Mr. Nelson received a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Colorado (CU) at Boulder in 1969. After a one-year position at a bank in Denver, he became employed at CU, initially in the Accounting Department, and soon thereafter in the Office of Contracts and Grants (OCG). OCG is responsible for processing and administering all of the sponsored research proposals and awards at CU (more than $250 million annually). In 2001, Mr. Nelson was a recipient of the University of Colorado's Robert L. Stearns Award for Exceptional Service, the highest honor bestowed upon CU faculty and staff for exceptional teaching, research, or service.

In 1981, Mr. Nelson became the Director of OCG and served in that capacity until his retirement in 2004. In February 2005, Mr. Nelson joined Tech-X as its first Controller. He brings to Tech-X his 34 years of experience with sponsored research, federal funding, and contract management.