Board of Directors



Bill Payne, PhD
Board Chair

Executive Director, Science and Technology, Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, University of Chicago


Kristin Richards
Ex Officio Board Member

Director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity


Jim Bray

Director, Corporate Engagement, Northwestern University


Laura Apenzeller

Director, University of Illinois Research Park and Director, Economic Development for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign


TJ Augustine, PhD

Vice Chancellor for Innovation, University of Illinois at Chicago


Azurii Collier, PhD

Director, Enterprise Innovation
AbbVie


Holly Copeland

Senior Director Corporate Social Responsibility, Sustainability & Impact, Horizon Therapeutics


Jess Goode

Vice President, External Affairs, Illinois Institute of Technology


Bob Greenlee, JD

Senior Advisor, Tusk Strategies and Tusk Ventures


Dr. Yvonne Harris, PhD

Vice President, Division of Research and Innovation Partnerships, Northeastern Illinois Univesrity


Larry Kuhn

Technology Strategist, Microsoft Chicago


José Leboreiro​, PhD

VP, Process and Chemical Research, Archer Daniels Midland Company


Kumar Natesaiyer, PhD

Vice President, Corporate Innovation Center, USG


Vivek Mehta

Chief Information Security Officer, NORC


Robert Patino, JD

Director, Office of Technology Transfer, Southern Illinois University


Nicole Presperin​

Vice President – Strategic Initiatives, New Ventures Group


Temitope Sadiku

Global Head of Digital Employee Experience, The Kraft Heinz Company


Somali Tomczak

Director of Operations, Nicor Gas


Colleen Wright

VP of Corporate Strategy, Constellation Energy