Brandon Bartel is a sales and revenue-growth professional currently at SWYFT Solutions, where the focus is on guiding innovative startups and growing manufacturing teams. He specializes in sales coaching and strategy, a client testimonial credits him with helping develop a sales playbook that nearly doubled the business year-over-year. He's also active in the Jackson, Michigan community, having served on the Drive Jackson Key Leadership Committee, which fits with the local focus of your funders project.

Leland is one of our EIR's at Lean Rocket Lab. Leland has a diverse skill set spanning business analytics, software development, manufacturing, and technology. With a wealth of knowledge and experience in these pivotal areas, Leland is a valuable asset to the Lean Rocket Lab community, providing invaluable insights and guidance to fellow members and entrepreneurs.

Devon is the owner of Epic Blue Marketing, a full-service creative agency serving clients across Mid-Michigan and the U.S. with branding, press and communication plans, social media management, web development, and video storytelling campaigns. Devon is also the owner of Belle Row Boutique, a women's online and traveling clothing boutique. Before launching Epic Blue, Devon held senior leadership roles as Director of Public Relations at Lansing Community College and Marketing Director at TiiCKER, building deep experience in media relations, event management, public affairs, and advertising. She's passionate about mentoring young professionals and giving back to her community, having volunteered with organizations including Junior Achievement USA, the MI-ACE Women's Network, the Children's Trust Fund, and Michigan Tribe.

Retired-Associate Regional Director guiding entrepreneurs and small businesses to start and stay in business. Formerly, an entrepreneur with over 9 years experience in business management, event planning, marketing, communications, accounting, and kitchen management.

Jake is a creative storyteller and video production specialist who helps businesses and organizations bring their brand to life on screen. Through his company, Uncharted Film Co., based in Jackson, MI, Jake partners with clients to produce compelling brand films, promotional videos, and visual content that connect with audiences and drive results. As a local entrepreneur, he understands what it takes to grow a business and brings that same passion and hustle to every project he takes on. Jake holds a degree from Huntington University and combines technical skill behind the camera with a genuine eye for the stories that make a company stand out. He's driven by helping clients turn their vision into visuals that leave a lasting impression.

Amy is a seasoned marketing strategist and social media expert with over 25 years of experience creating and executing marketing and communication strategies. A small business owner herself, Amy owns Come to Your Effin' Senses with her family in Brooklyn, MI, giving her firsthand insight into the entrepreneurial journey. She has a proven track record of leading projects, managing social media content, producing engaging content, and collaborating with executive leadership to deliver high-quality results. Amy hold a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a specialization in Health & Humanities from MSU, along with certifications in Social Media, Coaching for Excellence, and a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt. She's passionate about continual learning and helping others put effective marketing strategies to work.

Joe is committed to helping business owners, executives and salespeople get BOLD ENOUGH TO GET UNCOMFORTABLE to be more effective selling, and managing people through breaking the rules of traditional approaches with ongoing reinforcement training and coaching.

Lauren is the founder of Taurusroad Creative, a creative and strategic marketing agency. She helps businesses and nonprofits clarify their brand, simplify their marketing, and build strategy that actually works -- bringing clarity to the chaos of branding, marketing, and content. Lauren believes every organization deserves high-quality design and marketing regardless of size or location. She works with organizations at every stage, from first-time founders to established companies and community-rooted nonprofits, acting as a strategic partner who helps leaders step back, see the bigger picture, and build marketing systems that support growth instead of creating stress.

Aaron Kopplin is the founder of Kopplin Co., a digital marketing agency based in Jackson, Michigan. He graduated summa cum laude from Grand Valley State University with a degree in Computer Science, then spent five years as a software engineer at a Fortune 500 company in Grand Rapids, where he sharpened his expertise in building reliable, production-grade systems. Aaron's approach blends engineering rigor with marketing strategy: every campaign is measurable, every site is built to perform, and every line of code is written to last. He works closely with founders and operators who want a technical partner that moves fast, communicates clearly, and treats their business like his own.

Justin specializes in offering Fractional AI Officer services. Services encompass everything from training sessions for management and employees to developing custom AI workflows and applications that streamline your business processes and enhance productivity. The process starts with a thorough AI Audit and use-case identification for your business.

Stu is an EIR at LRL, a storyteller and customer experience enthusiast who brings the perspective of an entrepreneur and restaurateur to his work. He helps organizations create better experiences for their customers and teams through video, design, journey mapping, and storytelling.

Maury is an Expert in Residence at LRL, a photographer and designer passionate about creating beautiful, functional websites. As the owner of Mevo Creative Studios, a Michigan-based web design company, Maury specializes in building custom websites tailored to each client's needs and goals.

Margaux is an Expert in Residence at Lean Rocket Lab, providing grant matching, grant writing, and fundraising strategy to organizations across conservation, preservation, education, museums, community development, and housing. She has managed over $10 million in grant funding over the past seven years and brings more than a decade of experience working with nonprofits and government entities. Her mission is to connect people to the resources they need to make the world a better place.

Christie Myers is an Expert in Residence at Lean Rocket Lab, where she draws on a career spanning economic development, community-building, and collective impact. She has worked across sectors—building relationships with state and local leaders, businesses, civic organizations, and neighborhood advocates—to align missions and create momentum for growth. With experience moving the needle on transportation, education, infrastructure, and development, Christie helps entrepreneurs and organizations connect to the people and resources they need to succeed. Her genuine approach and ability to build trust through empowerment have earned her lifelong relationships across the communities she serves.

Veronica is passionate about marketing, entrepreneurship, and building a life that blends family, faith, creativity, and self-sufficiency. She is the director of marketing at Creature Control, owns and co-owns businesses specializing in digital marketing and custom wood mantels, and bring years of experience growing brands through digital strategy and design.

Michael is a consulting supplier to the global OEMs. In addition, investing and consulting in start-ups with a current focus are ventures focused on mobility, AI, IoT and software.

Joe is an automotive engineer turned entrepreneur, mayor, and leadership guide. Over his career in the tech and automotive sector, he earned promotions, a patent, and industry recognition for his engineering work. After navigating an industry downturn, Joe took the same tools, training, and strategies that made him successful in engineering and applied them to leadership in a new arena—founding HomeGrown Leadership, where he helps people lead with the same rigor, communication, and goal-setting they use at work. Today, as a small-city mayor and entrepreneur, Joe brings an engineer's mindset to building strong teams, clear systems, and resilient communities.

Kim Gamez is a serial entrepreneur and business strategist with over 20 years of experience launching and scaling companies, both brick-and-mortar and digital. She's the founder of Sober(ish), and previously founded and led Mi Padrino as CEO from inception through a successful exit, earning a reputation as a tenacious, visionary leader with a gift for rallying customers, investors, and partners around a shared vision. Based in Jackson, MI, and a graduate of Siena Heights University, Kim brings a sharp eye for market trends and a proven track record of building strategies that drive real growth. She's passionate about entrepreneurship and innovation, and is an active mentor in the startup community, including with programs like MSU's Conquer Accelerator. Whether she's building her own ventures or helping others build theirs, Kim leads with energy, strategic insight, and a genuine investment in the people around her.

Catrina Ossmann is a marketing strategist and founder of Clever Ideas Marketing®, where she helps nonprofits and community organizations grow their reach through social media, email marketing, and event promotion. She turns scattered, time-strapped marketing efforts into a simple, sustainable plan that keeps supporters engaged and events full. A dedicated community leader and Incito Award recipient, Catrina brings creativity, consistency, and a genuine heart for the community to everything she does.

Sean Palmer is a Certified Public Accountant at Lally Group, the full-service accounting and consulting firm serving Jackson and Lansing, MI. He helps individuals and businesses navigate their finances with services spanning tax, outsourced accounting, payroll, and business consulting. Sean worked his way up at the firm from staff accountant, and brings earlier experience from County National Bank and small-business accounting. A Jackson native educated at Jackson College and Baker College of Jackson, he pairs technical expertise with a genuine, local commitment to helping his community's businesses build financial confidence.

Drake Lolley is a video production specialist who helps businesses and organizations tell their story and succeed through video. As founder and creative director of Advantage Visuals, which he launched in 2016, he's spent nearly a decade producing compelling visual content that helps clients connect with their audiences. Based in the Detroit metro area and educated at Eastern Michigan University and Jackson College, Drake combines creative direction with technical production skill to bring each client's vision to life on screen.

Dezarai Shepherd is a product development engineer at STANLEY Engineered Fastening, where she leads cross-functional projects from concept through design. She specializes in interpreting customer needs, defining product requirements, and creating innovative solutions, often going beyond her role to design prototype tooling and lead continuous improvement efforts. Based in Jackson, MI, and a Central Michigan University graduate, Dezarai is known by colleagues for her drive, organization, and strong leadership on product and engineering teams.

Nadia serves on the board of Lean Rocket Lab, bringing extensive experience in economic development and technology commercialization. As Federal Opportunities Director at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, she directs the state's engagement with federal funding agencies. Nadia's expertise spans advanced manufacturing, advanced energy and materials, biofuels and bioenergy, and carbon capture and sequestration. Her deep knowledge of funding pathways and emerging technology makes her a valuable voice on the LRL board.

Joshua Williams is a leadership coach and founder of Limitless Innovation LLC, based in Jackson, MI, where he helps organizations and emerging leaders grow. He focuses on developing new and first-time managers — building the leadership skills around tough conversations, credibility, and team dynamics that most people are never formally trained on, including through his Emergent Leaders program. A vocal advocate for healthy, respectful workplace culture, Joshua brings energy and a people-first philosophy to helping teams and leaders reach their potential.

Sean serves on the board of Lean Rocket Lab, bringing the perspective of a hands-on manufacturer and entrepreneur. He is the president of Cobra Aero, founded in 2012 to create a safer, more connected world through the precise application of advanced propulsion technology, and also serves as president of Cobra Moto, which designs, manufactures, and distributes the finest youth competition motorcycles in the world. Sean's leadership across advanced manufacturing and production innovation makes him a valuable voice on the LRL board.

Paige Fuoco is the owner and CEO of Hoyden (Hoyden Creative Group), where she specializes in brand strategy and helping clients develop a clear, resonant identity. With a creative mindset and a talent for relationships, she embeds herself in her clients' teams to build brand strategies that truly connect. Originally from Canada, Paige relocated to Michigan to pursue her education and her passion for hockey, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Adrian College. She's known for forging lasting connections and bringing genuine enthusiasm to every client partnership.

Thomas Harris is a Small Business Financial Wellness Specialist at American 1 Credit Union, where he helps local business owners strengthen their financial footing and make smarter money decisions. A natural leader since his teens, he pairs hands-on experience with a genuine passion for helping people, bringing energy and approachability to the often-intimidating world of business finances. A Jackson College graduate and proud Jackson local, Thomas is deeply involved in the community — including the Drive Jackson committee — and has long been an advocate for causes like local hunger relief.

Annette Sands serves as Administrative Coordinator at the Economic Development Partnership of Hillsdale County, where she keeps the organization running smoothly behind the scenes. As a key point of contact, she helps connect businesses with the information and resources they need to grow and succeed in Hillsdale County.

Sally Clark is the Director of the Economic Development Partnership of Hillsdale County, leading the organization's efforts to attract, retain, and grow business across the region. She works directly with companies — whether they're relocating to the area or already established — to identify resources, incentives, and programs that support their success.