What We've Created
Lite Run helps people regain their ability to stand and walk following an injury or disability, such as a stroke. The patented Lite Run system was designed to restore mobility and wellbeing quickly, safely, and cost-effectively.
In the midst of a prolific cardiac medical system development career, John Hauck first turned his attention to developing a system that would help him keep running as he struggled with knee pain. He connected with Doug Johnson, another recreational runner and inventor, and the two began to collaborate on a system for walking disability. After some false starts, they invented a new way to take body weight off using air pressure in a special pair of pants. Machine designer Mark Johnson joined the effort and they built a system with mechanical and pneumatic controls to run in the pants on a treadmill. “I was delighted when I found that I could run for an hour at up to half of my body weight!” Hauck recalls.
It was clear that this system would help more than recreational runners. The three Lite Run founders began collaborating with Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute and North Memorial Hospital to build a prototype walker version for stability therapy. The therapists liked it so much that they volunteered their time to help test it. “The prototype proved so compelling that we just had to step up our efforts and develop a product,” Hauck says.
Management Team
GREGG SMITH
Chief Executive Officer
Gregg has had a diverse and successful career in the medical device industry, primarily focused on sales, marketing, and management roles. With expertise spanning multiple medical domains such as minimally invasive surgery, cardiology, interventional pulmonology, and sports medicine surgery procedures, Smith has served at leading organizations such as Veran Medical Technologies, CHF Solutions-Gambro Americas, and St. Jude Medical. He has consistently demonstrated exceptional strategic planning skills, exceeding sales targets and leading significant business unit growth initiatives.
Smith’s leadership roles include Vice President of Sales at Veran Medical Technologies, National Accounts Director at Zimmer Biomet Cayenne Medical, and Chief Commercial Officer at Helia Care, Inc. He has driven sales growth in these roles, introduced innovative marketing strategies, and established strong relationships with key industry partners. His experience also includes successfully managing large teams and demonstrating a keen understanding of the P&L of the business.
As of 2023, Smith held multiple advisory positions at various organizations and was in an authorized distributor role at Natrox Wound Care. His proficiencies extend to numerous CRM tools, thanks to his extensive sales and management training. His vast experience and skill set make him a versatile asset in the ever-evolving medical device industry.
GREG STACK
Chief Commercial Officer
Greg Stack is a seasoned healthcare executive with more than a decade of experience leading commercial sales teams in the medical technology space. With an MS in Exercise Science, he has built his career around helping health systems improve patient and caregiver outcomes, and patient mobility, through innovative product solutions.
Before joining Lite Run, Greg served as Vice President of Sales – Acute Care at Savaria Patient Care, where he led nationwide sales efforts across ceiling lifts, therapeutic surfaces, and safe patient handling technologies. Earlier in his career, he guided teams through growth stages at several healthcare companies, consistently achieving revenue milestones and building strong customer relationships across acute care hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, and the VA system.
At Lite Run, Greg brings his passion for innovation and patient-centered care to his role as Chief Commercial Officer. He is responsible for developing and executing the company’s go-to-market strategy, expanding adoption of Lite Run’s breakthrough anti-gravity mobility system, and building partnerships with leading health systems, rehabilitation networks, and VA Medical Centers.
Driven by the belief that “Mobility Restored. Lives Transformed,” Greg is focused on accelerating Lite Run’s mission to redefine what’s possible in early, safe, and continuous mobility for patients worldwide.
Outside of work, Greg is an endurance runner, entrepreneur, lifelong learner and coach who values health, vitality, and helping others unlock their potential.
JOHN HAUCK
Vice President, Research
and Development
Co-Founder
John began his career at Cardiac Pacemakers Inc. in Arden Hills, Minnesota before joining startup Endocardial Solutions (ESI) in 1993. He held the position of Applied Research Director at ESI until 2000 when he left to found EM Vascular Inc., a company that developed technology for electrically mediated angiogenesis, which was later acquired by ATS Medical Inc. After the acquisition, John returned to ESI where he played a pivotal role in the development of the NavX ™ heart mapping technology.
In 2004, St. Jude Medical acquired ESI and John directed a department responsible for the development of robotic catheter technology with a multi-million dollar annual budget. He recently left his position as Senior Engineering Fellow at St. Jude to fully devote his time to the Lite Run mission. John holds over 90 US patents and is a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers.
John holds a BA from Macalester College, a BSEE from South Dakota State University, and a MSEE from the University of Minnesota. With his vast experience in the medical device industry, John brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Lite Run team.
MARK JOHNSON
Vice President, Manufacturing
Co-Founder
Mark Johnson started a career in the precision machining trade over 25 years ago. Since then he has designed and built custom machines and product prototypes for many different industries. Mark owned and operated a precision machining company for 6 years before going to work for Endocardial Solutions (ESI) in 1999. At ESI he supported the manufacturing of the EnSite catheter and R&D projects.
He was co-inventor of a sophisticated robotic catheter system, and after St. Jude Medical acquired ESI in 2004, he joined a group responsible for developing it into a product. Mark has spent the last few years developing and building prototypes of Lite Run’s unique gait training system. Mark holds 13 US patents.
BRUCE WIGNESS
Vice President, Quality
The first 19 years of Bruce’s carrier involved the conception, investigation, and development of implantable devices for the management of therapies in areas such as diabetes, cancer and chronic pain at the University of Minnesota, Department of Surgery, Implantable Devices Laboratory. At that point he left the U of MN to start a company, with the university as a partner, for commercializing the devices that were developed as part of that previous activity. That company, Esox Technology Corporation, was subsequently purchased by Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, to add a continuous intra-spinal morphine infusion system to the ANS product line.
After working at ANS for three years as a Sr. Scientist, Bruce started Esox R&D, Inc. to provide quality system consultation to medical device companies, eventually leaving to take a Design Assurance position with St. Jude Medical’s Atrial Fibrillation Division. During Bruce’s tenure at SJM, he worked with John Hauck and Mark Johnson as the Design Assurance resource on a robotics project. When John and Mark formed Lite Run, Bruce joined the new company.
Board Team
DAVID SPRINGER
Chairman
Dave Springer brings over 30 years of leadership experience in the healthcare, medical device, and digital health industries. He has successfully led multiple companies through significant growth, capital raises, and strategic acquisitions.
Springer served as Chief Operating Officer of Enterprise at Sharecare, a digital health company, where he played a key role in scaling operations. Before that, he was President and CEO of two medical device companies—Cayenne Medical and CHF Solutions—leading both through successful exits to Zimmer Biomet and Gambro, respectively.
Earlier in his career, Springer was Senior Vice President at St. Jude Medical, where he developed and led U.S. strategic and operational initiatives. In 1997, he was a founding member of the executive team at WebMD (formerly QDCS, Inc.), where he served as Executive Vice President of Business Development and Senior Vice President of Sales, contributing to the company’s early growth and industry leadership.
He began his career in leadership roles across sales, marketing, and corporate accounts at Intermedics, Kimberly-Clark Healthcare, and Procter & Gamble.
Springer holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Management from Purdue University.
JONATHAN A. LEON
Director
Jonathan (Jon) Leon was named Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Owens & Minor in September 2024.
Since joining Owens & Minor in 2017, Jon has been Senior Vice President and Corporate Treasurer, responsible for global treasury, corporate development, taxation, and investor relations. After assuming the CFO role, he added financial planning and analysis, audit, and corporate accounting to his responsibilities.
Prior to joining O&M, Jon worked for the Brinks Company for 18 years, where he served as Treasurer. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from the University of Connecticut. Jon and his family reside in Richmond, Virginia. Outside of work, he enjoys tennis, fitness, and anything UConn basketball.
JERRY HU
Director
Jerry Hu has 30 years of professional experience both as a practicing physician and in medical system sales management. He started his career as a physician and practiced in cardiology in China and was a visiting fellow in University of Massachusetts Medical Center. Since entering the medical system business, he has been worked for several start-up medical system companies, such as Asian & International Business Director and Vice-President in Prucka Engineering, Endocardial Solutions, Stereotaxis, Ablation Frontiers, Atritech, Magnetecs, and currently he is at Veran Medical Technologies Inc.
Most of these companies have been acquired by major medical system companies, such as GE Medical, St. Jude Medical, Medtronic and Boston Scientific, due to cutting-edge novel technologies and promising business potential. While Mr. Hu is a medical technology visionary, he has deep experience in new product launch and market development with a track record in business development.
Mr. Hu graduated from medical school in China and completed the Executive Development Program in Columbia University Graduate School of Business in 2002.