Our Team
Emily Heintz
Executive Director
Emily Heintz
Executive Director
Emily Heintz, Executive Director, leads Curiosity Lab’s strategy, operations, partnerships, and global positioning. Emily is an innovation leader and ecosystem builder with nearly 20 years of experience spanning startups, venture capital, economic development, and emerging technologies. She works across public, private, academic, and international sectors to build strategic partnerships, align resources, and position Curiosity Lab as a leading destination for real-world technology deployment and innovation.
Pouyan Azizpour
Innovation Program Manager
Pouyan Azizpour
Innovation Program Manager
Pouyan Azizpour, Innovation Program Manager, leads Curiosity Lab’s deployment portfolio and technology development activities. Pouyan brings experience as an entrepreneur, startup advisor, venture capital fellow, and innovation ecosystem builder, with a background spanning startup acceleration, commercialization, and venture development. At Curiosity Lab, he works directly with founders, corporate innovators, and ecosystem partners to attract top-tier early- and growth-stage companies, advance real-world testing and validation efforts, and help companies successfully deploy, refine, and scale their technologies.
Kim Littrean
Community & Operations Manager
Kim Littrean
Community & Operations Manager
Kim Littrean, Community & Operations Manager, leads tenant experience, events, community engagement, and day-to-day operations at Curiosity Lab. Kim brings extensive experience in workplace operations, facilities management, employee experience, executive support, and community-building across fast-paced, high-growth organizations. At Curiosity Lab, she helps create a polished, welcoming, and highly connected environment that supports tenant success, strengthens relationships, and makes the ecosystem an engaging place to work and grow.
Joseph Cook
Facilities & Operations Coordinator
Joseph Cook
Facilities & Operations Coordinator
Joseph Cook, Facilities & Operations Coordinator, leads facility readiness, event support, and operational logistics across the Curiosity Lab campus. Joseph brings a strong service-oriented background spanning operations support, event execution, facilities coordination, customer engagement, and community-focused programming. At Curiosity Lab, he helps ensure the Innovation Center, deployment environment, and events operate smoothly while delivering the high-quality experience that tenants, partners, and visitors expect.
Board of Directors
Mike Mason
Chairman and Mayor of Peachtree Corners
Mike Mason
Chairman and Mayor of Peachtree Corners
Mike Mason serves as the Chairman of the Board for Curiosity Lab, and Mayor of the city of Peachtree Corners, a position he has held since March of 2012.
Brian Johnson
Vice Chair and City Manager - Peachtree Corners
Brian Johnson
Vice Chair and City Manager - Peachtree Corners
Brian serves as CEO/City Manager of the City of Peachtree Corners. He is responsible for all city-wide initiatives with the goal to build a one-of-a-kind community for all. Brian brings over three decades of executive level experience to organizations in the public sector. During the creation of the Curiosity Lab, Brian led all project facets, including development, partnerships and international relations. Today Brian remains active in these areas, focusing on supporting public-private partnerships for the city.
Wayne Hodges
Wayne Hodges
Wayne brings extensive experience in innovation, commercialization, economic development, and incubation management to Curiosity Lab. He is Vice President Emeritus of the Georgia Tech Institute of Technology and established and led the ATDC Seed Fund which invests in Georgia-based entrepreneurial businesses pursuing innovation. He led the formation of the Global Center for Medical Innovation (GCMI) and served as Deputy Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development.
Advisors & Support
Bertrand Lapoire
Economic Development Director - Peachtree Corners
Bertrand Lapoire
Economic Development Director - Peachtree Corners
Bertrand Lapoire is the Economic Development Director for the City of Peachtree Corners. In this role, he leads initiatives to attract, retain, and grow businesses, fostering a dynamic and innovative economic environment. His department works closely with public and private partners to support strategic development, promote innovation, and enhance the city's position as a regional hub for technology and entrepreneurship. Bertrand initially joined the city’s economic development team on a part-time basis before stepping into his current full-time role in October 2024.
A longtime small business owner, Bertrand successfully led and expanded an import, distribution and service company in Gwinnett County for over 17 years. He also serves as Vice-Chair of the French-American Chamber of Commerce, a position he has held for six years.
Originally from France, Bertrand holds a Master in International Business and Entrepreneurship from ICN Business School. He moved to the U.S. in 2007 and has lived in Peachtree Corners for 13 years with his wife and two children. He and his family enjoy camping, outdoor activities and travelling.
Cory Salley
Finance Director - Peachtree Corners
Cory Salley
Finance Director - Peachtree Corners
Cory serves as the Chief Finance Officer. In this role, he oversees accounting, budgeting, accounts payable, capital project funding, and financial forecasting.
Craig Lesser
Economic Development
Craig Lesser
Economic Development
Craig leads economic development initiatives across the city and Curiosity Lab. He is the Managing Partner for the Pendleton Group and provides governmental affairs, economic development and strategic communications counsel to governments and businesses. Previously, Craig served as Georgia’s Commissioner of Economic Development from 2004 to 2007. His prior service includes being a managing director of McKenna Long & Aldridge, and he served in key executive leadership roles at Southern Company and its subsidiaries, including vice president of government and regulatory affairs for Georgia Power Company. Craig received his BA from the State University of New York College at Oneonta and is a Graduate of the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.
Dave Rhodes
City Attorney - Peachtree Corners
Dave Rhodes
City Attorney - Peachtree Corners
Dave Rhodes is the General Counsel for Curiosity Lab and City Attorney for the City of Peachtree Corners. Dave developed and currently manages Curiosity Lab’s onboarding requirements for partner use cases and pilot programs involving the safe deployment of drones, autonomous vehicles, teleoperated e-scooters, and connected roadside devices inside the city’s corporate limits.
Greg Ramsey
Public Works Director - Peachtree Corners
Greg Ramsey
Public Works Director - Peachtree Corners
Greg leads the infrastructure and development of Curiosity Lab, and is responsible for infrastructure engineering, land development, regulatory compliance, and right-of-way maintenance.
Guy Tessler
Economic Development
Guy Tessler
Economic Development
Guy specializes in international business and economic development and has deep ties with the technology and innovation communities in the Southeast, Israel and beyond. He joined the Pendleton Group Atlanta after over 12 years with Conexx, the America Israel Business Connector where he was appointed President in 2015. He previously acted as a Chief Administrator for the Israel Association of Community Centers and served in the Israel Defense Forces. Guy holds his bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Management from the Israel Open University.
James Nguyen
Assistant Public Works Director - Peachtree Corners
James Nguyen
Assistant Public Works Director - Peachtree Corners
James serves as the Transportation Engineer for Curiosity Lab and the City of Peachtree Corners. He is responsible for managing the capital improvement projects and traffic management systems testing.
Jorge Fernandez
Economic Development
Jorge Fernandez
Economic Development
Jorge joined Pendleton Group Atlanta after serving as Vice President of Global Commerce for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, where he led its Global Commerce economic development team for more than a dozen years. He is responsible for Foreign Direct Investment, international corporate recruitment and connecting Metro Atlanta companies and institutions with international business growth opportunities. He is the former International and Alliance Vice President for Delta Air Lines. Jorge earned his bachelor’s degree In Business Management from the University of Puerto Rico and a Master’s degree in International Marketing from Texas Christian University. He was named the International Person of the Year by Governor Sonny Perdue in 2009.
Louis Svehla
Communications Director - Peachtree Corners
Louis Svehla
Communications Director - Peachtree Corners
Louis is responsible for leading communications for Curiosity Lab and the City of Peachtree Corners and specializes in business relations, public relations, community relations, media relations and corporate partnerships.
Michael Piha
International Economic Development
Michael Piha
International Economic Development
With a career spanning over 25 years, Michael has held leadership roles in various verticals within the global business landscape, gaining extensive experience and understanding of the international market.
For the past seven years, Michael has been a dedicated independent consultant who has introduced and promoted Israeli innovation in the global markets.
Michael is the local representative for two American organizations: Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners City, GA, which is focused on Smart City and Smart Transportation innovation, and The Science Center Philadelphia, which is focused on MedTech innovation; Michael is also well-connected to a group of international businessmen looking for investment and distribution opportunities.
In his 25 years of global activities, Michael has gained vast experience throughout his senior roles in global companies. Michael has served as a CFO, VP of Procurement, and VP of BD and International Marketing. He is known globally for his professionalism, leadership capabilities, and holistic approach.
Michael holds a BA in Economics and Management from Ruppin Institute and an MPA in Public Administration and Management from Haifa University.
Mike Caudill
Marketing and Public Relations
Mike Caudill
Marketing and Public Relations
Mike leads media and brand direction for the Curiosity Lab. He is the Founder and President of Driven360 and brings 20+ years of public relations, corporate restructuring and consulting experience. A nationally recognized on-air TV personality that provides expert commentary on a variety of topics facing the nation, his his main attention is on the greater transportation industry, focusing on automotive and motorcycles.
Rocio Monterrosa
Executive Assistant / Deputy City Clerk - Peachtree Corners
Rocio Monterrosa
Executive Assistant / Deputy City Clerk - Peachtree Corners
Rocio serves as the project assistant for Curiosity Lab and brings 20+ years of experience in operations, consulting, accounting, administrative management and human resources.
Seth Yurman
Deputy City Manager / Land Development Manager - Peachtree Corners
Seth Yurman
Deputy City Manager / Land Development Manager - Peachtree Corners
Seth is responsible for economic development and land development for Peachtree Corners, and ensures current and future business, residents and visitors have a robust and innovative community. Seth also leads the business and land development Technology Park while paying homage to the park’s history and creating new opportunities for in-bound organizations.