Our Team

In her 18 years of experience in IP management, Laura Schoppe has established an impressive track record of success in helping corporate, government, and university clients manage their technology proactively, efficiently, effectively. She has helped clients move their technologies into new markets as well as find sources for technology solutions to address their own R&D needs. Laura has experience in all aspects of IP management, but she is uniquely qualified to provide effective and experienced negotiation and licensing support and strategy consulting to innovating organizations. She has developed and delivered technology commercialization training programs nationally and internationally. She also has successfully managed many technology marketing projects. Since founding Fuentek in 2001, Laura has managed IP and technology management activities for dozens of clients. Most notably, Fuentek has served as the strategic and technology transfer consultant for NASA’s Innovative Partnerships Program with Laura as the principal investigator for the $30M, 5-year contract.

In addition, Laura has 12 years of experience leading research. She worked for several defense contractors as an engineer and manager. For example, at GE-Aerospace/Lockheed Martin, she was responsible for national and international new business development and R&D projects for advanced submarine and surface ship programs. She managed the efforts of 16 engineers in developing innovative advanced signal, imaging, and information products for the Navy, managing an internal budget of $6 million and projects exceeding $20 million.

Laura has presented at numerous industry conferences and webinars/webcasts, including events hosted by the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM), the Licensing Executives Society (LES), Technology Transfer Tactics, the Management Roundtable/Product Development Management Association, and the International Astronautical Congress. Her publications include a chapter in the new edition of The PDMA Handbook of New Product Development (2005, John Wiley & Sons), an article in the LES journal les Nouvelles, and numerous blog posts. She has been interviewed by National Public Radio, the Associated Press, World Intellectual Property Review (WIPR), Minority Business Entrepreneur, Technology Transfer Tactics, and Triangle Business Journal.

Laura served as the 2011–13 vice president of strategic alliances for AUTM, during which time she spearheaded the design, development, and deployment of AUTM’s Global Technology Portal (GTP), a Web site launched in February 2012 to actively facilitate networking, partnership, and licensing deals among corporations and research institutes. She has won many awards, including the Triangle Business Journal Women in Business Award and the Richard T. Whitcomb Aerospace Technology Transfer Award from NASA’s Langley Research Center. Recognized as a top women- and minority-owned small business in North Carolina, Fuentek was featured in the book The New Small: How a New Breed of Small Businesses is Harnessing the Power of Emerging Technologies.

Dr. Roy Fauber has amassed over 12 years experience in the electronics industry, including 9 years in research and development of electronic materials processes and applications. He has spent the past 8 years in intellectual property (IP) management, leading numerous projects involving evaluation and marketing of technology portfolios for academic, government, and corporate clients. Dr. Fauber serves as physical sciences technical advisor for all Fuentek clients and projects. In this role, he participates, advises, or manages all aspects of technology transfers, including screening of innovation portfolios, detailed evaluation of specific technologies, and development and implementation of marketing strategies. In addition to traditional out-licensing of technology, Dr. Fauber has developed processes and guidelines for identifying external partners and solutions to meet NASA’s unique technology needs, supplementing internal research and development efforts. His most notable accomplishments include identification and vetting of potential partners for several NASA projects (along with the preparation and delivery of associated reports), delivery of over 100 screening reports for Langley, and development and implementation of an improved process for technology evaluation and patenting decisions for Langley innovations. Some of his other projects have involved organization and management of off-site retreats and conferences, oversight of Web site development, management of report updating for previously completed SBIR projects, help in management of market studies for military space transportation and automated flight, support for innovator training in reporting inventions, and delivery of information to support licensing negotiations.

Dr. Fauber is highly skilled in the initiation and management of relationships with customers, partners, and vendors, including negotiation of IP issues and confidentiality agreements. Hisspecial attention has been directed at the design, construction, and operation of equipment for thin film processing and characterization, and optimization of existing processes through statistical experiment design. His knowledge of the methods and software for IC physical verification include design rule checking and layout-versus schematic functionality.

Karen Hiser has 24 years of business and technology experience, including 10 years in the federal sector, and her skills include technology assessment, in-depth market research, social media marketing, and client relationship management. With Fuentek since 2004, Ms. Hiser is a results‑oriented, veteran consultant with the ability to learn quickly and adapt her problem solving techniques to new challenges. She identified a new prospective vertical market for NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, for its Hilbert Huang Transformation technology, developing a comprehensive list of key industry players and executing a marketing campaign that generated several outstanding partner prospects. Ms. Hiser also has a strong background in software technologies, having performed technology assessments and market reports for several government and industry clients. Karen Hiser graduated cum laude with a BS degree from Virginia Tech, majoring in mathematics with a minor in computer science.

Danielle McCulloch leverages her wide range of technical and business experience to manage client relationships for a variety of R&D organizations, including government research labs and major research universities. She works collaboratively with clients to evaluate and prioritize their IP portfolios, develop outreach strategies for promising technologies, guide licensing and deal negotiations, secure collaborative R&D partnerships, and lead strategic planning efforts. She also helps clients enhance their organizations’ presence and reach, with a focus on developing effective Web sites and social media tools. She has a keen understanding of emerging trends in technology markets and works with clients to ensure they stay ahead in a highly competitive environment. She has been invited by federal laboratories and universities to present live and Web-based training seminars on variety of topics, including technology evaluation, marketing, and social media. Danielle has strong expertise in medical devices, biotechnology, and manufacturing with a background in process engineering and product development and management. She holds a BS in chemical engineering from Washington University and an MBA from Dartmouth College.

Jack Spain is a seasoned leader and change agent with a passion for innovation and the pursuit of excellence. He has over 35 years experience in entrepreneurial technology firms and information technology organizations. Mr. Spain has an extensive background in operational and personnel management, marketing, business development, strategic planning, product management, software, information technology architecture, and enterprise systems development. Currently, he is a senior consultant with Fuentek and was a client lead for NASA. His previous roles include chief executive officer of Experture; chief technologist for Progress Energy; vice president of Professional Services for SciQuest; and executive director for Strategic Resource Solutions. Earlier, he held several key information technology (IT) leadership positions during a 15-year career with GE. Mr. Spain is a graduate of the GE Financial Management Program, has a BS in economics and accounting from Edinboro University, and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in management from Capella University.

Aubrey Arnoczy brings more than 9 years of experience in the electronics industry, 6 years of IP management experience, and 16 years of total technical experience to the Fuentek team. Mr. Arnoczy’s experience has been shaped through his tenure with several organizations—including an RF semiconductor manufacturer and a nanotechnology start-up—where he worked on commercialization and licensing of new technologies. His extensive areas of expertise include semiconductors and electronics; telecommunications and networking; wireless systems; sensors and detectors; nanotechnology; Web and Internet technologies; strategic planning; and technology marketing. Mr. Arnoczy holds a BS degree in electrical and computer engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology and an MBA from Duke University.

Steven Carnes is a technical consultant and robotic systems engineer with international career experience, spanning a host of industries including aerospace, automotive, consumer products, electrical utilities, fiber optic networks, food and beverage, machine vision, medical, paper, pollution control, robotics, and R&D. His deepest focus has been in the areas of robotics and automated manufacturing system design, production start-up and support, cost reduction, and new product development. He holds multiple degrees from Northwestern University, including a BS in chemical engineering, and MBA from the Kellogg School where he was an FMC scholar, and an MS in manufacturing engineering. He also earned an MS degree in electrical engineering from the University of California, San Diego. 

Doug Foster has been a member of the Fuentek team since 2006 and has successfully led multiple technology transfer marketing efforts, resulting in numerous licenses and other agreements. He served as lead marketer for the multiple licenses secured by NASA Johnson Space Center for the solar-powered refrigerator technology. Career assignments in sales and marketing, manufacturing, information technology and telecommunications, development engineering, systems quality, and IP management give him insight into some of the most critical aspects of business. He has experience as an engineer, first- and second-level manager, vice president, board director, international liaison, and entrepreneur. He also has a long history in working with packet voice, video, and data convergence over the Internet.

Debora Good has 5 years experience in IP management and more than 13 years of electrical engineering experience involving power systems, including telecommunications power, busway systems, and low voltage and high voltage switchgear. This extensive engineering background has provided Ms. Good with proven skills in competitive analysis, research and development, and account management. She also excels in leading teams, conducting technical product trainings, managing projects, and bringing new products to market. In her former position as technical consultant with Tyco Electronics Power Systems, Ms. Good was instrumental in helping the company increase sales by 120 percent in a $24 million territory. Ms. Good holds one patent, is an active member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and was formerly Chairman of the IEEE Power Engineering Society. She holds a BS degree in electrical engineering from The Ohio State University.

Bob Henard has 13 years of experience in technology management. He has demonstrated talent in research, data analysis, and systemization within research and production environments. His diverse technical knowledge covers many areas of microelectronics fabrication and metrology. He worked for 14 years on the leading edge of process engineering, process development, and materials technology and has specialized experience in thin-film deposition and characterization for electronic applications. Through his work on materials optimization, Mr. Henard helped Kobe Steel USA achieve best- in-world reported values for diamond-based high-frequency acoustic devices, contributing to Kobe's status as one of the premier groups researching diamond. Experienced in initiating and managing relationships with consultants, collaborators, and suppliers, Mr. Henard's expertise has enabled him to be instrumental in negotiating major cost savings and achieving more favorable terms on equipment acquisitions. Prior to embarking on a technical career, Mr. Henard advised individuals on the marketing, market research, and financial aspects of starting small businesses. He holds a BS degree in engineering physics from Southwest Missouri State University, and he did post-graduate work in optics and lasers at Oklahoma State University.

Dr. Debi Hudgens has many years of experience ensuring that promising new technologies developed in research laboratories achieve their full potential in the marketplace. She has worked as a licensing professional for industry and academia, leading and managing hundreds of technology licensing initiatives. At the University of Virginia Patent Foundation, Debi was responsible for evaluating, protecting, marketing, and successfully commercializing the university's intellectual property in the areas of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and biotechnology. More recently, Debi worked at GE Healthcare, where she led global licensing activities for the whole of life sciences. In this position, she led cross-functional teams in legal, intellectual property, R&D, sourcing, quality, product management, marketing, finance, and compliance. Debi is a member of the Licensing Executives Society (LES) and a Certified Licensing Professional. She holds a BS in chemistry from the University of Arkansas and a PhD in medicinal chemistry from the University of Virginia.

Dr. Markoski joined the Fuentek team in 2009, and she offers exceptional skills as a technical transfer consultant. Uniquely experienced in technology evaluation and commercialization, she has worked in both academic and private sectors. While achieving double Master’s degrees in science and business at the University of Illinois, she evaluated over 150 technologies in molecular biology, materials science, chemistry, agriculture, and engineering, and provided recommendations for commercialization within the school’s Office of Technology Management. Her activities included chairing the Department of Organic Chemistry’s annual conference and serving as a board member of ChroMax Chromatography Solutions, an Illinois chemical separations technology company. After receiving her doctorate in 2003, she co‑founded a fuel cell research and development firm, further pursuing her interests in patent analysis, technology transfer, and high-tech marketing. 

Nicole Martel has worked in technology commercialization for over 13 years. She has reviewed invention disclosures, assessed the commercial potential of technologies, and reviewed and edited screening and assessment reports written by other Fuentek staff members for quality control. She also has developed and implemented commercialization strategies for promising technologies, performed market research, and assisted in licensing negotiations. While earning her master’s degree at Duke University, her research focused on examining polymeric materials, specifically fracture toughness testing and fracture morphology of clear, tough engineering thermoplastics. She also studied acoustics, focusing on parallel highway noise barriers. She had 2 years of experience with OMEGA Engineering, Inc., where she was involved in mechanical design, CAD drafting, product evaluation and testing, as well as technical writing and editing.

Dr. Derek Mess has a strong background in advanced materials, energy, and technology transfer. As a key Fuentek consultant, his current focus is on intellectual property management consulting in the fields of advanced materials, aerospace, aerodynamics, sensors, structures, and processing. His recent work includes technology screenings and assessments, and identification of potential licensees. Prior to this, as founder and president of Cambridge Microtech, his work encompassed analysis of competitive position, licensing support, and preparation of technology descriptions and technology needs for yet2.com, a leading web-based B2B marketplace for technology transfer. In addition, his recent technical work has included the development of a new medical imaging system, enabled by adapting a high-temperature coating technology that was originally as developed for aerospace materials, as well as material system design studies.

Dr. Mess has contributed to improved understanding of microstructure, phase stability, hot corrosion resistance, and cyclic thermal fatigue of ceramic coatings, and he has served as the principal investigator on government research and development contracts and a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement. His customers and collaborators have included NASA, Naval Research Laboratory, Boeing, Westinghouse, General Electric, Ceramic Composites Inc., Science Research Laboratory, MIT, Harvard University, Pennsylvania State University, and SUNY Stony Brook.

Dr. Mess earned his PhD in chemical engineering at MIT. He did his undergraduate work at Queen’s University, receiving his BS degree with first class honors in chemical engineering. In addition, Dr. Mess has continued to pursue his studies, having completed executive education courses in management and done advanced work in microeconomics (Harvard) and mathematics (MIT).

Dave Wasby is a seasoned executive with over 16 years of experience in new product development. Mr. Wasby's corporate and consulting experience is focused on leading complex initiatives from idea generation through all phases of development and testing to successful implementation. His proven record of leading complex, cross-functional teams has resulted in successful launches of new products and services — on schedule and within budget, despite obstacles. He offers significant marketing experience, shaped by a 3‑year tenure at Procter & Gamble, followed by 17 years in the telecommunications industry (primarily wireless services). His other areas of expertise include user experience and user interface development (e-commerce and online billing, web-based customer service, mobile commerce, and mobile banking). Mr. Wasby is a Six Sigma Black Belt. He received a 4-year R.O.T.C. scholarship from Vanderbilt University, where he earned a BS degree in mathematics and was a Distinguished Military Graduate. He also holds an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and served six years as an officer in the U.S. Army.

Danielle McCulloch leverages her wide range of technical and business experience to manage client relationships for a variety of R&D organizations, including government research labs and major research universities. She works collaboratively with clients to evaluate and prioritize their IP portfolios, develop outreach strategies for promising technologies, guide licensing and deal negotiations, secure collaborative R&D partnerships, and lead strategic planning efforts. She also helps clients enhance their organizations’ presence and reach, with a focus on developing effective Web sites and social media tools. She has a keen understanding of emerging trends in technology markets and works with clients to ensure they stay ahead in a highly competitive environment. She has been invited by federal laboratories and universities to present live and Web-based training seminars on variety of topics, including technology evaluation, marketing, and social media. Danielle has strong expertise in medical devices, biotechnology, and manufacturing with a background in process engineering and product development and management. She holds a BS in chemical engineering from Washington University and an MBA from Dartmouth College.

Dr. Nannette Stangle-Castor is a highly sought after consultant whose keen business acumen enables organizations to achieve significant breakthroughs in technology transfer and business development. She helped architect and pioneer ‘symbiotic innovation,’ a framework which posits that technology spin-out (commercializing technology) and spin-in (technology sourcing, collaborative R&D partnerships) are interdependent activities that are best pursued simultaneously. Highly regarded by innovators and business development leaders, Nannette brings an agile, results-oriented, strategic perspective to all of her clients’ endeavors. She has served as a strategic consultant for NASA and its field centers, as well as major research universities and corporate clients. She has more than a decade of experience helping forge collaborative partnerships and licensing deals and has helped secure millions in R&D funding for her clients. As a recognized expert in the field, Nannette has authored numerous articles on intellectual property, strategic partnerships, and open innovation. She has also been invited to deliver live and Web-based seminars on these topics. In 2010, Nannette was honored with Triangle Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Leadership Award. She has also received multiple awards of excellence – both regional and international – from the Society for Technical Communication for outstanding communications pieces. In support of inspiring and accelerating the development of women leaders, she serves on the advisory board for Alfred University’s Judson Leadership Center. Nannette is also a devoted advocate for pursuing prevention, treatment, and cure for cancer and multiple sclerosis and she chairs the Triangle Women Against MS steering committee. Nannette holds a BS in Biology from Alfred University, and a PhD in Molecular Pharmacology and Cancer Therapeutics from State University of New York at Buffalo.

Dr. Debi Hudgens has many years of experience ensuring that promising new technologies developed in research laboratories achieve their full potential in the marketplace. She has worked as a licensing professional for industry and academia, leading and managing hundreds of technology licensing initiatives. At the University of Virginia Patent Foundation, Debi was responsible for evaluating, protecting, marketing, and successfully commercializing the university's intellectual property in the areas of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and biotechnology. More recently, Debi worked at GE Healthcare, where she led global licensing activities for the whole of life sciences. In this position, she led cross-functional teams in legal, intellectual property, R&D, sourcing, quality, product management, marketing, finance, and compliance. Debi is a member of the Licensing Executives Society (LES) and a Certified Licensing Professional. She holds a BS in chemistry from the University of Arkansas and a PhD in medicinal chemistry from the University of Virginia.

Dr. Michael Largen has extensive experience in the biomedical industry and life sciences research, having served as a tenured medical school faculty member (6 years at Temple University School of Medicine), senior scientist, manager and director (research and development in the in vitro diagnostics industry—14 years at DuPont and Dade Behring Diagnostics), and an independent management consultant (10 years in own business). Dr. Largen’s experience includes technology evaluations and academic collaborations at the academic, corporate, and management consultant levels, leading corporate research departments (50 technical staff) in the in vitro diagnostics industry, conducting technology and market assessments as well as business development and strategic planning in pharmaceutical, in vitro diagnostics, and biotechnology businesses. His management consulting business focuses on the interface between science and business in the biomedical industry. His consultancy has a strong expertise in biomarkers, personalized medicine, in vitro diagnostics, and life sciences research. Dr. Largen took an AB degree in zoology at Pomona College, then received his PhD in biology from the University of California–Riverside, and he has published more than 25 peer-reviewed technical articles on bacterial genetics and regulation, enzyme evolution, monoclonal antibody and immunoassay development, and molecular basis of macrophage activation. He also has published numerous reports on biomarkers and personalized medicine for Decision Resources, an internationally recognized consulting firm for the pharmaceutical, medical devices, and diagnostics industry.

Dr. Markoski joined the Fuentek team in 2009, and she offers exceptional skills as a technical transfer consultant. Uniquely experienced in technology evaluation and commercialization, she has worked in both academic and private sectors. While achieving double Master’s degrees in science and business at the University of Illinois, she evaluated over 150 technologies in molecular biology, materials science, chemistry, agriculture, and engineering, and provided recommendations for commercialization within the school’s Office of Technology Management. Her activities included chairing the Department of Organic Chemistry’s annual conference and serving as a board member of ChroMax Chromatography Solutions, an Illinois chemical separations technology company. After receiving her doctorate in 2003, she co‑founded a fuel cell research and development firm, further pursuing her interests in patent analysis, technology transfer, and high-tech marketing. 

Lee Ann Obringer has experience in developing and implementing all facets of marketing communications and technical publications. She is adept at explaining technical matter in layman’s terms, having written dozens of technology opportunity marketing sheets for NASA and major research universities as well as more than 60 articles for HowStuffWorks.com and other publications. She has provided marketing communications support to companies in industries ranging from radiology, pharmacy, and home health care to motion analysis technology, information technology, and worker safety. She is skilled in planning and implementing marketing and media programs, graphic design, Web page design and maintenance, presentation design, and writing and editing marketing and technical documents. She has developed a broad variety of marketing materials, including advertisements, direct mail, newsletters, brochures, Web sites, trade show exhibits, and press releases. As director of marketing for ELB & Associates for 13 years, Ms. Obringer was responsible for developing and implementing all aspects of corporate and divisional marketing plans. She holds a BA in journalism from the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill. 

Nancy Pekar has 22 years of experience as a writer/editor and has supported IP management efforts since 1997. During that time, she acquired a thorough understanding of the commercialization process. She has written technology marketing materials for various media, including brochures, Web sites, videos, and multimedia CD-ROMs. She has edited technology assessments, market reports, and other studies as well as manuscripts published in professional journals. She also has written and edited outreach and “inreach” guidebooks, newsletters, and annual reports that explain commercialization processes and activities to potential licensees and inventors. Ms. Pekar is particularly skilled at converting printed materials into electronic versions posted on the Internet, reorganizing the material and conceptualizing the structure of the site. Her experience includes working in a variety of technical fields, including advanced materials, aerospace and propulsion, electronics and semiconductors, environmental technologies, manufacturing processes, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, and optics.

Michelle Allen has more than 20 years of experience as a writer and editor. After beginning her career as a litigation paralegal, she managed an international chemistry association’s tracking system for peer-reviewed methods of analysis for pesticides, drugs, food, feeds, and hazardous waste. As a Capitol Hill reporter, she gained more than 10 years of experience writing and editing daily news stories on subjects ranging from pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and food regulation to health care policy and medical device development and review. Complementing more than a decade of news writing are Ms. Allen’s experiences designing, editing, and writing newsletters; meeting on-air deadlines to edit news program captions; and managing a global team of freelance editors to produce publications for an international audience. She earned a BA degree in history from Wake Forest University, and then earned an MA in English from George Mason University, where her concentration was on professional writing and editing.

With more than 20 years of experience in her graphics portfolio, Lisa Baker provides wide-ranging artistic skill sets. Prior to joining Fuentek, she managed the operations of an online Web design, computer graphics, and databases business, taking responsibility for client delivery and art-related marketing strategies. Ms. Baker offers additional expertise in technical knowledge of the two major computer systems—Apple and Windows—and the ability to support a myriad of graphic software programs. She is capable of meeting the gamut of technical marketing document graphic requirements, from brochures and presentations to Web site design and maintenance.

Lisa Plendl is a technical marketing copywriter with over 10 years of experience helping a range of Fortune 500 and mid-size technology companies deliver their message with clarity. She has a talent for quickly understanding technology and the ability to create user-friendly marketing collateral, including business- and technical-level articles, solution sheets, white papers, executive columns, and other promotions. Lisa strives to cut through technical haze and abstraction in order to effectively communicate what the technology, software, or service really does and how that can benefit the customer's business. Previously, Lisa worked as an award-winning journalist at Los Angeles-area newspapers, and as a dot-com business reporter specializing in articles about new technologies and how companies can best use them to improve business. She has a BA in journalism from California State University, Long Beach.

Nicole Quenelle has 14 years of experience as a writer and marketing communications professional. She has extensive experience writing for both technical and marketing audiences in the areas of software, hardware, healthcare, life sciences, Earth sciences, and technology services and consulting. She has written for technology, aerospace, automotive, banking, pharmaceuticals, life sciences, education, manufacturing, and retail industries, as well as for government and non-profit sectors. Ms. Quenelle has written and/or edited technical and marketing content for brochures, executive briefs, product guides, solution briefs, product catalogs, direct mail, advertisements, data sheets, trade show materials, presentations, videos/CD-ROMs, speeches, award applications, and Web sites. She is particularly skilled in creating co- branded and cooperative publications and materials for partnering companies or organizations, as well as in communicating technical information to marketing audiences and vice versa. She holds a BA degree in journalism and mass communication from the University of North Carolina.

Dawn Smith is a highly skilled software specialist with extensive experience building websites designed to advance technology transfer efforts. She has expertise in website architecture, graphic design, usability, and maintenance. She works closely with clients to develop effective, powerful, and engaging websites that provide high-quality content for both internal and external audiences. Ms. Smith's technical skills include deep knowledge of HTML/CSS, JavaScript, mySql, PHP, and WordPress. She is also proficient in multiple design tools, including Dreamweaver, Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator. In addition, she works in several software languages and protocols including: C, C++, Java, Shell Scripts, SNMP, DNS, FTP, XML, and TCP/IP. She previously worked for Nortel Networks and Siemens Enterprise as a systems analyst specializing in telecommunications software.

Dr. Amy Strong is an award-winning writer and editor with more than 20 years of professional experience. She quickly grasps new technologies and creates clear, concise materials that help advance her clients' strategic goals. She has developed a variety of publications for government laboratories, research universities, and corporations, including articles, brochures, investor packages, accomplishments reports, award applications, economic impact flyers, online copy, and other materials. She also works with clients to build next-generation websites defined by solid information architecture, simple navigation, and elegant design. Amy previously worked for the National Academy of Sciences, where she wrote communication pieces for the Children's Vaccine Initiative and the International Forum for AIDS Research. She earned a BA from Carleton College and a PhD in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Kathy Villella has been providing presentation production support since 1986. A graphics virtuoso, she has the ability to provide enhanced visual quality and understandability to presentation material. She provides input on consistency, accuracy, and document structure to achieve highly engaging media for a wide range of audiences. She taps a wealth of graphics resources, using leading-edge technologies to create stimulating, professional work from the mundane. Her abilities to complement work styles and reinforce branding elevate the quality and accuracy of her graphics products. In short, Kathy Villella's polish on presentations keep an audience’s attention and “packages” the presenter’s concepts and ideas.

Melody Zanation is a graphic designer with nearly a decade of experience helping clients craft compelling publication materials. She is extraordinarily versatile in her design aesthetic and works closely with clients to understand their requirements and vision. Melody has provided expert graphic design for government laboratories, academic, and corporate clients. Her portfolio includes brochures, reports, state impact flyers, technology opportunity sheets, success stories, magazines, logos, and direct mail pieces. She also has expertise in Web site design. Melody is proficient in many Web design and photo editing tools, including Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, Dreamweaver, QuarkXPress, and MultiAd Creator Pro. She earned a B.A. in Visual Communication, with a concentration in graphics, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Lois Kurtz manages Fuentek resources and maintains the data in the company’s knowledge management system. She also performs background data research for Fuentek technology assessments, market studies, and marketing efforts and has significant experience with meeting planning, including organizing workshops, maintaining mailing lists, and coordinating post-meeting follow-up. As a result of her years as a real estate broker, Ms.Kurtz is skilled in negotiating, establishing, and maintaining excellent customer relationships.

Michelle Ormond researches market sectors, market projections, related patents, and market experts for technology assessments, market studies and marketing efforts. She also performs background data gathering for marketing reports and products. She has conducted research in all of the industries Fuentek supports, including aerospace, biotechnology, health care, materials, electronics, robotics, instruments, and new technologies. Ms. Ormond has extensive experience in meeting planning, including organizing workshops, maintaining mailing lists, and coordinating post-meeting follow-up. She also has used her communication skills to develop technology marketing materials and slide presentations. She has a BS and an MA in English (with an emphasis in technical and professional communication) from East Carolina University.

Jill Rengan is a seasoned researcher and business consultant with over 18 years of wide-ranging experience in new product development, market research and analysis, product and brand management, partner marketing, and business systems development. She researches technologies, companies and markets for technology assessments. She has researched various industries including computer hardware, software, electronics, communication, scientific instruments, aerospace, and new technologies. As a product manager, she was responsible for product roadmaps, managing transitions, coordinating product launches with suppliers, and researching competitive offerings. Ms. Rengan earned a BS degree in mathematics from the University of Notre Dame, and an MBA from the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill.

Caroline Stetter Neel is instrumental in verifying, and sometimes identifying, relevant contacts and experts within industries, markets, and companies. She has led and assisted in several call campaigns that have increased the number of potential licensees for technologies as well as identified technical personnel and decision makers within many companies. Ms. Neel has also assisted in data entry, market research, and distribution of client software.