T4a – Team

Berardino Baratta is an accomplished leader in technology and advancing manufacturing, with more than 25 years of experience in the industry. As the CEO of MxD, the digital manufacturing and cybersecurity institute, Berardino works with the U.S. Department of Defense and a network of over 350 members to drive economic prosperity and support national security by increasing U.S. manufacturing competitiveness. Through MxD’s diverse array of projects and partnerships, Berardino oversees critical efforts to enhance digital readiness and cybersecurity across the manufacturing sector, prepare the workforce for the advanced manufacturing jobs of the future, and ensure resilient and secure supply chains in an era of increased geopolitical disruption. Berardino’s diverse experience includes recent roles as Vice President of Projects and Engineering and Sr. Director of Technology Strategy for MxD. Prior to joining MxD, Berardino was CEO of Potentia Analytics, an AI healthcare startup, and held multiple positions at Freescale, including General Manager of Freescale Semiconductor’s Multimedia Applications Division. He began his career with Metrowerks Corporation, a leading provider of Software Development tools, where he led engineering through its growth from startup through acquisition by Motorola Corporation. Berardino received his Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (Honours) from McGill University.

Jeff Donoghue is MxD’s Vice President of Finance and Business Operations. In that role, Jeff leads a team that is responsible for planning, developing and protecting MxD’s tremendous organizational assets, including its vibrant workforce, its strong financial position and efficient financial operations, and its first-in-class facility. Jeff is committed to advancing MxDs mission through reliable, innovative, inclusive, and growth-oriented operations. Jeff has been proud to support mission-driven, non-profit and government organizations in financial and administrative leadership roles for over 20 years. Jeff is passionate about supporting partnerships that drive inclusive economic growth and workforce development in our communities, and he is particularly excited about MxD’s role developing a productive ecosystem towards those goals. Across a variety of Chicago institutions, Jeff has been privileged to lead teams delivering efficient and transparent financial planning and operations; strategic planning; facility planning, maintenance, financing and construction; human resources planning and operations; and internal and external communications in service of our region’s economic growth and opportunity. Jeff is a proud Chicagoan who can be found with his wife and three children in Rogers Park, cheering on a little league game or coaching youth soccer. He loves every good Chicago summer, but fall is his favorite week of the year. Jeff holds degrees from Northwestern University and the University of Illinois-Chicago.

Lizabeth Stuck is the Vice President of Government and Strategic Affairs, the workforce development program at MxD. She is responsible for the development and execution of MxD’s workforce programming and strategies for increasing digital manufacturing and cybersecurity for manufacturing skill sets. She works with industry, academia, government, and non-profit organizations to define and develop workforce solutions to manufacturing’s most pressing skills challenges. Prior to joining MxD in 2015, Lizabeth was the Deputy Director of the Office of Advisory Committees at the U.S. Department of Commerce. In this role she led the United States Manufacturing Council, working with dozens of manufacturing industry leaders to address the country’s most critical manufacturing workforce and technology challenges. Lizabeth has also held roles as a presidential appointee at the U.S. Department of Energy, the White House Office of Management and Budget, and the White House Office of Legislative Affairs under the Obama Administration. Lizabeth holds an MBA in Strategic Leadership and Change Management from DePaul University and a BA in Journalism from Indiana University.