Entrepreneurship and Innovation Partnerships
Office Staff
Per Stromhaug
Assistant Vice President for Entrepreneurship and Economic Developmentper@binghamton.edu
(607) 777-5873
Per Stromhaug oversees the office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Partnerships, including tech-transfer activities, the Start-up Suite, entrepreneurial support and economic growth initiatives. He also oversees the Koffman Southern Tier Incubator in downtown Binghamton and is the lead contact for the START-UP NY initiative at Binghamton University.
Scott Hancock takes the lead in transferring University technologies to company commercialization partners. His responsibilities include establishing the business case for inventions, building the campus patent portfolio, marketing technologies, and negotiating options and licenses. He also crafts confidentiality, material transfer and inter-institutional agreements in service to faculty and research center projects. Hancock works closely with the Office of Sponsored Programs in shaping intellectual property right terms and conditions in research contracts.
Laura Holmes is the Director of Incubator Operations of the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Partnerships at Binghamton University and leads the team that manages the Koffman Southern Tier Incubator. She is the lead on community outreach and economic engagement efforts centered around the Koffman and serves as a liaison between the incubator and community stakeholders.
Tony Frontera is a lecturer in entrepreneurship at Binghamton University with 25 years of sales and management experience in specialty retailing and manufacturing. He also has a background in marketing through his time heading up marketing for the McIntosh Laboratory.
Scott Moser focuses on leveraging, transferring and licensing University intellectual property assets to company commercialization partners. His responsibilities include preparing analytical and evaluative state-of-the-art assessments on the patent and commercial potential of inventions through a thorough review of highly-specialized information from patent databases, interviews with inventors and company representatives, and additional research and analysis. He received his law degree from Capital University Law School, and is a registered patent attorney with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Mike Driscoll has joined our team as a consultant for the start-up companies. He has several years of experience as a business advisor and worked with the Small Business Development Center providing small businesses, startups and entrepreneurs with business planning advice. He is also the CEO of M.D.G in Ithaca, New York.
Eric Krohn is a successful inventor and entrepreneur who leverages his experience in guiding and mentoring companies at the Koffman Southern Tier Incubator and the Innovative Technologies Complex. As director of business incubation, he facilitates programming to help startups grow and succeed, with an emphasis on high-tech, high-growth ventures. Krohn's companies include Gyro Heat Technologies, b-Safe Products and Cubed Naturals.
Emma Baudendistel manages communications and contracts with Koffman Southern Tier Incubator tenants. She also provides general administrative support for all aspects of the facility. She provides extensive support to the Southern Tier Clean Tech Incubator, recruiting companies to the region and working directly with NYSERDA on grant milestones and the 76West program. She serves as a key coordinator in event planning and maintains the customer relationship management tool for the entire Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Partnerships.
Amy Breski is the administrative assistant for the E&IP office, supporting all staff as well as the assistant vice president. Her role is critical in the daily operations of the department and assists in the planning and execution of events both on campus and at the Koffman Southern Tier Incubator. She supports the startup companies located at the Innovative Technologies Complex (ITC) as well as the office's technology transfer activities. Breski makes arrangements for our visitors and welcomes them at the ITC office.
Cory Kimmell combines strategy with creativity in order to further the marketing and communication critical to the many facets the Office of E&IP. His duties include logo and print material design, content creation, press management, website design, magazine layout, strategic promotion, small business consulting, marketing strategy creation and implementation -- among other duties. Through these efforts, he attracts business and community interest to our programs and events. He visually and verbally portrays ongoings, in-turn attracting funding and other opportunities to the office.
Olga Petrova
Technology Licensing Associate Program Director of XCEEDopetrova@binghamton.edu
(607) 777-5088
Olga Petrova manages the life sciences and biomedical portfolio for E&IP, facilitating patenting and commercialization of new technologies arising from Binghamton University research. She also oversees the Binghamton Acceleration of Cleantech Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (XCEED) program and serves as coordinator and instructor for the Innovation Binghamton I-Corps Site.
In a sense, Steve Pierce is the 'face of the building,' He possesses the skills needed to manage many aspects of the physical building. Moreover, he provides a bright personality and detail-oriented precision to keep up with the ever-changing atmosphere of the Koffman Southern Tier Incubator. Positioned at the front desk, he is the first face seen upon entering and the last upon leaving. First impressions are everything, and we are glad to have him as that positive impression.
Larry Shafer oversees many critical aspects of the Koffman Incubator. He handles maintenance tasks, guest reception, policy enforcement, event coordination and facility organization. Shafer serves as a critical link between members and staff, relaying information and suggesting informed changes.
Christine Marchuska educates and mentors entrepreneurs and startups in how to raise funding, how to create and deliver pitch decks and the etiquette of working with investors. She builds relationships with investors in the community providing them the opportunity to invest locally.