Joe Thiel
Sets the Destination
Chief Executive Officer
Paulette Perttunen
Clears the Way
Chief Operating Officer
Aubry Healy
Crafts the Message
Outreach & Engagement Manager
Mari Shelafoe
Draws the Map
Operations Manager
Jaimi Cawley
Navigates the Trail
Controller
Eric Prue
Builds the Gear
Design Manager
Nick Herriff
Guides the Adventure
Project Manager
Lilly Smith
Tells the Stories
Outreach & Engagement Coordinator
Ava Larson
Tells the Stories
Outreach & Engagement Coordinator
Caleb Santer
Guides the Adventure
Project Coordinator
Emily Nobles
Maintains the Trail
Operations & Finance Coordinator
Vince Nystrom
Harbor Master
Duncan the DunKing
Chief Snuggle Officer
Bernard Bowtie the BarKing
Snuggle Intern
Board of Trustees
Interested in joining our Board of Trustees? Learn more about how to join below our Trustees.
Karen Kovacs
Chair
City Manager, City of Marquette
David Nyberg
Vice Chair
Executive Director, Business Engagement & Economic Development, Northern Michigan University
Spencer Stang
Vice Chair
CEO, Stang Decision Systems
Nancy Lyons
Secretary
Founder, Clockwork & Tempo
Dale Dexter
Treasurer
Director of Financial Planning and Analysis, JM Longyear
Leslie Hartman
Trustee
Chairperson, LDFA Board
Scott MacInnes
Trustee
President, MacInnes Consulting
Fred Molnar
Trustee
Retired Senior Vice President of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Michigan Economic Development Corporation
Elizabeth Bernhard
Trustee
Executive Director, South Haven Business Hub
Jess Jones
Trustee
Exec. Director, Optimization & Northern Experience, Northern Michigan University
Boris Martysz
Trustee
SVP Commercial Banking Manager, Nicolet National Bank
Jason George
Trustee
Product Designer, KPMG Studio
Weston Sramek
Trustee
Director of Quality Control, Core Engineering, & New Product Introduction, Resolve Surgical Technologies
Alison Todak
Trustee
VP of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Michigan Economic Development Corporation
Join our Board of Trustees
Innovate Marquette is seeking candidates for its Board of Trustees with subject matter expertise in the following categories:
Strategic Growth and Innovation
Individuals with experience building, scaling, advising, or investing in high-growth organizations who understand innovation as a driver of economic transformation. Examples of experience may include:
- Founder, CEO, or executive in a high-growth startup or growth-stage company
- Venture investor, angel investor, or fund advisor with early-stage exposure
- Senior operator in technology-enabled sectors, including advanced manufacturing, outdoor innovation, energy, mobility, health, or digital platforms
- Experience leading organizational scale, talent recruitment, and strategic pivots
- Governance or advisory experience that reflects disciplined oversight and long-term thinking
Artificial Intelligence and Venture Growth
Individuals with deep technical and capital markets fluency in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and venture-scale company building. Examples of experience may include:
- Founder or executive who scaled a venture-backed startup from seed or Series A through significant growth, exit, or unicorn-level valuation
- Partner, principal, or operating partner in a venture capital or growth equity firm with meaningful early-stage deal exposure
- Deep domain expertise in AI, ML infrastructure, data platforms, robotics, autonomous systems, applied intelligence, or AI-native SaaS
- Experience navigating capital formation, term sheet negotiation, governance dynamics, and investor alignment
- Prior board service where strategy, capital discipline, and long-term value creation were central
The role of a trustee is ideal for leaders who want to volunteer their experience to compound beyond a single company and who believe innovation infrastructure is as important as innovation itself. A connection to Marquette, northern Michigan, or the broader Great Lakes region is preferred but not strictly required. A clear commitment to place-based innovation and ecosystem development is essential.
The Board of Trustees is especially seeking trustees who are interested in helping Innovate Marquette:
- Strengthen founder pipelines and executive mentorship
- Expand capital access and investor relationships
- Elevate strategic planning and performance discipline
- Connect regional innovation to national markets
- Support the long-term positioning of Marquette as a durable innovation hub