Vice President of Global Workforce Development and Initiatives

Shari Liss leads global workforce development and strategic initiatives for SEMI and the SEMI Foundation. With more than 25 years of experience in workforce development and technology education, she oversees initiatives supporting the semiconductor ecosystem and SEMI’s global network of 3,500+ member companies.

Under her leadership, SEMI has launched major national and international workforce initiatives, secured transformative funding, and strengthened efforts to expand talent pathways and elevate awareness of careers in microelectronics.

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Executive Director

Michelle Williams leads strategy, partnerships, and workforce initiatives for the SEMI Foundation, with a focus on advancing semiconductor workforce development through state and federal investments.

She has helped launch and scale major initiatives focused on workforce readiness, industry awareness, and talent pipeline development while securing significant funding to support long-term growth and impact.

Before joining the SEMI Foundation, Michelle spent 15 years leading nonprofit organizations focused on community impact, public policy, and program development at the local, state, and national levels. She is also a frequent speaker on workforce development and talent strategy.

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Sr. Program Manager, Tech Platforms & Delivery

Siri serves as Sr. Program Manager, Tech Platforms & Delivery for the SEMI Foundation, leading the technology platforms and data systems that support the National Network for Microelectronics Education (NNME). She brings extensive experience in enterprise technology, Salesforce ecosystems, data governance, and digital transformation, helping drive innovation and operational excellence across the Foundation’s workforce development initiatives.

Senior Specialist, Workforce & Training Operations

Siri serves as Sr. Program Manager, Tech Platforms & Delivery for the SEMI Foundation, leading the technology platforms and data systems that support the National Network for Microelectronics Education (NNME). She brings extensive experience in enterprise technology, Salesforce ecosystems, data governance, and digital transformation, helping drive innovation and operational excellence across the Foundation’s workforce development initiatives.

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Sr. Specialist, Career & Industry Awareness Navigator

Perla supports participants in Registered Apprenticeships through the SEMI Career and Apprenticeship Network (SCAN) in Arizona and leads programs that raise awareness of semiconductor and microelectronics careers. Perla also created SEMIquest, an interactive pop-up experience designed to inspire the next generation of talent. Before joining SEMI, she served as Broadband Program Manager at the Arizona Commerce Authority, where she guided the strategy and implementation of the state’s broadband program with a strong focus on workforce development.

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Director, National Network for Microelectronics Education

Perla supports participants in Registered Apprenticeships through the SEMI Career and Apprenticeship Network (SCAN) in Arizona and leads programs that raise awareness of semiconductor and microelectronics careers. Perla also created SEMIquest, an interactive pop-up experience designed to inspire the next generation of talent. Before joining SEMI, she served as Broadband Program Manager at the Arizona Commerce Authority, where she guided the strategy and implementation of the state’s broadband program with a strong focus on workforce development.

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Manager, Marketing & Communications 

Steven brings strategic leadership to brand positioning, national campaigns, and thought leadership that advance the SEMI Foundation’s mission and impact. He collaborates across teams to amplify visibility, engage key industry audiences, and craft compelling narratives about workforce and talent development in the semiconductor industry. Before joining SEMI, Steven managed numerous workforce and economic development programs for the City of New York and the State of Tennessee, and later served as Director of Strategy & Growth at a national consulting firm.

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Sr. Program Manager, Events & Engagement

Mariam is an experienced event and engagement strategist with more than 15 years of expertise across nonprofit, government, and technical sectors. She specializes in designing high-profile events that connect communities, inspire action, and advance workforce development. Before joining the SEMI Foundation, Mariam served as Vice President of Events at the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation, where she managed a portfolio of domestic and international events. 

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Program Manager, Workforce Development & Special Projects

Patrick manages administration, data, and contract compliance for the Semiconductor Career and Apprenticeship Network (SCAN) in Michigan, overseeing both apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs. Patrick also serves as Workforce Lead for the National Network for Microelectronics Education (NNME), supporting national strategies to strengthen and expand the microelectronics talent pipeline. Prior to SEMI, Patrick worked at TPMA, helping communities design workforce and economic development solutions.

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Program Director, Workforce Development

Mike advances strategic initiatives across the U.S. and Europe to strengthen the semiconductor talent pipeline. His work focuses on scaling Registered Apprenticeships and positioning the Foundation as a key partner to companies seeking to attract, train, and retain a highly skilled workforce. Before joining SEMI, Mike served as Vice President of Talent at the Greater Cleveland Partnership, the nation’s largest regional chamber of commerce.

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Manager of Veteran Initiatives

Melinda leads efforts to create and expand opportunities for veterans in the semiconductor and microelectronics industry, building pathways to connect their skills with meaningful careers. Melinda has more than a decade of experience advancing veteran employment. Prior to SEMI, she worked with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes initiative, supporting transitioning service members as they entered the civilian workforce. She holds a Master of Public Administration and is a Certified Career Coach.

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Leadership Operations Associate

Lauren supports Foundation leadership, marketing and communications, and team-wide operations, strengthening collaboration and cross-functional alignment. Lauren most recently served as General Manager of a $3M music festival in Carmel-by-the-Sea. She also contributes to Advancing Women In Tech, where she develops curriculum in partnership with Microsoft and Anthropic to help learners future-proof their careers in the age of AI.

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Curriculum Developer and Training Manager

Anissa designs and delivers training programs that improve outcomes for employees, job seekers, and member companies. Anissa also partners with employers and training providers to analyze needs, update and create curricula, and support the Foundation’s efforts to become a certified training body. Before joining SEMI, Anissa held a project management role at ASML, focusing on new product introduction and cross-sector collaboration. She also brings extensive experience in teaching and curriculum development.

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Program Manager, Global Education Initiatives

Mike advances strategic initiatives across the U.S. and Europe to strengthen the semiconductor talent pipeline. His work focuses on scaling Registered Apprenticeships and positioning the Foundation as a key partner to companies seeking to attract, train, and retain a highly skilled workforce. Before joining SEMI, Mike served as Vice President of Talent at the Greater Cleveland Partnership, the nation’s largest regional chamber of commerce.

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Project Manager, Workforce Development & Apprenticeships

Nick supports the design, promotion, and implementation of Registered Apprenticeship Programs and workforce development initiatives in Arizona through the Foundation’s SCAN program. Before joining SEMI, Nick managed Employment and Internship Programs at Year Up Arizona and led initiatives at the Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation, building partnerships between schools and industry to expand Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs, including semiconductor and engineering pathways.

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Sr. Manager, Finance & Compliance

Ian leads financial strategy and compliance to ensure the organization’s long-term sustainability and impact. He brings nearly 15 years of experience in nonprofit finance and accounting leadership across higher education, climate, and criminal justice reform. Previously, Ian served as CFO at Eden Reforestation Projects, supported the launch of an innovative climate tech company and managed a broad portfolio of federal, state, and local grants for a California-based nonprofit. 

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NNME, Project Manager

Allison is responsible for driving project coordination across NNME workstreams, ensuring the timely delivery of milestones, and serving as a thought partner to the NNME National Director and team. This work is critical to our National Science Foundation-funded efforts to advance microelectronics workforce and education across the United States. Before joining SEMI, Allison spent six years managing federally funded workforce initiatives, most recently serving as Program Director at Automation Strategy & Performance.

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Program Director, Global Workforce Development

Based in Singapore, Shan leads strategy development and alignment for workforce initiatives across multiple SEMI regions. Shan brings extensive experience in building partnerships and designing programs that expand early- to mid-career talent pipelines, seamlessly connecting the Foundation’s three pillars of education, government, and industry members. Before joining SEMI, Shan managed workforce development programs at Kaspersky, Delivery Hero, and JP Morgan.

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Director, Global Education Initiatives

Berton leads the design, expansion, and delivery of programs that support STEM learning for students and adults, while building partnerships with member companies and educational institutions to grow the Foundation’s global impact. Before joining SEMI, Berton helped lead a school turnaround as Vice Principal, where policy violations dropped by 89%, suspensions by 70%, and attendance increased by 18%. He previously served as Director of Teacher Engagement at Teach for America.

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Contract & Compliance Administrator

Janine serves as Contracts Manager for the SEMI Foundation, overseeing contracts, compliance, and grant management activities that support the Foundation’s growing portfolio of workforce development initiatives. She plays a key role in supporting the rapid expansion of the National Network for Microelectronics Education (NNME), helping ensure effective contract administration and partner engagement across the network. Prior to joining SEMI Foundation, Janine built her career in contracts, compliance, and vendor management, working with state and federal agencies, including within the federal information technology sector.

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Global Programs Administrative Associate

Stephanie manages finance and administration, partner engagement, cross-regional coordination, and executive support functions that keep the team aligned and positioned for global growth. Stephanie brings more than seven years of experience from Amazon Lab126, where she managed large-scale, cross-functional programs for multiple Amazon products. Her expertise spans global team coordination, scalable system design, onboarding programs, and efficiency-driven tools that strengthened operations across geographies.

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Program Manager, Registered Apprenticeships

With 15 years of experience in education, workforce development, philanthropy, and healthcare, Purvi develops and supports Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs) for the microelectronics industry, working with community organizations to strengthen program design and delivery, increase awareness of apprenticeship opportunities, and support participant success. Before joining SEMI, Purvi managed the Healthcare Career Advancement Program (H-CAP), leading a statewide initiative that created a network of training partnerships. 

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Program Manager, Workforce & Training

Rob leads the development and scaling of Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs) for microelectronics roles, building partnerships with employers, government agencies, and service providers to expand the industry’s talent pipeline. Rob brings more than 20 years of experience in workforce development, training, and public–private partnerships. Prior to SEMI, he served as Director of Workforce Programs at the California Manufacturers & Technology Association (CMTA), where he oversaw workforce incentive partnerships.

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Program Manager, NNME Regional Nodes

Megan supports the design, coordination, and growth of Regional Node activities, helping align local partnerships, education providers, and employers with NNME’s national workforce development strategy. Prior to SEMI, Megan served as Senior Director of Client Experience at TPMA, where she managed workforce development projects for clients including the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, JobsOhio, and The Manufacturing Institute.

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Sr. Program Manager, Industry Awareness

Richard leads strategic programming and partnerships to elevate the profile of the semiconductor industry and expand the skilled workforce talent pool. He also created Chips in Motion, the Foundation’s mobile outreach initiative designed to inspire and engage future talent. Richard previously co-founded a sports science company and spearheaded initiatives such as a PBS series showcasing innovative STEM careers. He has an extensive background in corporate law, advertising, and marketing. 

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Hub Manager, NNME

Alex leads national efforts to connect industry, education, and government partners to strengthen the semiconductor workforce. A seasoned relationship builder, she specializes in fostering collaboration among stakeholders to align training programs with employer needs and expand access to high-quality career pathways. Before joining SEMI, Alex led strategic engagement and business development at RIT Certified, advancing training partnerships across New York State.

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