Shari Liss
Vice President of Global Workforce Development and Initiatives
Shari is a seasoned leader with 25+ years in workforce development and tech education. As Vice President of Global Workforce Development and Initiatives at SEMI and SEMI Foundation, she drives programs that serve over 3,500 companies worldwide. Under her leadership, SEMI has launched major national and global initiatives, secured transformative funding, and advanced efforts to attract diverse talent and strengthen the image of the microelectronics industry.
Michelle Williams
Executive Director
Michelle directs the SEMI Foundation's strategy, growth, and partnerships tied to state and federal workforce investments in the microelectronics industry. She has led the launch and expansion of major initiatives, secured significant program funding, and advanced efforts to strengthen industry awareness and grow the talent pipeline. A seasoned speaker and writer, Michelle has shared insights on workforce development and talent strategies with national and global audiences. Prior to joining the SEMI Foundation, she spent 15 years leading nonprofit organizations focused on community impact, policy, and program development at local, state, and national levels.
Siri Balijepally
Sr. Program Manager, Tech Platforms & Delivery
Siri serves as Sr. Program Manager, Tech Platforms & Delivery for the SEMI Foundation, leading the technology platforms and data systems that support the National Network for Microelectronics Education (NNME). She brings extensive experience in enterprise technology, Salesforce ecosystems, data governance, and digital transformation, helping drive innovation and operational excellence across the Foundation’s workforce development initiatives.
Omar Baza
Senior Specialist, Workforce & Training Operations
Omar supports the Foundation’s workforce and training programs through the Semiconductor Career and Apprenticeship Network (SCAN) initiative. Omar works closely with employers, partners, government agencies, and job seekers to coordinate and deliver programs that strengthen and expand the microelectronics workforce. Before joining SEMI, Omar built a strong career in higher education and workforce development. Most recently, he served as Senior Grant Administrator for the Foundation for California Community Colleges, where he managed the implementation and oversight of major state and federal grants.
Perla Debaggis
Sr. Specialist, Career & Industry Awareness Navigator
Perla supports participants in Registered Apprenticeships through the SEMI Career and Apprenticeship Network (SCAN) in Arizona and leads programs that raise awareness of semiconductor and microelectronics careers. Perla also created SEMIquest, an interactive pop-up experience designed to inspire the next generation of talent. Before joining SEMI, she served as Broadband Program Manager at the Arizona Commerce Authority, where she guided the strategy and implementation of the state’s broadband program with a strong focus on workforce development.
Dr. Jennifer Ellis
Director, National Network for Microelectronics Education
Dr. Jennifer Ellis serves as Director of the National Network for Microelectronics Education (NNME), leading a national effort to strengthen and expand pathways into microelectronics careers. She works with industry, education, and workforce partners across the country to advance workforce development strategies, support regional initiatives, and connect more learners to high-demand opportunities. Prior to joining SEMI Foundation, Dr. Ellis held leadership roles in higher education and at the National Science Foundation.
Steven Gause
Manager, Marketing & Communications
Steven brings strategic leadership to brand positioning, national campaigns, and thought leadership that advance the SEMI Foundation’s mission and impact. He collaborates across teams to amplify visibility, engage key industry audiences, and craft compelling narratives about workforce and talent development in the semiconductor industry. Before joining SEMI, Steven managed numerous workforce and economic development programs for the City of New York and the State of Tennessee, and later served as Director of Strategy & Growth at a national consulting firm.
Mariam Ghaussy
Sr. Program Manager, Events & Engagement
Mariam is an experienced event and engagement strategist with more than 15 years of expertise across nonprofit, government, and technical sectors. She specializes in designing high-profile events that connect communities, inspire action, and advance workforce development. Before joining the SEMI Foundation, Mariam served as Vice President of Events at the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation, where she managed a portfolio of domestic and international events.
Patrick Gillen
Program Manager, Workforce Development & Special Projects
Patrick manages administration, data, and contract compliance for the Semiconductor Career and Apprenticeship Network (SCAN) in Michigan, overseeing both apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs. Patrick also serves as Workforce Lead for the National Network for Microelectronics Education (NNME), supporting national strategies to strengthen and expand the microelectronics talent pipeline. Prior to SEMI, Patrick worked at TPMA, helping communities design workforce and economic development solutions.
Mike Glavin
Program Director, Workforce Development
Mike advances strategic initiatives across the U.S. and Europe to strengthen the semiconductor talent pipeline. His work focuses on scaling Registered Apprenticeships and positioning the Foundation as a key partner to companies seeking to attract, train, and retain a highly skilled workforce. Before joining SEMI, Mike served as Vice President of Talent at the Greater Cleveland Partnership, the nation’s largest regional chamber of commerce.
Melinda Gomez
Manager of Veteran Initiatives
Melinda leads efforts to create and expand opportunities for veterans in the semiconductor and microelectronics industry, building pathways to connect their skills with meaningful careers. Melinda has more than a decade of experience advancing veteran employment. Prior to SEMI, she worked with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes initiative, supporting transitioning service members as they entered the civilian workforce. She holds a Master of Public Administration and is a Certified Career Coach.
Lauren Gutierrez-Brown
Leadership Operations Associate
Lauren supports Foundation leadership, marketing and communications, and team-wide operations, strengthening collaboration and cross-functional alignment. Lauren most recently served as General Manager of a $3M music festival in Carmel-by-the-Sea. She also contributes to Advancing Women In Tech, where she develops curriculum in partnership with Microsoft and Anthropic to help learners future-proof their careers in the age of AI.
Anissa Hamdon-Morison
Curriculum Developer and Training Manager
Anissa designs and delivers training programs that improve outcomes for employees, job seekers, and member companies. Anissa also partners with employers and training providers to analyze needs, update and create curricula, and support the Foundation’s efforts to become a certified training body. Before joining SEMI, Anissa held a project management role at ASML, focusing on new product introduction and cross-sector collaboration. She also brings extensive experience in teaching and curriculum development.
Bia Hamed, Ph.D.
Program Manager, Global Education Initiatives
With over 20 years of experience in higher education, Bia leads the execution and expansion of High Tech U across multiple regions and with diverse partners, supporting the program’s continued global growth with SEMI SEA and SEMI Europe. She works closely with stakeholders to deliver hands-on STEM experiences that inspire the next generation of talent for the semiconductor industry.
Nick Irigoyen
Project Manager, Workforce Development & Apprenticeships
Nick supports the design, promotion, and implementation of Registered Apprenticeship Programs and workforce development initiatives in Arizona through the Foundation’s SCAN program. Before joining SEMI, Nick managed Employment and Internship Programs at Year Up Arizona and led initiatives at the Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation, building partnerships between schools and industry to expand Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs, including semiconductor and engineering pathways.
Ian James-Bergland
Sr. Manager, Finance & Compliance
Ian leads financial strategy and compliance to ensure the organization’s long-term sustainability and impact. He brings nearly 15 years of experience in nonprofit finance and accounting leadership across higher education, climate, and criminal justice reform. Previously, Ian served as CFO at Eden Reforestation Projects, supported the launch of an innovative climate tech company and managed a broad portfolio of federal, state, and local grants for a California-based nonprofit.
Allison Lewis
NNME, Project Manager
Allison is responsible for driving project coordination across NNME workstreams, ensuring the timely delivery of milestones, and serving as a thought partner to the NNME National Director and team. This work is critical to our National Science Foundation-funded efforts to advance microelectronics workforce and education across the United States. Before joining SEMI, Allison spent six years managing federally funded workforce initiatives, most recently serving as Program Director at Automation Strategy & Performance.
Shan Loy
Program Director, Global Workforce Development
Based in Singapore, Shan leads strategy development and alignment for workforce initiatives across multiple SEMI regions. Shan brings extensive experience in building partnerships and designing programs that expand early- to mid-career talent pipelines, seamlessly connecting the Foundation’s three pillars of education, government, and industry members. Before joining SEMI, Shan managed workforce development programs at Kaspersky, Delivery Hero, and JP Morgan.
Berton Mahardja
Director, Global Education Initiatives
Berton leads the design, expansion, and delivery of programs that support STEM learning for students and adults, while building partnerships with member companies and educational institutions to grow the Foundation’s global impact. Before joining SEMI, Berton helped lead a school turnaround as Vice Principal, where policy violations dropped by 89%, suspensions by 70%, and attendance increased by 18%. He previously served as Director of Teacher Engagement at Teach for America.
Janine McCormick
Contract & Compliance Administrator
Janine serves as Contracts Manager for the SEMI Foundation, overseeing contracts, compliance, and grant management activities that support the Foundation’s growing portfolio of workforce development initiatives. She plays a key role in supporting the rapid expansion of the National Network for Microelectronics Education (NNME), helping ensure effective contract administration and partner engagement across the network. Prior to joining SEMI Foundation, Janine built her career in contracts, compliance, and vendor management, working with state and federal agencies, including within the federal information technology sector.
Stephanie McIntosh
Global Programs Administrative Associate
Stephanie manages finance and administration, partner engagement, cross-regional coordination, and executive support functions that keep the team aligned and positioned for global growth. Stephanie brings more than seven years of experience from Amazon Lab126, where she managed large-scale, cross-functional programs for multiple Amazon products. Her expertise spans global team coordination, scalable system design, onboarding programs, and efficiency-driven tools that strengthened operations across geographies.
Purvi Rami
Program Manager, Registered Apprenticeships
With 15 years of experience in education, workforce development, philanthropy, and healthcare, Purvi develops and supports Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs) for the microelectronics industry, working with community organizations to strengthen program design and delivery, increase awareness of apprenticeship opportunities, and support participant success. Before joining SEMI, Purvi managed the Healthcare Career Advancement Program (H-CAP), leading a statewide initiative that created a network of training partnerships.
Rob Sanger
Program Manager, Workforce & Training
Rob leads the development and scaling of Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs) for microelectronics roles, building partnerships with employers, government agencies, and service providers to expand the industry’s talent pipeline. Rob brings more than 20 years of experience in workforce development, training, and public–private partnerships. Prior to SEMI, he served as Director of Workforce Programs at the California Manufacturers & Technology Association (CMTA), where he oversaw workforce incentive partnerships.
Megan Wagner
Program Manager, NNME Regional Nodes
Megan supports the design, coordination, and growth of Regional Node activities, helping align local partnerships, education providers, and employers with NNME’s national workforce development strategy. Prior to SEMI, Megan served as Senior Director of Client Experience at TPMA, where she managed workforce development projects for clients including the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, JobsOhio, and The Manufacturing Institute.
Richard Walker
Sr. Program Manager, Industry Awareness
Richard leads strategic programming and partnerships to elevate the profile of the semiconductor industry and expand the skilled workforce talent pool. He also created Chips in Motion, the Foundation’s mobile outreach initiative designed to inspire and engage future talent. Richard previously co-founded a sports science company and spearheaded initiatives such as a PBS series showcasing innovative STEM careers. He has an extensive background in corporate law, advertising, and marketing.
Alex Winslow
Hub Manager, NNME
Alex leads national efforts to connect industry, education, and government partners to strengthen the semiconductor workforce. A seasoned relationship builder, she specializes in fostering collaboration among stakeholders to align training programs with employer needs and expand access to high-quality career pathways. Before joining SEMI, Alex led strategic engagement and business development at RIT Certified, advancing training partnerships across New York State.