Block & Tackle Speakers

Dr. Dawsey received his PhD in polymer chemistry from the University of Southern Mississippi and has more than 40 years industrial experience in polymers and plastics, from research in new materials, to development of processing advancements, and identification of emerging business opportunities. 

After serving as dean of the College of Technology at Pittsburg State University, he assumed his role as PSU’s Executive Director for the Advancement of Science and Technology. As part of this position, he leads efforts at the National Institute for Materials Advancement (NIMA).  

Under Dr. Dawsey’s leadership, NIMA is partnering with materials producers, manufacturers, and leading research institutes to provide solutions to challenges in current materials usages, as well as discovering new opportunities where materials may provide relief to daily obstacles in manufacturing growth.

Tim Fowler is a key asset to USSTRATCOM for discovering and delivering superior warfighting capabilities by providing comprehensive scientific and technical research and analysis, helping researchers, engineers, scientists, warfighters, and program managers solve the most challenging technical problems. The Defense Information Technology Center, DoD IACs provide technology discovery capabilities and an efficient mechanism to acquire affordable, improved defense capabilities that mitigate adversarial threats. The DoD IACs serve the Warfighter by bringing the “think tank” to the Battlespace, and build communities of interest in areas of critical importance to the DoD, including defensive systems, cyber operations, weapon systems, homeland defense and resilient energy. He also directly supports USSPACECOM and NORAD-NORTHCOM.

Prior to his current position, Mr. Fowler served 24 years in the US Navy both active and reserve in a variety of staff and command positions in both the continental U.S. and overseas. Tours included starting out his career in Surface Warfare, with follow on tours in Tactical Communications,Combat Engineer's, and Technology programs at the Office of Naval Research. While in ONR he worked in ONR Global "TechSolutions" and Code O3T Transitions. He retired in 2011 as a Commander at United States Strategic Command. His career spans from the Cold War to Deploying to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Mr. Fowler also has a strong and diverse business background to include working in the Insurance, Energy, and Defense sectors. While in the Defense sector he was a Project Manager for SBIR/ STTR's, USSTRATCOM OSD R&E representative working and managing Emerging Technology programs such as the Joint Capabilities Demonstration Program. (JCTD) He served on the White House Covid 19 Task Force identifying Technologies and companies to rapidly manufacture products to save lives world wide during the pandemic. He is a five term State of Nebraska Elected Official, as a Director on the Papio Missouri Natural Resources Board. It has an overall operating budget of 120 Million dollars dealing with flood control and soil/water conservation.​

Trish Brasted, entrepreneur, and ecosystem builder serves as the leader of Entrepreneurial Growth Ventures (EGV), a newly created business unit of NetWork Kansas. EGV was created with the acquisition of Wichita Technology Corporation, and Wichita Technology Ventures, (WTV), where Trish served as CEO for the past 25 years. EGV’s mission involves building and enhancing the network of resources to increase the capacity and support for innovative, high growth entrepreneurs in Kansas. EGV collaborates across the state with community leaders, economic development organizations, universities, government entities and other entrepreneur support organizations to provide the entrepreneurs of Kansas valuable access to education, mentorship and capital. The EGV team is also responsible for managing the $27M dollar GROWKS Equity Programs. Trish has a long history in finance and entrepreneurship and understands the risks entrepreneurs face, the courage it takes to start a new venture and the process of growing a successful organization. Under her leadership, her team has assisted hundreds of entrepreneurs, and invested seed capital dollars in over 100 technology companies in Kansas. Trish is a CPA, earned her bachelor’s degree from Wichita State University, and her master’s from Baker University. She is a frequent speaker on accessing venture capital and angel investing and serves on the boards of several private technology companies.

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Email: tbrasted@networkkansas.com
Phone: (877) 521-8600
Twitter: @TrishBrasted

Thomas is a Venture Investment Manager for Entrepreneurial Growth Ventures (EGV), a business unit of NetWork Kansas that supports innovative high-growth entrepreneurs.  EGV works with other entrepreneurial support partners to provide connections and access to business building resources and capital.  EGV manages the GROWKS Equity programs which is deploying $27MM through three capital programs working with angel investors and venture capital groups to fund scalable, high-growth companies in Kansas. Thomas’s duties include portfolio management, due diligence, and collaboration efforts across the state to build upon the growing ecosystem to help drive success for Kansas companies. Thomas graduated from Wichita State University with a BA in Finance and Management Information Systems.

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Email: tpapadatos@networkkansas.com

Phone: (316) 425-6033

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tpapadatos

Bio Coming Soon!​

Bio Coming Soon!​