I’ve spent a career helping people turn “what if?” into “look what we built!” As Program Coordinator for Old Dominion University’s Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, I worked with dreamers and doers, helping launch startups that went on to generate $3M in new revenue and attract $5.3M in funding. Not bad for a guy from rural Virginia who now claims he’s “semi-retired” (translation: I just pick the projects I actually like).
Along the way, I’ve been a Fortune 500 sales manager, government relations wrangler, Chamber of Commerce exec, tech council board member, and community college director—basically, if there was a committee, I probably had a nameplate. I’m also a retired military veteran, so I know a thing or two about discipline, deadlines, and the occasional hurry-up-and-wait.
These days, I live in Elkton, Virginia with my wife, Sondra—a retired nurse turned potter and painter. She makes art, I make startups (and now AI guides). Together, we keep busy proving retirement is more of a suggestion than a rule.
When I’m not mentoring entrepreneurs, you’ll find me speaking, snapping photos, editing video, or running MyAI Robot Friend—a project dedicated to explaining AI tools without the jargon or hype. Think of me as your friendly translator between “tech speak” and “plain English,” preferably over a strong cup of coffee.
Connect with me on LinkedIn—especially if you like ideas, results, or just need someone to tell you that your pitch deck doesn’t need twelve bullet points per slide.
Steve Goad