This Engine Development Project is being led by Thomas Trite, Founder and CEO of Vytal Plant Science Research (VPSR), a non-profit biotechnology corporation dedicated to driving innovation and economic growth in agriculture and plant-derived bio-manufacturing industries in Pennsylvania. VSPR is excited to work with a broad coalition of cross-sector hemp industry stakeholders to develop a sustainable and collaborative ecosystem that serves all regions of Pennsylvania. From farming and agricultural technologies, research and manufacturing, innovation leadership and workforce development, community development and policy advocacy, and a fully integrated mission of diversity and inclusion, the Engine project will connect established and emerging regional stakeholders to address today’s challenges and build opportunities for a new generation of hemp agriculture and hemp innovation in Pennsylvania.
Project Director and Principal Investigator
President and Founder of Vytal Plant Science Research
Institutional Principal Investigator
Professor of Biology, School of Science, Engineering, and Technology at Penn State Harrisburg and Program Chair, Biology & Science
Co-Principal Investigator Bernard and Henrietta Hankin Chair in Residential Building Construction and Director, Pennsylvania Housing Research Center, Penn State University
CEO of Hemp-Alternative and Co-Chair of the Pennsylvania Agriculture Hemp Steering Committee
Regional Manager, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeast PA
Associate Professor of Communications and Humanities, School of Humanities, Penn State Harrisburg
Vice President of Program Development, DON Processing and Secretary, Pennsylvania Hemp Industry Council
Vice President of Academic Affairs, Luzerne County Community College
Adedoyin Adeyiga, PhD
Professor & Chair of the Department of Natural and Applied Sciences, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
Alexander Avramov, PhD, Co-Principal Investigator
Emory University, Department of Environmental Sciences
Jeffrey Catchmark, PhD, Co-Principal Investigator
Penn State University, Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Steven Chemly, PhD, Co-Principal Investigator
Penn State University, Assistant Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Alyssa Collins, PhD, Co-Principal Investigator
Penn State University, Associate Research Professor and Director, Southeast PA Agricultural Research & Extension Center
Yosara Gonzalez
Downtown Hazleton Alliance for Progress, Executive Director
Robert Hughes
Eastern PA Coalition for Abandoned Mineland Reclamation, Executive Director
Ron Kander, PhD
Thomas Jefferson University, Associate Provost for Applied Research and PA Hemp Steering Committee Co-Chair
Kelly Kundratic
Team Pennsylvania Foundation, Director of Agriculture Policy & Programs
Rodrick Lee, PhD
Associate Professor of Information Systems, School of Business Administration, Penn State Harrisburg
Jude Liu, PhD, Co-Principal Investigator
Penn State University, Associate Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Erica McBride-Stark
National Hemp Association and the Pennsylvania Hemp Industry Council, Executive Director
Cameron McIntosh
Americhanvre Cast Hemp, Founder and President
Shobha D. Rudrabhatla, PhD, Co-Principal Investigator
Assistant Professor of Biology, Continuing Education and School of Science,
Engineering and Technology, Penn State Harrisburg
Eri Saikawa, PhD, Co-Principal Investigator
Associate Professor and Winship Distinguished Research Professor of Environmental Sciences, Emory University, and Director, Emory Climate Talks
Krista Schneider
Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program at Penn State, Northeast Regional Advisor
Soheil Shahrooz
Sivana Converting, LLC Founder and CEO
Maria Spencer, PhD
Entrepreneur in Residence, Penn State College of Agriculture
Fred Strathmeyer
PA Department of Agriculture, Deputy Secretary
Alex van Hoekelen
van Hoekelen Greenhouses, Director of Operations
Dr. Elizabeth Wright
Chancellor, Penn State Hazleton
The Engine Development Project is actively seeking advisory team members that will participate in the planning effort. Anyone interested in being involved should reach out via the contact form.