Staff

The Research Park is managed by a tight-knit team that facilitates resources for tenants and cultivates community among employees. These University of Illinois professionals work on the continued development and growth of the companies within Research Park and the EnterpriseWorks incubator. Learn more about each member of the Research Park staff below. Not sure who to contact? Email [email protected] and we’ll be sure to route your question to the right person.

Laura Appenzeller oversees the University of Illinois Research Park operations and development, manages the entrepreneurship programs at EnterpriseWorks technology incubator, and support ...

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217-333-8323

Laura Appenzeller

Executive Director at the University of Illinois Research Park and Assistant Vice Chancellor for Innovation at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Dr. Mark Moran is an accomplished innovation and engineering executive who is passionate about leadership, systems, innovation, technology, enterprise transformation, and learning. Dr. Moran spent ...

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Mark Moran

Visiting Director of Strategic Innovation

Dr. Gerald Wilson, inaugural Director of Entrepreneurship at EnterpriseWorks and the University of Illinois Research Park. In this role, he is responsible for the strategic development and implementat ...

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Gerald Wilson

Director of Entrepreneurship

Laura Weisskopf Bleill manages the community building portfolio of the Research Park at Illinois. She develops strategy behind the Research Park's events, programming, communications, branding and mar ...

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(217) 244-7744

Laura Bleill

Director, External Engagement

Cynthia Faullin brings more than 10 years of intensive experience working with deep tech startups to her role as Associate Director of Operations at the EnterpriseWorks incubator in Research Park. ...

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217-300-5803

Cynthia Faullin

Associate Director, Operations

Roger oversees the financial aspects of our organization, including accounting, budgets, grant oversight, and contracts for EnterpriseWorks and UIRP LLC. Roger is a CPA with a background that include ...

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217-244-7745

Roger West

Associate Director, Operations and Finance

Sheri is often the first person people meet when they come to the Research Park, as you walk into EnterpriseWorks. She also assists all staff, tenants, and student interns at EnterpriseWorks. She is ...

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217-300-2580

Sheri Wilson

Administrative Aide

Cathy coordinates a rigorous schedule of more than 200 events a year, focusing on the community building efforts of the Research Park. Cathy joined the EnterpriseWorks team in November 2017, bringi ...

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217-637-0968

Cathy McArthur

Assistant Director of Programming

Bryan Goode leads the workforce development and recruitment programs for Research Park and client companies. He oversees the coordinated recruitment activities of Research Park for students and full ...

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217-333-1542

Bryan Goode

Talent Manager

Kaleb Medina develops content for the Research Park's digital, and print communications. In his role, he captures stories of events, programming, innovation, and workforce excellence. Through strategi ...

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217-300-7501

Kaleb Medina

Marketing and Communications Specialist

Sarah Doherty joined the EnterpriseWorks team as an Accounting Associate in July 2023, bringing 14 years of experience in accounting including government and real estate knowledge. Sarah completed h ...

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217-300-6217

Sarah Doherty

Accounting Associate

Dustin Mayfield-Jones joined the team in May 2024 as the Laboratory and Facilities Manager at EnterpriseWorks. His role includes management of operational functions of the EnterpriseWorks technology a ...

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217-300-9601

Dustin Mayfield-Jones

Laboratory and Facilities Manager

Abby Rundblom is the primary point-of-contact and coordination lead for grant-funded entrepreneurial support programs led by EnterpriseWorks and the Research Park. This includes the SBA-funded Illinoi ...

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Abby Rundblom

Entrepreneurial Support Coordinator

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