Experience

Techstars Detroit

• United States
• Venture Capital and Private Equity Principals
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Founder - Portfolio Company

  • Apr 2023 - 9 months

  Techstars raised an over $80M fund through J.P. Morgan to run accelerator programs across multicultural cities and invest in diverse entrepreneurs. The fund aims to elevate companies and their local ecosystems with customized programming, mentorship, and access to capital. Techstars Detroit Powered by J.P. Morgan is designed to provide equitable access, funding, and support for entrepreneurs. Techstars Detroit builds on the unique strengths of Detroit’s startup & innovation ecosystem… Show more Techstars raised an over $80M fund through J.P. Morgan to run accelerator programs across multicultural cities and invest in diverse entrepreneurs. The fund aims to elevate companies and their local ecosystems with customized programming, mentorship, and access to capital. Techstars Detroit Powered by J.P. Morgan is designed to provide equitable access, funding, and support for entrepreneurs. Techstars Detroit builds on the unique strengths of Detroit’s startup & innovation ecosystem through game-changing investment, mentorship, and community partnerships. Show less



Techstars

• Venture Capital and Private Equity Principals
• 500 - 600 Employee

• Founder - Portfolio Company

  • Apr 2023 - 9 months

  Techstars has invested in more than 3,300 early-stage startups and is one of the largest pre-seed investors in the world. Techstars supports entrepreneurs globally with access to capital, mentoring, customer acquisition, talent hiring, and infrastructure building through customized programming.



Alchemist Accelerator

• Fundraising
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Strategy Consultant - Investor Research (Alchemist Fellow)

  • Aug 2021 - 2 years 5 months

  Stanford, California, United States Alchemist Fellows contribute to the Alchemist Accelerator through their passion for entrepreneurship.



NEC X Inc.

• United States
• Fundraising
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) - Corporate Accelerator Program (CAP)

  • Apr 2021 - 2 years 9 months

  Palo Alto, California, United States Globally, the NEC Group focuses on providing solutions to promote safety, security, efficiency, and equality of society. Entrepreneurs in Residence (EIRs) bring technology concepts to life as feasible businesses, with the purpose of improving the world. • Investigated commercialization of emerging technologies in artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning (DL) through collaboration with corporate laboratory and accelerator mentors and advisors. • Verified problem-solution fit (PSF)… Show more Globally, the NEC Group focuses on providing solutions to promote safety, security, efficiency, and equality of society. Entrepreneurs in Residence (EIRs) bring technology concepts to life as feasible businesses, with the purpose of improving the world. • Investigated commercialization of emerging technologies in artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning (DL) through collaboration with corporate laboratory and accelerator mentors and advisors. • Verified problem-solution fit (PSF) through quick iteration of hypothesis creation, customer interviews, and demonstrations using low-fidelity (Lo-Fi) minimum viable product (MVP). Show less



Siobhan Powers

• United States
• Retail Apparel and Fashion

• Social Entrepreneur & Founder

  • Mar 2016 - 7 years 10 months

  Saint Paul, Minnesota | Detroit, Michigan Siobhan Powers, LLC is a social venture aimed at empowering Native American designers and artisans to provide economic prosperity within Native American communities. • Secured near $20K by receiving grants, awards, and placing first in entrepreneur competition to implement investment strategy in retail & internet distribution channel development, capital equipment, and R&D. • Developed marketing plan by market research, customer insights through interviews, focus group, & survey… Show more Siobhan Powers, LLC is a social venture aimed at empowering Native American designers and artisans to provide economic prosperity within Native American communities. • Secured near $20K by receiving grants, awards, and placing first in entrepreneur competition to implement investment strategy in retail & internet distribution channel development, capital equipment, and R&D. • Developed marketing plan by market research, customer insights through interviews, focus group, & survey, customer journey map, vertical to horizontal market segment process, and brand strategy. • Led 3 teams of international MBA-candidates representing 9 countries to create foundation model, social impact key performance indicators (KPIs), commodity risk management strategy, and assess foreign market opportunity. Funding & Awards: • Tiwahe Grantee • Sands Fellow • Acara Fellow • Acara Challenge Winner - Gold (1st Place) • Scholarly Excellence in Equity & Diversity (SEED) Awardee • Gary S. Holmes Center for Entrepreneurship STARTUP Seed Capital Grantee Show less



FCA Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

• United Kingdom
• Motor Vehicle Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Corporate Leadership Development

  • Feb 2018 - Jun 2020

  Greater Detroit Area Highly selective leadership program. Participants gain exposure to core business operations through high-impact audits including risk identification/management, business policies/controls, and compliance. • Analyzed financial statements of suppliers with near $1.5B combined annual volume of business, $67.3B combined net sales, and $7.1M combined operating income to validate financial risk. • Reviewed near $1B combined commitment value of union labor and related side agreements to ensure… Show more Highly selective leadership program. Participants gain exposure to core business operations through high-impact audits including risk identification/management, business policies/controls, and compliance. • Analyzed financial statements of suppliers with near $1.5B combined annual volume of business, $67.3B combined net sales, and $7.1M combined operating income to validate financial risk. • Reviewed near $1B combined commitment value of union labor and related side agreements to ensure contract compliance and reconciliation of payments to provisions stated within the contracts. • Reviewed $3.4M combined subvention payment calculation and approvals for accuracy and compliance. • Researched commodity markets and analyzed internal data to evaluate near $300K scrap sales and third-party contracts to ensure appropriate vendor pricing. Business functional areas included: • Finance (Financial Risk Management, Market Share Performance, Sales & Marketing, Purchasing) • Operations (Security, Safety & Regulatory Compliance, Sustainability, Supply Chain & Logistics) • Manufacturing (Quality Assurance, Industrial Relations, Talent Acquisition, Hiring & Training) • Information Technology (IT) & Communication (Security Risk Management, PII Management) Show less



Carlson Ventures Enterprise

• Strategy Consultant - Business Ventures

  • Mar 2016 - May 2017

  Minneapolis, Minnesota The Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (UROC) Northside Job Creation Team (NJCT) works towards reversing barriers that create high unemployment rates within the North Minneapolis community including historical factors such as discriminatory lending practices and low home-ownership rates, as well as generational poverty, education and health disparities, and high rates of incarceration. NJCT works with business owners and community leaders to identify potential sites for start-up… Show more The Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (UROC) Northside Job Creation Team (NJCT) works towards reversing barriers that create high unemployment rates within the North Minneapolis community including historical factors such as discriminatory lending practices and low home-ownership rates, as well as generational poverty, education and health disparities, and high rates of incarceration. NJCT works with business owners and community leaders to identify potential sites for start-up businesses and company relocations. • Client: UROC NJCT - Identified top 10 entrepreneurial industry opportunity for economic development in rapidly evolving community. The Women of the Wild Outdoors (WOWO) mission is to promote, influence, and encourage participation in outdoor sports and activities for girls and women via the WOWO television show. • Client: WOWO - Designed business strategy including launch & 7-year growth plan by value proposition validation, market opportunity assessment, and business model analysis. Show less



De Naray & Associates

• Strategy Consultant - Marketing and Brand Development

  • Jan 2016 - Feb 2016

  Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area The GemEx Nanotechnology Sparkle Cut Diamond utilizes ethically sourced diamonds enhanced by nanotechnology to increase sparkle rating, light performance, and consumer purchase accessibility. • Client: GemEx Systems, Inc. - Defined venture value proposition for $1.5B online diamond market for marketing & brand strategy based on situation analysis and voice of customer data.



3M

• United States
• Industrial Machinery Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Project Leader - Fabrication Services, Global Facilities

  • Apr 2012 - Jul 2015

  St. Paul, MN Senior-level management team position reporting to plant manager in union, skilled trade environment. • Produced $2.2M revenue by generating 121 quotes and budgetary estimates, project oversight including management of spend to budget, and leadership of union crews and vendors to complete 408 projects. • Decreased $45K expense by review and analysis of actual spend to over $1.5M annual operating budget. • Increased cash income by over 300%, $21K annual, by scrap metal sustainability… Show more Senior-level management team position reporting to plant manager in union, skilled trade environment. • Produced $2.2M revenue by generating 121 quotes and budgetary estimates, project oversight including management of spend to budget, and leadership of union crews and vendors to complete 408 projects. • Decreased $45K expense by review and analysis of actual spend to over $1.5M annual operating budget. • Increased cash income by over 300%, $21K annual, by scrap metal sustainability project leadership. • Served as acting supervisor for union craftsmen; developed and implemented training programs for union and non-union, hourly and salaried, personnel while improving operational efficiency of operating systems and processes.

• Advanced Design Engineer - Subject Matter Expert (SME) Succession Planning

  • May 2010 - Apr 2012

  St. Paul, MN Highly selective; one of two selected to consult in process improvement & global regulatory compliance. • Served as subject matter expert consultant to 9 United States plants and 7 international plants. • Created globally accessible consulting group by leading cross-functional experts in highly-matrixed organization. • Developed globally accessible learning content by using DACUM methodology to identify learning needs to decrease gaps in technical expertise corporate-wide.

• Advanced Design Engineer - Manufacturing, Research & Development, Product Development

  • May 2008 - May 2010

  St. Paul, MN • Ensured establishment of vendor contracts with new acquisition to protect intellectual property; fabricated in China for use in Mexico; received equivalent honor to patent for trade secret. • Lead design projects by utilizing expertise in manufacturing, R&D, analysis, and design. • Set and controlled project costs and schedules to meet project needs including budget and timeline. • Executed detailed design of machines, equipment, and testing apparatuses to fulfill business needs.

• Design Engineer - Automation

  • May 2006 - Apr 2008

  St. Paul, MN • Captured over $13.5M savings; team of 3 nominated for achievement award for sustainability project. • Provided design engineering support for various projects by utilizing strong organizational skills while maintaining project budgets. • Provided cost estimates for work to be done including engineering time and fabrication costs.



Earl E. Bakken Medical Devices Center, UMN

• United States
• Medical Equipment Manufacturing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Strategy Consultant - New Product Design and Business Development

  • Sep 2010 - May 2011

  Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States The Medical Device Center combines basic research, applied translational research, education and training, and outreach/public engagement to accelerate interdisciplinary medical device research and development. • Designed and developed solutions for mobile, desktop, and virtual reality (VR) user interfaces (UI) through voice of the customer (VOC) research representing multiple cross-functional stakeholders.