MEET THE TEAM
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Jes Averhart
CEO, Jes & Co.
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Will Leskin
Brand Specialist | Market Research Analyst
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Malic Vann
Digital Marketing & Analytics Expert
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Casey Steinbacher
Urban Innovation Strategy Expert
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Christopher Massenburg
Organizational Strategist
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Rachel Mork
Content Creator | Project Manager
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Elizabeth Manning
Transformation Catalyst | Communication Strategist
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Emilie Smith
Change Management | Organizational Strategist
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Debra Loban, LCMHC
Licensed Therapist | Executive Coach
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Jes Averhart is a 4th generation entrepreneur, creator of Reinvention Road Trip® and 3x award-winning author. As the CEO and principal consultant of Jes & Co, she advises high-performing individuals and corporate teams as a master certified life coach and professional leadership advisor.
Over the last two decades, Jes has worked with a portfolio of Fortune 500 companies, public sector organizations and high-performing individuals interested in increased personal growth and greater professional impact. Her 20 years of cross-industry corporate engagement means she’s worked with Amazon, Palo Alto Networks, The Kroger Company, Google for Startups, Microsoft, Cisco, North Carolina Advocates of Justice and Blue Cross Blue Shield, just to name a few.
Jes & Co offerings include:
Effective change management
Stakeholder engagement
Reputational brand assessment
Team dynamics support
Leadership development
Burnout prevention
Creation of cohort communities and learning environments
Nationally-recognized keynote speeches
In 2015, Jes co-founded Black Wall Street Homecoming, a nonprofit aimed at closing the funding gap for Black and Brown tech founders. Earlier in her career, she provided production management services for the likes of the Cincinnati Bengals; Cleveland Browns (NFL), Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA), the Procter & Gamble Company and Pepsi Cola North America.
Jes’s clients include: Google for Startups, Microsoft, Amazon, Golden Corral, Research Triangle Foundation, The Kroger Company, Cisco Systems, IBM, Palo Alto Networks, Blue Cross Blue Shield NC and Capitol Broadcasting Company.
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Will Leskin of The Leskin Collective has been an in-demand insights professional and brand strategist for 25+ years. He has provided critical guidance to Fortune 500 companies for the launch, growth, customer retention, and repositioning of multi million and billion-dollar Life Sciences Brands that have made a meaningful difference in the welfare and longevity of millions of people worldwide.
Will’s deep understanding of human behavior and his ability to uncover the hidden drivers and levers of product adoption and customer loyalty have made him the go-to resource for Brand Managers, Directors, and Senior Executives. Will has provided dozens of business professionals with the keys to their professional growth and organizational success as a trusted leadership coach and change management strategist.
As a Certified Creative Problem Solver who accurately diagnoses the underlying roadblocks in individuals, teams, and organizations to provide solutions that fit that client’s goals and culture, Will believes that excellent client service is a fundamental value that comes from genuine caring about the person, the team, the organization and their products and services.
Will’s work history includes: Cutting edge organizations such as AbbVie, Astellas, Duke Global Health Institute, GSK, and Medtronic have all sought Will’s guidance and leadership throughout the lifecycle of their products and services.
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Malic Vann of Verified Studios is a marketing professional with a thorough knowledge of digital marketing with extensive experience in strategic planning, SEO (technical), paid search (SEM), retargeting, display advertising, social media marketing (paid & organic), email marketing, marketing automation, content syndication and account based marketing (ABM). Malic holds a successful track record developing and executing multi-channel campaigns that maximize traffic, deliver results, increase pipeline and drive new business growth.
Proficient in both strategic planning and hands-on execution, Malic has worked all the following roles: Web/App Developer, Marketing Analyst, and Marketing Director, covering all aspects of execution and management.
Malic’s specialties include technical implementation, SEO, SEM, PPC management, analytics, email marketing, marketing automation, social media marketing, B2B and B2C marketing, content marketing, marketing technology, and project management.
Dev Experience: HTML, CSS, JS, JSON, XML, SQL, SQL Server, MySQL, PostGRES; Linux, Microsoft IIS, Apache, PHP, C#, VB.NET, and ColdFusion
Software Proficiencies: Analytics & Data Visualization (Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, Google Search Console(GSC), Bing Webmaster Tools, Kissmetrics Analytics, HotJar, Data Studio, Crazy Egg, PageSpeed Insights); CRM (Salesforce, Hubspot CRM); Email Marketing / Marketing Automation (Pardot, Hubspot, Marketo, Yesware, MailChimp, Constant Contact, SendGrid, Mandrill); Video Conferencing (Google Meet, Zoom, GoToMeeting, WebEx, MicroSoft Teams, join.me, Skype); CMS (WordPress, Drupal, Joomla, Wix, Squarespace, Kentico); Website Optimization (Screaming Frog, Optimizely, Lighthouse, SEMrush, Xenu, Ahrefs, Moz, Pingdom, DeepCrawl); Social Media Marketing (Hootsuite, Sprout Social, Percolate), Marketing Suites (Google Analytics 360, Adobe Experience Cloud); Project Management Technology (Dot Project, Trello, Jira) Google Ads, Bing Ads, Outbrain, Taboola, and Adobe Creative Suite.
Malic’s clients Include: NC State University, Duke University, Appalachian State University, Cleveland Community College, Wake Forest University, State University of New York, and Sacred Heart University.
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Casey Steinbacher, Founder of Finding Next, is widely recognized as a thought leader and national expert in reimagining NEXT opportunities for organizations, businesses and communities.
Case is a 27-year veteran of leading community-based organizations focused on business and economic development. She served as CEO of three Chambers of Commerce in Pennsylvania, Florida and North Carolina. During her tenure in the Research Triangle region, the Durham Chamber received international acclaim from the World Chamber Congress for its innovative economic and development strategies, the only US Chamber to ever receive that designation.Made in Durham
Casey currently serves as Strategic Advisor to Made in Durham, a non profit organization dedicated to ensuring the education to career system is aligned and equitable for youth and young adults in Durham, NC. The initiative has been nationally recognized and funded by the US Economic Development Administration for its unique equity strategy and “impact focused collaboration” model.
Casey has served on numerous state and national associations including Chair of the Institute for Organizational Management, and the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives. She received her CCE designation in 1999, and was honored with the profession’s highest honor, Life Member, in 2016, only the third female executive to be so honored.
Finding Next clients range from international, national, regional and local organizations, universities and private companies. She has worked throughout the US (22 states) and Canada.
Casey’s client list includes:
Association Chamber of Commerce Executives (United States national)
Chamber of Commerce Executives of Canada (Canadian national)
Western Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (13 Western US States)
State Chambers: Missouri, Hawaii, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Louisiana, Kentucky
Local Chambers of Commerce and Economic Organizations in 18 states
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Christopher Massenburg is an organizational strategist, facilitator and builder using design thinking as a foundation and framework for creative business solutions. He works with organizations and institutions looking to deepen connection and engagement, reach farther, and increase capacity through innovative and iterative design. Chris also brings his expertise as principal of The Vonsson Group to help develop programs, collaborate on projects, map initiatives, coordinate resources, and foster ideation with visionaries looking to increase impact and embrace possibilities.
Chris holds a BS in Organizational Management from St. Augustine’s University and a MLS in Creative Writing from University of Denver.
Additionally, Chris celebrates his work as:
Alumni Nasir Jones Fellow - Harvard University Hutchins Center for African African American Research
2023 Piedmont Laureate
Co-Founder & Managing Director - Black Poetry Theatre
Cultural Organizing Director for NC Climate Justice Collective
Resident Artist - St. Joseph's Historic Foundation/Hayti Heritage Center
Chris’s clients and work history include: Chris has led organizational efforts for the likes of Emendo, North Carolina Advocates of Justice, Capitol Broadcasting Company, NC State University, Climate Justice Collective, Black Girl Ventures, NC Arts Council and Research Triangle Foundation.
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As a senior-level project manager and higher education solutions expert, Rachel Mork is known for her client-savvy, deadline-driven approach. With a keen focus on managing teams and delivering solutions that align with client needs, Rachel has built a reputation for excellence in project management within the higher education and entrepreneurial sectors.
As a partner at Verified Studios, Rachel has been instrumental in co-creating innovative software solutions for higher education institutions for over 10 years. Her leadership and strategic vision have helped the company consistently meet and exceed client expectations, driving significant improvements in educational technology and digital engagement.
Rachel's expertise extends to content creation and program management. She is the content and course development technician behind the many online courses created by and delivered through Reinvention Road Trip®, an arm of Jes & Co. Her dedication to exceptional delivery of clear, compelling content ensures that program participants receive high-quality, impactful learning experiences.
Rachel holds a BA in Political Science from the University of Minnesota. She is also a published author, co-writing a chapter on marketing for the textbook "A Guide to Administering Distance Education" with Adam Schultz. This book focuses on marketing in higher education, providing valuable insights and practical advice for educational institutions looking to expand their online presence and engagement.
Rachel’s clients include: Verified Studios, Jes & Co, Giving Docs, NC State University, Duke University, Wake Forest University, UNC-Chapel Hill, UNC-Greensboro, Appalachian State University, and State University of New York (SUNY).
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Elizabeth Manning is a distinguished Transformation Catalyst, Communication Strategist, Coach and Facilitator with 17 years of experience in the global pharmaceutical industry. She is known for her ability to drive impactful, sustainable and meaningful change within highly matrixed organizations, heavily regulated industries, and diverse cultural environments, including the US, EU, UK, Germany, Belgium, China, and Japan.
Elizabeth holds a BA in Interpersonal & Organizational Communication Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is certified as a Team Advantage Coach, a LEAN Yellow Belt, and has been published in Therapeutic Innovation & Regulatory Science. Additionally, she is a Toastmasters International speaker contest winner and has received multiple awards for collaborative innovation.
Throughout her career, Elizabeth has become a trusted strategic partner for senior and executive leaders. She has successfully orchestrated pioneering business solutions and organizational transformations across usually divisive functional lines through multi-stakeholder collaboration, reimagination of processes, and behavior-shifting stakeholder engagement.
Her key accomplishments include:
Managing five new drug applications that achieved global approval, including the largest submission ever, which achieved an unprecedented 50% benchmark timing.
Driving the design, implementation, and training for an industry-leading patient engagement framework. Change managing the first end-to-end clinical study automation program and broader digital business transformation, which achieved 2x target cost savings ($millions) and 50% more time savings (months).
Serving in steering committee and other leadership roles for award-winning multi-stakeholder consortia, such as TransCelerate, involving corporate sponsors, national regulatory agencies, and non-profit organizations.
Elevating DE&I efforts from self-help to systemic change through the establishment of prioritized corporate objectives and shared accountability practices.
Elizabeth’s clients include: Currently, Elizabeth serves as a consultant, catalyst, and coach for various industries, including UCB Pharma, Kindle Communications, and Kontek Systems.
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For the past 20+ years, Emilie Smith of The SET Collaborative has been dedicated to helping mission-driven leaders cultivate work environments where individuals and teams thrive. She specializes in organizational strategy, leadership coaching, people development and change management.
Emilie has a proven track record in aligning work and talent to broader organizational visions and values, as well as facilitating workshops and training on design thinking, strengths-based leadership, diversity, inclusivity and belonging, and more.
Her expertise also extends to equitable hiring practices, employee engagement, performance management systems, and systems analysis and improvement. Emilie's journey in leadership and organizational development includes chief level roles across multiple sectors, leading program, people, and strategy efforts within complex systems. Emilie is certified in Designing Your Life coaching, Liberatory Design, and Coaching for Equity and Facilitating for Equity. She is currently pursuing an ICF coaching credential.
Emilie’s clients include: United Way, Teach For America, 5 Metis, 80 Acres and The Diaper Bank.
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Debra Loban is a self-care strategist specializing in personal boundary management and has spent more than twenty years perfecting her therapeutic skills to achieve mastery in wellness. As the Founder of Loban Partners, she works with leaders, helping them improve personal well-being, leading to better performance, constructive choices, increased resilience, and sharpened decision-making abilities. She believes that the most influential leaders practice consistent and comprehensive self-care.
Loban’s effectiveness comes from her knowledge and training as a licensed therapist, which she utilizes in her work as an executive coach. This powerful combination makes her highly effective in helping clients isolate their challenges and creating strategies that lead to results. Using what she calls “The Loban Process,” clients learn to cultivate balance, delegate responsibilities, and increase interpersonal communication. In her most recent role at Duke University and Hospital Systems, she has partnered with individuals at the pinnacle of their careers to help them create effective self-care plans and individual strategies that build resilience and reduce burnout. She is the perfect match if you need more than coaching and a little less than therapy.
Loban is highly passionate about redefining wellness and helping leaders improve the way their lives feel. She believes self-care is more than a morning jog or dog walking. Proper self-care is a mindset that enables you to make the best choices for every area of your life, and that mindset leads to balance.
Debra’s work history includes: Duke University Hospital Systems