PresenTense: NYC

A Coach is a sounding board (and hopefully an advocate!) for their matched-Fellow and assists him/her with the venture throughout the 5 month program.  A Coach can either have industry-specific experience, an exemplary skill-set, or general knowledge with an inquisitive and creative approach to problem solving.  

Coaches commit to a training courses (three 1.5 hour sessions)  and at least one monthly meeting with their Fellow over the 5 months to work on deliverables and other general strategy and work planning questions.  

Dave is a 15 year veteran of the New York tech scene and has a career spanning from development through software architecture to product management.  His past businesses include a long running event photography studio, a strategic marketing consulting firm and an educational gaming company in the agricultural space called Agriopia.  His current startup is Healthy Living Points, a healthy living rewards system allowing local businesses to reward those in their community engaged in local behavior.  His full time occupation is as VP of Product at Stainless Code, a online video media asset company.  He earned a Biology degree from Binghamton University and a MBA from NYU Leonard N. Stern school of business in 2010.

Under Will’s leadership, Slingshot has grown from a small group of next generation funders who wanted a way to explore and support innovative Jewish projects, to become an important funding source, a closely watched seal of approval, and a leading voice advocating for innovation in Jewish life. Slingshot has become synonymous with relevant, engaging, impactful 21st century projects, and tens of thousands of Jewish funders, professionals, and not-for-profit leaders look to the Slingshot  resource guide as the beacon and pace-setter for innovation in Jewish life. Will has a background in marketing and fundraising, working for organizations including Carnegie Hall, the Apollo Theater, and the Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation. Will is also the founder of a professional networking group called the Future Leaders in Philanthropy (FLiP). 

Rachel Perten is the Program Coordinator at the Jewish Communal Service Association of North America, an organization that works to shape, define and promote professional leadership in the Jewish community for the 21st century.  Prior to her role at JCSA, Rachel worked as Program Associate for the Muehlstein Institute for Jewish Professional Leadership in the Wiener Educational Center at the UJA-Federation of New York.  She has also served as a Development Consultant at Hunter College Hillel, Program Consultant at Foundation for Jewish Camp, staffed numerous Birthright Israel trips through Israel Outdoors and worked for many years as a supplemental school teacher.  Rachel holds an MPA with a concentration in Public and Non-Profit Management and an MA in Jewish Studies from New York University as part of the NYU Dual Degree Program.  Rachel currently lives in NYC.

Since graduating from Cornell University in 2006, Alyssa has been working at American Express in marketing and partnerships.  She enjoys new product development, branding, creating great customer experiences, and finding innovative solutions to grow businesses.  Alyssa is a passionate traveler, who loves to explore new places and cultures, and truly immerse herself in a different environment.  She loves to run, ski, hike, and do mostly anything active and outdoors.  

Brian is a patent attorney with a degree in chemical engineering and a strong background in pharmaceuticals.  He has substantial experience in helping inventors and innovators develop their ideas and business strategies.  In law school, Brian was affiliated with a project called Contract Commons, which worked to build an online system to assist government officials with negotiating and drafting technology and software agreements.  The goal of the initiative was to make it easier for K-12 public education institutions to obtain better technology and to help vendors elicit the requirements of public sector clients more effectively.  Brian maintains a connection with his Jewish heritage by keeping active in the Chabad UES community.  He gets a high level of satisfaction from helping others and volunteering.