Our NIICA Board of Advisors & Staff
NIICA's Board of Advisors and Staff are seasoned professionals, who bring successful backgrounds in academe, government, and the private sector, and each is dedicated to NIICA's Mission “to identify current and future roadblocks to innovation in strategic industry sectors and ensure they are eliminated”.
Our Board of Advisors
Mike Russo
President & CEO
Nikki Zaahir
Executive Director
Emily Reilly
Advisory Board Member
Melinda Woods
Chairwoman
Earl Wyatt
Advisory Board Member
Charles W. Wessner, Ph.D.
Board Director
Phil Singerman, Ph. D
Advisory Board Member
Joseph Dragone, Ph.D
Advisory Board Member
Our Staff
Mike Russo
President & CEO
Robert Weinman
Director, Workforce Innovation
Stephanie Frederick
Manager of Outreach, Engagement and Communications
Nikki Zaahir
Executive Director
Martha Ponge
Director, National Apprenticeships
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Elizabeth Lorenz
Manager of Apprenticeship and Workforce Development Programs
Clay Nagel
Senior Director, National Center for Skills-Based Learning
Laury Ferguson
Associate Director of Program Administration and Marketing
Chloe Thornton
Program Administration and Data Specialist
Jesus Cabrero
Full Stack Software Engineer