Mark Troppe is the manager of strategic partnerships at the National Institute of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST MEP). He leads the team responsible for MEP’s initiatives on supplier scouting, technology deployment, workforce, and emerging trends. His division is also responsible for developing and nurturing MEPs relationships with other federal agencies; governors, and state and local agencies; trade associations; and other partners. During 1996–1999 Troppe helped develop MEP centers to integrate workforce services to modernize small manufacturers throughout the United States, which included building organizational alliances at the national level and launching MEP University.