Mr. Beckman retired as CEO of Wicab Inc in June 2019. Wicab is a medical device company based inMiddleton Wisconsin pioneering a University of Wisconsin technology that assists profoundly blind people in perceiving their surroundings. The BrainPort® technology translates video information into tactile information displayed on the user’s tongue, enabling totally blind individuals to perceive crosswalks, doorways, and other objects in their field of view. During his 10 plus years as CEO of Wicab,the company raised $19 million from individual and venture capital investors and was awarded grants from various federal agencies and Google totaling more than $11 million. The company secured FDA clearance for the technology in 2015 and is currently pursuing validation studies in support of reimbursement in France and China.
Prior to Wicab, Mr. Beckman was the Chief Financial Officer of Lunar Corporation, a Madison Wisconsin medical device company acquired by GE Medical in 2000 and also served several years as the Chief Financial Officer of Bone Care International, a pharmaceutical company spun off from Lunar and later acquired by Genzyme. Mr. Beckman graduated from Lewis University with a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting in 1986. He served as a member of the Board of Trustees of Lewis University from 2004 to 2016 and as Chair of the Finance Committee and Treasurer from 2012 to 2016. Lewis University recognized Mr. Beckman as the Adam Smith Honored Alumnus of the Year in 2012. Mr. Beckman’s hobbies include tennis and golf. He has invested in several local technology-based startup companies, in situations where he is able to serve as a mentor to the CEO. Bob and his wife Cathy Beckman have 4 adult children and 4 grandchildren.
