Advisory Board
Our advisory board is comprised of successful business leaders, investors and attorneys that have an in-depth knowledge of entrepreneurship. They serve as an external partner to our Center and students by providing perspective in the classroom and applied learning experiences. Throughout the year, board members serve as mentors to our students and provide support to our programs.
WAVE Advisory Board

Joe Boucher
Founding Shareholder
Neider & Boucher, S.C.

Corey Capasso
CEO
Urbint

Alex Ehrnrooth
President & CEO
Virala Corporation

Zach Ellis, Jr.
Managing Director
New Ventures

Kristen Forecki
Senior Director, Experiences & Devices Strategy
Microsoft

Laura Francis
Chief Executive Officer
SI-Bone

Ross Freedman
Co-Founder & Board Member
Rightpoint

Lisa Harris
Founder & CEO
Lisa Harris & Company

Jeff Kaplan
Founder | Board Member | Investor

Mike Mathews
President
Economic Growth Advisors

Mark Meester
Managing Member
Meester Capital, LLC

John Neis
Managing Director
Venture Investors of Wisc.

Bruce Neviaser
Principal
Imagine Resorts & Hotels

Chuck Oehler
Founder and CEO
Primorigen Biosciences Inc.

Neil Peters-Michaud
Founder and CEO
Cascade Asset Management, LLC

Kay Plantes
Founder/Principal
Plantes Company

Dan Reed
Managing Director
American Family Ventures

Darryl Schoen
Founder and President
Manufacturers Financing Services

Jamie Shah
President
Chem-Impex International, Inc.
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship
The University of Chicago

Paul Shain
President and CEO
Singlewire Software

Terry Sivesind
President and Co-Founder
Poseidon Probes and Wisconsin Investment Partners

Chad Sorenson
Founder and President
SunPeak, LLC

Becky Splitt
Consultant
American Family Ventures

Harsha Tipirneni
Managing Partner
Aryabhatta Ventures

Melissa Turczyn
Partner/Co-Chair
Venture Best, Michael Best & Friedrich

Reena Vokoun
Founder and CEO
Passion Fit
Weinert Advisory Board

Andy Albert
Managing Director & Operating Partner
Svoboda Capital Partners

Erica Gruen
President
Quantum Media

Christopher Hornung
Founder and Former CEO/Chairman
Pacific Cycle

Steve Jacobson
CEO
Fairway Independent Mortgage

Aaron Kennedy
Founder & Past Chairman
Noodles and Company

Jack Lavin
President
Javelin Partners, LLC

Toni Sikes
CEO
CODAworx

Michael Smith
CEO
Equinauts

Neil Thall
Chairman
Acsis, Inc.

David Walsh
Partner
Foley & Lardner, LLP
Board Member News

Board Member News: Alex Ehrnrooth
January 7, 2025

Board Member News: Zach Ellis, Jr.
November 21, 2024

Toni Sikes Featured in the Wisconsin State Journal
September 4, 2024