Team Members

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.

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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.

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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.

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Executive Director

Emily is the current Executive Director of Curiosity Lab where she leads all expansion strategy, strategic partnerships across public and private sectors, and current member relations. With more than 15 years of experience at the intersection of startups, venture capital, and economic development, she specializes in building strategic partnerships and leading initiatives that accelerate innovation and strengthen entrepreneurial communities. Emily has held senior leadership roles across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, leading initiatives that advance innovation, economic growth, and community impact.

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Managing Director

Valerie Chang, Managing Director, leads partnership relations and new member outreach for Curiosity Lab. In her role, Valerie manages day-to-day correspondence, builds relationships with current and potential partners and recruits startups to become members of Curiosity Lab to test, demonstrate and/or develop their technologies. She also represents Curiosity Lab at local, regional, national and international conferences. Previously Valerie managed the day-to-day operations of Curiosity Lab’s Innovation Center and Curiosity Lab events.

She brings 7 years of experience in marketing, digital marketing, management and customer service. Valerie graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in Marketing and a New Media certificate. As a Georgia Native, Valerie is passionate about supporting local startups and businesses.

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Startup Program Lead

Pouyan Azizpour oversees startup programs at Curiosity Lab, collaborating with founders to help them launch, grow, and scale their companies. He concentrates on connecting startups with suitable resources, mentors, partners, and opportunities—whether that involves securing pilot projects, finding early customers, or building strategic relationships that drive growth. He is passionate about empowering founders and creating environments in which startups can flourish.

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Operations Coordinator

Joseph Cook, Operations Coordinator, ensures all day-to-day activities at Curiosity Lab for smooth daily operations. This includes member assistance and inquiries, facility management, event support and more. A graduate from Providence Christian Academy, he’s been able to bring his problem solving, business and communication skills to the Innovation Center.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Public Relations Strategist

Evelin serves as Curiosity Lab’s public relations expert and strategist. Throughout her career, she’s worked across various industries leading social media, event, writing and public relations planning. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and minor in Brand Management from Georgia State University.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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City Clerk - Peachtree Corners

Kym serves as the City Relations liaison for Curiosity Lab and brings over 20 years of experience in municipal and corporate relations.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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International Partnerships

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.

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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.

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Senior Advisor – 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.

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Strategic Partnerships and Brand Ambassador

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.

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