Partnership is at the core of Patria Lawton’s work. Lawton serves as the business director for the Defense Alliance, an industry group that accelerates commercialization for technology products and services and contributes to regional economic development by supporting small businesses. In this role, Lawton works with small to midsize companies that sell to the Department of Defense. This year, the Defense Alliance won its third round of funding from the SBA. Lawton also serves as the director of graduate studies at the University of Minnesota’s Technological Leadership Institute, where she manages all of the institute’s academic programs. “It’s really special to have both of those worlds and bring business into my role growing technology leaders.”

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