A native of Wyoming, Jacob worked in higher education entrepreneurship centers in Flagstaff, Arizona and at West Virginia University before joining the faculty at Longwood University in the Cormier Honors College for Citizen Scholars. In addition to teaching freshman and senior level honors courses in social entrepreneurship, Jacob is a lead facilitator for CO.STARTERS powered by RISE Collaborative.  Still relatively new to Virginia, Jacob Dolence brings fresh eyes and an abundance of experience to his role as an ecosystem builder with RISE Collaborative. 

Growing up in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, Lauren has lived in the Cities of Danville, Charlottesville, and Richmond, Virginia and in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Today she develops entrepreneurship and digital skills programs for the SOVA Innovation Hub in her role at Mid-Atlantic Broadband Communities Corporation.  She brings her experiences as a 3rd-generation entrepreneur, knowledge of the region and 15+ years in community engagement to her work as an ecosystem builder with RISE Collaborative.