Speakers

Rob Atkinson
President
Information Technology and Innovation Foundation

Robert Atkinson is President of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, a Washington, DC-based technology policy think tank. He is also author of the State New Economy Index series and the book, The Past and Future of America’s Economy: Long Waves of Innovation that Power Cycles of Growth (Edward Elgar, 2005). He has an extensive background in technology policy, he has conducted ground-breaking research projects on technology and innovation, is a valued adviser to state and national policy makers, and a popular speaker on innovation policy nationally and internationally.

Before coming to ITIF, Dr. Atkinson was Vice President of the Progressive Policy Institute and Director of PPI’s Technology & New Economy Project. While at PPI he wrote numerous research reports on technology and innovation policy, including on issues such as broadband telecommunications, Internet telephony, universal service, e-commerce, e-government, middleman opposition to e-commerce, privacy, copyright, RFID and smart cards, the role of IT in homeland security, the R&D tax credit, offshoring, and growth economics.

Previously Dr. Atkinson served as the first Executive Director of the Rhode Island Economic Policy Council, a public-private partnership including as members the Governor, legislative leaders, and corporate and labor leaders. As head of RIEPC, he was responsible for drafting a comprehensive economic strategic development plan for the state, developing a ten-point economic development plan, and working to successfully implement all ten proposals through the legislative and administrative branches. Prior to that he was Project Director at the former Congressional Office of Technology Assessment. While at OTA, he directed “The Technological Reshaping of Metropolitan America,” a seminal report examining the impact of the information technology revolution on America’s urban areas.

Aaron S. Brickman
Director
Invest in America
U.S. Department of Commerce

Aaron Brickman is Director of Invest in America, the first formal effort by the Federal Government in a generation to promote foreign direct investment (FDI) in the United States. His responsibilities include management of staff and day-to-day supervision and coordination of investment promotion and related agency activities, working with state economic development entities, and undertaking outreach to the international investment community.

Leading Invest in America bridges Mr. Brickman’s past international investment promotion activities. Before joining Commerce he worked in international economic consulting and strategy, dealing with private sector expansion mechanisms and focusing primarily on international trade and investment promotion. He advised in the planning and operations of national and subnational investment promotion efforts, and was a resident advisor to the Government of Mozambique.

Previously at Commerce, Mr. Brickman focused on worldwide and U.S. developments in renewable energy and oil and gas industry developments in Africa and Asia. During 2005-2007, Mr. Brickman played a crucial role in developing Commerce’s contribution to the Asia Pacific Partnership for Clean Development and Climate.

Mr. Brickman has worked as a Senior Consultant for a Chicago-based electronic commerce firm specializing in international logistics fulfillment. Overall he has worked in more than 25 countries.

Mr. Brickman holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Chicago and a Bachelor’s degree from American University in Washington, DC.

Paul C. Brophy
Principal
Brophy & Reilly LLC

Paul C. Brophy is a principal with Brophy & Reilly LLC, a Maryland-based consulting firm specializing in housing, community development, and the management of complex urban redevelopment projects. Mr. Brophy has been involved with housing, economic development, and neighborhood improvement in the United States since 1970 as a practitioner, an author, and a professor. His clients have included Johns Hopkins Medicine, Bank of America, the Goldseker Foundation, the MacArthur Foundation, the University of Chicago, HUD, for-profit and nonprofit businesses, and major financial institutions. From 1988-1993, Mr. Brophy was president and then vice chair of The Enterprise Foundation. While in these executive positions, Mr. Brophy worked with community groups and local governments around the nation to develop thousands of units of housing for low and moderate-income families, and to improve neighborhoods. From 1977-1986, Mr. Brophy held positions in the City of Pittsburgh government, first as Director of the Housing Department and then as Executive Director of the Urban Redevelopment Authority where he was responsible for downtown and neighborhood renewal and economic development. Mr. Brophy’s practice centers on the creation and implementation of strategies to improve the health of central cities. In 1997 Mr. Brophy directed a project for The American Assembly that resulted in a widely read report, “Community Capitalism: Rediscovering the Markets of America’s Urban Neighborhoods.” Mr. Brophy has held adjunct teaching positions at the School of Urban and Public Affairs, Carnegie Mellon University, the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Pittsburgh, and at the School of Public Affairs, the University of Maryland. Mr. Brophy has co-authored three books, A Guide to Careers in Community Development, (2000), Housing and Local Government (1982) and Neighborhood Revitalization: Theory and Practice (1975), as well as numerous articles in professional journals. Mr. Brophy holds a Bachelor of Arts from LaSalle University and a Masters in City Planning from the University of Pennsylvania.

Dennis Coleman
President & CEO
Saint Louis County Economic Council

Denny Coleman has been the President & CEO of St. Louis County Economic Council (SLCEC) for over 18 years. Prior to his present position, Coleman was director of development for the City of St. Louis and was in charge of the city’s neighborhood, housing, and economic development efforts. He also served as vice president for community development at Mercantile Bank (now U.S. Bank) when the bank’s community development corporation received the National Fair Housing Award and a Private Sector Initiatives Award from the White House.

Coleman has a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from the University of Wisconsin and bachelor’s degree in urban geography from Saint Louis University. He also completed the Senior Executive’s Program at John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Coleman currently chairs the Planning and Business Development Committee and is a member of the Governance Committee for the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). He also serves on numerous boards and advisory committees for state and local governments, civic organizations, colleges and universities. Coleman and his wife, Bonnie, the operations manager at The Blessing Basket Project, have been married more than thirty years. They have two grown children, Mike and Emily.

SLCEC is a not-for-profit economic development organization responsible for creating high-quality business and employment opportunities for long-term diversified growth throughout St. Louis County and region. SLCEC oversees several local and regional economic development programs including World Trade Center Saint Louis, various loan programs, small business incubators, business development and retention services, and community redevelopment. SLCEC also was responsible for leading the St. Louis region’s highly successful and nationally recognized Defense Adjustment Program.

Chuck Conlon
Managing Editor
CQ Budget Tracker

Chuck is a veteran legislative writer who has covered budget and appropriations bills and a wide range of other legislation as a writer and editor for CQ's Budget Tracker since 2004, and before that for CQ's House Action Reports. Prior to coming to CQ in 1995, he wrote on similar issues with the Democratic Study Group for eight years in the House of Representatives. Chuck also worked in legislative affairs for several years at a D.C. trade association. Chuck is from the Washington, D.C. area and graduated from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.

Stephen Crawford, Ph.D.
Deputy Director & Senior Advisor for State Policy
Metropolitan Policy Program
The Brookings Institution

Steve Crawford is the Deputy Director & Senior Advisor for State Policy at the Brookings Institution’s Metropolitan Policy Program. Previously he served as director of the Division of Social, Economic and Workforce Programs at the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices. H also served as vice president of the National Policy Association, executive director of the Governor’s Workforce Investment Board (MD), a senior research fellow and lecturer at the University of Maryland’s School of Public Affairs and the executive director of research centers in College Park, MD and Cambridge, MA. He also taught at Bates College for several years, and served as an assistant dean at the University of Pennsylvania. His publications include Technical Workers in an Advanced Society (Cambridge University Press, 1989), parts of which have been translated into French and German.

Crawford holds a Ph.D. in economic and political sociology from Columbia University, a Masters of Government Administration from the Wharton Business School (U. of PA), and a B.A. from Cornell University. He is also a graduate of Leadership Maryland. He served in the U.S. Army from 1964-1967, including one year as an infantry officer in Vietnam. That experience prepared him well for the two years he served as an elected member of the Frederick County Board of Education. He lives in Derwood, MD with his wife, Dr. Liliane Floge, and their daughter, Pascal.

Research Director

Paul Cullinan focuses on long-term budget issues, the fiscal implications of immigration policy and Social Security financing and benefit structure. He worked at the Congressional Budget Office for 26 years on a wide range of federal budget issues including immigration reform, higher education finance, welfare reform and Social Security.

Andrew L. Ehrlich
Senior Vice President
B&D Consulting

Andy Ehrlich applies his experience as a Chief of Staff in the Leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives to help his clients address the increasingly complex legislative and regulatory issues facing the energy, financial services and health care industries.

Andy has been working with one of the major public policy organizations for over five years on this issue of climate change. His substantive knowledge of the range of energy-related topics associated with this very visible issue gives Andy a tremendous advantage at developing legislative, regulatory and public affairs strategies for a wide variety of clients. He knows the federal landscape today.

In addition, Andy represents a wide variety of clients, including financial services companies, health insurers and benefit management companies. He leads a number of multi-faceted, corporate client teams that have a stake in public policy before Congress and U.S. Departments and federal agencies. Andy's work in the heavily-regulated health care, energy, insurance and financial services industries includes federal government representation and corporate issues management strategy development and implementation. Andy helps build powerful, broad-based coalitions that can tackle difficult issues.

Mayor William D. Euille
City of Alexandria

Mayor William D. Euille, is the Founder/President and Chief Executive Officer of Wm. D. Euille & Associates, Inc., formed on April 9, 1987. He is also Chairman of the Board of Directors of the firm, chartered in Washington, D.C. with offices in Alexandria, VA. The firm employs more than 30 employees and has annual sales in excess of $15 million.

Mayor Euille began his business career as an Accountant with a local construction company (Alexandria, VA) in 1972 and within eight years he advanced to Vice President/Controller, ultimately having responsibility for all contracting, financial and administrative functions.

A native of Alexandria, VA, Mayor Euille earned a bachelor's degree in Accounting from Quinnipiac College (Hamden, Ct.) in 1972. The Mayor is active in community affairs in Alexandria and Washington, D.C. His dedicated involvement includes The William D. Euille Foundation, (which he founded in 1994), American Heart Association, 1998-2000 Chairman- Alexandria United Way Campaign, The Concerned Black Men, Inc., INOVA Hospital Health System Board, Hopkins House Association, 2001 Chairman-NOVA Urban League Board of Directors, The Scholarship Fund of Alexandria, and he is a member of Ebenezer Baptist Church (Alexandria, VA).

Mayor Euille was elected to serve a three-year term on the Alexandria City Council in May 1994, re-elected in May 1997 (Vice Mayor), and May 2000, and elected as the City's first African-American Mayor in May 2003. In May 2003, was elected as Mayor for a three-year term. He serves on the Alexandria Economic Opportunities Commission, the Alexandria Pension Study Committee, the Local Emergency Planning Commission, Chairman Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC), the Eisenhower Partnership Board of Trustees, the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership Board, and the Washington Area Metropolitan Transit Authority (WMATA).

Additionally, he serves as the Co-Chair for the following City Council Task Forces on Affordable Housing, The Woodrow Wilson Bridge and The PTO/Carlyle Project, Chairman of the Youth Policy Commission, and a member of the Council on Virginia's Future.

Jeffrey Finkle, CEcD
President & CEO
International Economic Development Council

Jeffrey Finkle has been a leader in economic development for more than 20 years. In 2001 he became the President and CEO of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) following the merger of the Council for Urban Economic Development (CUED) with the American Economic Development Council (AEDC). Managing a $5 million annual budget and staff of 30, his keen ability to leverage resources and follow a vision have been instrumental in transforming IEDC into the largest economic development membership organization in the U.S.

Finkle served for 15 years as President and CEO of CUED prior to the merger, taking the reigns of the organization at a time it was facing tremendous financial and organizational challenges. A strong and compassionate leader, he steered the organization through this tumultuous period and oversaw the vast expansion of the organization’s influence. Before assuming leadership of CUED, he was U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Deputy Assistant Secretary of Community Planning and Development for Program Management from 1984 to 1986, directing programs with budgets totaling over $3 billion, including the Community Development Block Grant and the Urban Development Action Grant Program.

Finkle has successfully established multi-lateral partnerships with regional and national economic development organizations throughout the world and currently sits on the Consultative Committee of World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA). He has contributed to projects in China, Europe, Latin America, and Oceania as an expert on community revitalization strategies, development financing, and economic development programs. He is an author of numerous articles, keynote speaker and advisor and has been called upon by Congressional Committees for his expertise.

A native of Ohio, he maintains a long-standing relationship with Ohio University’s Voinovich School for Leadership and Public Affairs and serves on the School’s Institute for Local Government Administration and Rural Development Advising Committee, where he regularly participates in programs of direct benefit to Appalachia Ohio. He is additionally a member of the Arlington Virginia Economic Development Commission and served on the BRAC Task Force with the Commission in 2005, dealing with issues that directly impacted 4 million square feet of Arlington office space and 17,000 jobs. He continues to sit on the Executive Committee of the Commission.

In 1989, Finkle founded the Bollinger Foundation, a non-profit organization to provide financial assistance for the education and support of children who have lost one or more parent who worked in the field of economic development. Under his leadership the foundation has awarded approximately $500,000 in grants to families in need. The Bollinger Open, a golf tournament and primary fundraising event, is held annually at Andrews Airforce Base Golf Course. Finkle is also President and CEO of the Association of Defense Communities (ADC), a membership organization assisting in the conversion of military communities. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in communications in 1976 from Ohio University in Athens and pursued graduate studies in business administration at Ohio State University. Finkle holds a certification in the field of economic development and has appeared on national news programs such as CNBC Power Lunch, CBS Sunday Morning, and The Journal Report on PBS. He has additionally been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and the Washington Post, as well as many local papers nationwide.

Linda Fowler
Director of Strategic Partnerships
Office of Regional Innovation and Transformation
Employment and Training Administration
U.S. Department of Labor

Linda Fowler is Director of Strategic Partnerships, Office of Regional Innovation and Transformation, in the Employment and Training Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). She is engaged with a number of agency-wide initiatives, including the management of twelve Federal Agency Partnerships, liaison to the Manufacturing Interagency Working Group on Manufacturing Competitiveness, and the development of multiple Industry Competency Models. As a technical advisor to the Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) initiative, Linda designed and is implementing Communities of Practice (Clean Energy, Biosciences, and Advanced Manufacturing) and oversees eight technology transfer and transition pilots.

Linda was a senior advisor to the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership at the U.S. Department of Commerce National Institute of Standards and Technology for ten years. MEP is a nationwide network of not-for-profit centers in nearly 350 locations whose sole purpose is to help small and mid-sized manufacturers with business and technical assistance.

Previously, she was a management consultant with Restructuring Associates providing corporate strategic planning, innovative organizational design, and labor relations services to a number of Fortune 100 clients. She was also director of Private Ventures, an entrepreneurship training center and project engineer for AC Spark Plug, a division of General Motors Corporation. She completed her graduate work in Industrial and Labor Relations at the University of Michigan.

James W. Griffin, CECD
Executive Director
City of Hornell Industrial Development Agency

James W. Griffin is Executive Director of the City of Hornell Industrial Development Agency and President of the Hornell Area Chamber of Commerce, Past President of New York State Economic Development Council, Secretary Chemung , Schulyer, Steuben County Workforce Investment Board, Board Member of Regional Planning Board, and Regional Revolving Loan Fund. Mr. Griffin is a Certified Economic Developer and Past Chairman of the American Economic Development Council and was Past Chairman of the International Economic Development Council.

James W. Griffin has been Executive Director of the City of Hornell Industrial Development Agency and President of the Hornell Area Chamber of Commerce for over 30 years and was named New York State Developer of the Year in 1991. He is a Hornell native and a graduate of St. Bonaventure University.

The Honorable Paul Kanjorski
Member of the Financial Services Committee
U.S. House of Representatives

Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski was first elected to the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 11th Congressional District in 1984. He represents five counties in Northeastern Pennsylvania - most of Luzerne County, more than half of Lackawanna County, and all of Carbon, Columbia and Monroe counties.

In the 110th Congress, Congressman Kanjorski is the Chairman of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance and Government Sponsored Enterprises, which has jurisdiction over securities, exchanges, and most insurance matters, except for health insurance.

As Chairman of the Capital Markets Subcommittee, Congressman Kanjorski has made investor protection a top priority. In the 110th Congress, Congressman Kanjorski's priorities include promoting the American dream of homeownership, keeping our economy globally competitive, and encouraging financial literacy.

As the second most senior Democratic member of the Financial Services Committee, Congressman Kanjorski has been a leader in economic development issues, including improving the ability of small businesses and start-up technology companies to gain access to capital. His efforts to promote homeownership have earned him numerous awards, and his influence played a part in Sallie Mae's decision to maintain current staffing levels at its Wilkes-Barre center even as other centers were cut back or closed.

Scott Keeter
Director of Survey Research
Pew Research Center

Scott Keeter is director of survey research for the Pew Research Center in Washington, DC. His published work includes books on political participation and civic engagement, religion and politics, public opinion, and American elections, along with articles and chapters on survey methodology, political communications, and health care topics. A native of North Carolina, he attended Davidson College as an undergraduate and received a Ph.D. in political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He has taught at George Mason University, Rutgers University and Virginia Commonwealth University. Since 1980 Keeter has been an election night analyst of exit polls for NBC News, and has served as Standards Chair and Councilor-at-Large for the American Association for Public Opinion Research.

Jason LeVecke
Owner
MJKL Enterprises LLC

Jason LeVecke is the owner and operator of 64 CARL’S JR. and Pizza Patron Franchisee restaurants in Arizona. From 1997 to 2001 Mr. LeVecke was in the United States Marine Corps, Active Duty, at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He was an Arabic Linguist, Maintenance Management Logistics Chief, Non Commissioned Officer in charge of Embarkation and Hazardous Materials, and Mission Team Leader. From 1992-1997, Mr. LeVecke was General Manager, District Trainer and New Store Opening Team Leader for Carl’s Jr. Restaurants in Southern California.

He is a graduate of Arabic Linguistic and Cultural Studies at the Defense Language Institute and graduate of California Polytechnic University of Pomona.

Gail Lewis
Assistant Director
Arizona Department of Transportation

Gail Lewis is the Assistant Director for the Arizona Department of Transportation. She was formerly Policy Advisor for Economic Development to Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano. In that capacity, she advised the Governor on economic development issues, helps to set economic development policies and priorities for the state, and acts as the liaison to the Department of Commerce and the Office of Tourism. Prior to joining the Governor's staff in 2003, she spent 10 years as the Director of Economic Development and Constituent Outreach at Arizona State University, where she oversaw activities designed to make the resources of the university more accessible to the Arizona business and economic development communities. She has worked extensively on technology development, international trade, and long term policy issues, and has done consulting work in Australia, France, Saudi Arabia, Mexico and around the US. Gail has a Master's degree in International Affairs from Columbia University and a bachelor's degree in international affairs and journalism from the University of Southern California. Gail sits on the board of the Phoenix Sister Cities Commission, World Affairs Council, Arizona-Mexico Commission and Arizona Bioindustry Association. She also sits on the national Board of Directors of the International Economic Development Council.

Robert M. Lewis, CEcD, AICP
Principal & President
Development Strategies

Bob directs economic research and planning projects at Development Strategies, based in St. Louis. He was part of the team that created Development Strategies in 1988 after ten years with Team Four and two years with the St. Louis County Department of Planning. He was named president in 2000.

The focus of his professional work is analyzing the market, economic, and organizational forces that influence urban planning, economic growth, and real estate development. His consulting services typically yield strategic recommendations for clients seeking to maximize economic value. Clients include private property owners, corporations, government agencies, non-profits, and institutions all around the United States.

A native of Glencoe, Illinois, in the Chicago area, Bob holds a master's degree in city and regional planning from Southern Illi¬nois University at Edwardsville (1976) and a bachelor's degree in business economics from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio (1973). He is a member of the Leadership St. Louis class of 1986-1987.

He is a certified economic developer (CEcD) within the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) and a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) of the American Planning Association (APA). He is also a former president of APA’s Missouri Chapter and recently served as secretary-treasurer of the Economic Development Division of the APA.

Bob McGahern
Director
National Defense Education Program
U.S. Department of Defense

Bob McGahern is the Director of the National Defense Education Program (NDEP) for the Office of the Director, Defense Research and Engineering (DDR&E). NDEP was enacted to address the challenge of educating, training, recruiting, and retaining workers in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines facing the Department of Defense (DoD).

Before coming to DDR&E Mr. McGahern was the Deputy Director for the Navy’s N-STAR (Naval Research – Science and Technology for America’s Readiness) Office. The Navy’s N-STAR initiative supports workforce research and education partnerships within the Navy’s Research Enterprise community.

Since 2001 Mr. McGahern has represented the Department of Defense on a variety of national security working groups and has contributed significantly to technical workforce strategic planning reform initiatives within DoD. Mr. McGahern has managed research and engineering workforce policy priorities among organizations such as the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, the National Science Foundation and the Department of Homeland Security. Mr. McGahern received an Associates Degree in Mathematics from Nassau Community College (1977), a Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering from Stony Brook University (1980) and an MS in Systems Engineering Management from the Naval Postgraduate School (2004).

Judy McKinney-Cherry
Director
Delaware Economic Development Office

Judy McKinney-Cherry was nominated by Governor Ruth Ann Minner and confirmed by the Senate as the first female Director of the Delaware Economic Development Office in October 2002. The Delaware Economic Development Office is responsible for attracting new investments and businesses to the State, promoting the expansion of existing industry, assisting small and minority owned businesses, promoting and developing tourism and creating new and improved employment opportunities for all citizens of the State.

After spending ten years as an Economic Development Program Manager in the Delaware Economic Development Office, Judy accepted a regional management position with Info Systems, a national information technology services company headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware.

Judy went on to hold a series of strategic leadership positions at Info Systems, including Corporate Sales Manager, Director of Regional Operations, and Government and External Affairs taking leadership role in transitioning the business from a computer hardware business to a strategic service delivery model. When Judy retired from Info Systems in 2002, she was responsible for profitably managing nearly $30 million in business annually.

During her first term at the Delaware Economic Development Office, Judy assisted businesses in determining locations, markets and labor conditions for their endeavors in Delaware. Judy has provided expert opinion in testifying before Congress. While a statistician with the state, Judy broke ground ahead of the Internet by implementing the first bulletin board for state government in 1984 and was also instrumental in bringing GIS into economic development as a tool in 1990. In 1992, under the direction of the Delaware Executive Branch (Minner Commission), Judy reviewed those state government agencies directly responsible for economic growth.

Judy started her career as a computer programmer for the Del Monte Corporation in Idaho. She is a graduate from the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and Political Science, while securing minors in Computer Science and Economics from the College of Natural Resources at Utah State University.

Under Judy McKinney-Cherry, the Delaware Economic Development Office has refocused its efforts to become a sales oriented organization. She has been instrumental in providing the organization productivity and technology tools, specific results-oriented performance measures, and development of a marketing and communications division. The Director implemented a cluster strategy coupled with an innovative entrepreneurial action plan. She has modernized many of the policies and approaches to economic development. The tourism website received three national and international awards in 2007 and for the first time Delaware produced an international TV marketing program. In addition, Delaware is executing the first comprehensive marketing plan prepared for the Delaware Economic Development Office in history. Another first under Director McKinney-Cherry, Delaware received all AAA’s on the Corporation for Enterprise Development Report Card for state economic development (since it started in 1985). She also implemented the process for the first Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (EDA specific) for Delaware. The Director’s innovation and creativeness led to the precedent-setting high technology business creation program using commercializable intellectual property donated by Delaware corporations. Working with Governor Ruth Ann Minner, Judy McKinney-Cherry has increased available capital for economic development initiatives from $10 million annually to over $50 million annually including a first time public/private partnership with a financial institution. She has led the team impacting 15% of Delaware’s workforce (65,000 jobs), directly influencing over $1.5b of private investment and impacting $88.5b in Delaware’s economy over a 5-year period. McKinney-Cherry’s team has demonstrated an overall impact on Delaware’s economy of $349 to $1 return on investment for public monies and $19 to $1 ROI for leveraging private investments. Annually, over 600 businesses have been directly assisted by the office.

She has been awarded the Regional SBA Award for assisting small businesses (2003) and was elected to the Board of Directors for the International Economic Development Council for 2007-2010. Judy was chair of the IT sub-committee of the Governor’s Strategic Economic Council from 2001-20002 and a board member of the statewide Workforce Investment Board 1998-2008; and Co-Chair of the Performance Review Committee from 2000-2002. Judy is the recipient of the 2003 Girls Inc. “She Knows Where She’s Going” award and has been a Distinguished Lecture Series Speaker for the University of Pennsylvania’s Fels Institute. She is a member of the International Women’s Forum; Delaware Stadium Corporation Board of Directors; Diamond State Port Corporation Board of Directors; DEFAC (Delaware Economic Financial Council); Delaware Manufacturers’ Extension Partnership Board; Delaware Science and Technology Council; Board of Directors for the National Arthritis Foundation 1999-2001; Delaware State Chamber Partnership Board 2000-2007; and the Delaware Energy Advisory Council.

Jim Mikles
Co-Founder and Program Manager
Golden Capital Network

Jim Mikles is co-founder of Golden Capital Network and director of Venture Communities. Since 1999, Jim has worked with entrepreneurs, investors, CEOs, economic developers and policy makers in emerging markets across the U.S. to foster innovation and sustainable growth companies for economic prosperity. Jim helps companies raise angel and venture capital and helps economic developers institute policies, programs and networks to foster entrepreneurship and investing.

Prior to co-founding GCN, a northern California non-profit corporation, Jim worked for 10 years as a professional print journalist covering business, technology and government. Jim continues to write for a number of publications and his articles have appeared in various trade publications such as Economic Development America, the national publication of the U.S. Economic Development Administration. Jim has a BA in journalism and a minor in English literature from California State University, Chico, with post-graduate studies in accounting and finance.

The Golden Capital Venture Communities program includes technology tools, best practices, an online community and a national network that enables economic development and business services professionals to support innovative companies competing in the national and global marketplace.

Dr. Raymond L. Orbach
Under Secretary for Science
U.S. Department of Energy

Raymond Lee Orbach was sworn in by Secretary Samuel W. Bodman as the Department of Energy’s first Under Secretary for Science on June 1, 2006. President Bush nominated Dr. Orbach for the new position, created by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, on December 13, 2005, and he was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate on May 26, 2006. Secretary Bodman has tasked Dr. Orbach with the department’s implementation of the President’s American Competitiveness Initiative, will help drive continued U.S. economic growth.

The Secretary also has charged Dr. Orbach with leading the Department's efforts to transfer technologies from DOE national laboratories and facilities to the global marketplace, naming the Under Secretary for Science as the Department's Technology Transfer Coordinator, in accordance with the Energy Policy Act, and as chair of the DOE Technology Transfer Policy Board, responsible for coordinating and implementing policies for the Department's technology transfer activities.

Dr. Orbach continues to serve as the 14th Director of the Office of Science at the Department of Energy, a position he has held since the Senate confirmed him and he was sworn in in March 2002. In this capacity, Dr. Orbach manages an organization that is the third largest Federal sponsor of basic research in the United States, the primary supporter of the physical sciences in the U.S., and one of the premier science organizations in the world.

The Office of Science fiscal year 2008 budget of $4.0 billion funds programs in high energy and nuclear physics, basic energy sciences, magnetic fusion energy, biological and environmental research, and computational science. The Office of Science, formerly the Office of Energy Research, also provides management oversight of 10 DOE non-weapons laboratories, supports researchers at more than 300 colleges and universities nationwide, and builds and operates the world’s finest suite of scientific facilities and instruments used annually by more than 19,000 researchers world-wide to extend the frontiers of science.

From 1992 to 2002, Dr. Orbach served as Chancellor of the University of California (UC), Riverside. Under his leadership, UC Riverside doubled in size, achieved national and international recognition in research, and led the University of California in diversity and educational opportunity. In addition to his administrative duties at UC Riverside, sustained an active research program; worked with postdoctoral, graduate, and undergraduate students in his laboratory; and taught the freshman physics course each year. As Distinguished Professor of Physics, Dr. Orbach set the highest standards for academic excellence.

Dr. Orbach received his Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from the California Institute of Technology in 1956. He received his Ph.D. degree in Physics from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1960 and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Dr. Orbach was born in Los Angeles, California.

Erik R. Pages
President
EntreWorks Consulting

Erik R. Pages is the President of EntreWorks Consulting, an economic development consulting and policy development firm focused on helping communities and organizations achieve their entrepreneurial potential. Since its founding, EntreWorks has worked with customers in thirty states and overseas. Previously, Dr. Pages served as Policy Director for the National Commission on Entrepreneurship (NCOE), where he directed the Commission's research and policy operations. Before joining NCOE, he served as Vice President for Policy and Programs at Business Executives for National Security (BENS). He has also held senior positions at the US Economic Development Administration and on Capitol Hill. Dr. Pages is a Senior Fellow at the Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness, the RUPRI Center for Rural Entrepreneurship, and serves on the Arlington County (VA) Economic Development Commission. He received his Ph.D. from Georgetown University, where he has served as an Adjunct Professor. He is a graduate of Dickinson College (Phi Beta Kappa) and the University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Public and International Affairs.

Diane L. Palmintera
President
Innovation Associates

Ms. Palmintera is the founder and President of Innovation Associates, Inc. (IA). IA was founded in 1988 to apply science and technology resources from universities and federal laboratories to enhance the economic competitiveness of regions. Today, IA provides expert consulting services to public, academic and private sectors to promote innovation, partnerships and competitiveness. Clients include: National Science Foundation (NSF), U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Small Business Administration, Commission of the European Union (EU), numerous states, European countries, universities and private enterprises.

In October 2007 IA released a major report produced for the NSF entitled Technology Transfer and Commercialization Partnerships that provides valuable recommendations to help emerging academic institutions launch technology startups and transfer technologies. This report is a tour-de-force in the field and has already been endorsed by the former NSF Director and other national leaders. IA’s earlier report – Accelerating Economic Development through University Technology Transfer – presents best practices from the Top 10 in university technology transfer and commercialization. Ms. Palmintera also wrote Developing High-Technology Communities: San Diego (SBA) that was featured in the Wall Street Journal and Partners on a Mission: Federal Laboratories Contributing to Economic Development. She has conducted extensive work on the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program and is tapped by Congressional Committees to provide her expertise on SBIR and innovation programs.

Dr. Luis M. Proenza
President
The University of Akron

Under Dr. Luis Proenza's experienced leadership, The University of Akron has undertaken several high-profile initiatives that have completely transformed the campus and its surrounding neighborhoods and has positioned the University as a strategic business partner with both government and corporate entities.

A nationally recognized leader, Dr. Proenza was appointed by President George W. Bush in 2001 to serve on the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), the nation's highest-level policy advisory group for science and technology. The group advises the president and assists the Office of Science and Technology Policy and the National Science and Technology Council in securing private-sector involvement in their activities.

Dr. Proenza is a member of The Council on Competitiveness, where he serves on the executive committee and on the National Innovation Initiative Leadership Council, as well as co-chairing the Council’s Regional Innovation Initiative. In addition, he is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Dr. Proenza chairs the Ohio Supercomputer Center and the Commission on Urban Agenda, and he serves on the boards of the State Science and Technology Institute, the Great Lakes Science Center, the Ohio Chamber of Commerce and OneCommunity. In 2003, he was appointed by Governor Bob Taft to Ohio’s Third Frontier Advisory Board and also serves on the advisory council for Team NEO.

He previously served on the Advisory Board of the U.S. Secretary of Energy, where he chaired the Science and Mathematics Education Task Force; the NAS-NRC Committee on Vision; the National Biotechnology Policy Board; the U.S. Arctic Research Commission (appointed by former President George H.W. Bush); and as Advisor for Science and Technology Policy to Alaska Governor Walter J. Hickel.

Dr. Proenza holds a bachelor's degree from Emory University (1965), a master's degree from The Ohio State University (1966) and a doctorate from the University of Minnesota (1971).

Mike Quear
Staff Director on Technology and Innovation
House Science Committee

A chemical engineer by education, Mike then worked for Union Carbide Corp. in both its research and development lab and several production locations. He received a AAAS fellowship at the Department of State in 1989 in the Oceans, Environmental and Scientific Affairs Bureau. At the State Department he focused on intellectual property rights and trade in militarily-sensitive technologies. He joined the Science Committee in 1991 to work on international scientific issues. Since 1995, he has focused on technology issues such as competitiveness, computer security, standards and trade and technology development programs (Advanced Technology Program, Manufacturing Extension Partnership, and Small Business Innovative Research).

Brian M. Riedl
Senior Policy Analyst and Grover Hermann Fellow in Federal Budgetary Affairs
Thomas A. Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies

Brian Riedl is The Heritage Foundation's lead budget analyst and has built a solid reputation for interpreting, explaining and reforming the often arcane realm of federal budget policy.

Riedl's budget research has been featured in front-page stories and editorials in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post and The Los Angeles Times. He has discussed budget policy on NBC, CBS, PBS, CNN, FOX News, MSNBC, and C-SPAN. He also participates in the bipartisan "Fiscal Wake-Up Tour," which holds town hall meetings across America focusing on the looming crisis in Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

Before coming to Heritage in 2001, Riedl worked for then-Gov. Tommy Thompson, former Rep. Mark Green (R-WI)., and the Speaker of the Wisconsin Assembly. Riedl holds a bachelor's degree in economics and political science from the University of Wisconsin, and a master's degree in public affairs from Princeton University.

Robin Roberts Krieger, FM
Executive Vice President
Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce

Robin Roberts is Executive Vice President of Economic Development for the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, and leads the 10-county region in international and domestic business recruitment, expansion and retention, research and strategy development.

Roberts is a native of Oregon, and has over a decade of public service in the economic development and public policy arena. She served as a Regional Coordinator for the Governor’s office focusing on developing cooperation between local, community and state government on economic development projects.

Previously Roberts served as Director of Economic Development for the Portland Development Commission, Executive Director of Economic Development for Central Oregon, and International and Product Development Manager for the Oregon Tourism Commission, part of the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department. Roberts spent several years in the private sector before entering public service.

Roberts holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in education from Oregon State University and a Masters of Science in Educational Administration from Portland State University. She is on the board of the International Economic Development Council, where she serves as the Chair; and she is an Oregon State University Trustee. She is the co-author of “Community Wisdom”, a humorous look at economic and community development and a frequently requested speaker on economic development topics.

Richard Seline
CEO and Principal
New Economy Strategies, LLC

Richard is the Founder and Principal of NES and has been working in the economic development arena for over eighteen years at the national, regional, and local levels. He has been recognized for his work in public-private partnerships, regional business climate analysis, and technology adaptation by numerous business organizations. Richard spun New Economy Strategies out of Collaborative Economics (CEI) of Palo Alto to focus on discrete regional projects, especially in the areas of biotechnology /life sciences and innovative economic convergence. Richard's work experience includes projects in Greater Washington D.C, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Kansas City and Texas, as well as on behalf of the Biotechnology Industry Organization, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the National Alliance for Regional Stewardship. From 1986-1990, Richard served as Special Assistant for Strategic Affairs to the President of U.T. M.D. Anderson Cancer Center This initial introduction to, and extensive agenda in the biotechnology commercialization and partnering arena with a globally-recognized institution created the long-standing foundation on which his work has evolved.

Richard has served as a consultant to the largest national angel capital network (The Capital Network), the Association of Collegiate Entrepreneurs, and the Young Entrepreneurs Organization. He has worked extensively with Dr. George Kozmetsky considered the architect of the Austin Model for Regional Technopolis Strategies and an internationally recognized entrepreneur. In 1999, Richard served as a strategic consultant to the launching of the National Commission on Entrepreneurship funded by the Kauffman Foundation.

Richard served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of U.S. Department of Commerce for Economic Development from 1991-1992. Richard has written extensively about business climate issues, regional economic development and technology strategies for the Council of Urban Economic Development, Technology Business, Texas Business Magazine, and other regional and national media. He is an author and/or participant in numerous studies and reports at the national and regional level, including the Council For Economic Development (CFED)/Ford Foundation National Business Climate Project and the Southern Growth Policies Board Creating Regionally-based Electronic Economic Development Strategies. Richard received his BA from the University of Texas at Austin.

Phillip Singerman
Senior Vice President
B&D Consulting

Phillip Singerman is a recognized national innovator in public/private partnerships to promote local economic development. His thirty-year career includes positions in the public — local, state and federal levels — and private sectors.

Phillip's expertise includes program development and implementation of technology transfer and commercialization programs with universities and federal laboratories, business incubation and research park facilities, seed funds for early stage companies, and special cooperative agreements with federal agencies. Phillip is particularly knowledgeable about federal economic development programs and has been effective in leveraging federal funds for local economic development programs.

Phillip was appointed U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development by President Bill Clinton and served from 1995-99. In this position, he directed the Economic Development Administration (EDA), the federal government's lead economic development agency, whose $400 million annual budget provided grants to distressed communities.

Prior to joining B&D Consulting, Phillip was a Managing Director at Toucan Capital Fund II, LP, a $120 million private venture capital firm, investing in early stage life science companies. Toucan Capital's portfolio includes two dozen companies, with activities in India, China and Europe. Phillip continues with the Fund as a Venture Partner.

Phillip was the founding chief executive of two of the best-known state-sponsored technology-based economic development organizations: Pennsylvania's Ben Franklin Partners Program in Philadelphia and the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO). Ben Franklin Partners is longest lasting state technology development organization and serves as a model for other states. TEDCO is regarded as the most innovative new organization; Entrepreneur Magazine ranked TEDCO as the most active investor of seed stage companies in the nation for the past four years.

Phillip serves on the boards of the State Science and Technology Institute, the Tech Council of Maryland and East Baltimore Incubator (a collaborative project of the City of Baltimore and Johns Hopkins University). Previous board positions include the International Economic Development Council and the U.S. Department of Commerce's Advisory Committee on Strengthening America's Communities Initiative.

Phillip held policy development and program management positions in local governments and state municipal associations in New Haven, Philadelphia and Connecticut and taught at Barnard College (Columbia University), Yale College, and the Fels Center of Government (University of Pennsylvania). He received his B.A. from Oberlin College and a Ph.D. from Yale University and served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Colombia, South America.

Dr. Gary Spanner
Economic Development Manger
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Dr. Gary Spanner, manager of the economic development office at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, is an expert in using resources and technologies developed at the lab to boost the local and regional economy. He has an award-winning track record using federally funded technology resources to increase the economic competitiveness of small and large businesses. Gary also serves as PNNL’s contact for technology assistance, joint proposals, technology licensing, cooperative research, staff exchanges, and privately-funded research for small businesses.

With fourteen years of economic development experience, Gary and his team have worked with more than 800 firms and implemented a number of innovative programs that serve the technological needs of small businesses and diversify the economy. His previous experience is in industrial modernization, energy systems analysis, energy conservation program evaluation, and nondestructive evaluation (at PNNL); and in mechanical design (Texas Instruments), and nondestructive evaluation (Babcock & Wilcox).

In addition to his work at PNNL, Gary is heavily involved in the local and regional community. He serves as chair of the Tri-Cities Research District, an organization working to more fully populate the area surrounding PNNL and Washington State University-Tri-Cities with technology-based companies and organizations. He also serves on advisory boards for the Applied Process Engineering Laboratory, the Richland Economic Development Committee, and Sirti, an economic development organization in Spokane, Wash. Gary also was instrumental in establishing the Columbia Investor Group, a local angel investment organization, and serves as an advisor to the Delta Angel Group in Spokane, of which he was a co-founder.

Gary holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Washington State University, a M.B.A. from the University of Washington, and a Ph.D. in Industrial and Management Systems Engineering from Arizona State University. He is also a Certified Economic Developer and a Certified Professional Engineer. He is also an adjunct professor of technology entrepreneurship at Washington State University.

Dr. Lawrence Spinelli
Director of Public Affairs
Overseas Private Investment Corporation

Dr. Spinelli is the Director of Public Affairs at the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC). At OPIC, Dr. Spinelli is responsible for all public diplomacy activities, including media relations, publications, conferences, small business outreach and OPIC’s Partners Program.

Prior to joining OPIC in 1998, Dr. Spinelli was the Vice President for Corporate Communications at the National Alliance of Business. He spent over a decade on Capitol Hill as a policy and communications director for three members of Congress and both the House and Senate Judiciary Committees. Dr. Spinelli was an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Drew University, where he directed off campus programs in Washington and London, and was a Professorial Lecturer at American University. He is the author of Dry Diplomacy: the United States, Great Britain and Prohibition. Dr. Spinelli received his undergraduate degree from Drew University, a masters degree in government from Georgetown University, and a masters degree and doctorate degree in history from New York University.

Wayne E. Swann
Howard Community College

Mr. Swann has 20 years of university technology transfer experience and is the founding director of the Technology Transfer Offices at the John Hopkins University, Applied Physics Laboratory and the University of Maryland at College Park. He has overseen the management of more than 1,600 inventions, 500 license agreements, 30 start-up companies, and $40,000,000 in total income.

Prior to his career in technology transfer, Mr. Swann spent 14 years in the commercial world as a research scientist, marketing manager and business development manager, where his research led to 10 US Patents. A number of his inventions have been developed into commercial products, including the enzymatic production of L-aspartic acid and L-phenylalanine, the two main components in the production of aspartame (NutraSweet (r))

Mr. Swann holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Science from Towson University; is a member of the Licensing Executive Society, the Association of University Technology Managers, and the National Business Incubator Association. He is a former voting delegate for the National Association of State University and Land Grant Colleges (NASULGC). Mr. Swann is past chair of the Howard County NeoTech Incubator Advisory Committee.

Will Swearingen, Ph.D.
Executive Director
TechLink
Montana State University

Dr. Will Swearingen has managed technology development and technology transfer programs for more than 16 years. Since 2000, he has served as the Executive Director of TechLink, a federally funded technology transfer “partnership intermediary” at Montana State University. TechLink helps the Department of Defense (DoD) and other federal agencies to license their technology to industry and to find productive cooperative research and technology development partners.

Dr. Swearingen has played a key role in transforming TechLink into a nationally recognized technology transfer organization. TechLink has brokered nearly 600 agreements between federal labs and industry. In addition, over the past five years, it has helped to broker approximately a third of all DoD licensing agreements with industry nationwide. It provides nearly a 4:1 return on investment to DoD from its technology transfer activities.

In addition to managing TechLink, Dr. Swearingen served as the project leader on the National Science Foundation-funded Partnerships for Innovation project, “Montana Business Foundry: Tech Ventures for a Rural State.” This project ran from 2002-2006 and focused on creating an effective, sustainable partnership involving key university, state government, and private-sector partners for creation of new technology companies. By summer 2006, the project had played a key role in the start up of 12 new technology firms in Montana.

Before joining TechLink, Will directed several major programs at Montana State University (MSU), including a program to partner Montana biotech companies with university researchers for new technology development, and an international biocontrol program funded by USAID. He also developed and managed two consecutive, closely related projects from the Business and International Education Program of the US Department of Education. These projects helped environmental technology companies in the Northwestern United States to compete more effectively in the global marketplace by increasing their knowledge of business opportunities in the Mexican border region.

Dr. Swearingen has taught at Colgate University and the University of New Mexico. He is the author of a book, co-author of another book, and author of twenty-four other substantial publications. He has a PhD in geography from the University of Texas at Austin and conducted postdoctoral research at Stanford University.

Graham Toft
President
GrowthEconomics

Graham S. Toft is founder and president of GrowthEconomics, in Sarasota, Florida, focused on how good pay jobs grow and growth companies multiply in a fast-paced, open, disruptive, global economy. He spends much of his time on innovation development, growth strategies and economic competitiveness issues facing localities, regions, states, nations, educational institutions, business civic organizations and industries. GrowthEconomics has a bias toward the measurement and monitoring competitive position as a means to grab attention and focus on actionable strategies. To that end, Graham prepares a State Competitiveness ScoreCard for several state Chambers of Commerce. He and his GrowthEconomics team prepare the state Entrepreneurship Score Card in collaboration with the Small Business Foundation of Michigan and has prepared the Indiana Technology Index for TechPoint, Indiana’s technology industries alliance.

Graham is a professional civil engineer and credentialed technical educator and holds a Ph.D. from Purdue University in public policy and urban engineering. He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and a Chartered Engineer with the Institution of Engineers, Australia. In 1989, he was awarded the Distinguished Professional Planner Award by the Indiana Planning Association. Between 1988 and 2001 he was President of the Indiana Economic Development Council, Inc., the state’s think tank on economic development. There, he led the preparation of strategic economic development plans for Indiana in 1988, 1994, and 1999. He has consulted to over 50 local areas and six state governments on strategic economic development, policy planning, development finance, technology and workforce strategies, small business development, sustainable development and global reach.

Bill Valdez
Director, Office of Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists
Office of Science
U.S. Department of Energy

Bill Valdez is the Director of the Office of Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists within the Department of Energy’s Office of Science.

His responsibilities include developing workforce strategies for the Department’s scientific and technical workforce, and creating opportunities for students and educators to participate in the Nation’s research enterprise as a means to improving the competitiveness of U.S. industry and overall scientific literacy.

Previously, Mr. Valdez was the Director of Planning and Analysis at the Department of Energy’s Office of Science. His responsibilities included corporate strategic planning, R&D evaluation, and Federal S&T policy development.

Mr. Valdez was awarded the Presidential Rank Award (meritorious) in 2007, was elected as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2006, and is Vice Chair of the Senior Executive Association’s Board of Directors.

Prior to working at DOE, Mr. Valdez worked as a Senior Project Manager in private industry where he provided strategic planning services to Asian and European multinational corporations.

Mr. Valdez received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas and his Master of Arts in International Economics and Energy Policy from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

Sandra Westlund-Deenihan
President and Design Engineer
Quality Float Works, Inc.

Sandra Westlund-Deenihan has served as the President and Design Engineer of Quality Float Works, Inc. since 1995.

Since it was established in 1915, Quality Float Works, Inc. has grown into one of only three metal float manufacturing companies operating in the United States. By harnessing her passion for manufacturing, she turned a virtually unknown family business on the verge of financial collapse into a leader in the industry. Sandra has supervised its growth into a global competitor with exports to Asia, Canada and Europe. The company was recently recognized as “one of the fastest growing companies in the United States.

Quality Float Works, Inc. is recognized worldwide for its top-grade materials, excellent workmanship, exclusive designs and extraordinary engineering capability. Sandra employs high standards of skilled workmanship and product quality that have established the company as a premier market leader. Her sharp business sense is credited to a lifetime of experience in manufacturing as a third generation manufacturer. The success of Quality Float Works, Inc. and Sandra’s passion for manufacturing has positioned her as a point person in the manufacturing industry for engineering and design and a leader on workforce development issues.

Robert G. Wilhelm
Executive Director
Charlotte Research Institute
UNC Charlotte

An experienced educator, researcher, engineer, and businessman, Dr. Robert G. Wilhelm provides executive and administrative leadership for the Charlotte Research Institute (CRI), UNC Charlotte’s portal for business-university science and technology partnerships. With its research centers housed in three new custom-designed buildings on the Charlotte Research Institute Campus, CRI helps companies initiate new partnerships at UNC Charlotte and offers a variety of opportunities to engage talented faculty and make use of specialized facilities that are available only at UNC Charlotte.

Wilhelm is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science in the William States Lee College of Engineering. Dr. Wilhelm has wide experience in both academic and business circles. At UNC Charlotte since 1993, Wilhelm was a founding faculty member for PhD programs in Mechanical Engineering, Biotechnology, Information Technology, and Nanoscience. He served on the committees to form the School of Computing and Informatics and the PhD program in Optical Sciences and Engineering. Most recently he served as the associate director of the Center for Precision Metrology, an Industry/University Cooperative Research Center funded by the National Science Foundation. Before coming to Charlotte, Wilhelm worked at the Palo Alto Laboratory of Rockwell Science Center and at Cincinnati Milacron. He co-founded a high-technology manufacturing company, OpSource, Inc., in 2001.

Wilhelm holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Wichita State University, a master’s degree in industrial engineering from Purdue University, and a doctorate in mechanical engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Wilhelm also pursued postgraduate studies in Great Britain as a Rotary Foundation Fellow. His research and teaching have been recognized with the National Science Foundation Young Investigator Award. Dr. Wilhelm serves on a number of regional, national, and international advisory boards for scientific research, engineering, community and economic development, and philanthropy.

Deborah L. Wince-Smith
President
Council on Competitiveness

Deborah L. Wince-Smith is the president of the Council on Competitiveness, a premiere group of CEOs, university presidents and labor leaders committed to driving U.S. competitiveness. Most notably, she has spearheaded a national campaign that made innovation a top-tier national policy issue. She is recognized in the global business community as a "go to" person for strategic counsel, as exemplified by her recent appointment to the Board of Directors of the NASDAQ Stock Market.

As president of the Council, Wince-Smith's expertise in technology policy, economic development and global competition is frequently sought after by government, industry and news media.

She has more than 20 years of experience as a senior U.S. government official, including as Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy in the Department of Commerce during the first Bush administration. Most recently, she was appointed by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as a member of the Oversight Board of the Internal Revenue Service. During the course of her career, she has testified before several committees of the U.S. House and Senate. She also serves on or chairs four Cabinet-level advisory groups, including a task force on nuclear energy for the Secretary of Energy.

Harry Zeeve
National Field Director
The Concord Coalition

Harry Zeeve is the National Field Director of The Concord Coalition. The Concord Coalition is a nationwide, non-partisan organization dedicated to educating the public about the federal budget and its consequences for the future. The Concord Coalition has established chapters in states throughout the nation.

Mr. Zeeve has a degree in political science from the University of Massachusetts and a law degree from Boston College Law School.

Following his graduation from law school, Mr. Zeeve worked in-house as an attorney for a Texas corporation. He joined The Concord Coalition as a volunteer in 1993, and joined Concord’s staff as the Kansas and Missouri Coordinator in 1995. In 1996, Mr. Zeeve became Concord’s California Coordinator and moved to Washington, D.C. in 1997 as Concord’s National Field Director.

As National Field Director, Mr. Zeeve is responsible for coordinating Concord’s grassroots activities such as developing chapters, organizing educational events with Members of Congress, federal agencies and other policy organizations, and coordinating guest op-eds, television and radio appearances with Concord’s Field Staff.