The Entrepreneur Spotlight Show with Andy Jacob

About Jeff Cooke and Finding The Next Step In Our Evolution:Jeff Cooke is a lifelong explorer of human potential, inner transformation, and conscious living. His passion lies in helping others reconnect with their authentic selves and live from a place of peace, awareness, and purpose. Drawing from personal experiences and deep introspection, Jeff’s voice is both humble and insightful, offering readers the tools they need to evolve emotionally and spiritually. His writing inspires action—not through rigid instruction, but by inviting readers into a compassionate, reflective space where transformation begins from within.Finding the Next Step in Our Evolution by Jeff Cooke is a thought-provoking exploration of human consciousness and self-awareness. This book challenges readers to recognize and move beyond the dysfunctions of modern life-stress, anxiety, self-judgment, and disconnection-by deepening their understanding of themselves and the world around them.Through insightful reflections and practical wisdom, Jeff Cooke guides readers toward a new level of awareness, helping them transcend ego-driven suffering and embrace a more joyful, peaceful, and purpose-driven existence. This transformative book is not about providing all the answers, but rather empowering individuals to find their own truths by tapping into the inner peace that has always been within.For those seeking personal growth, mindfulness, and a deeper connection to life, Finding the Next Step in Our Evolution serves as an illuminating guide on the journey toward higher consciousness and self-discovery.

About Jay McElroy and Lunch Box Poetry:Jay McElroy grew up in Texas and was very active throughout his early years, playing football, baseball and basketball. After his high school years had been completed, he moved on to Texas A&M University, majoring in electrical engineering and graduating at the age of 21. He spent the next 15 years as an electrical engineer and ultimately a project manager for a major oil company in the oil fields of Alaska up on the Arctic Ocean. He then left the corporate world and started his own Alaskan business that he still works to this day. And it was during the early years of this phase of his life that he began to write notes and short poems for his daughters and would periodically drop these poems in their lunchboxes before they went to school that day. And lo and behold, he had actually stashed some of these short poems away in a folder in the back of his office file cabinet and inadvertently discovered this folder about a year ago. Thus, the beginning of the idea for Lunchbox Poetry!!

About Stephanie Malbasa and Musings for Madie: Quotes to Live by When Life Gives Us Life:Stephanie H. Malbasa, recently published author of Musings for Madie, is a woman of many roles—an accomplished attorney, an entrepreneur, a philanthropist, a wife, a mother, and a grandmother. Since beginning her legal career in 1979, she has dedicated herself to advocating for others, offering guidance, and serving her community with compassion and integrity. Her journey extends beyond the courtroom, as she has owned a sailing school and charter business, blending her love for adventure with her entrepreneurial spirit.Beyond her professional achievements, Stephanie co-founded and served as the Executive Director of a foundation committed to helping those in need. Her passion for uplifting others has been a guiding force throughout her life, reinforcing her belief in the power of connection, kindness, and generosity.In Musings for Madie, Stephanie shares the reflections, quotes, and experiences that have inspired her, offering readers a glimpse into the lessons that have shaped her perspective. Through her words, she hopes to encourage others to embrace joy, seek wisdom, and find fulfillment in life’s simplest moments. With warmth and insight, she invites readers on a journey of gratitude, awareness, and purposeful living.Musings for Madie is a heartfelt collection of reflections on life, purpose, and the beauty found in everyday experiences. Inspired by timeless quotes and personal anecdotes, Stephanie H. Malbasa encourages readers to cultivate gratitude, embrace change, and live with intention. This book serves as a gentle reminder that life’s most meaningful moments are often found in the simplest of things—conversations with loved ones, quiet moments of reflection, and the wisdom that shapes our paths. Whether you are navigating life’s challenges or simply seeking inspiration, Musings for Madie offers a source of warmth, encouragement, and perspective.Through a beautifully curated selection of quotes and personal insights, this book serves as a heartfelt guide to embracing each moment, finding joy in the little things, and striving to become our best selves. Whether you're seeking comfort, inspiration, or a fresh perspective on life, "Musings for Madie" offers timeless words of wisdom that will uplift your spirit and remind you of life's many blessings.

About Vic Simianu and Sphinx Strategies: Coming from a background in Biotechnology and Finance with an MBA from Kelley's School of Business, Vic is an entrepreneur focused on helping specialty pharmacies make key strategic investment decisions to differentiate themselves in the marketplace. Vic has achieved outstanding results throughout his career leading business decisions for a broad range of healthcare and pharmaceutical industry players, and is passionate about developing innovations within the healthcare space. Our mission is to become the nation’s most trusted independent specialty pharmacy consulting group, creating value for our clients and staff while catalyzing clinical, operational, and financial performance for our clients. Sphinx Strategies is a consulting group focusing on developing and maintaining highly-integrated and collaborative Specialty Pharmacy operations. While Payors and PBM’s continue to force adoption of enhanced competitive requirements, specialty pharmacies face the compounded effect of time constraints, regulatory hurdles, and constant reimbursement challenges. Sphinx Strategies targets the effectiveness and speediness of their approach by combining efforts in accreditations, operational excellence, and data analytics in each phase of their projects for clients to achieve and surpass double and triple-digit ROI’s per engagement. The Sphinx portfolio of clients range from independent pharmacies to large IDN’s, ACO’s, and publicly traded pharmacies and insurers. Accreditations often lay the foundation for specialty pharmacies to compete in the marketplace and develop key partnerships paramount to success in the industry. Being one of the first ACHC-Certified Specialty Pharmacy Consultants as well as achieving one of the first URAC Specialty Pharmacy accreditations, Vic has ridden the exponential growth within the SP industry as accreditations have become primary differentiators for pharmacies. He intimately understands the nature and history of the accrediting bodies, the rapid evolution of the accreditation standards themselves, and the ever-expanding value behind engaging and maintaining accredited processes.

About Billy Howell and The Cajun Turkey Company: Ever since Billy was a boy, growing up in New Orleans, he just always seemed to wanta’ cook up things Cajun Style. Having experienced the best Cajun restaurants in and around New Orleans and by tasting some of the finest foods in the world, he created some mighty fine recipes, but nothin’ seemed to be more exciting than cookin’ up a traditional Cajun deep fried turkey. Seein’ the expression on his friends faces when he’d tell them that the whole turkey had been fried…well they couldn’t believe it… & then they couldn’t believe howmoist and juicy it was. The Cajun Fried Turkey Company got its beginnings in 1994. That was the year that Billy Howell figured out that he couldn’t go about the business of cookin’ and selling his special Cajun Style Turkeys out of his garage. Before 1994 Billy cooked 600 turkeys in the garage in 2 pots. There was just no way to cook thousands of turkeys in that garage. We just had to find another way. The Cajun Turkey Company, as our name might suggest, is a simple, tell-it-like-it-is family owned business. There's an honesty attached to directness and simplicity. For us, it means getting it right by doing things right. Not cutting corners, but taking the time and care to make the most flavorful, quality Cajun friend turkey and sides that are worthy enough to shipped all across the US. The Cajun Turkey Company has been doing just that - bringing friends, families and entire communities together with delicious turkey and must-have and try foods for the past 26 years. With over 1.8 million pounds of Cajun Turkey delivered across this great nation of ours, we are proud, yet humbled by the response. It's a dream realized by our owner - Billy Howell, who started the company in his garage fueled by his passion, hard work and a hand shake to bring people together with good food - and a "turkey with an attitude" that makes new family traditions and all gatherings memorable.

About Kimberly Ann Johnston and NextGen Energy Partners: As the Founder and CEO of NextGen Energy Partners have a proven track record in mobilizing billions of public and private sector capital investment towards building the 21st Century electric grid that is resilient, carbon-free, and equitable protecting and serving economies and communities. Previously EY America’s Power and Utilities Partner, EY Global Energy Leader, CenterPoint Energy Finance Officer and VP of Tax, and Spectra Energy Director. In 2017, was recognized at Houston’s Most influential Women. Serve on the leadership team for the National Consortium of the Long Duration Energy Storage Technologies. NexGen Energy Partners, LLC is an owner and operator of distributed renewable energy systems sited at customers’ facilities. The company works with governments, schools, businesses and utilities across the nation to deliver its customers the benefits of clean energy without the capital investment and technical risk. NexGen Energy is based in Boulder, Colorado.

About Roger Brown and TRAVELER FROM THE PAST: Roger Brown began his driving career at 11, driving a truck, pulling a hay wagon while three men, including my father, loaded baled hay on a 160-acre ranch in Banning, CA. Picked cotton two seasons starting at 12. Next driving job at 15 delivering sand, gravel, and building supplies with a dump truck in Topanga Canyon. It was larger 18-wheel rigs moving livestock, logs, locomotives, and heavy equipment, including rigs with 9-axles and 120 ft. in length. Cleaning up railroad train wrecks brought me to equipment operating, including 100-ton cranes. I fought forest and wildland fires during 55 years operating dozers and excavators. Worked as a diesel mechanic for several trucking companies and offshore oil drilling platforms—packed mules for three seasons in the National Parks. More About Author Roger Brown Travel was instigated at an early age; by 19, I had been to forty-seven states and four foreign countries. At 53 took early retirement, bought an ocean blue water sailboat, and set out on an epic voyage for the past 28 years. In between all of this designed and built timber homes in the California Sierras, and the blacksmith work and designed and built straw bale homes in Central Mexico and built roads in the jungle along the Mexican Coast. Currently, I have published my new book “Traveler from the Past”. Read this book to experience my traveling and life experiences.

About Micah Berg and AURA LOUNGE: Aura Lounge: Nashville’s Premier Entertainment Venue to Open in January 2025 in Wedgewood-Houston Nashville, TN – Aura Lounge, a dynamic 9,000 sq ft entertainment and event venue, is set to open in January 2025 in the heart of Nashville’s trendy Wedgewood-Houston district. Designed to offer an elevated experience for music lovers, socialites, and event-goers, Aura Lounge is poised to redefine nightlife and private events in Music City. Located in one of Nashville’s most vibrant and creative neighborhoods, Aura Lounge will blend upscale ambiance with modern entertainment. The venue will feature a state-of-the-art sound system, captivating lighting, and a versatile space designed to host everything from live performances and private parties to corporate gatherings and cultural events. With its sleek interior and cutting-edge amenities, Aura Lounge will provide an intimate yet energetic atmosphere for guests to enjoy. “We are thrilled to be opening our doors in January 2025 in Wedgewood-Houston, a district known for its art, culture, and innovation,” said Micah Berg, co-founder of Aura Lounge. “Our goal is to create a space that caters to Nashville’s diverse community, offering a venue where people can celebrate, connect, and create unforgettable memories.” Aura Lounge will host a variety of events, including live music performances, DJ sets, themed nights, and private bookings. The venue will have top-tier amenities to ensure every event is executed seamlessly, providing an exceptional experience for all guests. Additionally, the space’s versatility will allow for customized setups, making it ideal for everything from intimate gatherings to large-scale celebrations. With its strategic location in Wedgewood-Houston, Aura Lounge will be easily accessible and surrounded by some of the city’s most exciting developments, including art galleries, breweries, and creative hubs. Aura Lounge is now accepting bookings for private events starting in early 2025 and is excited to partner with local and national talent to curate a diverse entertainment calendar. For more information, event inquiries, or to explore booking options, please visit www.auralounge.live or contact Ollie Gabriel at OG@auralounge.live About Aura Lounge Aura Lounge is a premier entertainment and event venue located in Nashville's Wedgewood-Houston district. Offering 9,000 sq ft of versatile space, Aura Lounge is designed to host a wide variety of events, from live music and DJ nights to private parties and corporate gatherings. With a commitment to creating unforgettable experiences, Aura Lounge aims to be a key destination in Nashville’s thriving entertainment scene. Media Contact: Gayle Davidson & Ben Jackson

About Chester Santos and The International Man of Memory: Chester Santos is widely regarded to be the world’s leading memory skills expert. Through his entertaining & educational television and movie appearances, professional seminars, and best-selling books, Chester has helped millions of people around the world to realize the benefits of an improved memory and sharper mind. CNN, ABC, PBS, NBC, CBS, and the Science Channel have all featured Chester and his memory building tips. He has been quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, San Francisco Chronicle, Washington Post, and most recently, TIME Magazine featured his advice for remembering numbers in a December 2018 Special Edition titled, “The Science of Memory”. The 2020 documentary film, "David vs. Goliath", features Chester Santos and his memory skills training. Chester is also a best-selling author. His first book, "Instant Memory Training for Success", was published by leading academic publisher John Wiley & Sons (Wiley) in 2016. It quickly became a bestseller in WHSmith stores across the UK. Chester’s second book, “Mastering Memory: Techniques to Turn Your Brain from a Sieve to a Sponge", was published by leading nonfiction publisher Sterling Publishing (Sterling) in 2018. It has been acquired by 246 public libraries worldwide and is featured in the Psychology section of Barnes & Noble stores across the USA. As the preeminent thought leader on memory skills and their effect on one’s professional, personal, and academic success, Chester has been booked to give presentations in over 30 countries. He has entertained and educated people of varying backgrounds, including executives for CEO Clubs International and YPO, investment professionals for NASDAQ and Credit Suisse, students for organizations at Berkeley, Stanford, and Harvard, and even actors for the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) Foundation. His keynote speaking credits include TEDx with some of the nation’s most highly regarded professors and scientists, the prestigious Talks at Google program featuring “the world's most influential thinkers, creators, makers and doers”, and the International Festival of Brilliant Minds in Puebla that had him speaking to an audience of 5000 people along with Nobel Prize winners, Pulitzer Prize winners, and other luminaries. Chester Santos is also the personal memory and mind coach to some notable celebrities, politicians, professional athletes, and high-powered executives.

About Justin Connor and Camp: Justin Connor is a business builder who currently serves as the Founder of Camp. He started his first business, The Noble Vine, while studying at Georgetown University School of Foreign Service. A wine and spirits brokerage business, TNV was inspired by Justin’s experience working in the wine department of a supermarket in Washington, DC. Managing wine collections around the world drove him to later build Domaine, the world’s largest fine goods storage and logistics company. Domaine’s network of climate controlled warehouses supports thousands of collectors around the globe, secures billions of dollars in inventory, and fostered Justin’s lifelong love for driving forklifts. During his time building Domaine, Justin also launched multiple software products, such as Bottlestock, to make storing collectibles more efficient and fun for millions of collectors. After Domaine, Justin was recruited to lead the Y Combinator backed logistics SaaS company, Easypost. As Easypost’s President, Justin grew revenue, rebuilt the legacy data stack to enable AI development, and launched the organization’s first equity plan for all team members. Easypost has grown into a billion dollar leader in the logistics technology space. Currently, Justin is the Founder of Camp – where he is working with some of the world’s best chefs to create incredible immersive experiences. Justin believes that shared experiences are central to the human condition and endeavors to connect millions through the joy of food. He is a joint venture partner of Global Blue (NYSE: GB) and Eleventh Ventures, one of the Middle East’s largest holding companies. Justin has explored more than half of the countries on earth and is a volunteer mentor at home in DC. He has also raised millions of dollars to deliver nutritious meals to children through his annual FatKidWeekend dinner series. He lives in Washington, DC with his two daughters. A new canvas for each chef's creativity, each CAMP is unique and includes exclusive dishes and moments. CAMP is limited to 60 guests to assure quality, personalization, and access to the Chef. Camp creates dining experiences with the world’s best chefs at culturally relevant events. Each Camp is an immersive culinary experience that pairs exceptional culinary talent with digital and live artistry. None are remotely alike. We create global, fun, engaging, and delicious events that encourage our guests to escape the pressure of reality and connect with friends in one-off settings that we build from scratch.

About Penny Breslin and MoneyPenny, LLC: Penny Breslin is the founder of MoneyPenny, a consulting firm specializing in helping accounting firms and other businesses embrace the power of technology to simplify their operations and increase their profit margins. Penny has been recognized by Worldwide Who’s Who for showing dedication, leadership, and excellence in providing quality consulting services to an international clientele made up of CPA firms and other businesses. Penny has lived and worked overseas in South Asia for over 25 years. She has worked with many different Back Office accounting outsourcers. With her partners Sharmila and Nirmala, they bring the best practices they have found over the many years of working with not only remote teams but multicultural teams. Penny is also the Author of “CFO Services for the Accounting Firm: How to Start” and “It’s Not Just the Numbers. Client Services specialist with strong business process and technical skills. Technical and support skills that help clients improve their experience of the company's' products and or services. Comfortable relaying tech speak to non tech clients, documenting and team work with cross functional teams. Manage groups of 10-45 training and implementation for internal staff as well as clients. Assist sales department with technical aspect and how it is delivered to the client. Specialties: Client Services, Corporate and Client Training, Training development, Business Process, workflow, back office systems, Outsourcing development and implementation. MoneyPenny LLC offers accounting solutions for accounting professionals, businesses and individuals who are looking to outsource day-to-day accounting hassles–paying bills, balancing checkbooks, payroll preparation and filings–while providing valuable financial and tax advice to help boost profitability and growth. Stress-Free Back Office Accounting for Your Firm We help CPAs, Accountants and Bookkeeping Firms harness the power of technology and qualified trained accountants to be more profitable, more efficient and more collaborative. At MoneyPenny, we provide you with easy-to-use accounting softwares so you can keep track of your financials. Our team can work with software you know and trust, including Quickbooks and Xero. If you don’t have any softwares, we will help you decide which one is right for you and your business.

About Ken Reda and Profit Advisory Group: GAIN THE EDGE YOU NEED AND WANT CFO's at some of the most savvy Fortune 1000 businesses save hundreds of thousands of dollars each year by employing this one critical move. They engage the wisest cost management ninja's in the business: Profit Advisory Group. PAG is a nimble, precision-obsessed team of cost control experts that conduct audits to scrub your bills for inefficiencies, over-charges and get you best in class pricing. This approach saves hundreds of thousands of dollars for clients operating budgets. That includes companies in every major business sector. Our clients on average save 23% on their telecom expenses. The CFO's that work with us fully appreciate that Profit Advisory Group is a performance based company. You either see the savings or we don't get paid. Let's say that again. Profit Advisory Group is a performance based company. You either see the savings or we don't get paid. PERIOD. PAG was established in 2002 with organizations like yours in mind. We understand the burden of managing multiple technologies at once – that’s why we provide full-service technology consulting and guidance to help simplify decision-making. With our guidance, clients cut costs and repurpose savings toward technologies that help their businesses stay relevant. We’ve helped organizations throughout the U.S. and in over 100 countries save millions of dollars by implementing our strategies. Our services include procurement, telecom audits, and guidance to help you make the best decisions for telecom and IT solutions. At PAG, we’ll do all the hard work for you. We can help you better understand what telecom services you’re paying for, correct billing mistakes, and present you with better pricing and service alternatives.PAG provides businesses with a guaranteed-value proposition and has relationships with over 300 vendors to provide carrier service procurement to our customers. How Our Process Helps You Save We understand how high-stakes and stressful it is to be responsible for your business’s budget – and how challenging it is to know what the right purchases are at all times. That’s why we take a thoughtful approach to our partnerships in order to help you achieve your goals. We offer expert technology guidance, procurement services, and risk-free audits to help you make smart technology decisions. Through our customized, zero-cost audit process, we’ve helped our clients save over $700 million and maximize their unique tech budgets. Our goal is to guide you to the solutions that will support business growth – while keeping you financially sound into the future.

About Franklyn Baker and United Way of Central Maryland: Cross-functional nonprofit management executive with over 28 years of experience in strategic planning, business operations, process improvement, change management, financial and data management, proposal and product development, health policy and promotion, legal affairs, clinical programs oversight, sales and marketing, regulatory compliance, and provider and community relations. Specialties: Business process reengineering, change management, contract negotiation, government and provider affairs, regulatory compliance, legislative advocacy, program and policy development, product design, proposal writing, market expansion, asset management, housing development, financial analysis and reporting and business operations. COMMITMENT TO EQUITY STATEMENT United Way of Central Maryland promotes equity, creates opportunity, and improves lives by increasing access to education, employment, health, and housing. We achieve equity by dismantling systemic and institutional barriers underrepresented communities face in pursuit of happiness and the quest to realize their dreams. We respect and value all people without regard to race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin or citizenship status, age or ability status. We expect our partner organizations, grantees, staff, volunteers, board members, vendors, and key collaborators to uphold these standards. OUR COMMUNITY United Way commits to pursuing a more just, fair, and equitable society where one’s background does not predict future outcomes. We vigorously reject and vehemently oppose racism, sexism, discrimination, prejudice, and injustice in all forms. We believe access to opportunities need not be predicated by one’s race, gender identity, sexual orientation, or social characteristics. Our mission is to empower leaders and mobilize the caring power of communities to improve lives. As a leader in uniting and motivating others for good, we tackle tough problems by co-creating solutions with change agents and grassroots leaders representing all walks of life. We amplify the power and impact of neighborhood leaders and link them to much-needed resources to bring about real change. OUR PEOPLE United Way believes in a diverse workforce reflecting the richness and vibrancy of the community we serve. Equity, diversity, and inclusion principles drive our work and undergird our vision of an inclusive workplace where differences are embraced, and employees feel a real sense of belonging. These same ideals are shared by our board members, donors, and volunteers. OUR IMPACT We apply an equity lens to our neighborhood initiatives and impact work, to ensure that clients and community stakeholders representing different backgrounds maintain equitable access to services, support, and resources. We are committed to responsible community investment and the equitable distribution of grant funds. We seek to strengthen families by ensuring sustainable employment that pays a wage that allows for a secure place to call home, access to healthcare and healthy food, and education. Far too often, historical inequities and institutional racism result in deeper educational disparities among students of diverse backgrounds, particularly students of color. By supporting the potential of young people striving for a quality education, we can significantly improve postsecondary outcomes and access to stable employment. We employ evidence-based approaches to address complex community needs. By listening actively and gathering data about the challenges facing those in our region, we craft evidence-based solutions that will stand the test of time. We disaggregate data by race and gender to address disparities, unearth structural inequities, and generate actionable solutions to deep-seated, systemic challenges. We will keep you updated on our progress.

About Bill Hinshaw and Cobol Cowboys: Experienced Founder and CEO with a demonstrated history of working in the information technology industry. Proven expertise in systems architect, development, integration and support of mainframe software for banking and state government. Experienced in starting companies for software design, development, support and deliverables. Highly skilled in COBOL, CICS, DB2, VSAM, MQ, Assembler and related mainframe and server products. Expert witness in matters related to systems integration vs. database interfaces. Testified at State of New Jersey Senate Hearings on Unemployment Claims. AI advisory role for debugging & documenting COBOL programs. Strong business professional — attended Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis, Indiana. Appointed Director of Data Processing by Governor of Indiana to implement mainframe computer services. Founded and headquartered in North Texas, Cobol Cowboys provides professionals for legacy COBOL systems and other programming environments. Our name, Cobol Cowboys, was inspired by the movie “Space Cowboys” in which experienced (some retired) astronauts were called back into service to solve a current day problem in outer space. After researching many published articles (both positive and negative) on the future life of COBOL, we came away with renewed confidence in its continued life in the coming years. Since COBOL is still the programming foundation and under-structure used today in most USA and International companies, we founded Cobol Cowboys in North Texas to provide professionals for legacy COBOL Systems and non-COBOL systems. This renewed confidence in COBOL is supported by IBM’s strategies to keep COBOL robust and evergreen as a viable programming language today and years to come. These strategies are evidenced by IBM’s continued enhancements which allow COBOL and Java to run together on mainframes and to take advantage of the latest industry-driven database products (such as DB2 and SQL). Furthermore, COBOL has been enhanced to develop “object oriented” code in addition to its time-proven legacy code still in use today. These and other programming enhancements offered by IBM keep COBOL a state-of-the-art programming solution. We offer experienced COBOL (and other software) professionals in various vertical markets; including banking, government, insurance, health care, manufacturing, warehousing, transportation and others.

About Anthony & Peter McKelvy and Northern Re: Peter is the co-founder and Managing Partner of Northern Re, a New York and Cayman based alternative asset group focused on securitizing risk in the casualty reinsurance space. He is responsible for the firm’s financial strategy and developing a modern tech stack to drive evolution in the space. Peter also serves as the Chairman of Park Agency, the Kennedy family office built on four generations of familial success across public service, philanthropy and business. In that role he works to ensure the long term success of the family as it enters its 5th generation. Before co-founding Northern Re, Peter spent years as a product leader managing multiple engineering teams at various startups. He joined Uber in its early stage. Peter established and led the Driver Compliance organization, growing the group from a concept to multiple engineering teams spanning several offices. After five years with Uber, he left to lead product at Boost Insurance, where he was responsible for the company’s strategy and technology build. He and his team created a platform that propelled revenue growth from $0 to $100 million in 3 years. Peter is committed to volunteering with philanthropic groups including Best Buddies and RFK Human Rights. In his free time Peter enjoys spending time outdoors exploring US National Parks. Peter is a cum laude graduate from Bucknell University and holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. He is also licensed as a director with the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority. Peter and his wife live in New York City. A modern reinsurance company with a focus on data-driven portfolios of property and casualty risk. Our thesis is built around combining deep industry ties, a sustainable capital structure and a partner-first approach to collateral. These elements enable us to deliver a more effective solution to the industry. NoRe Holdings, maintaining an office in New York City, wholly owns Northern Reinsurance SPC, Ltd. a Cayman Islands domiciled B(iii) captive reinsurer.

About Jodie Lichtenstein and Fastback Refunds: Jodie Lichtenstein is the CEO and co-founder of Fastback Refunds. From personal experience Jodie recognized a gap in the antiquated online merchandise refund process when she found herself waiting up to 3 weeks for thousands of dollars in returned wedding guest dresses. She founded the instant refund platform in 2023 and served as the company’s first Chief Operating Officer building everything from process, product, reporting, and marketing. As CEO, Jodie is focused on deal strategy, external partnerships, and investor relations. Fastback is a new and innovative revolution that's here to provide you with a solution that is long overdue. Fastback transforms your return and refund experience with instant refunds. Waiting 5-30 business days for a refund leaves consumers in limbo; cash restrained, stressed, and in fear of shopping freely. We're here to solve that problem in the simplest way. With Instant Refunds. Fastback has created sophisticated technology and user experience that unlocks cash and provides consumers with certainty in the timing of their refund. Fastback strives to enable customers to have optionality, knowing that their refunds won't be tied up if they choose to return the items.

About Sam Geha and Infineon Technologies: As an accomplished executive in the semiconductor industry, I bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the organizations I work with. My name is Sam Geha, and in my current role as EVP of IoT, Compute & Wireless business at Infineon Technologies, my goal is to understand the needs of our partners and deliver industry-leading Microcontroller and Connectivity solutions for a better tomorrow. Over the last few years with Infineon, I’ve been able to: • Launch a variety of new products with superior capabilities for IoT, such as world's best capacitive sensing solution on Microcontrollers and industry’s lowest power integrated Wi-Fi/Bluetooth combo chip• Drive innovation by building advanced embedded AI solutions, highest security standards and a flexible, easy-to-use software ecosystem• Develop partnerships with key players in the industry to create new business opportunities and expand the company's customer base• Manage supply chain challenges in difficult allocation times but also helping to shape cost-effective and efficient operations During my time at Cypress, I was able to: • Develop the SONOS based S8 & S40 process technologies and lead the initial PSoC design and product development• Create differentiated NOR Flash products with focus on the automotive industry• Design SRAM and MRAM technologies and products• Negotiate and manage licensing agreements that generate revenue from existing IP assets and create new revenue streams• Support the formation of several start-ups and JV’s: Deca Technologies (Infineon/ASE/Qualcomm subsidiary), Enovix (IPO in 2020) and SkyHigh (Joint Venture with SK Hynix) My core strengths include: • Chip development, design and qualification• Connecting with customers and other partners to develop real innovations• Developing leaders to create winning teams• Creating a culture for diverse and high-performing teams that achieves strategic objectives As part of a team of 1500+ experienced R&D engineers, we can work together to build an intelligent, connected world with Infineon‘s Microcontroller and Wireless solutions to help you realize your goals. Infineon Technologies AG is a global semiconductor leader in power systems and IoT. Infineon drives decarbonization and digitalization with its products and solutions. The company has around 56,200 employees worldwide and generated revenue of about €14.2 billion in the 2022 fiscal year (ending 30 September). Infineon is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: IFX) and in the USA on the OTCQX International over-the-counter market (ticker symbol: IFNNY). Infineon's IoT Innovations & Developments Auto-heating buildings and intelligent coffee makers are fantasies of the past. Infineon is spearheading the Internet of Things (IoT) push to bring these ideas to life, and in big ways. Thanks to our 250-person application team and world-leading expertise, our engineers are continuously working on IoT innovations in the automotive, industrial, smart home, gaming, and health industries, to meet the needs of customers in the most convenient ways possible. What is the Internet of Things The Internet of Things is already changing lives in countless ways, from refrigerators that can re-up on groceries to cars that compromise on parking spots. At Infineon, we work on exciting projects that span five core industries: Automotive, Industrial, Smart Home, Gaming, and Health and Wellness, according to Sam: Smart Buildings, AI, & IoT IoT is set to launch intelligent buildings and advanced AI. Knowing this, Infineon’s global application team is deeply involved in the design and production of both smart buildings and AI programs. According to Sam, these advancements can lead to cutting-edge solutions such as auto-heating office buildings, and even WiFi-enabled facial recognition.

About Colleen Chapman and CanScribe Career College: Thrive at starting, building and running businesses. Provide business consulting on a limited basis. Past experience in The Ad Agency biz exposed me to a great number of companies and industries. Some of these include: Pharmaceuticals, Mining, Forestry, Tourism, Home Decorating, Public Sector, Non-profit, Resort Development, Ski Resorts, Retail and more. Specialties: business development - very strong foundation in accounting, marketing and operations. Colleen’s background is in finance, operations, and marketing. After working for several years in the ad agency biz, she founded CanScribe in 2002, Docnito in 2010, joined Focus College as President in 2017, and co-founded Weave Enterprises in 2017. Away from the office, Colleen enjoys hiking and playing different sports. She loves to travel and especially enjoys experiencing different cultures, exploring new lands and meeting the locals. Passionate about volunteer work and giving back, Colleen spent over 12 years coaching youth soccer, has sat on various non-profit boards and has been involved in Angel investing. She has volunteered in orphanages and traveled to Nepal twice to build schools and sponsor micro-loans for women in need. Colleen and her business partner are setting up their own charity called HELPUS.CARE, which will focus on Health, Education, Loans and Protection, around the globe. Get the Support You Need to Start a Career in a Year or Less* You want all the relevant skills to enter the workforce as quickly as possible with a lot of confidence in your ability to perform well day-in, day-out. And that’s what CanScribe Career College has specialized in from the start. We provide all the knowledge and support you need to get trained and get working as quickly as possible. Our strong industry connections play a major role in that. CanScribe Career College is proud to support and encourage equity-deserving groups such as Women, Indigenous, Racialized Individuals, Newcomers to Canada, Persons with Disabilities, and others. We want to remove barriers to accessing education and ensure everyone has the same opportunities for continued learning. The History of CanScribe Career College CanScribe has specialized in online learning since 2003 and has become a leader in the creation and delivery of online courses, worldwide. We are continually reviewing our processes to best design and deliver new and existing programs for different learning styles, and to diverse learners located anywhere across the globe. With a mandate to create only top-level programs, our programs are developed by subject matter experts after intense industry research and feedback from industry employers. This ensures our programs are state-of-the-art and relevant in today’s workplaces. Our focus on student success has led us to develop unparalleled student support, instruction, and life-long graduate support. CanScribe Career College Mission Statement Training for the future you deserve.

About Federico Checo and Perfect Wellness Group: My job consist in business development for companies focused on SPA and bathroom's market. I have the experience to provide consulting for spa design and construction. I have an big acknowledge on those markets : - Spa on board of Cruise Ship & Yacht;- USA & Canada: Spa Market:- USA & Canada: Bathroom forniture dealers; My job consist in:- build a strategic sales plan and business plan for all companies we distribute;- build a network of distributors and sales agents;- manage the big deals and ships cruise spa constructions deals;- manage the marketing materials and marketing plans for companies in SPA and Bathroom's market; Perfect Wellness Group specializes in the entire life cycle of services Discover unique, luxury wellness solutions for your home or commercial space. Headquartered in New York City, Perfect Wellness Group is the North American branch of Effe, located in Cesena, Italy. We design and create award-winning thermal spaces across the United States and Canada. Not only can we provide a sauna for a residential home, but we can also design complete wellness spaces for large scale, five-star, luxury commercial spaces. From the beginning, we plan and design your wellness space to offer standard or made-to-measure solutions. Our team is dedicated to the technical side of all Perfect Wellness Group projects, including inspection, shop drawings and construction to logistics and installation. We bring the luxury and benefits of spa and wellness treatments to our client’s daily routines. All our hydrothermal bathing experiences combine the ancient cleansing and healing effects of saunas and thermal baths with the most advanced and innovative technology.

About Philip Erdoes and Bear Cognition: Philip Erdoes is the Co-Founder & CEO of Bear Cognition and Founder & CEO of Bear Ventures, where he has over two decades of experience creating and financing new enterprises. Philip is also Founder & CEO of The New Traditionalists and ducduc, US-based manufacturers of furniture and décor. Mr. Erdoes is also a Director at Alef Mobitech, an edge computing mobility company. Philip's particular expertise lies in product design, sales, branding and identity, entrepreneurship and strategic planning. Previously, he was the Founder & Managing Member of Bear Franchising, one of the largest private third-party logistics providers in the country. Philip is a Member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a national Board Member for TEDx, and was recently a Member of the National Advisory Board of the American Film Institute, as well as being engaged in a number of charitable activities and foundations. Additionally, Philip is a Member of the Dean's Advisory Council at Harvard Business School. In 2021, Philip was inducted into Oklahoma State University's College of Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame in recognition of his accomplishments as a business leader and innovator in a wide range of industries.Philip received a BS in Bio-medicine and Biology from Oklahoma State University. He continued his education to earn a JD from the University of Oklahoma College of Law and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Bear Cognition is a performance analytics company for mission-critical organizations that want to use the power of data to gain an unfair advantage. ​Our leadership team understands the ability of data to transform business performance: the company’s founders come from the ultra-demanding transportation & logistics industry. Today, Bear Cognition’s unique Software With a Service (SwaS™) model links proprietary tools with the company’s own Data Lab experts, helping our partners use data to improve performance faster and more efficiently than they ever thought possible. Our unique approach is grounded in understanding that a tool is only as valuable as the team using it. At Bear Cognition, we offer more than data management solutions; we deliver unwavering support and business development strategies from a proven team of scientists, analysts, engineers, and business leaders. ​Our commitment goes beyond technology; it’s about empowering you with expertise and guidance to maximize your data and business potential. Athlete, shipper or marketer – when success is on the line, you need your data to perform.