THE GRANDPAD vision and mission
GrandPad’s vision and mission is to live in a world where no seniors are lonely or isolated, and every senior has an opportunity to Live Grand. We want to improve the lives of millions of seniors by reconnecting them with their families, friends, and caregivers.
A message from our founder
“Our culture is about hiring great people who care about our mission and are passionate about helping seniors.”
Scott Lien, CEO, and Co-founder
our grand advisors
Seniors are the heart and soul of GrandPad. Our Grand Advisors continually inspire, test, and guide the development of the device.
Barbara Cowherd
Barbara lives with her husband in Louisville, Kentucky. She is an avid maker and crafter who especially enjoys cross-stitching and crossword puzzles. She is a music lover with an eclectic collection and a hardcore Louisville Cardinals fan. Barbara enjoys using her GrandPad to exchange photos and videos with family, participate in virtual family gatherings and movie nights via Zoom, and of course, jam to some good music. As a GrandAdvisor, she has contributed to several tech updates to the GrandPad including emoji’s and the Motown music station.
Carol Isaacs
Carol lives in Wallingford Connecticut at the Continuing Care Retirement Community and has been there for the past 13 years. She is very involved in her community and is currently the chairperson of the Welcome Committee. She enjoys using technology for educational purposes and was an early adopter when the PC came out 40 years ago. Carol enjoys using her GrandPad to stay in touch with her friends.
Carol Pagel
Carol moved from East Battle Lake Minnesota to Wabasha Minnesota back in 2020. She loves reading, participating in book clubs, singing, walks, traveling, socializing with friends and playing Goren Bridge. Carol uses her GrandPad to stay connected with her two daughters and son. She enjoys using her GrandPad to view pictures and videos sent from her family such as her granddaughter’s college soccer activities.
Craig Pross
Craig lives with his wife Eileen in Rochester Minnesota. He enjoys strolls to Downtown Rochester and participates in the outdoor activities and concerts. Craig loves to ride his bicycle, read books and socialize with friends. He uses the GrandPad to connect with his children and grandchildren. Craig and his wife love connecting with their great granddaughter who lives in Denver and continue to watch her grow.
Dean Meurer
Dean is a lifetime resident of Wabasha, Minnesota and is an active member of the community, including being a long time member of the Wabasha City Council. Dean is a tech enthusiast who loves learning about how technology can be used to improve the quality of life for people with physical disabilities. Dean loves the ease of use of GrandPad and is a key contributor to GrandPad Radio.
Elaine Pross
Eileen currently lives with her husband Craig in Rochester Minnesota. She enjoys walking over to Downtown Rochester with Craig through the skyway and subway for all the outdoor activities and concerts. She loves to read, play games, and socialize with friends. She uses the GrandPad to connect with her 4 children, 8 grandchildren and friends. Eileen thoroughly enjoys when her 82 year old brother easily calls her with his GrandPad regularly.
John Ochsner
John recently moved to Wabasha Minnesota in January of 2022 with his newlywed wife Carol. A former avid cyclist, he still remains active but now prefers walks around town with his wife. John enjoys using his GrandPad on a regular basis to connect through video calls with his daughter Angela, who lives in Chicago.
Louise Eddy
Louise has been living in Manti, UT for the past 36 years. She enjoys cooking and baking for friends and family. Louise has a beautiful family of 36 grandchildren and 37 great grandchildren. She loves to use her Grand Pad to connect with all 9 of her children and close friends. Louise enjoys using all the features of the Grand Pad, in particular she loves to share photos and browse the internet.
Richard Thill
Richard resides in Anaheim Ca and lives in a home that he built with his father and two carpenters when he was just a teenager. He enjoys music, playing in bands, swimming, cycling, gardening, beekeeping, boating, hiking and outdoor group activities. He uses his GrandPad to stay connected with family and friends. Richard loves that his GrandPad is secure and that he no longer receives calls from solicitors or “junk” emails. He also enjoys the help button feature that connects him to helpful and friendly GrandPad staff.
leadership
Our leaders share a passion for technology and an admiration for the senior community. Through innovation, they strive to change the lives of millions of older adults and their families, friends, and caregivers.
Dave Jaqua
Dave is GrandPad's Chief Operating Officer, focusing on strategic partnerships, global operations, and customer support growth. Dave is a veteran of the Minneapolis consulting scene with over 25 years of experience leading large-scale change initiatives and helping clients leverage technology for competitive advantage.
Earl Chen
Earl is GrandPad's Chief Technology Officer and Chief Data Officer. His team builds, operates, and secures GrandPad's global platform to connect seniors with their families, friends, and caregivers. Earl has 30+ years of experience in financial services, delivering technology solutions including authentication and information security frameworks, trading desk tools, and volatility calculators.
Isaac Lien
Isaac is GrandPad’s Co-Founder and Strategic Lead. His grandmother’s inability to use email and Facebook drove him and his father, Scott, to create GrandPad’s senior-friendly, solutions-focused tablet. He continuously seeks innovative ways to keep older generations connected to their younger family members.
Julie Ament Gran
Julie is GrandPad’s Chief Growth Officer, leveraging her marketing, sales, product development, and finance expertise to drive membership and revenue. Julie has over 25 years of experience in retail, with senior leadership roles at Dayton-Hudson-Marshall Field’s, Macy’s, and Lifetouch. She is known for innovative problem solving, challenging the status quo, improving customer satisfaction and leading teams focused on execution.
Mark R. Newsome
Mark is GrandPad’s Chief Financial Officer, leading the Company’s financial strategy to support the company’s mission to improve the lives of seniors and generate attractive shareholder value. He brings decades of financial leadership experience including leading companies through strategic growth plans. What drives Mark is his faith-based mission to be a trusted steward of capital and leadership team member, to have compassion for people and the effects business decisions have on their lives, and to always seek to do what’s best for the company, investors, customers and stakeholders.
Scott Lien
Scott is GrandPad's Chief Executive Officer, leading the company as it builds an accessible platform that empowers seniors to connect with family, friends, and caregivers. He brings a wealth of experience to the team, having led Intuit's mobile technology innovation group and developing user-friendly software for Target, Best Buy, and Bank of America. Scott is also a practitioner of the LEAN Startup Method, which emphasizes putting users first and designing specifically to their needs. With GrandPad, he strives to create a world where no seniors are lonely or isolated.
Forever in our hearts
Elmer loved his family, including his wife of 78 years, Geneveive, whom he married in 1938 and continued to laugh with throughout their life together. In recent years, Elmer used his GrandPad to stay connected with his five children, nine grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. His input as a Grand Advisor was crucial to improving the product for all users and families. We will dearly miss his insights, sense of humor, and contributions to GrandPad.
Forever in our hearts
Viola was born on April 29, 1933, at the Lien farm in Springfield Township, Winneshiek Co., Iowa. She graduated from Calmar High School in 1951. She met Conley Linderbaum at Art’s Roller Rink near Ossian, Iowa. Viola and Conley were married on February 22, 1953, and had two children they loved dearly.
Viola was a hard-working farm wife doing any chore that needed doing and could prepare a meal for ten with 15 minutes' notice. She was known for her cinnamon rolls, raised glazed donuts, and her grandson’s favorite mashed potatoes. She also taught Sunday School and served on the Ladies Aid.
Viola was adept at using the Grandpad and loved receiving family pictures, playing games, and listening to Alan Jackson on the tablet. In her role as a Grand Advisor, she served as a brand ambassador and even appeared in a newscast about Grandpad.
CUSTOMER STORY
"I’m so impressed with your organization, every single person I have ever talked to has been so helpful and friendly! It is so wonderful to have you all here to help."
Laura S., Des Moines, IA
