Yacoub Sidya is the founder and CEO of MSS Security. He founded MSS Security in 2003 at the age of 24. MSS is one of the largest employers in Mauritania, which is in West Africa. The company has multiple locations spread across the globe. Yacoub also runs Phoenix Precious metals, a Dubai-based gold trading, and mining company. Yacoub was recruited to NKU on a soccer scholarship, and he graduated with a degree in Business Administration.

Dr. Stephanie Hughes is the Co-Founder of The Chapel Hill North Group and CHN Analytics, LLC, a predictive big data market intelligence firm that leverages and extends nearly 20 years worth of big market competitive intelligence expertise.

At NKU, Hughes leads strategy capstone courses in the Haile/U.S. Bank College of Business.

Crawford is the Owner and Artistic Director of Rapture Dance Company.  She began dancing at the age of five and has been teaching and choreographing throughout the Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati area for the past thirteen years. Crawford grew up dancing in the Northern Kentucky area in many different genres as a competitive dancer, traveling to competitions and conventions within the tristate. Opening her dance studio has been a dream since she was ten, and it's been surreal to see her dream become a reality.

Kristin previously was a sales manager focusing on customer service. Wanting something different, she has spent the past ten years as a restaurant owner—Twin Bistro & Catering and now local favorite The Gruff.

Tim Metzner has been around startups his entire career. From early employee to founder to investor, Tim works with what he loves and with people who make him better. Now, he's focused on building APIs that power distribution for the $200B+ commercial insurance industry. 

Norm Desmarais serves as Chairman of TiER1 Performance Solutions and CEO of Entrep. Since 1989, Norm has founded several high tech companies serving industries including Fortune 500, Government, Department of Defense, and Healthcare.  Prior to starting companies, Norm worked in the aerospace industry for General Electric and Raytheon.

Crystal has more than 25 years of global and domestic marketing experience. She is the founder and CEO of the award-winning The Voice of Your Customer. The certified minority-owned marketing firm assists clients with penetrating hard to reach, niche and underserved markets using survey research, focus groups, secret shopping, business training and media campaigns. Crystal is also the founder of the Voice of Black Cincinnati website.

Dave Knox is a leading consultant, speaker, and coach who closes the gap between Fortune 500 and entrepreneurship through innovation, marketing, and digital transformation. Dave blends classical brand marketing acumen with entrepreneurial instinct to navigate a changing corporate landscape.

Isaiah started customizing shoes in 2017 as a hobby which turned into a way to earn extra money. He was accepted into The INKUBATOR program in Spring 2019. In The INKUBATOR, Isaiah launched Smoove Creations LLC, recruited a team, attended SneakerCon, and generated over $10,000 in revenue since May. After graduating from The INKUBATOR, Isaiah won the Entrepreneurs’ Organization’s Global Student Entrepreneurship Award (GSEA) Cincinnati Regional Competition, and will now compete in the National Competition in Silicon Valley. Isaiah continues to focus on his academics, building his start-up, competing in pitch competitions and plans to pursue his MBA.

Sit down with Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship to learn more about the greatest entrepreneurs to come from NKU. Episode kicks off with Dr. David Schneider.

 Spanning a 30-year career, he discusses a wide variety of business experience, from launching startups to guiding established public and private companies as the president/CEO.