Board of Directors
Mark D. Dibner, Ph.D., MBA, Founder and Board Chairman, brings to the Kramden Institute a strong background in management of technology, education, non-profit management, and entrepreneurship. In June 2003, he and his son Ned began the Kramden pilot project in their basement. He was founder and President of two companies, BioAbility, LLC (1994 to present) and Strategic Outcomes Services, Inc. (1998, until its sale in 2001). He served as a Fellow of the Wharton School from 1986 through 1988, and from 1986 through 1998 was an adjunct associate professor on the faculty of Duke University's Fuqua School of Business, where he taught 1-2 courses each year in entrepreneurship and management of technology. His not-for-profit organization experience includes serving as a Vice President of the 501(c)(3) North Carolina Biotechnology Center from 1986 to 1994. Mark combines backgrounds in science and business; academia and industry. He holds a Ph.D. in neurobiology and pharmacology from Cornell University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, an M.B.A. in strategic planning from Widener University, and a B.A. in physiological psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. He has worked as a researcher in neuropharmacology and cell biology at the Univ. of Colorado Medical School and the Univ. of California at San Diego, and later for six years as a principal scientist at E.I. DuPont and Co. Mark is the author of 13 books on technology management and biotechnology in the United States and Japan, and over 120 published articles. He has served on numerous boards of directors, including those of companies, non-profits, and editorial boards. Mark, his son Ned (Kramden Institute Cofounder) and his wife, Elaine -- a frequent KI volunteer and supporter -- live in Durham, NC. Michael Rosenburg, MD, MPH, Board Member, is President and Chief Executive Officer of Health Decisions, Inc., a private clinical research company. In studies conducted throughout the world, the company has established itself as a leader in the application of technology to improve the efficiency and speed of the clinical research process. Dr. Rosenberg was also selected at Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year in the Life Sciences Division in 2000. He currently serves as Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the School of Medicine and Adjunct Professor of Epidemiology at the University of North Carolina. His professional achievements have been recognized by fellowship in the American College of Physicians, American College of Preventive Medicine, and the American College of Epidemiology. Dr. Rosenberg received his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of California and a Master’s degree in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from Harvard. Rubestene Fisher Potter, Board member, joined Kramden Institute's Board in March 2007. She is former Chapter President of Phi Delta Kappa, an organization of teachers and administrators in the field of education. She is a 36-year resident of Durham and began her professional career as a first grade teacher in Garland, NC and a fifth grade teacher in Pleasantville, NJ. After 30-plus years of teaching, she retired as a media specialist in the Durham Public School System in 2002. She has a Masters in Library Science & Communications from NCCU and UNC-CH. She lives with her husband Robert in Durham, North Carolina.
William N. Wofford, esq., Vice Chairman and Secretary, is a Partner of the law firm of Hutchison and Mason, PLLC of Raleigh, NC. His practice focuses on corporate and transactional matters for technology companies. Many of his clients are innovating in the areas of cell therapy, drug discovery, drug delivery, software and related fields. He regularly helps these companies raise capital, acquire and out-license technology, collaborate with strategic partners and engage in mergers and acquisitions. Bill joined Hutchison & Mason in 2001 after practicing at large New York and North Carolina firms. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia.
Lowell H. Roberts, Ed.D., Treasurer, is a retired professor and academic, nonprofit and government administrator. Most recently, he was CEO of United Cerebral Palsy of Rhode Island, the 2004 Nina Eaton disability program of the year. He is a State University of New York (SUNY) Emeritus Professor of Education and Public Policy. He was the SUNY Assistant Vice Chancellor for Educational Technology and Executive Director of the SUNY Center for Learning and Technology, as well as Executive Director of the UNC-Chapel Hill Institute for Academic Technology. He also served as New York State Assistant Commissioner for Social Services and Executive Director of the New York State Federal Budget Office. He holds an A.B. from St. Lawrence University and graduate degrees from Syracuse University, SUNY Albany and Nova Southeastern University. His doctorate is in learning and cognition.
Karen Ondrick, Board Member, is currently the Program Director for Community and Government Relations at Lenovo executive headquarters in Morrisville, NC. Her responsibilities include acting as the State's single point of contact for Lenovo, representing Lenovo in community-related technology initiatives, and coordinating Lenovo's employee volunteer initiatives and the annual U.S. charitable giving program. Karen joined IBM in 1981 in Connecticut and spent 12 years in management positions in various Northeast U.S. sales branch, regional, and headquarters functions. Karen moved to Raleigh in 1993 assuming the role of IBM Operations Manager for the consolidated Southeast U.S. Customer Support Organization, and moved to IBM's Personal Computing Division (PCD) in 1996. Karen held various management positions in PCD's Americas organization, including Business Partner Support Operations, Client Satisfaction, Quality Management and ISO9001, and Executive Assistant to the IBM Americas Senior Executive. Karen assumed her current role in North Carolina Community and Government Relations for Lenovo in 2005, after the acquisition of IBM's Personal Computing Division by the Lenovo Group.Ned I. Dibner, Honorary Board Member, was a co-founder of the Kramden Institute and worked closely with his father, Mark Dibner, to complete the pilot project. He is a frequent volunteer at Kramden Institute and spent the summers of 2006 and 2007 as a full-time volunteer. Ned is currently enrolled at Elon University in Burlington, NC. While in Middle School, he helped start the Kramden for Kids project, was an honor-roll student, and won several school awards. He was on the 2003 City-champion Brogden soccer team and on the Brogden lacrosse team. He was on the varsity lacrosse team at Jordan HS and is an award winning artist. He is also a second dan black belt in tae kwon do. In December 2003, Ned was honored by the Durham Herald-Sun as a "Shining Star" in being a significant contributor to the community in Durham for his participation in the Kramden project. He and his father co-taught a course on computer building to teams of parent/teens. Ned serves the Kramden Institute as a special advisor for student needs. He put in over 1,500 community service hours for Kramden Institute while in high school.
