The New Hampshire Tech Alliance (Alliance) has announced the appointment of six new members to its Board of Directors. Marc Eichenberger, Jennifer Joyce, Julie Lenzer, Scott Merrick, EJ Ponto and Peter Richard were elected by the membership after a voting process that followed the Alliance’s annual Tech Social in May. The Alliance membership also approved electing two current board members to a second board term, Nathan Pascarella of Hypertherm and Marlana Trombley of Orbit Group. Each member will serve a three-year term beginning June 1, 2023.
Marc Eichenberger is the AVP, Chief Business Development and Innovation Officer at UNHInnovation, where he oversees the commercialization of UNH’s intellectual property and the development of strategic partnerships with industry, with a focus on engaging NH businesses.. With over 25 years of experience in IP commercialization, venture and operations, Marc has helped scale several tech companies and has a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the industry.
Jennifer Joyce is the President of SpotOn Fence, a NH startup that invented the dog GPS fence category. She has over 20 years of experience bringing consumer products to market. She has helped 3 founding teams scale their business leading to a successful exit. She has worked in the pet, beauty, wine, travel, food delivery, and gaming industries. Jennifer has an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management and a BA from Cornell University.
Julie Lenzer is the Chief Innovation Officer at the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute (ARMI) based in Manchester, New Hampshire. In this role, she leads the development and execution of ARMI’s innovation and commercialization strategy, working closely with industry, academic, and government partners. Julie has extensive experience in innovation and entrepreneurship, having served as the Director of the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the U.S. Department of Commerce, as well as the Executive Director of the Maryland Center for Entrepreneurship. She is also a successful entrepreneur and investor, having founded and led several technology startups throughout her career.
Scott Merrick is a Principal and Co-Founder at Darby Field Advisors, a government relations and business development firm. With over 25 years of experience in government affairs and public policy, Scott has extensive connections and expertise in navigating the political landscape. He has held senior staffing positions in the U.S. Senate and supported successful presidential campaigns in Senior Advisor roles. Scott also served as Vice President of Business Development for Athenium Analytics, a technology company based in Dover, NH, where he helped achieve historic growth in the company’s insurance practice.
EJ Ponto is the CFO/VP of Administration at Geophysical Survey Systems, Inc, a manufacturer of ground-penetrating radar equipment based in Nashua, NH. EJ is responsible for leading the Finance, Human Resources, and Information Technology functions in the company. EJ has spent the bulk of his career working for global manufacturing businesses in the electronics, capital equipment, and apparel industries.
Peter Richard is the General Manager of XMA Corporation, a New Hampshire-based technology company that specializes in the design and manufacturing of advanced microwave and radio frequency components. In his role, Peter is responsible for strategic planning, business operations, financial management, product life cycle, people leadership, and business development of a multi-million-dollar global enterprise. Peter has a deep understanding of the technology landscape and a proven track record of driving growth and innovation.
“We are thrilled to welcome these talented individuals to our board of directors. Their extensive experience and diverse perspectives will be invaluable in guiding the NH Tech Alliance’s mission to support and promote innovation in New Hampshire,” said Julie Demers, Executive Director. “With this new board slate, we look forward to forging even stronger strategic partnerships with entities that share our commitment to advancing technology and fostering economic growth in the Granite State.”