KEITH BROPHY:
 
Keith Brophy




 
 
 
 
 
CEO of Ideomed in Grand Rapids. Brophy has grown early-stage businesses to successful acquisition outcomes by building outstanding, goal-focused teams, and has served in key roles in large and small companies where he has gained extensive experience in product technology, health and life science, web, and mobile solution software engineering. Previously, Brophy was founder and CEO of Sagestone, partner and president of business development of NuSoft Solutions, and held various leadership roles at RCM Technologies, X-Rite Inc., and IBM. Brophy is also a co-founder and principal of the Life Touch micro-investment company. Software solutions built by teams under his leadership have been named a Microsoft Education Solution of the Year and a Life Sciences World Top 5 Solution of the Year. Most recently, Ideomed received the 2012 National Edison Silver Medal for On-Line Tool Innovation for its Abriiz pediatric asthma-management tool. Brophy has been recognized as an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in the Emerging category, for the Midwest region. He authored several books on emerging Internet trends and technology in the early days of the commercialized Internet, and is a frequent speaker and business adviser on future trends. He is advisory board chairman of the State of Michigan Small Business Technology Development Center, a director of Greatland, Meijer Gardens, and the West Michigan Center for Arts and Technology, among others. Brophy received his bachelor's degree in computer science from the University of Michigan and his master's in information systems from Strayer University.


WHERE BORN: “West Michigan.”

MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSONS: “My parents are at the top of the list. Both were school teachers who inspired me to think out of the box. And Steve Prefontaine, who was a runner who passed away in a car crash; he was well-known for being passionate and competitive. And then Bill Gates and Steve Jobs because of their determination to touch lives.”

LAST BOOK READ: “I read constantly. One was Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand, the true tale of a World War II prisoner of war and the adversity he overcame. Another is a very fascinating book called the The End of Medicine by Andy Kessler, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur who turns his attention to the problems and challenges of medicine and how it's changing.”

WORDS THAT DESCRIBE ME: “Persistent, determined, mentoring, big thinking, and energetic.”

WHERE MY FIELD/INDUSTRY IS HEADED: “I see health technology changing dramatically. Personal empowerment and engagement by individuals in their health is shifting so they are surrounded by a steady stream of mobile technology and even body technology for their health. The role of the care team in the health care system and how they connect to individuals is changing in amazing new ways. We're going to see more transformation of health technology in the next half decade than in the prior 30 years.”

FAVORITE TECHNOLOGICAL GADGET: “I have a globe that when you make a click the switch lights up inside. Although it's simple, it reminds me that the world is a big beautiful place and that technology can be simple.”

FAVORITE PLACE: “No. 1 is on a raft on a little lake by my house with any of my six children. Also, anywhere on top of a mountain or under a palm tree.”

FAVORITE HOBBIES: “Running. My wife and I do ultramarathons. It's a good way to be immersed in something that is a challenge and is stimulating and satisfying. Another hobby is forecasting the future. I love to research and look into the evolution of technology and talk about where things are headed.”

FAVORITE FOOD: “Salmon cacciatore.”

MY HIDDEN TALENT: “I can play a pretty good game of table tennis and carry on a lively debate at the same time. Some of my best conversations have been around the ping pong table.”

HOW I WANT TO BE REMEMBERED: “On the business side, as a business builder who thought outside of the box to build business entities that touched lives and changed the world. Personally, one whose actions demonstrated unwavering love, commitment, and positive energy to family and friends inside and outside of the business.”


Grant Thornton Website At the annual awards reception in April 2014, one Leader & Innovator from the previous 12 months will be selected as the Grant Thornton Leader & Innovator of the Year.