Virginia Berman, CEO

I spent 20 years collaborating with small farmer cooperatives around the world. I sourced organic, fair-trade coffee, tea, and chocolate with Equal Exchange.

When I brought my child to her first dentist appointment, I learned she had 7 cavities. Yikes! I looked for a way to help her brush better since each morning and night she resisted and I was tired. We had kids, bunnies, chickens, a backyard vegetable garden, commutes, and play dates. We needed a fun, stress-free solution. We tried many things on the market but nothing worked.

That’s why we invented and designed the Two Minute Turtle Timer. It motivates kids to brush their teeth more thoroughly and independently. Our kids have been cavity-free ever since! That is satisfying to the kids and to me!

We all have experienced rushed commutes, stretched attention spans, and desire for fun. We at Invent Boston® create simple solutions with added whimsy for daily tasks at home.

Thousands of parents report their bedtime routine has transformed from the Two Minute Toothbrushing Turtle Timer. I hope you experience those moments of peace with the Turtle Timer, too.

Dr. Michael Reinhardt, COO

By day Michael puts his doctorate of mechanical engineering to use, analyzing the energy efficiency of civic buildings. By night, he becomes a wizard of problem-solving at home.

You know those things in your house that you know could run more smoothly? He sees them, and designs and builds functional solutions for them. He makes helpful devices to bring relief to parents’ hectic days. 

Arnold Reinhold, Engineering Advisor and Brain

Arnold is an independent computer consultant and author. He managed software development at Computervision Corp. and Automatix Inc, which he also helped to found. He co-authored The Internet for Dummies Quick Reference and E-mail for Dummies. He holds a Master's degree in Business Administration from the Harvard Business School.

Arnold is proud to have served on the boards of several non-profit organizations. Currently, he's Treasurer of the Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics, and a member of the Board of the Association for Public Transportation and the New England Folk Festival.

Ann Cherin, Strategic Systems Advisor

Ann earned her Master's at Tufts from the Friedman School of Nutrition, Agriculture, Food and Environment. A skilled project manager, she's guided many multi-disciplinary teams to success.

For years Ann helped Equal Exchange move from a niche brand to an international leader in the natural foods world. Comfortable with complex leadership tasks, she developed Equal Exchange's early website. Ann also built systems for food safety of imported commodities in developing countries. Her current role is Learning & Engagement Cultivator.

With a passion to make the world a better place, she brings to us her attention to detail, while keeping the big picture in mind.

Liane Nadeau, Lead Graphic Designer

Liane has been designing for as long as she can remember. From the early years of handcrafted birthday cards and Pearl Jam inspired t-shirts for her friends, she knew graphic design was her path. After graduating from college with a degree in Graphic Design, she found her true calling at Equal Exchange.

For over a decade, she has helped craft and build the Equal Exchange brand to reflect the story of small farmers. She has a love for packaging design and a gift of finding wild ideas, making them inviting, and delighting with clarity and beauty.

She brings the visual charm to all our materials!

Rob Everts, Marketing Advisor

Rob has been persuading people to help others through his leadership and activism. Mentored by labor leader Cesar Chavez and activist Fred Ross, he was one of the forces behind the successful US grape boycotts.

After studying at the Harvard Kennedy School, he brought his deep passion for organizing farmworkers to the farmers of Central America. He also worked to turn Americans into better, smarter coffee drinkers!

Rob worked with Equal Exchange’s global teams for 20 years, providing concrete and achievable solutions to complex problems.

He advises Invent Boston® on strategy: from grassroots ideas to products, branding, and distribution.  

Sue Meehan, Operations Advisor

Sue specializes in helping entrepreneurial, early-stage organizations to grow. She has over 20 years of experience building high performing, strategically-focused, team-oriented cultures. 

She builds first-class, scalable infrastructures across Finance, HR, Operations, Programming, and IT.

Sue led the operations of Year Up from an early-stage, single-site organization to becoming an award-winning national organization in 13 cities, with over 500 employees and a budget of over $70 million. She is also the COO of iCivics.org.

Sue advises us on how to reach our full potential in achieving our organizational goals.

Daniel Fireside, Capital Advisor

Dan is an expert in non-profit, management, and alternative business structures, particularly worker-owned cooperatives. His extensive knowledge makes him a leader in raising co-op friendly capital. He serves on several boards.

He is also known as the mind behind @IronCovers, photography of local manhole covers. As a 'drain spotter', he has an eye for often-ignored daily sights and infrastructure around us.

Dan advises us on aligning capital with our mission.

Fay Donohue, Dental Advisor

Fay is a former CEO of Delta Dental and an expert in delivering meaningful change in dental health. She works to increase access and reform dental care across America. Fay improves dental health and smiles.  

Our Workshop

Our Toothbrushing Timer went through lots of testing with parents and kids. Ten iterations later, it’s evolved into the fun Two Minute Turtle Timer™.

We've sold over 4500 Turtle Timers to homes across the world. It has loads of 5-star reviews.

We hope you enjoy the original, whimsical, and practical Two Minute Turtle Timer™. Invented by parents, right at home! 

For the Media

For a press kit, email vberman@rcn.com