About research park

Team

Meet the Team

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Andrew Duffell_20260128_0009

Andrew Duffell
MBA, President

Duffell’s international background and multiple economic development roles have shaped his forward-thinking and problem-solving approach regarding the development of South Florida’s economy using technology as a...

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Andrew Duffell, MBA, President

Duffell’s international background and multiple economic development roles have shaped his forward-thinking and problem-solving approach regarding the development of South Florida’s economy using technology as a catalyst. Since becoming president & CEO of the Research Park at FAU in 2011 the Research Park’s contribution to the region’s economy has surged, largely due to the repositioning efforts Duffell has implemented. The Research Park at Florida Atlantic University® is home to technology companies and research-based organizations working to support the research and development activities of Florida Atlantic University and to foster economic development and broaden the economic base of Broward and Palm Beach counties. Under Duffell’s leadership it has become known as South Florida’s laboratory for new entrepreneurial ideas and technologies and is a valuable asset in the region’s economic development efforts. Duffell’s personal achievements include being named the Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce Business Leader of the Year and being honored as a South Florida Business Journal Ultimate CEO, both in 2017, as well as a 2015 Palm Beach Ultimate CEO by the South Florida Business Journal and being recognized in January 2015 as a “40 Under 40 Rising Star in Economic Development” by Development Counsellors International (DCI) at the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Leadership Summit. Currently Duffell serves on the boards of directors for the Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce, Florida Economic Development Council and the Children’s Home Society of Florida, as well as other advisory boards related to economic development.In 2000 he was conferred the degree of Master of Arts (Hons) in European Studies by the University of Aberdeen and in 2015 earned a master of business administration (MBA) from Florida Atlantic University.

Andrew Duffell, MBA
President
Email: aduffell@Research-Park.org

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Ryan Lilly
Director of Economic Development

Ryan has helped 1,500+ entrepreneurs one-on-one and another 5,000+ in workshops in three U.S. states over the last twelve years. He has worked with both traditional small businesses and technology startups...

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Ryan Lilly, Director of Economic Development

Ryan has helped 1,500+ entrepreneurs one-on-one and another 5,000+ in workshops in three U.S. states over the last twelve years. He has worked with both traditional small businesses and technology startups while in university-run incubators, city government, chambers of commerce, and various economic development organizations.

Previous to Global Ventures, Ryan served as Vice President of the Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership in Ocala, Florida for nine years. There he oversaw an incubator and entrepreneurship initiatives throughout the Ocala Metro area. Ryan’s background also includes launching incubators in Illinois and in his home state of Virginia.

A passionate speaker, Ryan has shared his ideas at over 50 local, state, and national conferences related to entrepreneurship, economic development, and the emerging field of entrepreneur ecosystem building.

Ryan earned a B.S. in management from Virginia Tech with a concentration in entrepreneurship and holds a certificate in serial innovation from the University of Illinois as well as a certificate in Business Incubator Management from the International Business Innovation Association (InBIA).

He has trained with the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), the Rural Policy Research Institute’s Center for Entrepreneurship (RUPRI), and The Kauffman Foundation. Ryan is a 1 Million Cups Chapter founder and a certified Kauffman FastTrac facilitator.

Ryan has been married to his wife Pamela, a North Carolina native, for 12 years. They have a 5-year-old daughter and a Boston Terrier, both of whom enjoy going to the beach. His family loves to read and has collected over 3,000 books which he jokingly says is “nice until you have to move them.” The Lilly family is excited to call the Boca Raton area their new home.

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Abby Sears
Communications Specialist

From a young age, Abby always had a passion for storytelling and creating relationships, so it was only fitting she majored in Communications....

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Abby Sears, Communications Specialist

From a young age, Abby always had a passion for storytelling and creating relationships, so it was only fitting she majored in Communications. She graduated from Lynn University in 2021, earning a degree in Communications with minors in Advertising and Journalism. 

During her time at Lynn, she was actively involved in campus media. She contributed to the university’s student newspaper, where she particularly enjoyed writing alum spotlights to reconnect with former Fighting Knights and share their stories beyond graduation. She was also a member of Pulse Agency, Lynn’s student-run advertising firm, where she helped lead a successful campaign for the Junior League of Boca Raton. 

In recognition of her academic excellence and promise in the field, Abby was awarded the Gordon and Mary Henke Excellence in Communication Award, which recognizes the student who has excelled in the communications program and has the potential for an outstanding career in the field of communications.

Post graduation, Abby applied her communication skills as a Customer Project Specialist in the hotel fabric industry, managing multimillion-dollar hotel projects. Still, her passion for communications, social media, and storytelling remained her true calling. Today, she has come full circle, working at the Research Park at Florida Atlantic, where her ultimate goal is to create an impactful and innovative community. Since joining the park, she has recently become a 2025 graduate of Boca Leadership, and looks forward to continuing to foster meaningful connections with local leaders and her community.

When Abby is not writing press releases for the park or managing its social media, she enjoys taking Pilates classes, playing tennis, or reading a good book on the beach. 


Email: asears@research-park.org