Pittsburgh Robotics Network names new board members

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Jorgen Pederson, PRN president. | Credit: Pittsburgh Robotics Network

The Pittsburgh Robotics Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering innovation and growth for the southwest Pennsylvania region’s robotics cluster, yesterday announced changes to its board of directors and executive officers. Jorgen Pedersen has stepped in as the new board president, and Stephen Muck is now secretary.

Kevin Dowling, the previous board president, has concluded his term but will continue to contribute his expertise as a regular PRN board member.

Louisa Michaels, chief financial officer at the ARM Institute, and Peter Rander, president of Stack AV, will round out the board officers as treasurer and executive committee member, respectively.

Pittsburgh Robotics Network a catalyst for regional robotics growth

Under the leadership of Executive Director Jennifer Apicella, the Pittsburgh Robotics Network said it is evolving to align programs with economic development initiatives, expand public-private partnerships both locally and globally, and act as a catalyst for accelerating commercial growth and adoption of autonomous systems in emerging industries.

Jennifer Apicella is executive director of PRN. | Source: Jim Harris/PBT

“These changes to our board’s executive officers will help support my ongoing efforts and position the PRN for success,” stated Apicella in a release. “The Pittsburgh Robotics ecosystem is at a pivotal moment in our growth as one of the world’s top commercial robotics clusters.”

“However, it’s more important now than ever to be intentional about our work, use data-driven approaches, and strive for excellence,” she added. “Being on top is hard work, but staying there is even harder. So while there’s still work to be done for our region to stay competitive as a globally recognized robotics hub, we will continue to stay focused on driving high-impact results for these companies to see them grow.”

Robotics Factory incubates young startups

Jorgen Pedersen, the incoming president, brings decades of robotics industry experience to the board. He was the founder and CEO of RE2 Robotics, a developer of advanced robotic manipulation technologies across multiple industries including defense, energy, aviation, and construction. Pedersen led RE2 Robotics from a small startup to a recognized leader in the field of mobile manipulation.

RE2 was acquired by Salt Lake City, Utah-based Sarcos in March 2022 for $100 million, and Sarcos later laid off much of its robotics division.

Pedersen is currently serving as a robotics entrepreneur in residence at Innovation Works’ Robotics Factory, facilitating the creation of robotics companies and providing mentorship as they grow and scale.

“In addition to valuable networking opportunities and collaboration with other economic development organizations within the region, my goal is to help the PRN provide increased value to its members so they can scale their businesses and, in turn, grow the robotics ecosystem in Pittsburgh,” he stated.

Stephen Muck, secretary of PRN. | Credit: Pittsburgh Robotics Network

Stephen Muck, a PRN board member since January 2022 and the new secretary, is a prominent figure in both the construction and robotics industries. He was the chairman and CEO of Brayman Construction Corp. and the founder and executive chairman of Advanced Construction Robotics (ACR).

Muck has more than 30 years of experience in the business, construction, private equity, investment banking, and economic development fields. He has established partnerships among world-class robotics experts, construction industry veterans, and an innovative business team to commercialize robotics products for the construction industry.

Under Muck’s guidance, ACR has focused on developing systems to enhance productivity and improve safety on construction sites. The company’s notable innovations include TyBOT, an autonomous rebar-tying robot, and IronBOT, a rebar-placing robot.

Together, the Bot Bundle offers to modernize the construction industry, according to Advanced Construction Robotics. Crews that work with both TyBOT and IronBOT can maximize their schedule savings, it said.

Based in Pittsburgh, Muck said his work with ACR exemplifies his commitment to advancing the construction industry through technological innovation.

“The opportunity to support and grow the robotics cluster in Pittsburgh is incredibly challenging,” Muck noted. “I look forward to bringing my energy as a board officer to help drive innovation and collaboration within this dynamic community.”

Kevin Dowling expressed his continued commitment to PRN: “While my term as president has come to an end, my dedication to this organization and its mission remains unwavering since I founded the PRN in 2016. I’m very excited to support Jorgen, Stephen, and the rest of the board as we continue to support and grow the regional robotics industry.”

As the Pittsburgh Robotics Network announced its new leadership, the organization said it is “united in its commitment to innovation, growth, and the development of a sustainable robotics industry.”