Our Team

Carol Stewart has extensive expertise in university-based economic development that spans decades and nations specifically through her work with research parks, technology commercialization, incubation, governmental relations and business development. She was one of the pioneers that led the innovation boom in Waterloo, Canada and brings that same enthusiasm to the growing innovation ecosystem in Southern Arizona. She is a community champion and participates on several boards, including serving on the board of directors for Desert Angels.

Casey Carrillo is the Executive Director of the University of Arizona Center for Innovation (UACI). Carrillo is responsible for managing all activities of the incubator including oversight of day-to-day operations. This includes providing high level strategy for the incubator, managing staff, mentors, contractors, oversight of incubator financials, providing business development to recruit startups to the incubator, oversee and implement grant management and funding opportunities for UACI, implement UACI’s soft landings program, and working directly with Tech Parks Arizona on commercialization strategies. Carrillo also manages relationships with local municipalities and state entities in supporting the startup ecosystem in Tucson, Arizona. 

An Arizona native, Carrillo graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and a Master’s of Arts degree in Higher Education. Carrillo worked at the University of Arizona for five years during her time as a student and staff member. Carrillo worked at the McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship in the Eller College of Management where she learned the importance of incorporating innovation in education and transitioned to the Office of Digital Learning, supporting UA’s efforts to provide a virtual learning experience for students.

Carrillo is on the Board of Directors for Southern Arizona Research and Science Foundation (SARSEF) where she supports the importance of STEM education in K-12 schools. Carrillo also received the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce 40 Under 40 recognition in 2023. Carrillo is dedicated to fostering innovation within the Tucson community. 

Anita Bell has been in the incubation and commercialization industry for over 15 years and holds the Entrepreneurship Center Management Certificate and the Rural Incubation Lite Certificate from the International National Business Incubation Association (InBIA) She knows firsthand that “it takes a village” to raise a company. As director, she oversees strategy, daily operations, client services, programs, and mentors companies and supports fundraising efforts.

Iselda Mendez is the primary point of contact and is responsible for general office management, onboarding new startups, incubator logistics and supporting UACI’s Executive Director. She is a highly experienced professional with over 30 years in inventory control, office management, and administration. Having held positions in the catalogue mail-order, automobile, telemarketing/call center, and pharmaceutical industries, Iselda is able to tailor her skills to meet the specific needs of multiple clients. She is also our resident expert in event planning.

Amanda Buchanan primarily works on the American Made Challenges – a Department of Energy funded program. The University of Arizona Center for Innovation is a Power Connector for this program. Buchanan has an extensive background in program coordination, marketing and communications. In her previous experience, she led the rollout of an association rebranding, managed large-scale projects with private, municipal and nonprofit organizations and helped to manage a large federal grant. Most recently she provided Project Coordination for a developing nonprofit working with state departments, hospitals, city officials and local nonprofits.

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Steven Wood brings 25 years of startup and executive management experience to the team. Steven has helped two startups grow and have successful exits. He’s been a mentor for numerous teams in the NSF I-Corps site and TEAMS programs supporting their customer discovery process. Wood received his electrical engineering degree from Northeastern University in Boston. Through his co-op period with The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he worked as a systems engineer for RCA Aerospace Systems in Burlington, Massachusetts; Somerville, New Jersey; and Mountaintop, Pennsylvania. He received undergraduate and graduate degrees in business administration.

Dr. H. Peter Nestler has more than 25 years of experience in academic life sciences, big pharma and biotech environments. Nestler has driven numerous drug discovery projects across multiple therapeutic areas into preclinical development. At Aventis, he led a global strategic research platform in the protease field and built an extensive European network of biotech companies and academic groups funded by the European Community Research Council. He also has managed multi-company alliances and serves as a Tech Launch Commercialization partner and mentor in multiple I-Corps cohorts.

Susan Garber works with incubator entrepreneurs to lay the strategic foundation for internal and external branding, marketing and communications, which aids in securing grants and other funding opportunities. She comes to UACI with years of experience helping companies large and small identify and execute their marketing strategy.  

Devon Underwood assists UACI entrepreneurs in developing recruitment and onboarding strategies. He also teaches them how to establish and utilize a board of directors. Underwood has over 15 years of experience working with organizations to help them grow their teams. She also leads her own business, The Talent Store.

Sonia Vohnout helps entrepreneurs seeking government awards and is primarily focused on Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. Vohnout is one of Southern Arizona’s top experts on the proposal and management of the awards and has a proven track record of helping companies succeed.

Tony Grega works with entrepreneurs on financial management; including accounting, cap tables, five-year financial projections, financial statements, cash management, accounting software options, company valuation and exit strategies​. He comes to UACI with years of experience in financial planning & forecasting, bookkeeping & accounting and compliance.  His skills include operations and financial management, innovative problem-solving, negotiations and acquisitions.  He has held executive finance and accounting positions at small and large companies, both private and public.  Tony originates from Canada where he became a Certified Professional Accountant (CPA) through the Society of Management Accountants of Canada.

<p>Technology and General Management Executive, specializing in commercialization and scale up of tough technologies. Broad management experience in large organizations (GE, Motorola) and CEO leadership of a venture capital backed tough-tech start-up. Empathetic people leader and hands on operational executive, with expertise in building business plans, management systems and go to market strategies. Held commercial and technology leadership positions at GE, Motorola across a wide portfolio of businesses (energy management, digital & IoT, sensors) for Utility, Renewables, Automotive, Infrastructure segments.</p>