Meet the Team

Kenneth Simons

NYFIC Director

RPI Associate Professor of Economics and Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies in Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences

“The Fashion Innovation Center works to advance natural textile products including bast fibers and wool, as well as new-technology sustainable fibers and materials, so they are manufactured in New York State from raw materials to final fashion products. The NYFIC innovates sustainable fashion technologies, accelerates sustainable fashion business innovations, engages through meetings and activities, nurtures to spread knowledge and target supply chain gaps, and markets New York State’s sustainable fashion industry. Let’s help each other to grow and advance sustainable fashion.”

  • Clyde Carpenter

    RPI

    NYFIC Laboratory Manager

  • Andrea Diodati

    FIT

    Assistant Professor, Fashion Design Department

  • Eric De Feo

    Made X Hudson

    Co-Founder, Head of Operations & Biz Dev

  • Susan Easton

    RPI

    NYFIC Product & Marketing Director

  • Sergio Guadarrama

    Made X Hudson

    Co-Founder, Head of Development & Production

  • Jennifer Gilbert Jenkins

    SUNY Morrisville

    Associate Professor of Agricultural Science, School of Agriculture, Business, and Technology

  • Abby Henderson

    Hudson Valley Textile Project

    Farm to Market Business Development Specialist

  • Shannon Maher

    FIT

    Dean of Business and Technology

  • Kathryn Malik

    FIT

    Technician, Knit Lab

  • Lilly Marsh

    Hudson Valley Textile Project

    Owner, Lilly Marsh Studios

  • Peter Ohlrich

    RPI

    NYFIC Program Manager

  • Mary Jeanne Packer

    Hudson Valley Textile Project

    Co-Founder and Treasurer

  • Yushuo Pan

    RPI

    NYFIC Economic & Industry Analyst

  • Gail Parrinello

    Hudson Valley Textile Project

    Co-Founder

    Owner, Cornwall Yarn Shop, Ltd.

  • Mimi Prober

    Hudson Valley Textile Project

    Designer, Creative Director + Founder, MIMI PROBER

  • Patty Rechberger

    FuzeHub (Participating Organization)

    Innovation Fund Manager

  • Johnson Samuel

    RPI

    Professor in Mechanical, Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering

  • Theanne Schiros

    FIT

    Associate Professor, Department of Math and Science

  • Jeffrey Silberman

    Hudson Valley Textile Project

    Board Member

  • Asta Skocir

    FIT

    Professor, Fashion Design Department

  • Daniel Walczyk

    RPI

    NYFIC Co-Director

    Professor of Mechanical Engineering

  • Helen Zha

    RPI

    NYFIC Co-Director

    Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering