2021: Leading What's Next
True to our organization’s name, VentureNext, we understand the dynamics of change and lean into what’s next. We are excited to be welcoming 7 new executive team members to our expanding team for 2021. Additionally, we are happy to announce that we’ve identified a new role to grow our organization.
110+ members strong, our community is helping the next generation of leaders build meaningful relationships. Connecting and fueling that engagement is Bethany George and her expanding team. We welcome Mentorship Co-Chair, Jonathan Ellis and Membership Committee Member, Jeff Lampe.
Jim Tenzillo is Partnership Chair, our newest position. Former secretary of the organization, Tenzillo, will now focus on mapping our expanding network and connecting opportunities with ecosystem partners.
Certainly, we all remember (and miss) our in-person programming and events hosted across the Midwest, but as we have shifted to a virtual environment we are rethinking engagement and events for interaction amongst our growing network. In support of that growth, we welcome Luke Skertich to the Programming team as Co-Chair.
While maintaining a Midwest-focus, we host programming that accommodates engagement with our national member base. On a monthly deal flow call, members present some of the Midwest’s most exciting deals. This assembly creates a space for investors to interact and stay abreast of the investment activity in the region. These calls have become a staple for our organization. Cultivating, promoting, and facilitating this engagement is Sarah Suedkamp and Leen Ajloun, who has joined the team as Deal Flow Co-Chair.
An expanded team of three content leaders — Allison Murdock, Content Chair, and JoAnna Muenks and Marcus Fields as Content Committee Members — are focused on curating content, highlighting our mission, and showcasing member activity.
Binding our team and documenting our progress and growth is Kristina Barrett, secretary.
Continuing in leadership positions with the team for 2021 are: Executive Co-Chairs, Ashley Alber and Liz Todia, Membership Co-Chairs, Michael Kindrat-Pratt and Sean Kwiat, and Mentorship Co-Chair, Josh Borstein.
We thank our former committee and executive members for their contributions and congratulate them on their next ventures!
Together, we are looking forward to another great year and staying on the cusp of what’s next.