What’s your favorite thing to do with your kids?
We have turned our kids into Big Brother and Survivor fans, since they are fairly kid-friendly and also two of my and my wife’s favorite shows. Even at the ages of 6 and 8, they have both fallen in love with the shows. At the beginning of each new season, we each pick our favorite three people on the show, and then make each episode family appointment TV to root for our “team.” We typically record them and watch them the next day at bedtime-friendly o’clock, with popcorn and snacks. Big deal in our house.

You have a penchant for Kentucky Bourbon….which one do you recommend? (Asking for a friend)
Oooooh I love this one. Big Eagle Rare fan here. Good luck trying to find it on the shelves these days, but its made by Buffalo Trace, a distillery I drive past every day to and from the office. My collection typically has a few new things I want to try. There is always a new bourbon coming to market these days.

Tell us about your love of Chuck Norris. Why?
If I told you, Chuck Norris would have to kill you. And Chuck Norris can do that from his breakfast table while eating fruit compote.

What drew you to your job at University of Kentucky?
The perfect blend of experience, opportunity, and location, and some key encouragement from a mentor. I was recruited by Glen Gardner’s group out of a position with my investment bank doing IP-intensive transaction advisory work, and since I had worked directly with some tech transfer offices putting some collaborative licensing deals together, I knew it was a perfect marriage of my interests and experience. The opportunity at UK was ripe for what I love the most – to build, improve and achieve. I knew that UK had fantastic research and a committed community, and discovered through the interview process that it also had supportive leadership – an ideal recipe. I’m a Kentuckian, and so it was a great opportunity to do what I love, in the place that I love. And finally, I had some great encouragement from a mentor and friend, Orin Herskowitz, to push me over the edge and take the leap of faith.

What is one highlight from your career in tech transfer, and why?
The highlight for me is the team that I’ve been able to assemble. These folks are incredible, and their effort and energy is what makes me smile about what I do. It’s a challenge building and maintaining a TTO, requiring university-specific budget creativity, unorthodox recruiting strategies and unique culture management tools. But, the team we’ve got at UK is just awesome. Not sure what I did to deserve them.

What’s your best advice for how AUTM Members can maximize their Membership?
For people new to AUTM or tech transfer, approach the value proposition more like a long-term career development platform than an annual industry conference. I said in my closing speech at the annual meeting that I am aware of no other field that has an industry association like AUTM that builds community around sharing, benchmarking and common interest. Instead of a place to get your “continuing education” requirements, AUTM is a community to get your innovative ideas, life-long friends, and career advancement opportunities. Dig in – there is a ton of opportunity if you just ask.

What do you look forward to this year as AUTM’s Board Chair?
Seeing how AUTM adeptly handles the spotlight. I see the recognition of AUTM’s role in the innovation economy grow, and that’s an awesome thing. I also look forward to getting back to in-person meetings. Come find me and say hello!

Where do you see AUTM in the next three to five years?
Right where it is now – leading the global discussion around technology transfer’s impact and equipping the future technology transfer leaders of the world with knowledge, support, best practices and community.

What’s something you’re excited about for tech transfer in the next decade?
For it to grow, expand, and diversify. Global policy leaders are recognizing that tech transfer is an important component to global competitiveness, and that bodes well for new investments in tech transfer infrastructure and the resulting potential for moving technologies to market for public benefit. We deserve that. The public deserves that.