Matthew Summy
President & CEO

Matthew Summy has two decades of experience in public and private enterprises engaged in economic development, community investment and public policy advocacy.  As President of the Illinois Science & Technology Coalition, Matthew is focused on fostering public-partnerships that can quickly mobilize when opportunities arise to secure resources for research, development and innovation. Prior to his leadership with the Coalition, Matthew held senior positions with the State of Illinois and the City of New York. He also worked as an aide in the United States Senate and as Vice President in a consulting practice that partnered with public and private sector clients to execute economic development strategies. Matthew is active in several professional and civic activities, including the Economic Club of Chicago, the Marshall Memorial Fellows program, the American Council of Young Political Leaders, the Illinois Manufacturing Extension Center and the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning Economic Development Committee.   Matthew is a Northwestern University adjunct faculty member and serves as staff director for Governor Quinn’s Illinois Innovation Council. Matthew holds an MPA from New York University and a BA from the University of Iowa.
msummy@istcoalition.org

Alya Adamany
Director for Innovation and Special Initiatives

Alya Adamany has joined the Illinois Science and Technology Coalition after seven years with The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, where she most recently served as the Assistant Director for Studies, and prior to that as the Interim Director for the Global Midwest Initiative. As the Director for Innovation and Special Initiatives, she works closely with the Illinois Innovation Council to develop, manage, and support programs that advance the Illinois economy through innovation-based strategies. Alya previously held internships at the U.S. House of Representatives and Amnesty International. She has been a member of Teach For America’s auxiliary board since 2009, and volunteers with PAWS Chicago. Alya received her MA from the University of Chicago’s Committee on International Relations and a BA in political science from Yale University.
aadamany@istcoalition.org

Edward Fetters
Director of Program Management

Edward “Ted” Fetters joins the Illinois Science & Technology Coalition with a legal background and several years of experience working in the public sector in advocacy, legislative and project management roles. As Director of Program Management for the ISTC, Ted’s primary focus is on the development of the Illinois Nanotechnology Collaborative. He is also responsible for advancing collaborative projects that position Illinois to compete for additional research and development opportunities. He holds a JD from the Valparaiso University School of Law and an AB from the University of Chicago.
efetters@istcoalition.org

Sharmila Fowler
Managing Director, Program Development

Sharmila Fowler offers more than twenty years of private sector business development, strategic planning, marketing research and management consulting experience to the Illinois Science and Technology Coalition. As Managing Director, Program Development at the ISTC, Sharmila focuses on cultivating public-private partnerships to advance economic growth and job creation in the Midwest. She represents the ISTC through her involvement with the Illinois Smart Grid Regional Innovation Cluster (ISGRIC) and the Illinois Smart Grid Advisory Council (SGAC). Prior to the ISTC, Sharmila worked for Fortune 500 companies such as IBM and Sonoco Products Company as well as at entrepreneurial ventures. She is a member of the Nielsen Asian Pacific American Advisory Council and previously served on the Board of Directors for the Asian American Advertising Federation (3AF). Sharmila holds an MBA in Marketing and Strategic Planning from the University of Pennsylvania and a BA in Computer Science/Mathematics from the University of Rochester.

Joan Hollick
Program & Communications Manager

Joan Hollick is the Program and Communications Manager for the Illinois Science & Technology Coalition. In this role, Joan works to enhance awareness of Illinois’ global leadership in research and development, identify and leverage opportunities for technology-based economic development and promote public private partnerships. Joan holds a BA from Loyola University Chicago and an MPA from Northwestern University.
jhollick@istcoalition.org

Erin Lane
Program Associate

Erin Lane is the Program Associate for the Illinois Science and Technology Coalition.  Erin’s primary focus is to to foster the development of the Illinois Science and Technology Institute (ISTI), and she is responsible for designing and administering grant programs for the ISTI.  Prior to joining the ISTC Erin worked in the social services and medical fields, providing clinical services to families and assisting in program development.  Erin holds an MSW from the University of Pennsylvania and a BA from Wheaton College.
elane@istcoalition.org

Margaret Smith
Program Intern

Margaret Smith is the program intern for the Illinois Science and Technology Coalition, assisting the staff in research, communications, grant management and administrative support. Prior to working at the ISTC, Margaret interned at Crain’s Chicago Business, Rotary International and for U.S. Sen. Richard J. Durbin. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, the RedEye and In These Times magazine. Margaret holds a BA in journalism from Columbia College Chicago.
msmith@istcoalition.org

Lyubomir Uzunov
Research Analyst

Lyubomir “Lyu” Uzunov is the Research Analyst for the Illinois Science and Technology Coalition. Lyu is responsible for identifying, evaluating and packaging data deliverables that support the ISTC’s priority areas and inform private and public partners about Illinois’ innovation ecosystem. Prior to joining the ISTC, Lyu worked for the Knowledge Services Group at the Congressional Research Service and was a legislative fellow with the United States Congress. Lyu received his ABD/M.Phil from the University of Chicago.
luzunov@istcoalition.org