Learn more about NCIIA's Board, Advisors, and Staff.
Board
Abigail Barrow | Director, Massachusetts Technology Center
Abigail Barrow is the Founding Director of the Massachusetts Technology Transfer Center (MTTC). The MTTC is state funded and supports technology transfer activities from public and private research institutions to companies in Massachusetts. The Center works with technology transfer offices at all research institutions; faculty, researchers, and students who have commercially promising ideas; and companies across the Commonwealth.
Prior to joining the MTTC, Dr. Barrow served as managing director of William J. von Liebig Center at the University of California San Diego (UCSD). The von Liebig Center was created in 2001 to support the commercialization of research being performed in the Jacobs School of Engineering. Dr. Barrow worked in a variety of roles at UCSD CONNECT from 1990 to 2001. CONNECT’s programs focused on supporting early stage high-tech and biotech companies and in particular helping them raise funding from venture capitalists and corporate partners. Dr. Barrow has also worked with other regions where the CONNECT program has been successfully replicated, including Scotland and Scandinavia. Dr. Barrow is a Fellow of UCSD’s Beyster Institute and an Xconomist for Xconomy.com.
David Chen | Founder and Managing Director, Equilibrium Capital Group
Dave’s focus on sustainability is a result of his work in venture capital, regional economic development and energy policy. In 2007, he was a visiting executive at the Meyer Memorial Trust developing a investing thesis on mission related investing (MRI); this tool has since been adopted by several institutions. In late 2007, he formed Equilibrium Capital Group; an investment firm focused on growth equity investment opportunities in the area of sustainability.
Most recently Dave was a general partner at OVP Venture Partners, joining the firm in 2001. His investments at OVP include @once (acquired by InfoUSA), Ambric, Intelligent Results (acquired by First Data), Net6 (acquired by Citrix), Tzero, and UXComm. He served on the board of @mobile prior to its acquisition by software.com. Until 2002 he served on the board of HNC Software when it was merged with FICO (NASDAQ:HNCS, now NYSE:FIC).
Prior to OVP, Dave founded GeoTrust (acquired by Verisign 2006) & The Ascent Group; was Vice President Marketing Mentor Graphics; was an associate at McKinsey & Co; and was an early team member in 1978 at Solectron.
Equilibrium Capital Group portfolio board of directors:
• GEDi
• Biological Capital
Dave serves as Board Member of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco’s Portland Branch, Governor-Appointed Chairman of the Oregon Innovation Council, Chairman of the Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute (ONAMI), Advisory Board Member of the Oregon Investment Fund (OIF), Advisory Board of the X Prize for Energy & Environment, Board member of National Collegiate Inventors & Innovators Alliance (NCIIA), Past Chairman of the Oregon Entrepreneurs Forum (2006).
Jerry Engel | Faculty Director, Lester Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, University of California at Berkeley
Jerome Engel joined the University of California at Berkeley in 1991 to found the Lester Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. He serves as the Center's Faculty Director. Mr. Engel is an adjunct professor at the Haas School of Business and instructs in both the School's MBA and Executive Education programs specializing in Entrepreneurship, New Venture Finance, Corporate Innovation, Venture Capital and Private Equity.
Professor Engel is also co-founder and General Partner of Monitor Venture Partners, a venture capital firm organized in collaboration with the Monitor Group, investing in early stage technology ventures. In Professor Engel’s broad background in entrepreneurship and innovation, he has founded successful entrepreneurial firms, taken several public, sold others to major corporations, and currently serves on the Boards of Directors several high potential venture capital-backed and privately held firms. Previously he was the Managing Partner of Entrepreneurial Services for Ernst & Young, in the San Francisco Bay Area, and the firm’s National Director of Capital Resources, a practice specializing is new venture financing.
His most recent research and publications focus on the nature in innovation processes in firms, communities and global networks. Professor Engel is the 2010 recipient of the NCIIA - Olympus Corporation Lifetime of Educational Innovation Award.
Michael Malone | Ronnie & Eugene Isenberg Distinguished Professor of Engineering and Vice Chancellor for Research & Engagement, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Mike was educated in chemical engineering at Penn State University and at UMass Amherst where he joined the faculty in 1980. At UMass he was Director of the Process Design and Control Center for nine years, Head of Chemical Engineering for six years, and then Dean of Engineering for five years until 2009. He has been a Visiting Scientist in Central Science & Engineering at the DuPont Company and has done extensive consulting and teaching for industry in the US and internationally. He is the author of numerous technical articles, a textbook, and holds two patents on catalytic distillation. He has won several awards for his research on process design and for his teaching. Currently, he team-teaches an interdisciplinary course on Innovation & Entrepreneurship in the Isenberg Program at UMass Amherst.
Paul Yock | Weiland Professor of Medicine and the founding co-chair of the Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University
Dr. Yock is internationally known for his work in inventing, developing and testing new medical devices, including the Rapid Exchange (tm) balloon angioplasty and stent system, now the primary system in use worldwide, and the Doppler-guided hypodermic needle system, P-D Access (tm). Dr. Yock also authored the fundamental patents for intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging and founded Cardiovascular Imaging Systems, now a division of Boston Scientific. Dr. Yock’s research focuses on preclinical development and clinical trials of catheter devices, most recently in the area of stem cell delivery to the heart. Dr. Yock also founded and directs the Program in Biodesign, which is a teaching and mentoring initiative focusing on the process of needs finding, invention and technology translation in the biomedical field.
Todd Warren | Adjunct Professor of Computer Science, Northwestern University and advisor to and an investor in Divergent Ventures
Todd Warren divides his time between the technology industry and entrepreneurial educational ventures. He is an advisor to and an investor in Divergent Ventures, focusing on early-stage companies. In addition to advising Divergent and their investments, Todd is an adjunct professor in computer science at Northwestern’s McCormick School of Engineering. He also serves on the board of Pcubed, a global consulting firm focused on large scale program and project management.
Todd worked for Microsoft for over 21 years in a variety of product management, general management, and product development roles. He was a corporate vice president from 2003 to 2009. From 2005 until 2009, Todd was responsible for the development and technical product strategy for Microsoft’s Windows Mobile operating system and related products. Todd retired from Microsoft in February 2009.
Todd joined Microsoft after completing a BA with Honors in Computer Science and Economics at Northwestern University. At Northwestern he serves on the board of trustees as well as a number of advisory boards in the university.
Advisors
Judith Giordan | Senior Advisor
Dr. Giordan has enjoyed a career as a technology and corporate executive for several Fortune 500 companies, including Vice President of Global R&D for Pepsicola and International Flavors and Fragrances, and VP R&D Henkel Corporation. She has held adjunct and visiting academic positions and is currently Professor of Practice at the University of Southern Mississippi. She is active in professional societies and organizations including the American Chemical Society (ACS), the Intangible Asset Finance Society, and the Industrial Research Institute. She is a member of the Board of Directors for startup companies, is a serial entrepreneur and is former Member of the Board of Directors both the Industrial Research Institute and the ACS. Dr. Giordan is also Managing Director – Intangible Asset Finance for Steel City Re, LLC and Vice President of Visions in Education, Inc. Dr. Giordan received her BS from Rutgers University, her PhD from the University of Maryland, and was an Alexander von Humboldt post-doctoral fellow at the University of Frankfurt, Germany.
Staff
Phil Weilerstein | Executive Director
Phil began his career as an entrepreneur as a student at the University of Massachusetts. He and a team including his advisor launched a start-up biotech company which ultimately went public. This experience, coupled with a lifelong passion for entrepreneurship, led to his work with the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance. Phil’s tenure at the NCIIA is marked by his skill for network-building and expert leverage of resources. He has a special talent for seeking out gifted educators and other important contributors and putting them to work for the betterment of invention, innovation, and entrepreneurship education in the U.S. and worldwide. As an entrepreneur in a not-for-profit organization, he has grown the NCIIA from a grassroots group of enthusiastic faculty to a nationally known and in-demand knowledge base and resource center. Phil also serves as the Chair of the Entrepreneurship Division of the American Society of Engineering Education. pweilerstein@nciia.org
Rachel Agoglia | Grants Coordinator
Rachel works closely with Grants Manager Jennifer Keller Jackson on NCIIA's grants programs and competitions. She brings to NCIIA over twelve years of nonprofit management and direct service experience, primarily from her work in Portland, Oregon and Providence, Rhode Island in the areas of hunger, education reform, and nonprofit consultation and support services. She returned to her hometown in Western Massachusetts in 2007 to join the team at NCIIA. Rachel holds a BA in Women's Studies from Bates College. ragoglia@nciia.org
James Barlow | Manager Outreach
James has worked in the University entrepreneurship space for 7 years and has been Commercial Advisor or Commercial Director for 16 start-ups as well as consulting internationally on start-up strategy, enterprise education and training. Prior to working in Higher Education, James has been a Performance Coach, Motivational Speaker and Strategy Consultant for FTSE listed companies and also worked in the Pharmaceutical Industry in Sales and Sales Management. He earned his BSc Honours Degree in Biochemistry from the University of Kent. jbarlow@nciia.org
Tim Binkert | Program Associate for Communications
Tim earned a bachelor's degree in English and Philosophy from Syracuse University in 2000 and a certificate in professional writing and technical communication from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2004. Tim joined NCIIA in 2004 as an intern and was later hired to the permanent staff. Tim's responsibilities at NCIIA include reviewing and summarizing grant proposals, writing and editing publications, generating web content, conducting grant performance reviews, and performing administrative and operational tasks. tbinkert@nciia.org
Patricia Boynton | Invention to Venture Program Associate
Patricia has worked for NCIIA since April 2008. She brings to the position many years of experience working for entrepreneurial companies, both technology and non-technology based. Most recently she provided marketing and sales support for MicroCal, a scientific instrumentation company based in Northampton, MA. Patricia has a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. pboynton@nciia.org
Chris Desrosiers | Accountant
Chris joined NCIIA in 2007 and successfully executes the financial and accounting functions of the organization. He handles bookkeeping and grants accounting and also assists with membership, human resources, and other related administrative activities. Chris gained his business and accounting experience as an entrepreneur primarily in the mortgage and real estate industry. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, with a B.A. in sociology and is currently pursuing an MBA from American International College. cdesrosiers@nciia.org
Suzette Durand | Manager of Finance and Operations / Corporate Secretary
Suzette directs the financial, human resources, operational, strategic, and administrative activities at the organization. She has a strong background in contract development, negotiation, review and compliance, system implementation, and has played an integral part in preparing winning revenue-generating proposals. Prior to joining NCIIA in 2007, Suzette spent over six years at Chiliad, a software development company in Amherst, MA, where she played a central role effectively managing the financial, human resources, and administrative functions of the company’s multiple locations. sdurand@nciia.org
Humera Fasihuddin | Program Manager for Outreach
Humera oversees student venture coaching and mentoring for NCIIA. She started these efforts in 2006 when launching NCIIA's acclaimed national workshop series Advanced Invention to Venture, an 4-day intensive, hands-on workshop for student and faculty teams committed to commercializing their innovative products. The AI2V series continues to grow, and many participants have called it the single most important turning point for their startups. In addition, Humera manages BMEidea, a national student competition in biomedical engineering. She joined the NCIIA staff in 2005, where she was responsible for scaling the Invention to Venture workshop series to reach thousands of participants nationwide. Prior to joining NCIIA, Humera founded Edical May, a manufacturing and business development company enabling scale-up of new medical devices. From 2001 to 2005, Humera spearheaded the creation of the Regional Technology Corporation. Humera began her career at materials manufacturer Intelicoat, where she worked her way up from operations to technical support, and finally to managing a $40 million business unit in the CAD arena and cultivating a new digital proofing business unit. Humera earned her MBA from UMass-Amherst in 2000 and her B.S. in Mathematics (minor in Economics) from Smith College in 1992. humera@nciia.org
Ricardo Gomez | Assessment Specialist
Ricardo is a PhD candidate at the Center for International Education, University of Massachusetts. He received a Bachelor of Education degree from La Salle University and Master of Education from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. His research interests span educational policy analysis, assessment and evaluation, and curriculum design and implementation. He is particularly interested in identifying key education policies and practice that support teachers and faculty in helping low-income youth succeed academically. Ricardo joined NCIIA as a fellow of the AEA/DU Graduate Education Diversity Internship Program in 2008. During this time he has been working closely with the Assessment and Evaluation Specialist and staff in the development and implementation of the NCIIA's evaluation plans, including client satisfaction surveys, instrument development, data collection, analysis, and reporting. ricardo.gomez@inbox.com
Allyson Greene | Office Administrator/Bookkeeper
Allyson recently joined NCIIA in May of 2009 and assists with bookkeeping and grants accounting and also with membership, human resources, and other related administrative activities. She graduated in 2008 from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst where she received a B.A. in economics and she has plans to pursue a M.S. in accounting. She is a lifelong resident of the valley, having grown up in Montague, MA. While in school, Allyson swam competitively for Turners Falls High School and Roger Williams University and is currently an Assistant Coach for the Amherst Tritons Swim Team. agreene@nciia.org
Jennifer Keller Jackson | Grants Manager
Jennifer oversees the NCIIA’s grants programs (Course and Program, E-Team, Sustainable Vision, Sponsorship and Resource grants, totaling about $2M annually), the Olympus Innovation Awards program and other competitions. Jennifer’s background is in nonprofit management, in the areas of education and technology. Her experience includes program development, customer service, fund-raising, technical proposal writing, communications, and PR. She wrote a concept paper to start a nonprofit and worked to transform another organization into a for-profit company. Keller Jackson and her family moved to Amherst, MA from the Washington, DC area in 2004. Jennifer grew up overseas in Asia, Africa, and South America and is deeply interested in alternatives to the traditional aid model of development. She has a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and studied at the Univerisite de Montpellier, France. jkjackson@nciia.org
Gordon Kramer | Technology Specialist/Developer
Gordon came to NCIIA following a number of years as a software developer, web developer, and software support specialist in academic institutions, including Landmark College, the UMass Amherst School of Nursing, and most recently the Center for Educational Software Development (CESD) at UMass Amherst. Originally trained as a Mechanical Engineer, Gordon's initial career direction was in energy efficiency and renewable energy development. In supporting the work of NCIIA's grantees, he returns to his original goals of supporting technologies that are sustainable, environmentally benign, appropriate and accessible to disadvantaged and low-income communities around the world. At NCIIA, he hopes to greatly improve the technology tools for the rest of the staff, so that more energy is available for the important work at hand. gkramer@nciia.org
Eric Phelps | Director of Development
Eric is responsible for resource development for NCIIA, including foundation, corporate, public and individual funding. He brings more than 20 years experience in nonprofit management encompassing executive leadership, fundraising, human resources, program development, conference planning and strategic oversight. Eric was most recently Director of the Grinspoon Institute for Jewish Philanthropy, a program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. He has also served as Executive Director of the New Art Center in Newton, MA and of VSA arts of Georgia in Atlanta. Eric also worked as Development Director of IMAGE Film & Video Center Community Events Coordinator of Special Audiences, both in Atlanta. Eric holds a BA in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts and a degree in American Sign Language from Georgia Perimeter College. ephelps@nciia.org
Angela Shartrand | Research & Evaluation Manager
Angela oversees NCIIA's internal and external research and evaluation initiatives. Most recently, she has helped to build the organization's capacity to conduct research in areas that are closely aligned with NCIIA's mission, through developing collaborations with faculty researchers and developing successful research proposals to the National Science Foundation. She currently manages three NSF-funded research projects that examine innovation and entrepreneurship education in the STEM fields. Prior to NCIIA, she worked as a researcher and evaluator in several organizations, including the Young Sisters for Justice at the Boston Women's Fund and the Harvard Family Research Project. She holds a Ph.D. in Applied Developmental and Educational Psychology from Boston College, an Ed.M. from Harvard University and a B.A. from Williams College. ashartrand@nciia.org
Joseph Steig | Treasurer and Manager of Venture Development
Joseph leads the Venture Well program for the NCIIA. He has twenty years experience as an advisor and CFO to entrepreneurial companies and non-profits. He also advises Long River Ventures, a regional venture capital firm, in the role of consulting CFO. He grew up in Vancouver, Canada and graduated with a BA from Hampshire College. jsteig@nciia.org
