Portfolio

John Yaglenski is a serial entrepreneur, story teller, futurist, visionary and dreamer.

He leads IEEE-USA’s Washington, DC Communications department and is responsible for guiding the strategy for all public relations, website and social media messaging to consistently articulate IEEE-USA’s mission, vision and brand.

Prior to joining IEEE, John worked as General Manager of Web Development for Erol’s Internet, which at the time was the 4^th largest Internet Service Provider in the country behind AOL, Earthlink and MindSpring serving more than 350,000 customers.  While there, he founded INTERCOT.com — one of the Internet’s oldest (27+ years) and largest Walt Disney World vacation planning websites.

John also previously served as Operations Director for one of the largest Century 21 offices in the world, and spent more than 10 years in Broadcasting as an Air Talent and Program Director roaming town to town — up and down the dial for radio stations in: Washington, DC; Manassas, VA; Martinsburg, WV; Frederick, MD; Hagerstown, MD, Lima, OH and Dayton, OH.

John is a 1989 graduate of the University of Dayton (BA Communications), an avid photographer/videographer, podcaster, graphic designer & gadget nut who has been married for 34 years to his beautiful wife Stacey and Dad to his amazing sons — Michael and Andrew.

Tom Law is the Founder and CEO of Maine startup Oak AI, an applied ethics startup company building next-generation AI to simplify the internet and give individuals agency online.

Tom earned a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Instrumentation from Syracuse University and has served in many leadership roles at both startups and large companies for over a decade.

Tom's teams have worked on some of the hardest problems of our times — 6G wireless, green energy, cyber-physical systems, autonomous robotics, and AI systems, among others.

Tom believes deeply not just in advancing technology, but doing it safely, sustainably, and with a focus that our systems are really about the people that use them; the everyday tools we use should bring joy, improve lives, and make the world a little bit better every day.

In addition to startup life and parenting, Tom serves as a board member for the Foundation for Portland Public Schools, is a founding member of the Maine AI Consortium, has served as a chairperson for the National Society of Black Engineers Aerospace Special.

Interest Group, and is the current President of the Talbot Elementary Parent-Teacher Organization, among other nonprofit and volunteer work.

As Community Outreach Office Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s (USPTO) Northern New England Community Outreach Office, Mr. Modricker carries out the strategic direction of the USPTO’s Office of Public Engagement and ensures the initiatives and programs are tailored to the area’s unique ecosystem of industries and stakeholders.

Prior to joining the USPTO, Mr. Modricker served as Regional Sector Outreach Coordinator for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), overseeing CISA’s Partnership Engagement and Exercise Team across New England. In this role, he was responsible for strengthening CISA’s relationships at the local level with partners in law enforcement, government, community groups, academia, and the private sector.

Before joining CISA in 2015, Mr. Modricker served in various national security roles within the federal and military services. As the National Spokesman for the Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center) in Washington, D.C., he led a collaborative communications team consisting of officials from the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and others to advance messaging on initiatives, enforcement actions, and other key information relative to the U.S. government’s response to IP theft.

Mr. Modricker also previously served in the Marine Corps as a helicopter crew chief in direct service of the White House during the Sept. 11 attack, before taking a commissioning with the U.S. Coast Guard Reserves. Additionally, Mr. Modricker was an adjunct professor at Northeastern University where he taught courses on crisis communications and homeland security.

Mr. Modricker earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Business Economics from London Metropolitan University and a Masters in Geopolitics and Territorial Security from King’s College London.

Maura K. Moran, an attorney with Cambridge Technology Law, Cambridge, MA, advises on Intellectual Property (IP), technology transfer, licensing, and strategic alliances. Maura has worked with global enterprises, small businesses, start-ups, and universities in a variety of technologies from computer-implemented electro-magnetic systems (including software, robotics and AI-related technologies) to sporting goods.

Maura has counseled clients in developing and bringing new technology to market. She has developed IP strategies and policies, prepared and brought to issuance US and international patent portfolios, and has participated in IP and contracts litigation. She is registered to practice law in MA and at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

Maura is a past IEEE-USA Vice President for Government Relations, a past chair of IEEE-USA’s IP Policy Committee (IPC), a past member of IEEE’s Global Public Policy Committee, and a current active member of the IPC and IEEE-USA’s AI Policy Committee. Maura has participated in writing IEEE and IEEE-USA position statements, comments to the USPTO (most recently in response to Requests for Comments related to AI inventions), letters to Congressional Committees on pending legislation, and amicus curiae briefs for the U.S. Supreme Court, where she has served as Counsel of Record for several of the briefs.

Maura is a graduate of Boston University School of Law and the University of Dayton (B.S. Mathematics), and has completed BSEE and MSEE coursework at Northeastern University.

Maura is a frequent speaker on topics related to IP and technology law. She is a member of the Women’s Bar Association of MA and has volunteered with the Venture Café, which supports the global innovation community through programs, mentoring, and networking.

Miriam Wilcox is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in the medical device industry. Her expertise spans regulatory affairs, quality engineering, and project management. She has spent a significant portion of her career working on implants, and device remediation to new and updated regulations.  Currently, her focus is on software medical devices, a rapidly evolving area of industry especially with the rise in scrutiny on AI derived devices. Miriam is known for her focus on collaboration with regulators and cross-functional teams.

Tom LaNigra is the Chief Technology Officer at Lanco Integrated, based in Westbrook, Maine. Over the past 32 years, he has played a key role in shaping Lanco’s technology strategy and delivering engineered solutions that help customers succeed in highly competitive markets.

A graduate of the University of Maine with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Tom brings deep technical expertise and practical leadership to the design and implementation of complex automation systems. Throughout his career, Tom has remained focused on integrating technologies that solve real-world challenges and drive measurable outcomes for customers.

In addition to his role at Lanco, Tom serves on the Engineering Advisory Board for the University of Southern Maine, helping to bridge the gap between academic programs and industry needs.

Diane Sturgeon is the District Director for the US Small Business Administration’s Maine District Office.  She has held that position since April of 2021. She joined the SBA in April of 2012 as a Lender Relations Specialist and prior to becoming District Director, Diane was Deputy District Director of the Maine District Office for more than 8 years.  She began her career as a teacher and coach before moving into the banking world where she has more than 15 years’ experience with both national and regional community banks.

Diane was born and raised in Maine and graduated from the University of Maine with a degree in Secondary Education.  She also completed the National Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders Fundamentals Diploma Program and participated in the Northern New England School of Banking.  Diane lives in Midcoast Maine and in her spare time volunteers with PAWS Animal Adoption Center in Camden, ME.

Elek Miller is an attorney at Drummond Woodsum, specializing in privacy, security, technology, and intellectual property law. He advises a broad range of clients, including businesses, schools, municipalities, and non-profit organizations, on complex legal matters related to intellectual property, data privacy, cybersecurity, and technology agreements. Elek has extensive experience in registering and protecting trademarks, copyrights, and other intellectual property assets, and helps businesses ensure compliance with state and federal data privacy and security laws. He also guides the development of data security and privacy programs and negotiates complex privacy-related technology agreements. In addition to his technology and IP work, Elek regularly advises employers on employment law issues, including wage and hour matters, employee leave, and employment agreements. He represents clients in both state and federal courts, as well as before regulatory agencies. Elek is a frequent speaker at conferences and events on topics related to IP, privacy, and technology law.

Dr. Brien Walton is the CEO of Acadia Capital Management, L3C, a strategic advisory firm specializing in helping small businesses secure funding with a focus on driving economic growth in distressed communities. He is also the chair of the Board of Directors for the Maine Venture Fund, Maine's premier social impact venture capital fund, where he plays a pivotal role in advancing funding opportunities for startups and small businesses across the state. Additionally, Dr. Walton serves as the director of the Richard E. Dyke Center for Family Business at Husson University, where he has pioneered an innovation incubation ecosystem that connects academia, entrepreneurs, and diverse industries.

Dr. Walton’s professional experience spans multiple sectors, including as an executive coach, software engineer, corporate tax attorney, real estate developer, and commercial banker. He has developed and managed venture capital funds and technology incubators at prestigious universities, including the University of Pennsylvania, where he established an award-winning innovation hub in downtown Philadelphia.

With a strong track record of creating and nurturing growth opportunities for small businesses, Dr. Walton brings a wealth of experience in funding and strategic development. His commitment to supporting entrepreneurs is evident in his leadership at the Maine Venture Fund, where he helps guide the state’s most promising ventures.

Dr. Walton holds multiple graduate degrees, including a Doctor of Education in Organizational Learning Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania, with a concentration in Leadership Development from the Wharton School of Business. He also earned a Juris Doctorate in Law from the University of D.C., a Master of Science in Education in Workforce Development from the University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Arts in Educational Technologies from Harvard University, and a Master of Laws in Taxation from Georgetown University.

Zach Newell came to Maine for a position as dean of Libraries and Learning at the University of Southern Maine in September 2022.  He has been in higher education for the past 20 years.  In that span he has worked as a full-time instructor of art history, as a humanities librarian, a department chair and more recently as both a director/dean. Zach was most recently working as the Dean of Library Services at Eastern Illinois from 2018 to 2022.  Zach has traveled extensively, having grown up in the Middle East before settling in Massachusetts. Zach spent time as a Fulbright scholar in 2012 working at the library of Alexandria, Egypt during the Arab Spring. Zach has degrees in philosophy, art history and library science. Zach recently completed a dissertation that explored the place of creative pedagogy in information literacy. It is through the lens of information literacy that Zach recently co-chaired an AI Task Force and has been involved in shaping policy around AI.