January 5, 2023 - The Unmanned Aerial Systems Cluster Initiative (UASCI) is pleased to announce Emily Bell has joined our team as Program Manager. In this role, she will oversee program development and implementation to support organizational and ecosystem growth.

Ms. Bell brings to the role nearly two decades of program and organizational management experience at both the local and national level. Prior to joining UASCI, much of Bell’s career was spent with the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), in Washington, DC, where she most recently served as a consultant working on special projects. Prior to her consulting work, Bell was responsible for the organization’s professional development portfolio, working to design and implement its suite of training courses and certification programs. She also served in the United States Peace Corps as a youth development volunteer in Ukraine and oversaw the attorney complaint process for the Cuyahoga County Bar Association.

The Cluster, which began in 2015, facilitates access to critical resources for young companies in the unmanned aerial systems and advanced air mobility industry, helping them promote their products to potential customers, license technologies and access financing. The enormous growth of the Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) industry presents unprecedented opportunities for small businesses across the U.S. and in states like Oklahoma to grow and create new jobs, while attracting investment and driving technology to meet industry needs.

UASCI is a program of Development Capital Networks (DCN), headquartered in Oklahoma City, OK. DCN is a specialized firm that seeds the growth of entrepreneurs by attracting technology, capital, and talent to help communities build innovation economies. UASCI is funded by private industry and the U.S. Small Business Administration.