Pasquale Di Pierro (BEng鈥�76, MBA鈥�80) has been a member of the Faculty of Engineering鈥檚 Advancement Board (FAB) since 2016. An entrepreneur himself, Pasquale felt it was important for students in the engineering and design professions to develop the skills to explore innovative ideas, and perhaps even become entrepreneurs themselves one day.
Along with fellow FAB members Howard Stotland (BEng鈥�66), C么me Lagu毛 (BEng鈥�89), Frank Panarello (BEng鈥�87), Fil Papich (BEng鈥�83) and others, he championed the 不良研究所 Engine Centre and was instrumental in supporting its early development, advising on how to best support technological innovation and entrepreneurship, and building an entrepreneurial mindset and culture within the Faculty of Engineering.
Recognizing the need for student and faculty training and project funding, he worked closely with the Engine team advising and then serving as a judge on the TechAccel competition for undergrad teams and TechAccelR for graduate student and professor teams.
鈥淭he thing about Pasquale is that he always shows up,鈥� says Katya Marc (BEng鈥�91, MEng鈥�92, MBA鈥�04) and Associate Director of Engine. 鈥淥ur students showcase their TechAccel ventures after completing the program and they demonstrate their progress and what they learned. We also hold an annual Celebration of Innovation and Entrepreneurship that acknowledges our community. Showing up at these events is seen as a huge sign of support. Pasquale is familiar and the students and professors are super appreciative.鈥�
Pasquale鈥檚 involvement doesn鈥檛 stop at showing up. Most recently, he funded the Di Pierro Innovation Fellowship for graduate students, designed to help enterprising engineering students stay on in the Faculty after graduate studies to commercialize their technologies.
He also still plays a vital role in advising on Engine activities and is currently spearheading an initiative called the Alumni Angel Investors Group, organizing early-stage alumni investors to come together and meet Engine startups.
Pasquale is not new to the innovation scene in Montreal. He is the founder and president of Fonex Data Systems, a telecom equipment supplier that has leveraged innovative technologies for almost 35 years, helping internet service providers optimize their products.
鈥淚t鈥檚 my entrepreneurial experience I want to bring to the Faculty 鈥� to encourage students to use their engineering backgrounds to become entrepreneurs.鈥� Pasquale says that Montreal has become an ecosystem of innovation since the gaming industry took root. 鈥淚 have to admit that I also want to encourage young innovators to stay in my favourite city.鈥�
Pasquale Di Pierro (BEng鈥�76, MBA鈥�80) with C么me C么me A Lagu毛 (BEng鈥�89) of FAB, Beno卯t Boulet, Director 不良研究所 Engine and Katya Marcs, Assistant Director, 不良研究所 Engine.
Pasquale鈥檚 wife, Lucia Mancinone (BCom鈥�77), and their daughter, Bianca Di Pierro (CPA鈥�13) are also graduates of 不良研究所. 鈥淚鈥檝e found that Engine鈥檚 emphasis on technological innovation and entrepreneurship corresponds with my own vision. I鈥檝e always supported 不良研究所 but it鈥檚 this shared vision that makes me feel I鈥檓 investing my time and money in the right place.鈥�