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Françoise Lepage Center for Global Innovation        

entrepreneurial  invention. multigenerational hope

Our Inspiration

Global innovation is a manifestation of hope. It is about business entrepreneurs solving problems more effectively while contributing to the world’s progressive realization of human dignity through economic development.

—Françoise Lepage

entrepreneurial  invention.

multigenerational hope

Françoise Lepage

Center for

Global Innovation        

Wayne de Fremery

Director

Dr. Wayne de Fremery is a Professor of Information Science and Entrepreneurship at Dominican University of California, where he also directs the Françoise Lepage Center for Global Innovation. ​Wayne’s research integrates approaches from literary studies, bibliography, and design, as well as information science and artificial intelligence. He is particularly interested in issues associated with cultural continuity and sustainability, especially the roles that innovation and entrepreneurship play in both.

Professor of Information Science and Entrepreneurship at Dominican University of California

Marcia Barahona

Advisor

Marcia Barahona is a multilingual business leader and executive coach based in San Francisco, California. She is the founder of ExecBloom, a consultancy specializing in leadership development and cross-cultural engagement, and OrangeRio, a marketing firm focusing on product localization and market expansion in the U.S. and Latin America.

Founder of ExecBloom and OrangeRio

Namho Chung

Advisor

Namho Chung is a seasoned finance and business executive with extensive experience across multiple industries. He currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President at Mediazen Co., Ltd., a position he has held since April 2023.

Founder of Planting Ventures Inc. and President of Keiretsu Forum Seoul Chapter

Thomas Jung

Advisor

Thomas Jung is a retired multilingual executive and entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience in the technology sector, specializing in SaaS, software, real estate, and automotive industries. He has founded two SaaS companies and served on the founding executive teams of two others. Throughout his career, he has held leadership positions, including Divisional President and Vice President, in public software companies. He serves on the Board of Advisors for the Barowsky School of Business at Dominican University of California, contributing his expertise to support business education.

Executive and Entrepreneur in SaaS and Technology

Zachary Kushel

Advisor

Zachary Kushel is the Founder and Managing Partner of Marin Sonoma Impact Ventures (MSIV), a regional venture capital fund dedicated to supporting startups in the Marin and Sonoma counties. Prior to establishing MSIV in April 2020, he held significant roles in the tech industry, including Head of People & Corporate Operations at SmithRx, Head of Business Development at Glassdoor, and positions at Cisco Systems.

Founder and Managing Partner of Marin Sonoma Impact Ventures

Françoise Lepage

Advisor

Dr. Françoise Lepage is a distinguished educator and former founding Dean of the Barowsky School of Business at Dominican University of California. Over her 45-year tenure, she played a key role in launching the university’s first international program and establishing the Global Education Office. Dr. Lepage’s contributions to global education and business studies have earned her numerous accolades, including the 2021 Joseph R. Fink Faculty Achievement Award.

Founding Dean of the Barowsky School of Business at Dominican University of California

Yung-Jae Lee

Advisor

Dr. Yung-Jae Lee is the Dean of the Barowsky School of Business at Dominican University of California. He joined Dominican in August 2019, bringing extensive experience from his previous roles, including serving as interim dean at Saint Mary's College of California's School of Economics and Business Administration. Dr. Lee holds a Ph.D. in Operations Management from the University of California, Irvine, and has taught at institutions such as UC Irvine and Chapman University.

Dean of the Barowsky School of Business at Dominican University of California

Denise Lucy

Advisor

Dr. Denise Lucy is a distinguished educator and leader in higher education, currently serving as a Professor of Business and Organizational Studies at Dominican University of California. With over 40 years of experience, she has held significant roles, including Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Liberal and Professional Studies. Dr. Lucy is also the founder and executive director of the Institute for Leadership Studies at Dominican.

Professor of Business and Executive Director of the Institute for Leadership Studies at Dominican University of California

Cynthia Murray

Advisor

Cynthia Murray is the President and CEO of the North Bay Leadership Council, a business advocacy organization focused on economic development and housing solutions in the North Bay region of California. Under her leadership, the council has worked to address critical issues such as affordable housing, transportation, and workforce development. Murray has been instrumental in fostering collaboration among business, government, and community leaders to promote sustainable economic growth in the area.

Former President and CEO of the North Bay Leadership Council

Leonard Weingarten

Advisor

Leonard Weingarten is a seasoned business and marketing consultant based in San Rafael, California. He has a rich history in developing, marketing, and managing successful business, nonprofit, and civic partnerships, including roles with the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce and the United Way of the Bay Area. Currently, Leonard serves as the Vice President of Emeritus Students College of Marin (ESCOM), where he promotes lifelong learning programs. He also plays an active role in workforce development initiatives, such as the School to Career Partnership, connecting students with local businesses for internships and career exploration.

Vice President of Emeritus Students College of Marin

Hap Klopp

Fellow

Hap Klopp is an American entrepreneur best known for founding The North Face, turning it from a small retail store into a global outdoor brand. He served as CEO for over 20 years, expanding the company’s product line and international presence. After leaving The North Face, Klopp became a consultant, author, and mentor, and has served on various boards.

Founder and former CEO of The North Face

Carlos Baradello

Fellow

Dr. Carlos Baradello is an investor, advisor, public speaker, and university professor specializing in global business, innovation, and entrepreneurship. He draws upon his extensive global academic and business experience, deep technical knowledge, and understanding of the challenges innovators face in organizations of all sizes. Dr. Baradello has worked with numerous entrepreneurs worldwide, providing key insights for high-growth ventures aiming to scale globally. He serves as an adjunct assistant professor at the Barowsky School of Business at Dominican University of California.

Co-Founder of ALAYA Capital Partners and Professor at UC Berkeley and Hult International Business School

Jeff Morgen

Fellow

Jeff Morgen is a seasoned executive with extensive experience in the music industry and startup ventures. He served as Vice President at PolyGram Records, where he played a pivotal role in the company's operations. Currently, he is an Advisor at Marin Sonoma Impact Ventures (MSIV), contributing his expertise to support local startups and entrepreneurs. Morgen is also the Principal at Morgen & Morgen, a consulting firm specializing in business strategy and development. Additionally, he is the former CEO of Hometown Heart, a company focused on community engagement and philanthropy.

Principal at Morgen & Morgen, Inc

Our Leadership

Our Leadership

Director
wayne.png

Wayne de Fremery

Professor of Information Science and Entrepreneurship at Dominican University of California

Dr. Wayne de Fremery is a Professor of Information Science and Entrepreneurship at Dominican University of California, where he also directs the Françoise Lepage Center for Global Innovation. ​Wayne’s research integrates approaches from literary studies, bibliography, and design, as well as information science and artificial intelligence. He is particularly interested in issues associated with cultural continuity and sustainability, especially the roles that innovation and entrepreneurship play in both.

Advisor
wayne.png

Marcia Barahona

Founder of ExecBloom and OrangeRio

Marcia Barahona is a multilingual business leader and executive coach based in San Francisco, California. She is the founder of ExecBloom, a consultancy specializing in leadership development and cross-cultural engagement, and OrangeRio, a marketing firm focusing on product localization and market expansion in the U.S. and Latin America.

Advisor
wayne.png

Namho Chung

Founder of Planting Ventures Inc. and President of Keiretsu Forum Seoul Chapter

Namho Chung is a seasoned finance and business executive with extensive experience across multiple industries. He currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President at Mediazen Co., Ltd., a position he has held since April 2023.

Advisor
wayne.png

Thomas Jung

Executive and Entrepreneur in SaaS and Technology

Thomas Jung is a retired multilingual executive and entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience in the technology sector, specializing in SaaS, software, real estate, and automotive industries. He has founded two SaaS companies and served on the founding executive teams of two others. Throughout his career, he has held leadership positions, including Divisional President and Vice President, in public software companies. He serves on the Board of Advisors for the Barowsky School of Business at Dominican University of California, contributing his expertise to support business education.

Advisor
wayne.png

Zachary Kushel

Founder and Managing Partner of Marin Sonoma Impact Ventures

Zachary Kushel is the Founder and Managing Partner of Marin Sonoma Impact Ventures (MSIV), a regional venture capital fund dedicated to supporting startups in the Marin and Sonoma counties. Prior to establishing MSIV in April 2020, he held significant roles in the tech industry, including Head of People & Corporate Operations at SmithRx, Head of Business Development at Glassdoor, and positions at Cisco Systems.

Advisor
wayne.png

Françoise Lepage

Founding Dean of the Barowsky School of Business at Dominican University of California

Dr. Françoise Lepage is a distinguished educator and former founding Dean of the Barowsky School of Business at Dominican University of California. Over her 45-year tenure, she played a key role in launching the university’s first international program and establishing the Global Education Office. Dr. Lepage’s contributions to global education and business studies have earned her numerous accolades, including the 2021 Joseph R. Fink Faculty Achievement Award.

Advisor
wayne.png

Yung-Jae Lee

Dean of the Barowsky School of Business at Dominican University of California

Dr. Yung-Jae Lee is the Dean of the Barowsky School of Business at Dominican University of California. He joined Dominican in August 2019, bringing extensive experience from his previous roles, including serving as interim dean at Saint Mary's College of California's School of Economics and Business Administration. Dr. Lee holds a Ph.D. in Operations Management from the University of California, Irvine, and has taught at institutions such as UC Irvine and Chapman University.

Advisor
wayne.png

Denise Lucy

Professor of Business and Executive Director of the Institute for Leadership Studies at Dominican University of California

Dr. Denise Lucy is a distinguished educator and leader in higher education, currently serving as a Professor of Business and Organizational Studies at Dominican University of California. With over 40 years of experience, she has held significant roles, including Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Liberal and Professional Studies. Dr. Lucy is also the founder and executive director of the Institute for Leadership Studies at Dominican.

Advisor
wayne.png

Cynthia Murray

Former President and CEO of the North Bay Leadership Council

Cynthia Murray is the President and CEO of the North Bay Leadership Council, a business advocacy organization focused on economic development and housing solutions in the North Bay region of California. Under her leadership, the council has worked to address critical issues such as affordable housing, transportation, and workforce development. Murray has been instrumental in fostering collaboration among business, government, and community leaders to promote sustainable economic growth in the area.

Advisor
wayne.png

Leonard Weingarten

Vice President of Emeritus Students College of Marin

Leonard Weingarten is a seasoned business and marketing consultant based in San Rafael, California. He has a rich history in developing, marketing, and managing successful business, nonprofit, and civic partnerships, including roles with the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce and the United Way of the Bay Area. Currently, Leonard serves as the Vice President of Emeritus Students College of Marin (ESCOM), where he promotes lifelong learning programs. He also plays an active role in workforce development initiatives, such as the School to Career Partnership, connecting students with local businesses for internships and career exploration.

Fellow
wayne.png

Hap Klopp

Founder and former CEO of The North Face

Hap Klopp is an American entrepreneur best known for founding The North Face, turning it from a small retail store into a global outdoor brand. He served as CEO for over 20 years, expanding the company’s product line and international presence. After leaving The North Face, Klopp became a consultant, author, and mentor, and has served on various boards.

Fellow
wayne.png

Carlos Baradello

Co-Founder of ALAYA Capital Partners and Professor at UC Berkeley and Hult International Business School

Dr. Carlos Baradello is an investor, advisor, public speaker, and university professor specializing in global business, innovation, and entrepreneurship. He draws upon his extensive global academic and business experience, deep technical knowledge, and understanding of the challenges innovators face in organizations of all sizes. Dr. Baradello has worked with numerous entrepreneurs worldwide, providing key insights for high-growth ventures aiming to scale globally. He serves as an adjunct assistant professor at the Barowsky School of Business at Dominican University of California.

Fellow
wayne.png

Jeff Morgen

Principal at Morgen & Morgen, Inc

Jeff Morgen is a seasoned executive with extensive experience in the music industry and startup ventures. He served as Vice President at PolyGram Records, where he played a pivotal role in the company's operations. Currently, he is an Advisor at Marin Sonoma Impact Ventures (MSIV), contributing his expertise to support local startups and entrepreneurs. Morgen is also the Principal at Morgen & Morgen, a consulting firm specializing in business strategy and development. Additionally, he is the former CEO of Hometown Heart, a company focused on community engagement and philanthropy.

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