Meet the Team

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

Nancy Lime

Entrepreneur-in-Residence

SPECIALTIES: biotechnology, quality systems, operations

Nancy’s wide-ranging experience in the biotechnology and life sciences industries includes multiple functions: manufacturing, finance and accounting, quality assurance, and executive management. Her career includes leadership roles at Oligos Etc. where she helped close its acquisition by a private equity group and then purchase by Integrated DNA Technologies; and key roles to achieve ISO certification and FDA approval of a Class III medical device and an in vitro diagnostic. Nancy has a Bachelor of Science in general science from the University of Oregon.

Dr. Kyle Gee

Entrepreneur-in-Residence

SPECIALTIES: Biochemistry, fluorescent reagents, nanotechnology

Kyle gained extensive life science reagents experience as an R&D practitioner and leader over a 27 year career in industry, developing new products to advance research and promote business growth.  After a medicinal chemistry post-doc at the University of Oregon, Kyle joined Molecular Probes Inc., which became part of Invitrogen Corporation and Life Technologies and then Thermo Fisher Scientific.  Areas of emphasis include fluorescence and photochemistry, and intellectual property; he is an inventor on over 70 issued U.S. patents.  Kyle holds a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Indiana University, and a B.S. in chemistry from Oregon State University.