Jill Mari Embry to Receive IAOTP Empowered Woman Award

Jill Mari Embry, founder and CEO of Balance Innovation Center, will be honored by the International Association of Top Professionals at its 2026 Annual Awards Gala in New York City. The award spotlights her leadership in medical device innovation, STEM mentorship, and work to expand opportunities for women and underrepresented groups. Why it matters: - The award places Jill Mari Embry among a small group of women recognized by IAOTP for leadership, accomplishments, and community impact. - The honor highlights her work in medical device development, where access, compliance, and commercialization can shape whether new technologies reach patients. - The recognition also shines a light on women-led innovation and STEM mentorship in a field that remains heavily underrepresented. What happened: - IAOTP selected Jill Mari Embry for The Empowered Woman Award. - IAOTP will honor Embry at its 2026 Annual Awards Gala at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. - The gala is scheduled for December. - Embry is founder and CEO of Balance Innovation Center, LLC, and founder of Integrity Research and Development, LLC. - IAOTP President Stephanie Cirami said Embry’s selection was an easy decision for the panel and called her inspirational, influential, and a visionary thought leader. The details: - Embry has more than 25 years of experience in the medical device industry. - Her background spans Fortune 500 companies, early-stage startups, and high-growth ventures. - Her work focuses on bridging research and product development in highly regulated environments. - Balance Innovation Center is described as a venture studio focused on empowering women and underrepresented groups in medical device product development. - Embry also advises startups on the transition from research to commercialization. - Her expertise includes medical device development, regulatory compliance, biomedical engineering, biomechanics, quality management, risk assessment, strategic leadership, innovation management, STEM mentorship, and diversity advocacy. - Current projects under Balance Innovation Center include an Overdose Response Application for first responders, government agencies, and families impacted by addiction. - Embry is also leading work on an innovative IUD, a painless insertion solution, and a device for at-home pelvic exams. - Additional roadmap items include a balance training device and other emerging medical technologies. - She also leads the LegUP STEM Program, which supports mentorship, hands-on learning, and equitable opportunities for underrepresented students. - Embry’s education includes master’s-level work in biomedical and medical engineering at The Ohio State University, study at Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, and a bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in chemistry from DePaul University. - She has also been recognized for other awards and accolades and is being considered for a feature in TIP (Top Industry Professionals) Magazine. - Embry formerly served as a board member of the American Saddlebred Association of Arizona since 2013. - Outside work, she travels, spends time with her family, and rides and shows an American Saddlebred and a Tennessee Walking Horse. - More information is available in the company announcement . Between the lines: - IAOTP uses an invite-only vetting process, which gives the award a selective profile and positions it as a credentialing signal as much as a celebration. - The timing suggests IAOTP is pairing Embry’s recognition with broader attention to women in leadership and medtech innovation. - Embry’s mix of product development, commercialization, and STEM outreach points to a career built around both technical execution and pipeline-building for future talent. What’s next: - Embry will be honored at IAOTP’s December gala in New York. - She will also be considered for a feature in TIP Magazine. - IAOTP will continue promoting the 2026 award class through its gala and related recognition channels. - Embry said she hopes her work inspires the next generation of innovators, especially women and underrepresented minorities, as she advances future medical technology initiatives.