Speakers :
Dr. Mel Ustad
Director of Commercialization
South Dakota Governor's Office of Economic Development
Dr. Melvin Ustad, Director of the South Dakota Office of Commercialization, has extensive experience leading collaborative interdisciplinary public private research and economic development projects. Dr. Ustad also served as Acting and Interim Vice President for Research at the University of South Dakota, Director of the South Dakota SBIR Center, and worked for US Senator Larry Pressler. He has served or currently serves on the Board of Directors of numerous national and state technology entrepreneurship organizations. Dr. Ustad has been an active researcher serving as principal investigator on numerous research and outreach projects supported by various federal agencies and private foundations.