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NREF Chairperson: JoAnn Laing, Chairman of Information Strategies, Inc. has more than 20 years of technology experience, served on several technology think tanks, and named a top women in digital media. Ms. Laing is a top executive and corporate officer experienced in driving billion dollar P&Ls, directing +10,000 people, and overseeing business in +70 countries. She is a strategic leader who successfully grows organizations through: enhancing current business ROIs, identifying and capturing new market opportunities, and developing people. Ms. Laing received a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Supply-Chain Management from Syracuse University as well as her M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. |
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Donald P. Mazzella, Chairman of the Board of the Robotics Education Foundation, has more than 25 years experience in publishing and is an expert in small business operations having reported on and led firms in that sector. Formerly a senior marketing executive with McGraw Hills Standard & Poors division, he subsequently was Editorial Director for a group of magazines operated by Thomson Publications. In recent years, Mr. Mazzella has successfully started and sold companies in the pre-press and small business arena while serving on the boards of public and private companies.
Serving as a consultant to the magazine Income Opportunities, he won the National Press Club award for "best consumer publication" while expanding circulation and advertiser revenue. Mr. Mazzella holds a BA and MA in Journalism from NYU as well as an MBA from the same institution. |
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Dr. Kenneth Berry, Assistant Professor, California State University, Northridge, is founder of the RoboEducators Association, http://www.roboeducators.org/, which includes thousands of educators teaching at K12 through university and graduate levels. Dr. Berry, whose doctoral thesis explored Dean Kamen's FIRST organization and competition, is an expert on FIRST, FIRST LEGO League, Battlebots IQ, RoboFest, BEST, the Trinity College Fire Fighting Robot Competition, Botball, OCCRA, and numerous other national and regional robotics competitions. Dr. Berry is a regular contributor to Robot magazine's EDU BOTS section, which addresses the needs and interests of students and educators engaged in robotics curriculum, programs, competitions and related initiatives. |
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Gary Kolesar, owner of Kolesar Media, currently produces 30 websites, including Robot magazine's, http://www.botmag.com/ and http://www.robotvillage.com/. He serves as a web marketing consultant specialized in targeted online narrowcast marketing as well as web design, database management and mass email campaigns. As marketing manager for the National Shooting Sports Foundation, Kolesar coordinated the proclamation of National Hunting and Fishing Day by President Bill Clinton and all 50 state govenors. He holds an MA, Emerson College, Boston, MA, in mass communications. |