VENTURE ATTRACTOR - Key Persons


Andrew Czaplewski

Job Titles:
  • Marketing Professor, Consultant, Professional Speaker & Trainer

Bder Khan

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Leadership Team
  • Social Media & Computer Science
Bder Khan created the YouTube channel for Venture Attractor and creates all the content with Dr. Duening. Bder Khan also keeps the website up to date.

Brian McDevitt

As President of Sandler Training in Denver, Brian advises, trains and coaches executives, salespeople and professionals in both large and small enterprises. He teaches them to develop stronger sales teams, create better hiring practices and lead their organizations more effectively.

Carrie Olson

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Leadership Team
  • Program Assistant
  • Assistant for EPIIC
Carrie Olson is the Program Assistant for EPIIC. Carrie started with the University of Colorado in January 2012 on the Boulder campus. She moved to UCCS and started with EPIIC in August 2016.

Craig Swiatek

Job Titles:
  • Entrepreneurial Investment Advisor

Dave Kocsis

Job Titles:
  • Assistant Professor of Information Systems, College of Business, UCCS

James (Jim) Holley

Job Titles:
  • Startup CEO and Inventor of Innovative Consumer Products

James (Jim) Waldrop

Job Titles:
  • Investor
  • Early - Stage Investor

Jon Rossi

Job Titles:
  • Passionate and Curious Entrepreneur, 2x Founder, Mentor and Advisor to Startups

Luke Doster

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Leadership Team
  • Program Coordinator
Graduated from UCCS in May of 2021 with a B.S. in Marketing. Luke is a serial entrepreneur founding and working within multiple startups spanning industries including Education, Medical Health Technologies, and Virtual Reality. Luke is now working within EPIIC helping manage the day-to-day operations of the Venture Attractor (Torch Grants) programs.

Martin Key

Job Titles:
  • Associate Professor of Digital Strategy & Marketing, Entrepreneur

Michael A. Lechter

Job Titles:
  • CLP Emeritus

Mike Connolly

I am passionat e about working with startup businesses, bringing practical experience gained from a successful startup, thru scaling leading to a successful exit.

Scott Van Ness

Job Titles:
  • CEO / Owner Instructor in Production Operations and Supply Chain Management Courses Professional Development Facilitator Retired Lt. Col, USAF

Sharon Lechter

Job Titles:
  • Founder & CEO, Pay Your Family First
Sharon is internationally recognized as a financial literacy expert, keynote speaker and business mentor. She is a New York Times Bestselling author, successful entrepreneur, philanthropist, and has enjoyed a 35 year career as a licensed CPA. Sharon shares her experience building and scaling global brands as well as an investor to support entrepreneurs in positioning themselves in the place of greatest potential.

Terrance (Terry) Boult

Job Titles:
  • Researcher
  • Professor of Innovation and Security

Tom Duening

Job Titles:
  • Research Director
  • El Pomar Chair for Business & Entrepreneurship, Research Director, and Entrepreneur