Mentors & Judges
Many thanks to the judges, mentors, and speakers who are volunteering their time for the Flagstaff Pioneer Pitch! Please click the accordion below for more information on each of our outstanding mentors and judges.
Aram Chavez - Speaker, Mentor, and Judge
Aram Chavez,
Faculty, Arizona State University, Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering and founder of Aha to Exit
If you read Venture Beat or Crunchbase, it often sounds like startup unicorns go directly from idea to exit, without too much time or effort in between. But, the truth is that startup giants like Uber, Airbnb, and Slack were in business 8-10 years before they gained the widespread public attention they have today.
What were they doing all that time? Following the predictable path that most startups need to follow from AHA! to Exit. Listen as Aram Chavez, entrepreneur, speaker, and former investment banker turned professor of entrepreneurship at ASU shares the key milestones every startup needs to hit on their way to mega-success. Co-developed by Chavez and fellow professor Steven Cho, the map outlines the ten steps every startup needs to take on their way to a unicorn exit.
Faculty, Arizona State University, Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering and founder of Aha to Exit
If you read Venture Beat or Crunchbase, it often sounds like startup unicorns go directly from idea to exit, without too much time or effort in between. But, the truth is that startup giants like Uber, Airbnb, and Slack were in business 8-10 years before they gained the widespread public attention they have today.
What were they doing all that time? Following the predictable path that most startups need to follow from AHA! to Exit. Listen as Aram Chavez, entrepreneur, speaker, and former investment banker turned professor of entrepreneurship at ASU shares the key milestones every startup needs to hit on their way to mega-success. Co-developed by Chavez and fellow professor Steven Cho, the map outlines the ten steps every startup needs to take on their way to a unicorn exit.
Lisa Lloyd - Speaker & Mentor
Innovation fanatic, wicked-good problem-solver, insightful advisor and voracious learner, Lisa Lloyd has invented, licensed and brought to market numerous products, including products to major distributors, Goody Products®, Scunci®, and Helen of Troy®, as well as Shark Tank featured product TC Pets, for which she won the coveted investment from “Shark” Daymond John of FUBU.
She is also the founder of the Inventor’s Association of Arizona and has been a contracted consultant for hundreds of small businesses and startups as well as to major corporations like InventHelp®, Scunci® and Newell Rubbermaid®.
Her experience also includes of Director of New Business Development for Early Stage East. ESE is a high-level venture conference planning company specializing in early stage VC for High-Tech and Biotech companies.
A speaker and trainer for more than twenty years on the subjects of innovation, licensing and business tactics, she has been a featured lecturer at universities including the U of A Eller School of Business and Entrepreneurship, ASU College of Engineering, and the Arizona Intellectual Property Association’s continuing education program for patent and trademark attorneys.
Lisa V. Lloyd
Lloyd Marketing Group, Inc.
http://www.LloydMarketingGroup.com
Twitter: http://www.Twitter.com/icaninvent
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/lisavlloyd
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lmgservices
She is also the founder of the Inventor’s Association of Arizona and has been a contracted consultant for hundreds of small businesses and startups as well as to major corporations like InventHelp®, Scunci® and Newell Rubbermaid®.
Her experience also includes of Director of New Business Development for Early Stage East. ESE is a high-level venture conference planning company specializing in early stage VC for High-Tech and Biotech companies.
A speaker and trainer for more than twenty years on the subjects of innovation, licensing and business tactics, she has been a featured lecturer at universities including the U of A Eller School of Business and Entrepreneurship, ASU College of Engineering, and the Arizona Intellectual Property Association’s continuing education program for patent and trademark attorneys.
Lisa V. Lloyd
Lloyd Marketing Group, Inc.
http://www.LloydMarketingGroup.com
Twitter: http://www.Twitter.com/icaninvent
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/lisavlloyd
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lmgservices
Dena Patton - Speaker & Judge
Dena is an award-winning business coach, speaker, activist, philanthropist, and Amazon best selling author who works with leaders, entrepreneurs and world changers.
She is a leading voice in empowering people on the topic of greatness and full potential.
She has been an entrepreneur since 1999 and a speaker since 2008. She opened her coaching and training company in 2001 where she has worked with clients from every industry, celebrities and top CEO’s. As a business and marketing coach she helps clients build; the systems to be a well-oiled company, the strategy to be a well-marketed company, and the greatness mindset to be a well-led company that makes the revenue and the difference you want.
Her greatness formula transforms companies and leaders to be aligned in their greatness, together with; clear strategies, powerful systems, effective marketing and a bold vision so that you can accomplish your biggest dreams. But make no mistake, she is not a sugar-coated coach that allows for excuses and same ol’ reasons why you can’t go bigger. She loves her clients and pushes them out of their comfort zone to go big and dream big.
Dena started her working career in the Restaurant industry as she was working her way through college. This is where she was on the training and opening teams for various restaurants in Phoenix and New York City and quickly was introduced to PR and marketing. Dena went out on her own to start her first business, a PR & marketing company serving the entertainment industry at the age of 24 while in NYC. In 1999 at the age of 27 she experienced a minor stroke, and during her recovery had to learn how to speak again. In her year of recovery, Dena sold her business to an Internet start-up company and became their Director of Marketing. It was the first year of the internet and she built a community of 70,000 members. Since then it has since become the #1 global leader in its category. She started her coaching & training company in 2001 where she has coached and trained thousands of entrepreneurs and leaders. She has garnered 8 business awards and over 90 media stories including CNN, Entrepreneur magazine, First Women, NBC, and Business Journal. You might have seen her recent book, The Greatness Game, recently hit #1 on Amazon Best Seller list.
Dena deeply believes in the power of BIG dreams, philanthropy, greatness and entrepreneurship. Her mission is to ignite greatness in women, girls and leaders worldwide. Read more about her coaching programs here. Grab a copy of her book here. Get a first-row seat as she shares her tips and behind the scenes of her business and life on her facebook page here. To learn about how you can hire her to speak at your next conference, retreat or group click here.
Read here about the 501c3 she cofounded, The Girls Rule Foundation, that helps teen girls build leadership, self-confidence and bright futures.
She is a leading voice in empowering people on the topic of greatness and full potential.
She has been an entrepreneur since 1999 and a speaker since 2008. She opened her coaching and training company in 2001 where she has worked with clients from every industry, celebrities and top CEO’s. As a business and marketing coach she helps clients build; the systems to be a well-oiled company, the strategy to be a well-marketed company, and the greatness mindset to be a well-led company that makes the revenue and the difference you want.
Her greatness formula transforms companies and leaders to be aligned in their greatness, together with; clear strategies, powerful systems, effective marketing and a bold vision so that you can accomplish your biggest dreams. But make no mistake, she is not a sugar-coated coach that allows for excuses and same ol’ reasons why you can’t go bigger. She loves her clients and pushes them out of their comfort zone to go big and dream big.
Dena started her working career in the Restaurant industry as she was working her way through college. This is where she was on the training and opening teams for various restaurants in Phoenix and New York City and quickly was introduced to PR and marketing. Dena went out on her own to start her first business, a PR & marketing company serving the entertainment industry at the age of 24 while in NYC. In 1999 at the age of 27 she experienced a minor stroke, and during her recovery had to learn how to speak again. In her year of recovery, Dena sold her business to an Internet start-up company and became their Director of Marketing. It was the first year of the internet and she built a community of 70,000 members. Since then it has since become the #1 global leader in its category. She started her coaching & training company in 2001 where she has coached and trained thousands of entrepreneurs and leaders. She has garnered 8 business awards and over 90 media stories including CNN, Entrepreneur magazine, First Women, NBC, and Business Journal. You might have seen her recent book, The Greatness Game, recently hit #1 on Amazon Best Seller list.
Dena deeply believes in the power of BIG dreams, philanthropy, greatness and entrepreneurship. Her mission is to ignite greatness in women, girls and leaders worldwide. Read more about her coaching programs here. Grab a copy of her book here. Get a first-row seat as she shares her tips and behind the scenes of her business and life on her facebook page here. To learn about how you can hire her to speak at your next conference, retreat or group click here.
Read here about the 501c3 she cofounded, The Girls Rule Foundation, that helps teen girls build leadership, self-confidence and bright futures.
Todd Davis - Mentor
Todd Davis is the Chief Executive Officer at SkyTouch Technology. Prior to founding SkyTouch with his partner, Tony P, Davis was the CIO for Choice Hotels. He is a hospitality technology executive with 30 years' experience leading innovative technology solutions delivery to business stakeholders. Davis has demonstrated excellence in; leadership growth and transformation, financial and business acumen, cultivation of strong culture, innovation and operational execution of global programs and solutions.
Tony PALLAS- Mentor
Bio coming soon!
Paul Thomas - Mentor
PAUL THOMAS. After a nearly 30 year career as a successful President and CEO, where I led both Public and Venture backed Technology Companies and raised more than $130M in Venture Capital I returned to Flagstaff, Arizona and started a new career.
In the summer of 2013 I returned to Northern Arizona University as an Executive in Residence and Assistant Professor of Practice at the WA Franke College of Business. In 2015 I started as Chief Entrepreneur for the Northern Arizona Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology (NACET) new Accelerator. In 2016 I became the CEO for Northern Arizona Leadership Alliance (NALA). I have the absolute best career in the world in that I spend my days working with students, start-ups, and fellow CEOs all working to make Northern Arizona thrive and succeed.
Specialties: Experience in executive management, fund raising, start-ups, M&A, corporate restructuring, channels, sale & marketing, and all aspects of operations. Find Paul here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomastpaul
In the summer of 2013 I returned to Northern Arizona University as an Executive in Residence and Assistant Professor of Practice at the WA Franke College of Business. In 2015 I started as Chief Entrepreneur for the Northern Arizona Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology (NACET) new Accelerator. In 2016 I became the CEO for Northern Arizona Leadership Alliance (NALA). I have the absolute best career in the world in that I spend my days working with students, start-ups, and fellow CEOs all working to make Northern Arizona thrive and succeed.
Specialties: Experience in executive management, fund raising, start-ups, M&A, corporate restructuring, channels, sale & marketing, and all aspects of operations. Find Paul here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomastpaul
Dan Kasprzyk - Mentor
Mr. Daniel Kasprzyk has over 25 years’ experience in the medical device industry as an executive in startup and multinational business platform companies and holds numerous patents in the device and medical equipment space. He has held Senior Management and Product Development positions in companies such as Medex Inc., Advanced Cardiovascular Systems (Guidant Corporation), Spectranetics Inc., B. Braun Medical, and W.L Gore & Associates. He has co-founded successful medical startup ventures, Vascular Solutions and Machine Solutions, and is currently scaling Poba Medical. He received his B.S.E. in Bioengineering from Arizona State University. Find Dan here: https://www.pobamedical.com/
Diana White - Mentor
Diana White has over 30 years in sales, retail, customer psychology, and marketing experience as just a few of her skillsets. She established D.E.W. Business Solutions, LLC in 2014 to provide business consulting for small businesses. Diana then took on the role of Director for the Coconino County Small Business Development Center and is proud to deliver instruction to entrepreneurs and small business owners through her work with Moonshot at NACET. She provides the leadership and forward thinking that is required to take your business to the next level.
Kiersten Hathcock - Mentor
Kiersten Hathcock -- Entrepreneur, Shark Tank winner, and Tedx Speaker.
fter graduating from Ohio University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications in 1995, I spent the first ten years of my career in training and education, and in marketing roles for technology, healthcare, and entertainment corporations.
I left a marketing career with A&E and The History Channel in 2003 to spend more time with my kids. While home, I spent time doing freelance marketing as well as nanny work to help make ends meet. I was missing my creative outlet—a big part of who I had always been. I realized I needed to figure out how to bring in money, but also incorporate hands-on creativity. It became clear to me in 2006, that there was a need in the marketplace for modern kids furniture. After doing research and discovering only two companies sold modern style toy boxes, I set out to fill a marketplace void, incorporate imagination and creativity, and help pay bills at the same time.
I founded Mod Mom Furniture in 2006 while teaching myself to build furniture and handling all aspects of ownership from logo design to accounting to construction. At first, everyone around me thought I was nuts, but the quiet voice inside made me have faith in myself and this idea. For three and a half years, I built everything—approximately 400 toy boxes—in my four hundred square foot garage until 2011 when I partnered with a manufacturer in Ohio.
As Mod Mom expanded globally, I realized that by trusting my intuition, I was following a guided life path. I continued to strengthen my belief in my intuition, as my sensitivity to all we can’t see expanded.
Mod Mom Furniture continued to be featured in magazines, TV shows like Shark Tank and The Nate Berkus Show, and modern design books and is being purchased by families, celebrities, and interior designers from around the globe.
This January, we signed a North American licensing deal with a US-based company, Little Colorado. The thirty-year-old toddler furniture company is producing and distributing new and existing Mod Mom designs throughout North American—both online through retailers like Amazon.com and in brick and mortar stores.
Since starting Mod Mom over ten years ago, I have grown so much as a person and an entrepreneur. The ride has been anything but smooth, but at every turn, lessons were learned that helped me get where I am today.
The biggest takeaway I’ve learned through it all is to always trust your own intuition, even if you are putting faith in something that seems completely illogical. Be smart, do your homework, and listen to others, but don’t follow the crowd if it feels like by doing so, you’re going against your own inner guidance.
You’ve got everything you need inside of you. Turns out, going from corporate to carpentry—traveling my own sawdust-covered yellow-brick road—is one of many gifts in my life. I just had to believe.
Kiersten Hathcock
Founder, Mod Mom Furniture
fter graduating from Ohio University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications in 1995, I spent the first ten years of my career in training and education, and in marketing roles for technology, healthcare, and entertainment corporations.
I left a marketing career with A&E and The History Channel in 2003 to spend more time with my kids. While home, I spent time doing freelance marketing as well as nanny work to help make ends meet. I was missing my creative outlet—a big part of who I had always been. I realized I needed to figure out how to bring in money, but also incorporate hands-on creativity. It became clear to me in 2006, that there was a need in the marketplace for modern kids furniture. After doing research and discovering only two companies sold modern style toy boxes, I set out to fill a marketplace void, incorporate imagination and creativity, and help pay bills at the same time.
I founded Mod Mom Furniture in 2006 while teaching myself to build furniture and handling all aspects of ownership from logo design to accounting to construction. At first, everyone around me thought I was nuts, but the quiet voice inside made me have faith in myself and this idea. For three and a half years, I built everything—approximately 400 toy boxes—in my four hundred square foot garage until 2011 when I partnered with a manufacturer in Ohio.
As Mod Mom expanded globally, I realized that by trusting my intuition, I was following a guided life path. I continued to strengthen my belief in my intuition, as my sensitivity to all we can’t see expanded.
Mod Mom Furniture continued to be featured in magazines, TV shows like Shark Tank and The Nate Berkus Show, and modern design books and is being purchased by families, celebrities, and interior designers from around the globe.
This January, we signed a North American licensing deal with a US-based company, Little Colorado. The thirty-year-old toddler furniture company is producing and distributing new and existing Mod Mom designs throughout North American—both online through retailers like Amazon.com and in brick and mortar stores.
Since starting Mod Mom over ten years ago, I have grown so much as a person and an entrepreneur. The ride has been anything but smooth, but at every turn, lessons were learned that helped me get where I am today.
The biggest takeaway I’ve learned through it all is to always trust your own intuition, even if you are putting faith in something that seems completely illogical. Be smart, do your homework, and listen to others, but don’t follow the crowd if it feels like by doing so, you’re going against your own inner guidance.
You’ve got everything you need inside of you. Turns out, going from corporate to carpentry—traveling my own sawdust-covered yellow-brick road—is one of many gifts in my life. I just had to believe.
Kiersten Hathcock
Founder, Mod Mom Furniture
Andy PHillips - Judge
Bio coming soon!
LEonard Quimby - Mentor
Leonard Quimby is the founder and Chairman of Sonherd. Mr. Quimby worked for over 29 years in the financial services industry ranging from distribution to corporate. He began his career in the late 80’s in distribution and agency management, eventually working his way to Director. From this he was brought to LCS Marketing as its President growing that company to the LCS Family of Companies which included a consulting company, marketing company, call center functions, a leadership academy and ultimately becoming its Chairman. He has started and sold over three successful business ventures. Mr. Quimby has also designed and implemented complex financial instruments being used today in some of the nation’s largest financial institutions. He is a member and serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Society of Certified Retirement Financial Advisors. Mr. Quimby also serves on the Board of Directors for OTM Marketing Services, ReQu, TAFEB and several other non-profits and charities. Previously he was a board member for The Harbor Center for Kids, Planwell Associates in Las Vegas, Sandhill Retirement Solutions and ABCA. He has been a CASA, a volunteer position over-seeing kids in the foster care system.
Mr. Quimby first retired in his late 30's and became an educator and Director of Athletics. http://blog.riosalado.edu/2010/03/retirees-heading-back-to-school-for.html. He has taught classes to adjudicated youth, served in academic administrative functions and has been generous with his time to assist local troubled teens in the fields of academics and athletics. His experience working with some of the largest US based insurance companies and their executives, legislators, school boards, administrators, unions and America’s leading corporate executives, coupled with the experience of bringing all those stake holders together has been the signature of Mr. Quimby’s business career.
Mr. Quimby first retired in his late 30's and became an educator and Director of Athletics. http://blog.riosalado.edu/2010/03/retirees-heading-back-to-school-for.html. He has taught classes to adjudicated youth, served in academic administrative functions and has been generous with his time to assist local troubled teens in the fields of academics and athletics. His experience working with some of the largest US based insurance companies and their executives, legislators, school boards, administrators, unions and America’s leading corporate executives, coupled with the experience of bringing all those stake holders together has been the signature of Mr. Quimby’s business career.
Katherine Romero - Mentor
Katherine Romero is a seasoned eCommerce, brand building, and digital marketing professional with over 14 years’ experience building global brands in the digital space exceeding annual eCommerce revenues of $300 million. Katherine’s strategic, tactical and team development experience spans all digital marketing channels including SEO, SEM, content marketing, email marketing, social media strategy, display & programmatic advertising and partnership/affiliate marketing. Katherine is a frequent university lecturer, speaker, panelist, blogger and workshop leader in the field of digital marketing.
Currently the Co-Founder of MAKA Digital, a full-service digital marketing agency serving a client base producing over $20 million in annual eCommerce revenue.
Formerly the Head of Digital Marketing for 7 luxury and lifestyle brands in the Deckers Outdoor Corporation portfolio including UGG Australia, Teva, and Sanuk.
Currently the Co-Founder of MAKA Digital, a full-service digital marketing agency serving a client base producing over $20 million in annual eCommerce revenue.
Formerly the Head of Digital Marketing for 7 luxury and lifestyle brands in the Deckers Outdoor Corporation portfolio including UGG Australia, Teva, and Sanuk.
Scott Hathcock - Mentor
For the past two years, Scott Hathcock has served as the President and CEO of Moonshot at NACET, a nonprofit incubator/accelerator entrepreneur program based inFlagstaff, AZ. In addition to assisting company founders directly, Moonshot at NACET also manages and oversees incubator programs for developing rural areas in creating eco-systems for entrepreneurs to thrive across the state of Arizona. This past year, Moonshot at NACET programs also extended beyond the state and are now being received in Nevada and Washington.
In 2018, Flagstaff's program alone secured $4M in grants and capital for their members, created 221 full-time jobs, and member companies have generated $3.16M inrevenue. In October of 2018, Hathcock announced a new partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS) making the city of Flagstaff the very first AWS CloudStart City inthe United States. This new collaboration allows for start-ups to accelerate scale using Amazon's cloud services as well as create and “AWS certify” a workforce development pipeline of talent for these companies. Moonshot at NACET is harnessing the power of entrepreneurial talent in Arizona and abroad by helping innovators and risk takers transform their ideas into viable and scalable businesses. Find Scott here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scotthathcock/
In 2018, Flagstaff's program alone secured $4M in grants and capital for their members, created 221 full-time jobs, and member companies have generated $3.16M inrevenue. In October of 2018, Hathcock announced a new partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS) making the city of Flagstaff the very first AWS CloudStart City inthe United States. This new collaboration allows for start-ups to accelerate scale using Amazon's cloud services as well as create and “AWS certify” a workforce development pipeline of talent for these companies. Moonshot at NACET is harnessing the power of entrepreneurial talent in Arizona and abroad by helping innovators and risk takers transform their ideas into viable and scalable businesses. Find Scott here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scotthathcock/
Tom Dietrich - Mentor
Tom Dietrich is an attorney who works with businesses and content creators in Northern Arizona and California. As a NACET mentor, he’s involved with the Flagstaff startup community and has helped a number of startups with intellectual property and business law issues. With over 11 years of experience, Tom has a broad knowledge base. In the past, he has litigated comic book copyright cases involving Spawn and The Walking Dead and has worked closely with publishing industry clients. He helps companies with trademark filing and management, trade secrets protection, rights licensing, and drafting EULAs and TOSs and other website essentials. Tom is well-versed in all aspects of patent litigation, from helping small companies protect manufacturing investments to defending companies against infringement claims. Don’t be mad if he tells you your idea is not patentable. And don’t be fooled by the picture—he’s bearded now.
Randon Cupp - Mentor
As the Regional President with Foothills Bank in Flagstaff, Randon Cupp, engages daily with the community, both consumer and commercial. With over 30 years experience in the banking industry, he has witnessed first-hand entrepreneurs take calculated risks and successfully reach their goals.
David Soto - Mentor
David Soto is an accomplished start-up leader, hands-on Investment focused C-Suite executive and entrepreneur who has successfully developed and implemented corporate strategy from a business and financial perspective, trusted business partner and advisor to CEO’s and entrepreneurs. Seasoned at working in rapidly growing start-ups, specializes in early growth stage strategy, positioning, revenue model development & new business development in companies. Innovative business strategist gifted at cultivating strategic alliances, developing multiple revenue streams within cutting edge technology environments and successfully executed corporate transactions including M&A (buy-side and sell-side), capital raises and restructuring. Find David at: https://www.shiftcreativesolutions.com.
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The state-wide AZ Pioneer Pitch Tour is sponsored by APS. |