ID2015 - 3:30p - Actman - How PCI fosters innovation and entrepreneurship at Penn?

Laurie Actman serves as the COO of the Penn Center for Innovation (PCI) a new organization at the University of Pennsylvania that catalyzes creative commercialization opportunities with the private sector.  Laurie as part of the Executive Team oversees the strategic implementation of PCI’s growth including the development of strategic programs and partnerships, marketing, communications, legal affairs, intellectual property and finance.  Previously, she served as Deputy and Interim Director for the Energy Efficient Building Hub (EEB Hub) in Philadelphia, one of five Energy Innovation Hubs established by the Department of Energy under the Obama Administration. Previous to joining the EEB Hub, Laurie was the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Public Policy for Viridity Energy, a leading-edge smart grid and load management technology company where she developed projects and partnerships with cities, transit agencies and large energy. She joined Viridity in March 2010 after serving as a consultant for two years to Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, helping to launch the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability and the Metropolitan Caucus. Her work through both those efforts helped lead to the region’s success in winning a $25 million Recovery through Retrofit grant from the U.S. Department of Energy for regional commercial and residential energy efficiency and retrofit activities.

Actman has worked for several other notable economic development organizations including serving as Chief Policy Officer for the CEO Council for Growth, a leadership group coordinated by the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, the Central Philadelphia Development Corporation and Greater Philadelphia First.

She received her undergraduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis and a Masters Degree from UNC-Chapel Hill.  Actman lives in Bala Cywnyd with her husband and three children and is an elected Board Member of the Lower Merion School District.