2024 Speakers and Moderators

Mason Ailstock, Past President, AURP; President and CEO, Rowen Foundation

A recognized leader in innovation districts and anchor-driven developments, with nearly 20 years of experience working with non-profit institutions, governments and industry. Mason has a track record of converging real estate, academia, and business to advance communities of innovation. Immersed in the planning and visioning of Rowen, Mason is responsible for project leadership and operations as President and CEO of Rowen Foundation, the non-profit steward that ensures the long-term vision for Rowen is never compromised. Before leading Rowen, Mason was the Vice President of Operations at the University Financing Foundation and the Chief Operating Officer of Research Triangle Park in North Carolina.

Jessica Andrews, Associate Director, McMillon Innovation Studio, University of Arkansas Office of Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Jessica Andrews is the Associate Director, Social Impact Teams at the University of Arkansas Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation’s McMillon Innovation Studio where she facilitates opportunities for students and the community to solve problems using design thinking. In her year with the studio, Jessica has engaged 16 new partner organizations and over 170 students. Jessica spent nearly 10 years working in the nonprofit sector, most recently as CEO of 7hills Homeless Center. Jessica holds a MPS from the Clinton School and a MBA from the Walton College of Business, both from the University of Arkansas.

Leslie Ashor, Director of Science + Technology, HOK

Leslie Ashor is a director of HOK’s global Science + Technology practice and has dedicated the past two decades of her career to research and laboratory facilities. She has led the lab planning, programming and design for more than 150 projects, including several R&D Magazine/SEFA “Lab of the Year” award winners. Leslie has spoken at dozens of worldwide conferences and authored numerous articles and reports. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the Scientific Equipment and Furniture Association (SEFA), a member of International Institute for Sustainable Labs (I2SL), Society for College and University Planning (SCUP), and the American Institute of Architects (AIA). Leslie is HOK’s lab design leader for the Berkeley Space Center at NASA Research Park.

Kristen Blazek, PhD, Research Associate, Center for Economic Development, The Levin College of Public Affairs, Cleveland State University

Dr. Kristen Blazek has over a decade of experience in post-secondary education and began working with the Center of Economic Development in the Levin College of Public Affairs and Education at Cleveland State University in 2024. Dr. Blazek specializes in adult learning and workforce development, community engagement and post-secondary education. She has a Bachelor of Science in Fashion Merchandising from Kent State University and a Master of Education in Adult Learning and Development and Ph.D. in Urban Education from Cleveland State University.

Tony Boccanfuso, Chief Executive Officer, UIDP

Since 2007, Anthony M. Boccanfuso has led UIDP (uidp.org), a solutions-oriented membership organization comprised of top-tier innovation companies and world-class research universities. UIDP supports mutually beneficial collaborations by developing and disseminating strategies for addressing common issues between the sectors—academic, corporate, and government. Its activities help members achieve meaningful impact on a broad array of collaboration matters, ranging from contracting to commercialization and workforce development. After completing his doctorate in inorganic chemistry, Boccanfuso embarked on a career spanning more than 30 years with a focus on research and innovation. He managed a variety of administrative, programmatic, and strategy initiatives for academic, government, and private sector organizations, including the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and PricewaterhouseCoopers. More recently, Boccanfuso was part of a team selected to create and manage the Engineering Research Visioning Alliance (ERVA, ervacommunity.org), an NSF-funded initiative with a mission to identify and develop new engineering research directions and catalyze high-impact research that benefits society. Tony’s wife, Dr. Laura Boccanfuso, is a successful roboticist and entrepreneur who founded Van Robotics, an ed tech company. They have three children and reside in Columbia, SC.

Megan Bolinder, Executive Director, Trails and Trade Division, Northwest Arkansas Community College

Dr. Megan Bolinder is the Executive Director of the Trails and Trades Division at Northwest Arkansas Community College (NWACC). This new division is comprised of Bicycle Technician, Trails, Construction Technology and other trades programs, and has been generously funded by the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation to promote active transportation, mountain-biking, and sustainable trail development in Northwest Arkansas. Prior to this role she was the Dean of Workforce and Economic Development for four years, which followed three years of service as the Dean of Communication and Arts. She still remains a PT faculty member to stay connected to students and the classroom, which is where her heart remains. She holds a PhD in English Studies from the University of Illinois, Chicago with an emphasis in Language, Literacy and Rhetoric. Prior to NWACC, Bolinder taught at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI and at Malcolm X College in Chicago, IL. Her professional loyalty is to community college students working to better their lives, and her current mission is learning everything she can about the cycling, sustainable trails, and active transportation industries and their workforce needs.

Leah Burton, Immediate Past President, AURP; Principal Industry Consultant for Higher Education, SAS Institute

Leah Burton began her role as Principal Higher Education Industry Consultant in the SAS Education Practice in 2022. Prior to that, she spent 22 years at North Carolina State University, building the award-winning Centennial Campus, launching the industry partnership office, and contributing to the university’s world-renowned stature as an innovative and engaged public university. Leah is committed to helping educational institutions leverage data to drive student success, faculty success and operational efficiency. At SAS Institute, she works closely with higher education institutions to transform a world of data into a world of intelligence. The use of data analytics to optimize decisions makes a positive impact on our education system, driving student success and building a community of innovators.

Kevin Byrne, Past President, AURP; President and Chief Executive Officer, The University Financing Foundation

As TUFF’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Kevin has achieved national recognition as a creative problem solver for institutions facing the traditional dilemma of insufficient capital resources. He has pioneered TUFF’s non-traditional approach to public-private partnerships, real estate financing structures, and economic development initiatives for university research parks and innovation districts. His strength is the ability to translate complex real estate solutions into true resource-saving solutions for institutional executives and boards. Kevin graduated with Honors from Furman University in 1991, where he currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Upon graduation, he received the Wall Street Journal Student Achievement award, the highest honor given by faculty to a student in school’s Economics and Business Administration department. He later earned his MBA, with Honors, from the Wharton School of Business. In 2012 and 2014, Kevin served as President of the Association of University Research Parks (AURP). He currently serves on the Board of Georgia’s Partnership for Inclusive Innovation and we was previously appointed by Georgia’s Lieutenant Governor to the Georgia Public Private Partnership Guidelines Commission. He also served on two Brookings Institution advisory committees – the Innovation District Initiative and the Bass Placemaking Initiative. Kevin is Chairman of the Board of Young Life for Metro Atlanta, an Eagle Scout, and a member of the Board of Directors for the Atlanta Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America. He serves on the Board of Trustees of Whitefield Academy and chairs the Finance Committee. He is an avid golfer and little league baseball coach.

Patricia Carper, Senior Vice President, The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company

Stephen Coulston, Principal, Perkins&Will

Stephen Coulston is a principal with Perkins&Will and is a leader in the firm’s planning and design of science and technology parks and innovation districts. An architect and planner with a passion for shaping innovation ecosystems, Stephen has spent his 30-year career working at the intersection of the research, healthcare, higher education, government, and the privateindustrysectorswithafocusonstrategizing,planning,anddesigningthebuiltand natural form. He has helped craft the vision for more than 20 vibrant, mixed-use innovation communities throughout the country.

Kristina Covall, Project Manager, SKS Partners

Kristina Covall is a Project Manager at SKS Partners with 15 years of experience in the design and construction industry. She joined SKS in 2021 and currently leads the Berkeley Space Center at NASA Research Park, the redevelopment of a 36-acre site at Moffett Field, where she is overseeing all site and building master planning and design aspects of the project, including strategic planning, budgeting, and coordination with stakeholders. Her expertise in managing public and private projects, ranging from master plans to high-rise towers, has enabled her to navigate projects through entitlements, design, and construction. She works with clients to build innovative spaces that make a lasting impact.

Brian Darmody, Chief Strategy Officer, AURP

Brian Darmody leads AURP initiatives including expanding membership, international partnerships and funding in order to build out additional member benefits. Prior to joining AURP, Brian served as Associate Vice President (AVP) of Corporate Engagement at the University of Maryland (UMD). At UMD, Brian was responsible for developing the overall university strategy for corporate relationships, as well as the development of projects and policies to support these initiatives centrally and through the colleges and schools on campus of the University of Maryland. Previously, he was the University’s AVP for Corporate and Foundation Relations in the Division of University Relations, AVP for Research and Economic Development, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Technology Development, Director of State and Federal Relations in the President’s Office and has served in the university’s legal counsel office. He serves on national and state boards, including: Fraunhofer USA, the Maryland Economic Development Association, and the Maryland Tech Council. He holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Baltimore and he received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Keisha Demps, Director of Partnerships, Centennial Campus, NC State University

Keisha Demps serves as interim director of partnerships within NC State's Office of Partnerships. As part of the partnership development team, Keisha brokers relationships and builds collaborations between the university and industry and government partners. Keisha earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona.

Ross DeVol, President and Chief Executive Officer, Heartland Forward

Since joining Heartland Forward in 2019, DeVol has raised the profile of Heartland Forward through media engagement with quotes in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, the Economist and Axios and op-eds in the Dallas Morning News, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Chicago Tribune and Des Moines Register as well as TV appearances throughout the heartland. DeVol is a former chief research officer for the Milken Institute where he spent nearly 20 years, an economic think tank headquartered in California. He oversaw research on international, national and comparative regional growth performance, access to capital and its role in economic growth and job creation and health-related topics. He has been ranked among the “Superstars of Think Tank Scholars” by International Economy magazine.

Kate Engel, Executive Director, Nebraska Innovation Campus, University of Nebraska, Lincoln

Kate A. Engel is the executive director of the Nebraska Innovation Campus Development Corporation, the 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation owned by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents. Kate's primary responsibility is to supervise NICDC staff, direct business operations and work to grow the roster of partners, including private businesses and university entities, at NIC. She also leads infrastructure planning and development, client services, and marketing and public relations, as well as manages relationships with commercial developers and other entities that may build or operate facilities at NIC. Kate joined the NICDC team in 2011 to assist with establishing operations and marketing for the public/private research campus before its 2012 groundbreaking. Most recently, Kate was director of strategic partnerships and communications. In that role, she assisted the past executive director with recruitment and retention, additional marketing and public relations efforts, space build-outs, workforce development, and resources and programs for NIC’s private- and public-sector partners. Kate grew up on a farm near Red Oak, IA. She holds a bachelor’s in fine arts from Nebraska Wesleyan University, a Master of Arts in management from Doane University, a Master of Science in leadership from UNL and a graduate certificate in public relations and social media from UNL’s College of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Will Germain, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Partner, MCB Science & Health

Will Germain is the Chief Executive Officer and managing partner of MCB Science and Health, LLC. He has senior responsibility for executing the overall strategy of the Company, including sourcing and originations investment opportunities, oversight of underwriting and due diligence, transaction structuring and execution, development project management, and operations and asset management. A member of the University of New Haven’s Board of Governors since 2023, Will earned his bachelor's degree from the University of New Haven. Will is a member of the Board of Directors of the Association of University Research Parks (AURP), a member of the Urban Land Institute’s University Development and Innovation Council and a member of the Real Estate Executives Council (REEC).

Sarah Goforth, Program Director, Regional Innovation Engines, National Science Foundation

Gabriella Gonzalez, PhD, Program Officer, Richard King Mellon Foundation

Joseph Huang, Executive Director, Stanford, Co-Vice President, NACRO

Joseph Huang is an executive director at Stanford’s Computer Science department, leading a team of match makers who connect corporations that want to recruit the students from, and support the research happening at, Stanford. He is also the co-vice president of the Network of Academic Corporate Relations Officers (NACRO), a professional society dedicated to holistic corporate relations.

Julie Huls, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Waymaker Group

Julie Huls is founder and CEO of Waymaker Group, a full-service technology-based economic development firm that helps mid-market cities create innovation economies, build diverse talent pipelines, and fuel a more equitable and economically diverse America. Before starting Waymaker Group, Julie served as President and CEO of the Austin Technology Council, an association that represents 300 Central Texas technology companies and their executives and $29 billion in annual regional economic impact. She’s also served as CEO of DoSeum (a STEM foundation for kids), President and Founder of TalkMedia (public relations agency), and in executive functions for real estate ventures nationwide.

David Johnson, Executive Director, Fayetteville Public Library

Ranu Jung, PhD, Founding Executive Director & Endowed Chair, Institute for Integrative and Innovative Research (I³R)

Dr. Ranu Jung is the founding executive director and endowed Chair for the U of A’s Institute for Integrative and Innovative Research, Associate Vice Chancellor, and Distinguished Professor of biomedical engineering. Dr. Jung is one of the world’s foremost researchers in biomedical and neural engineering, has led multiple transdisciplinary research teams and grants, has more than 100 refereed publications, and 14 U.S. patents. A champion for innovation and entrepreneurship, she develops devices that lead to scientific advances with clear pathways to clinical application.

Chris Kaselemis, AICP, Director, Department of Economic Development, St. Mary’s County Maryland

Chris Kaselemis is the Director of the Department of Economic Development for St. Mary’s County.  He was appointed to this position in 2015. Previously, he worked for the City of Tucson for 28 years, holding various positions including Assistant to the City Manager and Economic Initiatives Program Director. Since coming to St. Mary’s County, Chris has helped designate and establish the AeroPark Innovation District at the St. Mary’s County Regional Airport.  AeroPark houses a variety of aviation and UAS related businesses and research facilities as well as other technology companies.  The primary asset in the District is the University System of Maryland Autonomous Technologies Research Innovation and eXploration (MATRIX) Lab, a new hub for autonomous technologies and uncrewed systems research in Southern Maryland. Chris has an American Institute of Certified Planner (AICP) designation from the American Planning Association.   He received his B.S. degree in Accounting and his MBA from the University of Arizona. 

Greg King, Associate Vice President for Economic Development, Georgia Institute of Technology

Greg is Georgia Tech’s Associate VP for Economic Development where he leads external relations with industry and government to support economic growth in Georgia. He provides leadership and guidance for economic development initiatives and programs to enhance the impact of Technology Square, Science Square, and other innovation hubs associated with Georgia Tech. He establishes and implements partnerships that amplify the impact of Georgia Tech talent, research, and start-up ventures to grow strategic industry sectors across the region. These efforts combine create more robust and thriving communities and contribute to the state’s reputation as a technology hub and location for investment.

Michael Kocher, AIA NCARB, Education Practice Leader, Gensler

Michael Kocher is an architect who advocates for climate-adaptive strategies that move projects beyond 'building-as-usual' to holistic, integrated solutions that question the status-quo. He has led winning national and international design competitions and participated in research with academic institutions, including MIT's Sustainable Design Lab, working to create new digital tools for energy efficient and sustainable building designs. An Education Leader in Gensler’s Boston office and frequent speaker at industry events, Michael leads discussions on complex project types and methodologies demonstrating sustainable innovations in architectural design. Michael holds Bachelor of Science in Architecture and Master of Architecture degrees from the University of Cincinnati.

Erin Koshut, President, AURP; Executive Director, Cummings Research Park

Erin Koshut is the Executive Director of Cummings Research Park (CRP) in Huntsville, Alabama. With 300 companies situated over more than 3,800 acres and employing 26,500 employees, CRP is the second largest research park in the U.S. and the fourth largest in the world. Erin is responsible for managing and marketing CRP, and for providing a business environment that is conducive to growing existing industry and recruiting new industry into the Park. In her role as CRP Director, Erin continues to lead the implementation of the 2016 comprehensive master plan that ensures another 50 successful years for CRP. Partnering with stakeholders and community leaders, Erin is working to transform the culture in the Park and create a vibrant environment where employees connect, work, live, learn, and play. Erin is a certified Business Incubation Manager.

Daniel Lacy, Vice President, Business Unit Leader, McCown Gordon Construction

Daniel Lacy leads the higher education and science and technology markets as vice president, business unit leader at McCownGordon Construction. Daniel’s portfolio includes over $1 billion of higher education and science and technology projects in his 18 years at McCownGordon, including work for several AURP members. His unique experience stands out on large-scale, fast-paced, and complex projects with involved stakeholders. Daniel focuses on building meaningful relationships with partners, offering creative solutions, and delivering successful on-time projects.

Dr. Theresa Larson, DPT, CSCS, USMC, Founder of Movement Rx; Marine Corps Veteran on a mission to Humanize Leadership

Dr. Theresa Larson, or “Dr. T” as she is affectionately known, is a leading expert and advocate for well-being and strength across both personal and professional domains. She is the founder of Movement Rx*, where she and her team help individuals and organizations optimize physical and mental health. In her work she draws from her own experience as a former Marine Corps officer who overcame severe trauma. She is passionate about helping veterans, business leaders and owners thrive in the face of challenges such as client attrition, employee retention, and scalability issues, which are often linked to compromised mental or physical well-being of leaders and employees. Dr. T and her team are dedicated to building a community of veterans, business leaders and owners who are resilient, healthy, and happy in all they do. Dr. T is on a mission to help over 100,000 veterans, business leaders and owners improve their longevity and retain their people by 2030 by disrupting outdated leadership culture AND truly prioritizing health and well-being within their organizations. *Movement Rx is a women-owned and service-disabled-owned small business (WOSB/SDVOSB). Movement Rx has been recognized with the Force for Good Award, a prestigious honor that reflects their unwavering commitment to promoting healthy leadership and organizational well-being.

Ngan Le, Assistant Professor, University of Arkansas

Dr. Le is an Assistant Professor at the University of Arkansas, leading the AIVC Lab. With a Ph.D. from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and internaBonal recogniBon, she specializes in RoboBcs, Machine Learning, Computer Vision, and Medical Imaging. Dr. Le's research tackles diverse real-world challenges, spanning various data modaliBes and applicaBons across different domains and industries. She holds three patents and authored over 130 papers, achieving an h- index of 25 and an i10-index of 63 with 2,712 citaBons 1. She serves editorial roles in top-Ber journals, chairs conferences, organizes workshops, and fosters networking, and leading instrucBon at Google NACMI-AMLI Summer Bootcamp.

Scott Levitan, President & CEO, Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina

Scott Levitan is the ninth President and CEO of the Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina (RTF). RTP supports 375 companies including IBM’s largest US facility, Lenovo, United Therapeutics, Cisco, RTI International, NetApp, Fidelity Investments, Biogen and others, totaling 55,000 workers. Scott was selected in July 2017 to lead the effort of the Foundation to transform the Park’s physical and business strategy to maintain relevance and fiscal sustainability moving ahead. Before RTP, Scott was Vice President and Development Director for Forest City Realty Trust assigned for 11 years to oversee the transformational redevelopment of 88 acres in East Baltimore into the Eager Park community and Science + Technology Park at Johns Hopkins. This $1.5B mixed use effort continues to revive a community that had suffered disinvestment and neglect since the 1960’s with lab and office, retail, hospitality, educational and residential redevelopment surrounding a new 5.5 acre open space – Eager Park. Prior to his stint in Baltimore, Scott was Executive Director for Real Estate at Georgia Tech and held various positions in development and property operations during his 11-year tenure at Harvard Real Estate in Cambridge. Scott also worked at Hall Davison & Company in Boston, a commercial real estate development company and at Olympia & York in New York for the construction of the World Financial Center. Scott was raised in New Orleans and graduated from Benjamin Franklin High School. He is NCARB certified, a member of the AIA and holds a license to practice architecture in North Carolina. Scott is a board member of the Association of University Research Parks, Research Triangle Regional Partnership, the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond’s Industry Roundtable and other groups. 

Jamal Lewis, Economic Opportunities Manager, Partnership for Inclusive Innovation, Georgia Institute for Technology

Suna Lumeh, MS, MBA, Director of Platform & Ecosystem – Atlanta, Portal Innovations

As Director of Platform & Ecosystem - Atlanta, Suna leads Portal Innovation’s platform at Science Square Labs. Previously, Suna held clinical R&D roles in pharma, across both early and late-stage biologics development. She grew her specialty in pharmacovigilance and immunogenicity assay development before moving into the early venture space. She has since served as a biomedical science consultant for early-stage startups, ultimately co-founding two VC-backed biotech and digital health startups. She continues building the pipeline of life science founders and teams bringing life-saving solutions to patients and scaling innovative biomedical and healthcare ventures that feed into economic development in Atlanta and beyond.

Allison Madden, Vice President, AURP; Corporate Secretary and Director of Operations, USF Research Park, University of South Florida

Mike Malone, Vice Chancellor for Economic Development, University of Arkansas

Mike Malone joined the University of Arkansas as vice chancellor for economic development on April 18, 2022. In this role, he leads the university’s efforts to expand economic opportunity and improve quality of life across Arkansas. A talented economic development professional, Malone holds nearly three decades of experience building coalitions and partnerships to advance community and economic development opportunities. From 2016 until his appointment at the U of A, he served as vice president for corporate and community affairs for Runway Group, overseeing a wide range of community development projects and direct investments in Northwest Arkansas, including workforce development, talent attraction and business recruitment, outdoor recreation and philanthropy. From 2006-2016, he served as president and CEO of the Northwest Arkansas Council, leading the creation and implementation of regional growth and development strategies that resulted in significant employment gains, economic growth and improved quality of life in Northwest Arkansas. Prior to his work in Arkansas, Malone held senior staff leadership positions in the White House, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Senate, and the House of Representatives. He also serves on the boards of directors of Heartland Forward and is a member of the board of trustees of Hendrix College. He holds a Master of Arts in Public Affairs from the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota and is a cum laude graduate of Hendrix College having received a bachelor’s degree with distinction in political science.

Ken Marcus, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, UA Tech Parks

Kenneth (Ken) M. Marcus has twenty-five years of research park executive management experience in operations, development and finance. He began his career with Tech Parks Arizona in September 1999. As a senior-level executive, Marcus is directly responsible for the management, operations and financing of the UA Tech Park at Rita Road and the UA Tech Park at The Bridges, and the University of Arizona Center for Innovation. He has more than 35 years of experience in business management, finance, real estate, and economic development. Highlights of his expertise include university relationships, financial budgeting and reporting, government compliance and relations, operational management, funding packages, cash management, lease negotiations, tenant retention and expansion, emergency response and disaster recovery plans, development strategies, creative solutions to complex projects as well as strategic, business and financial plans. In collaboration with key partners, Marcus’ leadership has significantly advanced the Parks’ development and elevated operations by improving infrastructure and increasing amenities, through the completion of projects such as the Solar Zone, various tenant spaces, University spaces, and corporate fitness center. Marcus ensures park operations are maintained to the highest quality exceeding industry standards. This has resulted in new facilities including improved food operations, critical infrastructure, energy efficiency systems, sustainable principles, new event spaces, and collaboration areas and greatly contributed to the tenant experience by helping create a vibrant life, learn, work, play, and stay environment.

Cindi Marsiglio, Senior Vice President, Corporate Real Estate, Walmart

Robert McClure, AIA, NCARB, Innovation & Strategy Design Principal, Page Southerland Page

Robert McClure, Innovation & Strategy Design Principal at Page Southerland Page, is a visionary architect with a career spanning over two decades. He spearheads Page’s innovation hub portfolio with a team dedicated to pushing the boundaries of design for both commercial and academic clients. His pioneering methodologies and programs have helped reimagined campuses nationwide, resulting in cutting-edge facilities that foster the next generation of thought leaders.

Arno Meerman, CEO and Founder, University Industry Innovation Network (UIIN)

Brian Naumick, Managing Director, Edgemoor Infrastructure & Real Estate

Brian collaborates with clients to form strategic partnerships, lead development efforts, and identify the best path forward to maximize their opportunities. His experience in the built environment includes curating partnerships, leasing, and development. Throughout his career, Brian has not only provided real estate expertise, master planning, and project management, but has also held several corporate roles. As Project Executive for Fuse at Mason Square, his role includes working with tech industry university partners in coordination with George Mason University. Brian is intimately involved with creating the ecosystem of collaboration for the academic and private industry that will partner within Fuse.

Tung Nguyen, Partner, Thel Consulting, South Dakota State University

Tung Nguyen has managed entrepreneurship programs in South Dakota, driving growth with initiatives funded by the Economic Development Administration and Small Business Administration. He has developed commercialization plans and research strategies for Small Business Innovation Research grants to the National Institute of Health and the National Science Foundation. Tung shapes organizational visions through market studies and strategic business plans, focusing on technology and research parks. His efforts aim to enhance the region's economic and entrepreneurial landscape. Tung holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from South Dakota Mines and an MBA from the University of South Dakota.

Laura O’Blenis, President and CEO, Stiletto: Make a Point

Laura O’Blenis is the Founder, President & CEO of Stiletto: Make a Point. She has more than two decades of experience as a park practitioner and strategist and has closed more than $400 million in deals and grants for clients since 2010. She has facilitated more than 1,000 strategy sessions and travelled the world to study innovation ecosystems which has informed the development of proprietary systems, processes, and tools that now include nearly a billion data points. Passionate about place making, her firm helps communities throughout North Amercia thrive with economic development strategic initiatives in cluster development and innovation ecosystem building.

Vickie Palmer, Chief Executive Officer, AURP

Vickie Palmer was appointed CEO in 2022, following 15 years’ experience significantly expanding the Association’s membership and sponsorship community. During her time with AURP, she has led the organization’s membership, event management and overall operations while working closely with the organization’s prior CEOs, Board of Directors and membership community. Recipient of the 2021 AURP Vision Award, Vickie brings to a proven record of success in association management primarily with The Kellen Company, a global association management company, and Management Plus, Ltd. She has over 25 years leadership experience with such associations as the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Elder Life Care Planners (formerly known as the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers) and the National Guardianship Association. Prior to her jump into the non-profit sector, she held executive convention management positions at the Hilton El Conquistador Resort in Tucson, AZ (formerly ITT Sheraton). Vickie obtained a bachelor of science with major in hotel and restaurant management from Northern Arizona University’s W.A. Franke College of Business. Additionally, she is a commissioned Stephen Minister.

Lane Patterson, Highway Ventures, Bentonville, Arkansas

With over two decades of experience in building and scaling businesses, Lane is a seasoned entrepreneur and investor in the fields of deep technology and dual-use technology. The founder of HIGHWAY Ventures, a venture studio that creates and supports companies that leverage advanced mobility solutions to address global challenges in transportation, energy, and security.

Nelson Peacock, President & CEO, Northwest Arkansas Council

As CEO, Nelson ensures the Council meets the goals and objectives defined by the executive committee. He works closely with top organizations in Arkansas, including its largest employers, state leaders, educators, local government officials and chambers of commerce. The initiatives he’s most proud of are those that set up NWA for inclusion and growth: the Bella Vista bypass, the Health Care Transformation Division and EngageNWA. A native Arkansan, Nelson enjoys being able to balance an exciting career with the low-stress lifestyle of NWA.

Jordan Peterson, Chief Property Operations Officer, Collaborative Real Estate

Jordan leads property management and community networking navigation services for Collaborative Real Estate’s innovation ecosystems. With nearly 20 years of experience in corporate and institutional real estate, Jordan has spent the last four years working on development, community building, and management of university-anchored research properties and innovation districts. Jordan has been an active member of AURP, UIDP, NACRO, Urban Land Institute (ULI), the University Economic Development Association (UEDA), and has previously presented at conferences hosted by UIDP and InBIA on improving the environment for individual collaboration in university-anchored innovation ecosystems. His team at Collaborative Real Estate is currently focused on data mapping of each innovation ecosystem’s “knowledge assets” including people, companies, and ideas; generating insight on how specific connections between those assets will yield better outcomes; creating those connections; and building cultures of discovery, curiosity, and collaboration.

Elizabeth Pollard, Chief Executive Officer, The Innovation Foundation, Oklahoma State University

Elizabeth is CEO of The Innovation Foundation at Oklahoma State University and C-suite veteran, scaling businesses from concept to market. The Foundation includes three interdisciplinary institutes in advanced mobility, energy, and human performance, the Office of Technology Commercialization, Cowboy Technologies, and Innovation Park. Previously, Elizabeth was Cabinet Secretary of Science and Innovation for Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt. She published Oklahoma’s Innovation Strategic Plan and testified for the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. She serves as Chair of Oklahoma’s Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology – growing from $17M to $225M AUM and funding prominent accelerator programs.

Tracy Poole, Esq, Founder and Managing Partner, FortySix Venture Capital

Tracy Poole is an attorney with over 25 years of experience in complex commercial transactions, M&A, financing, energy and venture capital disciplines. Tracy was corporate and outside counsel to leading energy marketing and trading companies and helped close some of the largest wholesale energy transactions in existence. He is the former General Counsel of an energy-related hedge fund and the founder of an independent upstream oil and gas producer. ‍ As a founder, Tracy has led capital raising activities resulting in over $700 Million in debt and equity capital raised from private investors and has orchestrated successful exits of up to 10x returns.

Lindsay Reeth, Co-Founder, Student-Made

Lindsay Reeth is the Co-Founder of Student-MadeTM, a comprehensive program that works in partnership with colleges and universities to provide an effective and entirely student-run platform to engage, support and promote student-creators of all kinds across campus. Her passion is in creating hands-on opportunities for students to learn, grow and gain confidence in their skills through the spirit of entrepreneurship.

Liesl Riddle, PhD, Dean, George Washington University College of Professional Studies

Liesl Riddle, Ph.D., is the dean of the George Washington University College of Professional Studies (CPS). As dean of CPS, she oversees bachelor's completion, master’s and executive programs designed to empower students to make an impact in specific industries. She also leads several innovative schools and centers, including the Graduate School of Political Management, the Center for Excellence in Public Leadership and the Cyber Academy. Dr. Riddle also serves as a member of the Penn West Equity & Innovation District Advisory Committee, developing linkages between the College and greater University with this upcoming engine of growth in the D.C. economy.

Charles Ross, President, International Business Innovation Association (iNBIA)

Over the past 15 years, Charles has worked with communities of various shapes and sizes to build and sustain vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystems. His experience spans across several innovation-related disciplines to include entrepreneurship, business incubation, economic development, and investment management. He has provided strategic leadership for organizations within the public, private, and nonprofit domains and has directly mentored and coached founders/CEOs at over 30 high-growth companies. Before joining the InBIA management team, Charles was responsible for driving economic impact for local communities through senior leadership positions at Kennesaw State University and the Georgia Institute of Technology. In these roles, Charles connected universities’ talent, know-how, and assets to businesses and communities to increase economic prosperity and to improve quality of life. Prior to his assignments in higher education, Charles directly worked with entrepreneurs to launch and grow technology businesses. As Vice President of the Telecommunications Development Fund, Charles sourced, structured, and managed investments in several early-stage communications companies, and as a Director of Ameritech’s venture capital division he identified and executed strategic technology investments. Charles joined InBIA as a member in 2006, was elected to its Board of Directors in 2011 and served as Chair in 2017. Charles holds an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering from Marquette University and an MBA from Indiana University.

Mark Schmidt, Associate Vice Chancellor, Partnerships, NC State University

Mark Schmidt serves as NC State's associate vice chancellor for partnerships where he oversees the university's collaborations with corporate, government and nonprofit partners, including the 70 partnerships on Centennial Campus. Previously, Mark held a 22-year career at John Deere, where he oversaw the company’s university partnerships strategy, as well as a range of external public and private stakeholder relationships. Mark earned bachelor degrees in landscape architecture and agronomy from Purdue University, a master’s degree in agronomy from Purdue University and a Ph.D. in crop science from the University of Illinois.

Molly Schnoke, Director, Center for Economic Development, The Levin College of Public Affairs, Cleveland State University

Molly Schnoke is the Director of the Center for Economic Development at the Levin College of Public Affairs and Education at Cleveland State University. Molly joined the college in 2006 in the Center for Community Planning & Development. Molly has worked with the Brookings Institution’s Metropolitan Policy Program to monitor and track the development and implementation of regional economic competitiveness strategies for Northeast Ohio. She also has experience in overseeing research projects in program evaluation and survey research, economic impact studies, community housing and needs analyses, and the development of community-wide economic transformation plans. In addition Molly manages an international partnership with the University of Rijeka’s Faculty of Economics and Business to foster and conduct collaborative research, academic exchanges and joint curriculum development. She is a member of the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency’s Economic Development Subcommittee, the Cuyahoga County Vacant and Abandoned Property Action Council’s Delinquent Tax group and the national Middle Neighborhood Community of Practice. Prior to joining Cleveland State University she was the Assistant Director of Research at the Center for Regional Economic Issues (REI) at Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management. Molly earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from The Ohio State University and received her Masters from the University of Akron.

Paul Seitz, Director, Strategic Initiatives, UW Madison

Leads strategic initiatives for Finance & Administration, serving in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Finance and Administration. This work focuses on long range strategic planning and revenue expansion projects as well as specific school and college engagements. Prior to joining the University in February 2017, worked in progressive leadership roles in finance, strategy, and product management at Allegion, Johnson Controls, and Whirlpool. Holds a JD/MBA from the University of Notre Dame as well as an accounting degree from the University of Detroit Mercy. Has a CPA license in Wisconsin and is admitted to the State Bar of Michigan.

Brian Shedd, PhD, Executive Director, Office of Innovation and Commercialization, The University of Texas Permian Basin

Brian Shedd is currently the Executive Director of the Office of Innovation and Commercialization at the University of Texas, Permian Basin. He has also worked in university technology transfer roles at the University of Houston, LSU, and UCLA. He is very active in innovation ecosystem development and serves as a professional development volunteer with AUTM on both the Essentials and Negotiations committees. He received a MS and PhD in Mechanical Engineering from UCLA, a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Colorado, Boulder and a BA in Physical Science from Southwestern University.

Dougan Sherwood, Head of Innovation Districts, CIC Captains of Innovation

Dougan Sherwood serves as Head of Innovation Districts for Captains of Innovation, the consulting arm of Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC), one of the oldest and largest shared office, labs, and coworking spaces in the world. One of CIC’s original team members, Dougan’s work with CIC spans nearly two decades. In 2014, he co-founded CIC's first expansion site to the Cortex Innovation District in St. Louis, MO. In 2018, Dougan moved his career to Haverhill, MA, to focus on local and community-centered economic development and served in dual roles as the President of the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce and Managing Director with the Greater Haverhill Foundation, a redevelopment fund. Earlier in his career, Dougan founded a traveling youth program in the Southwest U.S. and served an internship in the education policy office of the late Senator Edward Kennedy. He also created an annual bicycle fundraiser supporting injured servicemen and women and served on the board of YouthCities, a startup program for middle school and high school aged students. In 2020, Dougan founded the Kate Sherwood Foundation in honor of his late wife who was a school counselor and a doctoral student focused on childhood trauma. The Kate Sherwood Foundation provides direct assistance to extraordinary teens and young adults overcoming difficult childhoods. Dougan lives in West Newbury, MA with his two sons. He received his B.A. in history from the University of Utah.

Phil Sizer, Associate VP, Office of Research and Innovation, Texas Tech, Lubbock Texas

Phil Sizer is an Endowed Professor in Pain Science, TTUHSC President’s University Distinguished Professor, and the Associate Vice President for Research Innovation at TTUHSC in Lubbock, TX, USA. Phil is co-founding partner / CEO of TKQuant, LLC and co-inventor of the patent-pending Tis-KinTM technology. He serves as an NSF Regional I-Corps Instructor and National I-Corps Industry Mentor. As Senior Faculty in the ScD (PT), PhD (Rehabilitation Sciences) and Medical Pain Fellowship Programs at TTUHSC, he coordinated or instructed in over 250 graduate course deliveries and lectured at over 500 national and international courses and conferences. In addition, he coauthored over 150 peer-reviewed articles, commentaries, and book chapters, as well as over 200 research platform and poster presentations. Phil serves as the President of the Youth Orchestras of Lubbock, an NPO designed for youth of all ages and backgrounds to participate in excellent music education and artistic performance experiences. 

Jeff Smith, Director, University Corporate Research Park, Michigan State University Research Foundation

Jeff Smith serves as the Director of the University Corporate Research Park UCRP at MSU Foundation. In this role, Jeff manages and directs the real estate and economic development opportunities on behalf of the MSU Foundation. This includes development and construction within the Research Park system, and management of Research Park facilities, the VanCamp Incubator and Research Labs, and the Technology Innovation Center. His goal continues to focus on leveraging university, corporate research, and community technologies toward commercialization and expansion of the marketplace. Jeff is a Board Member of the Association of University Research Parks (AURP), the Michigan Economic Development Corporation Advisory Board for Redevelopment Ready Communities, the Lansing Regional Chamber Policy Committee, the East Lansing DDA, BRA, and EDC.

Toby Teeter, Director, The Collaborative

Toby Teeter is the director of the Collaborative, the University of Arkansas innovation center in Bentonville. Previously, he was the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce president/CEO, where he focused on fostering a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem and championing innovation culture, as well as attracting both talent and new industry to the region. Prior to that, he was the founder of Omni Brands, a direct-to-consumer product studio and 3PL fulfillment center; the founder of Inuvo, Inc., a publicly traded ad tech company now based in Little Rock; and founder of LocalRaces.com, an online registration platform for running and cycling events. The balance of his career has included stints in private equity management, as a commercial real estate developer, a lobbyist, a litigation attorney, and as a M&A/corporate attorney. He earned a BS in Insurance & Risk Management from Missouri State University and a JD from the University of Missouri School of Law.

Joda Thongnopnua, Program Director, Special Advisor for the Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP) Directorate, National Science Foundation

Joda Thongnopnua is Program Director at the National Science Foundation and leads the NSF Engines Program, designed to dramatically expand the geography of innovation in America. Joda previously served as Chief of Staff to Mayor Tim Kelly (City of Chattanooga) helping lead a $350M budget and 2,600+ person team. He designed the administration's $30M American Rescue Plan allocation plan and process that invested deeply in community-based organizations to close economic gaps and create opportunity, created a $100M affordable housing initiative that has already produced hundreds of new units, and led a coordinated response to several high- visibility crises and situations.

Lori Top, MBA, LEED AP, Vice President, VanTrust Real Estate

Lori Top, vice president of development, science + technology for VanTrust, focuses on fostering strategic client, consulting, and construction partnerships while leveraging her background in real estate and multi-faceted projects to define opportunities in the science and technology industries. She has extensive experience managing projects that require distilling complexity, incorporating cutting-edge technology, and helping to define positive solutions. Lori’s career has spanned the globe – managing projects totaling over $3.8 billion – on which she provided strategy and execution plans and led integrated multi-disciplinary teams.

Kenneth D. Walsh, PhD, Interim Provost and Executive Vice President, George Mason University

Dr. Kenneth Walsh serves as the interim provost and executive vice president of George Mason University, the largest public research university in Virginia and a Carnegie Research One (R1) institution. He joined Mason in 2020 as vice president for strategic initiatives and chief of staff in the Office of the President. He also currently serves as a professor in the Sid and Reva Dewberry Department of Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering at Mason. Dr. Walsh's career spans several decades as a professor, civil engineer, and skilled administrator.

David Washburn, Executive Director, Michigan State University Research Foundation

Dave Washburn is Executive Director of the MSU Research Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit focused on driving economic development within the MSU ecosystem. He was President and CEO of the University of Tennessee Research Foundation and also led software commercialization at the University of Illinois. Prior to the dotcom crash, he was an entrepreneur and held senior roles at software development firms Wolfram Research, InstallShield Software (acquired by Macrovision), and Kuck & Associates (acquired by Intel). He received a BA and MBA from the University of Illinois and is a board advisor to Cambridge Enterprise at the University of Cambridge.

Steve Watson, Development Strategist, ISG

From site selection to maximizing the economic impact of a project, Steve’s insight and personal touch make him a valuable strategist. As an economic development practitioner, Steve works with business and community leaders across the Upper Midwest to conceptualize and implement projects that improve the economic and social vitality of their communities. Steve is a visionary, strategic thinker with over 19 years of experience who leverages ISG’s innovative architecture and engineering solutions to build consensus between stakeholder groups—ultimately facilitating impactful projects spanning from economic development planning and new housing developments, to complex downtown mixed-use projects.

Meghan Webster, Studio Director, Principal, Gensler

Based in Gensler’s Chicago office, Meghan leads a studio focused on education, health, sciences, civic and cultural, and critical facilities markets. Having served in both regional and global roles over the past decade, including her current role on the firm’s Management Committee, her responsibilities for growing the practice have focused on guiding business strategy, leveraging research and thought leadership, and building client engagement. A licensed architect, she has experience in every phase of the design, management, and construction process, and her work encompasses projects at multiple scales, including planning and feasibility, new construction, and building renovations. She has been recognized as one of BD+C’s distinguished 40 Under 40 Class of 2018 and in Crain’s Chicago Business Notable Women in Construction & Design in 2021 and Notable Women in STEM in 2023. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from University of California Berkeley and her Master of Architecture from MIT.

Chris White, Vice Chairman and Southeast Regional Leader, Savills

As Southeast Region Lead, Chris White’s foremost priority is to further establish Savills into the premier occupier solutions and tenant representation firm in the region. Chris works with Savills’ national leadership to deploy best practices, support interdisciplinary collaboration, recruit teams, open new offices and identify acquisition opportunities that will complement the firm’s existing capabilities. He also serves on the firm’s Management Committee and Board of Directors. In his prior role as Atlanta Market Leader, Chris successfully transformed Savills’ Atlanta office into one of the city’s preeminent tenant rep & occupier services practices. In addition, Chris maintains an active practice with serving clients and is highly regarded as a standout tenant representative and global occupier services veteran. Earlier in his career, White held brokerage and management roles at Cushman & Wakefield from 1996 to 2015. Chris specializes in managing and optimizing corporations and professional service firms’ local, regional, and global real estate platforms. He has extensive experience driving real estate transactions, disposing of excess corporate real estate, implementing data center projects and other mission critical requirements, implementing occupant experience, workforce strategy, labor analysis, M&A integration, and economic incentive negotiations.

Deb Williams, Senior Director, Operations & Student Programs, University of Arkansas Office of Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Ben Wolfe, PhD, Dean and Chief Executive Officer, KState Olathe Innovation Campus

Ben Wolfe, Ph.D., is the dean and CEO of K-State Olathe InnovaXon Campus, a branch campus located in the greater Kansas City region focused on workforce educaXon, economic development, and transformaXonal research. K-State Olathe serves as an innovaXon engine for the university and the state of Kansas. Ben has extensive knowledge about regional workforce and higher educaXon policy and is a dynamic steward of both K-State’s legacy land- grant mission and strategic plan to become a next-generaXon land-grant university. In his numerous leadership roles across higher educaXon, from community college to research one universiXes, Ben has a record of interdisciplinary innovaXon, catalyst program development, and strategic vision building.

Russ Zarras, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Fraunhofer USA

Russ Zarras, a physicist with over a decade of experience, directs the TechBridge Program at Fraunhofer USA, focusing on advancing startups' technologies through corporate partnerships and the Fraunhofer Network's resources. Renowned for his ability to communicate about technology development and commercialization, Zarras specializes in business development. With a proven track record in developing research programs that improve reliability, performance, and reduce risk, he bridges the gap between research and market applications. Zarras facilitates partnerships between Fraunhofer USA, corporations, universities, and government agencies, driving innovation and technology transfer, ultimately contributing to the growth and competitiveness of the US economy.