Haven Allen | CEO and Co-Founder, mHUB

Haven Allen, chief executive officer and co-founder of mHUB and managing partner of the Product Impact Fund, is an entrepreneur and technology strategist who most recently concentrated on growing the manufacturing industry and strengthening its community throughout Chicagoland.

As an economic development strategist at World Business Chicago, he directed the Advisory Council for Chicagoland Manufacturing through which he established and led the implementation of an economic development agenda to support growth and job creation in the manufacturing sector. During his graduate education, Haven served as a Mayoral Fellow at the City of Chicago. As a fellow he provided research and analysis on policy initiatives dealing with infrastructure, electricity markets and community policing strategies. In order to serve the country, Haven joined the Peace Corps and served as a community economic development volunteer in Panama where he worked to strengthen the management and leadership capacities of rural cooperatives and local organizations in order to increase economic opportunities. In addition, Haven was an entrepreneur in the production and publishing industry.
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Dr. David Boulay | President, IMEC

Dave's leadership has developed from diverse settings that extend from a family-owned business, to manufacturing, universities and non-profits. These various experiences help guide IMEC's public-private partnership’s strategic direction to serve as a catalyst for small and mid-sized company competitiveness.

Dave grew up in a family-owned business where he learned first-hand about the trial, challenges, and pride that he sees in the owners and leaders of companies IMEC works with today. He recognizes their situations, understands their challenges and has the tools and knowledge to help accomplish their goals. Dave has also had the good fortune to work in various manufacturing roles from food plant sanitation to maintenance supervision to production, plant manager and business unit manager in companies such as Frito-Lay and Pillsbury. Through these experiences, Dave learned how company success is reliant on the skills and talents of its’ workforce.

His Ph.D. included a primary focus on high performance work practices in small and mid-sized companies and career pathways for workers. He brings a diverse blend of expertise in performance management, small business development, and organizational growth strategies to IMEC. Dave has helped create and implement several initiatives to increase the flow of state and federal funding to manufacturers for projects, update worker skills, and help smaller manufacturers adopt new technology and business practices and to improve energy efficiency.
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Bill Fienup, VP of Innovation Services and Co-Founder, mHUB

Bill Fienup, VP of innovation services and co-founder, is an entrepreneur focused on delivering new product innovation to clients seeking better solutions.

With experience ranges from researching fusion energy at Los Alamos National Laboratory to designing toys for Hasbro, Bill began his career as a product development consultant for IDEO and Insight Product Development. After 7 years of innovation consulting, Bill became an entrepreneur and launched several product base businesses. After experiencing several challenges launching hardware startups, Bill founded Catalyze Chicago to provide entrepreneurs with the tools, resources, mentorship, and manufacturing networks needed to successfully develop products and launch new business. Bill holds 12 patents — including 3d printing alignment, bandage dispenser, biopsy needle and a NERF Atom Blaster™ with more pending. Bill’s reputation as a thought leader extends beyond Chicago. He was named to Crain’s Chicago Business 40 Under 40 in 2018 and featured in Newcity’s Design 50: Who Shapes Chicago 2019. In addition to being a repeat visitor to the White House for topics ranging from international trade to the maker movement, Bill has appeared on national television with his inventions.

Bill has both a Master and Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
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Harry J. Haney, III

Harry J. Haney, III is a business professional with extensive experience and success in Supply Chain Operations and Strategy, Transportation/Logistics, Customer Service and Leadership in both industry and academia. He also has experience as a consultant in both corporate and not-for-profit organizations emphasizing high-impact, practical, implementable solutions with a key focus in the transportation space.

Most recently, Harry was Director of Loyola University Chicago’s Supply Chain & Sustainability Center. The Center brings the business and academic community together toward advancing the practice of global supply chain management through educational events, networking opportunities, training, and access to academic resources (students and faculty) for consulting projects and placement.

Prior to this role, Harry was with Kraft Foods for 30 years, holding increasingly responsible supply chain roles, both in field and corporate locations. He has extensive experience in Transportation management including Private and Dedicated Fleets with Kraft. Harry is very committed to the betterment of the industry having served in a number of industry association leadership roles including with the National Private Truck Council (www.nptc.org), the Coalition for Transportation Productivity, and the Madison International Trade Association (mitatrade.org)

Harry holds a bachelor’s degree in Transportation and Logistics from Ohio State University and an MBA from Eastern Illinois University.
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Dan Swinney | Founder, Manufacturing Renaissance

Dan founded Manufacturing Renaissance (MR) in 1982 in response to plant closings in the Chicago area. Prior to founding MR, Dan worked for 13 years as a machinist in the Chicago area. He organized Steelworker Local 8787 at G+W Taylor Forge in Cicero, Illinois and served as Vice President. Taylor Forge closed in 1983.

MR is a not-for-profit consulting and research organization that specializes in developing innovative and effective approaches to community development, business ownership, advanced manufacturing, and education. We believe that manufacturing is the essential foundation of a modern society. As such, the development of our manufacturing sector must be profoundly tied to social inclusion. MR’s key programs are:

• Career Services Program and Manufacturing Connect that links inner city public high school students and young adults to the regional manufacturing sector.
• Re/Cast Advisors for Manufacturing Ownership Succession is a project that seeks to assist employees as well as Black and Latino men and women purchase manufacturing companies that face an ownership succession challenge; and
• The Chicagoland Manufacturing Renaissance Council—a private/public partnership of labor, manufacturers, educators, local government, and community-based organizations that promotes Inclusion & Industry 4.0 in policy and program.

Dan went to the University of Wisconsin, graduating with a B.A. in history in 1967. He writes and speaks regularly for associations, universities and colleges, community development networks, unions, and others interested in promoting advanced manufacturing and its intersection with public interests.
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