The Impact of Our Advisory Committee
Our Advisory Committee members are instrumental in helping SATEC stay at the forefront of innovation and entrepreneurship. Their commitment to fostering a supportive, dynamic environment for our entrepreneurs ensures that SATEC provides the highest level of resources, guidance, and mentorship.
Donna Hover
Founder of Mighty Underdogs Company
CEO/President of Leaders Laboratory
"Business is easy. People are difficult."
Donna Hover is Founder of Mighty Underdogs Company and CEO/President of Leaders Laboratory, with five successful startups since 1987. She coaches CEOs and executive teams in the areas of strategy, leadership, executive development, and business improvement. She is a partner in creating the proprietary process, The Growth Formula™ to help small business owners execute their vision and get results.
Dr. Hover earned her PhD in Strategic Management from Michigan State University, and served on several public and private Board of Directors. She has worked with over 5000 CEO in 15 countries, mostly family owned big businesses with revenues between $45 million to $800 million. An Adjunct professor at Grand Valley State University, and a Vistage Speaker since 2008.
Greg Wilson
Dean of Applied Technology
Pima Community College
"We are excited to give students the opportunity to learn entrepreneurial competencies as they hone their technical skills. We want to empower our students to reach their goals, including starting their own businesses."
Greg has served at Pima Community College since 2001 and as Dean of Applied Technology since 2014. He leads several of Pima’s exciting technical programs, including Automation/Robotics, Automotive, Aviation, Building and Construction, Computer-Aided Design, Machining, and Welding.
Greg serves on the Board of Directors for Southern Arizona Construction Career Days and previously served on the Board of Directors for JobPath. Prior to joining Pima, Greg developed industry training curricula with NCCER in Florida. He graduated from the University of Virginia and earned his master’s degree from Duke University.
Dr. Ian Roark
Vice Chancellor Workforce Development & Innovation
Pima Community College
"If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. It's the hard that makes it great." - Tom Hanks
Dr. Ian R. Roark serves as the Vice Chancellor of Workforce Development & Innovation for Pima Community College. He is dedicated to collective impact partnerships, community college innovation, the future of work, early college programs, and business and industry engagement, with an emphasis on learner access, success, and upward mobility. He also oversees innovation for the college district, including the development and implementation of new models such as micro-pathways, apprenticeships and Baccalaureate degrees.
Ian serves on a number of boards and committees at the local, state, and national levels. He was named to the Aspen Presidential Fellowship for Community College Excellence for 2019-2020, received the Workforce Development Practitioner of the Year Award from the Arizona Association for Economic Development in 2019, named Steering Committee Lead for Arizona’s Reskilling & Recovery Network Team in 2020, named to the New America New Models for Career Preparation Advisory Committee in2021, and was selected as a Designer in Residence by the Education Design Lab for 2021-2022.
Sue Oliver
Director, Innovation and Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
Pima Community College
“Wonder what your customer really wants? Ask. Don’t tell.” –Lisa Stone, BlogHer Co-Founder and CEO
Sue Oliver is a seasoned, innovative business leader with a proven track record of launching and growing thousands of entrepreneurial ventures and programs around the world. As a partner in three startups, including her own consulting firm, Sue brings a wealth of real-life experience to her director roles at SATEC and the SBDC. Her extensive background includes leadership roles in global finance, fintech, software and web applications, and other high-tech sectors. Sue also directed Seattle University’s Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center for eight years, where she led efforts to provide local small business services and foster regional innovation.
She holds an MBA with a finance concentration and industry certificates in Entrepreneurship Center Management (INBIA), Project Management (PMP), Scrum/Agile Product Development, Change Management (PROCSCI), Small Business Counseling (SBDC, SCORE), and ProfitSoup™ facilitation. Sue is passionate about empowering and supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs with the tools, resources, and mentorship necessary to thrive in today’s dynamic business landscape.
Lydia Kennedy
Business Incubator Manager
Pima Community College
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right."- Henry Ford
Lydia Kennedy is a dynamic serial entrepreneur with over two decades of experience founding and growing successful startups. A proud 4th generation Tucsonan, Lydia is passionate about illuminating the entrepreneurial journey through strategic mentorship, innovative programming, and practical solutions that drive growth.
With a diverse background across industries like retail, culinary, construction, medical, and technology, Lydia emphasizes the importance of front-loading education to build a strong foundation for sustainable success. She integrates tools like AI and automation to help entrepreneurs adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing landscape.
Lydia designs initiatives that incubate business potential, foster strong networks, and empower entrepreneurs to succeed. She is a Certified Mentor Facilitator with the National Research Mentoring Network (NRMN), CIMER, and I-CAM (University of Wisconsin-Madison). She holds an Eller Business Certificate from UArizona’s Eller College of Management, a Zenger Miller/Achieve Global Leadership Facilitator Certification, and is certified in Entrepreneurship Center Management (ECM) by InBIA.
Greg Moyer
CEO & Founder
The Inventive Guild™
"Be inventive. Change the world."
Greg Moyer is the CEO & Founder of The Inventive Guild™, an organization dedicated to promoting and teaching business creativity and inventive thinking on demand. The Inventive Guild™ is creating a community platform for Renaissance Thinkers to network with like-minded people to conceive and launch innovations, inventions, new business ventures, marketing programs, and tackle the global grand challenges.
With more than 25 years of experience as an entrepreneur, inventor, and industry innovator, Greg has superpower abilities in inventive thinking on demand. He has built unique programs for companies like Microsoft, HP, Siemens, Dell, and Infosys while generating more than $5.5 billion in new revenue with ROIs of 1100%.
Patti Dubois
Assistant Executive Director
Center for Entrepreneurial Innovations (CEI)
“Don’t wait until everything is just right. It will never be perfect. There will always be challenges, obstacles and less than perfect conditions. So what. Get started now.” - John Wooden
Patti DuBois has deep knowledge of taking new innovations and technologies to market, having extensive experience commercializing early-stage startup offerings. As a strategic advisor to entrepreneurs during the challenging launch phases, she leverages a technical understanding across software, hardware, bio/life sciences, and services to evaluate business models, go-to-market positioning, operational viability, funding options, and partnership opportunities.
Patti has owned three businesses of her own and led two successful company turnarounds before spending over a decade specifically focused on startup incubation and acceleration. She offers further assistance with quality management and regulatory issues, IP landscape, as well as investment preparedness. By working closely with founding teams, she combines commercialization expertise with practical judgment to transform high-potential ideas into commercial startup successes.
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Dr. Patrick Marcus
President
Marcus Engineering, LLC
"Take time to dream, but always execute: The world belongs to entrepreneurs who act on their dreams."
Dr. Patrick Marcus is the president of Marcus Engineering, LLC, specializing in product development and instrumentation for industries, with a focus on medical devices. He has founded high-tech companies and is skilled in operations, IT, and managing engineering teams, with expertise in electronics, biotechnology, neuroprosthetics, and solar.
Dr. Marcus teaches, mentors, and servers on advisory boards for the University of Arizona, College of Engineering, Arizona Center for Innovation, and SALSA (Southern Arizona Limb Salvage Alliance) in the Department of Surgery at U of A. Dr. Marcus is passionate about the success of his community and enjoys rich involvement in AZBio (Arizona Bioindustry Association), BioSA (Bioindustry Organization of Arizona), AOIA (Arizona Optics Industry Association), Startup Tucson, and the Arizona Technology Council. He is also a proud graduate of the prestigious Flinn / Brown Arizona Civic Leadership Academy and is a member of SALC (Southern Arizona Leadership Council).
He holds a PhD in Biomedical Engineering and a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Arizona, along with an Entrepreneurship Certificate from the McGuire Program at Eller College of Management.
Gavin Gigstad
"With what we have been given in nature and science there is a solution to every problem."
Gavin Gigstad is an entrepreneur and innovator whose journey began with a deeply personal mission: helping his father regain mobility after a limp caused by multiple sclerosis. Drawing on a decade of experience as an Occupational Therapy Assistant in in-patient rehabilitation and Home Health, Gavin founded the Gigstride Corporation in 2022 to address mobility challenges through innovation. His work has since resulted in three patents for medical devices designed to enhance functionality and improve quality of life.
Building Gigstride Corporation was both a technical and emotional endeavor for Gavin. He leveraged his clinical expertise and a relentless commitment to problem-solving to develop practical solutions tailored to his father’s needs. The process required navigating the complexities of product design, prototyping, and securing intellectual property, all while maintaining a focus on creating technologies with the potential to benefit others facing similar challenges.
As a member of the Southern Arizona Technology and Entrepreneurship Center (SATEC) advisory committee, Gavin shares his experience to inspire and guide fellow innovators. His work is a testament to the power of personal motivation in driving meaningful change, turning family adversity into impactful solutions for the broader community.
Liane Wong
"Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day-in and day-out."
With over 19 years of experience in real estate, I bring a wealth of expertise in residential, commercial, and land transactions. My career began in education, where I was an elementary school teacher for the Tucson Unified School District, which fueled my passion for helping others achieve their goals. This passion seamlessly transitioned into real estate, where I’ve had the privilege of assisting countless clients with buying, selling, and investing in properties.
In addition to my real estate work, I’ve dedicated much of my time to serving the Tucson community. I served as the President of the Tucson LGBT Chamber of Commerce for three years, after having been on its Board of Directors for eight years. In this role, I worked to support and amplify the voices of LGBTQ+ businesses and professionals in our area.
Currently, I am the President of the Tucson LGBT Foundation, an organization that provides scholarships to LGBTQ+ students at the University of Arizona, helping to ensure that higher education is accessible to all. I am also the Flotilla Commander for the Coast Guard Auxiliary, where I lead efforts to enhance safety and preparedness in our local waterways. Additionally, I am an active member of the Tucson Festival of Books organizing committee, where I help plan and coordinate this signature event that brings the community together around a shared love of literature.
Through my various roles and leadership positions, I am committed to making a positive impact on my community and supporting the growth and success of those around me.