Our Team
Mary Beth Jarvis
President & CEO
Mary Beth joined in 2019 to launch NXTUS’ NXTSTAGE Startup Programs, which accelerate the growth of innovative early-stage companies by helping them gain customer traction with Kansas businesses and communities. Previously, she led Wichita Festivals, spent 15 years at Koch Industries, and served as Captain in the U.S. Air Force.
Mary Beth is an active community leader for the Greater Wichita YMCA, Visit Wichita and other organizations. She was named one of 50 Kansans You Should Know, and a Wichita Business Journal Newsmaker, Innovator, and Hall of Fame honoree for the 40 Under 40 and Women in Business programs.
Amber Dunn
Program Manager
Amber is a Wichita native and graduate of Wichita State University. She began her career at RSM Marketing working within several roles on the Account Service team, has worked with local startups in the personal wellness space, and has a natural desire to support entrepreneurial-minded companies gain traction in their business.
In her spare time, Amber teaches group fitness classes and enjoys spending time with her partner, Peter, and their two big dogs. Amber joined the NXTUS team in 2022 and puts her entrepreneurial spirit into creating and managing the NXTSTAGE Customer Traction Cohort and Enterprise Engagement Series programs.
Symbria Hansen
Program Manager
Symbria has joined NXTUS as a Program Manager, bringing her extensive experience to the table. With a background in customer success, strategic partnerships, and transformative leadership spanning over a decade, she's looking forward to contributing her insights within the NXTSTAGE Pilot Programs. Symbria is skilled in driving proactive account management, nurturing client relationships, and utilizing data analytics.
With a strong dedication to NXTUS's vision and collaboration, she's eager to support and contribute to the community and businesses involved. Beyond work, Symbria enjoys time with her husband and two children as well as being an active member in the women's fitness community.
Conor Adler
Program Manager
Having commenced his professional journey in the banking sector in Boston, Conor has immersed himself in the dynamic landscape of early-stage startups within the Chicagoland area over the past four years. Serving as a seasoned operator, he has seamlessly transitioned through diverse roles encompassing operations, finance, sales, and marketing. His expertise has been instrumental in driving growth and orchestrating successful go-to-market strategies for startups specializing in e-commerce, SaaS, and supply chain domains.
Embracing the challenges of his current role, Conor saw the opportunity to leverage his extensive experience as a startup operator to mobilize capital, contributing significantly to the ongoing expansion of the Heartland’s vibrant startup ecosystem.
Elleigh Peters
Communication Coordinator
A recent graduate from Kansas State University with a degree in Strategic Communications, Elleigh actively leans into any community she is a part of. At K-State, she was a member of the K-State dance team, the Classy Cats, and went above and beyond by taking on the role of event coordinator during her tenure. With her past experience as NXTUS's communication and marketing intern, coupled with her academic knowledge from Kansas State University, Elleigh leads the design, creation, and deployment of our communication products and executes effective community outreach strategies for NXTUS and Accelerate Venture Partners.
Outside of her professional role, Elleigh finds joy in spending quality time with friends and family. She is passionate about staying active, particularly enjoying hot yoga classes. During weekends, you'll often find her cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs and exploring new and exciting restaurants around Wichita!
Board of Directors
Erik Pedersen
Chair
President and COO, NetWork Kansas
Trish Brasted
Treasurer
President, Entrepreneurial Growth Ventures, NetWork Kansas
Luis Rodriguez
Secretary
John Messman
Vice Chair
Principal Partner, Messman Group LLC
Josh Oeding
Founder and General Partner, Tenzing Capital
V. Kaye Monk-Morgan
President and CEO, Kansas Leadership Center
Evan Rosell
Executive Vice President of Operations for the Greater Wichita Partnership
Gary Oborny
CEO, Occidental Management
Tonya Witherspoon
Associate VP, Industry Engagement and Applied Learning,
Wichita State University
Abel Frederic
VP of Community Impact,
United Way of the Plains
Program
Advisors
Blake Benton
Coming Together for a Cure
Shae Blevins
Knowledge as a Service
Alejo Cabral
Create Campaign
Meghan Carver
Lead for America
Scott Elpers
Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce
Janeshia Wilson
Wichita State University
Miguel Johns
*mmnt
Cara Kliewer
CK Communications
Janice Perkins
Capacity
Dave Cunningham
Flint Hills Group
Ian Worrell
Wichita Shredding
Kristyn Waits
Wichita State University
Abigail Werhan
Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine
James Williams
Black Hills Energy
Ramsey Jamoul
Unified Esports Association
Zeeshan Khan
Wichita State University
Troy Tabor
Wichita State University