Purpose
The Entrepreneurship and Career Development 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 Senior Director of Entrepreneurship and Career Development in creating and maintaining timely and relevant curricular and co-curricular, and extra-curricular programs that aim to accelerate entrepreneurship education and professional development at Marietta College and encourage the development of an entrepreneurial mindset among all students.
Guidance and Feedback
EAB provides guidance and feedback on:
- Curriculum
- Relevance and quality of the academic Major, Minor, and Certificate in Entrepreneurship
- Co-curricular and Extra-curricular
- Relevance and quality of co-curricular and extracurricular initiatives such as the PioBiz Competition, the BIG Workshop, Speed Mock Interviews, Resume and Cover Writing Workshops, etc.
- Direction
- The strategic direction of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Career Development.
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 Center or Entrepreneurship and Career Development and/or engaging in fundraising activities
- Role
- Personally serving as judges, mentors, guest speakers, and workshop leaders, for the Center's initiatives and/or recruiting other individuals to fulfill those roles
Promotion and Advocacy
EAB promotes and advocates the Entrepreneurship Program by:
- Visibility
- Actively aiming to increase the visibility of the Center on and off campus.
- Networks
- Using personal and professional networks and contacts to publicize the Center.
- Opportunities
- Identifying and suggesting opportunities for students to enrich their education through internships, service-learning opportunities, shadowing, research, and other practical work experiences.
Advisory Board Membership
Membership
EAB's membership shall consist of the Senior Director, Assistant Director, and 6 to 15 external members made up of individuals who have an interest in fostering the growth of entrepreneurial mindset and professional development programming. In addition, each year a faculty member and a current or recent graduate of Marietta College will serve on the EAB for one year without financial contributions.
Internal Stakeholders
Occasionally, internal stakeholders such as the President, the Vice Presidents, the Provost, the Associate Provosts, Grant Officers, and the Dean shall be invited to participate in advisory board meetings.
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.
- 2024–25 Members
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 (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 (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.
Cael McCutcheon (Student Member, Term Ends 2024–25)
Cael McCutcheon is a junior at Marietta College pursuing a major in Entrepreneurship with a minor in Strategic Communications. Cael is a member of the Men's Soccer team and Men's Track and Field team, president of the Marietta College Activity Club, and an active member of the Alpha Tau Omega Executive Board.
Kristin Meeks (Second Term Ends 2026-27)
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.
James Morell (Faculty Member, Term Ends 2024-25)
Jim serves as an Assistant Professor of Management at Marietta College. Prior to his 2023 appointment to Marietta College he served as an Adjunct Professor of Management for a number of years at DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois. Jim’s practitioner roles included: owner and operator of two healthcare management consultancies; a partner in another healthcare consultancy; a Partner with EY with two national practices; a staff consultant with another healthcare consultancy; an Administrator at The Ohio State University Hospitals & Clinics (now The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center); an Administrative Resident at The Ohio State University Hospitals & Clinics and Research Assistant while a graduate student in the Hospitals & Health Services Administration Program in the OSU Medical School (now part of the College of Public Health); United State Army, Inspector General – Auditor; patient care provider with the University of Minnesota Hospitals & Clinics (now the University of Minnesota Medical Center, University of Minnesota); and a department manager and floor supervisor for a global retailer at the store level. Jim’s academic credentials include a D.B.A. and an M.S. in Audit and Advisory Services from DePaul University, an M.S. in Hospital & Health Services Administration from The Ohio State University, and a B.A. from Case Western Reserve University with majors in Economics & Psychology (Organization Design).
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 (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 (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
Tres Ross (First Term Ends 2026-27)
Tres Ross plays several roles within the nonprofit and for-profit arenas. He is Executive Director of The Ross Foundation, a family foundation located in Parkersburg, West Virginia, and co-owner of Woodcraft Supply, a national retail and internet-based operation for specialty woodworking hand and power tools and supplies. Woodcraft has corporate and franchised stores nationwide. The foundation serves Wood, Ritchie, Pleasants, and Jackson counties in West Virginia. The foundation funds projects with a primary emphasis in the fields of Education and Community / Economic Development. The foundation also supports some initiatives in the fields of Animals, Arts, and Disabilities. He also plays an active role with several of the nonprofits within his service area. His previous employment was in the Internet / Database Development arena at Simonton Windows. He has a BA in Management with a minor in Economics from Marietta College and an MBA from West Virginia University.
Jesse Roush (First Term Ends 2026-27)
Jesse C. Roush serves as the Executive Director of the Southeastern Ohio Port Authority. His career began with a decade of service in the energy sector, during which he collaborated with a diverse group of stakeholders to consistently deliver projects on time and within budget. Transitioning to a role in economic development in 2016, Roush has led a suite of local and regional initiatives, including the acquisition and revitalization of two former coal-fired power plants. Over his two-decade career, Roush has provided mission-critical support for over $100M in site and infrastructure development projects. He holds a bachelor's degree in Marketing, a Lean Green Belt, a Certificate in Management and Leadership, a Certificate in Technical Project Management, and a Master of Science in Project Management, all from Ohio University. Roush also serves as President-Elect for Marietta Noon Rotary, on the Warren Local Board of Education, and as a board member for four local nonprofits.
Leah Seaman (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.
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 (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.
