Subject Matter Experts

Laura is a skilled Software Engineer who blends creative design with technical expertise. She earned a BFA in Graphic Design from Memphis College of Art and worked professionally in design for five years before transitioning into software engineering. Laura launched her new career through Hackbright Academy, an intensive all-women’s bootcamp, where she quickly developed a

Todd Goehner is a seasoned creative leader passionate about building meaningful connections and driving positive change. With a background in design and innovation for retail, printing, academia, agency work, and manufacturing, Todd brings a unique perspective to his work. Todd leads innovation projects that result in groundbreaking products and streamlined processes. His ability to identify

At Synapse Communications Consulting, Inc., I specialize in strategic medical communications tailored to each client’s stage of product development, emphasizing cardiovascular disease, oncology, neurodegenerative diseases, and infectious diseases. My services include comprehensive market analysis to evaluate your product’s positioning within the disease state, diagnostics, and competitive therapeutic landscape. From there, I develop targeted content (e.g.,

Managing Partner, Cane Creek Capital Advisors, a private equity consulting firm dedicated to collaborating with clients to formulate effective investment strategies that enhance returns throughout the investment life cycle. Retired Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer at Simmons Bank. During his tenure at Simmons Bank, Mr. Massanelli oversaw the due diligence, integration, and

Dr. Jeff D. Standridge helps organizations and their leaders generate sustained results in the areas of innovation, strategy, profit growth, organizational transformation and leadership. He works extensively with health care organizations, technology companies, and tech-enabled companies across all industries. Formerly a Vice President for Acxiom Corporation (www.Acxiom.com), Jeff has led established and startup business units

With over 25 years of experience driving innovative digital customer solutions, I am a strategic product leader passionate about customer-focused design and problem-solving. I excel in building collaborative, high-performing teams that innovate and deliver exceptional results. My diverse roles—CIO, Product Manager, Strategic Consultant, and UX Leader—have honed my ability to balance strategic vision with attention

Amy Hopper Swan works with startup founders to transform bold ideas into investable, scalable companies. She brings expertise in business model design, capital strategy, and ecosystem building, helping founders sharpen their value proposition, align with market opportunities, and position for non-dilutive and equity funding. With deep experience in research commercialization, venture development, and investor networks, Amy

Combined 30 years’ experience starting, growing, managing, and leading various business units across a wide spectrum of different organizations. My unique background and perspective has provided me with the leadership skills and business acumen required to consistently seek opportunities and create significant value for all stakeholders.

Rajat Paharia is a product leader with over 20 years of experience. He is currently the Founder and Head Intern at Ask Steve (https://www.asksteve.to) a Chrome extension which enables people to get sh*t done better and faster with AI. Prior to Ask Steve, Rajat was a Director of Product Management at Google where he worked

An Arkansas native, Matthew Ward serves Startup Junkie Foundation as a senior executive consultant where he helps clients quantify their ideas and develop a roadmap to achieve their goals. He also serves as a venture partner for Cadron Capital Partners and provides support for Startup Junkie global expansion. Previously, Matthew served as Director of the