Executive Experience
Mitch was the CEO of PRI Automation, a publicly traded corporation that supplied automation systems including hardware, software and services to the semiconductor industry. From 1987 to 2002, he held positions of increasing management responsibility and helped transform PRI Automation from a small robotics manufacturer to the world’s largest supplier of semiconductor fab automation systems. Mitch managed the growth of the company from $4 million to over $300 million in revenue and 1800 employees in 14 countries and guided the company through its successful IPO in 1994, 6 strategic acquisitions, international expansion, and acquisition by Brooks Automation in 2002.
Mitch was also CEO of Advanced Electron Beams (AEB) between 2005 and 2010. Mitch joined AEB, an industrial energy efficiency company, upon the completion of the company’s Series A round of venture funding. AEB manufactured compact electron beam emitters which replace thermal and chemical processes, improving sustainability and reducing costs in a broad range of industries. During this period the company raised $50 million in venture funds, established a new business model and market strategy, shipped over 150 systems to 50 companies, and established 12 OEM’s that designed AEB emitters into their manufacturing systems.
Before AEB, in 2003 Mitch served as interim CEO and chairman of AmberWave Systems, a venture backed IP company developing a range of material science technologies for the semiconductor, LED, and solar industries.
Before PRI, Mitch worked at GCA Corporation as Director of Product Management (1984-1987) and served as science advisor and legislative assistant for energy policy to U.S. Senator Paul Tsongas (1979-1984).
Corporate Activities
Mitch has served on the board of over ten public, private, and venture backed corporate boards, including firms in the areas of automation, CAD, LED’s, materials, semiconductor equipment, sensors, and clean energy. He currently serves on the boards of Photronics, Inc., a public $500M manufacturer of photomasks for the flat panel display and semiconductor industries, Bigbelly Solar, a provider of intelligent waste collection and recycling systems, and smart connected city infrastructure, and 7AC, a start-up developing next generation air conditioning technology. He is also on the Investor Advisory Board of Greener U, an innovative energy services firm that helps universities lower costs and become more sustainable and the Advisory Board of Automation Engineering, Inc., a manufacturer of active alignment camera module assembly and test systems for the automotive and consumer electronics industries.
Innovation Economy
Mitch is also a partner in the Clean Energy Venture Group (CEVG), an angel investing group that provides seed capital and management expertise to early stage clean energy companies. Mitch is also on the board of Greentown Labs, the country’s largest cleantech incubator, the Venture Café Foundation, an organization that supports the Boston innovation community through a variety of programs including District Hall, the Roxbury Innovation Center, and StartHub.org, and Cleantech Open Northeast, the northeast division of the world’s largest cleantech business competition and accelerator. Mitch also lectures at the Cleantech Open Academy. Mitch has mentored over 50 start-ups and currently mentors a number of start-up ventures though the Cleantech Open, MassChallenge, and the MIT Clean Energy Prize programs.
Industry Organizations
Mitch is a co-founder and Chair of the Northeast Clean Energy Council (NECEC) whose mission is to accelerate New England’s clean energy economy through policy, innovation, and community building programs. He also serves on the boards of New England Water Innovation Network, which is working to foster the growth and vitality of the water innovation cluster, the New England Israel Business Council, which seeks to increase economic development in Israel and New England by fostering cooperation, investment opportunities and business relationships. He is also a member of the boards of the Acadia Center (formerly known as Environment Northeast) a non-profit organization that researches and advocates innovative policies that address environmental challenges while promoting sustainable economies. Previously he served on the Mass High Tech Council and the Semiconductor Equipment and Materials Institute (SEMI) Board.
Government Activities
Mitch serves on the executive committees and governing boards of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative and its Innovation Institute, the state agency focused on promoting the innovation economy and economic development in Massachusetts. Mitch is the co-chair of the Governor’s Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative whose mission is to promote the advanced manufacturing sector in the state through public – private partnerships. He is on the Massport Security Advisory Council and has advised the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. At the beginning of his career Mitch was science advisor and legislative assistant for energy and industrial policy for US Senator Paul Tsongas (1979-1984).
Academic Activities
Mitch is an Adjunct Professor at the International Business School at Brandeis University where he teaches the course on corporate sustainability and advises the Green MBA Program. Mitch serves on the Printed Electronics Research Collaborative at Umass Lowell and is on the UMass Boston Sustainable Enterprise and Regional Competitiveness Center Advisory Committee. He has also been a mentor/teaching assistant in the MIT Undergraduate Practice Opportunities Program (UPOP). He also lectures on entrepreneurship, sustainable business strategy, and various management topics at numerous universities and industry forums.
In 2008, the Mass High Tech Journal named Mitch a Mass High Tech All-Star for his leadership in and commitment to the clean energy sector.
He has a Bachelors of Science in Physics, a Masters of Science in Nuclear Engineering, and a second Masters of Science in Political Science, all from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he concentrated his studies in technology and policy.