Month: July 2026

Ed Van Deman ’69: Saying Yes to What’s Next

Post author By Liz Ahwal
Post date July 31, 2026

Ed Van Deman ’69 has spent his career saying yes to opportunity. Since graduating from Davidson College, he has built a career defined by curiosity, reinvention, and an unusual willingness to start over. His 2022 interview on Hub & Spoke with Hurt Hub Executive Director Liz Brigham ’04 traced each chapter of his life after Davidson and pointed to how a liberal arts education shaped the foundation for it all. Across industries and cities, Ed pursued what interested him, relying on perseverance, adaptability, and a steady belief that things would work out. Eventually, that path led him back to his Davidson roots.

Ed’s story began to take shape when a KPMG partner visited Davidson through the career center and offered him a job. After graduating with a B.S. in mathematics, Ed started his career in New York City, working at KPMG for a few years before he was ready for something new. He and his wife moved to Chicago, where he worked in corporate finance, managing budgeting and capital finance for a global company and traveling extensively along the way. After seven years, he was ready for a new challenge.

Through every move, one thing stayed constant: Ed pursued work that helped him grow and felt meaningful to him. When he had gotten what he needed from one chapter, he was ready for the next. From Chicago, he moved to Silicon Valley, California, and took a job at an investment management firm managing portfolios for high-net-worth individuals. He had always intended to start his own company, and the relationships he built in that role would later become the foundation for his entrepreneurial path. After four years there, he was ready for something of his own.

Ed built his next chapter from the ground up, founding Financial Navigator, Inc., a software company that provided accounting and portfolio-tracking platforms for high-net-worth individuals. Starting a company from scratch takes persistence and conviction, especially in the years when belief in the idea rests almost entirely on the founder. Ed kept building. Financial Navigator, Inc. went on to serve four clients on the Forbes 400 list, among many others, and Ed grew the company for more than three decades before it was acquired by an international fintech firm. In 2017, after a 45-year absence, Ed returned to Davidson.

He was struck by how much the campus had changed, and by the transformation of a building he had once passed without much thought into the Hurt Hub. The entrepreneurship gap he had felt as a student had been filled, and he wanted to be part of it. Through his generous support, Ed made the Van Deman Innovation Lab possible, giving students a dedicated space to develop their ventures and ideas.

He remains closely involved with the Hurt Hub today, investing in student and young alumni businesses and supporting the Davidson Entrepreneurship Club’s spring break trek to San Francisco. He is a frequent presence on campus, consulting with students and staff and consistently making introductions that expand the Hurt Hub’s network. As Liz describes it: “He visits several times a year, bursting with energy from his red-eye flight. He’s always the first one here in the morning and the last one to leave. He never shies away from making new introductions for us to those in his network, helping us expand ours.” In 2026, Ed received the Davidson College Alumni Service Award, one of the college’s highest volunteer honors, in recognition of his continued service to Davidson’s mission.

As Ed became a key part of the Hurt Hub’s story, the Hurt Hub community became a key part of his next chapter. Financial Navigator, Inc. evolved into Forest Systems, a company built around simplifying wealth and portfolio management. That work continues to reflect a lesson Ed traces back to his Davidson education: the importance of empathy. Approaching every client relationship by asking what they need and how to make their experience easier has been central to his success.

Through strategic thinking, leadership, and a willingness to take leaps of faith, Ed has learned more about himself and about business than most people do in a lifetime. He remains committed to supporting Davidson students through the Hurt Hub and hopes to be a stepping stone for someone else’s entrepreneurial journey. Everyone at the Hurt Hub is grateful for his steadfast support and inspired by his impact.

Community Education Innovation NEXT Level Student

NEXT Level: Turning Potential Into Practice

Post author By Liz Ahwal
Post date July 28, 2026

Written by Davidson College student Clara Hudson ’28

The Hurt Hub’s programming paves the way for any and all students to make a real-world impact if they aspire to do so. The NEXT (Network, Engage, eXplore, Together) Level program, run by Ashley Bodie, Assistant Director for Exploration and Experiential Learning at the Matthews Center for Career Development, and Kelly Weaver, Community Experience Manager at the Hurt Hub, is just one example of that. Through paid consulting project work, first-generation sophomore students are paired with a client partner local to Davidson in need of a fresh set of eyes and a unique perspective to offer innovative ideas for their business. These client partners serve as the project sponsor and mentor for students as they engage in weekly meetings to collaborate closely over eight weeks. NEXT Level serves as an avenue for career exploration, real-world professional experience, and connection-building opportunities. In addition to working with a client partner, students participate in skill-development workshops with their cohort, encouraging personal and professional exploration and growth. This program is twofold: It allows first-generation students to discover more about themselves and their professional interests, while also producing tangible results that directly impact a business.

Melissa Mugengano ‘28 and Jesse Carr ‘28 joined NEXT Level in the fall of 2025 for the same reason: a desire to put the skills they’d been learning in the classroom into practice. Davidson thoroughly prepares students for the outside world, and these students saw firsthand how their knowledge translated into something meaningful. Melissa reflected on how the project flow of identifying a problem, finding a solution, putting it into practice, and having an end product to present by the conclusion of the semester showed her how to embrace a client-first mindset.

Both Melissa and Jesse were apprehensive at the start of the program because the thought of balancing NEXT Level with their classes was daunting. Instead, they quickly adapted to a work-school balance and gained beneficial time-management skills they’ll carry through their academic and professional careers. Intentional communication with the client partner to understand their needs proved to be just as essential as for a smooth, successful engagement. Melissa realized that with communication, it was entirely possible to manage her busy school schedule and this project. Similarly, Jesse was able to step outside of his comfort zone and tap into an extroverted version of himself by leading client meetings and articulating his thoughts to move the project forward.

These two students also shared how their character developed throughout the process. Working within a team gave them a glimpse into the professional world of voicing ideas, giving feedback, and being dependable. When unexpected problems arose, they were pushed to think outside of the box and figure out how to adjust. Whether it was Melissa learning about an unfamiliar industry, stepping into her client’s shoes, and challenging her own thinking, or Jesse having to move forward quickly on his own while his client was occupied, the students met the project’s unexpected challenges with remarkable adaptability.

The advice they gained from their client partners will stick with them throughout their academic and professional careers. Melissa realized that “failure is just another chance to retry” when her client partner saw the value in her that she couldn’t yet see in herself. Jesse’s project showed him that above all, “being a good person is the most foundational thing to building a relationship and being able to produce meaningful work.” Interpersonal skills are often the key to success, taken for granted but painfully obvious when they are lacking.

As Melissa and Jesse reflected on their time in the program as first-generation students, they agreed that they felt pressure to succeed, but NEXT Level served as “a whisper to all that everything was possible.” Putting in the effort and the work sets one up for success, and Jesse was especially appreciative of the support he got from Kelly and Ashley. He shared that they were dedicated to “ensuring we excel amongst all facets, even outside of the program.” He could truly see himself growing throughout the process, aided by all of the care he received.

Overall, the students voiced the program experience as being “transformative, life-changing, innovative, and riveting.” They came out of it changed for the better, with a newfound confidence their past selves had not yet acquired. Melissa and Jesse are both incredibly grateful for the opportunity and will continue to hold onto the connections they made. Their stories are proof that when students are given the chance, they don’t just meet the moment; they rise to it. That’s the real power of NEXT Level.

Access to Capital Co-Working Community Education Innovation Startup Wall of Possibilities

Michelle Mckown-Campbell Is Activating the A.W.E.S.O.M.E.

Post author By Liz Ahwal
Post date July 21, 2026

Every single person has a reason to celebrate. Every single person has small joys and accomplishments that fill their day. Every single person is awesome. Acknowledging and accepting those three statements for oneself is the foundation of entrepreneur Michelle McKown-Campbell’s philosophy.

Michelle wears many hats at the Hurt Hub, but her journey began with simply looking for somewhere to work outside her home after moving from England to Davidson. “I suppose initially I just thought it was a working space, somewhere to go and work,” she remembers. What began as a coworking membership quickly became something deeper. She showed up, said yes, and built relationships that would shape the trajectory of her business.

That business is Activate the A.W.E.S.O.M.E., a people development company that creates transformational experiences, helping individuals and organizations reconnect with their strengths, contributions, and potential. From doing sessions with elementary school students to corporate leaders, Michelle delivers interactive, high-energy sessions that build confidence and momentum. Her mission is simple: help every person proudly declare their awesome. Every member of a team has value, and her workshops allow individuals to tap into what they’re capable of and gain the confidence to best contribute to their communities.

Two years ago, Michelle’s business launched forward when she applied for and won the CATS Pitch competition, but winning was never the plan. Her first goal was to submit the application, and the rest snowballed from there. When her name was called, she was stunned, but it was the exact push that she needed. Being one of three winners not only allowed Michelle to gain visibility for her business but also to become an integral part of a close-knit community with a built-in network. The mentorship and new conversations that came after winning the competition launched her business forward as she was finally able to become known and impact others.

Michelle didn’t just focus on growing her own business. She saw a gap in the entrepreneurial community and stepped in to fill it by helping other founders recognize their wins in their personal journeys. By facilitating the Solopreneur Circle, she created “a space where you could actually turn up and be real.” This monthly gathering, where entrepreneurs can learn, share, and talk through anything and everything they are dealing with, is filled with conversations meant to serve as an outlet from networking events. Whether one has hit a roadblock, needs help taking the next step for their business, or just wants to celebrate launching a book, the circle serves as an opening for any conversation. The only requirement is showing up as yourself.

Michelle’s roles within the Hurt Hub also set her up for success in her recent TEDxSugar Creek Women Talk. She expressed her nerves going into this talk, as her whole life has been about getting to know other people and recognizing their potential. It was going to be an unfamiliar environment for her to speak in front of 400 people. She shared that the most rewarding part of the experience was the journey it took to get to the stage and the lessons she learned about herself along the way. She used to be most comfortable hiding in the background and observing others, but she realized that this was her opportunity to be herself and take it at her own pace. She didn’t need to be loud or fit the prototype of a TEDx speaker. All she needed to do was share her message and influence others to recognize the power of celebration.

Celebrating the small, ordinary accomplishments of everyday life is what got Michelle to where she is today. Her first celebration was hitting submit, and now she’s celebrating activating the awesome in over one million people. There are two main drivers of her achievements: recognizing the awesome in herself and the Hurt Hub’s help. She had to look in the mirror and see her own power before she could even think about empowering others. Additionally, none of this would’ve been possible for her without walking through the doors of the Hurt Hub. Michelle shares that “the Hurt Hub has been part of every bit of [her] journey.” The people and the community waiting inside can’t be found anywhere else.

So take the leap, recognize your potential, and believe that you are capable of greatness. Don’t know where to start? The Hurt Hub’s doors are open for you, and Michelle is waiting inside, eager to help you see your possibilities.

Access to Capital Alum Education Innovation Nisbet Venture Fund Startup Student

From Idea to Impact: The Nisbet Venture Fund Story

Post author By Liz Ahwal
Post date July 21, 2026

Five Davidson College alumni. Five distinct ideas. One shared launchpad. Student to Founder: Entrepreneurial Excellence at Davidson College tells the stories of Andrew Ashur ’19, Thomas Athey ’24, Owen Bezick ’21, Carson Crochet ’22, and Lilian (Lily) Korir ’23, all Nisbet Venture Fund winners who turned ambitious concepts into realities. Driven by problem-solving and purpose, these entrepreneurs were able to create their respective startups with a clear vision, backed by guidance and funding. Each individual’s path tells an inspiring story, from Andrew building robots to make dangerous jobs safer with Lucid Bots, to Carson creating care packages with comforting plushies for cancer patients through CA’Buddy, and to Lily working to uplift small-scale farmers in Kenya with Mulik Dairy Solutions. Owen filled a gap he spotted while consulting at the Hurt Hub and built GatherWare into a platform that now serves some of the largest healthcare systems in the country, and Thomas channeled his passion for music into MESA, a software platform helping independent artists manage the business side of their crafts. For each of them, the Nisbet Venture Fund provided more than just funding. It offered them mentorship and the foundation to turn an idea into a real company. Doors were opened, and career paths were changed, all because these students decided to give their ventures a shot. Filmed and produced by Pablo Quintero ’28, this documentary captures some of the journeys that the Hurt Hub supports. We hope that watching it inspires you to dive deeper into the possibilities.

About the Nisbet Venture Fund:

The Nisbet Venture Fund is an annual business development program and pitch competition presented by the Hurt Hub at Davidson College. Established in 2014 through the generous support from Marian Nisbet and Chip Nisbet ’86, the program provides Davidson students and recent alumni the opportunity to compete for funding for their innovative, for-profit ventures. Finalists receive coaching and mentorship from seasoned entrepreneurs and business professionals before pitching to a panel of investors!

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