Meet the Team

The University of Cincinnati’s 1819 Innovation Hub is headed by Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation and Strategy Officer Ryan Hays along with his leadership team, which oversees community and industry alliances, technology transfer and commercialization, the Ground Floor Makerspace and the Esports Innovation Lab.


Leadership Team


Headshot of Ryan Hays

Ryan Hays

Executive Vice President, Chief Innovation and Strategy Officer

513-556-2201

Headshot of Nicola Ziady

Nicola Ziady

Chief Marketing Officer

513-556-3015

Headshot of Kate Harmon

Kate Harmon

Assistant Vice President, Office of Innovation

513-556-7176

Headshot of Tony Almaguer

Tony Almaguer

Chief of Staff

513-558-4269

Headshot of RJ Sargent

RJ Sargent

Assistant Vice President, Learning Services

513-556-8043

Headshot of Geoffrey Pinski

Geoffrey Pinski

Assistant Vice President, Technology Transfer

513-558-5696

Partner Success Team

Headshot of Lisa Forbes

Lisa Forbes

Project Manager

513-556-8032

Learning Lab Team

Headshot of Nicholas Partridge

Nicholas Partridge

Director, Learning Lab

513-556-5511

Headshot of Rebecca Rudolph

Rebecca Rudolph

Assistant Director, Learning Services

513-558-5849

Ground Floor Makerspace Team


Headshot of Benjamin Jones

Benjamin Jones

Director, Makerspace

513-556-5388

Headshot of Nathan Gorgen

Nathan Gorgen

Technician, Makerspace

513-556-3272

Headshot of Gabrielle Stichweh

Gabrielle Stichweh

Technician, Makerspace

513-556-3272

Headshot of Lucy Weaver

Lucy Weaver

Coordinator, Makerspace Unit

513-556-5388

Operations Team


Headshot of Jim Currie

Jim Currie

Director, Operations

513-556-8036

Headshot of Deborah Emig

Deborah Emig

Executive Staff Assistant

513-558-6293

Headshot of Harry LeMaster

Harry LeMaster

Analyst, Computer and Information Technology

513-556-4357

Headshot of Baily Caudle

Baily Caudle

Executive Assistant

513-556-5511

CID Marketing and Communications Team


Headshot of Meghan Shipp

Meghan Shipp

Senior Director, Marketing and Communications

513-556-5511

Headshot of Patty Moser

Patty Moser

Director of Events, Experience, Esports and Engagement

513-556-4842

Headshot of Anna Resing

Anna Resing

Project Coordinator

513-556-5511

Headshot of Diana Lara

Diana Lara

Manager, Marketing and Communications

513-556-5919

Headshot of Stephen Kenney

Stephen Kenney

Associate Editor, Publications

513-556-5511

Headshot of Gregory Glevicky

Gregory Glevicky

Creative Manager

513-556-5497

Headshot of Mary Dwyer

Mary Dwyer

Digital Content Specialist

513-556-5511

Headshot of Alisha Sutcliffe

Alisha Sutcliffe

Senior Digital Content Specialist

513-556-5511

Headshot of Brennen Rottmueller

Brennen Rottmueller

Digital Communications Specialist

513-556-5511

Headshot of Gianna DiMona

Gianna DiMona

Coordinator, Esports Lab

513-556-GAME

Tech Transfer Team


Headshot of Brent Peebles

Brent Peebles

Associate General Counsel

513-556-3416

Headshot of Sev Sheets

Sev Sheets

Licensing Associate

513-556-4546

Headshot of Madison Bourbon

Madison Bourbon

Senior Licensing Associate

513-558-4237

Headshot of Patrick Brown

Patrick Brown

Commercialization Navigator

513-558-5695

Headshot of Melissa Davis

Melissa Davis

Senior Compliance Associate

513-558-2651

Headshot of Rucha Tadwalkar

Rucha Tadwalkar

Licensing Associate

513-558-6293

Headshot of Keeley Boehm

Keeley Boehm

Compliance Associate

513-558-6293

Venture Lab and Center for Entrepreneurship Team

Headshot of Marvin Abrinica

Marvin Abrinica

Director, Venture Lab

513-556-7120

Headshot of Josephine Dalton

Josephine Dalton

Associate Director, Center for Entrepreneurship

513-556-7176

Headshot of Candace Wade

Candace Wade

Program Manager, Center for Entrepreneurship

513-556-7176