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Purpose

The Entrepreneurship Advisory Board (EAB) at Marietta College consists of an external group of professionals with a diverse range of knowledge, skills, and abilities that guide the Director of Entrepreneurship Program (Director) in creating and maintaining timely and relevant curricular and co-curricular programs that aim to accelerate entrepreneurship education at Marietta College and encourage the development of an entrepreneurial mindset among all students.

Guidance and Feedback

EAB provides guidance and feedback on:

  • Curriculum. Relevancy and quality of the academic Major, Minor, and Certificate in Entrepreneurship
  • Co-curricular. Relevancy and quality of co-curricular initiatives such as PioPitch program, PioBiz Competition, and the BIG Workshop.
  • Direction. The strategic direction of the Entrepreneurship Program

Assistance and Support

EAB assists and supports the Entrepreneurship Program by:

  • Funding Sources. Identifying funding sources for various entrepreneurship initiatives
  • Financial Contribution. Personally making a financial contribution of at least $250 toward the Entrepreneurship Program and/or engaging in fundraising activities
  • Role. Personally serving as judges, mentors, and guest speakers for entrepreneurship initiatives and/or recruiting other individuals to fulfill those roles

Promotes and Advocates

EAB promotes and advocates the Entrepreneurship Program by:

  • Visibility. Actively aiming to increase the visibility of the Entrepreneurship Program on and off-campus
  • Networks. Using personal and professional networks and contacts to publicize the program
  • Opportunities. Identifying and suggesting opportunities for students to enrich their education through internships, service-learning opportunities, shadowing, and other practical work experiences

Advisory Board Membership

Membership

EAB membership shall consist of the Director and 6 to 15 external members made up of individuals who have an interest in fostering the growth of entrepreneurship. In addition, each year a current or recent graduate of Marietta College will serve on the EAB for one year without financial contribution.  

Internal Stakeholders

Internal stakeholders shall be invited to participate in advisory board meetings such as the President of the College, the Vice Presidents, the Provost, the Associate Provosts, the Dean of McDonough Center for Leadership and Business and the Grants, Corporate & Foundation Gift Officer.

Compensation

The membership in EAB is voluntary and uncompensated

Terms

The members of the EAB shall be elected to a three-year term. Advisory board members can serve up to two consecutive terms after which an advisory board member must be off for at least one year before consideration as a future member.

Appointment

New members will be appointed by the Director in consultation with the existing members of the EAB as terms expire. Nominations will be accepted

Meetings

EAB meets at least twice a year in-person or virtually.

Special Meetings

Special Meetings may be called by the Chairperson or the Director of the EAB

Voting Rule

Any action that requires the approval of EAB is determined by a simple majority vote of the members who are present at the meeting.

Communication

The Director shall be in contact with the EAB members electronically, periodically bringing questions to their attention and seeking their advice or requesting their assistance in certain areas.

Officers

Board Officers.

The EAB shall consist of three officers: the Chair, the Vice Chair, and the Secretary. The three officers constitute the executive committee.

Terms

The Chair and Vice Chair will be elected to a one-year term. The Chair and Vice Chair cannot serve more than two consecutive terms in the same position. The Secretary may serve indefinitely.

Board Chair

The Chair of the Advisory Board will be appointed by the Director. The chair shall be responsible for

  • Agendas. Prepare meeting agendas
  • Meetings. Preside over all meetings unless otherwise delegated, or in his/her absence the chair shall arrange for other members to preside at each meeting. 
  • Committees. Appoint standing committees and subcommittees, and delegate tasks and follow-up work
Vice-Chair

The Vice-Chair is appointed by the director in consultation with the board chair. The Vice-Chair serves as the board chair in the absence of the Board Chair

Secretary

The Secretary is appointed by the Director in consultation with the board chair. The Secretary, with the assistance of the Director, shall be responsible for:

  • Records. Keeping records of the EAB actions, including overseeing the taking of minutes at all Advisory Board meetings, sending out meeting announcements, distributing copies of minutes and the agenda to each Advisory Board member, and assuring that corporate records are maintained.
2023-24 Members
Nathaniel Berger, Entrepreneurship Advisory Board
Nathaniel Berger (First Term Ends 2025-26)
Nathaniel Berger is the Director of the LIGHTS Regional Innovation Network, and an Executive Coach for the Social Enterprise Ecosystem program within the Ohio University Impact Enterprise Team. Housed within the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service, he provides entrepreneurial development technical assistance support to social enterprises and nonprofits, with a focus on early-stage venture formation and new enterprise initiatives. Today he is mentoring and guiding entrepreneurs and students alike, while engaged in partner coalition building and grant administration.

Michael Bond
Michael Bond (Chair in 2023-24, Second Term Ends 2024-25)

Michael Bond is the founder of Spoken, a Marietta-based app startup that develops technology to help people with speech disorders. He’s spent over a decade working in design and tech, with multiple startups as well as brands like Harley-Davidson, John Deere, McDonald's, and BMW.


Faith Knutsen, Entrepreneurship Advisory Board
Faith Knutsen (First term ends 2025–26)

Faith Knutsen is the Director of Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership & Public Service, where she is employed since 2008. She directs the Social Enterprise Ecosystem program, which brings venture development services, capital access and social impact measurement tools to social enterprises and impact funders in rural SE Ohio and contiguous states. She lectures at the University and to community and civic organizations on social enterprise, entrepreneurial ecosystem development, venture development toolkits, and grant writing. Previously, she held an executive administrative role at SunPower, Inc., an engineering R&D firm. Ms. Knutsen began her professional career as a Peace Corps Volunteer in central Africa and has served as a periodic consultant in multiple nations on the African continent. She holds a bachelor's degree from Oberlin College and a master's degree from Ohio University. Ms. Knutsen is a member of multiple social enterprise Boards, an amateur ficiton writer and playwright, and the parent of two.


Kristen Meeks
Kristin Meeks (First Term Ends 2023-24)

Kristin Meeks is a 2004 graduate of Marietta College with a BA in Marketing and a 2007 graduate of West Virginia University with a master's degree in Integrated Marketing Communications. She has taught small business entrepreneurship, marketing, and communication courses since 2005 at the graduate and undergraduate levels at Marietta College, West Virginia University, Washington State Community College, and WVU-Parkersburg. Meeks is the owner and founder of WV Social Media a niche marketing firm based out of the Parkersburg, WV area. She is actively involved in the area Chamber of Commerce, sits on the downtown PKB Board of Directors, and is a past president of the Belpre Chamber of Commerce. She was also a part of the 2015 class for Generation Next 40 under 40 by the West Virginia State Journal. Meeks is an active 4-H volunteer. She resides in Williamstown, West Virginia, with her husband and daughter.


Ann Nicely
Ann Nicely (Faculty Member, Term Ends 2023-24)

Ann Foraker Nicely ’03, MA’05 has an extensive background in organizational communication, fundraising, recruitment, and management. She served as a Human Resource Specialist at the United States Department of Treasury, Bureau of Fiscal Services, where she expertly applied the merit-staffing program and provided guidance on merit promotion and career development. With over 12 years in higher education administration at Marietta College, Ann managed student recruitment, improved alumni engagement, and coordinated successful fundraising campaigns, including the college’s $50 million Legacy Campaign. As Director of Alumni Engagement, she optimized connections with alumni and fostered philanthropy. Ann earned recognition for her contributions, receiving the Douglas Putnam Collaborative Staff Service Award and being part of a winning team for a CASE Excellence Award. She currently is an Instructor of Communication at Marietta College and presently serves as the Conference Coordinator for Ohio Communication Association. Ann, a proud 2003 Marietta College graduate, resides in Williamstown, West Virginia, with her husband, Lucas, and their children, Henry and Kate.


Jared Perry
Jared Perry (Second Term Ends 2024-25)

Jared is a 2008 graduate of Ohio University's Russ College of Engineering and serves as the Director of Operations for Sixmo Architects & Engineers. He is an avid entrepreneur with investments and co-founder roles in software/tech, real estate development, and others. One such venture is a co-founder role in IncSwell, a micropolitan-based collaborative workspace and business incubator that has its roots in Marietta, Ohio. Additionally, Jared sits on the Finance & Executive Boards for First Baptist Church of Williamstown and is an active participant in the economic planning and redevelopment of downtown Marietta, Ohio.


chris pfeiffer

Chris Pfeiffer (First Term Ends 2024-25)

Chris Pfeiffer is the COO of Danser, Inc., a custom metal fabrication and installation contractor based in Parkersburg, WV. He is also the founder and president of Sourdough LLC, a business consulting and marketing company focused on helping entrepreneurs in the relentless pursuit of opportunity, as well as the owner of The Bread Garage, a micro-artisan bakery. In addition to growing several small businesses, Chris has years of executive leadership experience in the manufacturing and construction industries, is known for his energetic approach to leadership as he drives results through continuous improvement and employee development. Chris is a strong community advocate and has a passion for creating employment opportunities in Appalachia. He is a 1995 graduate of Walsh University with a Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature.


Bobby Rosenstock
Bobby Rosenstock (First Term Ends 2025-26)

Bobby Rosenstock is the owner of JustAJar Design Press, a letterpress & design studio that specializes in custom woodcut posters in Marietta, Ohio. Bobby has a BAFA in Painting & Printmaking from Alfred University in New York and a MFA in Printmaking & Book Arts from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia


Leah Seaman
Leah Seaman (Vice-Chair in 2023-24, First Term Ends 2024-25)

Leah Seaman is the owner and founder of ArtaBella LLC and is a recent graduate of Marietta College with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies and Studio Art. In 2020, Leah competed in and won the PioBiz Entrepreneurship Competition and soon after established her practice as a professional artist. She now works in Columbus, Ohio as a full-time artist, live event painter, muralist, and illustrator, working from her studio at 400 West Rich in downtown Columbus. Her work as a muralist has partnered her with city governments, small businesses, local schools, and non-profits to bring their artistic vision to life. As a live event painter, Leah travels around the United States to work with couples, painting their wedding day on canvas and bringing their most treasured memories to life.


Jacob Stern

Jacob Stern (Student Member, First Term Ends 2023-24)

Jake Stern is a junior at Marietta College double majoring in Entrepreneurship and Management. He is also pursuing a minor in legal studies. Jake is also a member of the lacrosse team and the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity.


mike workman

Mike Workman (First Term Ends 2024-25)

Mike Workman is the founder of Contraxx Furniture, co-founder of the Morgan Community Fund, and past director of the Morgan Community Improvement Corp. He is an entrepreneur at heart and loves to help others find their way through business start-ups and give back to their local communities.

“Entrepreneurs are curious, creative, and compassionate people,” Mike says, “I enjoy listening to their towering ideas and helping make their dreams come true!”


Linn Yost

Linn Yost (First term ends 2025-26)

Linn Yost is the owner of Micro Machine Works, Inc., a CNC machining facility in Barlow, Ohio creating tight tolerance parts and assemblies for the aerospace, DoD, health sciences, geosciences, food processing and chemical industries. Linn is also the President of the Appalachian Ohio Manufacturers’ Coalition (AOMC), an industry sector partnership of manufacturing companies and organizations connecting passionate people with practical experiences and successful careers. The organization is led by manufacturing employers focused on a single industry to address the unique needs of the Appalachian Ohio region through a neutral governing body. Currently, AOMC covers six counties in Southeastern Ohio. Currently, Linn serves on the Boards of Robert C. Byrd Institute (RCBI) Apprentice Works Program, Building Bridges 2 Careers (BB2C). He also serves on the Curriculum Advisory and Business Advisory Boards of many high schools and community colleges in Southeast Ohio.

 


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