INVESTMENT ▩ ENTREPRENEURSHIPLaunched and led an investment vehicle for technology, civic, and social innovation that would drive regional entrepreneurship. Leveraging a 22-member mentor team, developed a start-up strategy to direct $300K in annual funding. Funded MedCity News, the leading online news source for the business of innovation in healthcare which was ultimately sold business within 5 years at a profit. First investor in e-Prep School, now the Breakthrough Schools, including 7 schools with $50+M budget. Backed Rays' MTB, the world's first indoor mountain bike park, eventually sold to Trek Bikes.Success cited in article on Cleveland.com. http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2009/09/civic_innovation_labs_investme.html Show less

CORPORATE REVENUE GROWTH ▩ CORPORATE INNOVATION Drove revenue growth through strategic and operations support, including connecting products to market, new product generation, marketing and messaging, and fundraising. Launch Director, xLab. Developed Case Weatherhead School of Management's new effort to connect tech-savvy student and faculty talent with NEO’s corporations in order to understand, adopt, and implement digital business models and compete in the new economy. Co-developed and wrote a strategic partnership proposal for a major university to create a digital health venture with a multinational technology company. Worked alongside FRONT International founder, researching city's ability to support a major contemporary art festival in Cleveland. Analyzed artistic, fundraising, and economic factors to ready FRONT for a successful launch. (https://frontart.org/) Show less

LEADERSHIP ▩ TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION ▩ COMMUNITY IMPACT Directed transformational grant making. Helped build an innovation strategy for the Akron market for this $2B private foundation. Working with national colleagues, I fashioned a strategy to invest in efforts to revitalize the city, bolster entrepreneurship, attract talent, and support technology and the arts. I distributed $5M annually toward improving the economy. Day-to-day this meant liaising with community leaders, researching emerging technology trends and national models of success, and evaluating grant opportunities. I set and analyzed strict metrics to determine our funding decisions. ▩ MY IMPACT Championed multimillion-dollar grants. Distributed $1.7M in funding to effectuate new public-housing model. Elevated public awareness with dynamic social media presence. Empowered Austen BioInnovation Institute through $20M multi-year effort, creating global center for patient innovation and training.

In partnership with the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic and JumpStart, I assisted Plug and Play in launching an Innovation Platform in Cleveland. This unique opportunity attracts global startups to Cleveland and offers them the opportunity to work with Plug and Play's corporate partners to land pilots, develop proof of concepts, and explore investment opportunities with these companies. Plug and Play combines Silicon Valley’s established startup ecosystem and Cleveland’s thriving medical community to create the ultimate hub of digital health innovation. We accelerate world-class startups, enable our corporate partners to innovate faster, and facilitate meaningful relationships.

STRATEGY ▩ OPERATIONS ▩ TECHNOLOGY Developed the business model, products and KPIs to build an organization that increases a regional workforce’s digital and data literacy skills and expand access to broadband across metros. Pioneered first-in-nation network to connect public housing to the Internet. Launched MidTown Tech Hive, an innovation center within Cleveland business landscape to support inclusive co-working space.

Analyzed and structured multi-million dollar record deals, including acquisitions, joint ventures, and new artist contracts for Pearl Jam, Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson, Barbara Streisand and other international artists. Provided strategic recommendations to senior management on deal structure, risk exposure and financing alternatives of each deal. Supported Sony Music’s on-line internet group handling financial and contractual issues of electronic commerce. Analyzed viability of new media products.

* ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ▩ ENTREPRENEURSHIP ▩ TRAINING & MENTORING I led the charge to synergize Cleveland entrepreneurs with monthly face-to-face social networking meetings that showcased developing businesses. Monthly meetings drew in audiences of >100. We immersed participants in interactive sessions that built critical mass for the area's startup community. My work was recognized in Crain's Who's Who of Technology for 2 consecutive years.

Plug and Play Cleveland brings Silicon Valley’s established startup and VC ecosystem expertise to the Midwest. We connect the best global startups with our national & global partners in Healthcare, New Materials and IoT. In Healthcare, we work to help our partners improve patient care and outcomes, the provider experience and positively impact healthcare and startup ecosystems. Digital solutions are the future of moving from a system of medical care to well care. In New Materials and Packaging, we help our partners access solutions in advanced and engineered materials, packaging solutions, material substitutes, sensors/robotics hardware, building materials, and coatings. Driven by our passion for materials innovation and awareness for sustainability, we work to solve the problems of tomorrow, while preserving the resources of today. In IoT we help our partners advance innovative technologies to make smarter, more efficient and energy conscious factories and manufacturing processes.