The Entrepreneurs Alliance of Orlando (EAO) carries out its mission to build Investment Grade Companies (IGCs) by partnering with promising companies in search of a means to increase their reach and scale. Our team of business professionals provides guidance and mentorship to aspiring CEOs through inspiring events, educational tools and resources, and sharing keys to local success stories.
Shaping the Future for Entrepreneurs
Leveraging the magic of the region to help entrepreneurs thrive.
Why We Exist
What is an Investment Grade Company (IGC)?
The Entrepreneurs Alliance of Orlando is a collective of Orlando’s most successful investment grade entrepreneurs who have come together for a greater purpose: To elevate the region’s profile to attract more investment in Orlando’s entrepreneurial community.
We are a non-profit 501 (c3) entity.
Leadership
Shari Dingle Costantini is the Executive Chair of the EAO and Co-Founder and President of Kismet Technologies. She was the founder and CEO of Avant Healthcare Professionals before her exit in 2021. Avant has placed thousands of internationally educated nurses, physical therapists, and occupational therapists with healthcare facilities throughout the US. The company, which has grown over 50% percent annually since inception in 2003, has been listed on the INC. 5000 five times including in 2019, recognized by ACG SMART Awards, Florida Companies to Watch, and as the Top 50 Women-Owned/Led Companies in the US by Women Presidents’ Organizations.
Costantini is a renowned expert in the healthcare industry, with 30 years of experience in strategic leadership, nursing, and international staffing. She was named 100 Most Influential People in Staffing - 2013, Global Power 100 – Women in Staffing –2017 and 2018 by Staffing Industry Analysts. Costantini is the President of the American Association of International Healthcare Recruitment, a trade association she helped form in 2007. Through AAIHR Costantini actively lobbies Congress for immigration reform to allow a consistent flow of highly skilled healthcare professionals.
Costantini was named 2014 Entrepreneur of the Year Healthcare by i4 Business Magazine and 2016 Entrepreneurial Vanguard award recipient from Junior Achievement. In 2017 she was the winner of EY Entrepreneur of the Year award in healthcare for Florida. Later that year, she successfully recapitalized the private-equity backed company, partnering with Jackson Healthcare. Avant is now part of the Jackson family of companies, the third largest provider of healthcare staffing in the US.
For 30 years, Paige Greninger has led business development, marketing and sales initiatives within both private and public companies, as well as, resource development for start-up companies and innovative non-profits. Her passion to build brands, establish critical connections and steward strategic partnerships for resource development continues to have regional impact. A former athlete and Florida Gator, Paige intends to serve well by bringing her entrepreneurial spirit, strategic mindset and connections together for win-win solutions to support EAO’s mission. Paige understands firsthand the value of having mentors that help shape leadership impact for personal and corporate growth.
Previously, she has worked with dynamic leaders in the following organizations: the Walt Disney Company in Brand Strategy and Communications within the sales organization, The 4R Foundation as its Executive Director helping launch the 4Roots Farm initiative, Vision360 as the VP of Development for this global church-planting mission, and The Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College as its Director of Alumni and Corporate Relations. Paige completed her MBA from Rollins College in 2001 and holds a BS in Public Relations from the University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Communications from 1991. She is from Savannah, GA, but calls Orlando home, and is married and has two children, both college athletes in the state.
Tim is a visionary leader who built his career over 14 years at GE Healthcare before jumping into the entrepreneurial world as the CEO of a Central Florida based digital health company. While at GE, Tim grew through the sales organization and ultimately was asked to lead two different intrapreneurial ventures from concept to revenue growth. He was also chosen to participate in a year-long Leadership Development program at the Jack Welch Leadership Development Center in Crotonville, NY. His intrapreneurial leadership experience sparked his desire to join the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Initially from the Boston area, Tim graduated from Northeastern University where he was a member of the baseball team. Tim and his wife moved to Orlando for a temporary work assignment in 2018. Four years and two daughters later, they now call the Baldwin Park neighborhood home. While most know the area for tourism, Tim’s passion lies in helping amplify the business and human potential that exists outside of the tourism and hospitality vertical.
Advisory Board
Angela M. Alban, president and CEO of SIMETRI, started SIMETRI in 2009. Although an engineer at heart, Angela has extensive experience in a wide range of disciplines, enabling her to target the essence of a problem, and allowing her to offer clients and colleagues creative, innovative and practical solutions. Angela began her career as an engineer after graduating from Emory University with a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and computer science and completed a Master of Science degree in computer engineering from the University of Central Florida, while working professionally in the modeling and simulation industry and completing the Defense Systems Management College Advanced Program Manager’s Course at Fort Belvoir.
Angela transitioned into management in 2004 when she was appointed as the vice president and chief operating of a foreign-owned subsidiary. After growing Indra’s presence in the United States, she decided to start her own business, and has spent her 25 years of professional experience in the simulation and training industry. SIMETRI has allowed Angela to meet her aspirations of growing a technology firm from the ground up, while nurturing a strong and innovative culture that embraces family life and community involvement.
Along with her family and her business, Angela is very committed to the Central Florida community, and has dedicated herself to several special causes. Team SIMETRI frequently supports various community non-profit organizations across the community to include UCP of Central Florida, Samaritan Resource Center, Embrace Families, and the Early Learning Coalition of Central Florida. Angela is an active board member of the Orlando Economic Partnership, Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce, UCP of Central Florida, National Center for Simulation, University of Central Florida College of Engineering and Computer Science Dean’s Advisory Board, Entrepreneurs Alliance of Orlando Advisory Board, and Florida First Robotics Executive Advisory Board.
Waymon Armstrong is the CEO & President of Engineering & Computer Simulations, Inc. (ECS), a company that is recognized as both a pioneer and visionary in simulation and training products and services. His goal is to ensure every client receives innovative products and services that maximize workforce potential, whether the desired outcome is safety-focused or improved performance.
Armstrong is well-known in the MS&T industry and has been consistently recognized for his community contributions, entrepreneurship, and business leadership. He is a frequent speaker at global, national and local conferences, including keynoting at I/ITSEC, MODSIM WORLD, and the SMART Awards. Armstrong has also been a speaker at the Florida Simulation Summit, TSIS Small Business Panel, Orlando Business Journal Technology Panel, Associated Industries of Florida Health Summit and others.
He was recently recognized as a Pioneer Award finalist in the MS&T’s 2019 Industry Simulation & Training Awards and as the Entrepreneurial Vanguard at the 2018 Mid-Florida Business Hall of Fame by the Junior Achievement of Central Florida. In addition, he has been honored as National Small Business Administration Small Business Person of the Year, Valencia College Alumni Association Distinguished Graduate, I-4 Business Entrepreneur of the Year, Orlando Business Journal CEO of the Year, and an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of The Year Award Finalist five times.
Armstrong has chaired the Orange County Mayor’s Modeling, Simulation and Training Blue Ribbon Commission, Leadership Orlando - Class 92 and Orlando, Inc. He also serves as a board member and Chairman’s Council Chair of GrowFL and on the University of Central Florida Research Foundation board. Armstrong is a long-time Central Florida resident and enjoys reading, outdoor activities and travelling with his family.
A pioneer in the Robotic Process Automation technology movement, Richard Milam brought a revolutionary operational efficiency solution to organizations worldwide with his conception of Foxtrot, the flagship product of his company EnableSoft, Inc.. Subsequent to the 2019 acquisition of EnableSoft by Nintex, Foxtrot RPA is a key component of the world’s only end to end Digital Process Automation solution. Prior to founding EnableSoft in 1995, Milam worked for the inventor of the ATM as an implementer of ATM networks around the world, held sales and consulting positions for several of the largest banking software companies, and served in the United States Navy as a nuclear-trained engineer in the Navy’s submarine service.
Dr. Jason Eichenholz is a serial entrepreneur, executive and recognized pioneer in laser and optics enabled innovation, product development and commercialization. Over the past two decades he has started multiple companies, raised hundreds of millions of dollars of investor funding and led the development of hundreds of millions of dollars of revolutionary products. These products and companies have enabled a variety of applications from autonomous vehicles, battlefield explosives detection, early cancer detection, new drug delivery systems and environmental studies from the depths of the oceans to the top of Mt. Everest and even on the Moon and Mars.
Eichenholz holds fifty U.S. patents and is a fellow of SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, as well as a fellow of the Optical Society of America (OSA). He has served as the principal investigator for Air Force and DARPA funded research and development programs.
Eichenholz has a M.S. and Ph.D in Optical Science and Engineering from CREOL – The College of Optics and Photonics at the University of Central Florida and a B.S. in Physics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. In his free time, he likes to give back to his community as an advocate for autism awareness and has served for 24 years as a Reserve Lieutenant and EMT with Orange County Fire Rescue.
Eichenholz holds fifty U.S. patents and is a fellow of SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, as well as a fellow of the Optical Society of America (OSA). He has served as the principal investigator for Air Force and DARPA funded research and development programs.
Eichenholz has a M.S. and Ph.D in Optical Science and Engineering from CREOL – The College of Optics and Photonics at the University of Central Florida and a B.S. in Physics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. In his free time, he likes to give back to his community as an advocate for autism awareness and has served for 24 years as a Reserve Lieutenant and EMT with Orange County Fire Rescue.
Richard “Rick” Walsh is Chairman and CEO of the Knob Hill Companies, a media, investments and strategic management firm. Prior to founding Knob Hill, Walsh enjoyed a 25-year career with Darden Restaurants. While with Darden, he served as senior vice president, corporate affairs, was a founding member of the leadership team that took Darden public in 1995, a member of Darden’s Executive Committee, and a trustee of the Darden Restaurants Foundation.
Rick Walsh is the epitome of corporate social responsibility, with a personal commitment to higher education, health care delivery, providing a springboard for entrepreneurship and building community. His impressive list of former and current board appointments include: The Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation, the Greater Orlando and Florida Chamber of Commerce, National Restaurant Association, Florida Tourism Council, Enterprise Florida, OneBlood, Nemour’s Children’s Health System, and the University of Central Florida Board of Trustees. A True UCF Knight past and present, Rick not only holds a Master’s in Public Policy and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the university, he also received the university’s “Distinguished Alumnus Award” in 1985 and was awarded UCF’s Honorary Doctorate in Commerce in 2013.
Walsh has been recognized as Orlando Business Journal’s “Businessman of the Year,” one of Florida Trend Magazine’s “100 Most Influential”, one of Orlando Sentinel’s “25 Most Powerful People in Central Florida”, and one of Orlando Magazine’s “90 Most Powerful People in Orlando.” Most recently, he was inducted as a Laureate into the prestigious “Hall of Fame” in recognition of a lifetime of leadership with Junior Achievement.
Rick Walsh is the epitome of corporate social responsibility, with a personal commitment to higher education, health care delivery, providing a springboard for entrepreneurship and building community. His impressive list of former and current board appointments include: The Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation, the Greater Orlando and Florida Chamber of Commerce, National Restaurant Association, Florida Tourism Council, Enterprise Florida, OneBlood, Nemour’s Children’s Health System, and the University of Central Florida Board of Trustees. A True UCF Knight past and present, Rick not only holds a Master’s in Public Policy and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the university, he also received the university’s “Distinguished Alumnus Award” in 1985 and was awarded UCF’s Honorary Doctorate in Commerce in 2013.
Walsh has been recognized as Orlando Business Journal’s “Businessman of the Year,” one of Florida Trend Magazine’s “100 Most Influential”, one of Orlando Sentinel’s “25 Most Powerful People in Central Florida”, and one of Orlando Magazine’s “90 Most Powerful People in Orlando.” Most recently, he was inducted as a Laureate into the prestigious “Hall of Fame” in recognition of a lifetime of leadership with Junior Achievement.
Peter McAlindon, Ph.D., is the Entrepreneur in Residence at the Rollins College Crummer Graduate School of Business. Here, Dr. McAlindon teaches courses in entrepreneurship and directs the Center for Advanced Entrepreneurship. He also serves as a faculty advisor to students as they find commercial applications and develop paths to market for technologies developed by NASA.
Dr. McAlindon is the Founder and CEO of Blue Orb Inc., a Central Florida based technology company that develops computer technology for persons with disabilities. Through Blue Orb, Dr. McAlindon has successfully secured three sequential rounds of funding from the National Science Foundation’s SBIR program and more than $5 million in angel investor funding. Additionally, he is a co-founder of venVelo, a Florida based seed capital fund.
A Michigan native, Dr. McAlindon graduated with honors from the University of Michigan, holds a M.A.S. in Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Central Florida.
Dr. O’Neal is a professor of Industrial Engineering and Management Systems and has served as the Associate Vice President of Innovation and Commercialization at the University of Central Florida. He is the founder of the UCF Business Incubation Program, Executive Director of the Florida Economic Gardening Institute (GrowFL), and the Executive Director of I-Corps at UCF, Florida’s first I-Corps site. He is also the president-elect of the UCF Chapter of the National Academy of Inventors.
Because of his pioneering work in business incubation and entrepreneurial ecosystems, Dr. O’Neal has helped build Central Florida’s innovation-based economy. This has become an internationally-recognized model for economic development used across the globe.
Dr. O’Neal has presented or taught at 20 international conferences, 41 national conferences, and approximately 200 conferences throughout the state of Florida. Dr. O’Neal has also helped numerous international and national organizations create entrepreneurial ecosystems to advance their community’s economic prosperity.
Dr. O’Neal currently serves on multiple international and local boards that advocate for research, commercialization, and entrepreneurism. These include the International Business Innovation Association (InBIA), the National Entrepreneur Center (NEC), Florida Business Incubation Association (FBIA), The Corridor (formerly the Florida High Tech Corridor Council), and the Florida Research Consortium, among many others. He has raised over $80 million in local, state, and federal funding to support entrepreneurship and innovation initiatives.
Rob Panepinto is President of Florentine Strategies, which provides board support, strategic consulting, and investment capital for healthcare, social enterprise and technology companies. He is a member of the University of Central Florida’s Partnership and Innovation team, serving as a senior strategic advisor and director of the newly created Innovation Districts. Panepinto is also the CEO of Entrepreneurs in Action, who manage a social venture fund that invests in local social enterprises, helping them create successful businesses and jobs while addressing community and global social needs.
Panepinto is the Chair of the Central Florida Housing Team, which managed a social impact debt, equity, and philanthropic fund to support the development of affordable and workforce housing needs in Central Florida. He also is an advisory board member to several venture funds, including DeepWork Capital, who invests in Florida technology companies and Triple Tree Capital Partners, a healthcare technology focused fund.
Previously, Panepinto was on the founding executive team for Connextions, helping them grow from a small manufacturing company to become an innovative healthcare technology and services company based here in Orlando.
Panepinto is a Founder and Board Chair of Orlando’s Social Enterprise Accelerator, Rally, a partnership between the Central Florida Foundation, Rollins College, the City of Orlando, and other community partners. He is the past chair of the Central Florida Foundation board, immediate past chair of Orlando, Inc. and is a board member for the Orlando Economic Partnership. He also serves on the Board of Stater Studio, Rollins’ Crummer Graduate School of Business Board of Overseers and its Rollins Center for Advanced Entrepreneurship. He has served on the Operations Committee of the Central Florida Expressway Authority. He is also a member of the Young Presidents Organization and a 2018 candidate for Orange County Mayor.
Because of his pioneering work in business incubation and entrepreneurial ecosystems, Dr. O’Neal has helped build Central Florida’s innovation-based economy. This has become an internationally-recognized model for economic development used across the globe.
Dr. O’Neal has presented or taught at 20 international conferences, 41 national conferences, and approximately 200 conferences throughout the state of Florida. Dr. O’Neal has also helped numerous international and national organizations create entrepreneurial ecosystems to advance their community’s economic prosperity.
Dr. O’Neal currently serves on multiple international and local boards that advocate for research, commercialization, and entrepreneurism. These include the International Business Innovation Association (InBIA), the National Entrepreneur Center (NEC), Florida Business Incubation Association (FBIA), The Corridor (formerly the Florida High Tech Corridor Council), and the Florida Research Consortium, among many others. He has raised over $80 million in local, state, and federal funding to support entrepreneurship and innovation initiatives.
As the Founder and President of CEO Nexus, Steve Quello successfully fulfills the needs of business owners leading second-stage growth companies. CEO Nexus provides business leaders with practical tools and techniques, including a referral network, roundtables, and forums with other businessmen and women. He is co-creator of the Florida PeerSpectives Roundtable Network and the GrowFL Economic Gardening program. Steve also serves as master facilitator for both the PeerSpectives Network and GrowFL CEO Roundtables.
John A. Riley received his bachelor's degree in liberal arts from Rollins College in 1982 and a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Georgia Tech in 1984. Riley founded Legacy Fund in 2006 for the purpose of investing in privately held businesses and commercial real estate. Prior to Legacy Fund, Riley was co-founder of PlanSource in 1997. PlanSource is a technology company providing flexible and intuitive software and services for benefits administration to over 4.5 million consumers in the United States. Under the PlanSource umbrella, the company also founded and operated CoAdvantage and ZeroChaos. CoAdvantage, one of the largest Professional Employer Organizations in the US, services over 4500 clients and 90,000 worksite employees. ZeroChaos, with annual revenues exceeding 3.8 billion dollars, pioneered a new staffing model changing the way Fortune 200 companies source, manage and administer their contract labor workforce.
Prior to PlanSource, Riley co-founded and held several positions in Transworld Services Group in Orlando, Florida. Over the course of 11 years, Transworld grew into one of the largest independently owned staffing companies in the southeast. Transworld was the innovator of “insourcing” where they took day-to-day departmental control within a diverse Fortune 500 client base.
Riley serves on several boards of private and nonprofit organizations including Rollins Crummer Center for Advanced Entrepreneurship, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation, Sighthound, Alterna Capital Solutions and The Geneva School.
Prior to PlanSource, Riley co-founded and held several positions in Transworld Services Group in Orlando, Florida. Over the course of 11 years, Transworld grew into one of the largest independently owned staffing companies in the southeast. Transworld was the innovator of “insourcing” where they took day-to-day departmental control within a diverse Fortune 500 client base.
Riley serves on several boards of private and nonprofit organizations including Rollins Crummer Center for Advanced Entrepreneurship, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation, Sighthound, Alterna Capital Solutions and The Geneva School.
Digital Events
Join co-hosts Kennan Burch and Dr. Pete McAlindon, as they explore entrepreneurial strategies, experiences and marketplace opportunities with local business leaders. Each event starts with introductions, a half hour of content and followed by questions from attendees.
