Born and raised in Oakland, CA, Bo Ghirardelli '07 has been the founder of four organizations, two not-for-profit and two for-profit. He currently is the co-founder and CEO of skysthelimit.org, a tech nonprofit that connects under-served young entrepreneurs with experienced business advisers & mentors in the United States. Ghirardelli leads a team of 20 people at skysthelimit.org and has raised nearly $4 million in support of their mission. Ghirardelli has also personally advised and mentored over 150 diverse young entrepreneurs

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Jeremy Korst '97 is a technology and marketing executive, investor, and board member. Korst is currently President of GBH Insights, a leading marketing strategy firm, and has past experience as a product management and marketing executive at Microsoft, T-Mobile, AT&T Wireless and Avalara. Korst is a board member, investor and adviser to several startups in the data analytics, IoT and mobile technology space. He also serves on the Executive Board of the Wharton School, where he received his MBA, and as an executive committee member of the Puget Sound Board of Trustees. Korst graduated in 1997 cum laude with a double major in politics & government and economics, and was a recipient of the Matelich Scholarship. Twitter: @korstj

Kevin Kurtz '97 is a marketing expert and entertainment producer with 20 years of experience managing and growing legendary entertainment franchises including Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Pokémon, The Sims and Words With Friends. His work at Lucasfilm, Electronic Arts, Disney/Pixar, and Zynga spanned theatrical, home entertainment, TV and video games across all media platforms. Kurtz has produced and promoted blockbuster films, award-winning documentaries, trailers, TV commercials, video games and mobile/online content delighting audiences of all ages and generating more than $5 billion in revenue worldwide. Now Kurtz is excited to team up with his wife, professional chef/baker Gemma Stafford, to create the #1 online baking brand and destination, BiggerBolderBaking.com. He produces Bigger Bolder Baking and runs their production company, Taste Buds Entertainment, sharing Gemma’s Bold Baking style with the world.

Tina McDougall, Puget Sound class of 1991, is originally from the Tacoma area. After graduation, she earned an MA in International Affairs and an MBA in International Finance from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. There, she became a consultant with KPMG Consulting (later BearingPoint) working with Federal agencies including the Departments of Justice, Defense, Treasury and Homeland Security. After 11 years in DC, McDougall moved back to the Tacoma area with her husband and children and joined Seattle consulting firm, Point b. Her clients included Washington State agencies, BECU, WAMU and the Gates Foundation. In 2013, Tina started her own consulting firm, Trusted Partner, LLC, and has continued working with state agencies providing strategic advice and project management for large IT projects. In 2015, McDougall and her husband purchased a Discovery Map franchise for the Tacoma area and have published and distributed 5 editions of the Tacoma Destination Map, an engaging map for visitors to our area.

Jesse Proudman '07 is a serial tech entrepreneur. His current venture, Strix Leviathan, has developed an algorithmic trading platform for cryptocurrency markets. Previously, Proudman founded cloud computing startup Blue Box from his Puget Sound dorm room, raising more than $20M in venture capital before a successful exit to IBM. Proudman is a passionate advocate for mental health support for startup founders and serves as a mentor and board member for the Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Washington. Proudman graduated from the Business Leadership Program in 2007 and was the recipient of the Matelich Scholarship. Twitter: @jesseproudman

Considered a “coal-faced operator” for his hands on, common sense manufacturing leadership, Scott Reader '91 leads the Rainier Woodworking Company. Founded in 1957, RW produces finely crafted cabinetry and millwork from their Tacoma factory. Scott is also co-founder of Mokom, a web-based developer of tools to facilitate construction processes and job shop/configurable products business. His previous professional experience includes strategic management consultant, investment banker and, most valuable in his estimation, cost accountant. Scott holds a MBA/ Masters in Manufacturing Management (MMM) from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in addition to a BS in Economics from UPS where he was part of the Business Leadership Program. He has also participated in the technology-led Founders Institute and is a facilitator/coach with ELI (Entrepreneurial Leadership Initiative). His family is active supporters of Tacoma Public School’s IDEA (Industrial Design, Engineering & Art) High School in partnership with the Elements of Education Foundation. Scott lives in Tacoma with his wife, a landscape architect (and entrepreneur), and son where he skis, hikes, supports local breweries, coaches soccer, and runs the Pt. Defiance trails.

David J. Watson graduated as a Communications Major from the University of Puget Sound in 1992. Watson’s career as a tech inventor has led him to stints in Rockport, Maine; New York City; Ann Arbor, Michigan; Burbank, California; and eventually the San Francisco Bay Area.

Prominent companies that he has held leadership roles with or helped invent new technology for include: Disney/ABC Television, Sega, Samsung, Mattel, Scholastic and Netflix. David has a couple of handfuls of patents and two Emmy Awards to his credit.

In 2015, Watson founded a company that attempted to separate the signal from the noise in large group communications. He is currently starting a second company building an Augmented Reality platform to help property managers/sellers document and expose the hidden features and information about their internal spaces.

In 2003, Watson returned to Puget Sound to join the National Alumni Board and helped transition that volunteer group to a much more inclusive and expansive network of alumni enthusiasts. Watson served as President of the newly formed Alumni Council Executive Committee from 2008-2014 and joined the Puget Sound Board of Trustees in 2016.

David Watson is a strong believer that inclusive actions lead to a more diverse and cooperative world.