ENTREPRENEURS' CENTER - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Senior Administrative Assistant / EC
Amy Young joined the Entrepreneurs' Center (EC) as Sr. Administrative Assistant in 2023, bringing a strong set of diverse professional and educational experiences.
Amy is a Michigan native, however she called Dayton home for 14 years. She recently relocated from Nashville, Tennessee where she was a Senior Administrative Coordinator at a major construction company.
Amy has a degree from Sinclair in American Sign Language and a degree from the Culinary & Savory Cooking and Baking & Pastry Art Institute of Tennessee.
Education
Sinclair Community College, Associate Degree: American Sign Language
The Art Institute of Tennessee - Nashville, Associate Degree: Culinary Arts, Associate Degree: Baking & Pastry
Ann is from Oakwood, OH, and attended Hanover College in Southern Indiana. After graduating, Ann primarily focused on advertising sales and marketing (The Berry Company, ReachLocal Inc.) She lived in New York City for 5 years and began with a start-up advertising company, ReachLocal, and saw it go public on the NASDAQ stage.
Ann eventually moved back to Dayton and married her husband Graham Bailey. They had twins, Cecilia and Harrison, and moved back to Oakwood. Ann continued as a stay-at-home mom for the last few years, but is excited to get back to the "Grown-Up" world!!
Outside of the office, Ann enjoys reading, tennis, and UD Basketball games. She is looking forward to getting to know everyone and "hopefully" filling Chris' shoes!
Education
Hanover College, BA Communications
Job Titles:
- Marketing Coordinator / EC
Anne, a dedicated individual with an unwavering passion for mission-centered nonprofits, embarked on her career journey as a co-founder of 317 Performing Arts. This organization, centered around nurturing young marching arts musicians in Indianapolis, marked her commitment to making a meaningful impact.
Beyond a mere love for the arts, Anne discovered a profound joy in aligning her efforts with a cause, propelling her into a lifelong dedication to serving with various nonprofit marketing, development, and event management teams. She seamlessly blended creativity with purpose, gaining valuable experience across both arts and human services organizations.
When not immersed in the nonprofit world, Anne can be found at home in Dayton, OH, spending time with her rescue cats and working on the ongoing transformation of her fixer-upper.
Continuing her professional journey, Anne takes pride in being an integral part of the vibrant Dayton community. Anne has expanded her impact through professional affiliations. Currently serving as the VP of Marketing at AFP Dayton and the Membership Chair at Social Media Marketers of Dayton Alliance, she is driven by a commitment to excellence in every aspect of her professional life.
Job Titles:
- Entrepreneur in Residence
Job Titles:
- Director of Operations and Collaboration
Bonnie came to work at the Entrepreneurs' Center (EC) in 2017 and was a liaison with The Arcade development team for almost five years during the renovation of the historic Dayton complex, a transformative environment that brings together a diverse community to foster creativity, growth, and entrepreneurship. Anchored by The Hub Powered by PNC, The Arcade is home to the EC headquarters, and it's considered an incubator for unique ideas and opportunities to put Dayton at the forefront of tomorrow's big innovators. Bonnie is the "go-to" person at The Hub as the overseer of staffing, operations, and events. She manages the day-to-day activities of administration, communication, and office support systems, and enjoys connecting entrepreneurs to resources within the EC and in the local community.
Previously, she was the Banquet Operations Manager at NCR Country Club. During her tenure, she had the opportunity to work closely with the U.S. Golf Association to plan and execute the 2013 USGA Women's State Team Championship. Other prior roles include Merchandise Disney College Program Hostess at Walt Disney World, and Collaboration Coordinator for Nucleus CoShare, a co-venture with the EC.
Bonnie is passionate about volunteerism. She is an active member of Sigma Beta Sorority, a national philanthropic organization for women, and currently serves as the National Vice President. Additionally, she is the Marketing Chair for Dayton Sister Cities Committee, promoting Dayton's international image and programs of friendship and goodwill, and a volunteer with For the Love of Children, where she assists with Christmas for Kids, a program that blesses children with new winter coats and holiday gifts.
She grew up in the Dayton suburbs but has been a proud resident of downtown for the past 10 years
Education
Wright State University B.S., Business Management
Sinclair Community College Meeting and Event Planning
Job Titles:
- Program Coordinator
- Program Coordinator for the Miami Valley Small Business Development Center
Cindi has been the program coordinator for the Miami Valley Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at the Entrepreneurs' Center for well over ten years. She has a passion for navigating small businesses through the maze of information out there and a talent for guiding them to the resources that best meet their needs.
Whether the project is opening a small business, managing operating expenses, or setting expansion goals, Cindi opens the line of communication between business owners, SBDC Business Advisors, and community resources to help a start-up grow and thrive.
She lives in the Dayton area in a 200+ year old farmhouse surrounded by gardens and is mama to a sweet rescued Blue Tick Coonhound, Clover, who is afraid of everything including wet grass and the changes in weather. As Cicero said, "If you have a garden and a library you have everything you need." Add her dog to that and Cindi's home life is complete.
Job Titles:
- Entrepreneur in Residence
Job Titles:
- CEO / Spintech Holdings, Inc.
Job Titles:
- Entrepreneur in Residence
- Founding Partner and Principal of Techbank Medical
Emerald is an advisor for the Miami Valley Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at the Entrepreneurs' Center and is very passionate about helping small business owners generate sustainable profits within their startups. She has worked in financial services for over 10 years and specializes in bookkeeping and taxes for small businesses.
An entrepreneur at heart, she is the CEO of two young companies: Emerald Sparks LTD, a business finance consulting company designed to help business owners understand the story behind their numbers and price for profit, and DopeKeepers Inc., a tax and bookkeeping company specializing in cloud-based bookkeeping, tax planning and compliance with 280E for cannabis-based businesses. She believes a ‘small' business should not be counted out of resources simply because they do not have the funds that ‘large' corporations do.
Additionally, Emerald is CEO and Chief Doggy Lover of Jewel's Dog Boarding and Daycare, providing full-time care for dogs while their owners are away from home traveling for business or pleasure. Prior to being an entrepreneur, Emerald was a freelance writer and financial columnist for Cincy Chic focused on understanding all things financial and solving the misconceptions about money. She was also a Financial Representative and Sr. Financial Auditor I at Northwestern Mutual and Fifth Third Bank respectively.
She resides in Middletown, Ohio with her husband, young son, and two fur babies.
Education
The Ohio State - The Max M. Fisher College of Business B.S. Degree, Accounting
Job Titles:
- Entrepreneur in Residence / Airship Consulting LLC
- Founder of Airship Consulting LLC
Job Titles:
- Business Consultant With the Dayton Chamber Minority Business Partnership
- Entrepreneur in Residence
In addition to being an Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) at the EC, Gail is a business consultant with the Dayton Chamber Minority Business Partnership where she spearheaded the development of the national Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) incubator - Project Enginuity - including securing support for the initiative from JPMorgan Chase.
Job Titles:
- Partner / Canal Holdings, LLC
Jenna joined the Entrepreneurs' Center (EC) in 2019. As the Financial Analyst, she manages all of accounts payable, including invoicing the State of Ohio for the Entrepreneurial Services Provider Program. She also oversees budgets for contracts and the EC's monthly financial statements. Additionally, she is part of the accounting team for The Hub Powered by PNC.
Prior to the EC, Jenna worked for Huntington Bank, an American bank headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. She was a Personal Banker at first and later became a Licensed Investment Banker. Other career roles include Licensed Insurance Agent at Allstate Insurance Company for five years.
Jenna resides in Urbana with three of her four children, two dogs, and one cat. It's a home full of laughter and love.
Education
Clark State Community College Associates Degree
Job Titles:
- Director, Venture Development
Jordan Roe received a B.S. in Exercise Physiology from Ohio State University (2007) and a M.S. in Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises, summa cum laude, from Oklahoma State University (2014). He has been with the Entrepreneurs' Center since June 2015; he started as the Program Manager for SBIR TAP (Technology Acceleration Program), an Air Force funded program to accelerate Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR). Through SBIR TAP he has trained 100+ SBIR companies on technology commercialization and helped to raise more than $120M in angel, VC, and nondilutive funding.
In 2017, the EC was awarded the Entrepreneurial Services Program (ESP), a state grant to provide early-stage technology-focused entrepreneurs with support and professional services. Jordan has helped to build this program from the ground up, and what was originally a $1.2M grant is now a $14.9M award. Jordan serves as the Director of Venture Development / Entrepreneur in Residence. Additionally, he is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Dayton (Fundamentals of New Technology Ventures) and Wright State University (Applied Business Planning) where he teaches entrepreneurship courses focusing on commercialization of technology.
As an entrepreneur, over the last decade, Jordan owns/owed several businesses in various industries including: Life Sciences (Biodye), Real Estate (IronOak Ventures), Hospitality Management (South Park Tavern (sold)), Recreation (VJDS LLC), and Consulting (SmallBizBigger). Notably, in regards to his own businesses, he has raised over a half million dollars in funding, employees 25+, manages over a million in revenue, and continues to expand the reach of those businesses.
Education
The Ohio State B.S. Degree, Physiology, General
Oklahoma State University M.S. Degree (Summa Cum Laude), Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises, 3.9
Job Titles:
- Entrepreneur in Residence
Job Titles:
- Director, Ohio Export Assistance Network
As the Director of the Ohio Export Assistance Network of the Miami Valley SBDC at the Entrepreneurs' Center, Kathleen is responsible for assisting companies in developing international markets for their products and services.
Kathleen has held international positions with State and Federal trade promotion agencies, academia, and consulting firms. She has counseled clients on export and import matters, created and implemented international trade curriculum for colleges, taught international courses at universities, designed and presented programs on global topics throughout the United States, and authored over 10 publications on international trade topics. Currently, Kathleen teaches the Ohio Export Internship Program (EIP) class at the University of Dayton and mentors students in the program.
Over her 40 years tenure, Kathleen has received NASBITE International's Certified Global Business Professional and Certified Business Advisor credentials, and is an inducted member of Alpha Kappa Epsilon, the International Business Honor Society.
Kathleen has been the recipient of state and federal awards for her works. She is a member of the Southern Ohio District Export Council, Alumni and Board Member of the FBI Citizen's Academy, and a member and trustee for other various organizations. She is originally from Pittsburgh, and currently lives in Cincinnati. She has one daughter who lives in Seattle. Kathleen is passionate about volunteering and mentoring, and she enjoys music, art, spending time at the beach, and traveling the globe.
Education
California University B.S., Education
Wright State University MSLD (Master of Science in Leadership Development)
Job Titles:
- Executive Director, EC Angels
Kim Frazier is self-proclaimed to be someone who "gets bored easily," so when she was offered the director of growth initiatives position at Entrepreneurs' Center (EC), she jumped on the opportunity, knowing that she would never lose interest in entrepreneurs. And it's true! From building the commercialization program with the United States Air Force Research Laboratory to helping land the Ohio Third Frontier Entrepreneurial Service Provider (ESP) program, she keeps exploring and expanding the reach and capability of the EC.
In 2018, Kim founded the Dayton chapter of VisionTech Angels and got hooked on angel investing. Since then, she's become an angel investor herself, and she's tackling the challenge of capital access that exists for local entrepreneurs.
She began her professional career in Washington, DC working in international economic development before changing her focus to her own community. She is the founder and owner of Speakeasy Ramen in Springfield, Ohio and has a second restaurant in the works.
When she's not working, Kim is likely caring for her elderly parents and blogging about it at baddaughterblog.com, practicing the fiddle, gardening, cooking, or turning her property into a food forest. She's got goals. And poison ivy! Lots of it!
Education
University of Cincinnati B.A. Degree
Boston University M.A. Degree
Job Titles:
- Director of Marketing / EC
Leslie Klenke joined the Entrepreneur's Center (EC) as Director of Marketing in 2023 after running a thriving marketing consulting business for the past six years.
Born and raised in Dayton, Ohio, Leslie has over 20 years of creative experience under her belt. Before she transitioned into marketing, she received an AAS in Visual Communications from Sinclair Community College and a BS in Visual Communication Technology with a minor in Entrepreneurship from Bowling Green State University. Shortly after college, she moved to Los Angeles, where she was an Art Director for an apparel company.
Leslie made her first career pivot after receiving a book deal. She proudly wrote and designed her first book, Paleo Girl. After managing all of her own marketing and press following the book's release, she caught the attention of her publisher, who offered her a position as the Director of Marketing & PR for their parent company, Primal Nutrition Inc. The company soon started developing a condiment line known as Primal Kitchen, which sparked her love of consumer packaged goods (CPG) food brands.
As a member of the founding and pre-acquisition Primal Kitchen team, Leslie was connected to countless CPGs, startups, and industry leaders who were seeking out her marketing support. She relocated to Austin, Texas-a hub for food startups-and her marketing consulting business, ONE11 Consulting, essentially started itself.
By the end of 2020, she returned to the Gem City. Passionate about entrepreneurship and her hometown, Leslie couldn't be more grateful to have found a home at the EC. She's eager to expand the EC's reach to positively impact more Dayton startups and small businesses.
Education
Bowling Green State University BS, Visual Communication Technology, Entrepreneurship Minor
Sinclair Community College AAS, Visual Communications
Hobbies
Spending time in nature, propagating houseplants, trying new food around Dayton, and traveling when I can.
Lisa recently joined the Miami Valley SBDC, moving back to Ohio from Wisconsin. She focuses on small businesses in Miami, Shelby, and Darke counties and food entrepreneurs throughout our region. Lisa has a lot of business experience, having built and run a successful bakery for 20 years and helped build the bakery programs for two coffee chains in Milwaukee, WI. After she sold her own business, she joined WWBIC, where she was an advisor for new and existing businesses. Lisa focuses on ensuring that entrepreneurs have the fundamentals to ensure success.
Job Titles:
- Entrepreneur in Residence
Job Titles:
- Entrepreneur in Residence
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer for Niobium Microsystems
- Entrepreneur in Residence
Job Titles:
- VP Innovation and Engagement
At Entrepreneurs' Center, Mike leads efforts to engage and connect innovators and entrepreneurs across the region. Mike has more than a decade in venture development advising entrepreneurs, and launched or led numerous programs and support networks. Most recently, Mike led market & business intelligence and innovation partnerships, working with innovation and R&D executives at Fortune 1000 companies, public entities, and research institutions.
Mike began his career working in operating roles at venture-backed high-growth companies, leading analytics, project management, and professional services teams at various stages. Mike's entrepreneurial journey started in junior high school as a caddie, teaching the value of early mornings and building on- and off-the-course relationships.
Mike lives in the Dayton area with his wife and two children, spending time at t-ball, swim practice, and soccer games.
Education
The Ohio State University MBA, 2011 BA, History, 2007
Job Titles:
- Entrepreneur in Residence
Paul heads the Commercialization Team at the Entrepreneurs' Center (EC), aiding companies both locally and nationally in their engagement with the Air Force Research Laboratory, which leads the discovery, development, and delivery of warfighting technologies and transitions them out of the lab and into service. He also leads several aspects of the Entrepreneurial Services Provider (ESP) Program.
Prior to joining the EC, Paul was the Director of Commercialization and Entrepreneurship at Wright State Research Institute (WSRI, now Parallax), where he led efforts under the ESP program and directed day-to-day operations of the Ohio Federal Research Network (OFRN), a $42 million program designed to solve federal research needs by leveraging Ohio university capabilities alongside industry applications.
Previously, Paul managed Ohio Third Frontier (OTF) programs for the State of Ohio. During 2016-2017, nearly all OTF programs were under his direction, including ESP, the Pre-Seed Fund Capitalization Program, and the Technology Validation and Start-up Fund (TVSF), which he directly managed from 2013 to 2016. During his tenure, it was the most efficient OTF program with the highest job-to-grant dollar ratio as well as the highest leverage ratio of follow-on dollars vs. grant dollars awarded. Paul managed ten rounds of the TVSF program, during which time hundreds of early-stage companies were assessed with more than 50 small grant investments made into businesses.
Paul's involvement with OTF extends further. From 2008 to 2013, as a study director with the National Academies, he led the assessment of proposals submitted to several OTF programs. These assessments resulted in the allocation of more than $250 million into various projects, all focused on commercialization of new innovations in emerging and high-tech fields. While with the National Academies, Paul also ran numerous policy studies for Congress and NASA focusing on a range of topics including the national air space, orbital debris, and near-Earth objects.
He is a resident of the Dayton area.
Education
Indiana University MPA, Economic Development & Policy Analysis
Michigan State University B.A., Philosophy
Job Titles:
- Certified Business Advisor
Rachel grew up in North Hampton, Ohio (just west of Springfield). After college, she briefly worked for a small print company that printed t-shirt transfers in Springfield. Later, they moved to Innomark Communications, a large format print company in Miamisburg. There, Rachel served as a digital print project manager, assisting clients such as Victoria's Secret, Bath & Body Works, and Ross Stores with their in-store displays and window banners.
Following her tenure at Innomark Communications, Rachel transitioned to the Springfield SBDC, starting as an Administrative Assistant. Over time, she advanced to become a Certified Business Advisor, providing coaching and guidance. Her final role within the organization was as the Community Navigators Program Director. During her time in this position, the Springfield SBDC secured a $1 million, 2-year grant from the SBA to assist underserved business owners in Springfield, facilitating access to resources and capital.
Currently, Rachel serves as a Business Advisor with the MV SBDC.
Education
BS from Bowling Green State University in Visual Communication Technology
Certified Business Advisor from Kent State University
Hobbies
Camping & boating with my family
Scott is president of the Entrepreneurs' Center (EC), a modern economic development organization that powers progress and prosperity through entrepreneurship. The EC supports more than 1,000 innovation-focused start-ups and small businesses through a variety of programs. Clients are primarily in the concentrated sectors of technology, lifestyle, and research.
Job Titles:
- Senior Executive
- Chief Operating Officer for SAAM, Inc
Sibu is a senior executive and P&L Leader with over 20 years of experience working with Fortune 500 companies as well as start-up/scale-up organizations. He specializes in commercial, operational, financial, and strategic leadership in driving the realization and execution of business plans, including advancing profit and operations performance, growth, and market leadership. He is adept at recognizing and pursuing viable new business opportunities and has had great success in launching both new products and services for scaling-up companies.
Job Titles:
- Director of Finance and Entrepreneur in Residence
Job Titles:
- Certified Business Advisor
- Certified Business Advisor With the Miami Valley Small Business Development Center
Tosin Osunbunmi is a certified business advisor with the Miami Valley Small Business Development Center (SBDC), where she leads the outreach, business training and assistance to entrepreneurial immigrants and other small businesses in the Miami Valley. She has a passion for helping small businesses start, retain, and grow their business to be profitable and successful.
Job Titles:
- Entrepreneur in Residence
- Founder of SAS Automation
Job Titles:
- Portfolio Manager
- Portfolio Manager / EC
Will Foster joined the Entrepreneurs' Center as Portfolio Manager, focusing on strategic initiatives and resource allocation for the EC's ESP Portfolio. In this role, he oversees a diverse portfolio of over 90 tech start-ups and supports nearly 20 EIRs and over a dozen subject matter experts. Will's entrepreneurial journey began in college, where he started his first business and has since founded, co-founded, or managed over a half dozen small businesses.
Currently, outside of the EC, Will's firm Quantum Foam works with its own portfolio of small businesses, providing comprehensive business services to drive growth across its ventures which include over a dozen pilot projects. Will has also raised almost half a million dollars in private investment for his own projects and through Quantum Foam facilitates conversations between local investors and small business owners.
His commitment to making a positive impact is woven into both his professional endeavors and personal pursuits, prioritizing conscious capitalism and empathetic leadership. When not working, Will enjoys running, lifting weights, and exploring Dayton's food scene with his fiancée, Lauren.
Education
Wright State University, BSE Sports Science