NYSTEC Board of Directors

Kevin M. Owens

President and CEO

Kevin M. Owens serves as NYSTEC’s president and CEO. His consulting experience spans more than 20 years, focusing on transformational initiatives that have assisted organizations in positioning themselves for future success. Kevin’s forte is overseeing large-scale system implementations, where he has excelled in managing all phases of the technology project life cycle. As he served in various leadership roles in NYSTEC, Kevin also served clients such as the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), NYC Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DoITT), and the NYS Department of Labor (DOL).

For many years, Kevin led NYSTEC-sponsored community involvement and charity events. A strong supporter of professional development, Kevin has served as a mentor to many people on NYSTEC’s management and leadership teams.

Kevin holds a BBA from Siena College and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) as recognized by the Project Management Institute.

William J. Pirillo

Board Vice Chair

William J. Pirillo is the NYSTEC board vice chair. He led NYSTEC as president and CEO until his retirement in September 2009. Under Bill’s leadership, NYSTEC achieved financial viability, became independent of its sponsoring organization (the Syracuse Research Corporation), and gained stature and recognition as a premier trusted advisor in the information technology (IT) field. He achieved this through visionary leadership characterized by a sharp focus on developing employment opportunities, exceeding client expectations, and managing financial growth and fiscal responsibility.

Before joining NYSTEC, Bill was co-founder of The Center for Systems Thinking & Innovation. He has also served on the board of directors for Leadership Mohawk Valley (LMV).

Dr. Thomas Triscari, Jr.

Board Chair

As board chair, Dr. Thomas Triscari, Jr. is a proven leader in identifying and employing advanced technologies and business practices that help build sustainable value for stakeholders of mature existing companies and startup enterprises. He has had successful careers as an innovator and change agent in the United States military, government (federal, state, and local levels), industry/business, and academia.

Tom is also an entrepreneur, creating a successful consulting company and practice, and he was instrumental in creating the “Technology Hub” in Troy, NY.

Lisa Sobierajski Avila

Board Member

Lisa Sobierajski Avila, Ph.D., is co-founder and chief executive officer of Kitware, Inc., a leading software research and development company specializing in advanced technologies for scientific, medical, and engineering applications. Since co-founding Kitware in 1998, Lisa has played a central role in shaping the company’s technical vision, business growth, and organizational development. She served as vice president of commercial operations from the company’s founding until becoming president and CEO in 2017.

Over her 28-year career at Kitware, Lisa has contributed to the advancement and application of volume rendering and scientific visualization across diverse fields, including seismic data exploration, medical imaging, and radiation treatment planning. As CEO, Lisa has led Kitware through a period of organizational evolution, including the transition to a 100% employee-owned company.

Before founding Kitware, Lisa was a member of the technical staff at the General Electric Corporate Research and Development Center, where she developed volume visualization techniques for industrial and medical applications. She holds a Ph.D. from Stony Brook University. In addition to serving on the NYSTEC Board of Directors, Lisa serves on the board of the Capital Region Chamber Foundation.

Kimberly A. Boynton

Board Member

Kimberly A. Boynton is the vice chair of the SRC, Inc. board of trustees. She is the former president and chief executive officer of Crouse Health. Kimberly has also served as the board director for AAA National, Byrne Dairy, Inc., and Seneca Financial Corp./Seneca Savings Bank, as well as on the First Niagara Bank advisory board.

In her career at Crouse, Kimberly oversaw multiple operational areas, and she was instrumental in developing the organization’s diversity and inclusion initiative, acquiring multiple physician practices, and constructing the hospital’s many capital projects. These projects include the $53 million Witting Surgical Center, a $30 million addiction treatment center, and $13 million in parking garage projects.

Kimberly has received numerous awards and recognitions for her projects in the community, and she continues her work as a trustee of Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse. She is a graduate of Niagara University and earned her MBA from Syracuse University’s Whitman School of Management.

Saleem M. Cheeks

Board Member

Saleem M. Cheeks serves on the executive team at AngioDynamics as vice president of communications, COE, and has more than 20 years of private and public sector experience in areas including communications, community relations, government, and politics.

Before joining AngioDynamics, Saleem was a key public affairs practice member at Mower, a digitally integrated marketing, advertising, and public relations company. He advised global corporations and nonprofits and developed award-winning communications strategies for major economic development projects. Before his role at Mower, Saleem served in several key roles for a New York governor, including deputy director for legislative affairs and deputy press secretary. He also provided communications support for several United States presidential candidates and served as a professional volunteer for the White House.

In addition to his role as a NYSTEC board of directors member, Saleem is active with MedTech, New York’s trade association for the bio/med industry, where he serves as board secretary. He also serves as board chair of Henry Johnson Charter School, a K – 4 elementary school serving students and families in New York’s Capital Region.

Heather Dussault, Ph.D.

Board Member

Heather Dussault, Ph.D., has extensive engineering and research experience, including several years of service as a volunteer in the position of emeritus engineer for the United States Air Force. In that role, she assisted the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) in a variety of research capacities, including mission assurance, nuclear command, control and communications, and high frequency (HF) communications.

During her 35-year career, Heather served as the leader of AFRL‘s nuclear command, control, and communications (NC3) research efforts for two years. She worked as an electronics engineer, program manager, and division technical advisor to the Information Systems Division of the AFRL Information Directorate at (RI). Her research included work in systems and microelectronic reliability, design for testability, test and diagnostic methods, and the design of radiation-hardened electronics. Heather also served as a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) program manager in the Electronics Technology Office. Early in her career, Heather worked on the design of naval reactors at Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory. She has taught and conducted research in both computer science and electrical engineering at the State University of New York Institute of Technology at Utica/Rome (SUNY IT).

Heather has co-authored numerous technical papers and reports, is a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and holds a doctorate in nuclear engineering and science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

In addition to her role as a member of the NYSTEC board of directors, Heather serves as a fellow of the National Institute for Deterrence Studies, a 501 (c)(3) organization that provides national security analysis, policy solutions, and deterrence education.

Josh Klemm

Board Member

Josh Klemm serves as Chief Information Officer at Broadview, where he leads the organization’s technology strategy, innovation initiatives, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation efforts.

With more than 20 years of IT leadership experience, Josh brings a proven track record of driving innovation and leveraging emerging technologies to solve complex business and operational challenges. Previously he served as Chief Information Officer for the New York State Thruway Authority, where he helped bring multiple AI-powered solutions to market. Prior to this, Josh spent 16 years in New York State government, including leadership roles such as Chief Information Security at the New York State Department of Health. Throughout his public service career, he built a reputation for combining technical expertise with a strong focus on customer needs, operational excellence, and mission-driven innovation.

Josh earned his Executive MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management and his BA and MSIS in Information Systems and Technology from the University at Albany. He also serves as an Adjunct Lecturer in Informatics with the University’s at Albany’s College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security, and Cybersecurity. Josh has a passion for working with entrepreneurs and startups, and he frequently mentors founders and serves as an advisor for Venture Capital groups.

Lisa M. Marrello, Esq.

Board Member

Lisa M. Marrello, Esq., provides legislative strategy and regulatory counsel for government agencies on issues spanning healthcare, higher education and the professions, financial services, transit and transportation, racing and gaming, and economic development initiatives.

Lisa is an experienced government relations attorney and skilled lobbyist. She has been a resolute advocate for her clients on matters dealing with all aspects of legislative policy, budgetary analysis, appropriations funding, procurement, and administrative and regulatory guidance. Drawing on a 25-year career of legal and legislative practice experience, she has gained the confidence of clients who rely on her successes in government policy, process, and advocacy.

Lisa maintains professional contacts with federal, state, and local government officials, having served in both New York State and New York City government. Prior to her years in private practice, she served as assistant legislative representative for the City of New York, Mayor’s Office. She began her career with the New York State Assembly as chief of staff and counsel to the chairman of the Standing Committee on Housing, where she negotiated housing policy on behalf of the chairman.

In addition to her role as a member of the NYSTEC board of directors, she is active with other professional associations, including as a board member of the Directors Advisory Council for M&T Bank, Albany/Hudson Valley Regions, as well as memberships to the New York State Bar Association and the Albany County Bar Association.

Scott C. McCartney, CFA

Board Member

Scott C. McCartney, CFA, is a founding principal and chief investment officer of Ascent Wealth Partners LLC, an independent investment advisory firm headquartered in Utica, NY. Before establishing Ascent, Scott was employed for nine years with Strategic Financial Services Inc., where he directed the company’s investment research and management activities and led the development of investing strategies on behalf of clients.

In addition to his work on the NYSTEC board of directors, Scott is the immediate past chair of Human Technologies Corporation, serves on the Finance Committee of the Munson-Williams Proctor Arts Institute, chairs the Finance Committee of the SUNY Poly Foundation, and chairs the Audit Committee of the Holland Patent Central School District.

Maureen E. O’Brien

Board Member

Maureen E. O’Brien is the first female president and CEO of the NYS Industries for the Disabled (NYSID). She manages more than 1,000 state and municipal contracts on behalf of 100 disability service provider member agencies. More than 5,000 individuals with disabilities are gainfully employed each year through the program. Maureen combines her private sector experience and her desire to provide opportunities and advancement to individuals with disabilities to bring transformational change to the organization.

Before joining NYSID, Maureen was the director of government affairs, and then executive director, for Motorola Solutions, Inc. (MSI). She also served as the director of state operations to 20th Congressional District Representative and Homeland Security Appropriator John E. Sweeney.

Maureen has served on a host of nonprofit boards associated with her passion for providing advancement to individuals with disabilities. She is deeply involved in the NF Endurance Team–the fundraising arm of the Children’s Tumor Foundation. Since 2009, Maureen has served as an executive board member at Double H Ranch, a trustee at Maria College and Christian Brother’s Academy, and an honorary board member at the Center for Disability Services.

In 2021, Maureen was named a “Woman Who Means Business” by the Albany Business Review, and in 2022, was a finalist for the Capital Region Philanthropist of the Year. Among her many awards and recognitions, she is a recipient of the Andrew Heiskell Community Service Award, a two-time recipient of the quarterly MSI Foundation Volunteerism Award, and a three-time inductee to the MSI CEO Circle – recognition for performing in the top 10% of the company.

Maureen is a resident and native of Albany, New York. She is a graduate of the Academy of the Holy Names, University of Notre Dame (BA), and New York University (MA).