Speaker Bios 

Karen Lightman became MEMS Industry Group (MIG) managing director in 2007 and promoted to Executive Director in 2013. Formerly director of special projects, Karen played a pivotal role in launching MIG in January 2001. Karen is active on the worldwide MEMS conference circuit as a keynote speaker and panelist promoting MIG’s role as the leading trade association advancing MEMS across global markets. Karen manages the operations of MIG; spearheads strategic growth; and oversees sales, public relations, marketing and outreach. Karen plays a critical role in creating the content for all MIG and MIG-partner conferences, events and programming. She is instrumental in establishing and maintaining partnerships with other international organizations to advance the MEMS industry.

Karen joined MIG from Carnegie Mellon University's Center for Economic Development where she was senior policy analyst. Prior to Carnegie Mellon, Karen was senior associate at Cleveland Tomorrow, a public-private partnership, and before that, she was a program associate with the Ford Foundation.

Karen has a BA from the University of Vermont (UVM) and a MS in Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon University. Karen is a board member and chair of the Board Development Committee of the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW), Pittsburgh and in 2012 received the NCJW National Award for Emerging Leaders. Karen is secretary for her UVM alumni class; mentor at UVM’s Honors College; and volunteers at the Environmental Charter School at Frick Park. Karen and her family reside in Pittsburgh, PA.