Center
for Innovation
Ina Mae Rude Entrepreneur Center
University of North Dakota
4200 James Ray Drive
Grand Forks, ND 58203
Phone: 701-777-3132
Fax: 701-777-2339
info@innovators.net
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Entrepreneur Coach & Director of the Center for Innovation. Bruce has been North Dakota’s “go-to guy” for entrepreneurship, innovation, and capital investing since he launched the Center in 1984. As a visionary, Bruce strategically directs the Center and is continually innovating. He coaches entrepreneurs on strategies and capital formation. This “serial entrepreneur” has been in the trenches and has won more battles than lost! 701-777-3132, bruce@innovators.net |
Bruce Gjovig |
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EB-5 Regional Center Manager / Entrepreneur Consultant - Prior to joining the Center for Innovation staff in July, 2007, Rodrigo Cintra worked with the Canadian Consulate and the North Dakota Trade Office on international trade opportunities. With a background in international business, Rodrigo focuses on assisting entrepreneurial companies that are interested in capturing domestic and international markets. 701-777-3970, rodrigo@innovators.net |
Rodrigo Cintra |
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Director of Entrepreneurial Tech Commercialization/ Entrepreneur Consultant - Prior to joining the Center's staff in May 2008, Jordan Schuetzle has worked for the United States Senate Budget Committee, the North Dakota Legislative Council, and various legal firms. In addition to his formal legal, government, and business education, Jordan has developed and ran three businesses of his own. Jordan works with new entrepreneurs and specializes in University Startups. 701-738-2461, jordan@innovators.net |
Jordan T. Schuetzle, Esq.
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Technology Director/Building Manager – Travis joined the Center's staff in December 2008. His primary responsibility is management of the Center's Tech Infrastructure from IP Telephony, Networking, and Server Administration. He is also the head of building management. 701-738-2424, travis@innovators.net |
Travis Fretheim |
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Rainmaker & V.P. of Development - In Sept. 2006 Tom Kenville joined the Center for Innovation Foundation to help leverage the support of UND Alumni, friends and successful entrepreneurs around the world. In addition to his work at the Center, Tom is himself a successful entrepreneur. He owns and operates manufacturing, property development and consulting businesses. Tom is the managing member of the Hilton Garden Inn in the UND Tech Park and chairs the Valley Angel Fund. 218-779-9950, tom@innovators.net |
Tom K. Kenville |
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Office Czar (Manager) - Celia is office manager and bookkeeper for the Center for Innovation. Since August, 1996 Celia has been responsible for all the financial records and oversees operations to ensure fluidity. She is known as the “solution” person at the Center. 701-777-3020, celia@innovators.net |
Celia Rosencrans |
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Grant Writer -
Della has filled the role of Grant Writer for the Center for Innovation and the College of Business and Public Administration since October, 1999. Della also provides grant writing services for our entrepreneur clients. She not only writes grants, but has a great talent for finding them. 701-777-3795, della@innovators.net
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Maverick Entrepreneur -
La Royce Batchelor is an Educational Leadership PhD student with a focus in Entrepreneurship at University of North Dakota. She teaches in the Entrepreneurship Department and also works at the Center for Innovation aiding primarily with communication and student engagement. Her research focus is twofold, first La Royce has a passion for pedagogy or classroom management and student engagement; and second an equal passion for innovation and creativity. La Royce is the current Tom and Gayle Clifford Entrepreneurship Fellow. La Royce has been teaching for 20 years, the last 15 of which were spent teaching at Red River College in Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada. La Royce also teaches Shotokan Karate for the University of North Dakota Karate Club. 701-777-6220, laroyce@innovators.net |
LaRoyce Batchelor |
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International Entrepreneurship Consultant - Dr. Yong Hou is a visiting faculty member at the UND College of Business and Public Administration where he teaches Technology and Innovation Management. He is working with the Center for Innovation on international entrepreneurship and EB-5 Regional Center program to bring together foreign investors with regional entrepreneurs. In addition, Dr. Hou is one of the founders of ‘Clean Republic’, a green e-bicycle supplier located in Seattle, Washington. 701-738-4805, yong@innovators.net |
Dr. Yong Hou |
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Assistant to All - In addition to greeting visitors and answering the phone, Ryan assists Center for Innovation staff, incubators tenants, and clients with a variety of tasks and projects. Ryan is studying Spanish and Secondary Education at UND. He has been with the Center since August, 2007. 701-777-3290, ryan@innovators.net
Note: Ryan is not working at the Center this semester because he is student teaching. |
Ryan Mayer |
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Angel Fund Field Agent - Elisabeth Knapp is from Fargo, ND. She graduated with a B.S. in Hospitality and Tourism from NDSU in 2009 and began a career in residential real estate development in Fargo. In 2010, Elizabeth’s parents introduced her to Bruce Gjovig and the angel fund community. As the Center for Innovation’s angel fund field agent, she helps entrepreneurs succeed by consulting, communicating, and coordinating with advisors, investors and entrepreneurs.
701-777-3281, elisabeth@innovators.net |
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Entrepreneur Consultant - Eric is a graduate of the University of North Dakota, graduating with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He joined the Center for Innovation team this past January (2010) and specializes in engineering entrepreneurship. As a small business owner himself, Eric has an eye for operational assembly. 701-777-6623, eric@innovators.net |
Eric Veidel |
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Chaos Coordinator – Katie is a recent graduate of University of North Dakota, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration in 2011, with majors in entrepreneurship and management. She joined the staff in August of 2011 and in addition to greeting visitors, answering the phone, and taking care of the Center’s administrative duties, Katie wears many hats at the Center. Katie is the Center’s Incubator Manager and is the go-to person for incubator tenants and staff. As the Event Coordinator, Katie also manages the many events that take place in our Idea Lab and Board Room and her organizational talents keep everything running smoothly. As a small business owner herself, Katie has a passion for helping other small businesses and takes great pride in her third role at the Center as an Entrepreneur Coach. 701-777-3132, katie@innovators.net |
Katie Langlie |
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Torreson-Stone Entrepreneur Fellow / Venture Consultant - Ashley Putnam joined the Center's team in October 2010 while completing her graduate studies at UND. Her background in Electrical Engineering and Entrepreneurship led to establishing her own medical device startup, Theratainment, LLC. Ashley's interests and strengths revolve around helping physicians and small business owners launch their companies in the Life Science Industry. 701-891-2107, ashley@innovators.net |
Ashley Putnam |
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Student Assistant - Brooke joined the Center for Innovation staff in August, 2011, at the beginning of her Freshman year at UND. She is pursuing a degree in Nursing. Brooke works with Katie to welcome guests to the Center for Innovation and prepare for events. She cheerfully assists staff and tenants with administrative tasks and anything else that needs to be done. 701-777-3132, brooke@innovators.net |
Brooke Riendeau |
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