New Leadership Joins Berthiaume Center for Entrepreneurship

Interim Dean Tom Moliterno announced two new directors for the Berthiaume Center for Entrepreneurship on September 4. Gregory S. Thomas (left), a proven leader with diverse experience in corporate America, has been named the center’s new executive director. Stephen Brand (right), who has taught entrepreneurship at colleges and universities across the country, will serve as the new associate director.

For the past 20 years, Thomas has held various senior level global manufacturing, finance and control roles with Corning Incorporated. During the last five years at Corning, he was a strategist in the Emerging Innovation Group focused on bringing new products, processes, and businesses to market.  He has also served as the president of the UMass Amherst Alumni Association Board. He will begin his new duties Oct. 1.

Thomas, whose experience includes work as a consultant to non-profit organizations, is a prolific volunteer and an accomplished fundraiser. A 1991 alumnus of UMass Amherst, Thomas earned an MBA in finance and operations management at Clark Atlanta University.

In his new role as executive director, Thomas will have overall responsibility for the Berthiaume Center, and will work with external constituents on campus and throughout the region to develop and execute value-adding partnerships in service of the center’s mission. 

Brand comes well-prepared for this “student-facing” role, having taught entrepreneurship and worked closely with student entrepreneurs at Babson College, Case Western Reserve University, Olin College of Engineering and others. At Babson, he was co-director of the Summer Venture Program and collaborated with emerging entrepreneurs in Kuwait, Egypt and Saudia Arabia. Most recently, he was executive director of Global Learning and Development at Bay Path University. Brand holds a BA from Ohio State University, a master’s in interactive technology in education from Harvard University and a doctorate of management degree from Case Western Reserve University.

“We are so excited to have Gregory and Stephen joining the Berthiaume Center for Entrepreneurship,” said Tom Moliterno, interim dean of the Isenberg School of Management. “With a fantastic new team in place the Berthiaume Center will continue to move forward well into the new academic year. While welcoming Gregory and Stephen, I would also like to thank the previous leaders, Bill Wooldridge and Birton Cowden, for their work to establish and grow the center since its founding in 2014.”

Thomas and Brand will join Carly Forcade (operations and student engagement specialist), Amy LeClair (office manager), and Molly O’Mara (communications, events, and constituent relations coordinator), all of whom have joined the center over the past year. Bruce Skaggs (management department chair) serves the Center as its academic coordinator, ensuring alignment of curricular offerings in entrepreneurship across the school and center.

The Berthiaume Center is the entrepreneurial hub for UMass Amherst with strong connections around the Pioneer Valley.