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Programs

American Dream Makers

The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation’s American Dream Makers Program provides support to Astronaut Scholars for advancement of their innovative ideas, ventures, and initiatives.


About the American Dream Makers Program

The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation’s American Dream Makers Program seeks to empower and connect Astronaut Scholars who are pursuing entrepreneurial ventures, conducting cutting-edge research, developing inventive new products and processes, and commercializing innovations. ASF’s role in empowering scholars is to help establish relationships and provide access to people and resources that will result in advice, guidance, and other forms of support to advance their vision and assist in the realization of their goals. This program facilitates opportunities for Astronaut Scholars to present their inventions, business plans, proposed ventures, research proposals, and other ideas and initiatives to potential investors and supporters. ASF adds value by enabling person-to-person relationships that result in highly customized support to meet specific needs related to entrepreneurship and innovation.


Innovation Corps areas of expertise:
  General business guidance
  (e.g., getting started, strategy, marketing, partnerships, investment, advisory board, leadership)
  Grants and funding navigation
  (e.g., Federal SBIR/STTR, pitch competitions, third party investment)
  Connection with outside resources
  (e.g., local innovation centers, incubators, small business assistance offices)
  Personal development
  (e.g., leadership training through ASF, writing feedback)

Note: The Innovation Corps does not provide legal advice, funding or application writing.



Experienced and Trusted Advisors


Jessica Blomberg, Ph.D.

Title

Owner

Company

Quality CMC Consulting, LLC

Areas of Expertise

Entrepreneurship, Starting a Small Business, Virtual Drug Development, Compliance and Regulatory Strategy, Technical Transfer, Due Diligence Assessments
André Boulet

Title(s)

Managing Director
President


Company(s)

M.D., AX Space Engineering Services
Pres., V3 Consulting Engineering


Areas of Expertise

Entrepreneurship, Small Business and Technology Certifications, Venture Capital Pitch Competitions, Grants, Patents, Intellectual Property Protection, SBIR, Technology, Partnerships
Vivian Doelling, Ph.D.

Title

Vice President, Investments
Emerging Company
Development


Company

North Carolina
Biotechnology Center


Areas of Expertise

Entrepreneurship, Venture Capital, Pitch Competitions
Andrew Jones, Ph.D.

Title

Chief Executive Office and Co-Founder

Company

Activated Research Company (ARC)

Areas of Expertise

Startups, Small Business Innovation Research, Chemistry, Catalysis, 3D Printing, Chemical Analysis
Michael J. Keller, J.D.

Title

Of Counsel

Company

Halloran, Farkas, Kittila, LLP

Areas of Expertise

Entrepreneurship, Starting a Small Business, Patents, Venture Capital
Trent Kingery

Title

NASA Research Pilot/AST
Owner/Pilot


Companies

Aircraft Operations Division, NASA Johnson Space Ctr.
Vertical Views Photography


Areas of Expertise

Entrepreneurship, Starting a Small Bus., SBIR, Other: Gov. Acquisition, Gov. Contracts, Military and Civilian Aviation, Flight Test and Eval./Cert., Business and Systems Dynamics Modeling
Derek Lang, Ph.D.

Title

Space Launch and Satellite Consulting

Company

Engineering Space

Areas of Expertise

Starting a Small Business, Entrepreneurship, Commercialization of Innovations, Venture Capital, Grants, Small Business Innovation Research, Patents, Idea Pitch Competitions
Betsy Lulfs

Title

Senior Program Manager

Company

Thomson Reuters

Areas of Expertise

Grants, Small Business Innovation Research
Michael Markesbery

Title

Chief Executive Officer

Company

OROS Apparel

Areas of Expertise

Starting a Small Business, Entrepreneurship, Commercialization, Patents, Idea Pitch Competitions
Wayne R. Pearl

Title

Founder

Company

Bio-Ops Consulting, Inc.

Areas of Expertise

Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, Regulatory Compliance, Business Operations, Business Finance, Starting Up New Biotechnology Companies, Xbox Video Games
Scott Pleasants

Title

Strategic Innovation Advisor
Chief Executive Officer


Company(s)

Adv., Innovate Lynchburg
CEO, DMGTODAY


Areas of Expertise

Tech. Commercialization, Entrepreneurship, People Connector, Angel/VC Funding, Emerging Technologies, 3D Printing Technology and Additive Manufacturing, Immersive Technologies
Charlie Precourt

Title

Vice President, Propulsion Systems

Company

Northrop Grumman Space Systems

Areas of Expertise

Starting a Small Business, Leadership, Government Contracting, Business Operations
Lisa A. Schott

Title

President and Principal Acoustical Consultant

Company

Quietly Making Noise, LLC

Areas of Expertise

Entrepreneurship, Starting a Small Business, Small Business Certifications, Patents
Bruce C. Thornton

Title

President

Company

CMS Technology, Inc.

Areas of Expertise

Technology, Business and Corporate Governance, Entrepreneurship, Business Development, Start-ups, Regulation Compliance, Payroll and Taxation, Merger & Acquisition, Marketing, Equity Leverage and Management, Large Firm Management, Tax Strategies, Accounting, Cash Management
Karen White

Title

Research and Development Commercialization Facilitator

Company

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis

Areas of Expertise

Commercialization, Patents, Idea Pitch Competitions, University Technology Transfer, Research Development and Innovation Management, Intellectual Property Management, Licensing (Patents and Copyright), Early Stage Startups and Entrepreneurship
Join the American Dream
Makers Program!

    Astronaut Scholars interested in the American Dream Makers Program should fill out the ADM Interest Form.


    ADM Interest Form

Join the Innovation Corps!

    If you are interested in becoming an Innovation Corps member, please fill out the Innovation Corps Application.


    Corps Application

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