LINK: Center for Advancing Partnerships

Program Manager for Executive Engagement//Matt Burton has nearly 20 years of experience in technical and administrative positions focused on research operations. In his current role, he provides high-level administrative support to the vice president for innovation and partnerships and other core team members while delivering business solutions to achieve outcomes based on executive leadership goals.<br/> Matt brings a unique background spanning a career based in maritime and aviation research operations with a transition to high-level business operations management. From technical operations in remote austere locations to the executive-level office environment, he believes that establishing and maintaining genuine mutually beneficial relationships is the key to individual and organizational success. <br/>When not at the office, Matt enjoys canoeing the New River and camping. He has a B.S. in physics from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and an MBA from the Virginia Tech Pamplin College of Business. He also holds an FAA commercial pilot certificate. //burtonm@vt.edu

Associate Director of Business Development, LINK//With a focus on developing mutually beneficial partnerships, Karin Clark builds strategic relations with companies to support teaching, research, and service at Virginia Tech. She often describes herself as a connector. As an associate director of business development for LINK, Karin helps companies of all sizes navigate and connect across the campus to various university assets, such as talent and technologies. Prior to serving Virginia Tech, Karin worked in industry, where she led marketing and communications efforts for a variety of technology companies.<br/> Karin is not a Hokie by degree but loves the university and region, having lived and worked in the area for over 35 years. She holds a B.S. in business administration from Radford University.//karinclark@vt.edu//(540) 231-0966

Associate Director of Business Development, College of Engineering, LINK//John Ralston brings over 10 years of experience to his role as an associate director of business development with LINK embedded in the College of Engineering. In this position, he supports industry partnerships and engagement as they relate to key strategic activities at the university. John helps Virginia Tech by drawing from his wide range of experience to forge dynamic partnerships between universities and industry. <br/>Prior to working at Virginia Tech, John held the position of director of corporate relations at University of Virginia Engineering and served as the director of university partnership initiatives at a strategic marketing firm that focused on naming rights. He earned his B.S. in sports and recreation management from James Madison University.//jfr3f@vt.edu

Associate Director of Business Development, College of Science, LINK//Sarah Smiley serves as an associate director of business development for LINK and is embedded in the College of Science. Her role fuels her passion for supporting cutting-edge research, expanding talent pipelines, and elevating the role of science in solving global challenges.<br/>Throughout her career, she has successfully advanced external engagement strategies across diverse sectors, including agriculture innovation, medical technology, pharmaceuticals, trade policy, and higher education. Sarah holds an MBA in international business from the University of Exeter, U.K., and a B.A. in economics and business administration from Mary Baldwin University.//sarahsmiley@vt.edu

Associate Director of Business Development, Pamplin College of Business, LINK//Jake Lawrence serves as an associate director of business development for LINK, and is embedded in the Pamplin College of Business. In his role, Jake builds strategic partnerships that benefit the university and its partner companies. A veteran relationship-builder, he loves meeting new people and finding ways to make meaningful connections.<br/>Virginia Tech has become a huge part of Jake’s life, and he sees his position with LINK as his way to give back to a university that’s given him and his family so much. Jake and his wife, Kacy, are raising two young daughters who are hopefully future Hokies. He fills his free time with playing sports, working in his garden, and moonlighting with the ACC Network as a broadcast analyst for Hokie Volleyball home matches. <br/>Jake earned a B.A. in political science from Xavier University.//jakel84@vt.edu

Donor Stewardship Officer, LINK //Briana Blanchard serves as a donor stewardship officer for Virginia Tech in the Washington, D.C., area. She works to maintain and enhance the university’s relationships with major donor partners, including Boeing and Northrop Grumman, through programming, acknowledgments, and communications.<br/>Briana brings a decade of experience in project management and program development, with an emphasis on building strong partnerships. She most recently held positions in Virginia Tech’s Continuing and Professional Education department as a program manager in Arlington and a program coordinator in Blacksburg. She is a two-time Virginia Tech graduate, holding a Bachelor of Arts in communication and art history and a Master of Arts in material culture and public humanities.//bnblanch@vt.edu//(703) 216-1789

Associate Director of Business Development, Greater Washington, D.C., metro area, LINK//Megan Wallace engages with organizations to discover partnership opportunities with Virginia Tech’s new academic building in Alexandria and other university strategic initiatives in the Washington, D.C., metro area. Her proximity to the more than 60,000 alumni and friends of the university as well as Academic Building One allows her to extend the reach of the team in meaningful ways.<br/>Megan earned an M.A. in education and human development with a concentration in student affairs from the George Washington University and a B.S. in business administration, computer information systems, from James Madison University. When she is not meeting with organizations or attending industry events, she is racking up the rides on her Peloton and spending time with her husband and son.//meganwallace@vt.edu//(571) 858-3253

Associate Director of Business Development, VTTI, LINK//Carl Mitchell is an associate director of business development with LINK, embedded in the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, the nation’s second-largest university-affiliated transportation research institute. In this role, he raises awareness of VTTI’s capabilities and strengths while fostering industry and private partnerships with the institute to support its mission of human and economic growth. <br/>Carl seeks to increase the collective impact of transportation industry partners and committed individuals on the future of mobility and safety through greater awareness, deeper engagement, and strategic investments. He resides in Radford, Virginia, and is the proud father of three daughters and three sons. A triple Hokie, Carl holds a Virginia Tech B.S. in animal science, B.S. in agriculture education, and M.S. in horticulture.//cmitchell@vtti.vt.edu//(540) 231-9920