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 supports the Universi ...

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Laura Appenzeller

Executive Director at the University of Illinois Research Park and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Economic Development

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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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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Director, External Engagement

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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Associate Director, Operations and Finance

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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Cynthia Faullin

Associate Director, Operations

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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Accounting Associate

Marketing and Communications Coordinator Email: [email protected] Abigale Racine joined the Research Park team in the role of the Marketing and Communications Coordinator in July 2023. ...

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Marketing and Communications Coordinator

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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Administrative Aide

Jim manages the maintenance and operational functions of the EnterpriseWorks building and responds to tenant service needs. Jim Wells joined the EnterpriseWorks team as the Facility Manager in Oct ...

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EnterpriseWorks Facility Manager

Cathy coordinates a rigorous schedule of more than 200 events a year, focusing on the community building efforts of the Research P ...

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Assistant Director of Programming

Emily Neal officially joined the Research Park team as the Assistant Director of Talent in October 2021. She leads wor ...

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Assistant Director for Talent

Desiree executes economic development projects and leads economic development research. Through collection and analysis ...

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Desiree Clayton

Program Coordinator

Cheri provides program leadership, development, and execution for a portfolio of sponsored projects that provide support ...

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Outreach Program Manager, Incubation and Entrepreneurship

Shelley Maves is the manager of the FAST Center at the University of Illinois Research Park. She coordinates outreach, training, and individual assistance to entrepreneurs throughout the state of Il ...

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FAST Center Manager

Joe Maduzia is the lab manager at EnterpriseWorks. His role includes oversight of the tenant labs (including the future LabWorks), the shared labs, and the MakerSpace. He is at EnterpriseWorks on a pa ...

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Lab Manager

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