Our Staff

Prior to joining NorTech, Dave served as Director of Engineering for Demag Plastics Group, a plastic injection molding machinery manufacturer located in Strongsville, OH. He led international design teams developing the latest product line of injection molding machines and control systems for Demag. He brings over 20 years experience in a wide variety of sectors within the manufacturing industry including controls, plastics, rubber, primary metals, metal forming, defense and services. Dave holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from The Ohio State University.

Byron C. Clayton, DM
Vice President

As Vice President, Dr. Clayton is responsible for leading NorTech's Flexible Electronics industry cluster initiative.  Dr. Clayton has over 25 years experience developing new businesses and commercializing high tech systems for numerous industries including automotive, aerospace, defense, nuclear, space, and window manufacturing. For 15 of those years, he served as a senior of executive manager specializing in strategic management, product commercialization and business development.

Prior to joining NorTech, Dr. Clayton advised doctoral students at Case Western Reserve University on qualitative research methods and lectured undergraduate and graduate students on mergers and acquisitions. He simultaneously collaborated with Cleveland Clinic to conceptualize behavioral technology designed to optimize clinical and non clinical processes. Dr. Clayton also formed and managed NxWare Division of GED Integrated Solutions. During his tenure as president, NxWare received the prestigious Crystal Achievement Award recognizing the most innovative contributions to the window manufacturing industry. He previously held management positions at Wegoma, Inc., Manufacturing and Business Automation, Inc., Deneb Robotics, AKR Robotics, and Cybotech Corporation.

Dr. Clayton received his doctorate in management from Case Western Reserve University. His dissertation explored the impact of financial and nonfinancial incentives on managerial motivation and performance during large scale organizational change. His other research domains included economic revitalization in Northeast Ohio, behavioral technology in healthcare, and the application of complexity science to improve success rates of mergers and acquisitions. Dr. Clayton holds patents for innovative software systems and has been published in industry and academic journals. He also has an Masters in Business Administration  from Meyers University and a Bachelor of Arts from Malone University.   

Karen Allport
Vice President, Strategic Outreach

As Vice President of Strategic Outreach, Karen Allport is responsible for the development of NorTech's overall marketing and communications strategy and building relationships with key stakeholders. In this role, she will advance the organization's position with relevant constituents as well as drive broader awareness and support of NorTech and its initiatives in Northeast Ohio.

Ms. Allport has over 25 years experience working with for-profit (public and private), non-profit organizations and as a consultant. Prior to joining NorTech, Ms. Allport was Chief Operating Officer for Cleveland Botanical Garden where she oversaw the operations of this internationally-recognized cultural institution and built earned income through generating and sustaining new revenue streams. She led the public launch and opening in 2003 of the new Visitor Center and Glasshouse exhibit and directed the strategic efforts to build the institution's audiences and its profile. Previously, Ms. Allport was Vice President, Corporate Communications for Dix and Eaton Incorporated, the largest public relations firm in Ohio, where she supervised premier client accounts. Before joining Dix & Eaton, she was Director of Marketing Services at Leasway Transportation. During her tenure at this billion dollar logistics company, she engineered the communications and public relations for a successful Chapter 11 entrance and exit.

Ms. Allport is currently a member of the Visiting Committee for the CWRU Mandel Center for Applied Social Sciences. She served on the Board of Directors for the Cleveland Chapters of Junior Achievement and the American Marketing Association. She holds a bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.

Kelly South
Senior Director, Communications

Kelly Coolbaugh South joined NorTech in September 2005. At NorTech, Kelly handles communications and public relations efforts to support the organization’s outreach activities in the region. Kelly also develops NorTech’s events and programs to highlight and promote the region’s technology strengths.  Prior to joining NorTech, Kelly was a public relations account executive at Helsel and Associates, a communications counseling firm specializing in public relations services for clients in the high tech industry. At Helsel and Associates, Kelly was responsible for strategic communications, program implementation, and media relations for start-ups, business-to-business companies, non-profit organizations and universities. Kelly is an active member of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Cleveland Chapter.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from the University of Arizona, in Tucson, Arizona.

Olivia Robinson-Bulls
Administrative Services Manager
Executive Assistant to the President & CEO

Olivia Robinson-Bulls joined NorTech in March 2008. Olivia brings to NorTech 9 years of professional office experience.  As Administrative Services Manager for NorTech, Olivia serves as the focal point for information and complex organizational support ensuring effective and timely completion of various meetings and events, tasks and functions.  She primarily focuses on providing office management and executive support to Rebecca O. Bagley.  She is also responsible for assisting with various recordkeeping, database maintenance, and budget tracking. Olivia holds a BA in Business Management, a MBA in Human Resources as well as a Certificate in Paralegalism.

Beth A. Lawson
Marketing and Event Coordinator

Beth A. Lawson joined NorTech is February 2010. As Marketing and Event Coordinator, Beth is responsible for marketing and coordinating  events and programs that will promote NorTech's technology initiatives. Previously, Beth was the Advancement Coordinator at Berea Children's Home and Family Services, a nonprofit organization that provides essential services and programs to needy children and families throughout Northeast Ohio. At Berea Children's Home, Beth was responsible for direct mail marketing and design for the fundraising department, and planning and executing agency events. A graduate of Baldwin-Wallace College, she holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Marketing and Public Relations.                                                                        

Ashley Paessun
Project Coordinator

Ashley Paessun joined NorTech in February 2010. In her role as Project Coordinator for NorTech's Advanced Energy Initiative, Ashley works to support the efforts of the advanced energy team to accelerate the growth of the advanced energy industry cluster in Northeast Ohio.

Prior to joining NorTech, Ashley worked for the Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE), one of Ohio's largest small business support organizations striving to help its 17,000 small business members grow and maintain their independence. As Products Manager with a primary focus on Energy Programs, including electric, natural gas, and sustainability programs, as well as the I Buy NEO local buying initiative, Ashley ensured that those products and programs continually provided support and savings to Northeast Ohio small businesses. Ashley has a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Bowling Green State University. 

Lea Smith
Administrative Coordinator

Lea Smith joined NorTech in August 2010. As Administrative Coordinator, Lea conducts a variety of administrative functions for NorTech senior staff and supports the Administrative Service Manager with technical and administrative operations for the organization.

Before joining NorTech, Lea was a Receptionist at Zaremba, a Cleveland-based real estate developer. She was responsible for providing administrative support to the Property Manager and served as an on-site liaison for building tenants at Zaremba's Charter One Global Enterprise Center. Prior to joining Zaremba, Lea was a Client Services Representative at OSI Collection Services, Inc., a consumer and commercial collection debt company. Lea is currently pursuing an undergraduate Business degree from The University of Phoenix. 

Dave Nestic
Senior Consultant, NorTech Energy Enterprise

Dave Nestic joined NorTech Energy Enterprise in May 2010 and brings over 20 years of experience with technology company formation, incubation and development, and technology-based economic development. Prior to joining NorTech, Mr. Nestic was an Entrepreneur-in-Residence with JumpStart TechLift Advisors, providing business coaching and support services to entrepreneurs and early stage companies in the advanced energy industry. He was also President and Owner of NezTech Corp., a technology based business consulting practice focused on new technology commercialization and strategy development for start-ups, small and mid sized corporations, and research institutions. Mr. Nestic has fulfilled executive roles for clients, as well as advised in areas of technology commercialization, R&D proposal coordination, business analysis, strategic planning, business development, investor presentations, and general management. His wide range of technology experience is well suited to the diverse field of advanced energy. Mr. Nestic's experience base includes genetically altered organisms and fermentation, embedded communications in electrical distribution and gas lease field operation, underground and surface coal mining software and automation technology, emission abatement technology, and micro-electrical-mechanical systems (MEMS) and nanotechnology development and applications.  

Mr. Nestic also co-founded and served as VP of Business Development and Marketing for NetEnabled, Inc., an embedded communications and networking company. He gained valuable insight into government research funding as Director of Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) assistance center for the State of Ohio. In his most recent long-term client engagement spanning the past six years, Mr. Nestic was instrumental in SBIR and government R&D proposal efforts for a defense and industrial R&D and manufacturing firm in Dublin, Ohio, which gained the company awards from the National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Agriculture, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the Air Force and spawned the development of new technology initiatives in biosciences and sensor technologies.

Mr. Nestic currently serves as President of the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce and is on the executive committee of the Youngstown Business Incubator and Salem Area Industrial Development Corporation. He is also an elected official in his  town serving as Councilman in Salem, Ohio. Mr. Nestic attended Ohio University in Athens where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and Capital University in Columbus where he earned his Masters in Business Administration.

Theodore (Ted) Theofrastous, esq.
Advanced Energy Fellow, NorTech Energy Enterprise

Ted is currently serving as Advanced Energy Fellow for NorTech Energy Enterprise, a NorTech initiative created to accelerate growth in Northeast Ohio's advanced energy industry.  He brings extensive experience in the field of commercialization both as a business architect and as an attorney. Ted works across a range of  technologies -- including healthcare, IT, communications, and advanced energy -- routinely focusing on the creation of sustainable economic impact through large and small scale initiatives. 

Prior to founding his own business, Theta Squared, Ted served as managing director and fund counsel for Panzica Investments, where he created and managed a portfolio of new and existing start up investments. Before Panzica, Ted served as Chief Commercialization Officer for The Cleveland Clinic Foundation (CCF) where he managed a diverse IP portfolio and launced numerous start up companies designed to commercialize CCF life science technologies. Before joining CCF, Ted practiced in the Cleveland and London offices of Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P., where his primary practice focused on the nexus of investment capital and technology. 

Ted also teaches courses in Intellectual Property Transactions and Technology Commercialization at the Case Western Reserve University School of Law. He has authored a number of peer-reviewed articles on range of technology and legal topics and is a frequent speaker in the field of technology commercialization, regulation and finance. Ted is a member of the Ohio State and the American Bar Associations, The Licensing Executive Society and AUTM, and is Vice President of the Cleveland International Lawyers Group.

Richard Stuebi
Fellow for Energy and Environmental Advancement, The Cleveland Foundation; and Founding Principal, NorTech Energy Enterprise

Richard is a founding principal in NorTech's advanced energy initiative, NorTech Energy Enterprise. He is working on loan from The Cleveland Foundation, which he joined in March 2006 as the Fellow for Energy and Environmental Advancement. He works with a broad spectrum of public-sector and private interests to promote commercial activity in advanced energy in Northeast Ohio.

Richard has more than 20 years of experience as an executive, entrepreneur, and consultant in the energy industry, with most of the past decade focused on advanced energy technologies and business opportunities. He shares his perspectives on energy and environmental matters weekly at www.cleantechblog.com and his own Cleveland Foundation blog.

Richard also spends a portion of his time as a managing director at Early Stage Partners, a Cleveland -based venture capital firm, where he leads the firm's activities to invest in promising ventures developing and commercializing advanced energy and environmental technologies.

In 1999, Richard founded NextWave Energy, a professional firm helping client companies capitalize on new business opportunities involving innovative energy technologies including strategy and capital formation. Previously, he was a senior vice president at the global commodity trading firm Louis Dreyfus, a management consultant in the energy practice of McKinsey & Co., and an economic analyst at ICF Resources. 

Richard serves on the board of EnLink Geoenergy Services and MAR Systems, and is a member of the advisory board of the Generation Foundation.  In the 1980's, he earned degrees in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Standford University.