The Entrepreneurial Fellows Class of 2023 convened for the first time on January 18, 2023. Here is the 35 member class that will participate in a full year of entrepreneurial training from the Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence.
Michael Albright – Director of Business Development, The Gateway Engineers, Inc.
Margaret Beldecos – Chief Operating Officer, Trade Institute of Pittsburgh
Dan Benacquista – Sr. Director, Pricing and Continuous Improvement, Modern Transportation
Tenika Chavis – Owner, Lady Carpenter LLC
Matt Cowler – Vice President of Operations, Keystone Crane and Hoist Co.
LaRae Cullens – Executive Director, Wright Childcare Solutions/The Learning Loft
Karen Denton – CEO, KSC Enterprise LLC
Heather Dieckmann – Mortgage Department Supervisor, SSB Bank
Vanessa Dodds – CEO/President, Connections 4 Success LLC
Kelly Engel – Owner, Eggs N’at Diner
William Fiesta – Owner, John A. Fiesta Insurance Agency
Amanda Greer – Area Sales Manager, Turner Dairy Farms
Shannon Gregg, PhD – President, Cloud Adoption Solutions
Adam Harris – President, Harris Masonry Inc.
Adam Hoppel – Chief Growth Officer, The Pittsburgh Juice Company
Naomi Hoppel – Owner, The Pittsburgh Juice Company
Stephen Humbert – Sr. Director Business Development & Strategy, Modern Transportation
Pete Jansen – Sales Director, Sauereisen, Inc.
Blake Kadar – Manufacturing Engineer, Verretec Composite Materials
Travis Kreidler – VP, Director of Professional Services, Desmone
Brandon Ledford – SVP, Organizational Solutions Group, MGT
Kevin Leech – General Manager, Bridge City Builders
Gary Massaro – District Sales Manager, Abarta Coca-Cola Beverages
Lauren Morlacci – Operations Manager and Continuous Improvement, L&S Machine Company LLC
Shawntez Pope – Merchandising Manager, ABARTA
Kevin Rice – Executive Director, Steel Center for Career and Technical Education
Timothy Russell – President, Allegheny Distilling LLC
Emily Sejna – Asst. Athletics Director for Major Gifts, Pitt Athletics
Krystal Shirk – Eclipse Manager, Comfort Supply Inc.
Matt Smith – President, Red Swing Group
Kathryn Sullivan – Vice President, Client Services, Marbury Group
John Unice – Owner, bit-x-bit, LLC
Mark Weber – VP, Growth, PeopleOne Health
Dane Wolford – General Manager, Robinson Fans
Not pictured: Jamey Bednez – President-elect, Stalwart Insurance