2026 Mentors

Barb Baker

Barb is a seasoned professional with more than 30 years of experience in multiple areas of property-casualty insurance, marketing, advertising, curriculum development, training, management, and community relations.

Jeff Blanchard

Jeff is director of the Wilson Center for Innovation and Leadership and also a professor of mathematics at Grinnell College. He has experience participating in multiple regional accelerator competitions and for his own startup.

Robert Gehorsam ’76

Robert was a contributing author to the recent best-selling book The Carbon Almanac and continues to work in the climate area, advising venture funds and development organizations in the sector. He is an experienced senior executive, start-up founder, and advisor to early- stage companies and non-profits. He has also served as Executive Director for an educational non-profit and been an advisor to several government agencies in the national security arena on technology, education, and digital media.

 

2026 Judges

Antionette Priscilla Carroll

Founder, president, and CEO of Creative Reaction Lab; co-founder of the Institute of Equitable Design and Justice; Grinnell College’s 2026 Social Innovator in Residence.

Anne Harris

President at Grinnell College.

JC Lopez

Vice President for Student Affairs at Grinnell College.