The People Powering our Mission

SEG’s impact starts with people. Our dedicated staff, board, and volunteer advisors bring their talent, passion, and lived experience to support social entrepreneurs throughout Rhode Island.

Meet the Team

Our Team

Adriana Del Carmen Rios

Senior Manager, Incubator Program

Adriana Del Carmen Rios

Senior Manager, Incubator Program

Hablo español | She/Ella/Ellas

In my role... I run the Incubator program which provides a supportive environment for entrepreneurs to refine their ventures and continue developing their products or services.

What I love about my role is... I get to see the full growth journey, where participants begin, what they achieve along the way, and how early ideas evolve into real ventures that create impact.

Ask me about... When can I apply? When does the program start? What am I going to learn? What kind of support am I going to receive?

Email:adelcarmenrios@segreenhouse.org

Akisch Lenus

Senior Manager, Partnerships & Alumni

Akisch Lenus

Senior Manager, Partnerships & Alumni

He/Him/His

In my role... I help entrepreneurs stay connected to SEG long after they complete our programs by building meaningful relationships, creating opportunities for continued growth, and connecting them to the people, resources, and partnerships that help them succeed.

What I love about my role is... Building relationships and creating connections that open doors for entrepreneurs, partners, and community leaders to collaborate and grow together.

Ask me about... Scale Lab, Growth Lab, alumni engagement, strategic partnerships, university partnerships, mentor and advisor connections, Lunch & Learns, and opportunities to get involved with SEG.

Email:alenus@segreenhouse.org

Alexandra Goyette

Chief Operating Officer

Alexandra Goyette

Chief Operating Officer

She/Her/Hers

In my role... I build and manage the systems behind SEG so our team can focus on supporting entrepreneurs and strengthening our community.

What I love about my role is... I get to work at the intersection of passionate entrepreneurs and a deeply committed team. Creating the environment where both can do their best work is what energizes me every day.

Ask me about... Operations, HR, systems building, and what it takes to support both a mission-driven team and the entrepreneurs we serve.

Email:agoyette@segreenhouse.org

Alex Hammer Ducas

Head of Capital Programs and Partnerships

Alex Hammer Ducas

Head of Capital Programs and Partnerships

She/Her/Hers

In my role... I help connect entrepreneurs to the right capital to help their businesses grow and scale. I also lead our work with non-profits supporting their own sustainability and growth.

What I love about my role is... I love working directly with entrepreneurs and non-profit leaders, helping them problem solve and create sustainable solutions and organizations.

Ask me about... Scale Lab, Capital Navigation, Microgrant, and Loan Fund

Email:ahammerducas@segreenhouse.org

Anza Hayat

Senior Manager, Capital Access

Anza Hayat

Senior Manager, Capital Access

She/Her/Hers

In my role... I connect Rhode Island's small business owners and social entrepreneurs to the capital, tools, and guidance they need to build businesses that are financially strong and do good in the world

What I love about my role is... Every day I get to sit at the intersection of community and capital, helping people who are building something meaningful figure out how to fund it and sometimes that means being in the room when someone realizes their idea is fundable for the first time. That never gets old.

Ask me about... The full landscape of funding options for small businesses and social enterprises, from microloans and revolving loan funds to grants and equity investment and how to figure out which ones are actually right for you.

Email:ahayat@segreenhouse.org

Elle Koo

Manager, Impact & Engagement

Elle Koo

Manager, Impact & Engagement

She/Her/Hers

In my role... I manage SEG’s volunteer Advisor program connecting industry professionals to entrepreneurs using businesses to create more equitable and sustainable communities.

What I love about my role is... Working with a dedicated staff to help such interesting and diverse social entrepreneurs realize and grow their innovative solutions that make RI a better place to live.

Ask me about... How you can volunteer and advise social entrepreneurs, make a donation or create an organizational partnership with SEG.

Email:ekoo@segreenhouse.org

Emily Ford

Accelerator Program Lead

Emily Ford

Accelerator Program Lead

She/Her/Hers

In my role... I lead the SEG Accelerator Program, helping ventures grow sustainably and scale their impact. I coordinate advisors to lead weekly Accelerator classes on a variety of business topics, providing entrepreneurs with the knowledge and hands on tools to successfully grow their businesses. I connect entrepreneurs to resources and advisory support to achieve their strategic impact and funding goals. I help you develop a succinct pitch to tell your story and drive results.

What I love about my role is... Supporting such diverse and talented entrepreneurs in achieving their goals; I’m inspired by their passion and resilience in developing innovative and creative solutions to positively impact us all.

Ask me about... SEG Programs, Accelerator Program, What differentiates the Accelerator? Who is a good fit for the program? How can I apply? Who are Accelerator alumni? How can I get involved in volunteering for programs?

Email:eford@segreenhouse.org

Julie Owens

Chief Executive Officer

Julie Owens

Chief Executive Officer

She/Her/Hers

In my role... I cultivate a greenhouse where 10 amazing staff members, along with hundreds of volunteer advisors, equip social entrepreneurs with the knowledge, capital, and connections they need to build a more just, equitable, and resilient economy.

What I love about my role is... It's where I get to activate my optimism every day, surrounded by entrepreneurs who are building innovative solutions to society’s most intractable challenges. It is my dream job!

Ask me about... What a social enterprise really is (a business model that is financially sustainable AND does good in the world!) and the dozens that I'm rooting for as a customer … including The Nest, PlantDocs, and Wheelhouse Health.

Email:jowens@segreenhouse.org

Liz Connell

Senior Manager, Community Engagement

Liz Connell

Senior Manager, Community Engagement

She/Her/Hers

In my role... I help tell SEG's story, connect our community to opportunities, and support programs and events that help entrepreneurs grow and thrive.

What I love about my role is... Bringing entrepreneurs' stories to life! I love being able to visually capture whether through video or on social media the impact social entrepreneurs in Rhode Island and beyond have.

Ask me about... Communications, social media, storytelling, SEG’s newsletter, events, interning at SEG, team building initiatives, and SEG’s website.

Email:econnell@segreenhouse.org

Marisa Creed

Manager, Coworking Community

Marisa Creed

Manager, Coworking Community

She/Her/Hers

In my role... I run the coworking hub and I’m focused on creating a fun and diverse community!

What I love about my role is... I love the people at SEG and our coworkers who are the most interesting and friendly people

Ask me about... Coworking tours, community offerings and event rentals

Email:mcreed@segreenhouse.org

Stefanie Engelhardt

Chief Program Officer

Stefanie Engelhardt

Chief Program Officer

She/Her/Hers

In my role... My job is to make sure that people receive the knowledge they need to grow and scale impactful ventures that make a difference in the communities they serve.

What I love about my role is... love designing programs and helping people obtain the knowledge, connections, and resources they need to succeed in their goals.

Ask me about... All programs