TECH CORPS Welcomes New Board Members

TECH CORPS announced today that Melanie Martin-Jones and Will Indest have been appointed to the organization’s Board of Directors.

Melanie Martin-Jones is a Partner at Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP, where she helps clients in the protection of copyrights, trademarks, and patents.  In 2011, Melanie was named a “Top Lawyer” by Business First and is listed in Ohio Super Lawyers, The Best Lawyers in America®, and U.S. News – Best Lawyers.  She is a member of the Columbus Intellectual Property Law Association and Ohio TechAngels.  Melanie is chair of the International Trademark Association's Classification committee, co-founder of the Women’s Council of Central Ohio, a member of the Governing Body of Athena PowerLink-Columbus and the current President-Elect of the National Association of Women Business Owners Columbus.

"I am very excited to be joining the Board of Directors of TECH CORPS.  I look forward to working with Lisa Chambers and the TECH CORPS volunteers to provide even more opportunities to students who seek knowledge beyond the limits of the traditional classroom,” said Melanie Martin-Jones.

Will Indest is Vice President of Venture Development and Director of TechStart, the Central Ohio Entrepreneurial Signature Program, with TechColumbus, a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting hundreds of businesses, entrepreneurs, venture funds and research institutions to promote the growth of tech-based businesses in central Ohio. Prior to joining TechColumbus he was instrumental in founding the $150 million Ohio Capital Fund – a seed stage Fund of Funds, as well as managing about $30-million in pre-seed and angel fund assets.  Will is also an Ohio TechAngel.

“Melanie Martin-Jones and Will Indest bring unique strengths and expertise to the Board,” said Lisa M. Chambers, National Director and State Director (OH) of TECH CORPS.  “Their combined knowledge and experience will be instrumental as we work to expand the reach and impact of TECH CORPS nationally.”

TECH CORPS was founded in 1995 by Gary Beach, Publisher Emeritus of CIO Magazine.  Beach envisioned an organization which would challenge American volunteers to help K-12 schools build a technology infrastructure -- much like the Peace Corps challenges men and women to help developing countries build their infrastructures.  Building from a state pilot in Massachusetts, TECH CORPS developed engaging technology programs and deployed tech-savvy volunteers to assist K-12 schools and youth-serving organizations across the country.  Since its inception, over 10,000 TECH CORPS volunteers have shared their time and talents with K-12 students and schools delivering in-person technology support and programming. For more information about TECH CORPS visit www.techcorps.org