After 12 years with Automation Alley, Michigan’s largest technology business association, Dr. Thomas Anderson has announced his retirement as senior director. Dr. Anderson assisted Automation Alley Executive Director Ken Rogers in overall management of the organization. Automation Alley Director of Public Affairs Kelly Kozlowski will assume the role of senior director.
In addition to his role as senior director, Dr. Anderson also led the association’s entrepreneurship programs. Under his leadership, Automation Alley has invested more than $8.59 million in 38 technology-driven startup companies across Southeast Michigan.
“Tom Anderson has been an invaluable part of Automation Alley’s success over the past 12 years. Through his guidance and leadership, a multitude of local startup companies have received mentoring, assistance with business plan development and market strategy, and connections to investors,” Rogers said. “We wish him well in his retirement and congratulate him on a remarkable career.”
Anderson’s prior position was as a strategic consultant, working with a range of clients to develop business plans, seek funding and develop process and decision tools for venture investing. He spent 20 years at General Motors, leading technical research teams in fundamental research, initiating a licensing program for non-competitive markets, developing processes to evaluate technology options and manage global cross-functional technology innovation teams and forming both national and international Neurotrauma Research Societies.
Throughout his career, Anderson has been actively involved in the community, serving on the Oakland University School of Engineering and Computer Science Advisory Council and the President’s Advisory Board at Walsh College, as well as the board of directors for TechTown, Great Lakes Entrepreneurs Quest, Great Lakes Angels, MIST Innovations, SpaceForm, Inc., and Monarch Antenna. He also serves on the board of directors for Beaumont Health system, chairs their Education, Innovation and Research Committee and is a member of the Medical School Management Committee for the William Beaumont Oakland University School of Medicine.
Anderson’s education includes an undergraduate degree in math and physics from Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota, a master’s in math from University of Texas in Austin and a doctorate in neuroscience from the University of Michigan. He also has a master of business administration from Michigan State University.
In addition to her new role as senior director, Kozlowski will continue to lead Automation Alley’s public affairs team. In this role since 2012, Kozlowski oversees government relations, media relations, community relations and communication and branding on behalf of the association.
Kozlowski is also the staff liaison for Automation Alley’s Government Affairs Committee, building awareness and support for Automation Alley and the legislative issues of Automation Alley members at state and federal levels.
“Over the past four years, Kelly Kozlowski has proven she is an intelligent, talented and capable leader who possesses a strong commitment to our organization and to building and strengthening our region’s position as a global center for technology,” Rogers said. “With great relationships within our organization and with others in the region, at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and in Lansing, it was an easy decision selecting Kelly as Automation Alley’s new senior director.”
Kozlowski joined Automation Alley in 2010 as the business accelerator client coordinator, working with entrepreneurs and startup companies and supporting entrepreneur-focused partnerships including Blackstone LaunchPad and the Business Accelerator Network for Southeast Michigan.
Kozlowski is active in the community, serving as president of the Oakland University Sail Board, which oversees OU’s student newspaper operations. She is also a FIRST robotics mentor for Utica Community Schools Team 217.
Prior to joining Automation Alley, Kozlowski was a manager at OU INC and Macomb-OU INC and also worked for the Detroit Free Press, covering a wide range of topics as an online reporter.
Kozlowski earned a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Oakland University and is working toward a master’s degree in public administration at OU. She currently teaches journalism at the university.
In 2009, she was awarded the Adams Entrepreneur Fellowship. In 2013, she was named one of Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson’s Elite 40 Under 40.
Source: Automation Alley
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