DigiLore Executive Team

James J. Hurt, Ph.D. Executive Vice President of Research and Development
As a co-founder of DigiLore, Dr. Hurt has over 40 years of experience designing and developing software products for use by engineers. Dr. Hurt is backed by exceptional research and academic credentials, such as his Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from Brown University. He has been published in many reputable journals.
Prior to his work with DigiLore, Dr. Hurt was a Technical Fellow with SDRC where he was a member of the ASME Standards Committee. While there, his work with Variational Geometry constraints was a pivotal point in the development of the I-DEAS CAD system by adding 3-D capabilities.
Along with his Ph.D. from Brown University, Dr. Hurt earned an M.S. in Engineering Mechanics and a B.S in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Iowa.
Tom Burton, Ph.D. Vice President of Research and Development
As a lead software developer with over 22 years of experience and a Ph.D. from MIT in Fluid Mechanics, Dr. Burton has brought to DigiLore a proven record of creating, developing and bringing to market new software products.
Before joining the DigiLore team, Dr. Burton was the Founder and President of Brahea Consulting. Previous experience as a technical advisor at SDRC in the development of the company's heat transfer simulation software is further evidence of his high standards. He was promoted to Manager of Plastics Development and then to Senior Technical Advisor of Manufacturing Simulation.
As a Senior Scientist with Bolt, Beranek & Newman, Inc., Dr. Burton contributed to classified projects on underwater acoustics, sonar, and related issues of submarine design. His prior experience leading the effort to estimate and confirm acoustic loads and resultant structural vibrations in gas-cooled nuclear reactors as a Senior Engineer at General Atomics Company began his distinguished career.
He is published in several journals in the area of acoustics, nuclear engineering and manufacturing technology. Dr. Burton earned a B.S. in Engineering from the California Institute of Technology before earning an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering and Ph.D. in Fluid Mechanics from MIT.
Khalid W. Khawaja, Ph.D. Vice President of Product Development
With a Ph.D. in computer and electrical engineering, Dr. Khawaja has over 13 years of experience in the computer engineering field. His articles can been found in numerous publications, such as IEEE Robotics and Automation Magazine and the Academic Press.
Dr. Khawaja joined the DigiLore team from InfiniteTiers Advanced Software Technologies where he was a Solutions Architect. While there, he successfully lead the architecture, construction and deployment of various J2EE and .Net enterprise level systems. His experience also includes his time as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Cincinnati in the Information and Technology Department, a Senior Integration Engineer at EDS-PLM Integration Services, and a Senior Software Engineer for SDRC.
Dr. Khawaja holds a B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. from Purdue University in Computer and Electrical Engineering. He is a member of the Eta Kappa Nu Honor Society, IEEE Computer Society and ACM Siggraph.
Chuck Pollington, Vice President of Sales
Chuck is a seasoned executive with an extensive background in the eLearning and training industry. He has presented at several conferences on eLearning and technology adoption in the classroom, and has worked with the University of Cincinnati, College of Education, Preparing to Teach Teachers Technology (PT3) grant.
Previously, Chuck was with Trivantis Corporation, where he worked with colleges, universities, and government agencies.
Chuck holds a BS in Biology from The University of Cincinnati.
Abdi Lajevardi, Vice President of Business Development
Abdi is a senior-level executive with a successful history in managing revenue growth and growing operations for education technology companies selling into diverse markets. Abdi comes to DigiLore, Inc. from Pegasus Educational Consultants, where he served as President and Chief Executive Officer.
Previously Abdi was the COO of Fairmont Private Schools which is recognized as one of the most prestigious preparatory academies in the nation. Abdi holds a Bachelor Science from Pacific States University.
Mohsen Rezayat, Ph.D. Chairman of the Board
Dr. Rezayat is also the Chief Solutions Architect at UGS (the leading PLM Company in the world) and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Cincinnati. He holds a Ph.D. in engineering mechanics from the University of Kentucky.
He has over 70 technical publications, has served as the guest editor for the Computer-Aided Design Journal, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Global Wireless Education Consortium. He is also a member of the scientific advisory boards for Drexel University, DeVry University, and University of Cincinnati. Moreover, as a participant in strategic think tanks at large companies like Intel and Microsoft, he has had an impact in shaping new frontiers in technology.