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Meet Our Staff
| Billy B. Houghteling Director 919-515-7199 billy_houghteling@ncsu.edu |
Mr. Houghteling received his BS in Biology from Siena Heights University as well as an MS in Plant Molecular Biology form Ball State University. Prior to joining NC State's OTT, Mr. Houghteling was a Research Scientist at Biolex, Inc (a NC State start-up company), and served as a Laboratory Operations Manager at The UNC-CH Neuroscience Center and the Washington University School of Medicine. As Director, Mr. Houghteling has strategic and operational responsibilities for all technology transfer activities at NC State. In addition, he also provides technology and intellectual property management services related to NC State's Plant Variety Portfolio and technology assessment in the areas of life science, biotechnology, agriculture, and textiles. Under Mr. Houghteling's leadership, the OTT has achieved substantial growth in technology transfer performance and established a reputation as one of the leading technology transfer programs in the nation. |
Marie Blanchard Executive Assistant to the Director 919-515-7199 |
Ms. Blanchard received her BA in Sociology with a Criminal Justice option from North Carolina State University. She has over 20 years service at NCSU. Prior to joining the OTT, Ms. Blanchard served as the Executive Assistant to the Director in the Credit Programs & Summer Sessions office. In addition to her duties as Executive Assistant, Ms. Blanchard also serves as the Intellectual Property Committee administrator. |
| Robert Whitehead, Ph.D. Associate Director 919-515-7199 robert_whitehead@ncsu.edu |
Dr. Whitehead has a Ph.D. in Toxicology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a BS in Biochemistry and Biology from Virginia Tech. Prior to joining NCSU, he was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Integrated Science and Technology at James Madison University. Dr. Whitehead manages the negotiation and processing of Material Transfer Agreements, Confidential Disclosure Agreements, and Licensing and Option Agreements. In addition, he promotes the commercial development of intellectual property in the areas of Biotechnology and Life Science. |
| Terry Bray, Ph.D. Sr. Licensing Associate 919-515-7199 terry_bray@ncsu.edu |
Dr. Bray earned a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, a M.S. in Chemistry from Georgia Tech, and a B.S. in Chemistry from Mercer University. Prior to joining the OTT, he was a faculty member at the University of Alabama at Birmingham with appointments in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Center for Biophysical Sciences and Engineering. Dr. Bray’s background includes experience in chemistry, engineering, biotechnology, and as a faculty inventor. |
Kelly B. Sexton, Ph.D. Licensing Associate 919-515-7199 |
Dr. Sexton earned a Ph.D. in Molecular Pathology from the University of California, San Diego and a B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Georgia. Dr. Sexton completed her postdoctoral studies at Stanford University where she was awarded a fellowship from the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Prior to joining OTT, she completed an internship at the Stanford Office of Technology Licensing. Dr. Sexton has a strong technical background in cellular and molecular biology, enzymology, biochemistry, and chemical biology and manages the commercial development of intellectual property in the areas of Biotechnology and Life Science. |
Guerry L. Grune, Ph.D. Sr. Licensing Associate 919-515-7199 |
Guerry (“Gary”) L. Grune, P.A. obtained his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a M.S. ChE from the Departments of Polymer Science and Engineering and Chemical Engineering at Duke University. Dr. Grune completed his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering under the direction of Professors Vivian T. Stannett and Harry R. Allcock, involving the use of modified allyl amino polyphosphazenes by radiation for microlithographic resist applications at North Carolina State University. Guerry has worked at IBM, ABB, and most recently at Mitsubishi Chemical America’s Virginia Operations as Manager of Optical Photoreceptor Development (for electrophotography) and in January 1997 accepted the position as Manager of Intellectual Property. Guerry is currently an Adjunct Professor at Duke University teaching a course on Intellectual Asset Management in Master’s of Engineering Management Program. He has authored over 30 publications and technical disclosures, has over 30 U.S. and international patents either pending or granted listing him as the inventor. Guerry also has written over 75 patent applications for clients in various industries. Guerry began working in the Office of Technology Transfer at North Carolina State University in January 2007. |
Cheryl L. Junker Licensing Associate 919-515-7199 |
Ms. Junker received her B.S. in Ceramic Engineering from Alfred University and her J.D. from Franklin Pierce Law Center. Prior to joining the OTT, she interned with the Office of Intellectual Property Counsel at Deka Research and Development in Manchester, NH and with the office of MacDonald, Illig, Jones and Britton in Erie, PA. Ms. Junker has a strong technical background in ceramics, glass engineering, chemistry and materials science, as well as experience in patent and trademark law. |
Zhanyan Yan, Ph.D. Licensing Associate 919-515-7199 |
Dr. Yan received a Ph.D. in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology from the University of Michigan, where her graduate work focused on molecular mechanisms of plant steroid hormone signaling. Prior to joining the OTT, Dr. Yan completed an internship at the Office of Technology Transfer, University of Michigan. Dr. Yan has a strong technical background in molecular biology, cell biology, developmental biology, biochemistry, genetics and plant biology. At the OTT, Dr. Yan is responsible for managing intellectual property related to Plant Variety Portfolio, Biotechnology, and Agriculture and Life Sciences. |
| Jeffrey Bissette Assistant Director, Business & Licensing Compliance 919-515-7199 jeffrey_bissette@ncsu.edu |
Mr. Bissette earned a BA in Business Administration at North Carolina State University in 1992. Prior to joining the OTT, he worked as a Contract Negotiator for industry funded research agreements in the Office of Sponsored Programs and Regulatory Compliance Services. As Assistant Director for Business and Licensing Compliance, Mr. Bissette manages the OTT's government reporting and licensee diligence. |
| Roberta Terry Senior Financial Manager 919-515-7199 roberta_terry@ncsu.edu |
Mrs. Terry received her Bachelors of Business Management from Warner Southern College. Mrs. Terry has over ten years experience in finance and compliance. Prior to joining the OTT, Mrs. Terry worked as a Fiscal Manager in the Contracts and Grants unit of North Carolina State University where she handled State and Federal Contracts and Grants. As the Senior Financial Manager, Mrs. Terry's current duties include royalty distribution as well as financial reporting compliance. |
| Tiwa Ashiru Financial Manager 919-515-7199 tiwa_ashiru@ncsu.edu |
Miss Ashiru earned a BS in Accounting at North Carolina State University in 2003. Prior to joining the OTT, she worked as a Reconciliation Accountant. As Financial Manager, her duties include but are not limited to overseeing the processing of legal expenses reimbursement. |
| Warren "Gerry" Sasser Agreements Manager 919-515-7199 gerry_sasser@ncsu.edu |
Mr. Sasser received his Bachelors of Business Administration from Memphis State University as well as a Masters of Business Administration from Campbell University. Prior to joining the OTT, Mr. Sasser worked as Director of Research Programs Services for the College of Textiles. As Agreements Manager, Mr. Sasser manages and negotiates all miscellaneous agreements for the office including Material Transfer Agreements, Confidentiality Agreements, Interinstitutional Agreements and Collaborative Research Agreements. Mr. Sasser also manages Software Cases and other miscellaneous cases for the office. |
| Lisa Currin PR & Communications Director 919-515-9335 lisa_currin@ncsu.edu |
Ms. Currin is an NC State alum with 12 years experience managing communications and PR programs for university, federal and commercial organizations. Before coming to NC State, Ms. Currin managed communication projects for Wake Forest University School of Medicine; served as a federal contractor to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for over seven years; and managed communication teams for multiple companies in RTP. Ms. Currin oversees internal communications with a goal of supporting university researchers throughout the IP processes and improving customer service. She manages the OTT's PR strategy with a goal of promoting academic innovations and contributing to the promotion and advancement of NC State. |
| Kevin Johnson Documents Manager 919-515-7199 kevin_johnson@ncsu.edu |
Mr. Johnson serves as a document associate performing a variety of duties including informational input into the OTT's Knowledge Sharing Database System (KSS). He interacts with department directors, managers and other associates to compile information to prepare monthly and annual reports. Mr. Johnson manages the uploading of patent documentation, invention disclosures, agreement summaries and IP correspondence into the KSS system. |
Carla Moore Documents Processor 919-515-7199 |
Ms. Moore earned a BS degree in Merchandising from East Carolina University as well as a Paralegal degree from Johnston Community College. She has seven years of experience within the pharmaceutical industry publishing/editing and managing documentation for the non-clinical and general manufacturing areas of GlaxoSmithKline and Diosynth. As the Documents Processor, her duties include archiving of all patent correspondence and associated documentation, including project management of electronic conversion. |
| Wendy Lotfi Quality Control Assistant 919-515-7199 wendy_lotfi@ncsu.edu |
Mrs. Lotfi holds an Associate Degree in Legal Secretarial Science. Mrs. Lotfi has been with the OTT since 2000. She works extensively with TechTracS maintaining quality control on the various agreements coming through the OTT to include License Agreements, Option Agreements, Confidentiality Agreements, Material Transfer Agreements. Prior to working at NCSU, Mrs. Lotfi worked at NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases as the Executive Secretary for the Initiative for Women with Disabilities. |
| Ken Holland Administrative Support Specialist 919-515-7199 ken_holland@ncsu.edu |
Mr. Holland's responsibilities include serving as first point of contact for the technology transfer program, process management of government compliance, coordinating all incoming and outgoing departmental correspondence, document and file research as needed and management support of the office including serving as departmental LAN Tech. |
The mission of the Office of Technology Transfer is to move academic discovery to the marketplace resulting in new products, processes, and companies while maximizing the impact of academic research and forging new partnerships to tackle 21st century issues. |
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