From Wisconsin’s Startup Ecosystem to York IE

Some places stay with you, even when your career takes you somewhere else. For me, New England has always been one of those places.

I grew up in Massachusetts and even after spending the last several years building my career in Wisconsin, my deep connection to New England never left. I spent countless summers and weekends on ski trips across the region, and it shaped how I think about community, work ethic, and being part of something bigger than yourself. So when my wife and I decided to move back home to be closer to family, I knew I wanted an opportunity that was not just geographically right, but professionally meaningful, too. That is what drew me to York IE.

Before joining York IE as Senior Associate, Partnerships & Business Development, I spent years working in Wisconsin’s startup ecosystem and supporting innovation coming out of the University of Wisconsin System through WiSys. In that role, I helped scale the WiSys VentureHome program, a statewide network of startup hubs designed to support entrepreneurs through local partnerships, university connections, programming, mentorship, and access to resources.I worked with founders, capital providers, universities, economic development organizations, community partners, and other stakeholders to create stronger pathways for innovation, entrepreneurship, and commercialization across the state.

That work gave me a front-row seat to what it actually takes to build momentum in a startup ecosystem. Growth does not happen through capital or strategy alone. It happens when the right people, ideas, and partnerships come together with real execution behind them. A large part of my work in Wisconsin was focused on building the infrastructure and ecosystem so partnerships flourish and startups thrive.

That is a big reason why York IE felt like such a natural fit. York IE understands that growth requires more than capital or advice. It takes the right support, the right strategy, and the ability to translate both into execution. York IE has built a model around that idea, and that really resonated with me. It is a team that understands how to help companies grow in a real, hands-on way, while also building meaningful relationships across the broader startup and investment ecosystem.

Additionally, I was compelled by York IE’s strong New England roots, with its headquarters in New Hampshire. I have spent a lot of my career helping build opportunities in places that are often overlooked in larger startup conversations. Wisconsin has incredible founders, institutions, and communities doing important work, and I was proud to be part of that. York IE felt aligned with that same mindset as a firm that has built real scale from New Hampshire while helping founders and operators think differently about growth.

In many ways, this move feels like both a return and a progression. Personally, it is a chance to be back in a part of the country that I have always considered home. Professionally, it is an opportunity to continue work centered on partnerships, innovation, and building the connective tissue that helps startups and organizations grow. That has been the throughline in my career. At WiSys, it meant working across a statewide network to support founders and strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems. At York IE, I am excited to build on that work in a new way by deepening relationships, creating opportunities, and supporting the broader platform as it continues to grow.

I am grateful for everything Wisconsin gave me, and I could not be more excited to be back in New England and to get started at York IE.