Rachel Stern Email & Phone Number

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

CIMA is a trade association made up of cellulose insulation producers and affiliated members dedicated to ensuring the highest quality cellulose insulation products and standards. The association also provides timely and useful information about cellulose insulation and other valuable information to its members, regulatory officials, industry professionals, and homeowners.In my role, I am responsible for expanding the membership base of the organization and promoting awareness of the benefits of cellulose insulation. I also work with partners on expanding policies favorable to the sustainable building materials industry, such as improving building codes to support energy efficiency and save homeowners money.

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Medvec & Associates is a boutique consulting firm focused on high-stakes negotiations and decision-making. I supported some of the firm's biggest clients, including Google, McDonald's, Oliver Wyman, Microsoft, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Grainger, YPO, and many others (2019-2021). I also handle all contracts on behalf of the company (2019-present).

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

Pink Buffalo Consulting provides a wide range of services to small businesses. I primarily advise businesses with their strategy and operations, support administrative functions, and review contracts.Additional services I offer include working with startups and individuals in developing slide decks and copy editing documents. I have developed numerous decks for investor presentations, and my slides have been used for seed funding and in Series A-C rounds. I also copy edit documents ranging from personal statements to federal government contractor grant proposals, which reflect the voice of the author and the appropriate tone for the reader.

Equipt Women is a Member-driven community and empowerment organization with a singular mission: to help young professional women achieve early career and life momentum. We share decades of experience in small bursts of learning and discussion. We connect you with your peers and with mentors. We help you become more informed, connected and inspired. And yes, more equipped.In my role as Community Manager, I was responsible for external communication to our Members and Mentor Collective. I worked with our internal team to ensure that all of the curriculum and offerings ran smoothly, providing benefit to our inaugural cohort in making the program a valuable experience.

Buffalo/Niagara, New York Area

CleanFiber (formerly UltraCell Insulation) makes high-performance building insulation from recycled corrugated cardboard. My role supported the CEO, key stakeholders, and other team members with legal, financial, and administrative needs. Throughout our Series A round of fundraising and preceding bridge rounds (2017-2018, 2020-2021), I communicated with investors to follow-up on their financial support, responded to questions, and oversaw the execution of all legal documents. Additionally, I assisted the sales team (2021-2022) in serving the various distributors, installers, and other customers who used our cellulose insulation in people's homes and commercial properties.

Orlando, Florida Area

The Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership (CEL) at the University of Central Florida strives to make entrepreneurship an essential part of the UCF experience through competency-based academic and experiential education initiatives.I supported the mission of the CEL by assisting in the planning, creation, and implementation of new entrepreneurship education programs, as well as continuously improving existing programs. This included managing operations for the Blackstone LaunchPad, which offers one-on-one coaching for students and recent alumni looking to turn their research and ideas into companies.

Blackstone LaunchPad at the University at Buffalo is a campus-based entrepreneurship program, designed to support and mentor students, staff, and alumni.Key Responsibilities:● Implemented and directed the BLASERS program: a leadership program for undergrads, the BLASERS (Blackstone LaunchPad Ambassadors for Student Engagement and Recruitment) assist with promotion of Blackstone workshops, events, and services.● Venture Coach: guided over 140 students, faculty, staff, and alumni from concept to launch of their business venture. Once my knowledge and skills were exhausted, I referred individuals to appropriate campus and community resources based on their particular business and needs. ● Event and workshop planning: larger events included Three Minute Thesis, the Bulls Launch Pitch Competition, and a Social Innovation Conference featuring keynote speaker Seth Godin. Also contributed to the schedule of workshops, invited guest speakers, and occasionally led workshops by myself.● Served as a liaison between the LaunchPad and other initiatives related to entrepreneurship on campus and in the community.Key Accomplishments:● Social Impact Fellowship: authored proposal and awarded a $50,000 President’s Circle grant to establish a summer-long internship for 16 students to work on projects with a social mission at one of eight host organizations in Summer 2017 (program has been renewed annually through 2020).● Asked by Blackstone and university leadership to coach fifteen PhD candidates and nine post-doctoral candidates for separate competitions (each with financial awards). Coaching emphasis was on presentation and public speaking skills.

The Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership (CEL) provides an individualized and interactive education in entrepreneurship, designed by entrepreneurs and for entrepreneurs. Though most of the programs offered by CEL are for community members with existing companies, my role was to help students turn their research and ideas into startup businesses.Key Responsibilities:● Recruited students for the Panasci Technology Entrepreneurship Competition and eLab course, which entailed marketing around campus, meeting with students, presenting to classes, and encouraging those in technological fields to start companies.● Built relationships with UB professors to persuade them to promote student business competitions and mentor teams. ● Collaborated with off-campus partners on methods to increase student startups and attract more students to the downtown business corridors.● Served on the Steering Committee for the Student 2 Biz Regional Competition, which involved planning logistics, recruiting UB students, and facilitating on the day of the event.Key Accomplishments:● Advised over 50+ student-led startup business (September 2014 - March 2016). Six won business plan competitions, and one in particular has won over $130,000 in seed funding.● Increased participation in eLab course by over 50% from Winter 2015 to Winter 2016.

In this role, I supported Academies staff with the daily operations of UB’s Living & Learning Community. This included marketing events, assisting staff in program and event planning, and handling administrative tasks.The staff asked me to co-chair the 2014 Annual Retreat, a weekend of teambuilding activities and group discussions for 70 students to learn more about UB, the Academies, and Buffalo. In this capacity, I helped coordinate logistics of the event and recruited students to facilitate group sessions. With two guests from the community, I created and led an activity and discussion about preservation and sustainability of Buffalo's historic buildings.

The College Success Center is an initiative under M&T Bank's Buffalo Promise Neighborhood. Classroom space was awarded through a grant in partnership with the University at Buffalo's Graduate School of Education.My primary responsibility was to coach over 120 high school seniors and their parents on the college admissions and financial aid processes. In addition, I presented workshops on SAT preparation, online career tools, and college readiness to nearly 300 sophomores and juniors. To help the overwhelmed staff in the guidance department, I registered 100 students for the SAT, referred students to additional support services, and calculated each senior’s grades and Regents scores to determine graduation eligibility.

Doctor Of Law (J.D.)

Activities and Societies: Buffalo Human Rights Center Student Advisory Board; esCHOIR a capella groupINTERNSHIP: Legal Intern.

Master Of Business Administration (M.B.A.)

Activities and Societies: Graduate Giving Council; Buffalo MBA Consulting Group (Director of Human Resources, 2015-2016); Graduate.

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), International Studies, Focus In The Middle East And Africa, Magna Cum Laude

Activities and Societies: Hillel of Buffalo; Undergraduate AcademiesADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES/HONORS: • Undergraduate Teaching Assistant.

Education record

- Study abroad program Fall 2011; took classes in Political Science, Sociology, and Music - Volunteer with West Africa AIDS Foundation.