Ethan Byler is a frequent contributor to Innovation America.  Ethan is the Manager of Entrepreneurship & Innovation at the American Society of Mechanical Engineers where he manages a portfolio of breakthrough innovation opportunities that impact ASME and humankind.  Ethan has been both practitioner and strategist in the field of innovation-based economic development.  He was the Business Manager of the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center of Bucks County and Coordinator of Keystone Innovation Zone where he led real estate, business development, technology transfer, and managing the overall entrepreneurial programming.  The Biotech Center is focused on translational biomedical research in infectious diseases, hepatitis, and cancer with both diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

Mr. Byler has also worked as a consultant focused on county, city, regional, state, and national innovation-based economic development strategies while at New Economy Strategies, LLC (NES). His work there included management of targeted innovation and growth projects, various industry cluster driven projects, initiatives focusing on entrepreneurship and capital formation, rural economic development and the design of government led interventions in technology and innovation-based economic development.  Prior to NES, Mr. Byler was an Analyst with the federal funding programs at Innovation Philadelphia where he provided technical support on grant applications, business plans, and the presentation materials of early-stage companies attempting to secure financing through private investment or Small Business Innovation Research grant.

Mr. Byler holds a Masters Degree in Government Administration from the Fels Institute of Government at the University of Pennsylvania and a BA from the University of Charleston. Mr. Byler is a product of the Herndon Legislative Fellowship of the West Virginia State Legislature and also the AmeriCorps*VISTA (Volunteer In Service To America) program.  He has experience in community development projects through asset-based community development and civic engagement and is a trained moderator of public policy forums through the Kettering Foundation’s national network.