Lee Green, Executive Director

Lee Green serves as Executive Director at the Innovation Research Interchange, a division of the National Association of Manufacturers. With over 15 years of expertise, she specializes in addressing industry needs in innovation, sustainability, and digitalization, including AI. Lee is passionate about foresighting trends to anticipate future developments and prepare the industry for the unknown.

She holds an MA in international studies from the University of Reading (UK) and a BA in political science and international relations from the University of Toledo. Lee resides in northern VA with her husband, twins, and dog.

Besher Al Makhlouf, Director, Innovation Content

Besher Al Makhlouf serves as Director, Innovation Content at the Innovation Research Institute (IRI). In this role, he drives the creation and delivery of thought leadership for IRI, working closely with subject matter experts and industry leaders to identify emerging topics and shape high-impact content. He serves as an architect of transformative professional development, spanning conferences, workshops, learning modules, online courses, webinars, and roundtables, ensuring programming aligns with member needs and evolving industry trends. Previously, he led experiential learning and international education initiatives centered on civic engagement, social entrepreneurship, and innovation in partnership with nonprofit organizations in Washington, D.C

Besher holds a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Chicago and a bachelor’s degree in economics from the American University of Beirut. He enjoys following European soccer and is an avid FC Barcelona fan.

Meetal Desai, Manager, Innovation Content

Meetal Desai is the Manager of Innovation Content at the Innovation Research Interchange (IRI). In this role, she conducts comprehensive data and trend analysis, spearheads the development of new research content, and offers invaluable support to the Assistant Vice President of Strategic Communities. Meetal has recently authored research content around knowledge management, strategic road mapping, uses of generative AI, and how to scale new technology across different functions. Prior to joining IRI Meetal worked at Phoenix Houses of the Mid-Atlantic for 10 years as a healthcare administrator and aided clients seeking substance abuse rehabilitation through Medicaid guidance and ensuring compliance with state regulations.

Meetal holds a master’s degree in public administration from New York University, and she is also a recipient of a Health Economics Certificate from Harvard University Business School and Leadership Certification from the University of Virginia.

Erin Barden, Manager, Strategic Communities Operations

Erin Barden is the Manager of Strategic Communities Operations at the Innovation Research Interchange (IRI), where she plays a key role in driving internal process efficiencies to support member engagement and manages Board operations. She joined the Manufacturing Leadership Council (MLC), part of the National Association of Manufacturers Strategic Communities, in June 2024 as Manager of Council Operations, overseeing data management, member communications, and support for both virtual and in-person events. Prior to her work with MLC and IRI, Erin built a strong foundation in the telecom industry at Lumen Technologies (formerly CenturyLink), where she held roles in Finance, Sales Operations, and Customer Success.

A native of the DC/Maryland/Virginia area, Erin earned her Bachelor of Science in Economics and Finance from York College of Pennsylvania. Outside of work, she enjoys live music, collecting vinyl records, and reading.

Rancier Gragirene, Digital Content and Marketing Specialist

Rancier Gragirene joined the Innovation Research Interchange (IRI) in May 2024 and now serves as Digital Content and Marketing Specialist. In this role, he supports digital content distribution, email campaigns, and engagement efforts in collaboration with the Communications team. He previously served as IRI’s Thought Leadership Coordinator, managing virtual events and member resources. Before joining IRI, Rancier served five years in the U.S. Army as a Multichannel Transmission Systems Operator-Maintainer, deploying to Afghanistan and later leading Network Operations. After being honorably discharged as a Sergeant in 2023, he worked with the Department of Veterans Affairs as a Veteran Services Assistant at American University, supporting veterans and military-connected students with VA education benefits.

Rancier holds a Master’s in Public Administration with a Specialization in Policy Analysis from American University. He also apprentices at a flower shop, where he practices floral arranging, creates custom bouquets, and decorates restaurants and event spaces across the DMV area.

John Sheets, Strategic Communities Associate

John Sheets is the Strategic Communities Associate at the Innovation Research Interchange, where he provides backend and logistic support for all IRI events and virtual meetings. In this role, John oversees timelines and speaker details for events as well as assisting in member communications. He previously served in operations for various small trade associations to amplify growth and strengthen their event operations.

John holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Hamilton College. Outside of work, you can find John biking, hiking, reading, and shamelessly rooting for the Washington Wizards.

Kensie Yeates, Associate Director, Member Engagement

Kensie Yeates serves as the Associate Director for Member Engagement at the IRI, where she nurtures relationships with key innovation leaders to ensure they are connected to valuable resources and are supported in their work. Prior to her current role, Kensie worked in public policy fundraising where she fostered relationships with charitable foundations to help streamline their giving plans and match their charitable interests to giving opportunities. A native of Louisiana, Kensie graduated from Louisiana State University, where she studied political communication. 

A self-proclaimed serial hobbyist, Kensie has been known to switch interests regularly, but she’s always enjoyed cooking for her family and friends, getting outside, and trying her hand at creative writing. However, at this writing, she is mostly into playing tennis.

Clayton Warnke, Associate Director, Membership Development

Clayton Warnke serves as the Associate Director of Membership Development at the IRI, where he connects with prospective members to help them discover the value of joining IRI’s community of innovation leaders. In this role, he works closely with executives across industries to understand their priorities and demonstrate how IRI’s programs, research, and peer networks can advance their innovation goals.

Before joining IRI, Clayton built a strong background in membership development and government relations, where he supported strategic engagement initiatives and strengthened partnerships across sectors. He joined the National Association of Manufacturers in September 2023 as Manager of Member Engagement before transitioning to IRI’s membership team in July 2025. A graduate of Clemson University with a B.A. in Political Science, Clayton enjoys hiking, music, and trying new experiences—most recently, skydiving.

Sariann Reyes, Membership Coordinator

Sariann Reyes serves as the Membership Coordinator at the Innovation Research Interchange (IRI). In her role, she focuses on facilitating strong relationships with member organizations and building positive member experiences. She also assists in the development of outreach strategies and event execution. Additionally, Sariann works closely with the Manufacturing Leadership Council (MLC). 

Sariann holds a Bachelor of Arts in Government from the College of William and Mary. In her free time, she enjoys reading, trying new restaurants, and watching reality tv.  

Yat Ming Ooi, Editor-in-Chief, Research Technology Management Journal

Yat Ming Ooi serves as the Editor in Chief at Research-Technology Management and editorial review board member at Technology Innovation Management Review, where he reviews submissions to the journal, providing direct, constructive and developmental feedback to the authors. He is a lecturer of innovation management and a core member of the Circular Economy in Business Research Beacon at the University of Auckland, where he researches, teaches and consults on innovation management, technology strategy and digital transformation.

Tammy McCausland, Managing Editor, Research Technology Management Journal

Tammy McCausland serves as the managing editor of Research-Technology Management since 2019. She’s also a freelance writer and editor, specializing in the nonprofit, higher education, and healthcare sectors. She has a graduate degree in journalism from Carleton University and a bachelor’s degree in English literature from the University of Waterloo.