NorTech’s staff brings a wealth of experience to addressing technology opportunities in our region.
Rebecca O. Bagley
President & Chief Executive Officer
Rebecca O. Bagley brings a wealth of experience in investment, technology-based economic development, and policy development to her role as President and Chief Executive Officer of NorTech. She focuses on NorTech's strategic initiatives and works closely with the public and private sector to develop high growth technology industries that will create positive economic impact in Northeast Ohio.
Previously, Rebecca served as Deputy Secretary for the Technology Investment Office of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). In that capacity she oversaw the operations of an office that serves as a catalyst for growth and competitiveness for Pennsylvania companies and universities. Rebecca was responsible for the administration of several major state programs, including the Life Sciences Greenhouse initiative, the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority and the Ben Franklin Technology Partners, the Keystone Innovation Zone program, the Research and Development Tax Credit program, and many other technology-based economic development programs that support research and commercialization activities.
As part of her responsibilities, Rebecca managed the $650 million Energy Independence Strategy that was signed into law in 2008, as well as approximately $79 million in appropriations and more than $1.7 billion in investments for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. She previously served as Director of the Venture Investment for DCED and was responsible for managing the New PA Venture Investment, the New PA Venture Guarantee Programs and Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority Venture Program.
Before joining DCED, Rebecca worked as an investment banker at WFG Capital Advisors where she advised technology companies on merger and acquisitions and capital raising activities. Rebecca also worked at JPMorgan Chase in New York City both in the high yield-bond group as well as oil and gas mergers and acquisitions groups. Rebecca started her investment banking career at Howell International in Boulder, Colorado, after returning from a corporate relations position in Caracas, Venezuela.
Rebecca is currently a member of the Board of the National Association for Seed and Venture Funds (NASVF), an organization of innovation capital leaders in private, public and nonprofit organizations that are committed to building local economies by investing in local entrepreneurs. She has also served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the State Science Technology Institute (SSTI), a national nonprofit organization that leads, supports and strengthens efforts to improve state and regional economies through science, technology and innovation.
She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Colorado at Boulder College of Business and Administration.
Dorothy C. Baunach
President Emeritus
Dorothy
C. Baunach is founding President of NorTech where she now serves as President Emeritus. Under Dorothy's ten years of leadership Northeast Ohio's high tech industries, early stage investment capital and technology based entrepreneurship have experienced significant growth with support from initiatives launched and championed by NorTech.
Previously, Dorothy was Deputy Director of Cleveland Tomorrow where she
directed the start-up of NorTech as an affiliate program. Dorothy was the founding President of the Edison
BioTechnology Center (EBTC), now BioOhio, and Vice President of Enterprise Development Inc. (EDI), now JumpStart, where she launced the region's first technology incubator. She was also a former biomedical research assistant at Case Western Reserve University and biology teacher.
During her 26 years as a technology-based economic development
professional, Dorothy has served on start-up company and non-profit
organization boards and several state and national councils,
commissions and panels.
In 1993, she received Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year
Award for her support of entrepreneurship in Northeast Ohio. In 2006
she earned the designation of Rainmaker by Northern Ohio Live and also received the Cleveland Engineering Society’s (CES) Leadership Award. In
2008, she was awarded the Greater Cleveland Partnership's Richard A.
Shatten Leadership Award for her efforts and leadership in regional
economic development. Also in 2008, Dorothy was inducted into the Ohio
Women's Hall of Fame.
A graduate of Wittenberg University with a bachelor’s degree in biology, magna cum laude,
Dorothy earned an MS in biology from the University of Dayton and an
MBA from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve
University.
Dave Karpinski
Vice President
Dave Karpinski joined NorTech in May 2007. He is currently leading NorTech's initiatives aimed at driving growth in Northeast Ohio's Advanced Energy Industry Cluster. He is engaged in forging collaborations among the many stakeholders throughout the region and marshaling the resources required to accelerate growth in the cluster. Prior to his work in the Advanced Energy Industry Cluster, he led a team from NorTech and MAGNET and developed the Innovation Accelerator, a program designed to stimulate and foster innovation in the manufacturing sector in Northeast Ohio.
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 Coolbaugh 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.
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.
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.
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.
Theodore C. Theofrastous, esq.
NorTech Fellow, Advanced Energy
Ted is currently serving as Advanced Energy Fellow at NorTech. 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's Advanced Energy Initiative
Richard is a founding principal in NorTech's advanced energy initiative. 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.