Speakers
Cynthia Ajemian
Cynthia Ajemian is currently the International Baccalaureate Coordinator and Instructional Leader at the Downingtown STEM Academy. Before taking the position, she taught high school English at Downingtown East. She spent seven years living and working in The Netherlands where she taught the International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement at The American School of The Hague. Her roles at ASH included head of department, School Based Associate for Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Project Zero, co-chair for a K-12 curriculum writing committee and member for assessment committee. Cynthia has a B.A. in English Literature and M.Ed. in Education.
Gary Bender
Gary is the CFO of Abec Inc with additional responsibilities including Human Resources. Abec (www.abec.com) is a privately held company, based in Bethlehem, Pa and is the leader in designing and building the systems used to produce cell based drugs such as insulin, vaccines and monoclonal antibodies for firms around the world.
Gary serves on the Business and Education Partnership board within the Lehigh Valley Workforce Investment Board. He is actively involved in recruiting and developing the broad technical workforce required by Abec. His BEP efforts have included projects with high school, trade school, community college and university students and faculty as well as work with various state and federal programs to develop future and current workforce participants.
Gary previously held financial and management positions with Penn Fishing Tackle, Air Products and Chemicals and in European and Asian positions with R J Reynolds. He serves or has served on company and curriculum advisory boards and in township appointed or elected positions. He is a founding member of the CFO Alliance and serves on their global advisory board.
He received his Bachelor’s degree with honors from Penn State University and his Master’s degree from the University of North Carolina.
Gary and his wife live in the northwestern corner of Bucks County. He enjoys the challenges of a gentleman’s horse farm, a 200 year old house and a few rounds of golf.
Rob Bender
Rob has served in key leadership positions in numerous civic and fraternal organizations in the Philadelphia area. He is a Member of the Admissions Committee for the USNAAA Board of Trustees and President of the USS Pennsylvania Foundation; in addition, he is the former President of the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association (USNAAA) Philadelphia and President of the U. S. Navy League, Philadelphia Council. Rob is a service disabled veteran. Rob lives in Flourtown, PA with his wife, Mimi of over 28 years. They have three children, Robert (Bert), also a graduate of the Naval Academy, Emily, and Tom.
Rob was commissioned in the United States Marine Corps following his 1973 graduation from the Naval Academy. After completing the Basic Course, Rob was assigned in a series of active duty assignments of increasing responsibility. Upon leaving active duty, Rob served in a number of political, government, and non-profit organizations, using his organizational skills to organize and conduct various political and fund-raising campaigns. He has also enjoyed success as a consultant, conducting seminars and helping companies plan and implement strategies.
Al Frattarola
Al Frattarola is the Global Director of Engineering and Technology for Southco Inc. Southco is the global leader in the supply of engineered access hardware solutions with over 2300 employees. Southco has a dynamic history of growth and transformation spanning three centuries. The company was founded in 1899, as a specialty pipe manufacturer for the burgeoning Pennsylvania oil industry. In 1945, Southco, Inc. was created with the entry into the specialty fastener and latch business. Southco solutions are a key part of products you and thousands of others interact with every day. Our engineered access hardware solutions include key "touch points" such as locks, latches, captive fasteners, hinges, handles and other innovative products. Our application universe is immense and covers industries such as marine, automotive, off-highway / construction, RV/caravan, industrial machinery, enclosures, HVAC, medical equipment and network, telecommunications and computers. Our passion, vision and focus today, is to help customers differentiate the engineered "touch points" of their products so they become easier to sell and use by the end users. Southco is an industry leader of today and prepared for the possibilities of tomorrow. Our offerings include over 25,000 standard catalog products and more than 50,000 custom products that have been created to meet our customers' design needs. In order to meet the ever-changing needs of our customers, Southco has built and invested in a strong global footprint of technical sales, marketing, engineering and manufacturing operations throughout the world.
Al has served in various key management roles over the years at Southco in Engineering, Quality and Operations management positions. In his current role, Al is responsible for global New Product development, and Engineering systems. He hold a Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering and a Masters degree in Engineering Management from Drexel University. Al serves on the Industry Advisory boards for Drexel Goodwyn college of Engineering Technology, Delaware Country Community College AET College, and Penn State Greater Valley Graduate Engineering programs.
Kimberly Gress
As Vice President for Client Services, Kimberly is responsible for customer success and ensuring that Dell Boomi’s customers achieve the maximum value from our product and services. She manages Professional Services, Platform Enablement, Widget Solutions, Support and Customer Care.
Kimberly joined Dell Boomi’s executive team in 2008 following a 20 year career in senior management in the technology industry. Most recently, Kimberly was the General Manager of a product line at SunGard Higher Education where she grew the product line’s top line revenue over 70% in three years.
Kimberly served in a variety of senior management positions at SunGard from 1991 to 2008 including management of a large development staff and the program management of 3 acquisitions from due diligence to assimilation. Earlier in her technology career, Kimberly worked as a consultant in various consulting companies.
Kimberly earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science / Mathematics from the University of Delaware and was recently a featured speaker at the Women in Leadership Summit.
Gina Kormanik
Gina Kormanik is Assistant Director of the Lehigh Valley Workforce Investment Board, Inc. where she works to align workforce development with economic development and education in the Lehigh Valley. Her involvement with private-sector driven Industry Partnerships has helped Lehigh Valley employers receive over $5 million in training and partnership development funds, resulting in 10,000 workers trained since 2005 in targeted industry clusters.
Prior to joining the LVWIB, Gina served as a member of Lehigh County’s Community and Economic Development team, held marketing and strategic planning positions at Lutron Electronics and NationsCredit, and worked in The White House under President Reagan in the Office of Presidential Personnel.
Gina currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Society for Human Resource Management/Lehigh Valley Chapter. Previously, she was elected and served on the Allentown School Board from 2003-2007, was co-chair of the Board’s Education Committee and served as a Member of the Lehigh Career & Technical Institute’s Joint Operating Committee. She also has served on several boards and commissions through the Lehigh Valley, including the Allentown Human Relations Commission, Allentown Rotary Club Foundation, Parent Teacher organizations, Boys and Girls Club of Allentown and the Lehigh County Historical Society.
She received her Bachelor’s degree with honors from Penn State University. Gina and her family live in the west end of Allentown, PA. She enjoys traveling, golf, gardening and cross-country skiing.
Steve Koss
Distinguished Engineer and Chief Architect for ClearPath Program Office, Unisys Corporation.
His current responsibility is defining and supporting the strategic direction of the ClearPath product line. In his over 25 years at Unisys, he has helped usher the ClearPath product from an isolated mainframe system, into an open modern platform, using and interacting with the latest technologies. He has worked on compilers, operating system development, and developed software, tools, and strategies for application modernization.
Additionally, Mr. Koss assists customers to better understand how to take better advantage of their computing environment. He is a frequent speaker at Unisys and industry conferences. He is also the current chair of the Southeastern Pennsylvania ITAG (Innovative Technology Action Group) industry partnership. Mr. Koss has a BSE in Computer Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.
Jim Lauckner
Jim Lauckner, an expert in the areas of Talent Acquisition, Recruiting and Retention processes, manages J*Lis Management Consulting and J*Lis Investments, LLC. He has consulted to firms in Information Technology, Healthcare, Manufacturing and Pharmaceutical industries. At two of these firms he helped grow their staffs and their revenue by over 200%.
Jim is currently on a contract assignment as the Innovative Technology Action Group ( ITAG) and the Smart Energy Initiative of Southeastern PA (SEI) Partnership Director, working for the Chester County Economic Development Council.
Jim has over twenty-five years’ experience as a Director and Manager of Recruiting, having started his career as a recruiter for twelve years. He has initiated and implemented successful workforce development, recruiting and retention systems for several Information Systems organizations and Services Companies across the country. He is also a partner in J*Lis Investments LLC and an Independent Rep for Ignite Energy.
Jerome S. Parker, Ph.D.
Jerome S. Parker, Ph.D., is a longtime resident of Upper Darby, in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and, as such, is personally familiar with the trends and changes impacting both Delaware and Chester counties.
A graduate of Wesleyan University, he holds a M.S. in adult education from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and a Ph.D. in higher education administration from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.
Dr. Parker started his career at DCCC as Assistant to the Vice President for Administration in 1977. Since that time, he has served as Executive Assistant to the President, and Dean of Management Systems, Planning and Enrollment Management. Dr. Parker most recently served as the Vice President for Community and Corporate Education at DCCC.
His external activities and memberships provide him with an excellent perspective on the social, governmental, and environmental factors that impact community colleges in this region. He is a Board member of the PA Commission for Community Colleges; Chair of the Crozer-Keystone Health Services Board; member of the Delaware County Memorial Hospital Joint Policy Committee; member of the Crozer-Keystone Health System Board; former member of Governor Rendell’s Leadership Team for the Pennsylvania STEM Center Initiative; member and past chair of the Collegiate Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development; Chair of the Chester County Economic Development Council; past chair of the Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Universities; member of the USA Community College Consortium; the Chester and Delaware Counties Workforce Investment Boards; the Life Science Career Alliance Board; the Delaware County Industrial Development Corporation Board; Delaware County Chief School Administrators; Delaware County Suburban Study Council; and the Board of Directors of the Institute for Economic Development. He has written and lectured extensively on the applications of total quality management (TQM) in educational settings.
Michael K. Pearson
Mike Pearson is the President and owner of Union Packaging, LLC (UP) (www.unionpkg.com). UP is the maker of folding cartons in Food Service and Quick Service Restaurant industries. Food is served around the nation in clamshell, drink carrier, folded, and nested cartons made by UP.
He has served on the board and advisory board of many non-for-profits. He currently is a board member of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce Business Executive Board of Directors, Philadelphia Health Management Corporation, ACHIEVEability, United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, and the Committee of Seventy. In the pass, he has served on the U.S. Small Business Administration National Small Business Development Center Advisory Board, St. Christopher’s Foundation for Children, the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce, the Delaware Valley Industrial Resource Center (DVIRC), Philadelphia Safe and Sound, the Community YMCA of Eastern Delaware County, Big Picture Alliance and the Team Pennsylvania Foundation.
In 2010, Mike was the recipient of the Philadelphia Business Journal’s Minority Business Leader Award and was honored by Richard E. Marriott, Chairman of the Marriott Foundation for hiring young adults with disabilities. Burger King Corporation selected Union Packaging 2006 Supplier of the Year for outstanding performance in their procurement system. In 2005, the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Philadelphia District Office selected Mike as Eastern Pennsylvania Small Business Person of the Year. In 2007 the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce honored Mike and Union Packaging as Manufacturer of the Year at its small business awards ceremony. On July 23, 2007 the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency selected Union Packaging the Minority Manufacturer of the Year.
Mike has been a panelist before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and the U.S. Department of Labor - Office of Disability Employment Policy commenting as an employer who hires, retains, and advances people with disabilities.
Mike has been a guest speaker on entrepreneurial issues at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Michigan State University School of Packaging, Philadelphia University’s MBA Program, City of Chester, PA Micro-enterprise Center, and the Pennsylvania Minority Business Development Center.
Mike served in the United States military as combat duty Army Officer in the Persian Gulf War, where he received the Bronze Star. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania.
He is originally from West Philadelphia and was raised in Lansdowne, PA. He has two teenage daughters that attend Delaware Valley Friends School in Paoli and Central High School in Philadelphia. His son is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and works at Abercrombie & Fitch’s headquarters in Columbus, Ohio.
Dwight Pullen
Dwight H. Pullen, Jr. is a as a Principal Program Manager and Vice President with CH2M HILL, a global full-service consulting, design, construction, and operations firm. Pullen is responsible for providing program management leadership in the firm’s Transportation practice with an emphasis in the aviation market.
Prior to joining CH2M HILL, Pullen worked for Parsons Corporation where he served as the Program Manager for the Denver International Airport’s South Terminal Redevelopment Program (STRP). The $500 million program which includes a terminal expansion, as well as a landside redevelopment of the airport to include a FasTracks rail station, a Westin Hotel complex, a public plaza, Terminal Extension including AGTS and Baggage System, and Landside roadway improvement/expansions. In 2010, Pullen relocated his family from the Middle East (United Arab Emirates) where he served as the Deputy Program Manager for the Program Management Consultant Team at the Abu Dhabi International Airport Expansion in the United Arab Emirates for Parsons International Limited. There he managed a multi-cultural and multi-talented international staff of 150+ people. He managed a $7.6 Billion Airport Program including: Terminals Expansion (10 Gate), Runways & Taxiways Rehabilitation, Site Wide Utilities, 50 Gate New Terminal (50 Gate, 6.7 million SQFT) and Support Facilities, Commercial Development and Other Regional Airport Developments.
In 2006, Dwight managed the successful execution of a $1.2 billion dollar Runway expansion at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. He was a program management consultant for the City of Atlanta and an employee of H.J. Russell & Company. The runway project finished $102+ million dollars under budget and eleven (11) days earlier than forecasted, May 15, 2006. For these accomplishments, Dwight has been recognized in Fortune Magazine in 2004 and Southeast Construction in 2005. He was spotlighted in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in April 2005. He has participated in several engineering, construction and technology magazine articles over the past two years for his accomplishments on the new runway. Dwight was also recognized in a National Advertisement Campaign for Primavera Systems, Inc. in 2007.
Dwight received his B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh; he also attended the Georgia Institute of Technology. He has served on several non-profits Boards: Caring for Others (Homeless Prevention Center) and New Beginnings Training & Education (Marriage & Family Counseling) in Atlanta, Georgia. Other memberships include: Project Management Institute, National Society of Black Engineers and the Georgia Tech Alumni Association/Georgia Tech Black Alumni Organization. He is an Advisory Board Member of Archie Mae (Financial Services Firm). Pullen is also active in the Denver community. He is currently serving as a Board Member in the following organizations in Denver, Colorado: Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce (DMCC) and the Downtown Denver Partnership (DDP) and Junior Achievement (JA).
A native of Pittsburgh, PA, Dwight is the husband of Eleanore and the proud father of four sons, Dwight III, Blake, Grant and Devon. He is now living in the Lowry community of Denver, CO.
Laura S. Reddick
Laura has been appointed Associate Director for Adult and Veteran Student Recruitment beginning Friday, October 1, 2010 . Splitting her time between Ambler and TUCC, Laura’s role will be to increase adult and veteran student enrollment.
While Laura may be a new face at Ambler and TUCC, she is certainly no stranger to Temple, bringing 23 years’ experience in Admissions at the University. She joined Temple in 1989 as an Admissions Counselor and Recruiter. She continued in the office as Assistant Director of Freshman Recruitment and Community Outreach. From 1994 to present, she has been the Assistant Director of Admissions in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
Laura has served as liaison for the Office of Undergraduate Admissions to numerous University programs, including Allied Health Professions, the Special Recruitment and Admissions Program, the University Russell Conwell Center, the Athletics Department, Adult Programs, the Continuing Education Department, the Tyler School of Art, the U.S. Army Concurrent Admissions Agreement Program (CoNAP), the Career Services Center, and the Office of Government, Community and Public Affairs. While at Temple, she has developed and coordinated recruitment plans for multicultural and adult learners; assisted in the development of University marketing and recruitment strategies; and coordinated the University admissions application process, credential review and transfer evaluation for the College of Allied Health Nursing Program, the RN-BSN Advanced Placement Program and the Health Information Management Program.
She served as the point of contact person for SOC and military recruitment centers to assist veteran applicants in enrolling into Temple University degree programs and assisted with the coordination and development of the Temple Veterans Task Force in which she co-chair. Laura has currently implemented a university wide campaign to increase the awareness of veterans needs and issues they face with returning to college. During the past year and a half in this position her strategies and work with the university veterans task force has helped to double enrollment of veteran student and active duty service members at the university…making Temple University one of the top “military friendly institutions” in the nation.
Laura has been an advocate for youth and adults in the Philadelphia region for the past 27 years and currently serves as the conference chair and board member of the Black Male Development Symposium since 2004, advisory board member of the Philadelphia College Prep Roundtable since 1998, The Mayor’s Education Advisory Board and the Philadelphia National College Fair Committee since 2005 and the President of the ACT 101 Advisory Board at Temple University.
Laura holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services and a Master’s in Administration in Organizational Development from Antioch University.
Andre Sadowski
Lieutenant Commander Andre Sadowski was born in Germany, and joined the Navy while living in Colorado Springs, CO in 1988. He graduated from Charleston Southern University and Norfolk State University in 1998, and was commissioned an Ensign. Following commissioning, he completed the Basic Qualification Course for Supply Corps Officers at the Navy Supply Corps School in Athens, GA and was assigned aboard the Guam USA based USNS MV LUMMUS as the MPSRON THREE Supply Officer. He then served on the USS EMORY S LAND (AS 39) in LaMaddalena, Italy as the Stores Officer and Logistics Officer. He transferred to NAVSEA in Washington DC and completed his Contracting Internship, which led to a Level II Certification.
Lt Cmdr. Sadowski returned to sea in 2005 as Supply Department Head of the Mayport, FL-based Guided Missile Frigate USS TAYLOR (FFG 50) where he completed an extensive shipyard modernization period and a 6-month independent steaming, counter-piracy deployment to the waters off the Horn of Africa, the Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf, and Gulf of Aden. TAYLOR was awarded the coveted NEY Award, and assisted U.S. FIFTH Fleet in aggressive prosecution of piracy and human trafficking, and the high seas rescue of several refugees.
Lt Cmdr Sadowski is currently assigned to the Aviation Operations Research and Systems Support Directorate of NAVSUP Weapon Systems Support, the naval inventory control point, in Philadelphia, PA as an Operations Research Analyst. He attended Naval Postgraduate School and received a Master of Science degree in Operations Research in conjunction with completing Joint Professional Military Education. He and his wife, Janeska, live in Bala Cynwyd, PA and are the parents of one son Johann 7 yrs
His personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (two awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (six awards), and various unit and campaign awards. He is a qualified Surface Warfare Supply Corps Officer and Naval Aviation Supply Officer and Enlisted Submarine Dolphins. He has served on four ships and one submarine in his enlisted and officer career thus far.
Brian Stocker
Brian Stocker is currently in the position of Vice President of Human Resources, Western Hemisphere at West Pharmaceutical Services company. In this position Brian supports businesses operating in 30 locations, generating $600 million in revenue with 4,000 Western hemisphere employees. Prior to joining West Pharmaceutical Services Brian was in senior executive Human Resource positions at: Campbell Soup, FMC Corporation, Johnson Controls, and Ultra Tool and Plastics. In addition Brian was the Assistant Director of Labor Relations for the City of Buffalo, NY.
In addition to Brian’s Human Resource vast experience he also has had line operating experience. Brian was a Plant Superintendent with Johnson Controls Automotive Systems Group. In this position Brian was responsible for all aspects of production, quality, maintenance, and materials management of automobile seating for general motors.
Brian has his MBA, general Management from State University of New York at Buffalo-School of Management and his BA, Materials and Logistics Management from Michigan State University. Brian serves on the Corporate Partner’s Committee, Please Touch Museum and is on the Board of Directors, Women’s Business Enterprise Council (PA/NJ/DE). Brian is also active in the Society for Human resources managers and the Philadelphia Human resources Planning Society.
W. David Tarver
Writer, Researcher, Founder & President at Red Bank Education and Development Initiative
The author of “Proving Ground” David started a tech business in his basement, sold it for $30 million, then led another business to $250 million in sales and $2 billion in market value.
What would cause a young African American engineer to walk away from a promising career at the world’s foremost electronics research and development company to start a business, from scratch, in his basement? David Tarver not only did that, he convinced two African American colleagues to join him in the improbable venture. Twelve years later, he negotiated the sale of that venture, Telecom Analysis Systems Inc., for $30 million. Tarver’s business success was accomplished without the help of angel investors, venture capital, government grants, or minority business development programs. He and his colleagues conceived, designed, engineered, and manufactured sophisticated telecommunications instruments and sold them in more than twenty countries. Along the way, they learned valuable lessons about technology, race relations, and business. Proving Ground traces David Tarver’s journey from ambitious youth to determined entrepreneur to “free man.” The journey began in General Motors boomtown Flint, Michigan, where young David wondered why his father, an accomplished radio and television technician, only exercised his passion for electronics in the basement of their home. Inspired by his father’s expertise and the civil-rights movement, David resolved to one day start a company that made “electronic stuff.” He wanted to prove that, given opportunities and access his father never had, he could take charge of his career and his life. After college at General Motors Institute (now Kettering University) and then the University of Michigan, David began his professional career at AT&T Bell Laboratories in Holmdel, New Jersey. After seven years at the amazing Bell Labs, he decided to leave to fulfill his childhood ambition: David finally created a company that made “electronic stuff,” in the basement of his own home.
Tracey Welson-Rossman
Tracey Welson-Rossman is a founding member of, and Chief Marketing Officer for, Chariot Solutions, a Philadelphia-based Java and open source software development and consulting firm. Tracey has created the branding and marketing strategy for Chariot, helping it to grow from 10 employees in 2002 to 50. She also manages the Chariot sales team.
Tracey is also the founder and current chair of the Emerging Technologies for the Enterprise Conference, (ETE), which is held in Philadelphia each year. ETE attracts world-renowned thought leaders in cutting-edge technologies and serves as a community forum for regional technology companies. Ms. Welson-Rossman is a well-rounded entrepreneur who has excelled in a variety of positions since 1985. Prior to joining Chariot Solutions, she spent three years as the Director of Marketing at Skylight Systems, an accounting software company that specializes in solutions for mid-size and large wholesale distributors. While at Skylight, In 1996 Ms. Welson-Rossman bought, KangaKab,a child transportation service company where she developed her passion for startup companies. In 1999, with revenues at $2.5 million and having started a branch in Pennsylvania, Tracey sold KangaKab.
Tracey is one of the founding board members of Philadelphia Startup Leaders; a regional organization dedicated to growing technology startup businesses. She is currently leading a non-profit called TechGirlz, to help more girls embrace technology.
TechGirlz’s aim is to help adolescent girls understand that a future in technology does not necessarily equate to ‘a boring computer job,’ but instead transcends the cubicle into nearly every field imaginable. By encouraging young women to participate in science and technology today, as well as providing a solid foundation of peers, mentors, and positive role models, TechGirlz hopes to spark innovation, exhilaration, and motivation in young women to become tomorrow’s tech leaders.
She graduated from Drexel University with a B.S. degree in Business Administration, with Retail Management/Marketing as her field of concentration. She is married and the proud mom of two teenage boys.
Organizing Committee
Jamie Maatkare Bracey, Ph.D.
“2012 Science Advocate of the Year” – iPraxis Foundation, Pennsylvania
“2012 STEM Education Leadership Award” – US BEYA/Global STEM Conference
Dr. Bracey is an award winning Educational Psychologist and the Director of STEM Education, Outreach and Research for Temple University’s College of Engineering. She is responsible for developing and managing external community relations, policy development, education programming and collaborative research partnerships related to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) teaching and learning.
In 2008 Dr. Bracey co-founded the Urban STEM Strategy Group (PA-NJ-MD) and has hosted public hearings on access to quality education for minority students; convened a historic 2009 Engineering Deans' Symposium for 21 institutions to improve retention of minority students; and authored 2010 legislation for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to create a Math, Engineering and Science Achievement (MESA) initiative serving the state and northeast region of the United States. She has secured nearly $3 million in direct and in-kind investment from public, corporate, defense/military and private industry to shape 21st century workforce development opportunities for disadvantaged children.
Dr. Bracey is currently managing an applied research protocol designed to accelerate learning in the areas of robotics, computer science, IT and cyber education, power and energy, and biomedical research in health disparities.
Dr. Bracey is also an active board member and/or participant in the following:
• US Department of Education/White House STEM Partners Advisory Board
• Congressional Black Caucus Institute – Education Panel Member
• National Board - United Neighborhood Centers of America, Inc.
• Regional Board -Pennsylvania SE Regional STEM Compact
• Regional Board - Executive Committee of the Greater Philadelphia LSAMP
• Local Board - Harambee Institute for Science and Technology Charter School
She attended Oberlin College, Rochester Institute of Technology and Temple University.
Melvin B. Payne
Mel is the President and founder of Knowledge and Success, Inc a talent management and development consulting business located in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania.
Mel has managed and coordinated Industry Partnership programs at the Philadelphia Workforce Investment Board (PWIB) and helped develop programs for professionals to volunteer in the classrooms or transition to teaching careers with the Math & Science Coalition of Philadelphia. For three years Mel was the Director of a Talent Development Group at the Delaware Valley Industrial Resource Center (DVIRC) that developed individuals with Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) in the Applied Engineering Technology (AET) competencies for technology–driven companies throughout Southeastern PA. He was a Sales Vice President at Comcast Business Communications and Sales Director at MarketSource, managing outsourced sales engagements with Verizon and AT&T Wireless. At AT&T Mel was a District Manager responsible for hiring, mentoring and motivating the team that developed and administered sales incentive compensation plans for the billion dollar Wholesale Markets entity, National Account Manager responsible for providing global sales and service solutions plus he has product management experience. Other sales experience includes positions with Xerox and Bethlehem Steel Corporations.
Mel received a MBA in Marketing from LaSalle University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Philadelphia University. He is a Certified Compensation Professional (World at Work), business management consultant and board member at Pennsylvania based Community Credit Union.
Steven Talis
Principal partner at PolySolutions Advisors LLC (PSA) – management and entrepreneurial specialists serving technology-based businesses. PSA has provided start-up coaching, business and financial planning, strategic marketing, product acquisition and operations analyses for client companies in chemical, biotech, plastics, nanotechnology, coatings and ophthalmics industries. www.polysolutionsadvisors.com
COO for StarTrak Systems LLC – a $20MM public firm - managing the refrigerated food and pharmaceutical supply chain using wireless communication. Steven turned around a nearly bankrupt company directing the financial, manufacturing, supply chain and quality control functions and then sold StarTrak to a communications supplier.
President and owner of ADPI Enterprises, Inc., a start-up plastics company in Philadelphia manufacturing fence and net products for construction, aquaculture, pipeline and retail applications. ADPI grew for twenty years and was sold to a competitor.
Steven has held senior positions in Financial, Marketing, Planning, Venture Development, M & A, Manufacturing and Division Operations, for Arco Chemical Co., Rohm and Haas Co. and McNeil Laboratories (Johnson & Johnson) specializing in the chemical, pharmaceutical and plastics industries.
Steven’s career started as a Research Chemist in acrylic polymer emulsion applications for textile coatings, adhesives and non-woven binders at Rohm and Haas’ Spring House Laboratories and at American Cyanamid.
Steven graduated from LaSalle College with a BS in Chemistry and earned his MBA in Marketing and Finance from Temple University. He has received certifications in Plastics Technology and Sales and Marketing from NYU and in Mergers and Acquisitions from Northwestern University. He also serves on the Ben Franklin Technology Physical Science Investment Review Committee.
Ed Zenzola
Ed Zenzola has been the President of Arco Chemical Asia Pacific an $800 million Asian chemical subsidiary of Arco Chemical Company. Prior to moving to Asia Ed held various financial executive positions. Throughout his career he has been solving business problems and adding value to businesses. Since he has experience in both operations and finance he has developed a deep understanding of value drivers and the process for implementing them. Ed has used metrics such as Economic Value Added (EVA) and has utilized tools such has Activity Based Costing (ABC) and Balanced Scorecard. His combined operating and financial background gives him a valuable insight into the process of successfully growing a business while controlling costs, building customer satisfaction and enhancing employee enthusiasm.
With over 30 years’ experience in domestic and international executive assignments Ed has developed and staffed organizations in Europe, Asia and the United States including the implementation of company integration plans following mergers and acquisitions. Leadership and management responsibility for an international staff of 500 people, as well as P&L responsibility, has given him first-hand knowledge and appreciation of the challenges facing business executives and managers, particularly in regards to staffing. His international experience has given him insight into cultural fit in team building which was invaluable in going beyond position requirements, recognizing the importance of compatibility within an organization’s culture.
Ed is a prior SCORE volunteer; SCORE "Counselors to America's Small Business" is a nonprofit association dedicated to entrepreneur education and the formation, growth and success of small business nationwide. Ed participates in Drexel University’s mentor program for MBA students and Drexel’s Interview Skills workshops. Through his membership in the Philadelphia Human Resource Planning Society (PHRPS) Ed is a facilitator in Philadelphia Academies high school Interview Skills workshops. Also Ed is a career counselor with The Woman’s Resource Center in Wayne, PA.