Team
Meet the Team
Learn about the forces behind the ONAMI network—the staff in charge of day-to-day operations and the Board of Directors providing critical oversight.
Whether you’re looking for collaborative research projects, access to technology experts or sophisticated instruments, early-stage funding or investment opportunities, ONAMI staff can assist you. They’re business people, scientists and engineers with practical experience and proven success at transforming ideas into viable research and market-ready products.
This team of 7 individuals have risen the ranks to be an expert in each of their fields. They are the best of the best and responsive to communication.
ONAMI Staff
John Brewer JR.
Entrepreneur-in-Residence
SPECIALTIES: advanced materials, engineering, energy
Augie Sick
Entrepreneur-in-Residence
SPECIALTIES: biotechnology, life sciences
Board of Directors
ONAMI's board members are academics, industry executives and government professionals—experts who provide the organization with critical oversight and advice.
- Annette Kolodzie
- Scientific Program Manager, Oregon Health & Science University
- Annette Bunnenberg
- Founder and CEO, White Horse Consulting LLC
- David Conover
- VP for Research and Innovation, University of Oregon
- Daniel Dorsa
- Senior VP for Research, Oregon Health & Science University
- Michael Elliot
- Deputy Division Director, Energy Processes & Materials Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
- Kyle Gee, Board Chair
- Senior Director, Research and Development, Cellular Analysis Business Unit, Life Sciences Solutions Group, Thermo Fisher Scientific
- David Lyon
- Senior VP of Research, Lonza
- Cheryl MacLeod
- R&D Director, Advanced Technology & Platforms Lab, Hewlett-Packard Company
- Joseph Janda
- Asst VP for Research, Portland State University
- Michael O'Halloran
- Director of Technology, CH2M HILL
- Mark Brady
- Innovation Strategist, Business Oregon
- Irem Tumer
- Interim VP for Research, Oregon State University
ONAMI Staff Team Member
Robert D. “Skip” Rung
President and Executive Director
Skip Rung is a senior high-technology research and development (R&D) executive with over 25 years of engineering and management experience in complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) process technology, integrated circuit design and packaging, MEMS, microfluidics, and inkjet printing.
Prior to founding ONAMI in 2003, Skip established an innovation consulting practice in 2001. He was the director of Research and Development at Hewlett-Packard’s (HP) Corvallis facility, which is both the headquarters for HP’s world-leading thermal inkjet printing technology and the company’s most advanced technology R&D and manufacturing site.
Skip has a Bachelor of Science and a Master’s degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University.
ONAMI Staff Team Member
Cindy Dahl
Vice President, Operations
Cindy joined ONAMI in 2006 as the vice president of operations, with 25 years of experience as a consulting engineer to industrial and governmental clients throughout the country. She spent 18 years with CH2M HILL in Corvallis, Oregon, including 6 years as the area manager. In that role, she worked with other business and governmental agencies to plan and promote economic development in Oregon.
Cindy is a licensed professional engineer; she has Bachelor of Science in civil engineering and a Master’s degree in environmental engineering from the University of Illinois. Her areas of expertise include Superfund site remediation, regulatory strategy and negotiation.
ONAMI Staff Team Member
Jay Lindquist Ph.D.
Director, ONAMI Commercialization
Jay has over 20 years of experience in developing nanotechnology-based businesses in industries ranging from capital equipment and aerospace to advanced materials. As ONAMI’s commercialization director, he has helped Oregon start-up companies raise over $150 million to date from just $8.5 million in Gap funding. Jay holds a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from the University of California, Irvine; an Executive MBA from Stanford University and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Puget Sound.
ONAMI Staff Team Member
John Brewer JR.
Entrepreneur-in-Residence
SPECIALTIES: advanced materials, engineering, energy
John’s 28 years in the wireless industry extend across the disciplines of engineering, marketing and executive management. His tenure includes leadership roles at SIGe Semiconductor, where he helped direct the company’s IPO filing and eventual sale to Skyworks Solution. John has a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from Santa Clara University.
ONAMI Staff Team Member
Augie Sick
Entrepreneur-in-Residence
SPECIALTIES: biotechnology, life sciences
Augie’s deep experience in biotechnology and life sciences stems from an 18-year career at Invitrogen Corporation & Life Technologies, now part of Thermo Fischer Scientific. Today, he advises start-up and early-stage biotechnology companies on operations management and deal expertise. Augie holds 34 U.S. patents and a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry and cell biology from the University of California, San Diego.
ONAMI Staff Team Member
Michael Tippie
Entrepreneur-in-Residence
SPECIALTIES: life sciences, water
Michael brings broad life science expertise to ONAMI, specifically with operations and venture financing. He was instrumental in facilitating acquisitions, public offerings and venture funding at six early-stage companies spanning the therapeutics, diagnostics, life science tools, health care services and medical devices markets. Michael has Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science degrees from Reed College and the University of Washington, respectively, both in Chemistry, as well as an MBA from the Sloan School at MIT.
ONAMI Staff Team Member
Len Blackstone
Market Strategist and Researcher
For 30+ years, Len has helped grow companies; from Fortune 500 companies to entrepreneurial startups, for-profits and non-profits. He is an expert at exploring and assessing new market opportunities, identifying effective marketing strategies, and developing go-to-market tactics. His work has gained national media attention, such as on 60 Minutes. Prior to starting his consulting firm in 2001, Len led numerous national and international marketing campaigns. He has expertise in many industries, including technology, life sciences, biotech, health care, medical devices, consumer package goods, and others.
