Empowering Visionaries

Our Dedicated Mentors and Facilitators

Discover the Experts Driving Innovation and Success

Our 2024 Mentors and Facilitators are a diverse group of industry leaders, experienced entrepreneurs, and subject matter experts dedicated to helping you turn your innovative ideas into thriving businesses. With their wealth of knowledge and practical insights, our mentors provide invaluable support throughout your journey in the Velocity business accelerator.

From mastering business fundamentals to refining your pitch, our mentors are here to ensure your success at every stage. Meet the exceptional individuals who are committed to fostering creativity, driving growth, and empowering you to hit the gas on your startup.

2024 Velocity Mentors Group

Curriculum Advisor

Mike Buckovich

Mike Buckovich
Vertical Curve

Mike has led and developed digital strategies for a variety of Fortune 500 firms ranging from apparel, financial services, SaaS, B2C, B2B, and start-ups from Chicago, New York, Washington, Richmond, and, most recently, various cities in North Carolina. 

He has been assisting founders, startups, accelerators, private equity groups, and enterprises with 30+ years of experience in the advertising, marketing, customer experience design, digital product development and management, and software development world.

Over the years, Mike’s fascination with what influences and makes an audience tick has only grown. His wheelhouse is helping his clients to truly understand and define the user experience while translating it into both actionable technical requirements and a unique value proposition to set them apart from the competition.

Mentors & Facilitators

Steve Amigone

Steve Amigone
RBC

Roberts Bass

Roberts Bass
Financial Consultant

Valerie Bleza

Valerie Bleza
Knot Standard

Dawn Booker

Dawn Booker
Pack Light Global

Camillia Carter

Camillia Carter
Start2Launch

Jody Cauthen

Jody Cauthen
Integrity Continuing Education

Ray Collins

Ray Collins
True Voice

Alan Cox

Alan Cox
Breakpoint Insights

Henry de Noble

Henry de Noble
Stephens

Rob DiBella

Rob DiBella
DiBella Consulting

David Evans

David Evans
Business Consultant

Michael Fulks

Michael Fulks
Akerman, LLP

Christen Funderburk

Christen Funderburk
Lizzie’s All-Natural Products

Balint Gaspar

Balint Gaspar
Sightsource

David Gilbert

David Gilbert
Marketing Consultant

Josh Hanes

Josh Hanes
Bank OZK

Andrea Johnson

Andrea Johnson
ANJ Consulting Services

Chad Leslie

Chad Leslie
UNCSA

John Loftis

John Loftis
Marketing Consultant

Dawn McGee

Dawn McGee
Coach Pro 4U

Terry Meyer

Terry Meyer
Kosmos Q

Jackie Morgan

Jackie Morgan
JP Morgan Design & Consultant

Ben Noland

Ben Noland
We Impact Brands

Phillip Oakley

Phillip Oakley
PO & Co.

Corey Paul

Corey Paul
Corey Paul Studios

Girish Raj

Girish Raj
Entertainment Consultant

Leisha Roseboro Patterson

Leisha Roseboro Patterson
Lei Lei’s Cuisine

Daryl Shaw

Daryl Shaw
Royalty Marketing

Bobbie Shrivastav

Bobbie Shrivastav
Benekiva

Preet Singh

Preet Singh
imagine.io

Shad Smith

Shad Smith
SBTDC at WSSU

Will Spivey

Will Spivey
MaxCom

Theressa Stephens

Theressa Stephens
Church Childcare Center

Q. Nicole Vanderhorst

Q. Nicole Vanderhorst
W.H. Farms Co.

Dick Vann

Dick Vann
Entrepreneur Consultant

Jes Vargas

Jes Vargas
Benekiva

Telissa Ward

Telissa Ward
Short Street Group

Matt Waterman

Matt Waterman
LongRun Solutions

Jeff Wolfe

Jeff Wolfe
SchellBray