Phelan Spence

Phelan empowers entrepreneurs and business owners by helping illuminate their financial possibilities. In Spanish and English, he advises clients on pricing, financial projections, goal-setting, and presenting financials to investors and lenders. Phelan also supports JumpStart’s team of Business Analysts to help serve our internal and external clients as efficiently as possible. Five years of experience

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Rachna Lather

As the Ventures and Investing Marketing Manager, Rachna is responsible for overseeing various marketing and communication initiatives, including brand and content strategy for JumpStart Ventures. She combines the ventures and marketing functions to develop compelling communication, engaging content and effective media plans, with the aim of positioning JumpStart Ventures as a top VC brand in

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Raykwon Woodruff

Raykwon Woodruff handles various day-to-day accounting functions, collaborates with internal and external project stakeholders, maintains relationships with our customers, and manages some account reconciliation duties. He assists with monthly and periodic financial reporting, financial statement preparation, and compliance activities for our venture funds and grant awards. Prior to joining JumpStart’s full-time staff as an Accounting

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Rayne Elder

Rayne Elder serves as JumpStart’s Analyst, Small Business Deal Flow. Her role involves engaging with early-stage and small business clients, identifying their service needs, providing value-added feedback and maintaining continued engagement to track continued progress made. She is also responsible for making referrals within JumpStart, within the Northeast Ohio ESP Network and to our other

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Robert Sallade

As System Support Analyst, Robert provides help desk support for JumpStart and Team NEO, striving to keep all workstations running with maximum efficiency. He also supports the Network Server Administrator in keeping the network up and running. Previously, Robert served as Systems Support Technician for the Warrensville Heights ITT Technical Institute where he maintained responsibilities

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Sarah Pavlik

As the Digital Content Manager, Sarah is responsible for creating an effective social media strategy to increase brand awareness and drive engagement. Sarah works directly with the Marketing and Communications team to spearhead digital marketing efforts and create copy for blogs, newsletters and e-mail distribution. Prior to joining JumpStart, Sarah served as the Social Media

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Shanelle Johnson

Shanelle Johnson serves as the onboarding resource for applicants seeking services from JumpStart and its network of partners. She also manages the Encore Mentoring Program. Her role involves engaging with early-stage and small business clients, identifying their service needs, providing value-added feedback, maintaining continued engagement with clients and partners to track continued progress made and

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Vicki McDonald

In her role as Director, Communications and Media Relations at JumpStart, Vicki McDonald is responsible for internal and external communications efforts including public and media relations. In addition to her work within JumpStart, Vicki serves as an advisor to our client and portfolio companies, helping to accelerate their public relations activities. Drawing on extensive experience

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Will Stabler

Will Stabler is the Tech Deal Flow Associate for JumpStart. He is the first point of contact for tech entrepreneurs who reach out to JumpStart for services and capital. Will engages with startups and evaluates business stage and potential to help them navigate different programs across the Northern Ohio entrepreneurial ecosystem that provide services, connections

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Zeenat Nadvi

As a Venture Analyst, Zeenat is responsible for completing research projects that assess or grow the commercial potential of novel biomedical and healthcare technologies and start-ups. Prior to joining JumpStart, Zeenat analyzed post-market surveillance data and authored periodic safety update reports for a spinal implant manufacturer. Zeenat is a Venture For America fellow and holds

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