Dorothy Klimis-Zacas, PhD, FACN, Professor of Clinical Nutrition, University of Maine

Dr. Klimis-Zacas is professor of Clinical Nutrition, cooperating professor at the School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering and Faculty Associate of the Institute of Medicine at the University of Maine. As a Fulbright Senior Fellow, she aided in the establishment and curricular development of the Human Nutrition and Dietetics Program at Harokopio University, Greece where she is a cooperating professor. She is also cooperating professor at DeFENs-Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences at the University of Milan, Italy.

Her research and teaching have focused on lipid and trace mineral nutrition and metabolism associated with Cardiovascular Disease. Additionally, she has explored the role, signaling pathways and gene expression of berry bioactive compounds and berry- enriched diets on endothelial function, inflammation, and lipid metabolism as it relates to Cardiovascular Disease and the Metabolic Syndrome in pre-clinical and clinical studies. Recently she is researching the molecular mechanisms and genomic effects of polyphenols on endothelial cell migration and angiogenesis as it relates to diabetes mellitus, ischemic disorders and wound healing and she has developed and is testing non-fidelity prototypes for targeted skin delivery of bioactive compounds from wild blueberries for acute and chronic wounds.

The recipient of the Senior Fulbright Fellowship and Fulbright Senior Specialist Awards and Cariplo Fellow as well as Maine Nutrition Council’s Katherine O. Musgrave Public Service Award, The Faculty Mentor Impact Award and The Foster Innovation Award from the University of Maine, Dr. Klimis-Zacas is the author of over 130 peer-reviewed publications, editor of books, series volumes and one patent. She is on the editorial board and series guest editor for the J. Nutritional Biochemistry, Antioxidants, Nutrients (MDPI), Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care and others.

Michael Wing, Co-Founder, President & COO, Accelera

25 years of senior operations and manufacturing management experience, project management, operational turn arounds, bringing new products and process online and supply chain management. Mike has an MBA with a concentration in Operations Management from the Whittemore School of Business and Economics at the University of New Hampshire, His undergraduate includes a B.S. in Industrial Management and a degree in Machine Tooling.

Billie Cary, Education Programs Manager, Bioscience Association of Maine

Billie Cary is the Education Programs Manager at BioME. Billie has a B.A. in English Literature from Bates College and an M.A. in Library and Information Studies. Prior to joining BioME, she worked creating educational programming to facilitate Maine economic development and international logistics. She is excited to work with schools and Maine scientists of all ages to promote life science education in the state. Billie lives in Maine with her husband, children, dogs, and chickens.

Martin Grohman, Executive Director, E2Tech

Martin Grohman holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from Rensselaer and is certified as a LEED(R) AP. He is a former State Representative, where he was a member of the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee. Grohman co-founded DuraLife Decking, a composite decking manufacturing company that continues to operate and grow in Biddeford (the joke is it’s doing better without him :). After the company’s acquisition, Grohman served as Director of Sustainability for GAF, North America’s largest roofing manufacturer, developing initiatives such as roofing recycling and the company’s Zero-Waste-to-Landfill effort, as well as building networks with national organizations such as the US Green Building Council. He is a Biddeford City Councilor and president of the Biddeford-Saco Rotary Club.

Marty grew up in Carthage, Maine, where his family still runs a small farm keeping Jersey cows. He and his wife Amy and their two children live in Biddeford. Amy works for telecommunications leader Tilson Technology of Portland.