Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Announces Addition of New Board of Director Members
Dr. Marcia Ballinger and Mr. Eli Evankovich join the board of the national consortium for robotics in manufacturing
PITTSBURGH, PA – March 28, 2019 – Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) today announced that Dr. Marcia Ballinger and Mr. Eli Evankovich have joined the non-profit organization’s board of directors. They will work with other board members and ARM leadership to help the organization fulfill its mission of increasing U.S. global competitiveness by accelerating innovative technologies that make robots more accessible to U.S. manufacturers.
Marcia Ballinger, Ph.D., is President of Lorain County Community College (LCCC) in Elyria, Ohio. Dr. Ballinger has more than 25 years in community college leadership roles that have advanced student success, workforce and economic development, strategic planning, and institutional advancement. Under her leadership and deep commitment to student success, Lorain County Community College was recognized by the American Association for Community Colleges (AACC) as the 2018 Recipient of the AACC Award of Excellence in Student Success. In 2018 Lorain County Community College also became the first community college in Ohio to offer an applied bachelor’s degree program in MEMS (Micro Electromechanical Systems).
Through her strategic vision, hallmarks of the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem were developed and thriving today, such as GLIDE, a regional technology incubator and the Innovation Fund, the region’s earliest pre-seed fund for start-up technology companies. Advancing workforce and economic development initiatives nationally, statewide and regionally, Dr. Ballinger also serves as an appointed member to the American Association of Community College (AACC) Expanding Community College Apprenticeship Taskforce, Co-Chair for Jobs for the Future (JFF) Career Connections work group and TeamNEO Talent Development Council, as well as, a member of MAGNET’s (Manufacturing Advocacy Growth Network) Board of Directors. Dr. Ballinger holds a Ph.D. in Education in Community College Leadership from Walden University. She is an alumna of LCCC’s University Partnership Program having earned her MBA from Kent State University. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP).
Eli Evankovich is Chief Executive Officer of Premier Automation, a diversified engineered solutions company that specializes in designing and manufacturing custom automation, drives, and robotics systems, based in Monroeville, PA. He began his professional career at the US Steel Mon Valley Works. While advancing through multiple positions of increasing management responsibility in Accounting and Financial Analysis, Eli, successfully ran for an elected position as a Representative in the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
During his tenure as a lawmaker, Eli focused his efforts primarily on issues that affect the manufacturing job economy in Pennsylvania. In 2012, he founded the Pennsylvania Bipartisan Manufacturing Caucus intended to bring awareness to policies that effect manufacturers throughout Pennsylvania. Eli’s passion in organizational leadership, the future of manufacturing and ensuring American global competitiveness underscore the mission of Premier Automation as a nationwide leader in enabling companies to innovate through technology. Eli is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh.
ARM also announced that Dr. Hauke Schmidt, Head of Corporate Research North America at Bosch, is stepping down from the board.
“Both Eli and Marcia are significant additions to ARM’s board of directors, bringing years of broad experience in manufacturing and education, and I’m pleased that they are part of our team, helping to shape the future of manufacturing,” stated Byron Clayton, ARM CEO. “I’d also like to thank Hauke for his board tenure and many contributions.”
About ARM – Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing
ARM (Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing), a Manufacturing USA® institute, accelerates the advancement of transformative robotic technologies and education to grow U.S. global manufacturing competitiveness. Founded in January 2017 by Carnegie Mellon University, ARM operates as a separate non-profit member collaborative. Learn more at www.arminstitute.org.