eMerge Alumni Council

The eMerge Alumni Council consists of recent entrepreneurial DePaul alumni who provide programmatic and financial support to the Coleman Center. Its members assist with the Center’s annual fundraiser, are a liaison to the business owner community, and help mentor student-entrepreneurs.

Amanda Hansen (MBA ‘09) - Chair

Amanda is the Senior Marketing Manager for MorrisAnderson, a financial and operational consulting firm for distressed businesses nationwide. She is responsible for strategic marketing planning, leveraging organizational knowledge to support sales, the deployment of key tactics, and measurement of firm marketing initiatives. Prior to joining MorrisAnderson, Amanda was the e-Marketing Manager at Blackman Kallick LLP., Chicago’s ninth largest accounting and consulting firm. Amanda graduated from DePaul University in 2009 where she received an MBA in Marketing Strategy & Planning and Brand Management. While in school, Amanda served as the Marketing Intern for the Coleman Center where she helped launch the Center’s social media program and plan their annual fundraiser, e-Motion. Prior to the MBA program, Amanda worked as an Account Manager at PDI Global, Inc. providing marketing consulting services to accounting firms and law practices. Amanda received her bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin and is an active member of the Chicago chapters of the American Marketing Association and Wisconsin Alumni Association. She is proud to serve on the eMerge Alumni Council and is excited to continue to serve the Coleman Center’s mission of helping student-entrepreneurs and business owners breakthrough. 

Jennifer Moran (COM ‘09) - Co-Chair 

Jennifer is a Social Entrepreneur, Artist, World Traveler, and Founder of GREENOLA. Founded in 2009, GREENOLA is wholesaler and retailer of women's Sustainable, Fair Trade, clothing and accessories that are designed by Moran and produced ethically in Bolivia. After winning DePaul's New Venture Challenge/ Social Enterprise Track in 2009, Moran has grown her business significantly; the GREENOLA line is currently in 125 stores nationwide, was featured in Crain's Chicago Business Review, as a case study at Gary Hirshberg's Stonyfield Entrepreneurship Institute, and voted a finalist for Best Green Boutique in Chicago in Mindful Metropolis Customer Choice 2010. After attending The Ohio State University for two years as a student athlete, Moran took some time off to manage a Starbucks, and travel the world; Moran finished her college career with the support of the Coleman Entrepreneurship Center at DePaul University. Moran also owns the Socially Responsible Business Outfitter, Solidarity Clothing and sits on the Board of the local non-profit, Solidarity Bridge, providing medical supplies, clinics, and education to doctors in Bolivia.

Mark Bertrand (COM ‘08)

Mark moved to Chicago to attend DePaul University in the Fall of 2004 and has no plans of leaving.  After graduating with a Bachelors in Entrepreneurship and Finance he had a realization - wearing suits is for suckers.  As a result, Mark started ChicagoBlueprints.com in 2009 and facilitates Startup Weekend’s across the country. Most recently he’s combined his love for startups and adventure with his newest project, Fliit.com.  He'd love to chat, so hit him up on “The Twitter”.                                                                                                                                                               

Chris Campbell (CMN ‘09) 

Chris is a serial entrepreneur, life longer learner and a world traveler. He started his own digital marketing company, Lakeshore Branding in 2007. As a digital marketing strategist he gets the opportunity to consult with innovative startups, Fortune 500's and even universities like DePaul. He is a proud DePaul University graduate with a degree in Communication and Media and is a huge fan of the Coleman Center. Chris uses his company to finance his traveling and exploration of the world. He is currently on a trip around the globe, in which he expects to last the next few years. You can follow him on his travels via his blog and twitter.

Lou Celli (COM '04, MBA ‘06)

Lou Celli graduated from DePaul University in 2004 with a bachelor's degree in Management and Finance.  He worked with the Coleman Center between 2004-06 while attending DePaul as an MBA student with a concentration in Finance. Upon graduation, he worked in the Treasury department at the Allstate Corporation, focusing on corporate finance activities ranging from capital management to debt capital market transactions.  From 2008-09, he worked at Stout Risius Ross, Inc., a middle market investment bank and financial advisory firm with a particular focus on Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) buyouts and valuations.  Currently, Lou is working at a boutique strategy consulting firm that advises Fortune 1000 clients on a variety of strategic initiatives. 

Brian Fritton (COM ‘10)

Brian is a serial entrepreneur, avid technology enthusiast, and founder of TechatCost.com, a members-only Business IT resale firm that sells over 500,000 products at true distributor-direct pricing. Brian was awarded the Coleman Entrepreneurship Center's “2008 Outstanding Entrepreneurial Student of the Year Award.” The same year, Brian went on to win the Illinois Technology Associations “50 for the Future” award which recognizes students for their outstanding achievement as future participants in the technology industry. Brian brings technology and new-school business tactics to the table, aiming to support the Center's initiatives and people.

Johnny Grafft (COM ‘10)

 Johnny is a passionate DePaul graduate whose knowledge of real estate and marketing has allowed him to participate in a number of ventures centered around the two disciplines. The influence from the Coleman Center and other mentors has given him the support needed to start different real estate companies, notably Renters Refuge, which helps people find apartments and landlords find tenants. To pass time he hangs with with friends, family, and in different countries traveling when ever he gets a chance. Favorite place to live: Barcelona. Favorite thing to eat: Bar burger and fries. Recent hobby: Skydiving.

Alla Ioffe (COM ‘09) 

Reid Lappin (COM ‘09)

An entrepreneur at heart, Reid Lappin is a graduate of DePaul University where he received a Bachelor of Science & Commerce degree. There he majored in Management and Entrepreneurship and is still active in the Coleman Entrepreneurship Center. Reid started his first business while still in high school - Fresh From the Hills, a small organic farm business. The company supplied fruit and produce to suburban Chicago households, farmers markets and restaurants. Reid’s current venture, VOKAL Interactive, builds world-class, custom mobile applications that create business solutions and opportunities for small businesses, top-brands, and Fortune 500 companies to interact with consumers, employees, business partners and other targeted audiences 24/7.

 Victoria Lyman (LAS ‘05)

Victoria is the owner Allegro Dance Boutique, a retail store in Evanston, Illinois, that supplies shoes, apparel, and gifts for dance, gymnastics, ice skating, and exercise. After attending the University of Iowa for three years as a dance major, Victoria transferred to DePaul University in Chicago and graduated with highest honor with a B.A. in Psychology, focusing on human development.  During her undergraduate career, Victoria worked at what was then called Before the Ballet for four years and later as the Illinois sales representative for a leading international dancewear manufacturer.  Victoria purchased Before the Ballet in January 2007 and re-branded the business as Allegro Dance Boutique in August 2008.  Most recently, Allegro has moved from its original location to a newly designed space triple the size. Victoria has received tremendous support from her family, boyfriend, employees, and the Coleman Entrepreneurship Center at DePaul University.

Rania El-Sorrogy (COM ‘07)

Rania El-Sorrogy is a proud product of the Coleman Center.  El-Sorrogy has been featured in Crain’s Chicago Business Journal and on NBC Chicago as one of the emerging young women entrepreneurs. As an inventor with four patents pending on a modular bookbinding technology called Hooking Book, El-Sorrogy has established herself as an innovator and paradigm shifter.  She has participated in and led a number of charity activities, including founding Students for Entrepreneurs (a student-driven scholarship fund at DePaul) while attending school on the Fritz A. Bauer scholarship. Following graduation, El-Sorrogy joined the Coleman Entrepreneurship Center's Advisory Council and the Illinois Institute of Entrepreneurship Education's Board of Directors.

Kris Swanberg (EDU ‘10)

 Kris Swanberg is a educator, filmmaker, entrepreneur, and professional ice cream maker. In 2008, after two years as a Chicago Public School teacher, Kris founded Nice Cream. Nice Cream is a handcrafted, small batch ice cream company based here in Chicago that provides amazingly good, seasonal ice cream to retailers across the city. You can find Nice Cream in over 25 different grocery stores and cafes around Chicago. 

JimTrahanas (COM ‘10)

Jim holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from DePaul University and has focused his life towards becoming a successful entrepreneur that can impact society in a positive manner. His ventures include two technology start-ups along with: SMB Intelligence, a professional services firm offering accounting, marketing and technical solutions to SMBs and Express Hair Studios Inc, a local hair salon in Palos Hills, IL.. While starting several businesses during his academic career, Jim also worked for Ernst & Young LLP practicing transfer pricing and multinational corporate transactions. He is currently the Director of an ERP Consulting company as a result of business relationships held through SMB, and manages both SMB Intelligence and Express Hair Studios. The Coleman Entrepreneurship Center's support and guidance has helped Jim tremendously and he is looking forward to sharing his experiences, both failures and successes, with other entrepreneurs as an eMerge Alumni Council member.

Alex White (COM ‘07)

Ambition is nothing new to Alexandra White.  In high school, she played with three bands and started her own record label so she could retain artistic control of her music.  While in college, she toured internationally with her punk band, Miss Alex White and the Red Orchestra.  Though musically inclined, she chose to  to study business and entrepreneurship at DePaul.  She excelled as a student, winning a William G. McGowan scholarship during her senior year, while still performing regularly at Chicago nightclubs and venues across the country. White is Operations Manager for Chicago's Busy Beaver Button Co.  which manufactures customized buttons for clients ranging from politicians to rock bands to families memorializing a loved one. "Coleman Center membership is instrumental to the growth of Busy Beaver Button Co. and leading the eMerge Council is a way to advocate DePaul University in the Chicago entrepreneurship community," White said.