New year, new board members
Meet the newest additions to Ascender’s board of directors.
As we enter the new year, we’re excited to announce the election of four new members to our board of directors. During our December 2020 board meeting, Allison Howard, Aster Teclay, Jim Gibbs, and Mara Leff were appointed to the Ascender board. These appointments increase our board of directors to 11.
“Connectivity and a strong network of innovators are the bedrock of the Ascender community,” said Bobby Zappala, interim chair of the board. “With the appointments of Allison, Aster, Jim, and Mara, we’ve succeeded in pulling in the right folks at the right time to meaningfully support entrepreneurs on their journeys. As entrepreneurs and startup ecosystem leaders with deep ties to Pittsburgh, as well as relationships well beyond, our new members are poised to significantly contribute to the future of our organization and the entrepreneurs with whom we work.”
Nadyli Nuñez, who recently marked one year as Ascender’s executive director, commented, “Demographically and cognitively diverse boards are better equipped to help organizations perform, innovate, and respond to disruption. Without knowing what 2020 would bring, my vision for Ascender always included building upon the backgrounds and perspectives of our board. I expect our entrepreneurs to do the same.”
Our newly-elected board members are:
Allison Howard
Founder & CEO, Nollapelli
Tired of waking up with skin that looked “slept on,” Allison Howard discovered the body-bedding connection and applied her background in chemical engineering to invent the first fabric that works with your body while you sleep. Her patent-pending bed linens are uniquely engineered for ultimate comfort, restoration, durability, and ease of care, making them a great addition to any bedroom, hotel guest room, or spa. Allison is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and is building Nollapelli to be the leader in wellness while you sleep.
Aster Teclay
Business Strategy Officer, Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh
Aster Teclay hails from the great state of Maryland and now resides in Pittsburgh. She received a dual bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Business from the University of Pittsburgh, a master’s degree in Business Administration from Point Park University, and a Master of Public Management degree from Carnegie Mellon University. She possesses over a decade of public sector experiences, including affordable housing policy and economic development. She currently serves as a Business Strategy Officer for the Urban Redevelopment Authority in Pittsburgh, where she focuses on developing solutions to support small business. In 2015, Aster co-founded Invest in Her, an organization whose aim is to enhance the volume and sustainability of female entrepreneurs in the Greater Pittsburgh Area. Invest in Her provides resources and capital support through educational networking opportunities and through their annual business pitch competition.
Jim Gibbs
Founder & CEO, Meter Feeder
Jim Gibbs, a New York native, came to Pittsburgh to attend Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Computer Science. Leaving early, Jim now has over 35 years of experience as a software developer and 20 years in management. He has helped build everything from medical software and domain name registrars to platforms that handled 30% of the mobile retail sales in the US. Jim has a philosophy of “Fix Things that Ruin your Day.” As a regular receiver of parking tickets, this led him and his long-time programming partner to create Meter Feeder, the parking payment app that enables people to pay for parking with one button tap. He has a similar outlook on life, advocating and instilling the principle that the world will be a better place if people keep taking chances and lead by example.
Mara Leff
Innovative Healthcare Solutions Consultant
Mara Leff is a public health professional that works at the intersection of innovation and health care improvement. She brings more than ten years of experience in both the corporate and non-profit worlds, creating future-oriented programs that solve today’s biggest health problems. For the past five years, she has led the Innovation team at the Jewish Healthcare Foundation, planning and producing Liftoff PGH, the region’s first collaborative virtual healthcare and life sciences innovation conference. She is passionate about health equity and issues around inclusive innovation.
“I am eternally grateful for the mentorship and support that I received through Ascender’s incubation program. While the knowledge I acquired was invaluable, the friendships and community were just as meaningful and important. It takes a village to build a company, and there’s no better village in town than Ascender!” — Allison Howard
The new appointees join our current board members listed below:
- Bobby Zappala, Interim Chairman, Ascender & Managing Partner, Localize Capital Management
- Mark Broadhurst, Chief Operating Officer, Parkhurst Dining
- Dave Busch, CEO & Founder, Nivo1
- Kevin Heher, President, Liberty Insurance Agency
- Hannah Johnson, Global Communications Director, Philips
- Justine Kasznica, Shareholder, Babst Calland
- Serge Smailbegovic, Director, Corporate Services & Real Estate Sourcing, BNY Mellon
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