Innovators-in-Residence

Stacey Berger

Current Role

• Principal of CHQ Capital, a private investor in value-added real estate and early-stage ventures

Career Highlights

• Executive Vice President at PNC Bank, NA, and co-head of Midland Loan Services
• Over 40 years of experience and industry leadership in commercial real estate finance, loan servicing and asset management
• Served as President of the Commercial Real Estate Finance Council (formerly CMSA) and received the association’s Founders Award
• Vice-Chairman of the commercial/multifamily board of directors of the Mortgage Bankers Association and received the association’s Distinguished Service Award.

Companies

• Midland Loan Services, Inc.
• PNC Bank

Education

• BA in Economics, Tulane University
• MBA, Tulane University

LinkedIn

Timothy Bovard

Current Role

• Founder & CEO of Search Fund Accelerator

Career Highlights

• At Search Fund Timothy has helped entrepreneurs find, buy and manage companies
• Over 20 company acquisitions and turnarounds
• Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship at INSEAD since 2003 and Columbia Business School since 2015, teaching Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition

Companies

• Search Fund Accelerator
• CPI Group

Education

• BS in Management, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• Masters in Political Science, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
• MBA, INSEAD

LinkedIn

Jim Christian

Current Role

• Senior Advisor, Global Leveraged Capital (GLC)

Career Highlights

• 35 years business experience
• CEO, Founder, Investor & Director
• Private Equity / Venture Capital
• Corporate Banking

Companies

• Benlovia, LLC
• Anschutz Investment Company
• Paribas
• Dillon, Read & Co. Inc.

Education

• BA, Williams College

LinkedIn

Chris Damm

Current Role

• Doctor, Cardiac Care Unit at Ochsner Medical Center

Career Highlights

• Over 32 years of experience in medicine with a focus in cardiovascular disease
• Received post-graduate training at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City
• Held faculty positions at several leading institutions including the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

Companies

• Ochsner Medical Center
• University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
• Drexel University College of Medicine

Education

• BA in Physics, Harvard University
• MD, Columbia University
• MBA in Finance, University of Pennsylvania

Brian Egwele

Current Role

• Founder and Managing Partner at Egwele & Company LLC

Career Highlights

• Over 20 years of investment banking experience
• Significant experience advising clients on complex transactions, including mergers & acquisitions, divestitures, equity and debt financings, joint ventures, minority investments, recapitalizations and in- and out-of-court restructurings.
• Advised clients on over 50 M&A transactions aggregating close to $40 billion of transaction value and more than 30 financings that raised over $15 billion.

Companies

• Egwele & Company
• Sagent Advisors
• Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

Education

• BS in Business Administration and Management, Tulane University

LinkedIn

John Elstrott

Current Role

• Director at Traditional Medicinals, Inc.
• Former Chairman of the Board at Whole Foods Market
• Founder at Elstrott, Maurer & Hunnewell
• Emeritus Executive Director of the Levy-Rosenblum Institute for Entrepreneurship

Career Highlights

• Over 30 years of teaching at Tulane University
• Chairman of the Board and Chair of the audit committee for Whole Foods from 1994-2017

Companies

• Danos
• Celestial Seasonings
• Good2Go, LLC
• Stewart Enterprises

Education

• PHD in Economics, Tulane University

LinkedIn

Alex Goryachev

Current Role

• US Delegate & Technical Advisory Group Member - ISO 56000 Innovation Management
• WSJ Bestselling Writer, Innovation columnist and speaker
• Contributing writer for Forbes and Chief Executive Magazine, and an Editorial Advisory Board Member for Innovation Leader Magazine

Career Highlights

• As a Managing Director of Global Innovation Programs and Strategy at Cisco, pioneered the concept of ecosystem co-innovation, creating and leading global co-innovation centers in 14 countries
• Built award-winning employee engagement and development programs, empowering employees at all levels to develop their ideas
• Shaped the future of digital entertainment by pioneering digital rights management at Liquid Audio and driving business model transformation at Napster
• Recipient of numerous industry awards for innovation and culture transformation.

Companies

• Cisco Systems
• Napster
• IBM Global Services
• Pfizer Pharmaceuticals

Education

• MA in Public Policy, Institute of Social Sciences

LinkedIn, AlexGoryachev.com

Selina Ip

Current Role

• Retired from Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu

Career Highlights

• 30 years of international experience driving large-scale organization transformations
• Over 15 years as a Managing Director and held senior strategy leadership roles at Deloitte, a top $40 billion professional services firm with a presence in 150 countries
• Directly advised the firm’s C-suite leaders including the Global Chief Operating Officer; the Global Executive Leader of all revenue-generating services; and the Global Chief Information Officer

Companies

• Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu
• Twinwood Technologies

Education

• MBA, University of California
• BA in Marketing, University of Wisconsin

LinkedIn

Mike Katz

Current Role

• Managing Director, Benson Capital Partners
• Investor/Founder at Tahoga LLC

Career Highlights

• Technology investor with 15+ years of experience across all stages of company lifecycles
• Current and/or prior investments include StubHub, Magic Leap, 23andMe, KeyMe, Dollar Shave Club, and ~30 others

Companies

• Naspers Ventures
• Alibaba Group
• Battery Ventures
• Conductor, Inc.
• Pequot Ventures
• Merrill Lynch & Co.

Education

• BS, Georgetown University
• MBA, Columbia University

LinkedIn

Allison Piper Kimball

Current Role

• Managing Partner, Wave 27 Ventures
• President and Founder, Blue Catalyst Group
• Board Director, Montucky Cold Snacks
• Vice President and former Board Member of Houston Angel Network
• LP Advisory Committee Member, The Artemis Fund

Career Highlights

• Early-stage and angel investor since 2018
• Led Series A Round Montucky Cold Snacks 2021
• Over 20 years in competitive electricity markets
• Chief Operating Officer of Spark Energy through IPO NASDAQ: SPKE
• Chief Operating Officer of Startex Power through sale to Constellation Energy

Companies

• Montucky Cold Snacks
• Spark Energy
• Startex Power
• Constellation Energy
• Champion Energy Services
• Gexa Energy
• Reliant Energy
• ERM Environmental Services

Education

• MBA Tulane University
• MSPH The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• BS Clarkson University

LinkedIn

Mark Newberg

Current Role

• President, Stockbridge Advisors

Career Highlights

• Led impact investing policy initiatives (Federal Government)
• Founded Stockbridge Advisors, LLC
• Judge and Mentor for MassChallenge, Louisiana Startup Prize, Harvard iLabs, SOLVE @ MIT
• Lead author of The Desktop Manual for Impact Policymakers
• Fellow, Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation, Georgetown University, 2018-2021

Companies

• Claira (Advisor)
• Qwally (Advisor)
• Winter Innovations (Advisor)

Education

• Tulane University, BA, Political Science, 2002
• Tulane Law School, JD, 2006

LinkedIn

David Olk

Current Role

• Co-Founder & General Partner, Junction Venture Partners
• Co-Founder and Board Member, ShopKeep
• Co-Founder and Board Member, Voray
• Managing Partner & Co-Founder, The Founder Exchange
• Board Member Amper Music, Gooten, and Vengo

Career Highlights

• Founded and ran ShopKeep, one of the largest cloud point of sale companies in the world raising over $150m of capital
• Former board member of Kickstarter which he helped finance and advise from earliest stages (founded by former Tulane roommate Perry Chen)
• Led the mergers and acquisitions team at Barry Diller’s IAC (owners of Match, Vimeo, Tinder, College Humor, Angies list, etc)

Companies

• ShopKeep
• Voray
• BentoBox
• Amper Music, Inc.
• Shelf
• Gooroo

Education

• BS, Tulane University
• MBA, Columbia University

LinkedIn

Mauricio Prieto

Current Role

• Founder of Travel Tech Essentialist

Career Highlights

• Co-founder, CMO and board member of eDreams Odigeo, Spain’s first unicorn and Europe's largest online travel company and the largest in flights in the world
• Grew eDreams Odigeo to $550 million in revenue and $140 million EBITDA
• Lecturer of Entrepreneurship at IESE Business School
• Board member: Wakanow, The Hotels Network, Barcelona Tech, Plazah, Night Train Swimmers

Companies

• eDreams Odigeo
• Charles Schwab (Product Development, Online Brokerage)
• Booz Allen & Hamiton

Education

• Princeton University BA
• University of California at Berkeley MBA

LinkedIn

Pradeep Ramamurthy

Current Role

• Head of Investor Relations, Standard Crypto

Career Highlights

• Senior Advisor to Opengate Capital
• Advised Global Fortune 500 companies and leading impact investors on private equity/venture capital
• Co-founded Abraaj North America; Helped lead the post-acquisition integration of Aureos Capital
• Helped establish/oversee USAID's first innovation and partnership division
• Senior Director on the National Security Council

Companies

• Standard Crypto
• OpenGate Capital
• Cauvery LLC
• The White House
• USAID

Education

• BSc, International Politics, Georgetown University
• MA Social Science, University of Chicago

LinkedIn

Alex Reed

Current Role

• President & COO at Yokogawa Fluence Analytics

Career Highlights

• Over a decade of experience in leading and mentoring tech startups
• Co-founded a startup that became one of Tulane’s most successful IP spinout exits
• Contributed to numerous patents, publications, funded scientific grants
• Recipient of the Forbes 30 under 30, Gambit 40 under 40, Biz New Orleans New & Notable, and several other startup and tech awards

Companies

• Fluence Analytics, formerly APMT, Inc. (acq. by Yokogawa)
• Smart Manufacturing Leadership Coalition
• Tulane University - PolyRMC
• Applied Polymer Technology Extension Consortium

Education

• BA, Economics, Latin American Studies and Minor in Business, Tulane University

LinkedIn

Jimmy Roussel

Current Role

• CEO for the New Orleans Startup Fund

Career Highlights

• Worked for the past 35 years in a variety of startup environments, taking many of the companies from idea to profitability
• Experience in all aspects of the startup arena from raising money, to building teams, to setting up sales and marketing plans, and product development

Companies

• The New Orleans Startup Fund
• MakeBuzz, LLC
• Turbo Squid
• ProTier

Education

• BA, Dartmouth College

LinkedIn

Mike Schroeder

Current Role

• President and Founder of Roundstone Insurance

Career Highlights

• 25 years of management experience, building and leading fast-growing, innovative insurance businesses
• Former Vice President and General Counsel for NASDAQ listed, AM Best, A-rated Insurer
• Founded a medical malpractice underwriter and drove rapid growth prior to its acquisition
• Served as turnaround management consultant for state insurance departments
• Named a finalist for the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2022

Companies

• Roundstone Insurance
• National Interstate (NASDAQ: NATL)
• Ulmer Berne LLP

Education

• Juris Doctorate, The Ohio State University College of Law
• Bachelor of Science in Business Management, Tulane University

LinkedIn

Stella Templo

Current Role

• Counsel at Private Family Office
• Associate General Counsel, Global Litigation for the We Company (currently on leave)

Career Highlights

• Started at WeWork in 2011 as Chief of Staff to the CEO and was its first full-time lawyer

Companies

• WeWork
• Law Offices of Spar & Bernstein, P.C.
• Kutak Rock

Education

• BA, Tulane University
• JD, Tulane Law School

LinkedIn

Claire Tilmont

Current Role

• Head of Marketing and Data Analytics at Cara Stone, LLP

Career Highlights

• Lead marketing for several high growth software companies
• Publisher of the Venture and Angel Capital Report analyzing private venture deals across the country
• Advises companies on growth and marketing strategies

Companies

• Cara Stone, LLP

Education

• Tulane University

LinkedIn

Joe Truhe

Current Role

• Partner at Jefferson Capital Partners & Board President at Elevate New Orleans

Career Highlights

• 15 years in private equity, hedge fund and public equity investing
• Board member/observer on multiple past and current Jefferson Capital Investments
• Investment committee member at HFR Asset Management; responsible for the expansion of firm's Asia-focused fund offerings

Companies

• Jefferson Capital Management
• Whitney Bank/Hancock/Horizon Funds
• HFR Asset Management

Education

• BA, Yale University
• CFA Charter Holder

LinkedIn

Aaron Walker

Current Role

• Founder & CEO, Camelback Ventures

Career Highlights

• Facilitated deals for companies large and small as a lawyer
• Supported new ideas to improve education as a portfolio director for the NYC Fund for Public Schools

Companies

• Camelback Ventures
• EXPERTLY
• Teacher Capital Management
• The Fund for Public Schools
• Allen & Overy
• Teach for America

Education

• BA, University of Virginia
• JD, University of Pennsylvania Law School

LinkedIn

Wallace Boston

Current Role

• President of American Public University System

Career Highlights

• 17 years of experience in online higher education
• Appointed CEO of American Public Education in 2004, led it to an IPO in 2007, retired in September 2019
• Invested in Hondros College of Nursing, New Horizons Worldwide, Rallypoint, Fidelis, and Second Avenue
• 18 years as CFO, COO or CEO leading post-acute healthcare rollups at Meridian Healthcare, Manor Care, NeighborCare, and Sun Healthcare Group
• 5 years as Manager, Price Waterhouse Consulting
• Board Member for American Public Education, Inc. (APEI)
• Board Member for American Public University System
• Board Member for Hondros College of Nursing Companies

Companies

• American Public University System
• Sun Healthcare Group
• NeighborCare
• Manor Healthcare
• Meridian Healthcare

Education

• BA in History, Duke University
• MB in Marketing and Accounting, Tulane University
• EdD in Higher Education Management, University of Pennsylvania

LinkedIn, www.apus.edu

Deborah Elam

Current Role

• President & CEO of Corporate Playbook

Career Highlights

• Started with GE after graduation as a member of Human Resources Leadership Program
• Spearheaded programs at GE that support the professional growth of women, including female-specific training and scholarships
• Recipient of prestigious EPIC (Enhancing Perceptions in Culture) award from The White House Project
• Formerly Chief Diversity Officer and President of GE Foundation

Companies

• General Electric

Education

• BA in Sociology, Louisiana State University
• MA in Public Administration, Southern University

Bloomberg.com, WorkingMother.com, LinkedIn

Sally Forman

Current Role

• Former Acting CEO at The Idea Village

Career Highlights

• Served as director of communications during former Mayor Ray Nagin’s administration
• Published two books: “Eye of the Storm: Inside City Hall during Katrina” and “How They Did It: Profiles of New Orleans Entrepreneurs”
• Owner of Sally Forman Communications

Companies

• The Idea Village
• Sally Forman Communications
• City of New Orleans

Education

• BA, Louisiana State University

TheAdvocate, LinkedIn

Juan Linares

Current Role

• Principal with Callais Capital Management

Career Highlights

• Nearly 17 years experience in investment banking with firms such as Pareto Securities, Teneo Capital, CRT Capital Group, Pritchard Capital Partners and Cowen & Co.
• Involved in over $15 billion worth of capital markets transactions and has developed a broad network within the early stage to lower middle market space.
• Involved in a Youth Empowerment Project and sits on the board of Homer A. Plessy Charter School.

Companies

• Callais Capital Management
• Teneo Capital
• Sterne Agee CRT
• Rice, Voelker
• Pritchard Capital Partners LLC

Education

• BSBA, Georgetown University
• MBA, UCLA Anderson

LinkedIn

Kevin Ryan

Current Role

• Senior Executive with Natural Insights, Mission Athlete Care and IdealPaint, Inc.

Career Highlights

• Sales and marketing agent for IdeaPaint, an innovative product that transforms any space into a dry erase surface, making collaboration accessible and effective
• Vice President of Field and Specialty Sales, Reebok International
• Director of Sales Operation, Planning and Development Tambrands Inc.

Companies

• Ryan Group
• IdeaPaint
• Mission Skin Care
• Natural Insights
• Reebok
• TamBrands
• Johnson & Johnson

Education

• BS in Management, Tulane University

LinkedIn

Jeffrey Silverman

Current Role

• Co-Managing Partner Laconia Capital Group L.P.

Career Highlights

• 25 Years of experience building early stage media and technology companies
• Holds investments in over 25 Companies such as TripleLift, ALICE, Kik, SyncOnSet Technologies, C3 Metrics and Localytics
• Sits on the board of Homer Logistics, SyncOnSet Technologies and is a Senior Advisor at C3 Metrics

Companies

• Laconia Capital Group, L.P.
• Integrated Color Solutions
• DoubleClick

Education

• BA in History, Tulane University

LinkedIn, laconiacapitalgroup.com

Allen Square

Current Role

• Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Square Button

Career Highlights

• Led the City of New Orleans Information and Innovation Department from 2010 to 2015
• 15 years of experience across private, public, non-profit sectors in technology, transportation, healthcare and private equity industries
• At Square Button, seeks to create job and ownership opportunities for young African-American men and women

Companies

• Square Button Consulting
• City of New Orleans, Information and Innovation Department
• Bain & Company, Inc.

Education

• MBA, University of Pennsylvania
• BA in Electrical Engineering, Tulane University
• MS in Telecommunications, Southern Methodist University

Nola.com, The New Orleans Tribune, LinkedIn

Marianne Van Meter

Current Role

• Managing Director and Founder of Legacy Capital

Career Highlights

• Actively involved in providing financial advisory services to corporate clients in various industries
• Previously served as Vice President with A.G Edwards & Sons, Inc., established their New Orleans Corporate Finance office
• Presented lectures on the buying and selling of closely-held businesses on behalf of Millsaps College and the Cambridge Institute

Companies

• Legacy Capital LLC
• A.G Edwards & Sons, Inc.
• Morgan Stanley
• Goldman Sachs

Education

• BS in Economics, University of Iowa
• MBA, University of Virginia

LegacyCapital.com, LinkedIn