2024 Speakers and Moderators

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

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

Leslie Ashor, Director of Science + Technology, HOK  

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

Tony Boccanfuso, Chief Executive Officer, UIDP

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

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

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

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

Stephen Coulston, Principal, Perkins&Will 

Kristina Covall, Project Manager, SKS Partners  

Brian Darmody, Chief Strategy Officer, AURP

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

Ross DeVol, President and Chief Executive Officer, Heartland Forward 

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

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

Adam Glaser, Managing Director, KPMG US 

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

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

Julie Huls, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Waymaker Group 

David Johnson, Executive Director, Fayetteville Public Library 

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

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

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

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

Debra Lam, Founding Executive Director, Partnership for Inclusive Innovation, Georgia Institute for Technology

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

Ngan Le, Assistant Professor, University of Arkansas  

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

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

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 

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

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

Rich Michal, Senior Vice President, Capital Projects and Facilities, Purdue Research Foundation  

Brian Naumick, Managing Director, Edgemoor Infrastructure & Real Estate  

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

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

Aaron Olver, Managing Director, University Research Park  

Vickie Palmer, Chief Executive Officer, AURP 

Lane Patterson, Highway Ventures, Bentonville, Arkansas  

Nelson Peacock, President & CEO, Northwest Arkansas Council

Jordan Peterson, Chief Property Operations Officer, Collaborative Real Estate 

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

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

Lindsay Reeth, Co-Founder, Student-Made 

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

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

Matt Scassero, UMD Matrix Lab, St. Mary's County, Maryland SBA representative

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

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

Thomas Schuelke, PhD, President, Fraunhofer USA  

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

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

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

Carol Stewart, Vice President, University of Arizona, Tech Parks Arizona; CEO, UA Tech Parks & President, UA Center of Innovation  

Toby Teeter, Director, The Collaborative

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

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

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

David Washburn, Executive Director, Michigan State University Foundation

Steve Watson, Development Strategist, ISG 

Meghan Webster, Studio Director, Principal, Gensler 

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

Chris White, Vice Chairman and Southeast Regional Leader, Savills

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

Olivia Womack, Arkansas Economic Development, SelectUSA

Russ Zarras, Lead Business Developer, Fraunhofer USA