomous vacuum robot, the Cyberworks Cybervac. Over the years, he has led multiple robotics initiatives, shaping the future of automation in facility services and healthcare environments. Most recently Richard was instrumental in conceptualizing and implementing a comprehensive autonomous mobile robot platform designed specifically for healthcare.
Beyond his technical acumen, Richard’s career has been defined by his ability to bridge the gap between frontline operations and executive strategy. His expertise in SaaS, automation, and business ecosystems has made him a sought-after leader in the robotics and healthcare industries. With a track record of innovation and strategic execution, he continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in autonomous solutions for commercial and healthcare applications.
Bruce Roth
Senior Account Executive
​
Bruce Roth is a proven B2B SaaS sales leader with more than 15 years of success driving growth in healthcare technology, senior living, and staffing platforms. He has consistently exceeded quotas, built new markets, and partnered with senior living leaders to deliver technology that improves efficiency and resident experiences. Before joining HelloGard, Bruce held senior sales roles at NurseDash, Linked Senior, and OnShift, where he earned multiple top-performer awards and revenue records.
At HelloGard, he brings his consultative approach and deep industry expertise to help communities embrace robotics as a competitive advantage. Outside of work, Bruce enjoys traveling, working out, and spending time with his family.
Michael French
Account Executive ​
​
Michael specializes in the planning, development, and project management necessary to launch properties in the Casino Gaming and Hospitality sector. With a career spanning 40 years, he has held leadership positions in several casino resorts in the USA, Bahamas, Macau, Philippines, and Vietnam wearing many caps including that of Property President, COO, SVP Operations, and General Manager. A versatile leader, Michael has managed complex pre-opening requirements including collaborating with planners and designers to ensure that facilities are designed with the customer and operations in mind. He is proficient in budgeting, business planning, marketing strategy, and recruitment, Notable names in the industry that Michael has worked with include the Venetian (Las Vegas), Caesars Palace, City of Dreams (Macau), Solaire (Manila), and Inn of the Mountain Gods (Mescalero).
Kyle Kipper
Account Executive
With 12+ years of experience in sales and project management, Kyle specialize in security and safety solutions, focusing on Healthcare and Hospitality. Skilled in electronic access control, SaaS, RaaS, and large-scale project management, he leverages data-driven insights to improve outcomes. Fluent in English and Spanish, he is passionate about efficiency and stakeholder success.
Nickolas Blonski
Account Executive
Nickolas is a consummate sales and business development leader with over 18 years of experience. A dynamic professional with a track record of exceeding targets and driving revenue growth, he has successfully cultivated strong client relationships across diverse industries including the telecom, banking, and software as a service (SaaS) sectors. His strategic approach, combined with passion for problem-solving, has consistently delivered results for clients. Nickolas is an avid technology enthusiast who always prioritizes placing the needs of customers first.
Jessica Johnson
Marketing Manager
​
Jessica brings a wealth of marketing finesse and understanding to the HelloGard team. With experience that includes leadership roles in Indonesia for a global nonprofit and having worked in the real estate sector in Toronto, she is now passionate about leveraging technology to empower communities worldwide. She is excited and well-informed about the potential of robotics and artificial intelligence to help shape a brighter future. Jessica has lived in Venezuela and Romania, and travelled to over 45 countries, allowing her to bring a truly global cultural perspective when it comes to all things marketing and branding.
Board Advisors
Sarah Hoit
Founder & CEO, Social Impact Partners
​
Sarah Hoit is a social entrepreneur, executive, and consultant. In both the private and public sectors, she has founded, led, and served organizations that deliver meaningful social impact. Hoit became the Chief Social Impact Officer for BioVie, Inc. (Nasdaq: BIVI) in 2022. BioVie is a biotechnology pharmaceutical company that through person-centered science is creating groundbreaking innovations to combat diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. In addition to her role with BioVie, Sarah is also the founder and CEO of Social Impact Partners, a nonprofit organization whose partners share a belief in the power of collaboration to create change while also working to globally combat Alzheimer’s and neurodegenerative conditions.
Narendra Kini
Chief Medical Officer at CDR Maguire
Narendra Kini serves on the advisory boards of HelloGard Robotics and vCare Companion, bringing decades of leadership experience at the intersection of healthcare operations, technology, and innovation. A distinguished physician executive, Dr. Kini has held key roles in major healthcare organizations, including CEO of Miami Children’s Hospital, where he led a transformative decade of growth and digital innovation. Throughout his career, Dr. Kini has driven large-scale clinical, operational, and technological initiatives from implementing billion-dollar EMR systems to developing healthcare incubators and deploying field hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is passionate about advancing healthcare through digital health, robotics, and generative AI, helping shape future-ready solutions that enhance patient care and operational efficiency. Dr. Kini holds an M.B.B.S. from the University of Lagos, an MSHA from the University of Alabama Birmingham, and completed his Pediatrics Residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin.