Our NIICA Board of Advisors & Staff
NIICA's leadership, and its boards of directors and advisors, 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 Directors and Advisors
Mike Russo
President & CEO, Board Director
Emily Reilly
Board Director
Phil Singerman, Ph. D
Advisory Board Member
Melinda Woods
Chairperson of the Board
Nikki Zaahir
Executive Director
Charles W. Wessner, Ph.D.
Board Director
Earl Wyatt
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
Director of Program Growth, Innovation and Administration
Chloe Thornton
Program Administration and Data Specialist