Team

Jade Garrett

Connections

Jade Garrett

Connections

Positive Deviancy, LLC was founded in 2021 by Jade Garrett. She is one of the most experienced Connectors in the American-Made Network and has over 4 years of experience with the American-Made Challenge Prize Programs. Jade has supported over 50 different teams which have cumulatively won more than $1.85M in Innovation Funding from the DOE while she was their Connector.

She loves being directly engaged with innovators since her work history for the past decade has been primarily with startups in the energy, hardware, and robotics space. She is one of the 2% of female founders who have raised VC investment.

Callye Keen

Design for Manufacturing

Callye Keen

Design for Manufacturing

Callye Keen ( Kform, Red Blue Collective ) has developed and manufactured 100s of products in collaboration with innovative entrepreneurs, high-growth startups, and leading corporations. His products, from technical surveillance countermeasures to fidget spinners, have sold around the world. He founded Red Blue Collective in 2015 to provide clear, actionable information and coaching for entrepreneurs gained from real world experience.

Nadiyah Howard

Programs Manager

Nadiyah Howard

Programs Manager

Nadiyah Howard is a seasoned behavioral specialist and community builder with 15 plus years of experience as a mental health practitioner who thrives in high-pressure, fast paced and client facing environments. Her education in Psychology, Ethics, and Human Rights, have given her a fresh perspective on how to facilitate group training programs that start with establishing interpersonal trust dynamics even with constantly changing objectives. She is able to assess an individual or startup’s expertise, experience, personality, values, and beliefs into a profile matrix that helps them navigate how to build their teams.

Joe Winn

Product Engineering

Joe Winn

Product Engineering

Joe has always been a problem solver and he followed that passion into engineering and business. He has worked on projects involving optimization, robotics, sustainability, human factors design, automation, systems integration, and lean manufacturing. During the pandemic he co-founded a company in Virginia that manufactured PPE. He has spent the last four years at another company he co-founded (Vulcan Machine Co) designing and building industrial CNC mills.

Richard Xu

Supply Chain Consultant

Richard Xu

Supply Chain Consultant

Richard has always been passionate about pushing the limits and challenging himself. From building Self Driving Cars to CNC mills to winning national championships. He knows how to succeed in the most challenging of conditions. Armed with DFM, supply chain management, and electronics design and manufacturing skills. He has the ability to take what seems impossible possible by adhering to the method of if there is will there is a way. He has spent the past 4 years at Vulcan Machine Co designing and building CNC mills. Also during covid, he spearheaded and developed a supply chain to help healthcare providers in providing the ppe in a time of need.

Arrash Rezvan

Grants and Contracts

Arrash Rezvan

Grants and Contracts

Arrash Rezvan has over thirteen years’ experience as a contracts manager for federal government contracting companies. In that role, he participated in writing and editing proposals, and in proposal management and scheduling. He has a B.S. in Physics and a B.A. in Economics from the University of California, Irvine, and a Graduate Certificate in Procurement and Contracts Management from the University of Virginia. Also, Mr. Rezvan is the author of two fictional novels (the second coming soon).

Steve Faletti

Product Engineering

Steve Faletti

Product Engineering

Steve is passionate about helping innovators see new ways to create long-term value by building experiences that customers love. He brings over 15 years’ experience as a designer, engineer, product manager, professor, and strategist across a wide array of industries, including cosmetics, healthcare, finance, household products, and robotics.

Adam Winsor

Design and Solar

Adam Winsor

Design and Solar

Adam Winsor is the founder and CEO of Asoleyo Decorative Solar, and a product designer with a focus on ideation and visualization. He has brought clients' product concepts from rough sketch to polished presentation, using the techniques of illustration, 3D modeling, and animation. His additional experience in audio and video production helps effectively present product visuals to customers and investors.

As the founder of an award-winning solar hardware startup, Adam has had the opportunity to learn first-hand about important aspects of starting a new cleantech venture. He's had hands-on experience in grant writing, government contracting, patents and intellectual property, and investor pitching. He's also learned the hard way about supply chains and logistics in the PV industry, as he brought his first commercially manufactured prototypes to completion with international partners in the midst of the COVID shut-down.

Kenneth Mitchell

R&D

Kenneth Mitchell

R&D

Kenneth Mitchell is a polymath at heart, with a passion for innovation, material science, space exploration, theoretical physics, art, music, engineering, clothing design, and construction. He is the founder of Omni-posite, a company dedicated to redesigning industries with sustainable, plant-based materials.

With a focus on material science and data science, Mitchell aims to bring manufacturing back to the USA using bio-based and bio composite materials produced locally. He believes that by creating an inclusive and circular economy business model, he can facilitate communication and collaboration between diverse individuals and groups, driving innovation and uniting cultures. His ultimate goal is to use farming as a backbone for the country and replacing a high percentage of products we use daily with more sustainable products, making sure we as a people have equity and revenue in the next-gen industrial revolution.

Dan Lionello

Omnae Manufacturing

Dan Lionello

Omnae Manufacturing

Dan’s wealth of manufacturing intelligence is grounded in over three decades of hands-on experience in in-house and outsourced manufacturing. As the founder of Padtech Industries, the manufacturing company that strategically pivoted to become Omnae today, he is a leading expert on the inner workings of the supply chain industry. His deep domain understanding provides the backbone for innovation that holistically benefits the manufacturing industry.

Julie Traxler

Business Strategy

Julie Traxler

Business Strategy

Julie Traxler has over 20 years’ experience working as a coach, consultant and holding various leadership positions within small, medium, and large companies, including multiple Fortune 100 companies. Julie went to school at Drexel University, is certified in project management, change management, leadership development, mergers & acquisitions, and business coaching. Julie’s areas of expertise include planning, execution, communications, team building, exit planning, leadership development, acquisition strategy, exit strategy, and change management. Julie also specializes in launching new businesses, hiring strategies, operational improvements, sales & marketing, and project execution. Julie has a deep background in mergers and acquisitions, primarily spent on post-deal close acquisition integration, which is where she obtained her extensive knowledge on business operations and launching start-ups. She has led M&A teams, specializing in transitioning small businesses into their new parent companies. Julie is the host of the top-rated BizQuik podcast, and co-host of the Otherwise (un)Damaged podcast with Michelle Fuller.

Beyond her studies, Dagny enjoys spending time in nature and discovering new foods. Originally from San Diego, California, she brings a unique perspective and experiences to her work. With her drive and passion, Dagny is sure to make a meaningful impact in any project she undertakes.

Dagny Whall

Project Jr. Associate

Dagny Whall

Project Jr. Associate

Dagny Whall is a freshman at Georgetown University, studying Computer Science and Economics. She is passionate about using technology to bring positive change to the world. With a background in academic research and a strong interest in data analytics and social entrepreneurship, Dagny is eager to explore how these fields intersect and impact people's lives.

Beyond her studies, Dagny enjoys spending time in nature and discovering new foods. Originally from San Diego, California, she brings a unique perspective and experiences to her work. With her drive and passion, Dagny is sure to make a meaningful impact in any project she undertakes.

Jacob Finard

Finance Jr. Associate

Jacob Finard

Finance Jr. Associate

Jacob Finard is a talented and driven sophomore at Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business majoring in Finance. As a member of the Men's Varsity Golf Team, Jacob has developed strong time management and self-motivation skills that he brings to every aspect of his life.

Jacob has also gained valuable experience in the renewable energy space through his internship with Positive Deviancy. As a platinum level connector organization for the Department of Energy's American-Made Challenge Program, Positive Deviancy provided Jacob with opportunities to work with a variety of cleantech startups in the Embryia Accelerator Studio. Through this experience, Jacob learned about the fundraising process for renewable-tech startups and gained a deep understanding of the importance of conducting in-depth market research.

Looking ahead, Jacob is eager to continue his professional journey by exploring the world of investment banking. He is committed to gaining a deeper understanding of businesses with exit strategies beyond the 2-3 year mark that he has worked with so far. With his impressive drive and determination, Jacob is sure to make a positive impact in any organization he joins.

Elinor Sun

Communications Media Associate

Elinor Sun

Communications Media Associate

Elinor Sun is a recent graduate of Georgetown University's Communication, Culture, and Technology program, where she earned a Master of Arts degree. With a strong background in strategic communication planning, Elinor brings an international perspective and digital marketing skills to the table. During her time as an intern at Washington Performing Arts, Elinor worked closely with the communication team, gaining hands-on experience in social media content creation and basic knowledge of the funding process.

Elinor is excited to apply her classroom learning to real-world situations, particularly in the field of clean energy technology. She hopes to gain valuable insights into the industry as a whole and develop a deeper understanding of how communication strategies can be used to drive positive change. Outside of work, Elinor enjoys exploring new cultures and languages, as well as hiking and trying out new restaurants in the DC area.

Interns

Dantes Han

Media Intern

Dantes Han

Media Intern

Meet Dantes Han, a driven and accomplished individual with experience in media management and product operation consulting. As a Manager Assistant at M+ Media in Shanghai, Dantes has worked on several projects, including assisting Hillhouse Capital with monitoring public opinion for Kuaishou Finance and preparing PPT for IPO listings. Additionally, he has helped to sort out media perception of investment companies' white papers.

At M+ Media, Dantes was also responsible for developing the creative concept for Tencent Music Group's Public Welfare Project. He created public relations activities and video scriptwriting for TME campaigns. Prior to his role at M+ Media, Dantes was an Intern and Product Operation Consultant at DiDi Global Inc., where he worked on sorting and structuring user data to support user acquisition strategies.

Outside of his professional pursuits, Dantes is an avid hiker, biker, and photographer. With his dedication to his work and his personal interests, Dantes is sure to continue achieving great success in all of his endeavors.

Akshadha Lagisetti

Creative Funding Intern

Akshadha Lagisetti

Creative Funding Intern

Akshadha Lagisetti is a dedicated undergraduate student at Georgetown University, pursuing a degree in Science, Technology, and International Affairs. With a passion for addressing global issues, she has also chosen to minor in Statistics and International Development.

Akshadha is a committed advocate for climate change solutions and the promotion of equitable access to clean energy. Her interest in these crucial issues stems from her prior experience as a legislative intern for her senator, where she focused on science and technology-related matters. An accomplished political organizer, Akshadha has worked tirelessly to promote youth civic engagement. Looking to the future, she is determined to contribute to sustainable development and further climate justice through her work.

With her deep commitment to global issues and her passion for creating positive change, Akshadha is poised to make a significant impact in the world.

Renzogio Garcia

Creative Funding Intern

Renzogio Garcia

Creative Funding Intern

Renzogio Garcia is a student at the McDonough School of Business, hailing from Jersey City, NJ. With a passion for innovation and a mind for finance and analytics, he's pursuing a double major in Finance and Operations & Analytics, complemented by a minor in Computer Science.

On campus, Renzogio is an active participant in various organizations such as Club Filipino, the Asian American Musical (no) pressure, Hoya Taxa, BlackGen Capital Hoyas, and the Georgetown University Social Innovation and Public Service (SIPS) Fund. He enjoys exploring emerging technology, financial policy, and the exciting world of startups. Despite his busy schedule, Renzogio finds time to indulge in his hobbies such as cooking, tinkering with new technologies, and playing volleyball. With his passion for learning and drive for success, Renzogio is poised to make a significant impact in the business world.