AMERICA MAKES - Key Persons
Adam joined NCDMM in July 2023 with over 12 years of experience leading projects and initiatives within both the manufacturing and Department of Defense (DoD) industries. Prior to NCDMM, he was a Principal Manufacturing Engineer at Westinghouse Electric Company's Specialty Metals Plant where he focused on the design and development of manufacturing processes for new products, customer specifications compliance, transition of new product qualifications to full production, and supported analysis efforts to ensure defect reduction.
A majority of Adam's career has been spent in the DoD industries having worked at Bechtel Plant Machinery, Inc. (BPMI) and Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC). During his 7 years at BPMI, he held several positions including mechanical engineer, project lead, and engineering unit manager. He provided oversight for the design, procurement, and technical services to support the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program. At CTC, he focused on energy development and demonstration for the Air Force and the Air Force Research Labs, along with improved shipyard manufacturing processes for the Navy Metalworking Center.
Adam holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Grove City College and a master's degree in business administration from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Job Titles:
- Government Chief Technology Advisor
Adam is the Government Chief Technology Advisor for America Makes and a physicist at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Materials and Manufacturing Directorate. As a subject matter expert for advanced laser manufacturing and additive manufacturing (AM), he leads research and executes the investment strategies for these technology areas for the Manufacturing and Industrial Technologies Division.
Before joining AFRL in 2018, Adam worked in laser manufacturing research and development in both academia and industry for nine years. In addition to research on lasers for AM, Adam explored various applications for micromachining and micro-welding using various laser technologies.
He has a Master of Science in Physics from Miami University and a Bachelor of Science in Physics from the University of Dayton.
As the Operations Director, Alexander leads and coordinates the efforts of the America Makes Operations Team including membership, strategic communications, events, projects portfolio, and office management, in executing the terms of the latest Cooperative Agreement and overseeing all of its associated requirements.
Before joining NCDMM in February 2020, Alexander served as the vice president of operations for Altronic, LLC, a leading manufacturer of ignition and control systems for industrial engines, and a HOERBIGER Group company. In this capacity, he was responsible for the overall operations function and most recently, led the development and execution of a comprehensive operations roadmap. Prior to that, Alexander served as the global head of controlling for HOERBIGER Business Area Engine Solutions and led finance and controlling teams in the U.S., Austria, and Sweden. He started his career at Altronic as a reporting manager, playing an integral role during HOERBIGER's acquisition of Altronic.
Alexander earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Engineering from the University of Applied Sciences in Karlsruhe, Germany, and has completed numerous leadership and operations management courses during his tenure with HOERBIGER.
Allison Felger joined the team in 2020 and is currently a Senior Project Engineer in the Youngstown office. She supports and manages projects across the organization.
Allison is a proud graduate of both Youngstown State (BE-ISE) and Cleveland State (MS-IME) Universities. Her career path has provided her with many amazing opportunities which have been focused primarily in various areas of manufacturing. She has been a part of teams that have made cars, airplane components, toys and toy displays, aluminum cans, and ignition systems/electronic assemblies. Some of the job titles she has held in her career include Industrial, Manufacturing, Environmental, and Consultant Engineer.
As for Allison personally, she grew up in Struthers, Ohio and currently reside in Poland Township, Ohio with her husband Scott. They are passionate about animal rescue. In addition to their own rescue animals (dogs and cats), they have fostered dozens of dogs over the years and are very active with a local non-profit rescue group. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, spending time with her family and friends, going for walks/hikes with the dogs, playing bocce, and relaxing by a nice campfire.
Amanda joined NCDMM/America Makes in June of 2023 as a Senior Project Engineer. She is responsible for project management, providing engineering design and technical analysis, along with process coordination and implementation development. She also supports project design and manages procurement activities.
Before joining the organization, Amanda was employed as an account manager at Rockwell Automation, overseeing System Integrator partners. During her 20-year career, she held various positions from motion control application engineer to manager of the automation department. She has worked with industrial-based customers providing turnkey automation control solutions. Additionally, she spent eight years at a private engineering firm as a program manager supporting multidisciplined ground-up facility design and commissioning.
Amanda holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and Mathematics minor from Ohio University, Athens, OH.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Technology Director
- Member of the Co - Chair
Brandon Ribic, Ph.D., joined NCDMM in October 2019 as the America Makes Technology Director. He brings nearly 15 years of materials processing and manufacturing experience to the organization covering a variety of applications including railroad, oil, energy, aerospace, and defense.
Prior to joining NCDMM, Brandon was a joining processes and additive manufacturing materials specialist at Rolls-Royce Corporation. His key contributions were concentrated in additive manufacturing of nickel superalloys for OEM and repair applications. In addition, Brandon led Rolls-Royce Corporation's externally funded additive manufacturing research endeavors. His experience offered collaboration with companies across all tiers of the defense aerospace supply chain as well as non-profit, small business, and academic partners. His research is well recognized within Rolls-Royce and the highest levels of the DoD.
Brandon obtained his bachelor's and doctorate degrees in Materials Science and Engineering from Pennsylvania State University. His doctoral thesis focused on the numerical modeling of fusion welding processes which has proved very useful to his endeavors in the development and qualification of laser metal additive manufacturing processes.
After completing his graduate research in collaboration with Los Alamos National Laboratory, Brandon's professional career began at McConway and Torley in Kutztown, PA. Brandon was fortunate to serve in a number of roles which afforded him the opportunity to contribute to product quality, customer relationships, workforce and facilities development, and production goals. His professional experiences continue to shape his approaches to solving difficult challenges while working with both small and large teams across a variety of experience levels and skill sets.
Dr. Ribic has served as a member, co-chair, and chair of America Makes and the American Welding Society. He has published in various journals including the Journal of Applied Physics, International Materials Reviews, and Nature Materials. In addition, he has numerous patents granted and pending on the topics of additive manufacturing and laser materials processing.
Job Titles:
- NCDMM in 2013 As a Project Engineer
- Program Manager & Laboratory Operations Director
Brian joined NCDMM in 2013 as a Project Engineer and has since been promoted to Program Manager and Laboratory Operations Director. As a technical and manufacturing generalist, he supports project management, procurement, and design activities. Additionally, he has been instrumental in furthering the development of manufacturing energy reduction and sustainability expertise within NCDMM.
Brian also provides project management, manufacturing and design expertise, and team leadership experience, in addition to various technical and process experience capabilities to NCDMM.
Prior to joining NCDMM, Brian served in multiple manufacturing roles, encompassing the full breadth of manufacturing spanning from initial design through the installation and service of manufactured products. He also conducted product development and design activities both starting with a clean slate, and the revision of existing designs and products, including design optimization for manufacturing. These numerous capabilities have been obtained through various positions, including Production, Manufacturing, Design and Product Development engineer.
Brian holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh, and a M.B.A. from Seton Hill University.
Job Titles:
- Program Analyst for America Makes / NCDMM
As the Program Analyst for America Makes/NCDMM, Cole is responsible for gathering and analyzing diverse data sets to identify areas of improvement, developing internal audit processes, and supporting Institute leadership in decision-making and prioritization. Before joining NCDMM in October 2023, Cole gained valuable experience as the Business Operations Coordinator at Penna Flame Industries in Zelienople, PA. He supported company leadership and stakeholders through research and presentation of opportunities for operational enhancement and utilized his data analysis skills to align the company's strategy to drive profit and growth. Additionally, he made significant contributions to the human resources department by assisting in the development of guidelines, job descriptions, and facilitating applicant outreach and interviews for new hires.
Cole also worked at the Robert Morris University, Office of Institutional Advancement, as an Annual Giving Graduate Assistant, as well as a Gallery Assistant at the Department of Media Arts. He earned his Bachelor's and Master of Science in Business Administration from Robert Morris University.
Job Titles:
- EWD Senior Project Engineer
Courtney Puhl joined NCDMM in 2020 as an Education and Workforce Development Project Engineer for America Makes, advancing the initiatives to accelerate the additive manufacturing workforce through awareness, engagement, and education.
Prior to joining NCDMM, Courtney served as a Senior Manufacturing Project Engineer at Aptiv, managing injection molding tooling projects and continuous improvement activities. Supporting their 160 press molding facility, her work focused on debugging, improving, and maintaining profitability for various designs and cavitation of injection molds.
Other positions held in her 20+ year tenure with Delphi/Aptiv included Senior Tool Build Engineer and Senior Component Design Engineer. These positions provided the opportunity to lead projects from all facets of the automotive spectrum, from custom product design through production release.
Courtney holds a Master of Science in Engineering Management from the University of Dayton, a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Youngstown State University, and a Six Sigma Black Belt. She has also served as a Youngstown State University Engineering IAB Member.
Job Titles:
- Communications Director
- Communications Manager
Dawn joined America Makes as Communications Manager in August 2022 and advanced to the Director role in 2024 where she leads and works with the cross-functional and cross-organizational team to develop, implement, and execute a broad range of communication functions to shape and inform the public perception of the Institute. Additionally, she is responsible for defining the Institute's communication strategies, amplifying the successes of Institute and membership projects and programs, ensuring the effectiveness of social media channels, and leveraging data to optimize communication activities.
Dawn has over 30 years of experience in the marketing communication field. She previously served as the Director of Communications for the Highland Local School District in Medina, OH, for 14 years where she led a comprehensive communication, public relations, and marketing program. She developed all internal and external communications initiatives including digital and print publications, content strategy, district rebranding, crisis communications, and media relations efforts. Her work has been recognized on both regional and national levels.
A Youngstown, OH, native and graduate of Youngstown State University, her career also includes communications roles in the Warren City School District, Home Savings, and Forum Health. In addition, Dawn has contracted with a variety of businesses and non-profit organizations throughout her career providing marketing and graphic design services.
Job Titles:
- Government
- Program Manager
Dr. Vialva is the Government Program Manager for America Makes and a Materials Engineer and Program Manager at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Materials and Manufacturing Directorate at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, OH. Before joining AFRL as a civilian in 2021, she worked as a research engineer in polymer and metal additive manufacturing for seven years. She also co-founded the Southwest Ohio Women in 3D Printing (Wi3DP) Chapter and serves as a Chapter Director for Midwest SAMPE (Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering).
Dr. Vialva earned her Ph.D. and Master of Science degrees in Materials Engineering from the University of Dayton where her research focused on novel material development and characterization of high-performance aluminum alloys, nickel-based superalloys, stainless-steel alloys, and their metal matrix composites for additive manufacturing. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Manufacturing Engineering from Central State University.
Eartha joined America Makes as the Content Coordinator in January 2024. She works to improve the public perception, awareness, and understanding of the Institute through the development of written content. With over 10 years of experience as a communication strategist, she brings a strong skill set in creative copywriting, digital media, advertising, enterprise journalism, and public relations. Her technical writing background spans multiple industries, including technology, healthcare, and business, with articles featured in The Vindicator, Mahoning Matters, The Business Journal, Women's Health, and more. Previously, as the communications specialist for the mental health organization The Red Zone, Eartha led the development of its internal and external rebranding and marketing efforts. Within her role, she oversaw its communication and media planning, creating digital and print materials, including press releases, social media, and newsletters for effective audience outreach.
Additionally, Eartha served as a communications consultant, where her unique marketing approach helped businesses and organizations, such as The Raymond John Wean Foundation and the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp., leverage storytelling to drive audience and stakeholder growth and engagement.
She received her bachelor's degree in communications from The Ohio State University.
Job Titles:
- Senior Project Engineer
- NCDMM in 2011 As a Senior Project Engineer
Ed Nemeth joined NCDMM in 2011 as a Senior Project Engineer. With more than 30 years of engineering experience in manufacturing and technology, Ed is responsible for providing technical and engineering support on manufacturing improvement and optimization projects.
Throughout is tenure at NCDMM, Ed has served as a Project Manager and Lead Engineer on numerous strategic projects. With the Kiowa Portable Alignment System project, Ed was responsible for improving alignment procedures and equipment for several key components for the U.S. Army's fleet of the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior Armed Scout Helicopters. On the UAV Shaft Manufacturability project, Ed evaluated Ferrium® C61, M50-NiL, and Pyrowear® 53 as potential alternative shaft materials; developed geometric and machining criteria from existing shafts, produced forgings, rough machined the forgings, heat treated and final machined the forgings, and post processed the shafts with REM® ISF® super-finishing technology. Ed also worked on the Guided Missile Antenna Manufacturability project.
Prior to joining NCDMM, Ed was employed by Dormont Manufacturing from 2006 through 2011, in positions of increasing responsibilities. In 2009, Ed was promoted to the Manufacturing Engineering Manager position, assuming the role of Lean Manufacturing Leadership at Dormont Manufacturing. For the next two and half years, he facilitated many rapid improvement events, utilizing the lean tools "Single Minute Exchange of Dies" (SMED), Standard Work and Value Stream Mapping. During this time, he was also given the additional responsibilities of Facilities and Maintenance Management. Previously, Ed served as a Senior Manufacturing Engineer with Dormont Manufacturing where he was a member of the OEM strategic business unit and was responsible for working with the new product development team to launch many new products. Additionally, his skills were utilized on a wide spectrum of ventures through his role as Project Engineer on several large automation projects, including one which used GE Fanuc robots for material handling.
Ed commenced his extensive engineering experience in the manufacturing sector in 1990 at Newcomer Products in Latrobe, Pa. As the Plant Engineer, he led multiple, large projects to support the installation of several Sinter-HIP furnaces. Ed engineered changes to the plant recirculating water system, reducing the monthly water usage from more than 4 million gallons of water per month to less than 100K gallons. Throughout 1997, he was the project manager for a $2 million state-of-the-art powder plant that was constructed at the Latrobe facility. The new plant incorporated a high capacity spray dryer and was successfully christened in June of 1998. During the next six years, Ed held various positions and supervisory roles at Newcomer and in 2004 was promoted to the role of Lean Manufacturing Facilitator. As part of this new opportunity, he received extensive training from Mr. Tom Johnson of Johnson Lean Enterprise consultancy. While at Newcomer, Ed developed his lean manufacturing skills in an active work environment and was able to identify waste and substantially reduce costs.
In 1987, Ed was employed by Eichleay Engineers, Peter F. Loftus Division in Pittsburgh, Pa. and was assigned to the Institutional Electrical group, working primarily on contracts with Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory in Idaho Falls, Idaho.
Ed began his career with The General Electric Corporation at Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory (KAPL) in Schenectady, NY. While at KAPL, Ed held an "L" security clearance and worked as an electrical engineer for the Prototype Support Operation (PSO). He was responsible for the Nuclear Instrumentation and Protection & Alarm systems to support the overhauls of the S3G and MARF prototypes.
Ed holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh. In 1993, Ed earned his professional engineering certification and became a licensed P.E. in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).
Job Titles:
- Senior Program Manager
- NCDMM in 2020 As a Senior Program Manager
Georgette Nelson joined NCDMM in 2020 as a Senior Program Manager. She is a strong business operations leader, with over 26 years of technical management experience. Georgette has a proven ability to manage programs, establish strong customer relationships, develop strategic partnerships, and lead cross-business teams from operations, supply chain, engineering, and marketing globally in advanced manufacturing (focused on additive manufacturing), environmental, and Government industries.
At NCDMM, Georgette is responsible for identifying, developing, and executing complex, mission-critical programs that align with the mission and growth of America Makes focused on accelerating the adoption of additive manufacturing technologies in the U.S. manufacturing sector and increasing domestic manufacturing competitiveness.
Prior to joining NCDMM, Georgette served as the Global Business Operations and Customer Service Leader for General Electric's Additive business. In that role, she managed a team of customer application engineers and a program assistant to scope, quote, negotiate contracts, execute, update/advise customers on project status, create shop floor work orders, and ensure customer satisfaction. Georgette also supported the content and training of tools needed to successfully quote and operationally execute projects (e.g., Link3D, BlueStreak).
Previously, Georgette held multiple roles at Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC). At CTC she started as a project engineer focused on environmentally acceptable coatings and coatings removal technologies, including development and implementation of handheld and automated laser coatings removal technology; grew to the role of Program Director for the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Program, a 5-year, $98M Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) led by AFRL, Materials and Manufacturing Division, Acquisition Systems Support Branch, Environment and Energy (E2) Team (AFRL/RXSC-E2) and focused on environmental and energy quality technologies for the United States Air Force and other DoD organizations; and then moved to business development activities to diversify and grow CTC's footprint in the Federal and Commercial Advanced Engineering and Sustainable Manufacturing market.
Georgette has a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Technology Management from the University of Phoenix and a Bachelor of Science (BS) in chemical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh.
Job Titles:
- Manufacturing Engineering Executive Director
- NCDMM in 2019 As the Director of Manufacturing Engineering
Gino Spinos joined NCDMM in 2019 as the Director of Manufacturing Engineering and was promoted to Executive Director in 2023. He manages manufacturing, technology, and roadmapping programs, while maintaining and developing customer relationships. He is also responsible for overseeing project and program management activities across NCDMM.
He brings nearly 30 years of technology, process, and manufacturing experience from industry and military perspectives. For almost two decades, Gino focused on enhancing Department of Defense capabilities, improving sustainability, compliance, efficiency, and effectiveness, reducing costs, and transitioning advanced and next-generation technologies to best support the Warfighter.
He holds a Bachelor's in Environmental Science from the California University of Pennsylvania and a Master's in Business Administration from Saint Francis University.
Heather joined NCDMM/America Makes as an Education and Workforce Development Project Engineer in 2024. Within her role, she supports the organization's EWD team by amplifying its additive manufacturing workforce through awareness, engagement, and education.
Heather's background includes more than a decade of experience leading teams in vocational rehabilitation and training across education and manufacturing. She lends a wealth of knowledge in behavior management and instructional programming evaluation.
Before joining NCDMM, Heather successfully led an innovative youth behavioral rehabilitation program at the Nulton Diagnostic and Treatment Center. Within this role, she evaluated learning environments and instructional programs to make necessary changes for individuals with mental and behavioral health challenges.
Heather earned a Master and Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitative Sciences from Clarion University of Pennsylvania and a master-level certification in Applied Behavioral Analysis Sciences.
Job Titles:
- Information Technology & Cloud Services Director
- NCDMM in 2020 As the Business Systems Manager
Jason Saly joined NCDMM in 2020 as the Business Systems Manager and has since transitioned to the IT & Cloud Services Manager, and now the Information Technology & Cloud Services Director. His principal role is to direct the organization in all IT, Cloud, Business and Software aspects.
At NCDMM, Jason has oversight on all computer, networking, Office 365, Azure and AWS related activities. He also serves as the primary SharePoint, Exchange, and Teams Administrator. Additionally, Jason has also become an integral part of several of our Direct Projects, utilizing his Information Technology and Software Development expertise.
Prior to joining NCDMM, Jason spent 2 years working at the IUP Research Institute Business & Technology Group as a Senior Software Developer and another 20 years in similar roles at Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC). He designed and built both client and web-based applications primarily in the .NET space as a Full Stack Developer. Throughout his career, Jason has gained valuable experience in Software Development, Database Management, Leading a Team, Software, Hardware and Networking Administration along with pretty much all things IT related.
Jason holds a B.S in Computer Science from the University of Pittsburgh and is ITIL V3 Certified.
Jason joined the NCDMM and the America Makes team as a Project Engineer in May 2019. In his current position, as a Project Engineer, Jason is responsible for managing projects and providing engineering design and technical analysis, along with process coordination and implementation development. Jason also supports the America Makes internship program and hosts the America Makes TRX Webinar series.
Previously, Jason served as the America Makes portfolio coordinator responsible for coordinating the NCDMM Additive Manufacturing / 3DP project portfolio that includes the America Makes CORE execution, serving as the project manager (PM) / Project Management Office (PMO) liaison, and facilitating updates to the Innovation Factory. Jason was also an Operations Intern at America Makes from October 2018 - April 2019. While pursuing his undergraduate degree at Youngstown State University, Jason worked as an Advanced Manufacturing Research Assistant on an America Makes "Maturation of Advanced Manufacturing for Low-Cost Sustainment (MAMLS)" project.
Jason holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial & System Engineering from Youngstown State University. He is also LUMA practitioner certified.
Job Titles:
- Additive Manufacturing Research Director
As the Research Director for America Makes/NCDMM, John is responsible for growing the AM ecosystem and driving value from the Institute's technology portfolio through strategic partnerships and member collaboration.
Before joining America Makes in 2023, John was a full-time professor of Mechanical Engineering Technology at Youngstown State University for nearly a decade. During his tenure, he had the opportunity to speak at professional conferences, publish his research findings, and work on AM research initiatives including Industry 4.0 Adoption in the SME Defense Supply Chain for Metal Castings, as well as the Air Force Research Laboratory's Maturation of Advanced Manufacturing for Low-Cost Sustainment (MAMLS). In addition, he has experience and knowledge of operating a wide range of 3D printers and software.
Prior to his academic career, John worked as a mechanical engineer and, most notably, participated in the research, design, and optimization of industry-standard equipment to increase efficiency and quality control for manufacturing processes.
John received his bachelor's and master's degree in mechanical engineering from YSU and is currently nearing completion of his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering. He is a skilled researcher and academic professional specializing in AM with a diverse and extensive background in materials science and mechanical engineering.
As the Executive Director of America Makes, John is responsible for the leadership and strategic vision of the Institute. Through his national outreach, sustainment efforts, and management of membership and stakeholders, he drives the mission and vision for the nation's leading public-private partnership for additive manufacturing (AM) technology and education. In 2009, John joined the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM) and, in 2012, transitioned to the America Makes program, which is driven by NCDMM. He continues to play an instrumental role in the amplification of the additive manufacturing industry.
Prior to his appointment as Executive Director in 2019, he served as the America Makes Technology Director for five years. During this time, he led the facilitation of the National Additive Manufacturing / 3D Printing Roadmap, the development of an Intellectual Property (IP) Management Plan, the execution of the Project Call Process for Agency-Driven and Cooperative Agreement-Driven project solicitations, and program management of the America Makes project portfolio. He has a demonstrated history of working in the automotive, defense, and aerospace industries.
John has a long-standing background in mechanical engineering and is highly skilled in operations management, industrial engineering, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement processes. Previously, he was an auditor and quality manager for the global manufacturing system at General Motors.
Job Titles:
- Education & Workforce Development Director
- NCDMM in 2018 As the Director of Education
Josh Cramer joined NCDMM in 2018 as the Director of Education and Workforce Development (EWD) for America Makes, providing overall program leadership responsibility for all America Makes' education and workforce initiatives. In 2023, he was promoted to Education & Workforce Development Director across the entire NCDMM organization, including America Makes.
Josh has been instrumental in developing a strategy that has grown the EWD program's portfolio and overall brand identity. Due to his extensive background in education, workforce development, and programming, he has been a catalyst for several EWD initiatives that have been utilized or modeled across the country.
With 20 years of experience, Josh previously served as the Director of Educational Programs at the SME Education Foundation, monitoring, promoting, and evaluating all major programs. During his time with the Foundation, he also served as the Interim Executive Director. He was responsible for actively collaborating with manufacturing partners to assess the knowledge and skillset needed to establish strategic plans while building programs to meet the skills gap needs of manufacturers. He also spent time with Project Lead the Way, a national non-profit focused on STEM, biomedical, and pre-engineering programming in the K-12 sector. Beginning his professional journey as an educator in applied engineering in the K-12 sector, he brings real-world applicable knowledge in the education realm critical to supporting educators.
Josh holds a Master's in Education and a Bachelor of Science in Education from the California University of Pennsylvania.
Karen joined NCDMM/America Makes as the Education and Workforce Development Project Engineer in 2024, focusing on accelerating the additive manufacturing workforce through awareness, engagement, and education.
Before joining NCDMM/America Makes, Karen worked as a substitute teacher and career coach in the Madison School District in Alabama. There, she provided technical and STEM-related career coaching and guidance for high school students and led the district's public relations initiatives to improve student awareness and recruitment.
Throughout her 15-year career, Karen has demonstrated workforce and education programming expertise. She has worked with universities, non-profit organizations, government, and curriculum development to support emerging talent working with unserved student populations. In these roles, she has used her business and administrative skills to create end-to-end strategies for job training, industry analysis, student retention, and beyond.
Karen holds a Doctorate in Education from the University of Mississippi, a Master of Science in Project Management from the University of North Alabama, a Master of Science in Micro Credentials, Leadership, and Instructional Technology and Design, and a Bachelor of Arts in General Studies from the University of Mississippi.
Kimberly Gibson joined America Makes as Ecosystem Director in late 2021, but this was far from the first time they had crossed paths. Gibson had already been recognized as an ambassador for America Makes for her role in bringing 3D printed personal protective equipment (PPE) forward during the initial COVID-19 outburst. She did this while working at IC3D, an America Makes member.
Before that, she was working as communications director at Lightweight Innovations For Tomorrow (LIFT).
Kimberly spends her free time on a charter school board for four high school dropout recovery programs in inner-city Columbus incorporating career tech education into the curriculum and, through IC3D, initiated the first-ever 3D printed Toys for Tots drive with the US. Marine Corps reserve, delivering 18,000 toys to needy children in 2020.
Job Titles:
- Program Manager
- Program Manager, America Makes Government Support
Kristen is a Program Manager supporting the America Makes Government Program Management Office, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), and the Office of the Secretary of Defense Manufacturing Technology (OSD ManTech) Program.
Before joining the America Makes Government Team in 2022, Kristen supported program management and communication requirements for the Department of State's International Security, Nonproliferation and Cooperative Threat Reduction (ISN/CTR) Program and the Defense Logistics Agency's Small Business Innovation Research, Small Business Technology Transfer, and Rapid Innovation Fund programs. For eight years, she also supported program and public affairs requirements at the Headquarters of the United States Marine Corps at the Pentagon. She brings a public affairs background and media industry skillset to government science and technology programs, and remains active in the media industry.
Kristen has a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies with International Communication from The American University School of International Service and will complete her Masters in Applied Media Psychology with Media Neuroscience in August 2024.
Laurie joined America Makes in 2020 and in her role as Membership Coordinator, she connects with members, processes membership requests and renewals, and tracks membership payments.
Laurie has previous experience with the application of additive manufacturing. Before joining the America Makes team, she worked at Youngstown State University for nearly 15 years in varying capacities. During her time at YSU's STEM College, she initiated a project for her then-dog, Shelby, who became the focus of a senior research project. A group of engineering students worked with Laurie and Shelby to design and create a 3D-printed supportive leg brace to help Shelby walk with her disabilities. Watch a Video of Shelby
Her current canine companion, Reba, is a certified therapy dog and they enjoy visiting and lifting the spirits of people of all ages including seniors, college students, autistic children - and all the mail carriers in the neighborhood!
Job Titles:
- Program Manager
- NCDMM in 2021 As a Senior Project Engineer
Litsa joined NCDMM in 2021 as a Senior Project Engineer and was promoted to Program Manager in 2024. In her role, she manages Institute technology projects and is also responsible for leading internal strategy development and formation of new project efforts that focus on integrating additive manufacturing into casting and forging technology. Prior to joining NCDMM, Litsa worked for Aptiv (formerly Delphi Automotive Systems) for 31 years serving in a variety of product engineering and supervision roles. While at Aptiv she was responsible for the management of advanced technology development processes which ensured detailed review of projects relating to the design and manufacture of rubber and plastic compounds and automotive cable and wiring assemblies. Through these roles she established strong collaborations with universities, suppliers and other research entities which allowed for the study and evaluation of emerging material technologies and the identification of potential application of these technologies into future products.
Litsa holds a Master of Science in Polymer Engineering from The University of Akron, a Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering from Youngstown State University and is Six Sigma Black Belt certified. Litsa was inducted into the Delphi Innovation Hall of Fame which recognized her contributions in the light weighting of cables used in automotive wiring assemblies. She also holds several patent awards which showcases her strong skill set in project management and her commitment to bringing projects to completion.
Job Titles:
- Senior Program Manager
- NCDMM in 2022 As a Senior Program Manager
Mark joined NCDMM in 2022 as a Senior Program Manager. In this role, Mark manages manufacturing and technology programs, while maintaining and developing customer relationships. He also supports continuous improvement activities and strategic planning initiatives within the organization.
Mark brings over 20 years of experience leading projects and initiatives within both the manufacturing and Department of Defense (DoD) industries. Prior to joining NCDMM, Mark was a Senior Program Manager at Kennametal, Inc. leading projects focused on upgrade and modernization of manufacturing facilities around North America. Mark also spent 13 years at Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC) leading and supporting DoD projects focused on energy and environmental technology research, development, demonstration, and transition. In addition, Mark held several manufacturing positions at Johnson Matthey with increasing responsibility, including process control engineer, production supervisor, and process engineer team lead.
Mark holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Saint Francis University. He is also a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP).
Melissa joined NCDMM/America Makes in March of 2024 as a Senior Project Engineer. She is responsible for managing projects, providing engineering design and technical analysis, coordinating processes, and developing project implementation.
Melissa has over 20 years of cumulative Department of Defense experience within the Air Force and Army. Prior to joining NCDMM, she worked for 15 years in the U.S. Army DEVCOM, Aviation and Missile Center (AvMC), supporting the center's missions, technical functions, and program activities.
Most recently, she worked for Army ManTech in the Manufacturing and Electronics Technology (MET) division, supporting all Army Aviation platforms. In this role, her expertise in the latest advanced manufacturing technologies was vital for building and managing relationships with SMMs, through the implementation of Industry 4.0 concepts and practices in addition to forming effective coalitions with academia and industry partners.
As a leader in the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) program, she helped to transition affordable manufacturing technologies to support the warfighter. She managed various Education and Workforce Development STEM initiatives, including additive manufacturing projects to help educate future workforce pipelines for K-12 and collegiate students.
Melissa holds a B.S. in Computer Science and M.S. in Systems Engineering Management, from the Naval Postgraduate School. She is an INCOSE Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP).
Melissa joined the NCDMM/America Makes team in 2024 as an Education and Workforce Development Project Engineer. She is responsible for furthering initiatives that advance the additive manufacturing workforce through education, engagement, and awareness.
With a strong professional background in business and economic development across healthcare, manufacturing, and compliance, she is adept at driving growth and innovation to meet industry goals and objectives.
In her previous role as the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber's workforce development director, Melissa successfully managed two initiatives addressing workforce gaps through strategic partnerships with local leaders and educational institutions. She also spearheaded efforts to launch the Regional Workforce Coalition and provided valuable strategic counsel, critical analysis, and personalized customer service to chamber members.
Melissa holds a B.S. in Environmental Science from Muskingum University, where she played varsity softball and was a four-year letterman recognized by the Ohio Athletic Conference and the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. She also serves as a board member at OH WOW! Science Center in Youngstown, Ohio.
Job Titles:
- Communications Coordinator
- Communications Coordinator for America Makes / NCDMM
As the communications coordinator for America Makes/NCDMM, Michelle works to develop content and tactics that shape the public perception of the Institute and is responsible for all related social media channels and websites. She also communicates project successes, drafts press releases, and works closely with the team to analyze data to optimize communications activities.
Michelle has over 10 years of experience in the marketing communication field. She joined the Institute in March 2023 after serving as the Community Liaison and Recruitment Specialist for Trumbull County Children Services. There she developed a comprehensive marketing and communications program that included print, website, and social media amplification, as well as advertising strategies, media coordination, and community engagement. Prior to that, she worked at Sharon Regional Medical Center for nearly 12 years, serving in several roles including Director of Education and Marketing and Communications Coordinator. During this time, she developed internal and external communications programs, oftentimes addressing 1,200 employees and physicians. In addition, Michelle has extensive experience in grant writing, project development, management, reporting, and event planning. She is a lifelong resident of the Mahoning Valley.
Nick joined NCDMM in September 2020 as a Project Engineer, aligning his manufacturing experience with his interest in emerging technologies, specifically additive manufacturing. He is currently a Senior Project Engineer and is responsible for technical project management and execution, as well as internal continuous improvement efforts.
Prior to joining NCDMM, Nick worked for Aptiv (formerly Delphi Packard Electric) for 26 years. During his tenure, he worked primarily as a Senior Tooling Engineer in both Aptiv's New Tool Build group and its injection molding plant in Vienna, Ohio. In this role, Nick managed projects ranging from the design, build, and debug of new molds to mass tooling moves and re-approvals. He was also responsible for providing technical expertise and troubleshooting guidance on tooling and quality problems for approximately 800 active tools in a high-volume production environment.
Nick holds a B.E. in Mechanical Engineering from Youngstown State University. He also earned a Six Sigma Black Belt and an ASTM Additive Manufacturing General Personnel Certificate.
Rhonda joined NCDMM in 2018 and serves as the Office Lead for America Makes. In her role, she oversees the America Makes facility, welcomes all guests and visitors with sincere hospitality ensuring to make their time with America Makes memorable. She provides executive assistance to the Executive Director as well as administrative support to all staff. She manages and oversees all logistics of the office, coordinates tours and visitors, has a significant role in coordinating events, trainings, and meetings. Rhonda also works closely with the finance team on procurement items. She applies her administrative and leadership skills to assist in collaborating with the team and fulfilling the NCDMM mission and America Makes program.
She has completed training in Fundamentals of Innovation through Human-Centered Design through the LUMA Institute, providing her a unique skill to assist the team in roadmapping workshops as well as other LUMA-related activities. Rhonda is very goal-oriented and is consistently developing and strengthening her skillset by attending trainings from Fred Pryor, social media, and additive trainings.
Rhonda has more than 30 years in Office Administration, Office Management and as an Executive Assistant.
Job Titles:
- Graphic Design Coordinator
Rhys joined NCDMM/America Makes in March 2024 as the Graphic Design Coordinator. A member of the Communications Team, his role supports the organization in amplifying its brand and increasing recognition through the development of visual content to shape public perception. He is responsible for drafting and designing new marketing materials, as well as working closely with the team to help refresh current marketing deliverables including websites, flyers, event programs, etc. while maintaining consistency relevant to the brand.
With over 25 years of experience in the graphic design field, he most recently worked at NASA Glenn Research Center where he served as one of seven designers providing graphic support for the entire facility. His responsibilities included environmental graphics, trade show support, internal communications, as well as technical support for research publications and grant proposals. During his five-year tenure, he worked closely with the scientific and administrative staff, earning a Center Award recognition for his work on COVID-19 communications during lockdown. Before his position at NASA, Rhys was the senior graphic designer for Performance Health in Akron, Ohio, growing his department to a seven-member team over six years. He began his career at LSI Industries in Canton, Ohio, where he created environmental graphics.
Rhys is a lifelong resident of Deerfield, Ohio. He received his BFA in Graphic Design from The Cleveland Institute of Art with a minor in Photography. Over the years, Rhys has provided graphic support and design for various local organizations in the Deerfield area.
Job Titles:
- Program Manager & Facility Security Officer