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Mentorship

UARF Senior Fellows, Project Executive and Executives-in-Residence work pro bono to

connect industry, entrepreneurs, and

University of Akron researchers – offering mentorship, guidance and a wealth of regional connections.

Mentorship 1

BARRY ROSENBAUM 

Senior Fellow

  • Experience: Technology Director and manager of business units in the chemicals, rubber and elastomer industries
  • Prior to UARF: Exxon Chemical, GenCorp, Advanced Elastomer Systems, OMNOVA Solutions
  • Credentials: Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Northwestern University
  • Interests: wealth creation, angel investment and regional innovation
mentorship 2

GORDON SCHORR

Senior Fellow

  • Experience: Strategic leadership of chemical and elastomer division; directing marketing, supply chain, manufacturing, engineering, and R&D activities
  • Prior to UARF: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, University Innovation Ventures
  • Credentials: ABD in Chemical Engineering, and MBA
mentorship 3

ARTHUR GREENBERG

Project Executive

  • Experience: Industrial electrochemical and metal coatings business management, commercial development of chemicals for battery industry, and commercialization of technology from federal labs
  • Prior to UARF: Diamond Shamrock, SICO Industries, Hall Chemical, Harshaw Chemical, various startups
  • Interests: Industrial electrochemistry, batteries and energy storage, coatings, and technology startups.
  • “UARF gives me the opportunity to explore exciting new technologies and apply a lifetime of experience to help bring them to market.”
mentorship 4

WIL HEMKER 

Entrepreneur Executive

  • Experience: Developing products for environmental, personal care, pharmaceutical, medical device, and food product markets
  • Prior to UARF: GOJO Industries, BF Goodrich Specialty Chemicals, Durkee Foods Division SCM Corp.
  • Credentials: M.S. in Food Science, The Ohio State University
  • Interests: controlled environmental agriculture, green technologies, nutritional food products
  • ““Engage expertise broadly, prototype fast, commercialize with performance and net return in mind. Most important… don’t give up.” ”
mentorship 5

MAX LEWIS

Project Executive

  • Experience: Sourcing innovations globally
  • Prior to UARF: The Sherwin-Williams Company
  • Credentials: BS and Masters in Chemical engineering and Masters in Business Administration
  • “Where there is an open mind there will always be a frontier.”
mentorship 6

ELYSE BALL

Assistant Counsel & Project Manager

  • Experience:  Technology licensing and supporting startup companies in the polymer science and biomedical fields, instructor for UA’s NSF I-Corps Site
  • Prior to UARF:  Health Care for All Boston, Community Legal Aid, and Leiby, Hanna, Rasnick
  • Credentials: B.S. in Journalism from Ohio University, J.D. in law from Boston University, licensed attorney in Ohio
  • Contact: eball@uakron.edu, 330-972-6532
mentorship 7

DAN HAMPU

UARF Project Manager & NEOSVF Vice President & Secretary

  • Experience:  Providing technology-based startup mentorship and consultation, instructor for UA’s NSF I-Corps Site, and responsible for the managing operations of the Northeast Ohio Student Venture Fund (NEOSVF)
  • Prior to UARF:  Signet Enterprises, SEED Legal Clinic, Alliance Area Development Foundation
  • Credentials: B.A. in marketing from Mount Union College, J.D. in law and M.B.A. in finance from University of Akron
  • Contact: dhampu@uakron.edu, 330-972-2364