Who We Are
The New Venture Accelerator supports those who are looking to start a new business or who may need help growing an existing one. We have a team of Entrepreneurs-in-Residence who bring real world experience for the benefit of Auburn University students, faculty, and the local community through coaching, counseling, and mentoring. The New Venture Accelerator is jointly managed and governed by Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business and the Auburn Research and Technology Foundation.
Harbert College of Business
The Park
Lou Bifano
Director, New Venture Accelerator
Scott McGlon
Entrepreneur-in-Residence
Jennifer Nay
Entrepreneur-in-Residence
Greg Cessna
Entrepreneur-in-Residence
Ward Swift
Entrepreneur-in-Residence
Entrepreneur-in-Residence
Phil Fraher
Executive Mentor
Bob Roblin
Entrepreneur-in-Residence
Ayshia Green-Calloway
Program Manager, EDA Grant
Dan O’Keefe
Entrepreneur-in-Residence
Valerie Heffernan
Marketing Intern
Sarah May
Marketing Intern
Hope Petrunic
Marketing Intern
Jill Heffernan
Marketing Intern
Laura Thieman
Marketing Intern
What we do
We guide high potential startups to hone their business skills by teaching them how to conduct market analyses, identify investors, and develop pitch strategies. The accelerator fosters innovation and supports the creation of new business ventures led by entrepreneurs in Auburn-Opelika and surrounding communities.
Best-in-Class facilities
Opened in 2020, the New Venture Accelerator is currently at 100% business startup occupancy in dedicated offices, however, shared working areas are available for startups seeking space.
Our Partners
Finding new and trusted connections who can provide resources for current and aspiring business owners can be a challenge. The organizations shown below are part of the local entrepreneurial ecosystem and are committed to your success.
Lou Bifano
Director, New Venture Accelerator
Lucian (Lou) Bifano is the Director of the university’s New Venture Accelerator and brings extensive business and mergers & acquisition experience to the team.
Scott McGlon
Entrepreneur-in-Residence
Scott McGlon has 26-years of experience in building and managing profitable startups in six different industries: transportation, real estate, manufacturing, e-commerce, retail, and automotive.
Jennifer Nay
Entrepreneur-in-Residence
Jennifer Nay has 32-years of corporate and entrepreneurial experience serving both the financial services sector as well as companies she owned including a veterinary practice, a commercial real estate company, and a construction company.
Greg Cessna
Entrepreneur-in-Residence
Gregg Cessna is an entrepreneurial leader with over 40-years of public and private company experience. Today, Greg is the Chairman and CEO at Consumer Fresh Produce and a Director at several privately held, family-owned businesses.
Ward Swift
Entrepreneur-in-Residence
Ward Swift has 45-years of corporate and entrepreneurial experience with expertise in the areas of healthcare, higher-education, communications, public relations, and marketing.
Barry Thomasson
Entrepreneur-in-Residence
Barry Thomasson has almost 40 years’ experience in the information technology industry. His expertise spans sales deal execution to implementation of sales management processes to developing and managing sales teams.
Phil Fraher
Executive Mentor
Phil Fraher has 30-years of corporate and entrepreneurial experience largely focused in the areas of executive leadership and finance within the technology sector.
Bob Roblin
Entrepreneur-in-Residence
Bob is a serial entrepreneur in the technology sector with five accretive acquisitions and two IPOs over his 40-year career. He enjoys working with entrepreneurs to maximize their value proposition and build a business with satisfied customers.
Hope Petrunic
Marketing Intern
Hope is a senior Marketing student from Prattvile, Alabama and has been working with the New Venture Accelerator since August of 2022.
Valerie Heffernan
Marketing Intern
Valerie is a junior Marketing student from Louisville, Kentucky and has been working with the New Venture Accelerator since March of 2023.
Sarah May
Marketing Intern
Sarah is a junior Marketing student from Nashville, Tennessee and has been working with the New Venture Accelerator since August of 2022.
Jill Heffernan
Marketing Intern
Jill is a sophomore Marketing student from Louisville, Kentucky and has been working with the New Venture Accelerator since September of 2023.
Laura Thieman
Marketing Intern
Laura is a junior Marketing student from Louisville, Kentucky and has been working with the New Venture Accelerator since September of 2023.
Ayshia Green-Calloway
Program Manager, EDA Grant
Ayshia brings over 12 years of experience in workforce development including federal grant management and program coordination.
Dan O’Keefe
Entrepreneur-in-Residence
A management & IT consultant, business leader, and entrepreneur, Dan brings over 30-years of experience building and leading large, international firms, and entrepreneurial start-ups.