CLARK WOOD

Clark Wood is the Chief Technology Officer at the Boston Cybernetics Institute, leading the development of software that empowers people to control technology. He is a proud UF grad that wants to help connect people and grow the startup and small business community in Gainesville.

Darcy Herlihy

Darcy Herlihy is a Senior Communications Specialist at Infotech. She is passionate about creating a path to knowledge through storytelling, building excitement and engagement for complex subjects. Darcy earned her Bachelor of Science (B.S.) at the University of Florida in public relations, advertising, and applied communication and her Masters in Sociology at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

After several years of observing the work startGNV does for the community, she applied to join the board. Using her knowledge of remote collaboration, organizational networks, and building an innovation mindset, Darcy hopes to contribute to the future success of the innovation ecosystem in Gainesville.

Grant Blackburn

Grant Blackburn is a fourth-year Economics student at UF. He began his entrepreneurial journey by launching two companies during his freshman year. In February 2023, Grant competed and captured third place in the Undergraduate East Regional Final of the Venture Capital Investment Competition, gaining insights into the venture capital due diligence process. Additionally, he serves as the Director of Marketing for the student-led nonprofit Warrington Ventures. He excels in branding, growth strategy, and business analysis. He is passionate about early-stage tech companies and startup culture.

Grant is most excited about his role in creating a platform for emerging innovators in Gainesville. He also aims to bridge the gap between the UF student body and the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Jessica Tittl Nielsen

Jessica Tittl Nielsen is the Co-founder and CEO of Cordelia Biosciences, an innovative chemical company dedicated to creating sustainable blue chemistry from oceanic microscopic organisms. With a divers background that spans microbial genomics, chemistry, business management, and intellectual property strategy, Jessica adeptly bridges various disciplines to foster innovation. Her goal is to develop products and systems that are in harmony with the environment, aiming for a sustainable future.

Jessica is also deeply committed to empowering women, encouraging them to pursue executive leadership and entrepreneurial roles with confidence. Her involvement in StartGNV is driven by her desire to equip aspiring entrepreneurs with the necessary tools and inspiration to achieve their ambitions and contribute to a better tomorrow.

Nicole Levy

Nicole Levy is a seasoned marketing and operations professional with extensive experience in company-wide project management. She excels in creating efficient and scalable processes, along with managing both in-person and virtual events. Nicole has successfully led high-impact launches and thrives in hyper-growth, fast-paced environments. Her expertise spans both B2B and B2C sectors.

Having previously served as a board member in 2018, Nicole is thrilled to once again contribute to amplifying startGNV’s community events. She played an integral role in shaping signature events such as startGNV’s CelebrateGNV and, in cooperation and support of Grace Marketplace, Tech Battle of the Bands. . Nicole earned both her bachelor’s degree and MBA from UF, and moved back to Gainesville in 2015 where she has been working for local companies since.

Zac Burke

Zachary Burke is the Director of Media & Interactive at Multi Image Group and a proud graduate of the University of Florida with a B.S. in computer software engineering.

With extensive experience in learning new technologies and methodologies, he has designed and developed video games, responsive and scalable enterprise web applications, and explored the growing market of virtual and mixed reality experiences.

Angelica Suarez

Angelica Suarez is dedicated to fostering high-performance learning environments and currently leads Nonprofit Partnerships at Resilia, a Series B tech-for-good company. She collaborates with social entrepreneurs to build impactful teams and drive organizational mission, vision, and values. An entrepreneur at heart, Angelica has started multiple ventures and developed educational and management coaching programs. She holds a Bachelor’s from the University of Florida and a Master’s in Public Administration and Conflict Resolution from Syracuse University. Certified as an OKR coach, Psychological Safety Practitioner, and IDEO Business Innovation leader, Angelica is committed to innovative solutions and effective workplace rhythms.

Elliot Welker

Elliott Welker is the Assistant Director of UF Innovate | Accelerate at Sid Martin Biotech in Alachua, where he works on programs and progress for startup companies. Before joining UF Innovate, Elliott was a business development intern for ReliOx Corporation and a legal assistant for Robert S. Griscti, Esq. He also volunteered with the North Central Florida Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and founded Beaker and Flask, a wine destination in San Felasco Tech City. Elliott holds a BA in History with a minor in Teaching English as a Second Language and an MBA focusing on Entrepreneurship and Marketing from UF.

Michael Selvester

Michael Selvester is an experienced corporate lawyer specializing in the healthcare manufacturing sector, currently serving as Senior Corporate Counsel at Jabil, one of the world’s leading manufacturing companies. With a robust legal background and a JD from the University of Florida’s Fredric G. Levin College of Law, Michael has also worked extensively in the energy industry, focusing on Florida, Georgia, and Texas energy markets. He is active in public service and a former Chair of the Gainesville Regional Utilities Advisory Board.

Stacy Burrell

Stacy Burrell is a seasoned professional known for his leadership, resourcefulness, and analytical skills, with a proven ability to collaborate effectively with business units and cross-functional teams.

He has extensive industry experience in retail, energy, high tech, e-commerce, and manufacturing, having held a variety of roles in finance and strategy. Stacy holds a BBA in Accountancy from Western Michigan University and an MBA with a Finance and Strategy focus from Columbia Business School. As the current VP of Finance at Consero Global, he brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his role, driving financial strategies and initiatives that support the company’s growth and success.