Our Leadership Team

  • A woman with long wavy brown hair wearing a navy blazer and light blue blouse, smiling against a plain background.

    Julie Adkins

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
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  • Melissa Scholten Headshot

    Melissa Scholten

    FOUNDER ENGAGEMENT & EVENTS COORDINATOR
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  • Portrait of a smiling man with glasses and curly hair, wearing a dark blazer over a t-shirt, against a white background.

    Josh Barker

    FORGE LEAD
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Our Board of Directors

  • Headshot of a smiling man with short brown hair, wearing a white shirt and a dark blue blazer.

    Jon VerLee

    BOARD CHAIR
    STARTUP GARAGE FOUNDER
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    Jon VerLee brings a deep passion for the earliest moments of entrepreneurship, especially when an idea becomes real through a founder’s very first dollar earned.

  • A man with short dark hair, glasses, wearing a gray blazer and white shirt, smiling in front of a plain light background.

    Ben Ipema

    TREASURER
    CLARITY FINANCIAL
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    Ben Ipema is passionate about empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs by sharing wisdom, lessons learned, and a collaborative spirit.

  • A woman with long brown hair smiling, wearing a dark green top and black earrings, with a large green leaf in the background.

    Dana Roefer

    SECRETARY
    FAITH DRIVEN ENTREPRENEUR
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    Dana Roefer brings a heart for strengthening the ecosystem of faith‑driven businesses and advancing organizations built on a Biblical foundation.

  • A middle-aged man with gray hair and beard, wearing glasses, a white shirt, and a dark blazer, standing outdoors in a green, leafy background

    Dave Johnson

    NATIONAL CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION
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    Dave Johnson walks alongside founders through meaningful, relational, small‑group learning environments and models humility through lifelong learning.

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    Fallon McMurray

    GRACE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
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    Fallon McMurray is dedicated to equipping college students to explore the intersection of faith and entrepreneurship and inspiring future founders to step into their calling.

  • A smiling man with short, gray hair and a beard, wearing a blue suit and light blue shirt, standing outdoors with an urban cityscape background.

    Jeshua Lauka

    Jeshua Lauka
    LIGHTSTONE LAW
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    Jeshua Lauka is committed to meeting entrepreneurs at the very beginning of their journey while strengthening Startup Garage through servant leadership and corporate governance expertise.

  • Smiling man in glasses wearing a dark blue suit and patterned tie standing indoors against a blue wall.

    Zach Booker

    CARLEW CAPITAL
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    Zach Booker believes entrepreneurship is about becoming who God created you to be and brings a strong heart for community, personal growth, and purpose‑driven leadership.