ASCC Finance Team expands with Sales and Smith hire
ORONO, Maine ? The University of Maine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center (ASCC) continues its growth with the recent expansion of the Finance Team. Please welcome Brianne Sales as our Fiscal Officer & Grants Manager for the Transportation Infrastructure Durability Center (TIDC), and Justin Smith, our new Fiscal & Administrative Coordinator for the Ocean-Offshore Wind Program.
Brianne Sales
Sales has lived all over the United States. However, she originally hails from a “teeny, tiny town” called Nauvoo on the west side of Illinois.
Prior to working at the ASCC, Sales worked with the Advanced Imager Division at Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) Lincoln Laboratory in Lexington, Massachusetts. During her time there she helped develop and wrote Department of Defense (DoD) contracts, tracked expenses across programs, and aided her Business Manager in tracking income and expenses for the laboratory.
She will manage TIDC programs in partnership with five other universities, and a sixth is planned to be onboarded in FY23, her position supports their expansion. The center’s programming has grown from 52 projects last year to 72.
Working at Lincoln Laboratory is where Sales found her passion for working in Research and Development. “I love research and all the knowledge it encompasses! The things that researchers, especially student researchers, dream up and then execute are astounding, and I want to be a part of it in any way that I can,” said Sales.
Despite not being educated in a STEM field, Sales is excited by the fact that she can support this groundbreaking research through financial and grant management. In her own words, Sales said, “My fiscal know-how gives those doing research the ability to succeed. The TIDC is so unique (to me) in that they are a center that not only requires outside input, but wholeheartedly welcomes industry, education, and researchers. It’s evident in the TIDC’s growth how beneficial that mindset is for solving New England’s infrastructure ‘roadblocks.’ I am so excited to be a part of that growth and be just one example of how much the ASCC and the TIDC have prospered.”
Outside of work, Sales is a dedicated mother to her three daughters. They keep her life busy with story times, playdates, craft projects, and baking. In what little spare time she can muster for herself, you might find Sales at the beach, dreaming about being a professional dancer, or learning Taylor Swift songs on her piano.
Justin Smith
Originally from Bangor, Maine, Smith attended Husson University and received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration in May 2021. After graduating, Smith worked in the healthcare field processing financial assistance applications and managing patient accounts.
Looking to help create change on a global scale, Smith sought out a change in career focus that led him to the ASCC. “I joined ASCC as I am passionate about working for an organization that gives back to the community and focuses on creating solutions to global issues, including climate change,” said Smith. Now that he’s joined the team, Smith especially looks forward to working with the Offshore Wind Team, as their research captures his interest in creating solutions to mitigate climate change.
“Ocean Energy, Engineering, and Coastal Resilience are critical research areas in combating climate change. In response to this growing need, our team has more than doubled since 2018 and our research portfolio has diversified across federal funding agencies and private partnerships,” said Matthew Tomasko, ASCC’s business manager for offshore wind. “We are excited to welcome Justin to the team, and look forward to his contribution to sustaining the financial growth and complexity of our team through expedited proposal development and thorough financial analysis.”
Outside of work, there are a variety of activities Smith does to keep himself busy. However, he primarily enjoys staying active by playing basketball and experimenting in the kitchen with new pizza recipes.
The ASCC team is rapidly growing and always looking for talented individuals across all industries to join our team. For more information on open positions, visit the ASCC website or contact Kim Scribner, workforce coordinator, at kimberly.scribner@maine.edu.
Contact: Elizabeth Dalton, elizabeth.dalton@maine.edu