Founding Executive Director

Founding Executive Director
Andy Stoll is a serial social entrepreneur, producer and ecosystem builder. Andy most recently served as a Senior Program Officer in Entrepreneurship at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. His career has focused on building pioneering organizations, programs, communities, classes, and events to help entrepreneurs and creatives turn their ideas into reality.

As a social entrepreneur, Andy has co-founded six entrepreneurial organizations, including The James Gang (a social entrepreneurial incubator), Seed Here Studio (an ecosystem building organization), NewBoCo (an ecosystem building organization), The Iowa Startup Accelerator, and the Startup Champion Network (the first professional association for ecosystem builders). He also co-founded Startup Iowa, a standout region in the White House-initiated Startup America Partnership effort. Seed Here Studio was also an early production partner for Steve Case’s Rise of the Rest Bus Tour, highlighting emerging startup ecosystems across the country.

Field Builder-In-Residence

Field Builder-In-Residence

Fay Horwitt is a nationally recognized ecosystem builder, strategist, and thought leader with more than 15 years of experience advancing equitable entrepreneurship. As former President & CEO of Forward Cities, she positioned the organization at the forefront of the field—designing and leading high-impact programs such as ESHIP Communities in partnership with the Kauffman Foundation and PLACE Builders with EcoMap Technologies. Fay has pioneered numerous entrepreneurial ecosystem frameworks, strategies, and tools now in use across more than 40 communities nationwide.

In the next chapter of her work, Fay is launching WayBuilders, an innovative social enterprise equipping and elevating a new generation of change agents to build a better way for entrepreneurs across the country.

Fay served on the ESHIP Alliance Leadership Council from 2023–2025 and was its first elected chair. Fay also served on the Core Team, and in her role as Leadership Council chair and Core Team member, she has been one of the chief architects of the ESHIP Alliance, helping shape its vision, priorities, and approach throughout her time in both bodies. She recently transitioned from the Council and Core Team into a pilot role as the Alliance’s first Field Builder-in-Residence. In this part-time staff position, she will continue leading the design and growth of the ESHIP Commons.

We work in partnership with Orange Sparkle Ball, an Atlanta-based impact and Innovation agency, on our branding and communication design, whose team members include Meaghan Kennedy, Hannah Ranieri, and Isabelle Swiderski.

Core Team

International Business Innovation Association (InBIA)
Lindsay Schuenke has been with InBIA since December of 2004, when she joined the training and events team. In her time with the association,
Lindsay’s responsibilities have primarily focused on coordinating content and details for events, including the annual conference, the fall training, and the advanced summits. She was involved in the inception and launch of the Business Incubation Management Certificate Program and has helped plan more than a dozen conferences and several smaller tours and events.
Over the years, Lindsay has managed hundreds of speakers, written thousands of session and course descriptions, managed dozens of tours, and been involved with countless other aspects of planning and executing the conferences and other events.
She has a degree in English from Ohio Wesleyan University. Lindsay works remotely from her home office in Maine, where she lives with her husband and four children.
SourceLink
Rob Williams is director at SourceLink. In this role, Rob has empowered a variety of communities—from small towns to entire states—to build and improve on their local entrepreneurial efforts.

Before joining SourceLink, Rob spent nearly a decade at the University of Northern Iowa where he led and expanded multiple statewide entrepreneurship programs earning recognition from IEDC, InBIA, and UEDA.

Rob was the co-creator of the IASourceLink system, a statewide affiliate of SourceLink launched in 2012. Rob has also served as a practitioner small business development center consultant, providing personalized guidance to diverse entrepreneurs and was among the first trained by the National Center for Economic Gardening in both the new media and market research certifications.

Rob is a long time member of the International Business Innovation Association (InBIA), and the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), where he also serves on its Board of Directors.

In 2024, Rob earned his Entrepreneurship Development Professional (EDP) from IEDC, the first international certification of its kind for the field that he helped shape during his tenure with SourceLink.
Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) and The Institute for Work and the Economy
As the Director for Global Community, Cecilia works to introduce and bond to create intersections, collisions, and serendipity for a more enriching and beneficial relationship for everyone. Impactful networking, building and rebuilding community, improve communication and processes are at the center of Cecilia’s work. She is passionately involved in efforts towards inclusion and works for belonging both socially and professionally. She is multicultural and multilingual, and currently serves on the Executive Board for the Institute for Work and the Economy. She’s a former board member of Startup Champions Network (SCN) and several local non-profit boards
In her application for the Council, Cecilia wrote...
"I have connectedness across all states and territories in the US as well as with global partners. My involvement in the ESHIP Summits and Goals work , has given me foundational knowledge and experience from different perspectives: invitee from the inaugural ESHIP Summit, to volunteer, then part of the implementation and support team as a Community Activator. I supported and co-designed ESHIP Summits, the playbook, and community. I have been a judge for SXSW, GIST SBA Lab to Market and other competitions."
Social Venturers
I support ecosystem builders in doing their work well, with impact and without burning out.
I believe that a rising tide lifts all boats and that community wins over competition every time. Anchored in these beliefs, I teach champions and advocates of entrepreneurship how to take a systems approach to supporting the doers, dreamers, tinkerers and makers in their communities.
I pour my passion for ecosystem building into advancing our field through training and consulting, thought leadership and my podcast Ecosystems for Change. I work with clients to tell meaningful stories about their ecosystems and the people who help make them happen. I lovingly curate a newsletter for ecosystem builders every two weeks and I care deeply about hosting meaningful convenings for entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders.
Throughout my career I launched several support programs for entrepreneurs and helped convene purpose-driven communities such as CreativeMornings Shenandoah Valley, Zebras Unite, ESHIP Champions and Rebelle Con.
In my most recent role, I helped develop the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Shenandoah Valley as Director of Ecosystem Building.
I talk about ecosystem building A. LOT.
Prior to my work in North America, I earned a Bachelor of European Studies and Masters of Sustainability Sciences in Germany, France and Australia, and spent a decade working in journalism, non-profits, government and the private sector.
Venn Collaborative
Jim helps higher education institutions and their partners—in communities, business and industry, and government—to deepen, strengthen, and communicate economic and societal impact. He builds stronger connections between colleges and universities and external stakeholders, supporting partnership and collaboration. In recent years, much of the focus of Jim’s work has been on helping postsecondary institutions engage in entrepreneurial ecosystem building.

In his application for the Council, Jim wrote...

“I am a systems convener—that is, I can’t help but look holistically at the contexts of our impact-focused work and bring people together to explore the issues and ideas underlying the opportunities available to us through ecosystem building. It’s my belief that effective ecosystem building starts with a shared understanding of what collaboration really means, and an intentionality about executing on that shared meaning.”

Communication Partner: Orange Sparkle Ball

Leadership Council

Third Eye Network
With over 20 years of experience in small business, higher education administration, and municipal government, Lomax is a proven management executive with a broad skill set and a global, multicultural perspective. He facilitates the development of organizations, people, and practices. An anti-racist management scholar-practitioner, he lives to advance evidence-based management and promote human progress through social and economic justice.

In his application for the Council, Lomax wrote...

“I have been a serial entrepreneur and intrepreneur for more than 20 years. In addition to having led six start-ups, I have spearheaded the reestablishment of a Black chamber of commerce, supported the development of a new division within the higher education community college segment—focused on economic development and innovative workforce services—and oversaw the development and operations for my hometown's former Mayor's Office of Community Wealth Building within municipal government. I have also overseen entrepreneurial ecosystem building activities with racial and social equity lenses across the City of Rochester (NY) since 2018.”
Kevin Carter is the Founder of Coach Carter Consulting, which helps universities develop startup programs and entrepreneurship Centers.
Kevin previously served as Director of Business Development for EcoMap Technologies, where he was responsible for building strategic partnerships, finding strong market applications, and advancing the company’s mission of making information more accessible.
Kevin also helped to build up the student entrepreneurship ecosystem at Johns Hopkins University as the first Student Program Manager for FastForward U (JHU’s student entrepreneurship center) where he worked to develop the university’s first accelerator program, alum entrepreneur mentorship network, and managed grant funding for student entrepreneurs. Kevin is also the Co-Founder of PLACE Builders, a place-based ecosystem fellowship program inspired by the memory of EcoMap’s late CEO/Co-Founder – Pava LaPere. The biggest throughline in his professional career to date is the emphasis on building relationships, connections, and programs that hold real significance to the stakeholders involved.
KC BioHub
Melissa Roberts Chapman is the Acting Regional Innovation Officer for the KC BioHub.
Melissa has worked at the nexus of policy, entrepreneurship, innovation, and economic development throughout her career. She identifies as an ecosystem builder and entrepreneur, and is a native of De Soto, Kansas.

Before leading Kansas City's Tech Hub consortium, Melissa was Director of Entrepreneurship and Ecosystem Policy at the Federation of American Scientists and a Senior Program Officer at the Kauffman Foundation, where she led a grantmaking team focused on building more inclusive, collaborative, and vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystems in the Heartland.

In her free time, she and her husband Brad enjoy watching the Royals, perfecting brisket smoking techniques, and throwing dinner parties. Melissa earned an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management with a certificate in Business Analytics, and a bachelor’s degree in History from Boston College.
Tarsha Hearns is the founder of Economic Growth Strategies and an accomplished nonprofit leader dedicated to building vibrant, inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems. Over the past decade, she has championed women and minority entrepreneurs—advocacy that earned her an invitation to the White House and influenced national policy, including securing $30 million in additional funding for women’s business centers. Known for her collaborative, visionary leadership, Tarsha has served as Vice President at The DEC Network, Senior Director at LiftFund, Executive Director of the LiftFund Dallas/Fort Worth Women’s Business Center, and founder and CEO of The Marketing Lady, LLC.
Scholar
Norris Krueger is a leading expert on how entrepreneurs think and how we learn to think entrepreneurially—and as expert entrepreneurial thinkers. He is also an expert on developing and implementing programs and activities to nurture more innovative, creative, and entrepreneurial individuals, organizations, and communities (for example: designing entrepreneurship programs and centers). He has particular interests and experience in promoting social and sustainable entrepreneurship. His specialties include entrepreneurial economic development programs for communities, programs to help organizations to become more entrepreneurial, entrepreneurship education and training, expert research in entrepreneurial thinking, and advising firms on entrepreneurial development.

He leads major workshops on ecosystems at the Academy of Management and ICSB (which have helped expand scholarly interest in ecosystems). He is a regular contributor to the UN’s annual global small biz day and regularly works with OECD and EU on ecosystem policy and education. This all gives him the joyous but humbling opportunities to work with the world’s best and brightest on growing entrepreneurs.

In his application for the Council, Norris wrote...

“Ecosystem building is a disruptive technology and needs Council members who have the breadth to connect the dots and also great depth in areas that support critical success factors for this profession to advance. Both the academic and practitioner in me keep me focused on what we can do that actually helps ecosystem builders—as all the people who built the Charter concluded, this is our True North, our Job One. Moreover, we have the tools to identify what really works and especially what widely-used tools simply do not. I am passionate and energetic and still deeply curious about how to move us all forward together. So let’s get to it!”
Kristin Leutz is the founder of Petra Impact Partners, where she supports national resource providers with strategy, fundraising, and operations. Over the past decade, she has served as the first paid Executive Director of the Startup Champions Network, co-led the Ecosystem Builder Leadership Project, and led Valley Venture Mentors as COO and CEO, helping launch accelerators, catalyze investment, and strengthen entrepreneurial networks locally and nationally. She has also supported organizations including Main Street America, Forward Cities, 1 Million Cups, EFN, InBIA, and UMA, building programs that advance small business and equitable ecosystem development.
Jason Schneider is Principal at Civic* Possible and is an altruistic mischief-maker, hell-bent on making our communities better by supporting those in the thick of it. His strength is working across disciplines, silos, and ideologies to identify opportunities and then facilitate, plan, and build collective solutions.
Before starting Civic* Possible, he’s created meaningful change in a broad range of roles and projects for over two decades. These roles include Marquette City Councillor, Alaska’s Innovation Officer, Marion County’s Economic Development Manager, Executive Director of the Marquette Chamber of Commerce, and business/organizational coach in Michigan, Tonga, Vietnam, and Australia.
Through these experiences, he’s developed a deep curiosity and skill set around civic ecosystems and a passion not only for sharing these lessons but also for helping others create meaningful change.
Gustavo Ustariz is the Director of Entrepreneur & Small Business Support at Main Street America, where he collaborates with external partners and stakeholders to design, lead implementation, manage, and monitor Main Street America’s suite of entrepreneurial support and ecosystem-building programs to build more resilient business models and local economies.
Gustavo previously served as Senior Manager for Entrepreneur & Small Business Support and Program Officer for Neighborhood Services, where he was responsible for supporting, delivering, and expanding the reach of MSA’s comprehensive commercial district revitalization technical services to our network of communities and Coordinating Programs across the country. He mainly served our big city programming and Spanish-speaking communities.

Before joining MSA, Gustavo worked as a tourism planning and development consultant for 17 years, collaborating with NGOs, local governments, entrepreneurs, and community groups to assess, plan, develop, and market international tourism destinations. He is fluent in Spanish and holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration in Tourism and Hospitality Management and a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA).

National Advisors

Ifeoma "Ify" Aduba is Executive Director of the Entrepreneurship Funders Network, a national network of funders and foundations who envision vibrant communities fueled by equitable entrepreneurial ecosystems.
Ify has demonstrated creative and resilient change agent with over 25 years of senior leadership experience in high-stress, unpredictable environments. Her work is grounded in employee, constituent, and community engagement, paired with creative problem solving and opportunity identification, while effectively balancing intuitive and data-informed decision making.
Indiana University Innovates
Julie is an executive who removes barriers for entrepreneurs and aspiring business founders. She is a connector, a fan of business models that advance public good, and an advocate for catalytic capital that unleashes innovation. Julie serves as the inaugural Executive Director of IU Innovates, a new initiative that advances entrepreneurs at Indiana University. Previously, she served as Vice President, Entrepreneurial Ecosystems for the state of Indiana (IEDC)—a position that was created as part of the state’s entrepreneurship priority.
Roanhorse Consulting
Vanessa is Diné who grew up on her reservation. She is a sister, mother, daughter, and partner. These roles shape her every day. In 2016, she and her partner launched an Indigenous-led think tank, Roanhorse Consulting, LLC. Today, Roanhorse Consulting co-designs wealth and power-building efforts that directly invest in our leaders, support meaningful data collection informed by Indigenous research approaches, and help build thoughtful community-led projects that enforce values that put people at the center. Vanessa got her management chops working for seven years at a Chicago-based nonprofit, the Delta Institute, focused throughout the Great Lakes region to build a resilient environment and economy through creative, sustainable, market-driven solutions. Vanessa oversaw many of Delta’s on-the-ground energy efficiency, green infrastructure, community engagement programs, and workforce development training.
Invest Puerto Rico
Denisse Rodríguez is an ecosystem builder and social entrepreneur working at the intersection of economic and community development. She currently works as the Stakeholder Affairs Director at Investor Puerto Rico where she lead strategic partnerships and engagement efforts to strengthen Puerto Rico’s economic development ecosystem.
Previously, she founded and lef Colmena66, an award-winning program that makes entrepreneurship easier by connecting entrepreneurs with the vital, just-in-time, on-the-ground resources they need to accelerate their ideas and turn those into sustainable businesses that create jobs. Through entrepreneur-led economic development strategies, Denisse works to strengthen a cohesive and vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem in Puerto Rico.
International Business Innovation Association (InBIA)
Charles Ross is President and CEO of the International Business Innovation Association (InBIA) and brings over 15 years of experience building and supporting entrepreneurial ecosystems. His work spans entrepreneurship, business incubation, economic development, and investment, with leadership across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. He has mentored founders at more than 30 high-growth companies and previously held senior roles at Kennesaw State University and the Georgia Institute of Technology. Earlier in his career, he worked in venture investing with the Telecommunications Development Fund and Ameritech’s venture capital division.

Our deepest gratitude to those who have concluded their service on the Leadership Council — your contributions have been instrumental in shaping the vision and efforts of the Alliance over the years.

Dr. Amy Beaird, The Ecosystem Edge (2025-2026)
Ifeoma Aduba, Entrepreneurship Funders Network (2023-2026)
Vanessa Roanhorse, Roanhorse Consulting (2023-2026)
Julie Heath, Indiana University Innovates (2023-2026)
Denisse Rodríguez, Invest Puerto Rico
Charles Ross, InBIA (2022-2026)
Mo Collins, IEDC (2023-2025)
José Alvarez, Prospera (2022-2023)
Grace Belangia, Make Startups (2022-2023)
Enoch Elwell, Co.Starters (2022-2023)
Tiffany Henry, Arkansas Tech University (2022-2023)
Pava LaPere, EcoMaps (2022-2023)
Dara Macan, SourceLink (2022-2023)
Beth Zimmer, EBLP (2022-2023)