Board of Directors

Becky is a native of Virginia and is currently a resident of Smithfield, VA. She was appointed as ALMMII’s Chair of the Board of Directors in July 2017. She is currently working for the Australian Department of Defense and Royal Australian Navy on the Naval Shipbuilding Advisory Board. Becky received her undergraduate business degree from Christopher Newport University and her MBA from the Executive Program at the College of William & Mary. She joined Huntington Ingalls Industries – Newport News Shipbuilding in 1982 and completed her 33-year career with the shipyard in early 2015. While at Newport News Shipbuilding, she served in various positions including Vice President of Submarine Programs and Vice President of Manufacturing. She also served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CCAM) in Virginia.

Previously, Dr. Mears was a senior advisor at Covington and Burling, where he advised companies in the aerospace, defense, and national security sector navigate policy and regulatory challenges involving the U.S. Congress and Executive Branch.

Dr. Mears has extensive experience in U.S. national security and defense strategy, planning, and resourcing, most recently serving as Chief of Staff to the Deputy Secretary of Defense and Deputy Chief of Staff to the Secretary of Defense. Dr. Mears also advised the Defense Innovation Unit, which is building bridges between the Pentagon and the high technology centers in Silicon Valley, Boston, and Austin. His substantive areas of expertise include strategic planning, risk assessment and management, and advanced technologies.

Dr. Mears is a graduate of The Ohio State University where he earned a Doctorate of Philosophy degree in political science.

Karen M. Belans, CPA, is the chief financial officer (CFO) at the Detroit Regional Chamber and oversees all aspects of financial management, budgeting, auditing and tax planning strategies for the four entities under the Chamber. Belans also manages risk management, information technology and building operations as well as extensive grant management and reporting. She also participates in the planning and direction of strategic initiatives at the Chamber which currently include Forward Detroit, a new economic development fundraising strategy, as well as analysis and implementation of new business systems and the planning and management of office moves to consolidate and reduce office space.

Belans joined the Chamber in 1995 and was named CFO less than a year later. Over her tenure, she has reversed negative fund balances and maxed out debt lines, completed the implementation of two new general ledger systems, budgeting and several membership management databases. In more than 21 years of service, there have been all unqualified opinions of the financial statements and positive management of unrestricted net assets that has resulted in the need for investment policies. Investments were started and have grown under Belans leadership to more than $7 million.

Her other accomplishments include: developing and managing the Chamber’s first-ever investment policy and funds, eliminating unprofitable business lines, negotiation and purchase of company assets and employees in California, sale of Chamber headquarters building and relocation, establishing the Chamber’s 401(k) plan and first-ever employee bonus plan, overseeing the management of a tax structure, and several negotiations of headquarters leases.

Before joining the Chamber, Belans worked at the accounting firm, Ernst and Young, for nearly eight years, specializing in the nonprofit, hospital and manufacturing sectors. She is a graduate of Leadership Detroit, the Center for Creative Leadership and the Institute for Organization Management. Belans is an Executive Committee member of Crime Stoppers of Michigan. She graduated with honors from University of Michigan-Dearborn in 1988 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in accounting and finance.

Nigel Francis is the CEO and Executive Director at Detroit-based LIFT, one of the founding Manufacturing USA institutes.

Prior to joining LIFT, Nigel served as Vice President and Officer, Advanced Engineering & Technology Development at American Axle (NYSE:AXL), after working as Senior Automotive Adviser to the State of Michigan and Senior Vice President, Automotive Industry Office, Michigan Economic Development Corporation where he was charged with developing, implementing and executing a comprehensive strategic plan and road map to promote, retain and grow the automotive industry in Michigan.

Francis has over 35 years of experience in the global automotive sector having held executive level positions at OEM and Tier 1 companies in North America and Europe, including Tata Technologies, Executive Vice President, Bright Automotive; and Vice President, Vehicle Engineering at Mercedes-Benz Technology. He has spent the majority of his career in advanced design and engineering product development and in recent years has been closely involved with clean technology through hybrid and electric vehicle development and vehicle light-weighting initiatives.

Francis holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree with honors from Brunel University in London, England. Professional affiliations include fellow, Institute of Mechanical Engineers of Great Britain; chartered engineer, Great Britain; Member SAE and Member SME. He sits on the advisory boards of several technology companies and universities.

Martin Kinsella, Technology Director at Expert Technologies Group, has over 30 years of experience in the automation industry. With a proven track record in all aspects of engineering and management, his responsibilities have included R&D, simultaneous engineering and virtual factory simulation through to system commissioning and program launch.

Martin began his career in engineering in 1981 at Vauxhall Motors, after which he moved on to more technical automation and robotic engineering positions at various companies. Martin worked in installation, commission, and programming of body welding assembly systems in the main OEMs. He leveraged his skills into a position with Estil/Pico – which would eventually become Comau – where he continued to grow, leading successful launches of multiple body shops. He was responsible for the development and implementation of the company’s self- pierce riveting technology. Martin’s career trajectory led him into a position as Engineering Manager in the UK before making his way to Comau LLC in the U.S.

In 2012, he became Comau’s Director of Materials and Technology and relocated to Michigan, establishing Comau’s Global Centers of Excellence. In his role, Martin ensured Comau’s longstanding leadership in the application of advanced research and innovation to improve manufacturing processes within mission-critical industries throughout the world.

In 2018, he became Comau’s Director of Business Development. In his current position, Martin is responsible for developing and maintaining relationships on the company’s behalf in an effort to strategically develop new business opportunities and relationships for the company.

Martin leads Comau’s partnership with Manufacturing USA’s The LIFT (Lightweight Innovations For Tomorrow) Institute. Manufacturing USA is a national network of research institutions and industrial companies geared toward advancing America’s leadership in manufacturing technology. Martin is a LIFT Executive Board Member, LIFT Technology Board Member, LIFT Chair of the Workforce Development Committee, and was a member of the UK Trade Investment Advisory Board. Additionally, he actively supports STEM education through his participation on the FIRST Robotics Michigan Committee and World Committee.

As an avid supporter of veterans, Martin helped create Operation Next, an initiative launched by The LIFT Institute. Operation Next is a new model for equipping separating military personnel with the skills needed for the most in-demand advanced manufacturing civilian careers in the country. Through his involvement with Operation Next, Martin has worked directly with the U.S. Department of Defense and lobbied on behalf of the organization.

In 2014, Automotive News recognized Martin’s outstanding work in the automotive industry by naming him Automotive News 2014 Manufacturing All Star.

Educated in both England and Ireland, Martin has lived and worked in the United States since 2012. He resides in Bloomfield, Michigan with his wife and two adult sons.

Dr. Henry Cialone is President and CEO of EWI, an advanced engineering service provider dedicated to identifying, developing, and implementing innovative technology solutions that enhance manufacturing competitiveness. He has a record of creating new business opportunities through technological innovation and building broad coalitions to develop them.

BACKGROUND AND PROJECT EXPERIENCE
Since joining EWI in 2005, Henry has enhanced the company’s resources and capabilities to shape the future of manufacturing by establishing new laboratories in Buffalo, NY, and Loveland, CO; expanded the company’s portfolio of manufacturing technologies; created public-private partnerships such as the American Lightweight Materials Manufacturing Innovation Institute (dba LIFT); and increased technology commercialization activities to deliver broader market benefits. During his tenure, EWI has created a variety of spinout companies based on technologies it invented: EWI UltraThinSeal™ reduces packaging film costs with an innovative sealing technology; Acoustech Systems (acquired by Cumberland Resources in 2017) increases machining productivity by combining high-power ultrasound with conventional machining operations; Fabrisonic produces complex metal parts using ultrasonic additive manufacturing (3D metal printing); RealWeld Systems (acquired by Lincoln Electric in 2015) addresses a critical workforce need by helping trainers accelerate the development and certification of welders.

Prior to EWI, Henry was an executive at Battelle where he developed and managed the commercial energy technology portfolio. He led Battelle’s commercial energy business and served on the governing board of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Henry has served on numerous boards and advisory bodies. He has completed executive management programs at Fuqua and Wharton.

EDUCATION
• B.S. Materials Engineering, Brown University
• M.S. Materials Science, Brown University
• Ph.D. Materials Science, Brown University

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS AND BOARDS
• ALMMII (dba LIFT)
• Ohio State University College of Engineering Advisory Council
• Biosortia Pharmaceuticals
• Fabrisonic

Paula Sorrell is the Associate Vice President - Innovation & Economic Development at George Mason University. Prior to George Mason, she served as V.P. of Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Venture Capital for the Michigan Economic Development Corp, overseeing $1B under management to support Michigan’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, including university research and tech transfer, technology service providers, tech incubators, seed funding programs, portfolio investments and fund of funds. With a focus on leveraging private funding into early tech development, expanded private and federal investment leverage from 6:1 to 35:1 and expanded the pipeline of new tech companies three-fold. Primary focus was building companies built on strong science from university research, including creating state initiatives for First Customer program, Michigan Translational Research and Commercialization program, and Technology Commercialization Assistance program for early stage companies.

Prior to MEDC, she has held senior management roles at seven early technology companies. All start-ups resulted in successful sale of the company, or are still a going concern; four were university tech transfer spin-outs. Paula was a part-time lecturer at the University of Michigan’s College of Engineering in the Center for Entrepreneurship on topics of tech-to-market strategies. Past consulting work includes technology business evaluator of investment portfolio companies and investment funds. She helped start the 14 year-old Michigan SBDC Tech Team, an organization that helps early stage tech companies raise on average $60MM per year. She currently sits on the boards of the American Lightweight Materials Manufacturing Institute, the Ann Arbor Local Development Finance Authority (treasurer), the and Michigan Translational Research Advanced Transportation. She holds a bachelor degree in marketing and an MBA from Central Michigan University.

Del Costy serves as Managing Director, Americas for Siemens Digital Industries Software and President of Digital Industries (software and automation) in the U.S. In this role, Del is responsible for leading all of Digital Industries U.S. Go-To-Market in addition to serving as the head of the Americas Zone Sales & Customer Success for Digital Industries Software.

Del’s unique experience brings together the power of Siemens automation and software businesses, delivering solutions for agility, efficiency and new business value to companies across the U.S. and the Americas. This includes championing Siemens Xcelerator portfolio and its integrated software and application tools tailored to meet customers’ specific needs as they pursue digital transformation.

Before his current role, Del was the U.S. Country Manager, responsible for operations in Siemens Digital Industries Software’s largest revenue country. He has also held leadership positions in several vertical businesses focused on automotive, transportation & heavy equipment solutions.

Prior to joining Siemens, Del spent a decade in the automotive supplier community supporting vehicle programs in both product development and manufacturing. In addition to his management experience, he has served as a Technical Sales Engineer for Abex Friction Products, now a division of Federal Mogul, and provided manufacturing consulting focused on the application of software tools to drive manufacturing plant optimization.

Del holds a Master of Business Administration from Wayne State University and received his Bachelor of Science in applied engineering sciences from Michigan State University. He also serves on the board for SAE ITC.

Harris Ng is a Senior Partner at Kearney, a global management consulting firm, based in Detroit, Michigan.

With two decades of experience at Kearney, Harris provides strategic consulting to automotive and industrial OEMs and suppliers. He has supported clients in areas such as business strategy, performance improvement, and operations. Recently, he has played a key role in helping clients transition to electric vehicles, leading transformative projects that have had a significant impact on the industry.

A recognized thought leader in the automotive sector, Harris specializes in electrification, mobility, product development, supply chain, and advanced manufacturing. He co-founded Kearney’s Digital Model Factory, which enables clients to adopt and scale advanced manufacturing technologies. Prior to joining Kearney, Harris led electronics product development for a Tier 1 automotive supplier.

Harris serves on the board of LIFT (ALMMII), a nonprofit national manufacturing innovation institute focused on advancing American manufacturing through technological innovation and talent development.

He holds Bachelor of Science degrees in both mechanical and electrical engineering from Kettering University (formerly GMI Engineering & Management Institute) and an MBA from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Harris was named one of the Top 25 Automotive Consultants by The Consulting Report, recognized as a Top 100 Emerging Leader by Diversity MBA magazine, and received the Alumni Service Award from Kettering University.

Kearney, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, employs over 5,000 people and operates in more than 40 countries, serving clients across sectors including automotive, consumer, retail, healthcare, communications, technology, and the public sector.