Founding Executive Director

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.

Core Team

Forward Cities
Nonprofit organizations, foundations, and communities across the country look to Fay Horwitt to provide creative solutions to grow inclusiveness and impact for local entrepreneurial ecosystems. As a sought-after presenter and trainer, Fay designs and delivers in-person and virtual events, education and interactive experiences to help organizations, companies, and individuals grow more effective and equitable human ecosystems. Fay now turns her attention to ecosystem healing, helping pivot ecosystems and institutions in the time of COVID-19, racial tensions and beyond—all from a multicultural lens.

In her application for the Council, Fay wrote...

“Having served prior on the provisional council for a time, my observations from that experience have given me a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities of developing and stewarding a distributed network, including distributed power, mission over money, non-performative DEI, and authenticity."
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."
The Engine Built by MIT
Dr. Amy Beaird is a Senior Platform Manager at The Engine Accelerator, where she collaborates with the NSF to catalyze innovation ecosystems across ten U.S. regions. Previously, as Chief Strategy Officer at the Florida High Tech Corridor, she spearheaded transformative initiatives like the award-winning Cenfluence industry clustering initiative, leveraging regional strengths. With 20 years of experience, Beaird has coached and mentored hundreds of startups and is an SBIR/STTR program expert. She holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of South Carolina and a B.S. from the University of Florida.
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.

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.”
Colmena66
Denisse Rodríguez is an ecosystem builder and social entrepreneur working at the intersection of economic and community development. As Executive Director at the Puerto Rico Science, Technology & Research Trust, she founded and leads 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.

In her application for the Council, Denisse wrote...

“I began my career in Investment Banking at Goldman Sachs in NYC followed by the public sector in Puerto Rico. I've worked at 2 non profit organizations, and held a c-level position at a tech startup. I began my journey as ecosystem builder when I brought Kiva to Puerto Rico before founding Colmena66, a program of the PR Science Trust and building a coalition of individuals committed to helping entrepreneurs grow. I work with diversity, equity and inclusion in absolutely everything I do, focusing on women in tech, women entrepreneurs, the LGBTQ+ community, and our Spanish speaking entrepreneurs in Puerto Rico.”
International Business Innovation Association (InBIA)
Charles Ross is a senior economic development leader who leads innovation for organizations to generate impact for communities. For over 25 years, he has provided organizations the strategic and tactical leadership needed to achieve breakthrough results. Charles has deep experience and expertise in technology commercialization and university-based economic development.
In his application for the Council, Charles wrote...
“I have comprehensive and direct experience in/across several entrepreneurship ecosystem sectors (corporate, venture capital, higher education, workforce development, community development, entrepreneur support, national resource provider) and have focused on supporting a wide variety of entrepreneurs (technology, life sciences, mainstreet, microentrepreneurs) across a diversity of communities (urban, rural, suburban) over the past twenty years. I am President & CEO of a national resource provider (InBIA), so I also bring the perspectives of over 1,000 practitioners (the entrepreneur support professionals, ESOs and entrepreneurship ecosystem builders who make up the InBIA community), to the work of the leadership council.”
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.”
Entrepreneurship Funders Network (EFN)
Ify is a demonstrated creative and resilient change agent with over 25 years of proven senior leadership in unique high-stress, unpredictable environments, built through employee, constituent, and community engagement and creative problem solving and opportunity identification while effectively balancing intuitive and data-informed decision making.

In her application for the Council, Ify wrote...

“My approach to my work in and with non-profit organizations is ultimately always rooted in community development—recognizing that while an organization may have a primary focus, that organization's success contributes to community benefit.”
International Economic Development Council (IEDC)
Mo Collins serves as the Director of Entrepreneurship at the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). She is also the CEO at Entrepreneurial Communities, a twelve-year old consultancy that supports communities and states in understanding their entrepreneur ecosystems.

In her application for the Council, Mo wrote...
“I am a service-oriented, passionate, and active supporter of ecosystems and the entrepreneurs they support throughout the stack. I have a lengthy career across many aspects of entrepreneurship development and have a rich understanding of the field and our best practices.”
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.

In her application for the Council, Vanessa wrote...

“I bring a diverse perspective as an Indigenous person who has had the experience building my own company, co-founding numerous organizations that support Indigenous founders, Indigenous-led movement building coalitions, Investor networks, and new capital funding products. I use my Indigenous worldview to imagine an economic future that knows that health is wealth and that human beings are the least important. That by employing entrepreneurship, we are supporting agency, self-determination and a committed responsibility to the living world around us.“
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!”
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.

In her application for the Council, Julie wrote...

“As an ecosystem builder, I focus on removing barriers to entrepreneurship through a shared economy of supportive connections, accessible resources, and know-how. I find purpose in building better business models and in helping people who want to start something. I believe deeply in impact networks and that complex problems are solvable when people who share purpose come together.”
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.