WELCOME TO THE 2025
FOUNDATION BREAKFAST
EMPOWERING INNOVATION THROUGH ACCESS, ADVOCACY & ACTION
Title Sponsor Presented by
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
PRESENTING SPONSOR
GOLD SPONSORS
SILVER SPONSORS
BRONZE SPONSORS
AV PARTNER
A WORD FROM DEAN MILLER, PACT
Welcome to the PACT Foundation Breakfast! I’m thrilled to welcome you as we gather under this year’s theme: Access, Advocacy, and Action. Today, we’ll explore how amplifying education, resources, and connections can fuel entrepreneurship and pave sustainable, diverse pathways for growth in our community.
Our insightful panel will highlight local leaders making a difference and share how companies can scale their impact to drive meaningful change. A heartfelt thank you to our sponsors for their unwavering support—your dedication makes this work possible. Together, let’s embrace the transformative power of access and advocacy to create a thriving, inclusive future.
Warm regards, Dean Miller
President and CEO, PACT
STAY
CONNECTED
with entrepreneurs, investors, professional advisors, startups in all stages, enterprise companies, and more across the PACT network by becoming a member + gaining access to:
Content + thought leadership Elevation of your mission + brand Curated connections + mentorship
www.philadelphiapact.com/pact-membership www.philadelphiapact.com/pact-membership
AGENDA
Registration opens
Grab breakfast, check out sponsor exhibits, & connect with other attendees!
8:30 – 8:35am
8:35 – 8:45am
8:45 – 9:45am
8:00 - 8:30am 9:45 – 10:05am 10:05 – 10:10am
10:10 – 10:30am
Welcome remarks
Dean Miller, President & CEO, PACT
Opening Remarks
Gianna Grossman, Deputy Commerce Director – Workforce Development, City of Philadelphia
Expert panel & Q&A
Moderator:
Shane Nelson, Managing Partner, Reify Solutions
Panelists:
Tracy Brala, SVP, Strategy & Partnerships, University City Science Center
Nikki Pumphrey, Vice President, Talent & Workforce, The Chamber of Commerce
Felicia Rinier, Strategic Partnerships & Philanthropy, Comcast NBCUniversal
Alina Ispas Montbriand, Senior Director, Product Strategy & Operations, Boomi
Presenting companies
Carlos Aponte, Founder & Executive Director, We Love Philly
Dannyelle Austin, Executive Director, Launchpad Philly
Tanya T. Morris, Founder & CEO, Mom Your Business
Dan Rhoton, Executive Director, Hopeworks
Closing remarks
Dean Miller, President & CEO, PACT
Networking & company exhibits
Continue to look at sponsor exhibits & connect with our speakers, presenters, & other attendees!
OUR PANEL
SHANE NELSON
Managing Partner
Reify Solutions
Moderator
Shane is a researcher and entrepreneur with experience in creating and managing social impact projects that address the challenges and opportunities of workforce development He is passionate about ending poverty through education and designing work opportunities that promote equity and inclusion across industries and sectors As the Managing Partner of Reify Solutions, he provides customized training, workshops, and strategies for nonprofit and higher education clients to enhance their organizational performance and social impact. He is pursuing his Ph.D. in Policy and Organizational Studies at Temple University, where he is exploring the shifting landscape of work and the role of philanthropy in shaping career opportunities. He is also a published author and a board member of several educational and civic organizations.
TRACY BRALA
SVP, Strategy & Partnerships
University City Science Center
Tracy Brala is a powerhouse who's built a career in fostering thriving communities. In 2018, she joined the University City Science Center, envisioning and leading the VP of Ecosystem Development role. Her mission? To ignite an inclusive innovation ecosystem across Greater Philadelphia. Through Tracy's vision, Venture Café Philadelphia was born, offering weekly gatherings to forge connections between entrepreneurs, creatives, scientists, and corporations. Her leadership has driven remarkable results: over 200,000 people have converged through Venture Café and Quorum, the Science Center's community space But Tracy's impact goes beyond events Today, she spearheads the Science Center's Strategy and Partnerships, encompassing everything from digital transformation to marketing and external community engagement Before this, Tracy's path was equally impressive At Comcast | NBC Universal, she spearheaded digital transformation initiatives like creating the nation's largest WiFi hotspot network. Earlier in her career, she built a $250M convenience food platform at Campbell's Soup and even launched her own consulting firm. Her dedication extends beyond professional milestones. Tracy served as President of Villanova's Alumni Association, founded the university's Alumni Diversity and Inclusion Task Force, and champions similar causes through various board memberships. She also holds her MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania Tracy's accolades sing volumes – from Villanova's Loyalty Award to the BioBuzz Community Builder Award But her true reward lies in building bridges, sparking ideas, and empowering Philadelphia's innovation engine to roar
OUR PANEL
ALINA ISPAS MONTBRIAND
Senior Director, Product Strategy & Operations
Alina is Head of Product & Technology Operations at Boomi. Prior to joining Boomi, she was the Head of Global GTM Strategy & Operations for Google Workspace’s Hybrid Work Solutions Portfolio. Before joining Google, Alina spent 5 years at SAP after completing her MBA from the Wharton School Prior to pursuing her graduate degree, Alina worked in investment banking and private equity She currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the NSC, a non-profit organization that serves immigrants and refugees who are resettled from war-torn regions worldwide into the Philadelphia region Alina also holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the Wharton School, and is fluent in English, Romanian and French. In her spare time, she enjoys cheering for all Philadelphia sports teams, as well as playing tennis and volleyball. Alina lives in the Greater Philadelphia area with her husband and two kids, as well as a canine roommate.
NIKKI PUMPHREY
Vice President, Talent and Workforce
The Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce
Nikki Pumphrey is a leader in workforce development committed to advancing economic mobility and racial equity through public-private partnerships. She has dedicated her career to ensuring that race, neighborhood, and country of origin no longer determine access to opportunity in the Philadelphia region. Currently, she serves as Vice President for Talent and Workforce at The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia, advancing inclusive talent strategies to support the region’s economic growth. Prior to joining the Chamber, she was Senior Managing Director at Per Scholas, a national organization focused on connecting women and people of color to careers in technology Nikki has also served as the Deputy Director at The Welcoming Center, where she secured $250,000 in national philanthropic funding to support a comprehensive, employer-informed immigrant workforce strategy for Philadelphia, in partnership with the Philadelphia Department of Commerce She has also provided guidance on immigrant integration policy and practices for 16 U.S. states and cities and presented on innovative workforce models at the White House Summit on Immigrant Integration in 2016. Nicole is an active community leader and has served on the executive leadership team of the City of Philadelphia Workforce Professionals Alliance since 2019. She currently serves as Board Chair for the Technology Learning Collaborative as well as on the boards of Amplify Philly and 1Philadelphia. In 2019, she founded PHL Women in WkDev, a community of 100+ leaders and professionals to address the need for connection, collaboration, and career advancement in the field of workforce development
Boomi
FELICIA RINIER
Strategic Partnerships & Philanthropy
Comcast
NBCUniversal
Felicia Rinier is a seasoned professional in strategic partnerships and philanthropy, currently serving as the Sr Director of Strategic Partnerships & Philanthropy at Comcast since October 2024 Prior to this, Felicia held the position of Executive Director at GreenLight Fund Philadelphia, where leadership included managing a Selection Advisory Council and representing GreenLight externally within the community. Additional experience includes roles as Director and Administrative Director at Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals focusing on health equity, and positions in community engagement and enrollment at Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence Region. Felicia's early career included research and policy analysis at Reinvestment Fund and advocacy work as a Communications and Policy Intern at ResPublica. With an academic background in Public Policy from King's College London and Political Science from Rutgers University-Camden, Felicia combines extensive sector expertise with a commitment to community development
OPENING REMARKS FROM
GIANNA GROSSMAN
Deputy Commerce Director – Workforce Development
City of Philadelphia
ABOUT THE PACT FOUNDATION
PACT’s 501(c)(3) charity that provides financial support to STEM-based community initiatives and to underrepresented groups in high-growth technology and life science entrepreneurship.
These organizations will present their work during today’s program. Each organization will receive a donation from today’s event.
Hopeworks is a nonprofit social enterprise that uses technology, traumainformed care, and market based businesses to transform lives. Young adults in our program receive hard and soft skill training, career coaching, barrier reduction services (food, housing/mental health care referrals), academic support and paid work experience in our businesses.
Over 99% of young adults (17-26) entering Hopeworks are unemployed. After completion, they earn over $44,000 annually, with a 12-month retention rate of over 90% in their jobs. That is the Hopeworks difference.
Hopeworks delivers long-term outcomes, immediate poverty reduction, and opportunity in communities that are often sidelined by structural racism and poverty. www.hopeworks.org/
Launchpad provides an accelerated pathway to high-paying jobs in the technology industry, allowing students to tailor their journey based on their current needs and postsecondary plans. It offers three stackable programs that can be completed in a full sequence or as standalone phases, giving students the flexibility to choose the path that best suits them: Foundations: Ideal for students exploring technology careers, helping them assess their interest in the tech field. 101 Program: Designed for learners committed to a tech career. The program teaches essential tech skills, offers 13 college credits, a Python certification, and internship. Students will leave prepared to enter LiftOff or succeed in college. LiftOff: This program teaches full-stack web development and students will leave job-ready with a wide-ranging portfolio of work.
www.www.launchpadphilly.org
Mom Your Business’ mission is to promote poverty alleviation through entrepreneurship in the Mid-Atlantic region primarily by equipping Black and Brown women with the tools, resources, opportunities, and capital necessary to overcome obstacles and achieve social and economic success. Mom Your Business started in 2017 in response to the frustration of Black women being the fastest growing group of entrepreneurs yet the least funded. MYB has transformed the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Philadelphia by (1) partnering with entrepreneurial support organizations, CDFI’s and corporations to help Black female entrepreneurs access over half a million dollars in capital since 2021 (2) Helping over 600 Black female entrepreneurs since 2019 start and grow their business (3) in 2021 leading the only business accelerator program in Philadelphia by Black women for Black women and (4) opening a co-working space in North Philadelphia.
www.momyourbusiness.com/
We Love Philly provides holistic transformative education to systematically marginalized youth by providing students autonomy through positive community experiences and the learning of essential professional skills.
www.welovephilly.org/
UPCOMING PACT EVENTS
From Startup to Scale-Up: Growing Your Healthcare Company
PACT Healthcare Exchange Symposium
February 27, 2025 - Independence Blue Cross
Discover essential strategies on navigating the healthcare company lifecycle, from early-stage challenges to scaling for growth. Explore the key strategies and resources needed to successfully start and grow your healthcare startup, guided by industry leaders who understand the unique opportunities of the healthcare landscape.
Phorum Technology Conference
April 22, 2025 - Comcast Technology Center
Connect with industry leaders, explore AI challenges, and seize networking opportunities. Join us for a day of thought leadership and innovation on emerging technologies. Don't miss out on new business prospects!
Enterprise Awards
May 20, 2025 - Springfield Country Club
The Enterprise Awards remain the region's most prestigious business honors for technology and life sciences companies, leaders, and entrepreneurs. Attracting prominent business leaders, the Enterprise Awards celebrates achievement, innovation, and success in the Greater Philadelphia region.
