Team

Alan Hurd

Alan Hurd is a Franklin Fellow, at US Department of State, in the Office of the S&T Adviser to the Secretary (STAS). Alan joined STAS in June 2012, where his portfolio includes energy and critical elements, LAUNCH, Science of Science Policy and national laboratory interactions. Alan is on leave from Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. As a materials physicist, Alan is personally interested in complex and high performance materials. He is associated with the Santa Fe Institute (SFI), the American Physical Society, and the Materials Research Society with which he helped develop “Strange Matter”, a traveling museum exhibit on materials.

Beth Beck

Beth Beck, one of the LAUNCH founders, is NASA’s Human Exploration and Operations Public Outreach Manager in Washington, DC. Beth seized the idea of LAUNCH as an opportunity to make this world a better place while demonstrating the relevance between life on Earth and the extreme environment of space. She led creation of Mind Mapr, an interactive note-taking tool designed specifically for LAUNCH forums. Beth, a social media addict, adopted Twitter early in2007 as one of the first NASA users. She coordinated development of NASA’s Facebook account, and was instrumental in planning and supporting NASA’s spaceflight mission Tweetups. She developed Fragile Oasis with Astronaut Ron Garan to help tell NASA’s story to humanitarian-minded audiences. Beth received NASA’s Exceptional Service Medal for her innovative public outreach programs. Beth, a Phi Beta Kappa, received both graduate and undergraduate degrees from the University of Texas in Austin in government and public affairs, and is currently pursuing her PhD research on social intrapreneurship through Virginia Tech. You can learn more about Beth at http://twitter.com/bethbeck and http://bethbeck.wordpress.com.

Chad Badiyan

Chad Badiyan works with organizations to ideate, incubate, and facilitate ideas through a collaborative and transparent process. He has worked with the United Nations and Global 500 organizations, including IBM, 3M, Motorola, Best Buy, and General Electric. Chad has also built learning and knowledge management platforms and courses including IBM’s Online University, Motorola’s first WAP-based training program, the West LegalEdCenter, and Patterson Dental.

David Ferguson

David Ferguson is a member of USAID’s Office of Science and Technology focused on applied research and challenge models for development. Before joining USAID in September, 2009, he worked on international development over the previous 5 years as an independent consultant at the nexus of development, technology, and the private sector. His first career was 27 years at AT&T where he created and ran AT&T’s Professional Services Division, developing it into a US$200M profitable entity. He was based in Hong Kong for seven years and focused on the developing markets of China, India and Indonesia, for telecommunications services investment opportunities. He built seven joint ventures during this period. His technical expertise includes Information and Communications Technology (ICT) for development, economic growth through private sector engagement, and government technology and telecommunications policy and regulation. Mr. Ferguson holds a Master of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Stanford University and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts. He is married, has three daughters, and resides in Oakton, VA.

Dennis Bonilla

Dennis Bonilla is the Senior Digital Strategist at Valador, Inc. in Washington, DC and the LAUNCH Community Manager. As a data visualization professional Dennis has created community-driven federal websites, developed immersive environment software for NASA and commercial clients, and contributed to a variety of materials including documents presented to the U.S. President. As the LAUNCH Community Manager Dennis communicates the LAUNCH initiative and innovator stories across LAUNCH's social media platforms. Dennis is versed in the nuances of online conversation and shares content to provide insight about a program whose goals include changing the world. Follow our story here and on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, and Vimeo.

Diane Powell

Diane Powell serves as NASA’s lead for LAUNCH and was one of the creators of this successful program. She and team were recently selected as finalists for the 2011 Service to America Medal which is awarded to public servants whose achievements have improved the lives of Americans and others around the world. Diane has worked with the National Aeronautics Space Administration for the past twenty years where she has developed programs to increase public awareness around NASA’s missions and to create new ways to allow the American public to actively participate in their space program. Today she works for NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC in the Office of the Chief Technologist. Diane sees Launch as the perfect opportunity to carry on NASA’s spirit of discovery and to collaborate with experienced partners to find solutions to challenges in space and here on earth. She and her husband also own a Bed and Breakfast on Capital Hill in DC.

Jeff Hamaoui

Jeff Hamaoui is an expert in sustainability and public-private partnerships with 15 years’ experience exploring business models for social entrepreneurship. Jeff co-founded Origo in 1999, and has made a name as a cross-sector broker, facilitator and strategist. Origo was purchased by the Cazneau Group in 2010. Jeff spent several years working alongside the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and its 150 Fortune 500 companies looking at strategies for ‘inclusive’ business in emerging markets. This allowed him to consult across industry sectors, including healthcare (Pfizer), telecommunications (Vodafone, Nokia), oil and gas (BP and Chevron), utilities (Eskom, Suez, GE),and finance (Rabobank, Deutschebank, Wells Fargo, GE Financial). Jeff received his M.A. in Education from London University and B.A. in Philosophy and Literature from Swansea University. He is fluent in Spanish and French.

Jeremy Kamo

Jeremy Kamo is a collaboration and innovation professional, focused on cleantech and the environment. At Cazneau, Jeremy works on Colab-inspired projects for U.S. and foreign government agencies, multinational companies and philanthropic foundations. Jeremy joined Cazneau from the British Consulate General in San Francisco where he focused on energy issues for the Science and Innovation Network, and on the electronics and communications industries at UK Trade and Investment. Jeremy has also worked in Beijing, China, managing projects in Asia and Europe, and with NGOs addressing migration, health care and renewable energy issues. Jeremy received his B.A. from the University of Puget Sound's Business Leadership Program with a Minor in Economics. He completed language studies in Japan and China and serves on the US Board of Directors for Compassion for Migrant Children.

Jon Davies

Jon Davies is an entrepreneurial, collaborative and charismatic sustainability consultant, with experience across a diverse range of industries from adventure travel, outdoor education, consumer products, health and fitness, non-profits, information technology and emergency medicine. He is particularly focused on the growing market for social and sustainable collaborative ventures utilizing technology. Jon has a BSc in Marine Ecology and Zoology from Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand.

Lena Delchad

Lena Delchad is an international development professional with ten years of experience in community development and democratic governance. Prior to joining SecondMuse, Lena worked as a contractor for the US Agency for International Development (USAID) on Middle East programming. She started her career in urban planning and subsequently defined a national municipal equity agenda and served immigrant communities. Lena received her Master in Public Policy from the George Washington University and a B.S. in Environmental Development from UC Berkeley.

Rachel Lawley

Rachel Lawley is an innovation facilitator focused on convening systems of stakeholders around complex challenges. She works with Cazneau Group, an innovation company interested in creating innovation through collaboration. Previously, Rachel served as Vice Consul for the British Government, building connections between healthcare and biotechnology companies, researchers, funders, regulators, and government agencies in the U.S. and U.K. She started her career as a research analyst in the social enterprise space, and has spent a decade supporting companies with business development and new market strategies. Rachel received her B.S. in Psychology from Lancaster University in the United Kingdom.

Santiago Gowland

Santiago is General Manager for Sustainable Business & Innovation (SB&I) at NIKE INC. He leads the Systems Innovation Function, which seeks to accelerate and scale innovation by catalyzing external resources and new ways of collaboration. Within Systems Innovation Santiago is driving Nike’s innovation external engagement agenda and developing network mobilization capabilities to catalyze knowledge, capital, creativity, and connectivity. As one example in this capacity, Santiago leads the partnership with LAUNCH for NIKE INC. LAUNCH’s mission is to maximize human potential by transforming our existing human systems into new ones that are more sustainable, accessible, and empowering.

Todd Khozein

Todd Khozein is Co-Founder and partner with SecondMuse, a consultancy specializing in the use of collaborative processes to conceive and incubate innovative initiatives. He personally focuses on studying and applying the emerging science of collaboration. His interests lie in the incubation of collaborative frameworks where the incentive structure, technological platform and human resource development initiatives align to create a culture of innovation. Todd holds a B.A. in Economics and a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of New Mexico.

Victor Friedberg

Victor Friedberg is Co-Founder and Founding Executive Director of LAUNCH and one of its principal architects. At present, his work focuses the overall strategic development of LAUNCH, its process and brand, as well as innovation and research. In addition to LAUNCH, Victor, through his consultant company Big Idea Group, helps innovative companies and non-profits to develop impact driven programs that have a positive effect on society such as E.A.T., a new organization dedicated to the mainstreaming of local food commerce and culture funded by the Walton Family Foundation. Victor has been at the forefront of innovation, technology and culture for 20 years as an entrepreneur, executive and producer. He was previously an Executive Director of WIRED, having developed and run WIRED NextFest, a global showcase of innovation. In 1996 he founded a pioneering social media/communications company Talking Drum which was the first web/cell phone network with customizable friend groups which was funded by Motorola. He is classically trained pianist, electronics/synthesist enthusiast, recording artist and composer.

Will Schmitt

Will Schmitt is an international development professional and is Open Innovation Advisor in USAID’s Office of Science and Technology. Will is USAID’s LAUNCH Program Manager. In this role he focuses both on applying USAID’s technical expertise in LAUNCH and on integrating aspects of LAUNCH’s open innovation experience into USAID’s development practice. His areas of focus in international development practice include information and communication technology for development, economic growth, and democracy and governance, with a special emphasis on promoting innovation and new, non-traditional partnerships. His primary regional focus is on sub-Saharan Africa and he has served USAID on assignments abroad in Nigeria and Southern Sudan, with previous experience in Kenya. He also has significant experience as a Democracy and Governance Officer. Will holds the Master of Science in Foreign Service with Honors from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and a BA in Government and French with Distinction in All Subjects from Cornell University.