FLC Staff

Turning strategy into action

Paul Zielinski
Executive Director

Paul Zielinski

Paul leads the operation of the FLC with the strategic direction of the FLC Executive Board.

Before joining the FLC as staff in 2020, Paul served for more than 30 years as a federal manager, engineer, and scientist, including work at the Department of Energy, Department of Commerce, the Environmental Protection Agency, and on active duty in the US Army. Paul has an MS in engineering and an MBA.

+1-202-449-1936
Adham Alayash
Partnerships Manager

Adham Alayash

Adham manages elections and membership activities for the FLC.

+1-202-449-1939
Casey Annunziata
Senior Business Development Manager

Casey Annunziata

Casey works to research, identify and establish collaborative relationships with external stakeholders to raise sponsorship revenue for the FLC.

With almost 10 years of experience in association work, her expertise includes meeting planning, exhibit management, marketing and sales. She holds a B.S. in Marketing and a CMP (Certified Meeting Planner) designation.

+1-202-960-1782
Dani Batchelor
Graphics Manager

Dani Batchelor

In her role Dani created visual assets and written content for use across multiple platforms including social media, email, blog posts, and for use on company websites. Dani is also a freelance graphic designer who has designed brand and marketing identities for the fitness, manufacturing, sports, and food service industries.

Courtney Bronson, Ed. D.
Professional Development Director

Courtney Bronson, Ed. D.

Courtney is an education professional with a distinguished career leading educational and project management operations in non-profit environments. At the Federal Laboratory Consortium, she is responsible for setting the strategic direction for all learning programs using adult learning theory and building relationships that promote vibrant learning communities. Dr. Bronson came to the FLC from the National Association of Stock Plan Professionals where she created the overall strategy for the NASPP’s educational programs and communities. Prior to NASPP, Courtney served as Associate Director of Legal Education at the American Bar Association. There she collaborated with entities and individuals to develop the ABA’s showcase member-benefit webinars and National Institute conference offerings. Courtney received her Master of Arts degree in Organization and Strategic Communication from Queens University and a Doctor of Education in Human and Organizational Learning from The George Washington University.

Carlie Donow
Digital Marketing Manager

Carlie Donow

Carlie manages the FLC's social media, sharing  highlights from the news, industry trends, courses and events. She also oversees the production of the FLC's videos and podcasts.

 

Jeremy Dorn
Marketing and Communications Manager

Jeremy Dorn

As the FLC Marketing and Communications Manager, Jeremy handles marketing activities of the FLC to promote federal tech transfer success. He also prepares marketing content, strategy, and media for FLC programs and activities.

Jeremy has been in the Marketing, Communications, and Public Relations industries for nearly 15 years, including as a freelance contractor for several clients. He has a degree in Communications (Journalism) and English (Creative Writing) from Washington State University. He lives in Asheville, North Carolina.

Sandra Elery
Professional Development Manager

Sandra Elery

Sandra Elery joins the FLC with a robust background in program management garnered from her tenure at Veritas Association Management, where she collaborated with member volunteers to curate educational programming for medical societies, ensuring compliance with ACCME accreditation guidelines. Sandra's previous experience at Kellen Company further bolsters her expertise, where she excelled in developing and managing program content for in-person courses and regional conferences.

L. Cody Embry, CPA
Senior Director of Finance

L. Cody Embry, CPA

After completing his graduate studies in accounting at the University of Kentucky, Cody began his career at a local public accounting firm with a significant portfolio of non-profit work where he eventually earned his CPA license. Cody has continued to specialize in the non-profit field for over ten years, with a strong focus on membership-based nonprofit associations over the past five years. Cody always seeks to leverage technology and innovate processes to gain efficiencies to better serve organizations and propel them forward both in and out of the financial realm. When he’s not working, Cody is often most sighted in the wild, hiking through a National Forest, or trudging up a mountainside.

Chad Hillard
Accounting Manager

Chad Hillard

As the accounting manager, Chad Hillard is responsible for day-to-day accounting needs of the organization, monitoring and enforcing processes to ensure accurate and timely accounting. Prior to joining AUTM, Chad was a Senior Accounting Manager at VUTEQ, USA Inc., an automobile manufacturing company. In this role, Chad oversaw the accounting department and managed the monthly and quarterly closings, conducted annual audits, prepared balance sheets and income statements, and created annual budgets. Prior to that, Chad was General Manager and Controller at Permit American, Inc., a company specializing in obtaining permits for truckers. In this role, Chad analyzed data metrics, increased new customer signup, processed cash flow projections, oversaw marketing budget, and ensured regulatory compliance. Chad holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Sullivan University.

Jennifer Jones
Governance Manager 

Jennifer Jones

Jennifer Jones supports the governance operations for the FLC. Jennifer has 13 years of experience in non-profit association management. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies from Wesley College and a Master of Public Administration from Rutgers University.

202-960-1786
Jamela Mavrakis
Partnerships Manager

Jamela Mavrakis

Jamela manages FLC partnership activities, including events and road shows.

Jamela is from Austin, Texas and has a background in community outreach and engagement, nonprofits and volunteer/event management. She has a bachelor's degree in Health Sciences.

202-926-2922
Andrea Vasquez Nelson
Marketing and Communications Director

Andrea Vasquez Nelson

Andrea manages all promotions and communications to ensure professionals across the innovation ecosystem benefit from the FLC's resources and opportunities.

Andrea has more than 15 years of experience as a writer, broadcaster and professional communicator. She has produced print, broadast and digital content on subjects including science, technology, and education.

202-926-2923
Katherine Segreti
Database Systems Manager

Katherine Segreti

Katherine was recently an Agent Experience Manager at Compass, a real estate firm, where she conducted onboarding sessions for new real estate agents, designed agent-facing virtual and in-person workshops, worked with the sales team to build customer strategies and business growth plans, and resolved customer inquiries and complaints. Prior to that, Katheirne was employed at AUTM as our Communications & Information Systems Manager where she led the implementation and rollout of new systems, served as a lead resource for operations, training, development and data validation, trained lab representatives on new and existing features of their online lab licensing profiles, and created over 30 YouTube videos for clients. Katherine holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Augustana College. She lives in Brookfield, Illinois.

Beth Thomas
Facilitate Director

Beth Thomas

Beth works across all the regions with private industry partners to take federal innovations to the marketplace to manufacture, distribute and sell.

Before joining the FLC, she served for more than 37 years as a federal manager and financial officer. Beth has a bachelor's degree in business and an MBA.

+1-202-960-1799
Tracey Tucker
Administrative Associate

Tracey Tucker

With more than 7 years of association experience, Tracey specializes in office administration. 

Victor Reyes
Human Resources Manager

Victor Reyes

Victor brings 12 years of human resources experience with 5 years as manager in a non-profit association. As manager, he is committed to creating an inclusive and positive work environment for all FLC employees. Victor holds a master's degree in human resources management and a bachelor’s degree in sociology. He is certified by the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM-CP) and the HR Certification Institute (PHR).

202-926-2925
Kimberley VandenBrook
Awards and Marketing Manager

Kimberley VandenBrook

Kimberley works with the FLC awards programs.

+1-202-960-2924
Donna Prather Williams
Meetings and Events Manager

Donna Prather Williams

Donna Prather Williams is the FLC Meetings and Events Manager and is responsible for evaluating and planning content for virtual and hybrid events for online courses. She also is responsible for ensuring the seamless planning, coordination, and execution of events that align with FLC organization's goals while enhancing the participant’s experience.

Donna has over 10 years’ experience as a Meetings Manager and Senior Meetings Planner with the American Bar Association. In these roles, Donna was responsible for site selection and contract negotiations with hotels and venues for social events, audiovisual, vendor communications, sponsorship management and onsite administration. She also managed logistics, timelines, event detailed specifications and marketing plans for meetings and social events, budget preparation and management. She also worked with program chairs to determine scheduling, contracts, sponsor arrangements and onsite administration. She also oversaw the production of signage for Annual Meetings.

Prior to that role, Donna was a Senior Event Coordinator at Arizona State University Foundation.