Advisory Team
The Advisory Team is the collaborative energy of PiES. The team serves as the PiES Board of Advisors providing business plan review, management coaching, funding guidance, technical and other assistance to qualified PiES Member Companies.
Chair - Ian Ferguson, PhD - University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Lee College
Mr. Ferguson is currently a Professor and the Chair of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Prior to this he was a Professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the School of Materials Science and Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) and Coordinator for the Focused Research Program on Next Generation Lighting at Georgia Tech. He is an international researcher with active collaborations in Europe and Asia. He has authored over 260 referred publications and has edited ten conference proceedings, two books and multiple patents. Mr. Ferguson has given over 300 invited and contributed talks and seminars throughout the US, Europe and Asia. He founded the International Conference on Solid State Lighting which is now in its ninth year. Mr. Ferguson has also been actively involved in the entrepreneurial process of establishing new companies, receiving a National Small Business Association Tibbets Award at the White House for contributions to the SBIR program.
Robert Haupt, MBA, CCIM - Sperry Van Ness
Haupt brings together over twenty years of experience in development of electricity generating plants and commercial real estate. Haupt started his career in the energy sector and ultimately served as a Senior Vice President of Project Development for International Power, plc, a London based international independent energy company. During his 14 year career, Haupt was responsible for all aspects of power plant development including site selection, environmental permitting, financial analysis, and negotiating engineering, procurement and equipment contracts. Haupt obtained a Master of Business Administration from the Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University.
William McCoy, PhD - University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Urban Institute
William J. (Bill) McCoy is the retired Director of the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute, Professor Emeritus of Political Science, and former Associate Vice Chancellor for Extended Academic Programs at University of North Carolina (UNCC). Among community activities, he served on the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning Commission for six years, chaired the Citizens Advisory Committee for the 2005 Transportation Plan, served on the Planning Board of the Town of Davidson for six years and served as Chair from 2003 to 2006, and served five years as the Executive Director of Leadership Charlotte.
Kathleen Rose, CCIM - Rose & Associates SE, Inc.
Ms. Rose is Founder and Executive Director of PiES. She is President of Rose & Associates Southeast, Inc. a consulting firm assisting both private and public sector clients. Bringing nearly two decades of commercial real estate experience as a corporate executive and as an independent consultant. Ms. Rose has assisted clients in the analysis and positioning of land use plans and economic development initiatives, including public private partnerships. She has managed the analysis, planning, development and marketing of retail, industrial, hotel, office and mixed-use projects throughout the eastern United States. She is also Managing Partner of Urban Organic I, LLC a property company which created South Main Square, in downtown Davidson, NC, a mixed use project that was the catalyst for forming the arts district in the South Main Street corridor.
Rick Sabath - Quantaris Capital Partners
Rick J. Sabath is a founding partner of Quantarus Capital Partners. He is an entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience owning and building successful enterprises. Mr. Sabath has developed core competencies in manufacturing, operations, sales, finance, product development and most importantly, identifying and developing talent. By virtue of his successful operations experience, Mr. Sabath enjoys professional relationships at such companies as Boeing, GE, GM, Ford, Northup Grumman, Occidental Petroleum, CSX, Areva, General Dynamics and Baxter Healthcare.
Richard Terry - Davidson College
Richard Terry has worked at Davidson College since 1989, initially as Director of Residence Life and Housing and for the past 15 years as Director of Auxiliary Services. In his current role Richard is responsible for a host of services – Campus Dining and Catering, the Davidson College Stores, the Lula Bell Houston Laundry, the Carnegie Guest House, all summer programs and uses of facilities by outside entities, and the financial component of the campus ID card system. Richard received his undergraduate degree in history from Davidson as well in 1981, a Masters in Education from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1989, and more recently an M.B.A. from the McColl School, Queens University in 2008. He has been deeply involved in his community, serving six years on the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce Board. Richard also worked on the Ada Jenkins Center Board for six years, serving as board chair for two years, 2005-2007.
David Vogel - The IDEAS Center, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Work at the IDEAS Center (IDEAS = Infrastructure, Design, Environment and Sustainability) at UNC Charlotte is focused on developing positive, new relationship and research collaboration outcomes, including the creation of a National Science Foundation supported multi-university "Center" for Sustainably Integrated Buildings & Sites. Prior work experience includes three executive level roles at Bank of America, one of which focused on innovation strategy and product development to augment and accelerate "triple bottom line" inspired sustainability products, services and solutions. Other experience includes 7-years of bulge bracket and boutique investment banking roles with responsibility for originating and executing various M&A (merger & acquisition) and capital raising engagements.
Gil Lorenz - Lorenz Capital
Gil Lorenz is the retired founder of Lorenz Capital, a commercial real estate mortgage banking company. Following his retirement he is an active investor in angel networks and early stage companies. He is also a volunteer business counselor with Charlotte region SCORE, whre he advises existing businesses and works with individuals wanting to start a business. He is a Davidson resident and served on the Economic Development work group for the Comprehensive Land Use plan.
Ed Stawicki - Central Piedmont Community College, North Campus
Ed Stawicki is the Division Director of Transport Systems Technology at Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) North Campus. He holds a BA in Industrial Education from Kean University and an MA in Industrial Education & Technology from Montclair State University. Prior to joining CPCC, Mr. Stawicki was Director-Service Development for Cummins, Inc. and National Operations Manager for Toyota Industrial Equipment. He is currently a member of the Charlotte Regional Electric Vehicle Advisory Committee of the Centralina Clean Fuels Coalition of the Centralina Council of Governments.
Blake Vande Garde - Hammer & Associates, P.C.
Mr. Vande Garde is a patent attorney licensed to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
He has experience drafting, filing and prosecution of patent applications in the fields of chemical, biological, mechanical, fibers, battery separators, nanotechnology, textiles and fuel cells (USPTO and PCT). Mr. Vande Garde also has extensive trademark prosecution experience(USPTO and Madrid Protocol). His experience includes compiling and evaluating due diligence, infringement, freedom to operate and patentability opinions. Drafting and negotiating nondisclosure, joint development and technology licensing agreements. Managing foreign associates in the prosecution of applications. Participation in patent infringement evaluations and litigation. Participation in trademark oppositions set before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.
David Vogel - The IDEAS Center, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Work at the IDEAS Center (IDEAS = Infrastructure, Design, Environment and Sustainability) at UNC Charlotte is focused on developing positive, new relationship and research collaboration outcomes, including the creation of a National Science Foundation supported multi-university "Center" for Sustainably Integrated Buildings & Sites. Prior work experience includes three executive level roles at Bank of America, one of which focused on innovation strategy and product development to augment and accelerate "triple bottom line" inspired sustainability products, services and solutions. Other experience includes 7-years of bulge bracket and boutique investment banking roles with responsibility for originating and executing various M&A (merger & acquisition) and capital raising engagements.
Gil Lorenz - Lorenz Capital
Gil Lorenz is the retired founder of Lorenz Capital, a commercial real estate mortgage banking company. Following his retirement he is an active investor in angel networks and early stage companies. He is also a volunteer business counselor with Charlotte region SCORE, whre he advises existing businesses and works with individuals wanting to start a business. He is a Davidson resident and served on the Economic Development work group for the Comprehensive Land Use plan.
Ed Stawicki - Central Piedmont Community College, North Campus
Ed Stawicki is the Division Director of Transport Systems Technology at Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) North Campus. He holds a BA in Industrial Education from Kean University and an MA in Industrial Education & Technology from Montclair State University. Prior to joining CPCC, Mr. Stawicki was Director-Service Development for Cummins, Inc. and National Operations Manager for Toyota Industrial Equipment. He is currently a member of the Charlotte Regional Electric Vehicle Advisory Committee of the Centralina Clean Fuels Coalition of the Centralina Council of Governments.
Blake Vande Garde - Hammer & Associates, P.C.
Mr. Vande Garde is a patent attorney licensed to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
He has experience drafting, filing and prosecution of patent applications in the fields of chemical, biological, mechanical, fibers, battery separators, nanotechnology, textiles and fuel cells (USPTO and PCT). Mr. Vande Garde also has extensive trademark prosecution experience(USPTO and Madrid Protocol). His experience includes compiling and evaluating due diligence, infringement, freedom to operate and patentability opinions. Drafting and negotiating nondisclosure, joint development and technology licensing agreements. Managing foreign associates in the prosecution of applications. Participation in patent infringement evaluations and litigation. Participation in trademark oppositions set before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.
Public Partner - Leamon Brice - Town Manager, Town of Davidson
Leamon Brice became town administrator for the Town of Davidson, N.C. in April 1990, and town manager in 1991. After receiving an MA in political science from Appalachian State University in 1981, he served as assistant city manager of Plymouth, N.C. and town manager of Fairmont, N.C. Internally, he has led the way for Davidson employees to utilize learning organization techniques for better communication. Brice has been instrumental in the regional transit management group and co-operative economic development agreements with neighboring communities.
Ex-Officio Members
Jerry Broadway, CeCD – Director of the Lake Norman Economic Development Corporation
Bill Russell - President of the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce
