Staff
Phil Shellhammer – Executive Director
An accomplished business executive and serial entrepreneur, Phil leads the Office of Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Phil’s unique blend of experiences allows him to pursue his passion to help other entrepreneurs in their journey from idea to launch. Phil also serves on the boards of Arkansas Athletes Outreach (AAO) and Students Acquiring Knowledge through Enterprise (SAKE).
Deb Williams – Senior Director, Operations & Student Programs
In her role, Deb creates opportunities to connect students to initiatives that give them a practical application for what they learn in the classroom and during workshops or trainings. She oversees the Venture Intern Program and the execution of the Heartland Challenge, a global high-growth startup competition that brings graduate student entrepreneurs to the NWA region. Deb holds a master of science in Counselor Education from the University of Arkansas and is originally from the great state of Iowa.
Justin Urso – Director, McMillon Innovation Studio
Prior to joining the McMillon Innovation Studio, Justin was a full-time entrepreneur who built several start-ups and small businesses in the NWA community. His experience includes being an MBA graduate from the University of Arkansas Walton College of Business, working in the headquarters of three CPG companies, and being a full-time dad and educator in the height of the covid pandemic. Justin is passionate about education, finding the next great innovators and entrepreneurs, solving problems, and spending his free time with his family exploring the outdoors.
Student & Community Programs
Jessica Andrews – Associate Director, McMillon Studio
Jessica facilitates opportunities for students and the community to solve problems using human-centered design. She also leads the studio’s Design Teams program and the undergraduate certificate in Organizational Innovation. Prior to joining the UofA, she spent nearly 10 years working in the nonprofit sector, most recently as the CEO at 7hills Homeless Center. Jessica has an MBA and MPS from the University of Arkansas. In her spare time, she enjoys being outdoors, traveling, reading fantasy and science fiction, and experimenting with art and design.
Jason Riley – Program Manager, Venture Internships
Jason oversees the Venture Intern Program. This program matches talented undergraduate students from the University of Arkansas with startups, entrepreneurship support organizations, and investor networks within the community. Jason is a native of Little Rock and holds a B.S. Degree from University of Central Arkansas and Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Arkansas.
Maddy Stricklen – Heartland Challenge Program Manager
Maddy is a proud Fayetteville local whose journey with the OEI began with a pitch competition while attending the University of Arkansas. Her passion for fostering entrepreneurial spirit has grown ever since. Today, Maddy organizes transformative experiences like the Heartland Challenge Startup Competition and Seed Funding Pitch Competition, events that offers essential feedback and funding to student entrepreneurs. Her dedication to nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs is matched only by her enthusiasm for creative ventures and community-building.
Laura Moix – Program Manager, BioDesign Sprints & Graduate Entrepreneurial Fellows
Laura brings extensive experience supporting the academic success, professional development, and personal well-being of students on a journey to become leaders in their field, while cultivating an inclusive, equitable culture throughout the student lifecycle. She works with the Northwest Arkansas BioDesign Sprints and Graduate Entrepreneurial Fellows Program. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in German, European Studies & International Relations and a Master of Arts in German Literature from the UofA.
José E. Cartagena Ortiz – Instructional Designer, Training & Workshops
José is a curious learner, art aficionado, avid walker and biker, passionate gardener, and adventurous traveler from Puerto Rico living in NWA. He holds a B.A. Ed. in Visual Arts Education and an M.A. Ed. in Instructional Systems and Educational Technology. With over twenty years of experience in both the public and private sectors, José is passionately committed to designing and delivering exceptional learning solutions centered on the needs of people.
Allie McMurry – Program Assistant
Allie oversees our Office Hours program and provides administrative assistance to our Program Manager, Kristen Kiefer. She graduated from the University in 2021 with her degree in Marketing. When she is not in office, she is likely adding to her vintage collection or curating items for her vintage shop, Ephemeral Collections.Business Incubation
Zoe Buonaiuto – Director, Business Incubation
Zoe supports OEI's community-facing business incubation programs including the Greenhouse Outdoor Recreation Program (GORP), Venture Mentoring Service (VMS), Startup Village, and the Bounds Accelerator. She joined the University of Arkansas after working for several years in fintech startups and investment management. She earned her undergraduate degree from UCLA and her MA / PhD from Princeton University.
Danielle Chaney – Sr. Program Manager, Entrepreneurial Ecosystems
Danielle supports OEI's mission to build a collaborative and cohesive entrepreneurial ecosystem across the state, acting as the resident expert on the new EcoMap resource hub and managing the publication of the Arkansas Capital Scan. A Maryland native, she holds degrees in Marketing and Supply Chain Management from the University of Maryland. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, baking, sewing, and being outdoors with her dogs.
Elizabeth Quinn – Sr. Program Manager, GORP Around the State
Quinn began her career as an instructor at the U of A, but left to work for a startup focused on food-system based rural economic development. She spent the past several years scaling an e-commerce business owned by Arkansas regenerative livestock farmers. She transitioned to GORP to further economic development by building a program of entrepreneurial support for entrepreneurs focusing on improving access to and enjoyment of one of the state's greatest resources — it’s public land and waterways.Marketing & Communications
Brandon Howard – Communications & Social Media Specialist
Brandon is an experienced communications professional with an extensive background in print and broadcast media. He is an Arkansas native and a proud graduate of the University of Arkansas.
Josh Mast – Media Designer
Josh is a multifaceted creative specializing in layout design and photography. A published poet and artist, he's responsible for many of the pamphlets and handouts we distribute and for some of the signage we use in our programming. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Photography from John Brown University.Operations
Jerra Hill – Associate Director, Operations
Jerra assists with the operations at the Office of Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Originally from North Carolina, Jerra has been with the University of Arkansas for 11 years.
Sjah Gonzales – Assistant Director, Program Operations
Sjah is responsible for program execution, process management and stakeholder engagement. She manages the daily operations within the Office of Entrepreneurship and leads the team in establishing a foundation for process improvement initiatives. Sjah holds a B.S.E. in Human Resource Development and has over 13 years experience in higher education.
Kristen Kiefer – Program Manager & Executive Assistant
Kristen plays a key role in managing our off-campus facilities and offers essential support to our executive director, Phil Shellhammer. Her professional passion lies in creating welcoming spaces that encourage personal and professional growth. Outside of the office, Kristen enjoys spending time with friends and family, playing with her two heelers, and listening to music, preferably live and on a mountain somewhere. Visit the Brewer Hub to meet Kristen and discover more about our exciting programs!
Alison Käseberg Worth – Fiscal Support Analyst
Alison oversees the travel coordination and supports the financial operations for OEI and its programs. Since receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Arkansas, she has worked as a professional actor, children’s theatre educator, project coordinator, administrative specialist, and award-winning barista. When she is not in the office, this aspiring polyglot can be found at the movies, at a local coffee shop talking about movies, or at home adding movies to her watchlist.