Entrepreneurs in Residence

John Schloff is a growth professional at heart, with 25+ years of marketing leadership experience across a diverse number of companies and industries, with executive roles that include strategy, marketing, product management, general management and new business development. He is adept at re-inventing customer processes to deliver greater value, specializes in taking emerging technologies into traditional markets and has launched over 50 new products/businesses.

He believes an aligned and motivated team can outperform a single superstar every day of the week.  He has substantial global leadership experience, has lived and worked abroad and believes diversity is a cornerstone of success, and that a leader’s job is to create an environment for people to win. Schloff has forever dreamed of parachuting out of a plane but has yet found the guts to do it.

✉️ john.schloff@simon.rochester.edu

David Mammano is a seasoned entrepreneur, author, and keynote speaker who has dedicated his career to helping people unlock their potential. With over 25 years of experience in business and education, he has launched multiple companies, written books, and inspired countless entrepreneurs through his talks, workshops, and podcast. Passionate about business, leadership, and personal growth, David combines real-world insights with humor to keep audiences engaged and motivated.

When he’s not busy changing lives, you can find him drinking excessive amounts of limoncello, trying to convince his kids to listen to him, or searching for his reading glasses—which are usually on his head.

✉️ david@davidmammano.com

Kate Washington is an adjunct professor of Entrepreneurship at the Simon School of Business and Managing Partner of Enterprise Solutions International (ESI), a consulting firm that helps small and mid-sized businesses grow through creative development strategies and strong financial, operational, and economic expertise. Her work has spanned North America, South America, Asia, and Africa, including building public/private energy partnerships with government leaders in the Caribbean and South America.

Deeply engaged in civic leadership, Kate has championed women’s and racial equity, the arts, and community development. She has held leadership roles with the Women’s Coalition of St. Croix, Women’s Foundation of Genesee Valley, and the NYS Coalition Against Sexual Assault, and currently serves on several nonprofit and advisory boards.

Kate holds a Bachelor of Music from Syracuse University, studied jazz arranging at Berklee College of Music, and earned her MBA from the Simon School.

✉️ kwashin3@simon.rochester.edu

Roberto D. Colangelo is an accomplished academic and business leader with expertise in strategy, entrepreneurship, and global marketing. As an Executive Professor at the Simon Business School, he combines professional experience with a passion for mentoring future business leaders. Roberto also leads Colangelo Innovation Group, helping companies innovate and expand into emerging markets, focusing on government modernization, biotechnology, and energy. His career includes leadership roles at Price Waterhouse, Bausch & Lomb, Xerox, Kodak, and start-ups, raising over $50 million in venture capital.

Beyond his professional work, Roberto is active in community organizations like WXXI PBS and St. John Fisher College and has coached soccer for over 15 years. He holds degrees in Economics and Business Administration from the University of Buenos Aires and SUNY, along with a Master’s in Economic Development. His honors include the Clifford W. Smith, Jr. Simon EMBA Superior Teaching Award and recognition as Hispanic Business Person of the Year.

✉️ rcolang2@simon.rochester.edu
    

Scott Walker currently serves as the Director of Finance and Operations for Capital Projects at the University of Rochester. His professional journey began with nurturing a small family business in his hometown of Shortsville, NY with interests in golf, real estate, construction, and commercial plowing. Notably, he served as Director of Business Engagement at a Rochester ClimateTech startup, joining as its 1st employee.

At the startup, Scott’s responsibilities spanned from day-to-day financial management to spearheading marketing and sales initiatives. He collaborated closely with the company’s founders, playing a pivotal role in securing capital and managing investor relations. His diverse skill set positioned him as an adept resource for fostering the growth of early-stage ventures.

In his current capacity as the Director of Finance and Operations for Capital Projects, Scott holds oversight of financial management for two of the most substantial construction endeavors in the University of Rochester’s history. He is responsible for the management of over $1B in capital projects.

Scott also actively contributes to the entrepreneurial community as a frequent guest speaker and judge for Entrepreneurship classes and events at the Simon School. Outside his professional pursuits, he invests in local real estate, owning and managing rental properties in the Rochester area.

✉️ swalk18@facilities.rochester.edu

Dina Uzri, PhD, MBA is the Technology Development Program Director at UR Ventures at the University of Rochester, where she supports the advancement and commercialization of university-developed technologies. In this role, she works closely with faculty, students, and startup teams to help translate research discoveries from the lab to the market, with a focus on building strong value propositions and commercialization strategies.

Prior to moving to Rochester, Dina spent 12 years in San Diego working at the intersection of science, business, and entrepreneurship. She began her career at early-stage biotech startups, gained commercial experience at a global healthcare company, and later served as Site Head for BioLabs San Diego, a premier biotech incubator supporting startup teams and the regional innovation ecosystem. She has broad experience across R&D, product development, business development, marketing analytics, fundraising, and strategic planning, and is a co-inventor on three awarded patents.

Dina holds a Ph.D. in Virology from Harvard University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford University. She also earned a Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation through the Ignite Program at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and an MBA from UC San Diego.

Through her work, teaching, and leadership, Dina is passionate about bridging science and business to help innovators turn breakthrough research into meaningful real-world solutions.

✉️ dina_uzri@URMC.Rochester.edu

Truptesh H. Kothari, MD, MS, FACG, FASGE is a nationally and internationally recognized physician–leader in advanced endoscopy with a proven track record of building high-impact clinical programs, leading multidisciplinary teams, and driving innovation within academic health systems. An Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center, he has founded and directed multiple enterprise-level initiatives, including the Bariatric Endoscopy Program and the Developmental Endoscopy Lab, translating strategic vision into sustainable clinical growth, regional access expansion, and measurable quality outcomes. Dr. Kothari is known for aligning clinical excellence with operational efficiency, faculty development, and education, and currently serves in national leadership as Vice Chair of the ASGE Endoscopic Ultrasound Special Interest Group.

With extensive experience in program development, resource allocation, stakeholder engagement, and national and international collaboration—and complemented by formal business training through a Professional MBA—he brings a systems-level, growth-oriented approach to academic and healthcare leadership

✉️ tkothar2@simon.rochester.edu