Michael Verchot is the founding director of the University of Washington’s Consulting and Business Development Center. Through a range of student consulting and business education programs the center has created more than 100,000 jobs and raised business revenues by more than $150 million for small businesses across Washington State. The Center’s 3-M model of improving management skills, increasing access to money, and growing market access underpins the Ascend 2020 approach to growing businesses owned by people of color, women, and veterans and businesses in inner-city communities across the US.
Michael Verchot is the founding director of the University of Washington’s Consulting and Business Development Center, a learning laboratory that gives students real-world consulting experience they can use to jumpstart their careers and grow businesses in underserved communities. Michael has received numerous awards for his work including: The National Minority Business Advocate of the Year Award from the US Department of Commerce (2004), Champion Award from the Northwest Minority Supplier Development Council (2004), The Boeing Company’s Supplier Diversity Global Solution Provider (2008) and more.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. is partnering with Morehouse College Entrepreneurship Center and TechSquare Labs to launch Ascend2020 Atlanta, a technology startup and small business support ecosystem building initiative for minority-led companies throughout Metropolitan Atlanta.
Entrepreneurs afforded the opportunity to participate will receive access to the Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC), monthly founders' talks and curated mentors designed to accelerate product development, customer acquisition and fundraising.
Jewel Burks is Co-founder and CEO of Partpic, a technology startup designed to streamline the purchase of maintenance and repair parts. Partpic was awarded “Best Enterprise Disruptor” at the 2014 TechCrunch Disrupt Conference, and recently featured on Alexis Ohanian’s “Small Empires”. In addition to leading Partpic, Jewel also serves as Team Lead at Amazon. Previously, Jewel was an Entrepeneur In Residence at Google. Jewel is a graduate of Howard University.
Ann is a Community Relations Manager at the JPMorgan Chase Foundation and is responsible for managing the grants portfolio for West Coast, Central and Northeast Florida as well as Georgia, Tennessee, the Carolinas and Virginia. In her role she works closely with community leaders, elected officials, and business leaders to identify best in class programs that support workforce readiness, affordable housing, small business development and financial capability.
Michael Verchot is the founding director of the University of Washington’s Consulting and Business Development Center. Through a range of student consulting and business education programs the center has created more than 100,000 jobs and raised business revenues by more than $150 million for small businesses across Washington State. The Center’s 3-M model of improving management skills, increasing access to money, and growing market access underpins the Ascend 2020 approach to growing businesses owned by people of color, women, and veterans and businesses in inner-city communities across the US.
A dedicated business banking and finance professional with a track record built on results, service, relationships and unwavering principles, banker and former UGA Bulldog and Dallas Cowboy, Anthony Flack brings comprehensive commercial and industrial lending experience to ACE’s loan program. Having previously worked for Atlanta banks, PNC Bank and Bank of America, Flack understands the needs of small business owners and provides solution-oriented results for the challenges they face accessing capital.
Rodney Sampson is a veteran tech entrepreneur (with two exits), venture investor, selective advisor, four time published author and experienced authority of the evolution of the innovation, entrepreneurship and investment ecosystem for all. He currently serves as Chairman at Opportunity Ecosystem, an inclusive ecosystem building platform; Founding Partner, #YesWeCode Fund, a $100 million diversity scholarship fund; Founder of Kingonomics, the nation’s leading advocacy and learning platform for minorities and under-served communities to learn, navigate and master the capital markets and investment ecosystem; and Partner at TechSquare Labs. To date, TechSquare Labs’ portfolio companies have raised more than $250 million in venture funding and created more than 500 high growth jobs.
Nate is a co-founder and president of the board of directors at the Village. A grassroots microfinance organization with the mission to empower entrepreneurs in Metro Atlanta by providing business education, a “Village” of support, and access to capital through cooperative investing. Previously, Nate was a valuation analyst at a distressed debt private equity fund and started his career at Goldman Sachs in New York. He serves on the board of the Southwest Atlanta Growers Cooperative. Nate is a proud graduate of Morehouse College.
