Mr. John Bradley Jackson, Center Director

John Bradley Jackson is Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship at California State University, Fullerton. At CSUF Jackson is a fulltime professor with expertise in New Venture Creation and New Venture Launch.  Known affectionately as "Professor JJ", Jackson brings startup experience along with practical marketing and sales knowledge to the classroom from both Silicon Valley and Wall Street. He is founder of the CSUF Startup Incubator which has helped launch over 100 startups. 

In 2022, Jackson was awarded a $1.1Mil grant from the state of California to create a social entrepreneurship ecosystem in north Orange County. Jackson was also awarded two grants from the National Science Foundation. The first grant was a $50,000 grant for the I-CORPS program which embraced “Lean Startup.” The second award was a $1,000,000 I-Test grant; this grant stimulated junior high students to learn more about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). 

The Orange County Business Journal named Jackson as a member of the “OC500” in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 which honors the most influential people Orange County. Jackson was also nominated as the OCBJ’s “2020 Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award” for this work in the startup community; he was nominated again in 2022. 

In 2016 Jackson founded Titan Angels, LLC, which is a seed investment fund that focuses on scalable ventures in the southern California region. Jackson serves as fund manager. He later founded Titan Angels II, LLC which also invests in scalable startups. In 2022 Jackson founded The Youth Development Fund, LLC which is devoted to global EdTech investments. 

Jackson's career began in high technology sales in the semiconductor industry at Signetics Inc., but he soon moved to high technology market research with Dataquest Incorporated. At Dataquest, he served as Vice President for nearly ten years and held a variety of roles in sales, marketing, and research. Jackson was VP of Sales and Marketing at TechVenture Research, a Madison Avenue technology market research firm. He later led the global sales effort at Communication Industry Research as VP of Sales. Later, he joined Bowne and Company, the world's largest financial printer, and served as Senior Vice President responsible for sales, marketing, and operations. Jackson also was Managing Director at Forrester Research Inc., an Information Technology advisory firm.

As an entrepreneur, Jackson founded The BirdDog Group, a marketing and sales consulting firm that specializes in helping small and medium sized businesses with marketing and sales strategy. In particular, he is an expert in digital marketing including social media, web development and sales management. He also founded Lighthouse Research, a high technology research firm. 

Jackson is the author of five books. In 2007, Jackson wrote the book "First, Best, or Different: What Every Entrepreneur Needs to Know About Niche Marketing;" the book received rave reviews for its easy-to-read style and common sense approach. His second book is called "Déjà New Marketing" and was published in 2010. His third book is called “Socially Close: Social Media Marketing for Small Business” and was published in 2014. His fourth book was “Your Entrepreneurial Journey: Fifteen Guiding Principles” was published in 2014. Jackson also wrote “Creating New Ventures” in 2017 which profiled over 150 Orange County entrepreneurs. 

Jackson is very active in the southern California business and philanthropic community having served on numerous boards including: 

• InMotion LLC, Adviser, 2022 to present
• Youthink Academy, Adviser, 2021 to present
• Orange County CEO Leadership Alliance, Advisory Board Member, 2020 to present
• Educated Brothers, LLC, Adviser, 2019 to present
• Nui LLC, Adviser, 2018 to 2020
• Appoon LLC, Adviser, 2018 to present 
• TriTech SBDC, Board Member, 2016 to 2018 
• Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Board Member, 2012 to present
• Global Vision Holdings, Incorporated, Board of Director, 2012 to 2016
• O2Free LLC, Advisory Board Member, 2014 to 2016
• BrandMixer, Incorporated, Board Member, 2011 to 2014
• Southern California Junior Achievement, Board Member, 1998 to 2005
• Los Angeles Triathlon, Board Member, 2002 to 2004
• Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games, Board Member, 1999 to 2000
• Los Angeles Sports Council, Board Member, 1996 to 2002
• Los Angeles Venture Association, Board Member 1996 to 2001
• Orange County Venture Network, Board Member 1997 to 2001
• United Way, Board Member, 1987 to 1992

His resume also includes blogger, public speaker, and horseman. Jackson owns a small horse ranch in Norco, California with his wife and daughter.  

Dr. Michael D. Ames, Chairman of the Advisory Board

Michael Ames’ mission is to advance free enterprise. He has helped people lead and become successful for over thirty years. Dr. Ames has provided in-depth counseling to over thirteen hundred business owners. He has encouraged thousands of business school faculty, students, and entrepreneurs to develop their leadership potential, serve their community, and to become the best that they can be.

Dr. Ames’ Small Business Institute® has won 39 awards for outstanding student consulting to small business owners from the U. S. Small Business Administration, including six regional awards (top ten in the nation) in 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1996; and two national first place awards in 1992 and 1996. His Institute has also won sixteen Regional awards from the successor competition conducted by the Small Business Institute Directors Association (SBIDA), and ten national awards in 1996 (1st), 1997(1st), 1998(1st), 2000 (2nd) 2001(1st), 2002 (1st), 2003 (2nd), 2004 (1st), 2005 (1st), 2006 (2nd) and 2007 (1st).

Dr. Ames has received the Sargent Americanism Award of the Society of Manufacturing Engineering Education Foundation. He holds a Leavey Award for Excellence in Private Enterprise Education from the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge in recognition of his Institute's innovative work with MBA students. Dr. Ames has also received a Showcase Award from the Small Business Institute Director Association recognizing his progressive and innovative Institute. In February 2000, Dr. Ames was named a fellow of SBIDA in recognition of his outstanding guidance of student field case projects.

Dr. Ames founded the multi-disciplinary entrepreneurial management program at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) and its successor program, the College of Business and Economics Entrepreneurship Concentration. Reflecting Dr. Ames’ teaching philosophy, the concentration gives students the opportunity to study the art and science of entrepreneurial leadership, counsel small businesses, and to plan and launch their own businesses, all with expert coaching from successful entrepreneurs. Dr. Ames has been the faculty advisor for entrepreneurship students since 1989. He has been named Faculty Advisor of the Year by the national convention of the Association of Collegiate Entrepreneurs. Many of his graduates are successful business owners. More than one company owned by one of Dr. Ames' former students has earned a place on the INC. 500.

In June 2003, a CSUF team, with Dr. Ames as Principal Investigator, was awarded a grant from the U. S. Small Business Administration to lead the Small Business Development Center program in Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. The initial grant was for six months ($800,000). The grant was renewed in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 ($1,600,000 per year). As part of the grant, CSUF hosted the TriTech Small Business Development Center from June 2003 to December 2005. TriTech is dedicated to fast tracking the development of innovative, high-tech companies in hardware/software, telecommunications and bioscience in the three-county region. Overseen by Michael D. Ames, Tri Tech had $44,000,000 in documented economic impact during calendar years 2004 and 2005. Other centers overseen by Dr. Ames in 2004-2007 added an additional $194,000,000 in documented economic impact for the region. Dr. Ames is nationally known for his work on integrated service delivery models for economic development via private enterprise, technical development and funding. The models stress building wide networks with professional depth to provide technical, managerial, financial, and commercialization coaching to aspiring entrepreneurs and company founders.

Dr. Ames holds a Ph. D. in Business and Economics from Claremont Graduate University. He is a Full Professor of Management at California State University, Fullerton. The College of Business and Economics at CSUF is the second largest AACSB accredited business program in the nation. Dr. Ames has been the Small Business Institute Director at the College since 1978 and the founding Center for Entrepreneurship Director since 2001. Dr. Ames has published numerous works on management subjects in blind, peer-reviewed journals, including: “How Best to Form Micro-Cap Markets? Infrastructure Elements and Working Models,” “The Small Business Equity Capital Situation: An Economic Development Perspective,” “Business Incubators as Economic Development Tools: Rethinking Models Based on the Korea Experience,” “Field Case Consulting: Ten Keys for Success,” “Transforming Consultant’s Recommendations into Business Improvement: A Model and Action Agenda.” He wrote a textbook entitled Small Business Management (West Publishing Company), and with the cooperation of 127 successful chief executive officers, Pathways to Success (Thompson Publishing Co.) -- a book, workshop and related materials about what it takes to achieve leadership success in our free enterprise system.

Commenting on his career, Dr. Ames says, “As I have taught in my writings and in class, you cannot finish until you start. Give yourself permission to succeed in our free enterprise system. Step forward, set a positive example, and earn respect. Leadership is an equal opportunity employer.”

Mayan Jimenez, Administrator

Mayan has been instrumental in the hosting of the Titan Fast Pitch, end of semester panels, and our mentor program. She is also proving to be a great asset in working with students, professors, community members, and CSUF staff members in addition to all of her administrative duties.

One of the reasons why Mayan has proven to be an integral part of the CSUF Entrepreneurship program is because she graduated with her degree in Entrepreneurship from Cal State Fullerton in 2019. Like all of our students, Mayan participated and excelled in consulting projects with local businesses. Mayan recently earned her Masters of Professional Accountancy from UC Riverside.

In addition to her work at CSUF, Mayan enjoys going on adventures with family and friends. Whether that is skydiving or flying through the sky in a hot air balloon mayan is up for an adventure.

Charlesetta Medina, Consulting Program Manager

Experienced Program Manager, Client Services, demostrated results in varying fields including direct sales, higher education and non-profit sector. Strong history of entrpreneurhsip in non-profit and small business sectors. Excels in new business development, organizational process improvement, marketing, and training.Experienced Program Manager, Client Services, demostrated results in varying fields including direct sales, higher education and non-profit sector. Strong history of entrpreneurhsip in non-profit and small business sectors. Excels in new business development, organizational process improvement, marketing, and training.

Phillip Stinis, Startup Business Consultant, Incubator Manager, and Entrepreneur in Residence

Over 20 years of leading teams to deliver world-class products ahead of schedule and under budget creating a win-win for our stakeholders. I thrive in ambiguity, self-direction, and the resources of team to come up with creative solutions that exceed partners expectations.

Background in Strategy, Business Development, Program Management, Electrical Engineering, Entrepreneurship/ Intrapreneurship from Fortune 100 companies to startups. Outside the box strategic leader with excellent interpersonal and managerial skills.

Victor Macias, Consultant

Victor Macias is a serial entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience building successful businesses across various industries. He has a diverse background, starting from a young age with small ventures such as selling candy, washing cars, and mowing lawns.

He launched Male Standard, a successful men's lifestyle magazine, collaborating with brands such as Gillette, GMC, Heineken, and Unilever. He co-founded Nui Foods, a CPG snack food company that developed the world's first keto cookie and scaled the brand to over 7 figures in under 2 years, landing a deal on ABC's Shark Tank and raising over $100K in crowdfunding.

Victor also coaches business owners, helping them create thriving companies that align with their strengths, talents, and skills. As a co-founder of Junto Lab, Victor is leveraging artificial intelligence to help entrepreneurs build better businesses by providing innovative tools and expert insights. His commitment to helping others grow their ventures is at the heart of Junto Lab's mission to create a lasting impact on the entrepreneurial community.

Victor has been featured on Forbes, Inc, Business Insider, CNBC, Yahoo Finance, and the Joe Rogan Experience. Visit his website, VictorMacias.com, to learn more.

You can find Victor at: https://www.victormacias.com/

Travis Lindsay, Consultant

Travis is a highly experienced educator, coach, investor, and social entrepreneur. He has made significant contributions to the growth and success of California State University, Fullerton's Center for Entrepreneurship, and was instrumental in founding the university's first incubator, the CSUF Startup Incubator. In addition, Travis is a co-founder of Titan Angels, LLC, an investment fund that specializes in early-stage companies.

One of Travis' greatest passions is educating and mentoring the next generation of business leaders, particularly in the field of social entrepreneurship. He has worked closely with hundreds of students and community members, both inside and outside the classroom, providing expert guidance and feedback on a wide range of business-related topics, including pro forma financial forecasting, integrated marketing plans, and operational strategies. As a co-founder of Titan Angels, Travis also provides invaluable feedback to founders, helping them to better position their companies in the marketplace.

Travis is also a co-founder of Junto Lab, an innovative venture aimed at leveraging artificial intelligence to empower entrepreneurs by providing them with essential tools, content, and insights to grow their businesses. Through Junto Lab, Travis continues his mission of helping business leaders harness cutting-edge technology to achieve success.

Through his tireless dedication to social entrepreneurship education, Travis has become a respected thought leader in the field, inspiring countless individuals to pursue business ventures that create positive social and environmental impact. His vision and leadership have had a transformative effect on the entrepreneurial community at California State University, Fullerton, and beyond.