The Colorado-Wyoming Engine Announces Inaugural Governance Board Seasoned executives to meld innovation with real-world applications
The Colorado-Wyoming Engine (CO-WY Engine), a groundbreaking regional community resilience initiative funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and powered by Innosphere, with support from the State of Colorado and the State of Wyoming, is proud to announce its inaugural Governance Board. The board comprises leaders from various sectors including renewable energy, aerospace, agriculture, academia, Indigenous affairs, national laboratories, economic development, climate science, and advanced technology. Together, they bring expertise that will advance climate-resilient technologies, foster workforce innovation, and fuel economic growth in the Mountain West.
“This exceptional group of leaders will guide us as we work to address drought, wildfire, water availability, and air quality, some of the most critical challenges in our region,” said Mike Freeman, CEO of the CO-WY Engine. “Their collective experience spans industries vital to our region’s future, from data science and weather modeling to technology commercialization, workforce development, and economic development.”
The CO-WY Engine was established when NSF announced 10 inaugural Regional Innovation Engines across the county in 2024. The newly funded organization aims to strengthen the innovative ecosystem and support innovative solutions in wildfire preparedness, soil health, air quality, and water quality and availability. In utilizing advanced sensing and computation for environmental decision-making, the organization will revolutionize how communities understand, predict and mitigate the impacts of environmental challenges.
CO-WY Engine Governance Board Members:
Mike Freeman
CEO, CO-WY Engine & Innosphere
Eric Drummond
CEO , Innovation Corridor Investments
Michelle Hadwiger
Director of Global Business Development, Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade
Tarissa Spoonhunter
Director of the High Plains American Indian Research Institute Professor in Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources University of Wyoming Arapaho/Blackfeet
Everette Joseph
Director, National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)
Raghu Raj Prasanna Kumar
Developer Technology Manager, NVIDIA
Patrese Atine
Assistant Vice President for Indigenous and Native American Affairs, Colorado State University
Lee Wheeler-Berliner
Managing Director, Colorado Workforce Development Council
Michael Gauthier
Senior Manager and Business Development Lead for Weather and Earth Science, Lockheed Martin Space
Trae Miller
Executive Director, Logan County Economic Development Corporation
Cassandra Mosley
Vice President for Research, Colorado State University
Parag Chitnis
Vice President for Research and Economic Development, University of Wyoming
Massimo Ruzzene
Senior Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation, Dean of the Institutes, Slade Professor of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder
Walt Copan
Vice President for Research, Colorado School of Mines
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About the CO-WY Engine:
Led by Innosphere and funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), with support from the State of Colorado and the State of Wyoming, the CO-WY Engine is a collaborative initiative focused on driving innovation in climate resiliency across the Colorado-Wyoming region. The CO-WY Engine brings together a diverse network of partners to develop and commercialize technologies that address critical community resiliency challenges, foster economic growth and enhance community well-being. Visit www.co-wyengine.org for more information.