About

Emily Knight Emily Knight is the CEO & President of The Engine Accelerator, where she is responsible for shaping the organization's strategic direction and building partnerships with industry leaders and educational institutions to foster an environment where Tough Tech teams can thrive and innovate. Since 2017, Emily has served in various operational roles at The Engine, including that of COO. Prior to The Engine, she spent time managing general operations, strategy, and product development at Workbar coworking spaces. Emily holds a BS from Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration.

Katherine Otway Katherine Otway, SVP of Marketing at The Engine Accelerator, is a marketing executive with over 20 years of building customer-centric brands and driving growth. She served as Chief Marketing Officer at Zapata AI, an Engine Ventures portfolio company focused on generative AI software for enterprises. Her track record includes a decade of designing new ventures at IDEO, advising startups and accelerators on marketing strategy, delivering executive education for Kellogg and Babson, and developing entrepreneurial ecosystems abroad.

Ben Downing Ben Downing is Vice President of Public Affairs at The Engine. Before joining The Engine, Ben was Vice President for New Market Development at Nexamp, a veteran-founded, Boston-based clean energy company. There he led the firm’s strategic development efforts across growing geographies and the firm’s entry into the energy storage market. Prior to this, Ben represented the state's largest Senate district while serving as State Senator for 52 communities in Western Massachusetts. Ben received a BA in Political Science from Providence College and an MA from Tufts University.

Maya Nitzberg Maya is the VP of Community and Programs for The Engine Accelerator, where she oversees programs and community initiatives. Prior to The Engine, Maya was the SVP of Community at Greentown Labs, the largest climatetech incubator in North America. There, she led the overall vision and development of their customer success program. Maya has spent the last decade working in multiple leadership roles, engaging diverse stakeholders, facilitating cross-sector partnerships, building programs and large-scale events, always with a focus on mission and impact.

Alexa Monti Alexa Monti is Vice President of Business Development and Partnerships for The Engine Accelerator. She is building a world-class network of strategic partners around the Engine and its resident companies. Prior to The Engine, Alexa held roles in management consulting, venture capital, and as an operator at a Sequoia-backed startup. She holds a BA from Yale University and an MA in International Economics from Johns Hopkins University.

Rhett Smith Rhett Smith is the Vice President of Operations at The Engine Accelerator, where he oversees the day-to-day logistics, ensuring that all departments run efficiently to meet the company's strategic objectives. Before joining The Engine, Rhett was the Director of Operations and co-leader at Roxbury Prep Charter School where he oversaw all school operations including budgeting, enrollment, family engagement, and staff culture. Rhett holds a BA in Economics from Sewanee: The University of the South and a MBA from Georgetown University.

Jaye Goldstein Jaye Goldstein is the Strategy and Outcomes Advisor for The Engine Accelerator. Her role focuses on designing our strategy and building robust data systems to measure outcomes. Jaye is also the CEO + Founder of Founder to Leader; she has spent 20+ years working at the intersection of education and innovation at places like Petri, MIT and Harvard.

Pat Grospiron Pat Grospiron is Executive Director of The Builder Platform, The Engine Accelerator's collaboration with the NSF, aimed at catalyzing the development of innovation ecosystems across ten regions in the United States. Prior to joining The Engine, Pat worked in innovation and commercialization for the materials, aerospace & defense sectors. She also has a decade of experience in building innovation ecosystems, providing capital, services, and connections to technology startups to generate impact. She holds a MA in Business from ESC Clermont and a MBA from Cleveland State University.

Alex Bergmann Alex Bergmann is Director of Accounting & Finance for The Engine Accelerator. His role focuses on the daily accounting and financing activities. Prior to The Engine, Alex spent time at IDG Communications as a Director of Business Operations and Controller of the SaaS Software division. He also has prior experience working for the Lerner Corporation with construction accounting. Alex holds a BS in Accounting from the University of South Carolina.

Kevin Figueiredo Kevin Figueiredo is the Director of Facilities at The Engine Accelerator, where he oversees the maintenance, safety, and overall operational effectiveness of the The Engine Infrastructure. Before joining The Engine, Kevin held multiple roles in facilities across many different sectors at Genzyme, Vericel, Zoo New England, Harvard University, and most recently Nano-C. Kevin holds a BA in Philosophy from UMass Boston.

Karisa Hanson Karisa Hanson is the Director of EHS & Lab Operations for The Engine Accelerator where she supports safety, compliance and operational excellence. Before joining The Engine, Karisa held EHS leadership positions within biotech manufacturing and R&D. Karisa holds a BS in Molecular Biology from the University of Connecticut and a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) from the Board of Certified Safety Professionals.

Ian Johnston Ian Johnston is the Director of Emerging Ecosystem at The Engine Accelerator where he focuses on innovation ecosystem development. Prior to The Engine Accelerator, Ian spent time at Engine Ventures as a Sr. Investment Associate and at Putnam Associates as a Life Sciences Consultant. Ian also worked at the Penn Center for Innovation, assessing technologies for their patent and market potential. Ian holds a PhD in Pharmacology from University of Pennsylvania and a BS in Biomedical Engineering from Rutgers University.

Amy Beaird Dr. Amy Beaird is a Senior Platform Manager at The Engine Accelerator, where she collaborates with the NSF to catalyze innovation ecosystems across ten U.S. regions. Previously, as Chief Strategy Officer at the Florida High Tech Corridor, she spearheaded transformative initiatives like the award-winning Cenfluence industry clustering initiative, leveraging regional strengths. With 20 years of experience, Beaird has coached and mentored hundreds of startups and is an SBIR/STTR program expert. She holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of South Carolina and a B.S. from UF.

Steve Cortesa Steve Cortesa is the Shop & Fabrication Manager at The Engine Accelerator, where he oversees workshop operations and provides expertise in product development and prototyping. Prior to joining The Engine, Steve supported hands-on education in the mechanical engineering program at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. He also has professional experience in product development. Steve holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and an MA in Liberal Arts in Management from the Harvard Extension School.

Torrie Lewine Torrie Lewine is the Operations Manager at The Engine Accelerator, where she is responsible for guiding the Community Operations team, streamlining administrative procedures, supporting community programming, and enhancing the resident experience. Torrie has previously held roles including Director of Residence Life at Elms College and Director of Student Wellness and Conduct at American International College. She holds a BA in Mathematics & Educational Studies from Roger Williams University and a MA in Postsecondary Administration & Student Affairs from the University of Southern California.

Milagros Arias Mendoza Milagros Arias Mendoza is the Front Desk & Reception Manager at The Engine Accelerator, where she oversees visitor engagement, manages incoming calls, and coordinates office activities to ensure smooth day-to-day operations at The Engine. Before joining The Engine, she was the Quality Operations Specialist & Receptionist for the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care.

Elizabeth Patterson Elizabeth Patterson is a Platform Manager at The Engine Accelerator responsible for partnering with NSF's Regional Innovation Engines to identify and deliver solutions based on their unique needs. As an economic development policy strategist and project manager, she has served on applied research teams at the Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program and as a freelance project manager providing specialized and locally tailored support for regions building inclusive and innovative economies. Elizabeth received her BA from Rhodes College and lives in New York City.

Tara Tatu Tara Tatu is the Laboratory Operations Manager at The Engine Accelerator, where she oversees the day-to-day management of lab facilities and ensures the smooth operation of research projects. Before The Engine, Tara worked at DermBiont, a topical therapeutic company in Boston focused on treating skin diseases. She began her career performing microbiological and molecular diagnostic assays, as well as general laboratory maintenance. Tara holds a BS in Forensic Science and an AAS in Biological Sciences from SUNY Alfred State College.

Steven Vilsaint Steven Vilsaint is a Procurement Manager at The Engine Accelerator, where he oversees the acquisition of technology and materials crucial for accelerating the growth of early-stage startups. Prior to joining The Engine, Steven was a Senior Site Specialist with ThermoFisher Scientific. Steven has a BA in Architectural History and Technology from Bridgewater University.

Robbie West Robbie West is the Laboratory Equipment Manager at The Engine Accelerator, where he manages and maintains specialized lab equipment, directly supporting researchers and their experiments. Prior to The Engine, he worked at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham & Women’s Hospital as a Clinical Engineer. Robbie earned his BS in Biomedical Engineering from Wentworth Institute of Technology.

Will Burnham Will Burnham is a Mechanical Engineer for The Engine Accelerator. He focuses on helping our Tough Tech teams with their design and fabrication needs and develops our Shop spaces for further utility. Prior to The Engine, Will spent time at Flexo Concepts designing and fabricating advanced automation equipment for the battery and printing industry. He holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Jen Gately Jen Gately is Executive Coordinator at The Engine Accelerator, where she supports the executive team and company operations. Before joining The Engine, Jen worked in a variety of roles, including digital content creation, sales, and household management. Jen received her BA in Communication and a minor in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Lina Henríquez Lina Henríquez is a Program Coordinator at The Engine Accelerator, where she supports technology translation programs. Prior to The Engine, Lina spent time at StartUP FIU, a university-wide innovation hub that fosters and develops entrepreneurship for students and researchers. She also served as an Undergraduate Researcher at the MIT Media Lab in the Biomechatronics and Personal Robot Groups. Lina holds a BBA from Florida International University, with a dual focus in Data Analytics and Market Research.

Mary Diana Kamau Mary Diana Kamau is a Program Coordinator at The Engine Accelerator, where she focuses on ecosystem programs. Before joining The Engine, Diana worked as a project associate at Genentech where she provided critical support for various business projects across the Commercial, Medical, and Government Affairs department. She also provided support to the department's Diversity and Inclusion plan by playing an active role in fostering belonging. Diana holds a BS in Chemistry from Howard University, and a minor in Kiswahili.

Aden Stephens Aden Stephens is a Community Operations Associate for The Engine Accelerator where they focus on building and maintaining strong relationships between startups in the Tough Tech ecosystem while providing essential operational support. Prior to The Engine, Aden spent time in a variety of customer experience and administrative assistant roles. Aden holds a BS in Computer Science and Human Services from Northeastern University.

Jose Agosto Jose Agosto is a Laboratory Operations Associate at The Engine Accelerator, where he is responsible for maintaining and sanitizing shared lab spaces, as well as ensuring they are fully stocked with necessary supplies. Before joining The Engine, he amassed over seven years of experience in biotech lab support at Vericel Corp. Jose is well-versed in Good Manufacturing Practices.

Michael Bobadilla Michael Bobadilla is a Laboratory Operations Associate at The Engine Accelerator, where he is instrumental in maintaining a safe and efficient lab environment for cutting-edge research and development initiatives. Before joining The Engine, Michael honed his skills as a Lab Associate at Boston Lab Services and a Lab Tech at DENS Facility Services. He is currently pursuing his AA in Business Administration and Graphic Design at Roxbury Community College.

Maxine Bouvier Maxine Bouvier is a Community Operations Associate for The Engine Accelerator. Her role focuses on building and maintaining strong relationships with startups and finding solutions for their day to day operational needs. Prior to The Engine, Maxine spent time in a variety of roles, creating digital content, teaching at Cambridge Friends School, and working as a freelance executive assistant. She holds a BA in Communications from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where she minored in Political Science.

Aaron Ellies Aaron Ellies is a Facilities Associate for The Engine Accelerator, where he oversees building maintenance, coordinates with vendors, and ensures that all facilities are operating smoothly to support the company's operations. Before The Engine, Aaron worked for WeWork, JLL, and Smartlabs as a Facilities Associate, gaining field knowledge.

Michael Higgins Michael "Higgs" Higgins is a Facilities Associate for The Engine Accelerator, where he oversees building maintenance, coordinates with vendors, and ensures that all facilities are operating smoothly to support the company's operations. A graduate of Massachusetts Maritime Academy and the University of Notre Dame, Higgs' previous tough tech adventures include multiple Department of Energy Solar Decathlons (winning with Virginia Tech at the European edition in Madrid) and running the monthly Forum speaker series for Boston Area Solar Energy Association.

Kris Jean-Francois Kris Jean-Francois is a Front Desk Associate for The Engine Accelerator. Her role support day to day operations at 501 Mass Ave. Prior to The Engine, Kris was the photographer of NoirXPhotos. Kris is pursuing a BS in Marketing from UMass Dartmouth.