Kathleen Needham
Chief
(216) 433-3484
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Kathy manages the Technology and Transfer and Partnerships Office at the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC), and serves as the GRC lead for the NASA Innovative Partnerships Program (IPP). Over the past decade she has held several positions within the office focusing on intellectual property management, partnership development and commercialization.  Prior to this position she supported the NASA Small Business Innovation Research Program at NASA Headquarters.  Kathy is committed to breaking down the barriers between business and government through translation of government rules and regulations to understandable language, establishing business-like processes, and responsive communications.  A recipient of the NASA Medal for Exceptional Service, Kathy holds a Bachelors degree in Marketing and Quantitative Business Analysis from Cleveland State University.

Dean W. Bitler
SBIR/STTR Technical Support
(216) 433-2226
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Dean is SBIR/STTR Technical Support for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Office.  Dean is an experienced engineer having spent 43 years working for Lewis Research Center and Glenn Research Center. He began his career in Space Technology Development and then spent 22 years in launch vehicles as a Flight Control Systems Engineer and as a Vehicle Project Engineer. Subsequent to launch vehicles he worked as a Systems Integration Engineer in the Space Station Program managing Rocketdynes’s integration contract with GRC.  He finished out his NASA career in the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Office where he was the STTR Manager for NASA GRC.  Dean holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Ohio Northern University.

Steven Fedor
Agreements Manager
(216) 433-2144
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Steven is the lead Agreements Manager who is responsible for drafting and negotiating Space Act Agreements and Interagency Agreements on behalf of NASA Glenn.  He is also the NASA Glenn Center Export Administrator and is responsible for assuring that NASA Glenn fully complies with all applicable U.S. export control laws and regulations.  Steven is a graduate of John Carroll University with a B.A. and M.A. in History.  He is also a graduate of Cleveland State University with a J.D. in Law.

Jason Hanna
Software Release Specialist
(216) 433-6731
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Jason serves as the Software Release Specialist for NASA GRC.  Jason’s areas of expertise includes analysis, design, security and implementation of Information Technology. He holds a bachelor of Business and Information Systems Degree from Cleveland State University.

Amy B. Hiltabidel
Technology Transfer Specialist
(216) 433-8063
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Amy serves as the Technology Transfer Specialist responsible for partnership development for both technology infusion into and spin-out of NASA. She has 8 years experience assisting government and industrial technology transfer to companies of all sizes in a variety of industries.  This involves an intimate understanding of both parties’ needs and cultivating these new relationships.  Amy’s areas of expertise include technology and intellectual property assessment, technical writing, business analysis, and database management.  Amy holds a bachelor of science in polymer engineering from Case Western Reserve University.

Joe King
Licensing Specialist
(216) 433-3516
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Joe is a Licensing Specialist with 35 years of experience in technology development, assessment and commercialization, international marketing, and business management in a variety of industries. Prior to joining the TTPO, Joe worked with high tech startup companies as the Technology Director of the Lewis Incubator for Technology and continues to work with entrepreneurs in his current position. Joe received his Bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University and a Masters in Business Administration degree from Baldwin Wallace College. He is a member of the Ohio Venture Association and a Visiting Committee member for the School of Engineering at Cleveland State University.

Robert A. Kistemaker
Agreements Manager
(216) 433-2775
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Bob is an Agreements Manager who is responsible for drafting and negotiating Space Act Agreements and Interagency Agreements on behalf of NASA Glenn.  He also acts as the Center License Administrator for effecting patent licenses on behalf of GRC inventors. Bob holds Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor degrees from Cleveland State University, as well as a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Colorado.  In addition, Bob is a graduate of the US Dept. of Agriculture’s Executive Leadership Program for Mid-Career Employees.

Bill Saettel
Outreach Liaison Specialist

After 35 years of government service, Bill retired on from NASA on September 3. All inquiries should be directed to either or .

Laurie Stauber
Technology Commercialization Lead
(216) 433-2820
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Laurie is the Technology Commercialization Lead in the Technology Transfer & Partnership Office and has a diverse business background in procurement and technology transfer.  She has served as contracting officer for the Space Station Freedom Program and has led key selection and negotiation efforts and process improvement teams in the Procurement Division.  More recently, Laurie has led efforts in R&D 100 and Space Act Awards as the Center’s Award Liaison Officer. She was a recipient of the NASA Exceptional Service medal in 2008 and has also authored and published numerous articles highlighting technology transfer accomplishments and successes originating at the Center.  Laurie has been a team lead for business forums highlighting Glenn’s technologies in order to attract new partnerships and is Glenn’s representative to the Federal Laboratory Consortium and Cleveland Engineering Society. Laurie has a Bachelor’s Degree from Baldwin-Wallace College and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Central Michigan University.

Gynelle Steele
SBIR/STTR Program Manager
(216) 433-8258
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Gynelle is the Program Manager for the NASA Glenn Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Program. She is responsible for the planning and implementation of the program through coordination with NASA Headquarters, the Level 2 Program Management Office and the Mission Directorates.  She oversees the development of the solicitation, evaluation and ranking processes for the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, along with assuring Center coordination in core technical areas under all the mission directorates.  In addition, as a part of the Agency’s efforts to increase the potential of infusing SBIR-funded technologies into the mission programs, she has designed NASA’s first opportunity to provide direct assistance to SBIR companies through an Infusion Assistance Program under an Interagency agreement with the Navy.  Gynelle has received numerous service and performance awards along with the distinguished honor of receiving the NASA Medal for Exceptional Service and a participant in the Women’s Executive Leadership Program.  She has a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Ohio University and a M.B.A. from Cleveland State University.