Julie Lenzer

Currently the Chief Innovation Officer for the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute (ARMI), a DOD-funded Manufacturing USA Institute, Ms. Lenzer was recruited to unleash innovation and lead the translation of research in cell, tissue, and organ bio-fabrication into impact.

Prior to ARMI, Ms. Lenzer was Chief Innovation Officer at the University of Maryland (UMD). There, she launched cluster-based initiatives in technologies such as immersive media and quantum, and oversaw UMD’s technology transfer and commercialization activities, the state-wide Small Business Development Center, the regional Veteran’s Business Outreach Center, and various other programs that served to expand and connect UMD’s innovation ecosystem.

Prior to UMD, Ms. Lenzer led the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, part of the Economic Development Administration (EDA) and served as Special Advisor to Secretary Penny Pritzker on innovation policy. Over her 2 ½ year appointment, she and her team built a national grant program that invested $40M into communities across the Umited States, resulting in nearly $1.6 billion in additional private investment, assisting thousands of high-tech entrepreneurial companies receive technical assistance, and creating over 14,000 jobs. The program has continued to receive increased appropriations since first funding under Julie’s leadership to over $100 million cumulative funding fueling innovative economic development across the country.

Based on proven results in driving innovation, Ms. Lenzer was asked to lead the U.S. innovation task force at the G20 in China. There, she drove consensus around sensitive topics such as intellectual property and open science policies.

Ms. Lenzer was appointed by the governor of Maryland to advise the Secretary of Commerce on policies and programs to spur business growth and was invited to be an inaugural member of the board of the Center for American Entrepreneurship.

She has served on the Board of Directors of the Girls Scouts of Central Maryland since 2013 and was elected to the Executive Committee as Treasurer in 2019. Ms. Lenzer holds a B.S. in computer science from Texas A&M, a Certificate in Machine Learning from Stanford, and her Masters in Machine Learning from UMD.