We Are Entrepreneurs: A Showcase of Innovation
Tuesday, May 10, 2016
6:30 -8:30 PM
LMHQ 150 Broadway, 20th Floor
New York, New York 10003
646-779-9616
Register for the event
Join us for an evening showcasing Smeal entrepreneurs and celebrating innovation. Enjoy networking followed by an open panel discussion with Penn State alumni, faculty, and partners from all parts of the entrepreneurship ecosystem. Download Tassl App and be ready for New York’s first Tassl Tuesday.
Meet our panel
Mitch Cohen graduated from Penn State University with a degree in accounting and continues to be actively involved at Penn State on the Advisory Board for the Smeal College of Business. Having been with PwC for 33 years, and holding partner status for 22 of those years, he is currently the Vice Chairman responsible for a variety of activities related to the US firm's involvement in PwC's global network. Mitch is also co-author of The Self-Made Billionaire Effect: How Extreme Producers Create Massive Value.
Andrew Ackerman is a recovering consultant turned serial entrepreneur, startup mentor and angel investor. He is the Managing Director at Dreamit. Andrew is also a contributing writer to Fortune and AlleyWatch. Andrew has founded two companies and has a keen appreciation for how hard it is to build a successful startup, even under the best of circumstances. He speaks Hebrew fluently as well as some Spanish, French, Japanese and JavaScript.
Melissa Gonzalez a 2009 graduate from Smeal College of Business, Melissa is the CEO and Founder of the Lionesque Group (aka Lionesque Media), and author of "The Pop-Up Paradigm". Beginning with the vision of the branded experience, the Lionesque Group guides clients throughout the entire lifecycle of the "pop-up experience." The advisory continues with project management from pre-planning to store opening, and concludes with the merging of Lionesque Group's knowledge of social media strategy with the company's deep Rolodex of partners and sponsors. The team is with their client every step of the way to ensure that the brand's online presence is utilized to drive customer traffic to the store and the pop-up store captures both current and new customer appeal, bridging a multi-channel platform retail strategy.
Sean Langton a 2009 Finance graduate from Smeal College of Business co-founded Lokely in May of 2015 after spending about three years as an associate in the investment banking division of Barclays. Sean also holds the position of CEO for the start-up and volunteers as the Communications Chair on the Executive board of Smeal Business Club, NYC Chapter. Lokely is a mobile app that connects travelers to like-minded local people to get real-time, personal recommendations on things to do in different cities
Krishna C. Nadella is a 2004 graduate of the Smeal College of Business. He is the head of Americas Sales for Portfolio Valuations & Regulatory Solutions at Bloomberg L.P. His work at Bloomberg L.P. allows him to partner with clients to ensure they are aware of and equipped to comply with industry requirements and ever changing regulations. Krishna also hosts and produces the web-based series "STATE OF MIND," a discussion program that explores the relevant social, economic and political issues that are prominent at the post-secondary level of education. Through “STATE OF MIND”, Krishna advocates for current and prospective college students, ensuring they are well prepared for success as they face the demands and choices associated with this next stage of education.
Peter Whalen: Peter Whalen is a Clinical Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship at Penn State Smeal and also the Managing Director of the Garber Venture Fund, which provides MBA students with the opportunity to evaluate business opportunities and issue funding, is on the precipice of several dynamic changes. Peter is also the co-director of the Lion Launch Pad. Peter came to Penn State from University of Denver in 2015.
About the Garber Venture Fund: Established in 1999 by John Garber and his wife, Bette, the $5 million venture fund supports private equity investing in early stage companies. The fund is just one of the many entrepreneurial opportunities housed in Smeal’s Farrell Center for Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship.