Board of Directors



Laura Apenzeller
Board Chair

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


Kristin Richards
Ex Officio Board Member

Director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity


Jim Bray

Director, Corporate Engagement, Northwestern University


TJ Augustine, PhD

Vice Chancellor for Innovation, University of Illinois at Chicago


Jerry Blazey, PhD

Vice President for Research and Innovation Partnerships, Northern Illinois University


Jess Goode

Vice President, External Affairs, Illinois Institute of Technology


Azurii Collier, PhD

Director, Enterprise Innovation
AbbVie


Holly Copeland

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


José Leboreiro​, PhD

VP, Process and Chemical Research, Archer Daniels Midland Company


Bob Greenlee, JD

Senior Advisor, Tusk Strategies and Tusk Ventures


Larry Kuhn

Technology Strategist, Microsoft Chicago


Robert Patino, JD

Director, Office of Technology Transfer, Southern Illinois University


Kumar Natesaiyer, PhD

Vice President, Corporate Innovation Center, USG


Vivek Mehta

Chief Information Security Officer, NORC


Temitope Sadiku

Global Head of Digital Employee Experience, The Kraft Heinz Company


Bill Payne, PhD

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


Nicole Presperin​

Vice President – Strategic Initiatives, New Ventures Group


Somali Tomczak

Director of Operations, Nicor Gas


Colleen Wright

VP of Corporate Strategy, Constellation Energy