As Executive Director of SCRA, Bob leads an organization that fosters South Carolina’s Innovation Economy by supporting entrepreneurs, enabling academic research and commercialization, and connecting industry with innovators.

Prior to joining SCRA, he worked in various executive roles for 26 years with Battelle Memorial Institute and affiliated companies. Bob most recently was the Managing Director of Battelle’s subsidiary, 360ip, an international investment, fund management and commercialization company headquartered in Singapore. Previous assignments included Vice President of Technology Commercialization and Vice President of Environmental Science and Technology at Battelle as well as Director of Technology Commercialization at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Prior to Battelle, he was a manager with the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Bob holds a Bachelor’s degree (Phi Beta Kappa) from Rutgers University and a Master’s degree (Exxon Graduate Fellow) from George Washington University. He also completed the Executive Management Program at Stanford School of Business/National University of Singapore. 

Dr. Aziz directs the SC EPSCoR/IDeA Program, which leverages federal and state support to build research infrastructure; infuse research into education; provide opportunities for diverse groups of institutions, students, faculty, and disciplines in science and technology; and increase collaboration among key stakeholders of the state's science and technology enterprise. 

Recently retired from Clemson University, Nadim has 13 years of academic leadership experience in roles such as department chair, associate provost for faculty development, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs and interim Graduate School dean. He has conducted research for federal, state and private industry sponsors and has more than 100 research publications and presentations. 

Dr. Aziz completed his Ph.D. in Engineering Science at the University of Mississippi and is a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers. In 2013, he was named Engineer of Distinction by his alma mater. 

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Jessica is the Director of Marketing and Communications at SCRA. She leads the organization in developing communications and social media strategies, oversees industry sponsorships and events, serves as spokeswoman and handles state and federal legislative proposals and requests. Prior to SCRA she was the Marketing Manager for an educational math software startup in Charleston, SC. 

Jessica holds a B.S. in Graphic Communications and an MBA in Entrepreneurship & Innovation from Clemson University.

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Randy is the Director of Facilities for SCRA. He provides overall management of assets and facilities under the SCRA umbrella, including all SCRA research parks, tenant leases and design and construction management of the organization's research facilities. 

Cole Dudley is the Director of Industry Programs for SCRA where he oversees industry collaboration efforts within the state. Cole has extensive experience working across the entire innovation pipeline with public, private and academic organizations. Most recently, he was engaged to develop a plan for an innovation district fostering company relocations and technology commercialization. 

He has commercialized university technologies by founding a successful startup company and a corporate joint venture. As an early stage venture capitalist he worked extensively with research institutions and early stage companies. In addition, he bought and turned around a manufacturing company. 

Cole holds a Master's of Interdisciplinary Engineering from Texas A&M and a Bachelor's in Finance from Iowa State University. He completed Harvard's Marketing Innovative Technologies Program and is a certified merger and acquisition advisor.

Tiffany is the Director of Finance and Administration for SCRA. She is responsible for the financial planning and analysis, accounting and human resource functions including cash flow impact, financial support for SC Launch and compiling the annual financial operating plan.

Greg serves as Director of SCRA's Entrepreneurial SC Launch program and represents SCRA as the Executive Director of the SCRA affiliate company, SC Launch, Inc. 

Since joining SCRA in 2007, Greg’s prior corporate experience includes front-line and operation management and engagement responsibilities with Computer Sciences Corporation Consulting Division, DuPont Photopolymers and Electronic Materials, Nortel Communications and other Fortune 100 companies. 

Greg's entrepreneurial experience includes the development of several technology start-up companies. He was also a member of the first-in professional management team, working the venture capital funding of Boston-based Appex Cellular Systems and co-incident acquisition by EDS Personnel Communications later acquired by GM.  

Greg served in the United States Air Force and holds an MBA in Economics and Finance from the University of Utah.

As the Director of Academic Programs, Ms. Dixon Thiesing’s focus will be to coordinate translational research across South Carolina’s academic institutions to enhance funding opportunities. The role also entails developing centers of excellence founded upon expertise and resources located throughout the state. 

Prior to SCRA, she was the Associate Director of Technology Development for MUSC Foundation for Research Development. As the Associate Director, she identified resources for the maturation of medical technologies and supported more than twenty startup companies. In addition, she recently co-founded PriMed, an accelerator dedicated to providing a business foundation for medical device startups.