My Economic Development Life

While working for Datex Ohmeda, I learned about a newly formed local professional organization, Colorado Photonics Industry Association (CPIA). Its mission was to raise the visibility at the state level of how many of the local high-tech companies are using optical technologies, and thus, have a significant contribution to the economy. I joined its board and took on the role of Marketing and PR Chair. After one year I was elected Vice President and three years later I became President. During my tenure, I steered the event programming towards highlighting the contribution of optical technologies to the Colorado economy by partnering with the other high-tech associations in Colorado: The Nanotech Alliance, Colorado Software Industry Association, Colorado Biotechnology Association, and Colorado Medical Device Association. The organization also partnered with SPIE, one of two international optics societies, to bring one of their major conferences to Denver. This brought over 5000 people to the area, and boosted the local economy. Consequently, the visibility of the association, and that of the optics and photonics technologies were raised at the state level, and it was awarded a 3-year development grant . In addition, for six years in a row I participated in lobbying efforts to increase funding for Research & Development (R&D) and Science and Technology Education (STEM) funding at the federal level.