Mentors: COMMUNICATIONS
Summary of Qualifications Holly Pearce recently joined the VEDP International Trade team as the Central VA international trade manager. Prior to joining the International Trade team, Holly spent 16 years in supply chain management experience (primarily in global markets) most recently, with Lumber Liquidators. Her roles with consumer products, service, and entertainment companies provide well-rounded knowledge about many issues that importers and exporters may face. These issues include international logistics, customs compliance, documentation, and finance options. Holly was an active member of the Virginia Maritime Association – Cargo Owners’ Committee for four years, and was instrumental in creating the Central VA chapter of that organization. She served on the American Shipper magazine Editorial Board and has spoken at numerous local and national conferences on world trade and supply chain. Want to meet with this mentor? Talk with your Lead...
Summary of Qualifications Grant is a Fractional Product & Marketing Manager, specializing in small to mid business growth through customer engagement and product innovation. Grant Mizell’s career spans traditional advertising, PR, community management, digital strategy, SEM/PPC and product development. Most recently, acting as Head of Product, he oversaw the transformation of PartyRVA, a successful and award-winning prototype e-marketplace for group planners, into OccasionGenius, overhauling the customer conversion funnel, shifting the business model and repositioning for national scale. A graduate of VCU’s Advertising program, he uses a foundation in conceptual thinking and design as a heightened UX perspective in targeting business growth opportunities through user-centered engagement and innovation. In 2013, he traded in 7 years of Adjunct instruction at VCU Advertising, for a leadership role on the Byrd Theatre Foundation. Grant serves as Vice President and Programming Chair, where he applies lean startup mentality to marketing and new program development, in support of the 87-year-old institution’s evolution into a center for film and film literacy. Want to meet with this mentor? Talk with your Lead...
Summary of Qualifications Adam Mead is the founder brand strategy agency yogg, its sister brand design agency for small business named KARV, as well as Land of Adam, a commercial photography and fine-art studio. In 2007 Adam Mead started yogg from the corner of his bedroom with no insurance, two weeks of money in the bank and a third child on the way. #ignoranceisbliss But over time he grew yogg to become a leading branding agency with international reach, experiencing year-over-year growth as high as 90% and being recognized on the RVA25 list for high growth companies in Richmond. After seven years Adam launched his photography studio Land of Adam and has done commercial photo shoots all over the country and had his work published internationally. He also as created a fine art photography arm which gives a significant amount of revenue back to the community through print sales. His pieces have been carried by national retailers and will be featured in a major film. At the beginning of 2016 Adam launched KARV, a branding agency designed for small business which has experienced very healthy growth even in its infancy. Adam and his wife have 8 children and spend their time running from activity to activity while still finding time to volunteer weekly with their church. Want to meet with this mentor? Talk with your Lead...
Summary of Qualifications Lindsay Grant is part of The Hodges Partnership, a PR & communications strategy firm based in Shockoe Bottom. With a career spent at PR and marketing agencies, Lindsay has the pleasure of advising clients – big and small – on how to approach their communications strategy. As a senior-level account director at Hodges, she focuses on strategic planning, writing, media relations, content marketing and internal communications. Clients over the years have ranged from local start-ups to household brands and nonprofit organizations all with varying budgets and unique goals. And at the end of the day, no matter the budget and resources, Lindsay believes that a smart communications strategy is within reach for every business. Her campaigns have won industry awards and her clients have turned into long-lasting business relationships. She’s a VCU grad, PRSA Richmond board member, APR certified and an adjunct faculty member at the VCU Robertson School of Media and Culture. She lives in the city and is known to cheer on all things Richmond, including the Rams. Want to meet with this mentor? Talk with your Lead...
Summary of Qualifications Stephanie is a Co-Founder and Senior Associate at Venture Frameworks, a financial consulting firm focused on working with early-stage and growth-stage businesses. She helps make numbers less scary. Stephanie has always loved numbers. Graduating with a degree in Finance and International Business from the University of Richmond, she jumpstarted her career in the investment banking industry in Charlotte, NC. As an investment banking analyst, Stephanie worked extensively with Middle Market companies to raise capital or participate in M&A processes. She quickly learned about the power of numbers and analytics in businesses of any size. Taking a Wall Street skill set with no Wall Street attitude, Stephanie moved back to Richmond to co-found Venture Frameworks. As an avid believer of the “See One, Do One, Teach One” mantra, Stephanie now collaborates with local businesses to analyze their financial situation, deliver uncomplicated financial models and empower company leaders to not only manage their unique model, but also feel confident that they know their numbers well enough to present them. Stephanie offers a missing piece of financial and investment analytics to help businesses take the next step, grow and thrive. She can be found around Richmond trying a new French cheese, reading or practicing yoga. Want to meet with this mentor? Talk with your Lead...
