2026 Advisors in-Residence Sessions
Tags: Young Leaders Program
2025 Alumni Funded Businesses + Projects
| By supporting the people and ideas that have the greatest ability to positively impact our world, the Young Leaders and Whole Community Programs at Greenhouse are building blocks in pursuit of lasting community change. We provide direct support for early-stage ideas and connections to funding for different life stages. |
Jose Banales
(Class of 2019)
Young Leaders Program
JB Consulting, LLC
Denver, CO
JB Business Consulting, LLC specializes in sales operations consulting, helping small businesses in Denver generate and retain revenue. The firm tailors its services to client objectives, leveraging the owner’s experience to support business growth. The first year focuses on initial investments in equipment and software, with profitability expected by August 2025.
Yasmin Cortes
(Class of 2020)
Young Leaders Program
Flower Power
Chicago, IL
Flower Pow3r founded in 2024 by Yasmin Cortes, empower youth in Chicago’s under-resourced neighborhoods to heal and lead through the art of floral creation. By partnering with Chicago Public Schools, the program transforms classrooms into creative sanctuaries where students learn teamwork, mindfulness, and self-expression while exploring pathways to green careers. Through this blend of social-emotional growth, education, and community revitalization, Flower Pow3r cultivates peace and purpose — proving that even in places marked by hardship, beauty can grow and thrive.
Tyler Cunningham
(Class of 2019)
Young Leaders Program
CA-Loop
Santa Barbara, CA
CA-Loop merges sustainable farming, retail resale, and waste divertment. It integrates an aquaponics farm with a retail space focused on diverting waste and creating profitable goods. CA-Loop will be North America’s first Re-Use Mall-A large, centralized hub where food, goods, and services create a mixed-use, and community focused shopping center to improve the community and environment.
Meseret Hailu
(Class of 2011)
Whole Community Program
Ethiopian Youth Culture Workshop
Aurora, CO
The Ethiopian Youth Cultural Workshop (EYCW) is a summer enrichment experience for children. Designed to promote the preservation of cultural heritage among the children of Ethiopian immigrants living in the United States, the EYCW offers workshops on language skill development, an appreciation for African cuisine, and critical thinking skills.
Alexandra Martinez Lopez
(Class of 2022)
Young Leaders Program
InspiraSTEM
San Salvador, El Salvador
InspiraSTEM is an annual conference to empower Salvadoran college students in STEM disciplines through high-level training workshops and academic seminars.This initiative seeks to foster the development of future scientists and professionals in El Salvador who might otherwise lack access to high-quality scientific training, with the ultimate goal of driving positive changes in modern Salvadorian society.
Lamar Morgan
(Class of 2023)
Young Leaders Program
Lambstone Community Advisors
Augusta, GA
Lambstone Community Advisors is a community engagement and outreach advisory firm centered on bringing strategic and creative solutions to support for-profit businesses, non-profits, and quasi-governmental entities in their various endeavors. Focusing on creating and managing compelling content and events, Lambstone is an authentic community partner seeking first to understand the communities its work may affect before working prescriptively to address its most crucial opportunities for outreach and engagement.
Anthony Rucker
(Class of 2021)
Young Leaders Program
Rucker Insights, LLC
Chicago, IL
Rucker Insights, LLC is a business consulting firm specializing in sales and marketing for small and mid-sized companies, by helping clients generate revenue through services like social media management, sales funnel optimization, website creation, and content marketing.
Kaylee Zilinger
(Class of 2024)
Young Leaders Program
Yale VIBES
New Haven, CT
Yale VIBES (Virtual Internship in Biomedical Education in Science) is a paid, two-semester virtual internship for undergraduate students from historically marginalized backgrounds, particularly those from low-income or non-research-intensive universities, who are interested in graduate school.
Jessamyn Sweet
(Class of 2017)
Young Leaders Program
The Drawing Room –
Understudy Program
San Francisco, CA
The Drawing Room is a nonprofit community art organization that revitalizes vacant commercial spaces in San Francisco, transforming them into dynamic venues for art and public engagement. The UnderStudy program, is a paid learning experience for low-resource youth, equipping them with hands-on skills in gallery operations, curation, marketing, and business management.
Devante Morgan
(Class of 2018)
Young Leaders Program
MAAD
Los Angeles, CA
MAAD is a black-owned media and production company that empowers creators by offering them access to a comprehensive set of technical and production resources. This will enable them to produce high-quality media in their unique and authentic voice.
Delshanee Martin
(Class of 2021)
Young Leaders Program
Black Beauty Block Party
Los Angeles, CA
The Black Beauty Block Party is a one-day festival in Los Angeles created to spark systemic change in the Black community by breaking down barriers to Black women’s social, educational, and financial mobility. Organized by Lab Beauty, the event uses beauty as a tool for empowerment, wealth-building, and visibility.
Rodina Mohammed
(Class of 2020)
Young Leaders Program
SORS
New York
SORS is a luxury fragrance brand that creates high-end fragrance oils and perfumes at accessible prices, designed to make every customer feel like the main character in their story. Blending premium quality with affordability, SORS bridges the gap between exclusivity and inclusivity, offering timeless scents that inspire confidence and creativity. With a focus on authenticity, individuality, and sustainability, SORS caters to fragrance lovers seeking affordable luxury. The vision is to grow and expand into complementary products like incense, candles, and more, establishing SORS as a household name in luxury fragrance.
Abril Vela
(Class of 2018)
Young Leaders Program
CS for Success
Chicago, IL
CS for Success provides consultation services that further enable K-12 students to participate in equitable, inclusive, high-quality computer science experiences. The team offers decades of experience working in industry, education, non-profit, and student entrepreneurship communities. As such, they are able to help clients develop ecosystems of high-quality computer science educational opportunities within their communities – whether that be a classroom, school building, school district, neighborhood, or city – to provide students with a clear pathway to postsecondary success. They specialize in working with small and medium sized organizations providing services in curriculum and implementation support, project development, and project management.
Tags: Young Leaders Program
Young Leaders Program – Ignite 2025
| The Young Leaders Program provides comprehensive support to Greenhouse Alumni in the first decade of their careers and post-college lives. Through the Young Leaders Program, we work together to implement actionable ideas, change, and community initiatives. The 4rd annual Ignite conference was three days of learning, relationship building, and embracing an entrepreneurial spirit. 33 alumni in the Young Leaders program attended Ignite this year from 8 class years and 8 states. |
2025 Ignite Conference Speakers
Personal Theme | Proactive Wellness, Taking Control of Your Story
Amy Fobes
Senior Vice President in Global Occupier Services at Savills
Amy delivered a thought-provoking presentation that explored personal strength, abundant thinking, the freedom to dream, and the creation of spaces for healing.
Community Change Theme |
The Why Behind Various Paths
Beth Martial from the PROG Foundation & John Williams from Samudra Group facilitated a debate between two Alumni teams.
After watching a film, The Barber of Little Rock, two teams debated whether local entrepreneurship or large-scale policy are more effective in driving systemic community transformation.
Leadership Theme | How to Become Exceptional Leaders of People, Profit,
and Purpose
These exceptional panelists spoke to the inputs, attitudes, actions, and outcomes tied to our leadership framework. Their unique and vast experience left the Alumni motivated with “tails waggin;”, as Dan would say. (Panelists listed as they appear left to right in the photo)
- Terrence Cummings, Chief Opportunity Officer at Guild
- Jay Curran, President of Multifamily for Crescent Communities
- Carmen Ashley, Branch Chief in the Division of Adolescent and School Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Carmen served in a personal capacity for this activity)
- Dan McInerny, Partner and Executive Director of Ama OluKai Foundation
Professional Theme |
How to Build Trust
Gunil Chung
VP Enterprise Strategy and Executive Programs at Box
Gunil is the author of Super Connector Manifesto which features a chapter on How to Build Trust. He shared the primary ways to establish trust using “The Four Cs – Character, Competence, Consistency, Community”
Outdoor Activity
Before any of the conference sessions began, Alumni attending Ignite started with fresh air, movement, and mindfulness at beautiful Chautauqua park. Our outdoor activity facilitators were Christy Marshall and Shambu Williams
Tags: Young Leaders Program
Young Leaders Program – 2025 Idea Creation & Enhancement Sessions
| The Young Leaders Program provides comprehensive support to Greenhouse Alumni in the first decade of their careers and post-college lives and ensures we work together as a community to launch high-potential, high-impact ideas. The program serves Alumni who are committed to growing as a leader, pursuing the best version of themselves, leveling the playing field in their careers, and being a part of strengthening our community. By supporting the people and ideas that have the greatest ability to positively impact our world, the Young Leaders Program is a building block in pursuit of lasting community change. Through the Impact + Entrepreneurship component of the Young Leaders Program, Greenhouse provides direct support for early-stage ideas and connections to funding for different life stages. In 2025, the Young Leaders Program will host Idea Creation and/or Enhancement sessions in Illinois, Colorado, California, and Georgia. |
Idea Creation:
Building Blocks in Pursuit of Lasting Community Change
Sessions that contribute to the creation of new, high-potential ideas for Young Leaders and community members to pursue.
Illinois Idea Creation
Community Members: Jen Ebert, Jim Lencioni, Laura Yaeger
Alumni: Yessi Oasis, Ayesha Rahman, Jason Roberts
Colorado Idea Creation
Community Members: Joshua Chen, Alison Gerlach, Ruther Hiller, Angela Moss, Stefan Mikael Peterson
Alumni: Aksay Gupta, Wendy Guardado, Michelle Isom, Ashton Reppert
Idea Enhancement:
Launching High-Potential Ideas
Sessions that support the success of ideas of various life stages with input
from within and outside the Greenhouse Community.
California Idea Enhancement
Community Members: Natan Landman, Tyler Mattox, Stephanie Smallets, Taryn Voget
Alumni: Tyler Cunningham, Del Martin, Devante Morgan, Jessamyn Sweet
Illinois Idea Enhancement
Community Members: Arlette Grabczynska, Allison Rabin, Dave Rice, Mark Staelgraeve
Alumni: Yasmin Cortes, Yessi Oasis
Tags: Young Leaders Program
2025 Young Leaders Program Advisors in-Residence Sessions
| The Young Leaders Program provides comprehensive support to Greenhouse Scholar Alumni in the early stages of their careers and post-college life. Advisor in-Residence Sessions provide innovative, comprehensive, and personalized support resources to grow Alumni in the Young Leaders Program, maximize individual potential, and foster community change. Advisors participate in three teams and work with alumni over four virtual sessions: |
- Leaders “in Residence”: Helping Alumni become exceptional leaders of people, profits, and purpose. (January 2025)
- Professionals “in Residence”: Preparing Alumni to take on the finance, operations, marketing/customer experience, and culture challenges and opportunities that present themselves regardless of vocation. (February 2025)
- Whole People “in Residence”: Providing the knowledge and tools to help Alumni live their best lives. (March 2025)
- All-Advisor Session: Workshops with all Advisors from all three teams. (April 2025)
- Setbacks are inevitable – what matters is how we respond, reflect, and grow
- Believe in what you’re doing – whether it’s a product, project, or idea
- Passion fuels resilience
- Life is unified – work and personal life are not separate
See below for bios of our current Advisors in Residence and individual session themes.
2025 Advisors in Residence
Leadership Team
January Leadership Session Key Takeaways: Ongoing Assessment for Leadership Growth
- Leadership isn’t about grand ambitions; it can be about small, consistent actions.
- Be intentional and aware of your actions, mindset, and environment.
- Effective leadership requires understanding individual motivations and adjusting approaches accordingly.
- Leaders don’t need to have all the answers immediately; confidence in learning and adapting is key.
Terrence Cummings
(New Advisor)
Chief Opportunity Officer, Guild
Terrence is the chief opportunity officer at Guild, where he is accountable for driving economic mobility for Guild’s learners, members and employees. He previously served as the company’s senior vice president of member services and strategy, and before that led the company’s employer partnerships teams. Prior to Guild, Cummings led product, marketing, partnerships, engineering and analytics teams across a range of startup companies and was previously a consultant at McKinsey & Company. He holds a B.S. in Finance from the University of Colorado.
M. Ryan Gorman
(New Advisor)
Co-Founder, btcRE: be the change Real Estate
Ryan is driven by service, guided by integrity, and passionate about the intersection of people and place. He believes in the beautiful efficiency and impenetrable logic of classic bicycles, well-conceived roundabouts, and housing-first public policy. It brings him joy to help people create the communities they deserve, from physical neighborhoods to high-performing organizations to digital collaboratives. His career travels include technology investment banking in Silicon Valley, fixed-income investing on Wall Street, and private equity due diligence across the country.
Gregg Vanourek
(Returning Advisor)
Founder, Gregg Vanourek LLC
Gregg is co-author of three influential books, including LIFE Entrepreneurs (a manifesto for integrating our life and work with purpose and passion) and Triple Crown Leadership (a winner of the International Book Awards). He runs a personal development and leadership company and teaches at the Stockholm Business School. He’s also a former senior executive at a tech startup, now a market leader with $1 billion in sales. He served as board chair for a global social entrepreneurship accelerator based in Stockholm. Gregg has given a TEDx talk and talks or workshops in eight countries.
David Zimmerman
(Returning Advisor)
Founder, AMAXXA
From Financial Advisor to CEO to entrepreneur, David is a forward-acting business pioneer who always wants to know what’s around the next corner. David built his business by doing financial planning for his clients and using advisory services for investment solutions. On Wall Street magazine recognized him as one of the financial services industry’s top managers twice during his career and Registered Rep magazine wrote an article about his work to pioneer practice management and team development.
Professional Team
February Professional Session Key Takeaways: How Attitude Impacts Individual and Organizational Success
- Power of Positivity – Positive attitudes attract others and create strong connections
- Positive Mindset – Choosing optimism over fear in the face of challenges.
- Celebrate Small Wins – Break big goals into milestones. Recognize and appreciate progress made along the way.
Dr. Shawana Moore
(New Advisor)
Associate Professor and MSN and DNP Programs Director, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University
Shawana is a health equity policy leader in women’s/gender-related populations, her advocacy work has shaped women’s health curriculum, national continuing education to recognize health inequities for women/of color, and those who identify as female. She is the first African American President of the National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health (NPWH) and the inaugural co-chair of the organization’s first Inclusivity, Diversity and Equity (IDE) committee.
Rachel Myung
(Returning Advisor)
Of Counsel, DLA Piper LLP
Rachel advises clients on complex business transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, and general corporate counseling and compliance. Rachel’s clients also include private equity sponsors, portfolio companies, and other private companies across an array of industries, including technology, manufacturing, healthcare, aviation, food and beverage, and professional services and marketing.
Sid Prashar
(New Advisor)
Senior Partner, Modern Executive Solutions
Sid is a Senior Partner at Modern, a strategic consultancy that partners with clients to both define and execute a leadership talent strategy that will build sustainable and diverse leadership teams. Prior, Sid led a high-performing team focused on executive leadership recruitment at Google and worked with senior executive teams on many business-critical leadership roles across the Alphabet portfolio. Sid earned his bachelor’s in computer engineering from Purdue University and MBA from University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management.
Tom Thompson
(Returning Advisor)
VP Creative/Advertising, St. Martin’s Press
Tom leads the Creative Studio group that comprises an in-house advertising agency–from media planning to creative to ad ops –social media and promotion specialists, as well as a traditional creative services team. In addition to his work at SMPG, Tom is a poet, with three books and many poems, reviews and essays published in literary journals and websites. He lives in New York City.
Whole Person Team
March Whole Person Session: Adaptive Goal Setting for Personal Growth
- Clarity and Alignment – A clear vision of life priorities helps syncs all aspects of life.
- Holistic Life – Work and personal life are interconnected, not separate entities.
- Setbacks – Every adversity has an equivalent or greater benefit.
- Being Relentless – Passion beats talent, and clarity allows you to be adaptable.
Pete Burridge
(Returning Advisor)
Founder & CEO, Greenhouse Scholars, Greenhouse Partners, The 18.com
Pete previously served as a Senior Vice President and an officer at The Integer Group. Integer is a global powerhouse in promotional, retail, and shopper marketing. He was also a director of Wunderman Cato Johnson, a division of Young and Rubicam, and has an investment background, having spent four years as a Treasury Bond Trader at the Chicago Board of Trade. An entrepreneur his entire career, he has been a part of starting seven companies. Pete founded Greenhouse Scholars to create a Whole Person program that makes a broad and lasting impact by helping students become community leaders who create change that will last through the generations. He believes that each of us is accountable for giving back to the community.
Erik Estrada
(Returning Advisor)
Corporate Attorney, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
Erik practices corporate and securities law with a focus on corporate governance, public company representation, public offerings, and mergers and acquisitions. He has extensive
experience advising clients, including public companies and their boards and executive leadership teams, on federal securities law compliance and corporate governance matters, with a particular emphasis on technology, biotech, and telecommunications companies. Before joining the firm, Erik was a senior director
and senior corporate counsel for Liberty Latin America Ltd., a Nasdaq-listed company, and as a director and senior corporate counsel for Level 3, a Fortune 500 company.
Lynne Hambleton-Magee
(New Advisor)
Minister, Spiritual Healer and Change Consultant
Lynne’s business experience includes consulting services, product marketing, strategic planning, sales operations, customer support and training in companies spanning many industries and sizes. She guided organizational transformations, redirected troubled projects to successful completion, conducted workshops, and coached clients on business process improvement projects. Recent engagements included leader development and coaching, client relationship management, sales force effectiveness, team dynamics, strategic marketing re-alignment, product/services development, commercialization process, talent development, organization/ cultural transformation to project-centric operations, and PMO creation and execution.
Ali Hartman
(New Advisor)
Activist and Changemaker
Ali is a lifelong activist and changemaker. She has spent her professional career in roles that sit at the intersection of profit and purpose. She is an expert in responsible investment, ESG integration, venture philanthropy, venture impact, and gender lens investing. Ali is a tested leader whose diverse interests and life experiences have shaped her world view. She believes that to unlock the most change we must build bridges between power and perspective. Ali strives to use a range of traditional and innovative tools to create a more sustainable, inclusive, just world for all.
Tags: Young Leaders Program
Young Leaders Program – Virtual Career Fair – October 15, 2024
| The Young Leaders Program provides comprehensive support to Greenhouse alumni in the first decade of their careers and post-college lives and ensures we work together as a community to launch high-potential, high-impact ideas. The program serves alumni who are committed to growing as a leader, pursuing the best version of themselves, leveling the playing field in their careers, and being a part of strengthening our community. The 2nd Greenhouse Virtual Career Fair will provide a highly engaging, customized experience for our corporate sponsors and partner organizations to access our exceptional, diverse, talent pool of Greenhouse graduating seniors and all alumni. |
Virtual Career Fair Partner Organizations
Jobs Connectivity Sponsor
Supporting the overall Jobs Connectivity component, including the Virtual Career Fair, organizations have a year-round, always-on exposure and access to the exceptional leaders in our program.
JD | Finish Line
Finish Line is part of the JD brand family. They exist at the intersection of ideas — Where performance meets style. Where classic meets technology. Where street meets fashion.
Finish Line doesn’t just provide jobs, they provide careers – places to grow. With retail locations in 47 states and Puerto Rico, plus corporate offices in Indianapolis and Boulder, there are plenty of positions that will fit exactly what you’re looking for.
Career Fair Supporters
The Virtual Career Fair supporters will showcase their brands and access to a pipeline of high-achieving young professionals and graduating seniors who are changing the world and making a direct impact in their communities.
Gresham Partners
Full service. Fully committed to your needs.
Services to maximize your opportunities. Our commitment to anticipatory service aims to deliver the highest levels of oversight, accountability and personalized attention, designed to provide you with peace of mind.
Endeavor
Endeavor turbocharges the journey of fast-growing entrepreneurs through a best-in-class seal of approval, an unrivaled global network, and an impactful platform to pay-it-forward.
We select Endeavor Entrepreneurs around the world, identifying the fastest growing founders with the greatest potential, inviting them to participate in our renowned international selection process, and delivering value at every step.
JumpCloud
JumpCloud®, IT teams and MSPs enable users to work securely from anywhere and manage their Windows, Apple, Linux, and Android devices from a single platform. JumpCloud® is IT Simplified.
JumpCloud has been used by more than 200,000 organizations and has raised over $400M from world-class investors including Sapphire Ventures, General Atlantic, Sands Capital, and Atlassian.
Wintrust
With tailored solutions and unparalleled customer service, it’s never one-size-fits-all when it comes to your finances.
For more than 25 years, we’ve been banks that invest in, give back to, and get to really know our communities and the people living in them. When you bank with a Wintrust Community Bank, you can be confident your money is going back into the things that matter most to you.
FPC National
Human-Centered Executive Recruitment
Connecting high performers to exclusive nationwide opportunities.
With more than 60 years of experience and 100+ recruiters nationwide, FPC National has the network resources and expertise to help you reach YOUR career aspirations.
CrossVue
We connect the dots between technology, transformation, operations, and data analytics with Workday
As a leader in the boutique consulting space, our team combines innovation with deep technical and industry expertise to solve complex business challenges. Leveraging our mastery of the Workday platform, we go beyond providing insights – we transform how enterprises view their operations.
Pillar4
Pillar4 Media is a digital media company dedicated to helping people live healthier lives
by providing access to trusted resources, in-depth product reviews, and supportive
communities.
We connect consumers with the best products in the health and wellness space through proprietary testing methodologies, reliable content, and advanced digital capabilities, enabling more informed purchasing decisions. Pillar4 owns and operates digital brands and also partners with publishing brands to reach engaged audiences and drive growth across digital channels, leveraging their expertise in content strategy, search engine optimization (SEO), and paid media and more to create impactful digital experiences.
Weill Cornell Medicine
Medicine is constantly changing, but Weill Cornell Medicine’s compassionate, superior patient care is constant. WCM’s mission is shaped by three parts: Exceptional care, research and education.
Weill Cornell Medicine is among the nation’s top-ranked medical and graduate schools, striving for excellence in its education of the world’s future healthcare leaders. Research by faculty and graduate students at Weill Cornell Medicine is collaborative, groundbreaking and patient-focused.
Google’s mission is to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.
Google is an American multinational technology company that specializes in Internet-related services and products. These include online advertising technologies, a search engine, cloud computing, software, and hardware. It is one of the Big Five American information technology companies, along with Amazon, Apple, Meta, and Microsoft.
Virtual Career Fair Workshop Facilitators
Here are a select few of our confirmed speakers and panelists:
Ashley Andersen
Founder and Certified Executive Coach
From Story to Impact
Ashley is the Founder of Ezra Sage, a company dedicated to helping organizations retain top talent and create cultures where well-being and high performance coexist. Her extensive experience in executive coaching and leadership development spans government, corporate, and academic sectors, giving her a unique lens on what drives engagement and commitment. Rooted in her background in social work and psychology, Ashley combines clinical insights with practical strategies to reduce toxic stress and burnout. She holds certifications from top coaching and facilitation programs and is passionate about enabling companies to build environments where employees feel valued, supported, and motivated to excel.
In the Virtual Career Fair, Ashley will be a speaker for the Effective Communication and Presentation Skills workshop.
Jeff Herzog
President
Your Job Search is a Bare Knuckle Fight
Jeff Herzog is a franchise leader and executive search professional with over 27 years of experience in the industry. He is the President of FPC National, a network of over 60 executive search offices operated by industry specialists, and the Owner/Executive Recruiter of FPC of New York City, a firm that specializes in placing supply chain, finance/accounting, and sales marketing professionals in select manufacturing companies around the country.
At the Virtual Career Fair, Jeff will join a panel Q&A and will lead a breakout group conversation on the topic of “the unintentional entrepreneur.”
Carmen Ashley
Branch Chief
How to Have a Great Career
A self-professed “public health nerd,” Carmen Ashley is a branch chief in the Division of Adolescent and School Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). She has over 30 years of experience working in adolescent health for CDC and other entities such as the American Cancer Society, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, and Emory University.
Carmen is an active member of the American Public Health Association, the American Society for Public Administration, and the American School Health Association. She serves on the both the Global Mission Board and the Georgia Community Board of Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF). She is a Greenhouse Scholar mentor.
In the Virtual Career Fair, Carmen will lead an interactive workshop will help YOU decide what you’ll need to make sure your career – no matter the profession – is one that keeps you happy and fulfilled. Carmen will be speaking in a personal capacity and not as a representative of the CDC.
Janek Pedersen
Partner, Wealth Advisor
Financial Planning for Young Professionals
Janek is a Partner and Wealth Advisor with Curi RMB Capital, which provides wealth planning and investment management for its clients. In his 19 years of experience working in wealth management, he has focused on helping his clients manage their financial wealth and planning for what might lie ahead. Janek has experience working with high-net-worth families delivering customized solutions to grow their net worth while also safeguarding assets from potential risks. Janek is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) holder who received his undergraduate degree from DePaul University.
In the Virtual Career Fair, Janek will cover the basics of financial planning to help young adults understand important tips that can meaningfully increase the likelihood of a comfortable financial structure and set the course for achieving long-term financial goals.
Panelists
Giselle Mota
Chief of Product Inclusion
Panelist
Giselle Mota is a Chief of Product Inclusion at ADP, where she leads DE&I throughout the 200+ product portfolio, ensuring an inclusive, responsible, and ethical mindset in design and delivery. She helps drive adoption of DE&I capabilities within ADP’s product offerings, ensuring a seamless end-to-end experience for clients and users.
In the Virtual Career Fair, Giselle will be a panelist during one of the Industry Trends and Innovations workshops.
Jamal Lopez
JD, CDP, SHRM-SCP, Director of Professionalism
Panelist
Jamal Lopez is the Director of Professionalism for Weill Cornell Medicine (WCM). In this role, Jamal manages the day-to-day operations of the Office of Professionalism and collaborates with tri-institutional leadership at NY Presbyterian and Columbia hospitals. Jamal is committed to his work because he believes in proactively supporting all people in the WCM community to enjoy an inclusive, fair, and equitable work environment where they can bring the best versions of themselves to work daily. Jamal has been working in the field of Human Resources for more than 16 years and has held various leadership positions in Human Resources and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Throughout his career journey Jamal has also been employed as an FBI Police Officer, NYC Investigator, and Social Worker.
In the Virtual Career Fair, Jamal will be a panelist on the Leadership & Management Skills Panel.
Becca DuPont
Head of Communications & Engagement
Panelist and Sponsor Spotlight
With nearly a decade of experience in her current role, Becca DuPont has established herself as a dynamic leader in communications and employee engagement at JD Finish Line. Known for her strategic approach to communications planning and executive messaging, Becca excels in creating and upholding a company’s voice as well as fostering cross-functional collaboration. A self-described blend of Leslie Knope’s relentless optimism and Olivia Pope’s fierce determination, Becca has earned a reputation as fearless, relentless and scrappy within the organization. Within her current role and her next, she looks to offer a fresh perspective on the intersection of communications and people experience in today’s evolving workplace.
In the Virtual Career Fair, Becca will be a speaker for the Sponsor Spotlight and a panelist during the Navigating Career Transitions & Finding a Job workshop.
John Prestipino
Manager of Talent Acquisition
Panelist
John Prestipino, Manager of Talent Acquisition at Thresholds in Chicago IL, is a 2004 graduate of Purdue University Calumet who transitioned from a career path as a guitar instructor in 2011 into Workforce Development programming for individuals experiencing severe and persistent diagnosed illness. In June of 2022, John was promoted to Manager of Talent Acquistion at Thresholds where he has been able to share Thresholds Mental Health mission in the Chicagoland area and be a recruiting gateway for workforce development entities, education institutions, and non-profit agencies.
In the Virtual Career Fair, John will be a panelist during the Navigating Career Transitions & Finding a Job workshops.
Megan Scheid
Director of Talent Acquisition
Sponsor Spotlight
Megan Scheid is the Director of Talent Acquisition at Pillar4 Media. Megan is approaching 4 years at the company, with nearly 9 total years in HR/Talent. As
the Director of Talent Acquisition, she leads P4’s recruitment strategy and collaborates with business teams to ensure candidates and people leaders have a streamlined, best-in-class experience. She partners with our people leaders to identify top talent inside and outside the organization. Megan enjoys networking, getting to meet new people, and building on those relationships. In her free time, Megan enjoys spending time with her family, trying new restaurants/coffee shops, and a good book!
In the Virtual Career Fair, Megan will be the speaker for Pillar 4’s Sponsor Spotlight.
Angel L. Eduardo
Writer | Musician | Photographer | Designer
Panelist
Angel Eduardo is a writer, musician, photographer, and designer based in New York City best known for coining the rhetorical term star-manning. He works as Senior Writer & Editor for the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), a free speech advocacy organization, and serves as Board Chair for the cultural depolarization nonprofit the Foundation Against Intolerance & Racism (FAIR). His writing has also been featured in The Free Press, Quillette, Persuasion, and Newsweek Opinion, among other print and online publications. Through his work, Angel hopes to continue promoting a culture of free speech, free inquiry, and freedom of expression through honest, good-faith, and compassionate engagement with people across the political and ideological spectrum.
In the Virtual Career Fair, Angel will be a panelist on the topic of Industry Trends & Innovations.
Teresa Pierrie
Coordinator, Cumberland 2026 Cohort
Panelist
Ms. Teresa Pierrie has devoted her career to public education. She spent 30 years with Wake County Public School System (Raleigh, NC) holding positions in the classroom, central services, and as a school executive of two early college programs. She was the founding principal of the Wake Young Women’s Leadership Academy, home of the OWLS – Outstanding Women Leaders (www.wcpss.net/wywla). Ms. Pierrie continued her service to public schools as the WakeEd Partnership Program Director (www.wakeed.org/) . She designed innovative programs that integrated the business community’s resources with the mission of the local school district. Currently, Ms. Pierrie works with the North Carolina State University (NCSU) Principal Preparation Program (nela.ced.ncsu.edu/) where she coaches and develops future school leaders. Ms. Pierrie, a first generation college graduate, holds two masters degrees from NCSU. She lives in Charlotte, NC , with her husband Richard.
In the Virtual Career Fair, Teresa will be one of our panelists for the Industry Trends and Nonprofits Panel.
Dwight Cass
Consultant | Senior Product Manager
Panelist
Dwight is a Senior Product Manager at Slalom Consulting, LLC, with over a decade of experience driving strategic digital transformations for some of America’s largest enterprises. He excels at aligning organizational objectives with cutting-edge industry trends, leading cross-functional teams to deliver innovative, customer-centric digital solutions. Dwight’s expertise lies in seamlessly integrating technology, design, and innovation to create inclusive and equitable digital products that not only meet but anticipate evolving customer needs, ensuring sustained business growth and impact.
In the Virtual Career Fair, Dwight will be one of our panelists for the Industry Trends and Tech Panel.
Paul Ginsberg
Fellow
Panelist
Paul is the Retired President at Roark Capital, an Atlanta-based private equity firm with over $38 billion in assets under management. Prior to joining Roark in 2014, Paul was a senior partner, co-head of Global M&A, member of the Management Committee and member of the Partnership Committee at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, a prominent international law firm, where he was widely recognized as a world-leading practitioner in M&A and private equity. Paul is a graduate of Union College (magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, Pi Sigma Alpha, Heck-Steingut Award for outstanding Political Science Major), where he serves as a member of its Board of Trustees, and the University of Chicago Law School, where he served as a member of its Visiting Committee. During 2024, he will be a Fellow in residence at Harvard University’s Advanced Leadership Initiative.
In the Virtual Career Fair, Paul will be one of our panelists for the Leadership & Management Skills Panel.
Christopher J. Parker
VP, CRA, and Business Development Officer
Panelist
Christopher J. Parker is Vice-President, Director of CRA & Community Engagement for Wintrust Financial Corporation since 2018. He focuses on commercial lending and finance coaching within marginalized communities within the western metropolitan of Chicago area communities. He works with the banks senior leadership team to ensure capital needs are meet within the banks assessment area. He serves on several boards civically to maintain a community pulse and servant mindset. Christopher was awarded the notable executive leadership award by CRAINS Chicago for his work in economic development and finance.
In the Virtual Career Fair, Chris will be a panelist on the topic of Entrepreneurship and Startups.
Katy Flatau
Senior Director, Global People Attraction & Executive Recruiting
Panelist
Katy Flatau is the head of Global People Attraction at JumpCloud, a scaling tech company based in Denver, CO with team members in 15 countries. Prior to her role at JumpCloud, Katy has both been a solopreneur and scaled several earlier stage start-ups. Her passion is for supporting individuals as they find their way to the roles that allow them to elevate their professional path. People who are in the right role at the right place are then able to measurably enhance the success of those organizations. Finding a professional path that fits your goals and allows you to feel fulfilled each day makes a massive difference to your life satisfaction.
In the Virtual Career Fair, Katy will be a panelist on the topic of Entrepreneurship and Startups.
Mukai Matsiga
Senior Global Talent Retention and Progression Consultant
Sponsor Spotlight
Mukai Matsiga is a strategic Talent Management professional with over seven years of
experience at Google, where he has a proven track record of designing impactful initiatives, driving employee retention, and fostering equitable workplaces. During his time at Google, Mukai has championed the retention and advancement of employees through targeted career coaching, internal mobility expertise, and strategic advocacy. He has partnered with C-suite executives to analyze talent metrics and
develop data-driven programs and has designed and facilitated training workshops for
hundreds of global employees.
Mukai is a passionate advocate for inclusive cultures and has co-founded impactful
employee resource groups, including the Black Googler Network in Boulder.
In the Virtual Career Fair, Mukai will be a speaker for the Google Sponsor Spotlight.
Nasreen Khan
Talent Sourcing Manager
Sponsor Spotlight
Nasreen Khan is the Talent Sourcing Manager within the Weill Cornell Medicine Talent Acquisition team. Her current role encompasses organizing career fairs, partnering with schools to offer recent grads career opportunities and strategically sourcing for hard to fill roles. She has been with WCM for 6 years. Nasreen’s professional career background has been within healthcare, higher education and research talent acquisition. Prior to Weill Cornell Medicine she was with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Advent Health. Her expertise is in recruitment, sourcing and onboarding.
Nasreen grew up in Lahore, Pakistan. She went to college at the University of South Florida. She now calls the Upper West Side home with her husband and daughter.
In the Virtual Career Fair, Nasreen will be speaking during the Sponsor Spotlight and would love to help connect Greenhouse Scholars with career opportunities at Weill Cornell Medicine.
Mike Dubeck
President
Panelist
Mike leads FPC in Troy, Michigan; an executive search firm specializing in manufacturing, engineering, and supply chain talent. With over 30 years of experience, including two decades in business development, Mike helps clients build strong teams by delivering tailored recruitment solutions. His background includes leadership roles in Automotive (GM/Toyota/Chrysler) and Consumer Goods where he gained expertise in operations, Lean systems, and supply chain improvements.
In the Virtual Career Fair, Mike will be a panelist on Navigating Career Transitions & Finding a Job.
Shelaine Kyburz
Talent Acquisition Partner
Sponsor Spotlight
Meet Shelaine, a talent acquisition partner with over 7 years of experience across IT, Finance, and Consulting Services. A graduate of Indiana University with a minor in Apparel Merchandising, she’s found her ideal role at JD Finish Line, where her passion for sneakers perfectly complements her talent for hiring exceptional candidates in merchandising and marketing. Outside of work, Shelaine enjoys spending quality time with friends and family, and her adorable sidekick and dog, Berkeley. She loves outdoor activities like biking and rollerblading, as well as cooking and exploring new cultures and cities through travel. Favorite Quote: ‘In a world where you can be anything, be kind.’
In the Virtual Career Fair, Shelaine will be the speaker for the JD Finish Line Sponsor Spotlight.
Rachel Noall
Senior Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Associate
Panelist
Rachel Noall is a Senior Associate who has worked at Pillar4 Media for 2.5 years. This role combined various skill sets she acquired as a former educator and side-hustle entrepreneur. Rachel has earned an MA in Poetry and an MBA. These drastically different degrees align with Rachel’s career aspiration of constantly pushing
the envelope. When she’s not working, she enjoys exploring Colorado, writing, drinking good coffee, and losing cell phone service.
In the Virtual Career Fair, Rachel will be a panelist discussing Industry Tends and Tech.
Kevin Allen
Co-Founder and COO
Panelist
Founding his first company soon after completing business school resulting in a patent on cellular modeling and the sale of the venture, Kevin has gone on to found three additional businesses including the non profit Access Mode, a Techstars company and the first BIPOC focused accelerator in Colorado. Kevin was the Managing Director at the DEMI Fund, an early-stage venture fund focused on companies established by BIPOC entrepreneurs before moving on to cofound Social Economy Partners. Kevin holds a BS from the University of Pennsylvania (Wharton School of Business), where he distinguished himself as a two-time All-League football player; an MBA from the Goizueta School of Business at Emory University, where he was recognized as a Toigo Finance Fellow; and, a JD from the Law School at the University of Chicago.
In the Virtual Career Fair, Kevin will be a panelist speaking on the Entrepreneurship & Startups Panel.
Kari Newman
Real Estate Broker, Director of
Community, Culture and Business Development
Panelist
I have been in the Real Estate industry for 24 years. I grew quickly to a top sales broker but have always loved mentoring and creating a dynamic culture, so I saw myself in a leadership role. I worked my way to managing the top office in my market and shortly after became an Executive Vice President of a successful brokerage. I believe that if you can make it in real estate, it is the greatest career for work/life balance there is. Your time is your own and you never have to miss an opportunity for travel, children, or whatever brings you joy. It is not easy, but it is incredibly rewarding and flexible. Having a good mentor and brokerage on top of consistent hard work are the key ingredients for success.
In the Virtual Career Fair, Kari will be a panelist speaking on the Industry Trends Mashup Panel.
Dayna Lee Libby
Outreach & Engagement Director
Panelist
A Michigan native, Florida A&M University undergrad graduate, Quinnipiac University Masters graduate, and proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc; Dayna is a near 2-decade veteran of ESPN/Disney where she began her journey as a Broadcast Editor in 2007. Dayna was able to edit a myriad of content on award-winning shows for ESPN such as Sportscenter, NFL Countdown, & NBA Tonight.
After driving some of the highest-attended diversity & inclusion events via her employee resource group involvement, Dayna transitioned to become the Outreach & Engagement Director, leading Disney’s flagship HBCU commitment “Disney On The Yard”, providing mentorship, scholarship, representation, early career & professional-level career opportunities to people of color. Building the Drum Major Mickey Mouse framework, and inclusive strategies, Dayna confirms that this commitment is necessary, and beautifully crafted for all dimensions of diversity.
In the Virtual Career Fair, Dayna will be a panelist speaking on the Navigating Career Transitions & Finding a Job Panel.
Dean Carter
Chief Experience Officer
Panelist
Dean is widely known as innovative and industry-recognized leader of People and Culture for over 20 years as a 4-time CHRO across Fortune 50, rapid growth, and culture-driven organizations. Prior to Modern Executive Solutions, Dean served in the role of Chief People Officer for Guild, Sears Holdings, Fossil. Inc. and Patagonia, where his 10-year chief administrator roll spanned across People, Culture, Finance, and Legal functions. He launched his HR career through a variety of progressive leadership roles at Procter&Gamble, Pier 1 Imports, and Pearle Vision.
He is currently the Chief Experience Officer at Modern and an independent Director for Griffith Foods, a high-growth Chicago-based privately held sustainable food company. He also serves as on Tech Advisory Boards for SemperViren VC, Wellist, Guild, Gloat, and AirVet.
In the Virtual Career Fair, Dean will be a panelist speaking on the Industry Trends Mashup Panel.
Tinisha Dorsey
Senior Principal, Employee Health & Benefits
Panelist
Tinisha Dorsey is the Central Market leader of Mercer’s Life, Absence and Disability (LAD) practice. As a highly valued leader of the LAD consulting team, she manages a team of consultants, provides practice oversight of the client engagement & selling work streams and leads in developing overall client strategy, particularly within the Leave Landscape.
Tinisha currently lives in the Chicagoland area with her husband of 26 years and she has three adult/collegiate children. She volunteers for a number of organizations, most notably serving on the Board of Directors for The Spirited Pearls Foundation and as a featured mentor/sponsor for Greenhouse Scholars.
In the Virtual Career Fair, Tinisha will be a panelist speaking on the Leadership & Management Skills Panel.
Ellie Legerski
Producer | Writer | Greenhouse Scholar Alumni, Class of 2012
Panelist
Elli Legerski was raised in small towns throughout Wyoming and Colorado and always used movies as her escape to different, more exciting worlds. As she obtained her degree in film at the University of Utah, she also found Sundance. There, she met and landed jobs with several renowned filmmakers, including Lee Daniels, Peter Jackson, and Freida Lee Mock. She moved to Los Angeles in 2013 after she was recruited to work in Film Finance at the Creative Artists Agency. She now produces and writes full time. Her projects have premiered at Sundance, SXSW, Tribeca, Outfest, and Sitges. In 2021, she became a member of the Producers Guild of America. Elli is also a Greenhouse Scholar Alumni, Class of 2012.
In the Virtual Career Fair, Ellie will be a panelist speaking on the Industry Trends and Mashup Panel.
Charlie Hirsch
Director of MSP Sales
Sponsor Spotlight
Charlie is the Director of sales for JumpCloud‘s MSP Business for North America and LATAM. His role is to execute JumpCloud’s MSP vision and strategy and continuously tailor JumpCloud’s offerings to cater to the needs of partners and their customers. Prior to joining JumpCloud, Charlie was the head of partnership sales at a publicly traded company that runs on JumpCloud, located a few blocks from JumpCloud’s headquarters in Louisville, CO. He’s currently based in Southern Wisconsin.
In the Virtual Career Fair, Charlie will be a speaker for the JumpCloud Sponsor Spotlight.
Karyn Romero-Arceo
Talent Acquisition and Career Development Specialist
Sponsor Spotlight
Karyn Romero-Arceo is a seasoned Talent Acquisition Specialist and career development specialist at CrossVue, a boutique Workday Consulting firm. Her expertise spans the entire talent acquisition process, from guiding professionals through successful career changes to implementing innovative recruitment strategies within the Workday ecosystem. As a panelist, Karyn will share invaluable insights on navigating today’s dynamic job market, offering practical advice on crafting standout resumes, mastering interview techniques, successfully transitioning between industries or roles, and understanding current hiring trends and employer expectations. Her unique perspective, blending expertise in both candidate advocacy and corporate hiring strategies, promises to deliver actionable guidance for professionals at all career stages.
In the Virtual Career Fair, Karyn will be a speaker for the CrossVue Sponsor Spotlight.
Tegan Stanbach
Manager of Partnerships and Investor Relations
Sponsor Spotlight
Tegan manages partnerships, investor relations, and strategic operations for Endeavor Colorado. She began her career working with data engineering teams before transitioning into strategy and operations, where she developed a keen ability to drive growth and build impactful collaborations. Tegan holds a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Women’s and Gender Studies from Bucknell University and a master’s in Politics and International Relations from Durham University, focusing on care economics and ecofeminist philosophy. She is passionate about supporting entrepreneurs and empowering women in business.
In the Virtual Career Fair, Tegan will be a speaker for the Endeavor Sponsor Spotlight.
Tags: Young Leaders Program
Young Leaders Program – Ignite 2024
| The Young Leaders Program provides comprehensive support to Greenhouse Alumni in the first decade of their careers and post-college lives. Through the Young Leaders Program, we work together to implement actionable ideas, change, and community initiatives. The 3rd annual Ignite conference was held over 3 days where alumni in the Young Leaders Program heard from exceptional industry leaders, participate in leadership, professional, personal, and community change panels and workshops, and connected with each other and the Greenhouse community for relationship-building, collaboration, and learning. 44 alumni in the Young Leaders program attended Ignite this year from 8 class years and 10 states. |
2024 Ignite Speaker Lineup
Welcome + Leadership Session
Pete Burridge
Founder & CEO, Greenhouse Partners, Greenhouse Scholars, The18.com
Pete delivered the keynote Ignite welcome and led a leadership workshop to inspire participants to lead with purpose, empathy, and integrity in their personal and professional endeavors.
Relationship + Team Building Session
Brittany Charboneau
AKA the Funny Runner
Brittany used the basic principles of improv comedy and her experience as a professional athlete to help alumni with things like working as a team, stopping overthinking, getting inspired, practicing patience, getting into your body, managing nerves, and owning your weird!
Personal Session
Jamie Logan
Founder + CEO J Logan Architects
Jamie showed a screening of a new film festival submission about her and presented and lead a discussion on “Allow Yourself to Be Yourself.”
Community Change Session
Presentation and Greenhouse community-led workshops providing the strategic thinking for community impact projects on the topics of healthcare, housing, education, poverty, and food insecurity.
Workshop Facilitators:
- Tinisha Dorsey, Senior Principal, Central Zone Leader – Mercer LAD Practice Mercer
- Keith Greenawalt, Founder, Keith Greenawalt Consulting
- Richard Maez (Greenhouse Alum), Deputy Director, Ednium: The Alumni Collective
- Andrew Smiles, Founder, StepChange Partners
- Jamie Clay, Young Leaders and Whole Community Programs Director, Greenhouse
Outdoor Activity
Alumni took a break from the indoor sessions and headed outdoors to beautiful Chautauqua Park to breathe, move, and reflect.
Activity Facilitators:
- Yoga with Laura Orland
- Mental Fitness with Melissa Russo
- Hike with Joshua Larkin
Professional Session
Attendees enjoyed a panel and small breakout groups to take on the finance, operations, marketing/customer experience, and culture challenges and opportunities that present themselves regardless of vocation.
Panelists:
- Michelle Domanico, Founder
Modern Executive Solutions - Jeff Herzog, President, FPC National
- Regan Ebert, Former President/GM Premium Dairy Business Unit at Danone North America
- Lynanne Kunkel, Chief Human Resources Officer
Vail Resorts - Damian McHugh, Senior Director, Physician Engagement, Curi
Tags: Young Leaders Program
Young Leaders Program – 2024 Idea Creation & Enhancement Sessions
| Comprised of three components (learning, relationships, entrepreneurship), the Young Leaders Program provides comprehensive support to Greenhouse alumni in the first decade of their careers and post-college lives and ensures we work together as a community to launch high-potential, high-impact ideas. The program serves alumni who are committed to growing as a leader, pursuing the best version of themselves, leveling the playing field in their careers, and being a part of strengthening our community. By supporting the people and ideas that have the greatest ability to positively impact our world, the Young Leaders Program is a building block in pursuit of lasting community change. Through the entrepreneurship component of the Young Leaders Program, Greenhouse provides direct support for early-stage ideas and connections to funding for different life stages. The goal of the entrepreneurship component is to create an entrepreneurial mindset and platform to identify and launch high-potential ideas. In 2024, the Young Leaders Program will host Idea Creation and/or Enhancement sessions in Illinois, Colorado, California, New York, and Georgia. |
Idea Creation:
Building Blocks in Pursuit of Lasting Community Change
Sessions that contribute to the creation of new, high-potential ideas for Young Leaders and community members to pursue.
Illinois Idea Creation Participants: together, they managed to generate over 50 unique ideas for new for-profit businesses, nonprofit organizations, and community impact projects.
Community Members: Barry Friedland, Kamau Faines, Kelly Gaskin, and Rachel Myung
Young Leaders: Asia-Ana Williams and Martha Martinez
Colorado Idea Creation Participants: together, they managed to generate over 100 unique ideas for new for-profit businesses, nonprofit organizations, and community impact projects.
Community Members: Ali Berman, Tom Croke, Max Eckstein
Alumni: Holly Ajala, Connie Appiah, Elizabeth Gutierrez-Gutierrez
California Idea Creation Participants: together, they managed to generate over 20 unique ideas for new for-profit businesses, nonprofit organizations, and community impact projects.
Community Members: Doug Holte, Tyler Mattox, Mark Primiano
Alumni: Rafael Aguilera, Delshanee Martin, Ricardo Reyes, Jessamyn Sweet
Idea Enhancement:
Launching High-Potential Ideas
Sessions that support the success of ideas of various life stages with input
from within and outside the Greenhouse Community.
Illinois Idea Enhancement Participants: together, they engaged in intensive discussions aimed at working through challenges and identifying viable paths forward for 3 Alumni businesses.
Community Members: Billy Hyland, Doug Shabelman, Evan Lonergan, Stephanie Seymour, and Ted Neild
Alumni: Anthony Rucker, Jason (Ivy) Roberts, and Sarah Dynia
Colorado Idea Enhancement Participants: together, they engaged in intensive discussions aimed at working through challenges and identifying viable paths forward for 4 Alumni businesses.
Community Members: Sarah Adams Anderson, Cynthia Banks, Marc Cohen, Marc Goldenberg, Lane Hornung
Alumni: Meseret Hailu, Brittni Hernandez, Ivan Hernandez, Richard Maez
Tags: Illinois, Young Leaders Program
Young Leaders Program – 2024 Funded Businesses + Projects
| Comprised of three components (learning, relationships, entrepreneurship), the Young Leaders Program provides comprehensive support to Greenhouse alumni in the first decade of their careers and post-college lives and ensures we work together as a community to launch high-potential, high-impact ideas. The program serves alumni who are committed to growing as a leader, pursuing the best version of themselves, leveling the playing field in their careers, and being a part of strengthening our community. By supporting the people and ideas that have the greatest ability to positively impact our world, the Young Leaders Program is a building block in pursuit of lasting community change. Through the entrepreneurship component of the Young Leaders Program, Greenhouse provides direct support for early-stage ideas and connections to funding for different life stages. The goal of the entrepreneurship component is to create an entrepreneurial mindset and platform to identify and launch high-potential ideas. |
Meseret Hailu (Class of 2011)
Ethiopian Youth Culture Workshop
A heritage enrichment and maintenance site in Colorado for Ethiopian children to promote the preservation of cultural heritage among immigrants living in the United States offering language and cooking workshops, music, and games.
Connie Appiah (Class of 2018)
Equinox in Motion
A digital platform and podcast series discussing and sharing resources, evidence-based strategies, and professional expertise around empowering women at the intersection of wellness, self-actualization, and motherhood featuring women ages 20-40, first-time/new working moms, and black/marginalized women in Colorado.
Jose Banales (Class of 2019)
JB Consulting
A small consulting firm designed to make a meaningful impact on their client’s business with tailored, innovative, efficient, and positive solutions. The vision is to shape the future of business through unwavering commitment to client success, positive change, and being at the forefront of progressive solutions that drive transformative business outcomes.
Richard Maez (Class of 2015)
Ednium: The Alumni Collective
An action-focused community development organization that partners with Denver Public School Alumni (35 and under) to change the way our city educates and reinvests in its homegrown talent seeking to deliver a tangible and sustainable solution to the gap in the infrastructure of Denver that can be replicated as a model throughout the metro area and the country.
Sama Kareem (Class of 2022)
DAWN Ophthalmology
A completely volunteer-run clinic focused on providing basic eye care for patients with a lack of access to healthcare based in Aurora, CO. Sama’s goal is for DAWN is to be able to provide holistic and preventative vision care for patients. To do this, they need to work on improving and strengthening their infrastructure to purchase and use higher-end equipment like lasers.
Jason Roberts (Class of 2017)
“Crush” Jason Ivy, LLC
Releasing on Chicago’s 312 Day, “Crush” is the 2nd single from Jason’s debut project, and Jason’s first release with AWAL. His goal is to use these singles to push further into the mainstream with each release while developing his 1,000 true fans in Chicago and Atlanta. By the end of 2024, he aims to solidify support from existing industry partnerships to open up new sources of revenue, so his music career becomes self-sustaining and more autonomous. By 2030, he sets to build a state-of-the-art arts center on Chicago’s south side that can create endless opportunities for rising artists like him.
Helena Cappon (2019 Class)
Gub Gub’s Pizza + Ice Cream
Gub Gub’s Pizza + Ice Cream received a third round of funding (also funded in 2021 + 2023) to sustain our payroll while they closed their first location inside an incubator and moved to their official space, as well as fund their marketing, graphic design, and media. More specifically, they are a family-run operation in a rural area. They rely on themselves and their small staff to be successful and now they are able to move forward with the confidence necessary to launch our project and have every opportunity of success.
Amadou Bah (2019 Class)
Bah Foundation
The Bah Foundation is dedicated to transforming lives and communities by addressing the root causes of poverty and empowering individuals to achieve self-sufficiency. Through strategic planning, collaboration, and sustainable practices, they aim to create a future where everyone can live a dignified and fulfilling life. With funding from Greenhouse, they will be in a better position to run multiple programs at
consistent rates where they can scale our impact. For example, they can expand their operations to California and complete the
construction of the Islamic center that will provide an underserved population with a hub where they can access food, education, and religious services.
Victoria Lamar (2022 Class)
Securing Degrees, LLC
A scholarship company providing personalized, affordable, and effective online and in-person scholarship and college application services. Since its inception in 2018, Securing Degrees has worked with over 4,000 individuals to help them accumulate over $15 Million in funding and has partnered with over 20 schools, nonprofits, and organizations.
Luis Cordero (2022 Class)
World Alzheimer’s Day 2024
For this year’s World Alzheimer’s Day, Luis partnered with a Chicago salon to provide free haircuts to people living with dementia. The predominately Spanish-speaking hair salon is in the Albany Park neighborhood where he grew up with his loved ones. He wants to ensure that we continue to care for our community and hopefully inspire neighboring salons to offer some community service components.
Tags: Young Leaders Program
2024 Young Leaders Program Advisors “In-Residence” Sessions
| The Young Leaders Program provides comprehensive support to Greenhouse Scholars Alums in the early stages of their careers and post-college life. Advisors “In-Residence” Sessions provide innovative, comprehensive, and personalized support resources to grow Young Leaders, maximize individual potential, and foster community change. Advisors participate in three teams and work with alumni over four virtual sessions: |
- Leaders “In-Residence”: Helping alumni become exceptional leaders of people, profits, and purpose. (March 2024)
- Executives “In-Residence”: Preparing young leaders to take on the finance, operations, marketing/customer experience, and culture challenges and opportunities that present themselves regardless of vocation. (June 2024)
- Whole People “In-Residence”: Providing the knowledge and tools to help young leaders live their best lives. (September 2024)
- All-Advisor Session: Workshops with all three teams. (December 2024)
See below for bios of our current Advisors “In-Residence” and session themes.
2024 Advisors “In-Residence”
Leaders Team: Contemporary Leadership + Trends: Leading Diverse Groups in the Digital Age
March 2024 Themes:
- Leadership + Empathy: Leading with empathy and building meaningful relationships with those you’re leading. Creating a safe environment for failure and open discussion about strengths and weaknesses. Unlearning internalized biases and understanding individual strengths and weaknesses.
- Continuous Learning + Adaptability: The importance of lifelong learning, unlearning, and adaptability. Resilience as a muscle that needs to be built over time. Developing a growth mindset and staying open to change.
- Self-Leadership + Well-Being: Prioritizing self-leadership and maintaining physical and mental health. Being decisive and maintaining positivity and belief during times of crisis. Recognizing the importance of attitude and controlling what can be controlled.
- Ethical Leadership + Transparency: Leading with honesty, transparency, and ethics. Addressing conflicts directly and transparently to prevent escalation. Giving people the benefit of the doubt and approaching issues with understanding.
- Crisis Leadership + Decision-Making: Making timely decisions during crisis leadership and avoiding the cost of delayed decisions. Strategic planning and scenario analysis as strengths in crisis management. Effective communication and keeping stakeholders informed during challenging times.
Executives Team: Contemporary Professional Landscape:
Utilizing Technology for Planning, Execution, and Engagement
June 2024 Themes:
- Harnessing Technology for Organizational Success: Leverage AI and platforms for planning and decision making. Empower staff to navigate digital disruptions and adapt to technological challenges.
- Strategic Planning and Execution: Develop proficiency in strategic planning to align with organizational goals. Translate strategic plans into actionable initiatives and measurable outcomes.
- Leveraging Technology for Effective Engagement: Mentor young professionals in using technology for stakeholder and client engagement. Utilize digital communication tools for collaboration and hybrid team engagement.
- Fostering a Positive and Inclusive Organizational Culture: Use technology to foster inclusive engagement and collaboration in remote or hybrid settings. Champion diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives through technology.
- Mentorship and Development of Young Leaders: Guide young leaders to navigate strategic challenges and achieve significant results. Mentor young professionals to use technology effectively in their roles.
Whole Person Team: Contemporary Personal Development:
Finding Balance in the Digital Era
September 2024 Themes:
- Mindfulness and Self-Care
- Integrating practices like yoga, breathwork, and Zumba! can help build resilience and adaptability in a world filled with uncertainty.
- Setting boundaries with technology to prioritize self-care, such as scheduling time for rest and engaging in non-digital activities, can enhance well-being.
- Digital Well-being and Personal Values
- Aligning digital engagement with personal values is essential for purposeful living. Evaluate whether your online activities contribute positively to your mental health and well-being.
- Journaling is suggested to externalize thoughts and foster a more balanced digital presence by pairing negative thoughts with positive reflections.
- Empathetic and Authentic Communication
- In virtual settings, focusing on authentic self-expression and sharing personal stories can help build genuine relationships. Overcoming communication barriers requires empathy and openness.
- For meaningful connections, it’s important to embrace and share your unique experiences, especially those that shaped you.
- Balancing Screen Time
- Establishing boundaries around screen time is critical for holistic wellness. Assess and adjust screen habits to ensure a healthy balance between digital use and personal care.
- Find a community that fits your needs and aligns with your values, and be open to change if you are not thriving in your current environment.
- Maintaining Balance
- Alumni highlighted challenges with disconnecting from technology, staying consistent with good habits, and finding time for non-digital, rejuvenating activities like spending time outdoors.
- Encouraging breaks from screens and making time for activities that bring joy (like being outdoors or enjoying quiet time) are critical to maintaining balance in a tech-driven world.
All Advisor Session: Navigating Leadership, Career, and Life in the Digital Age
Top 10 Insights from the 2024 All Advisor Session: Leadership, Professional, Whole Person
- Commit to Lifelong Learning and Growth: Continuously seek opportunities for learning and self-improvement, whether through feedback, mentorship, or tackling new challenges.
- Set Ambitious, Adaptable Goals: Define clear, purpose-driven goals that push your boundaries while remaining flexible in the face of change or setbacks.
- Practice Self-Awareness and Reflection: Regularly assess your strengths, areas for growth, and progress toward your goals. Intentional reflection fosters growth and ensures alignment with your values.
- Leverage Technology for Productivity and Balance: Use digital tools to streamline work, enhance communication, and support healthy work-life boundaries.
- Cultivate Curiosity and Connection: Build meaningful relationships by engaging deeply, asking thoughtful questions, and showing genuine interest in others’ experiences.
- Uphold Ethical Integrity in Leadership and Life: Anchor your actions in your core values, maintain moral courage, and prioritize honesty and transparency in all endeavors.
- Master Storytelling for Impact: Use authentic and relatable narratives to inspire, connect, and engage others, whether leading a team or building professional relationships.
- Prioritize Clear Communication and Collaboration: Foster inclusivity and trust through intentional communication. Break silos, encourage collaboration, and lead with empathy and clarity.
- Balance Ambition with Well-Being: Integrate habits like mindfulness, physical activity, and boundary-setting into your daily routine to maintain resilience and long-term success.
- Embrace Resilience and Patience: Approach setbacks as learning opportunities. Build resilience by staying consistent, fostering trust, and focusing on incremental progress toward your long-term vision.
Pete Burridge
(New Advisor)
Founder & CEO, Greenhouse Scholars, Greenhouse Partners, The 18.com
Pete previously served as a Senior Vice President and an officer at The Integer Group. Integer is a global powerhouse in promotional, retail, and shopper marketing. He was also a director of Wunderman Cato Johnson, a division of Young and Rubicam, and has an investment background, having spent four years as a Treasury Bond Trader at the Chicago Board of Trade. An entrepreneur his entire career, he has been a part of starting seven companies. Pete founded Greenhouse Scholars to create a Whole Person program that makes a broad and lasting impact by helping students become community leaders who create change that will last through the generations. He believes that each of us is accountable for giving back to the community.
Allison Rabin
(Returning Advisor)
Chief Operating Officer, Near North Title Group
Allison is an accomplished, results-driven management executive responsible for rejuvenating operations through strategic vision, financial analysis, and building cultural communities. She is known for developing teams and mentoring new managers on best practices for evaluating financials, creating annual budgets, and designing business plans. She brings the best out of the team by envisioning intentional changes and drawing ideas from all stakeholders. Able to create a culture of optimism, generate buy-in at all levels and produce successful bottom-line results.
Gregg Vanourek
(New Advisor)
Founder, Gregg Vanourek LLC
Gregg is co-author of three influential books, including LIFE Entrepreneurs (a manifesto for integrating our life and work with purpose and passion) and Triple Crown Leadership (a winner of the International Book Awards). He runs a personal development and leadership company and teaches at the Stockholm Business School. He’s also a former senior executive at a tech startup, now a market leader with $1 billion in sales. He served as board chair for a global social entrepreneurship accelerator based in Stockholm. Gregg has given a TEDx talk and talks or workshops in eight countries.
David Zimmerman
(New Advisor)
Founder, AMAXXA
From Financial Advisor to CEO to entrepreneur, David is a forward-acting business pioneer who always wants to know what’s around the next corner. David built his business by doing financial planning for his clients and using advisory services for investment solutions. On Wall Street magazine recognized him as one of the financial services industry’s top managers twice during his career and Registered Rep magazine wrote an article about his work to pioneer practice management and team development.
Executives Team
Dr. Roslind Blasingame-Buford
(Returning Advisor)
Director, Organizational Development (Southwest) at Boys & Girls Clubs of America
Dr. Roz is a trailblazer in youth development and education and serves as a national thought leader and change agent influencing college access, workforce development, restorative justice, and afterschool programming. She has received numerous commendations for her leadership and commitment to service and was Named as a “Leading Lady” by “O,” The Oprah Magazine; recognized as one of Chicago’s Emerging Leaders by the Community Renewal Society; recently elected into the Economic Club of Chicago and is a 2018 Fellow for Leadership Greater Chicago. Dr. Roz has earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communications, Master of Science in Nonprofit Management, and Doctorate in Adult Education.
Rachel Myung
(New Advisor)
Of Counsel, DLA Piper LLP
Rachel advises clients on complex business transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, and general corporate counseling and compliance. Rachel’s clients also include private equity sponsors, portfolio companies, and other private companies across an array of industries, including technology, manufacturing, healthcare, aviation, food and beverage, and professional services and marketing.
Shawn Stiegler
(New Advisor)
Managing Partner, Michael Best & Friedrich LLP
Shawn focuses his practice on advising all aspects of the innovator economy. From capital allocators to startups, Shawn counsels organizations throughout their lifecycle including business strategy, formation of funds, SPV’s, company structuring, funding, and mergers and acquisitions. Shawn also serves on nonprofit boards for organizations including CSU College of Business and Greenhouse.
Tom Thompson
(New Advisor)
VP Creative/Advertising, St. Martin’s Press
Tom leads the Creative Studio group that comprises an in-house advertising agency–from media planning to creative to ad ops –social media and promotion specialists, as well as a traditional creative services team. In addition to his work at SMPG, Tom is a poet, with three books and many poems, reviews and essays published in literary journals and websites. He lives in New York City.
Whole Person Team
Erik Estrada
(New Advisor)
Corporate Attorney, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
Erik practices corporate and securities law with a focus on corporate governance, public company representation, public offerings, and mergers and acquisitions. He has extensive
experience advising clients, including public companies and their boards and executive leadership teams, on federal securities law compliance and corporate governance matters, with a particular emphasis on technology, biotech, and telecommunications companies. Before joining the firm, Erik was a senior director
and senior corporate counsel for Liberty Latin America Ltd., a Nasdaq-listed company, and as a director and senior corporate counsel for Level 3, a Fortune 500 company.
Elsa Holguin
(New Advisor)
President and CEO, Denver Preschool Program
Elsa is an established and well-respected leader in Colorado with a known history representing philanthropic institutions in areas of early childhood, family economic success, economic development, leadership development, advocacy/public policy, and public/private initiatives. Elsa has proven experience interacting with complex systems including organizational development, fiscal planning, donor cultivation, and program management. Before joining the Denver Preschool Program, Elsa was with the Rose Community Foundation for 22 years. She has a bachelor’s in finance from the Metropolitan State University of Denver and a masters in public administration from the University of Colorado Denver.
Sam King
(Returning Advisor)
Director of Sustainability, Marist School Network
Sam is an environmental educator, public speaker, writer, coach, and activist. He serves as Director of Sustainability for the United States Marist school network and Project Manager for the Emmy Award-winning Journey of the Universe film and multimedia project, hosting the Journey of the Universe: 10 Years Later podcast and curating the monthly newsletter. A former teacher in Peru, Sri Lanka, and Connecticut, he holds a Master’s in Religion and Ecology from Yale Divinity School and a Master’s in Creative Writing from Dartmouth College. Sam is passionate about bridging science, philosophy, and spirituality to inspire a flourishing future for all life.
Jill Pillsbury
(Returning Advisor)
Life Coach/Director,
Landmark Research Group
Jill is a successful businesswoman, community leader, and devoted mother who has made a positive impact on many people’s lives. Jill currently works as an executive/life coach where she offers a straightforward approach. A problem-solver by nature, Jill draws on a successful business background and real-world experiences to help others establish healthy boundaries, bolster confidence, and resolve conflict through better communication. Her work often includes bridging the gap between management teams to create a positive and productive company culture.
Tags: Young Leaders Program