Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour

Executive Team

Sheena Lindahl, President and Co-Founder

Using creative financing strategies, Sheena became financially independent from her parents at the age of 17—paying for her own $30,000+ yearly tuition at New York University, excelling in school, working full-time at jobs that she loved, and co-founding a business.

Before joining the tour, Sheena managed the due diligence process at GreenHills Ventures, a venture capital firm that invests $1.5 to $5 million in promising early-stage high-growth companies. She was a lead teacher at Project R.E.A.D., a nonprofit organization that improves the reading levels of inner-city elementary school children.

In 2005, Sheena graduated from New York University with a major in Communication Studies. In 2006, Sheena was named by Business Week as one of the country's top 25 entrepreneurs under the age of 25 and profiled in USA Today, on the AOL homepage, and on CBS, NBC, and ABC.

Michael Simmons, CEO and Co-Founder

As a 2005 graduate of the Stern School of Business at New York University and author, teacher, speaker, and award-winning entrepreneur, Michael is able to deliver a unique perspective that connects with audiences. In 2006, Michael was named by Business Week as one of the country's top 25 entrepreneurs under 25 and profiled in USA Today, the AOL homepage, CBS, NBC, and ABC.

Michael co-founded his first business, Princeton WebSolutions (PWS), when he was sixteen years old. PWS was later rated the #1 youth-run web development company in the nation by Youngbiz Magazine. In addition, Michael has won three entrepreneur of the year awards from the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship, Fleet, and the National Coalition for Empowering Youth Entrepreneurship. He is the bestselling author of The Student Success Manifesto.

Arel Moodie, Partner & Emcee

Featured in USA Today, Young Money Magazine, and on ABC, NBC, and Fox News affiliates, Arel Moodie, author of the bestselling book Your Starting Point for Student Success, is an expert on helping this generation of students begin taking action to achieve their goals. Arel is living proof that, no matter what your background is, we all can have the life that we deserve.

Arel began his life on welfare in the projects of Brooklyn, New York, where he witnessed those around him being murdered and imprisoned. Yet he went on to attend college where he started his first successful internet company and was named the most outstanding graduate of his school. Arel shows students how to achieve their dreams by teaching them how to believe in themselves and by giving them the know-how that inspires action today. As a professional speaker, he has reached over 65,000 students in 39 states and two countries. For his work with young people, Arel was named one of the Country's Top Generation Y Leaders in the book, Millennial Leaders; and he is featured in the book #1 New York Times Best Selling book, Who's Got Your Back.

Always the entertainer, Arel likes to dance and has opened for the Grammy Award winning R&B; group, 112.

Sarah Green, Partner & Chief Operating Officer

Sarah is a graduate of Appalachian State University (ASU) in North Carolina. While in school she was nominated for the Student Entrepreneur of the Year Award for her success in establishing a chapter of AIESEC, the world's largest student held organization and founding the annual High Country Global Opportunities Conference. Sarah was recognized for her achievements at ASU by having a scholarship named after her called "The Sarah Green Scholarship for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship".

While in school Sarah spent a semester abroad in Alicante, Spain, spent three months in Uganda teaching entrepreneurship and microfinance and spent two months backpacking through Central America. Because of her international experiences, Sarah developed a strong passion for social entrepreneurship and enterprise based solutions to poverty. She enjoys traveling the world and learning as much as possible about people with different backgrounds and cultures and how their entrepreneurial journey is the key to eradicating world poverty.

Jackie McLaughlin, Director of Events

Jackie graduated from Grand Valley State University out of Grand Rapids Michigan with a major in Marketing. During college, she opened and ran a branch office for Vector Marketing Corporation, teaching and training students and adults how to be successful in sales. This experience led her to work in the corporate world where she was a yearbook sales representative for Walsworth Publishing Company and managed production cycles for over 174 accounts with a career volume of $2.8 million dollars in sales.

In addition to being successful in sales and marketing, Jackie’s true passion lies with traveling and giving back to local communities. Jackie spent a semester abroad in Ireland, traveled to South Africa where she ran a soccer club, and spent some time in Haiti and New Orleans doing reconstruction. She’s excited to be a part of team that empowers young people through entrepreneurship education and believes this is what will have an everlasting impact not only locally but globally.

EET Road Team

EJ Carrion, Lead Moderator

EJ is the author of Ignite Your Dreams” and “Accelerate Your Success and a nationally recognized motivational speaker who has inspired tens of thousands of students across the nation.

While in college, EJ became the co-publisher of the internationally recognized brand Collegiate Performance Magazine, which featured celebrities like NFL Quarterback, Tim Tebow, and BMX Gold Medalist, Dave Mirra. He also started a leadership-training program that facilitates workshops and keynotes for high school and college organizations.

EJ’s childhood dream is to become a platinum rapper. He has shared the stage with platinum recording artists and one of his raps was used by ESPN.

Bert Gervais, Moderator

Bert Gervais, a.k.a. “The Mentor Guy” is one of America’s most in-demand professional speakers. He is an national best selling author, speaker, and award-winning entrepreneur.

Having been born in Haiti, one of the poorest countries in the world, Bert quickly realized the value of seizing opportunities and encourages his peers to do the same. In college at Binghamton University, he was a student leader, activist, and an entrepreneur. As President of Student’s in Free Enterprise he helped to raise $10,000 for Hurricane Katrina victims. His first company, an internet startup which sold in 2009, garnered many awards including the Entrepreneurs Organization’s “East Coast Student Entrepreneur of the Year” Award for 2006 & 2007.

He went on to publish the critically acclaimed book “Who’s in Your Top Hive?: Your Guide To Finding Your Success Mentors.”

Bert has been a panelist for Global Entrepreneurship Week which is broadcast in front of over 7 million people in 80 countries throughout the world.

He has personally spoken in over 30 cities across the United States, presented alongside the U.S. Department of Labor, as well as the National Chamber of Commerce and countless associations.

Bert was also the youngest college commencement speaker in 2010. He has appeared in USA Today, Fox News, Inc.com, and Young Money Magazine. The book “Millennial Leaders” by Bea Fields profiles Bert as one of the top Gen Y leaders in the country. He has accomplished all of this all before his 25th birthday

Laura Mac Minn, Tour Manager

As an alumnus of Appalachian State University, Laura's involvement on campus led her to strive for success through travel and experiences. Graduating with honors from the Walker College of Business, she served on the Dean's Council of Student Advisers, was recognized an an Outstanding Student and held many leadership positions within AIESEC, the world's largest student held organization. While in AIESEC Laura served as President, Vice President of Talent Management and was a collaborating facilitator in Regional and National AIESEC conferences.

In 2010 she traveled to South India, where she spent over 3 months traveling and working for local NGOs to complete research on International Human Resource Management. Laura thrives on connecting with people from around the country and the world. She loves connecting with them individually while learning to see why they take so much pride in the place they call home. Currently Laura calls the small town of Troutman, NC home.

Mike Pronovost, Tour Manager

At 14 years old, Mike Pronovost worked at a national RV dealership starting in the Parts Department and worked his way up into Management in the I.T. Department. At 16, he started his first tech company. When he was 18, he created hybrid technology which ended up being one of the World’s fastest high speed internet networks. At 19, he founded the parent corporation, “Pronovost Technologies” which is dedicated to the research and development of cutting-edge technology and integrating high speed networks into product applications. He worked with Fortune 100 companies Citrix, Verizon and Walmart Inc., and was brought on to Mayor Swearengin’s tech committee to become the youngest members to help the Obama administration with the jobs report. In 2011, his internet company “Powerband Internet” is under buy-out and will result in bringing high speed internet to underdeveloped third world countries. He was also recognized at the White House for making the national Empact 100 List.

Today he operates a global internet company consisting of 25 employees, attends college, and gives speeches across the US in hopes of inspiring other young entrepreneurs to reach for their dreams.