Coaches connect with entrepreneurs in our ecosystem to help them learn, enage, and build upon entrepreneurial thinking. This network of educational, business and industry experts provides benefits that span the spectrum: from inspiring emerging entrepreneurs to connecting startups to customers, partners, investors, and coaching through the chaos and opportunity of entrepreneurship.
Rachel is an inventor and entrepreneur with a passion for helping high tech startups and academic innovators identify viable business models and connect to their first customer.
An entrepreneur with an eye for branding and business development Mike started his journey in Retail at the age of 18. He successfully opened a 3 store women’s wear business that he sold and then transitioned to wholesale import-export, still in the garment business. After successfully selling that business in 1979 he turned his energy to high tech in the early 1980’s opening a ComputerLand franchise and then a single Macintosh only store called Mac Universe which grew in 4 years to over 10 Million in sales and was then sold in 1996. In January of 1997 Apple Computer asked him to run business development for digital imaging and publishing until Adobe Systems hired him away to grow that same segment in 2004. While at Apple he formed his current company, MediaGroup, with 4 other Apple colleagues. MediaGroup still exists and is a leader in the Trade Show industry providing full exhibit house services, promotional items and apparel enhancing a companies brand. Residing and giving back in Williamsburg at LaunchPad and the Miller Entrepreneurship Center he is sharing his knowledge and skills in Business Development and Sales, plus general insight into managing and growing a company or division in the corporate world.
Graham is an entrepreneur turned educator, teaching in the Mason School of Business and directing the Alan B. Miller Entrepreneurship Center.
Graham has personal track record of launching and growing ventures – some of which succeeded (read: he has experience with exits as well as with winding things down).
Prior to joining William & Mary, Graham was the Director of Venture Development at New Richmond Ventures – a Richmond-based venture capital firm investing in early-stage, socially-driven startups. To date, NRV has invested in over a dozen companies – putting $100M of capital to work.
Elizabeth Eldredge has over 15 years of proven success in marketing and communications. Beginning her career in NYC with one of the best small creative shops in the nation, she has experience in all types of media, such as newspapers and magazines, radio advertisements, television commercials, direct mail fliers, social media posts, blog posts, and website advertisements. Her career progressed, taking her into the professional products division for a global beauty conglomerate with a specific focus on B2B marketing. With exceptional strategic capability, great organizational and communication skills, Elizabeth has a strong ability to work effectively with all organizational levels and is adept at translating complex strategy into actionable plans for entrepreneurs. Her industry experience includes advertising, marketing, and communications for consumer products, professional products, sporting goods, healthcare, security, and higher education.
Currently serving William & Mary as their Chief Marketing Officer in the business school, Jeff has over 30 years of experience across a multitude of industries, including retail, finance, healthcare, travel and hospitality, automotive, high tech, and education. He’s served in executive leadership roles at Fortune 500 corporations such as UnitedHealth Group and Target and worked in consulting capacities with top brands such as Best Buy, Nordstrom, The Gap, Disney, Delta Airlines, and Jaguar. Jeff has helped organizations define and promote their brands while generating demand for their products and services through effective marketing strategies and tactics. Jeff’s talents extend well beyond the ability to amp-up an organization’s revenue and position their brand as he also works to create effective and efficient organizational structures that allow organizations to do more with their financial and human resources. Having led several start-ups, Jeff knows the challenges small and new businesses face and is well equipped to help Launchpad start-ups get their marketing and operational plans performing at the highest levels possible.
Cody’s background is in marketing & branding, specifically demand generation, paid media and advertising, and brand development. Cody began in marketing consulting before moving into the ad agency world where he was part of the Omnicom network of agencies. During this time he was responsible for developing and implementing award-winning direct-to-consumer campaigns for healthcare and pharmaceutical clients including Pfizer, GSK, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Genentech. During this time he led go-to-market efforts for seven new products, established industry-leading digital patient support assets, and launched the first holistic patient lifecycle funnel for a pharmaceutical company. Cody currently oversees the demand generation and branding strategies for William & Mary’s School of Business. He and his team are primarily focused on acquisition and enrollment marketing for the graduate business programs and growing the Raymond A. Mason School of Business brand within the graduate business space.
After 20+ years in the corporate world promoting new technologies in Europe, Japan and the USA, Andrew could not resist an invitation to join an exciting new venture in on the ground floor. That initial venture was not successful but, in understanding why it failed, he learned a lot. When his partners gave up, he developed a new CD-ROM database product for the real estate industry that was successful for several years before being eclipsed by the advent of the internet. He has been involved in several more ventures, including one IPO, and has realized that success can take many different forms, and that some of the most successful ventures may have relatively short lifespans.
Cofounder and former CEO of Abrakadoodle®, remarkable art education for children, has an extensive background in entrepreneurship, education and franchising having started and developed two successful franchise systems in education over a span of 30 years. In 2002 she founded Abrakadoodle which has provided arts education programs to more than four million children in the US, China, Singapore, Mexico and Australia. Rogers led the company’s growth and development as CEO and oversaw the company’s proprietary standards-based art education curriculum that is used in art classes, camps, in-school programming and special events for children ages two to twelve. Internationally, Abrakadoodle operates nearly five hundred Abrakadoodle franchises and Art Studios for Kids. Rogers retired in 2016 after managing the sale of Abrakadoodle to Mega Education, an international multi-brand company.
Calherbe Monel immigrated to the United States 29 years ago from Haiti.
Monel has an extensive record as a public servant. In 2006, he was elected Vice President of his local civic league. As Vice-President, he spearheaded social and business initiatives that supported local entrepreneurs and businesses. In 2009, he was appointed Director of the City of Virginia Beach Minority Business Council and became a member of the Virginia Beach Citizen Police Council. He has also served on the New York State Mid-Hudson Economic Council and the Mid-Hudson Workforce Development Taskforce and the Spring Valley Youth Bureau.
In 2013 Monel ran for Mayor for the Village of Spring Valley, New York. He later became Director of Economic Development, Director of Workforce Development, and Director of Tourism of Rockland County, New York. During his term in those
positions, he has successfully marketed and attracted new businesses into the county; including assisting in the launch of numerous startups. He was also able to secure millions of dollars of funding from the State and Federal government for the expansion of tourism activities, workforce development, and business growth. Prior to serving in that position, he worked as Vice-President of Business Development for LIIT, an International Information Technology company. He has served as Delegate for the New York NAACP and a former member of the Hampton Roads Urban League Guild.
He is very skillful at forging strategic relationships between government, private, and faith-based entities towards marketplace and entrepreneurship development. Monel is a former radio (WRKL-NY) and TV (Cablevision-NY) show host and producer of “The Monel Show” in New York.
In 2007, he founded and served as Chief Executive Officer of Christians United for Haiti (CUH), a US-based non-profit organization. CUH was founded to support education, implement sustainable programs, and empower the youth and women in Haiti.
In 2013, he launched, SciTechLife, now “NonProfit Startup Center.” His company focuses on assisting visionaries to launch and manage their nonprofits. One of the key success his company relies on are the strong working relationships and partnerships that he has maintained with local universities, faith-based organizations, business associations, and government agencies.
Monel received his Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Leadership and Management from Regent University and obtained a certificate from Norfolk State University’s Neighborhood Leadership and Development Program. He also received a certificate in Non-Profit Leadership and Management from Wisconsin-Madison University, a Certificate in Economic Development and he is also a Green Belt Lean Six Sigma and a graduate of the City of Virginia Beach Citizen Police Academy.
Monel has been featured in numerous local and national media outlets for his work in Haiti and his business acumen. He has been a guest speaker at several institutions, both in the United States and abroad, discussing the topics of entrepreneurship, innovation, and business. He has received numerous awards and recognitions for his leadership service. He is currently an associate member of the City of Virginia Beach Minority Business Council, The Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Board of Governors of the National Association of Nonprofit Organizations and Executives. He is a results-oriented individual, who lives by his motto “Find a way or make a way to make it happen.”
In 2009, he received his official ordination as a Reverend. He is married to Yanick and together they have two wonderful and smart children, Caleb and Shaneeya.
Sal has over 45 years of experience in the manufacturing and distribution of disposable products with an international company which serves major customers in over 24 countries. His love for marketing, trouble shooting and customer relations led to a senior management position for the past 28 years. Sal has managed companies in New York, Pennsylvania and Richmond Virginia. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army and holds degrees in architectural engineering and international business. His volunteer experience includes Kiwanis and service as a volunteer firefighter.
Brilliant idea? Let it shine! Schedule an appointment or drop in to receive coaching tips on writing your script or presenting your pitch. No matter what stage you’re in, we’ll collaborate to make your idea known.
BONUS: Remember to get points for the EC GAME *Learn, Engage, Build* and work toward winning the big prize at the end of the semester.
I specialize in taking products from an idea to 10,000 users. My professional experience is split between starting my own ventures and two fortune 500 innovation labs. I’m also a fan of cycling, music videos, and window seat philosophy.
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