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Guest Speakers

Since 2017, The VMT has served as a venue for over 100 presentations from business leaders, including attorneys, educational organizations, angel and venture capital organizations, startup founders, small business owners, incubator and accelerator program managers and more. These professionals are given the opportunity to address and educate our mentors and further advance our collective network of thousands of contacts in industries of all types and sizes.

February 15, 2023

Tahaji Felder

Senior Accelerator Program Manager, Target

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tahajifelder/

Chantal Raymond

CEO and Founder, Inclusive Legal Search

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chantalaraymond/

Enrique Triay

Venture Consulting Manager (The Launch Pad), University of Miami

https://www.linkedin.com/in/etriay/

Steve Kass

Director of Berger Entrepreneurship Law Clinic, Nova Southeastern University

https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-kass-3b7b25138/

Julia Lucidi

Founder & CEO, Fort Lauderdale Tech Meetup

https://www.linkedin.com/in/julialucidi/

January 18, 2023

Jennifer Gartner

FAU Veteran Entrepreneurship Program

Michael  (Mash) Ashley

Director, The SpartUp Incubator Program at San José State University

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mashley/

April 13, 2022

Teresa Grandal

Assistant Executive Director, Nova- The Innovation Center

https://www.linkedin.com/in/terry-grandal-cusse/

Andres Avello

Co-Founder & CEO, PADL

https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreseavello/

Julia Lucidi

Head of Soft Landing, Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC)

https://www.linkedin.com/in/julialucidi/

Lisa Burtch

Accelerators Program Manager, Target

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-burtch-5149a15b/

Tahaji Felder

Sr. Accelerators Program Manager- Forward Founders, Target

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tahajifelder/

Chris Ford

Mission-to-Market Manager, FIU

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jchrisford/

September 16, 2020

Hinda Miller

Founder, Deforest Concepts

https://www.linkedin.com/in/hinda-miller-a3b2253/

David Spinola

Chief Financial Officer, SproutLoud Media Networks

https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidspinola/

James Irvine

Director- Florida Chapter, Founder Institute

https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-irvine-5ba1554b/

John Wensveen

Chief Innovation Officer, Nova Southeastern University (NSU)

https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnwensveen/

Ron Tarro

Board Director, New World Angels

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rontarro/

April 30, 2020

Imran Siddiqui

District Director- BCEx, Broward College

https://www.linkedin.com/in/iasiddiqui/

Michael Thomas

IT Audit Manager, The ODP Corporation

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-thomas-cisa-cdpse-44067b94/

Henry R. Mack III

Chancellor, The Florida Department of Education

https://www.linkedin.com/in/unavailable/

Lauren Harper

Founding Director, Social Venture Partners

https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenmharper/

Allison Miller

CEO/Founder, Happy Camper Live

https://www.linkedin.com/in/allison-miller-5a2a7566/

February 12, 2020

Steven Edwards

Managing Partner, Premier Virtual

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenedwards23/

Kevin Burgoyne

President & CEO, Florida Venture Forum

https://www.linkedin.com/in/burgoynekevin/

Jeff Camp

Founding Managing Director, University of Miami (UM)

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-camp-a1179b12/

Barbara Cotto

Program Director, StartUP FIU

https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbara-cotto-60225620/

Siri Terjesen

External Relations, Florida Atlantic University (FAU)

https://www.linkedin.com/in/siri-terjesen/
Florida Atlantic University

The path taken by entrepreneurs is never a straight line and is full of twists and turns that often require expertise and guidance from professionals outside of the organization. We at 2nd Vault could not be more grateful and appreciative of the time and knowledge provided to us by the Venture Mentoring Team. Every minute spent with our mentoring team is time well spent and invested. The VMT mentoring team is a perfectly crafted group of professionals that all have meaningful direction and insights to provide. The VMT mentors keep us focused on what is in front of us systematically, helping to lead our company to scale. We feel so fortunate to have been selected as mentees of the VMT and hope to pay it forward in the future.  Thank you for all you do and the impact you have on start-up founders, as there is no price one could ever assign to the value we have received.

Kevin C. Cox, phD, MSE

Senior Instructor and Assistant Director

Elevate Together

Office Depot initiated the Elevate Together program in 2021 partnering with The Venture Mentoring Team, the National Urban League and the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to deliver impactful, measurable and scalable support services that foster business creation and growth opportunities for Black and Hispanic businesses.

It has been an honor to partner with the Venture Mentoring Team during Elevate Together’s launch and early stages. Their mentoring methodology and training set a high bar, and their mentors have been invaluable to our Elevate Together grant recipients.

We look forward to the VMT’s continued work with Urban League affiliates, Hispanic Chambers and other community partners to provide mentoring services to minority-owned small businesses as they grow and expand their mentoring services.

Sharu Goodwyn

National Manager, Community Investment, Elevate Together

Alex Price

National Director, Community Investment / Co-Leader, Diversity Council