About the YEC
Our Mission:
The Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) provides its members with access to tools, mentorship, community and educational resources that support each stage of their business’s development and growth. Our organization promotes entrepreneurship as a solution to youth unemployment and underemployment.
Our Community:
Founded by Scott Gerber, the YEC is an invite-only community of the world’s top, young entrepreneurs. Together, we have created theYEC.org to equip aspiring, young business owners with all of the knowledge and support that they need to launch successful businesses.
Want to join the YEC?
New members are inducted into the YEC on a rolling basis. You must have at least one referral from an existing member to apply. Click here to view our member directory and see if you know anyone. Then, check out our YEC Infograph to see the benefits and what we are looking for from new members.
Our Leadership:
Scott Gerber, Founder & President
Scott Gerber is a serial entrepreneur, internationally syndicated columnist and TV host, and the founder of the Young Entrepreneur Council. He is also an active angel investor and author of the book Never Get a “Real” Job. He has been featured in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, TIME, CNN, Reuters, CBS Evening News, MSNBC, US News & World Report, Fox News, Inc. and Entrepreneur.
An accomplished public speaker, Scott has taught thousands of students and young professionals his lessons about entrepreneurship. He is an expert in teaching aspiring entrepreneurs how to start business on shoe-string budgets and offers compelling insight on a number of topics including: pitching, fundraising, marketing, business development strategies and political and economic issues facing entrepreneurs. His most recent speaking engagements include the White House, NASDAQ and various Startup America events. Scott has been featured in hundreds of media outlets such as the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, CNN, CBS Evening News with Katie Couric and Fox News. His syndicated columns appear regularly in media outlets such as WSJ, Entrepreneur, Inc., Mashable, MSNBC, and FOX Business. Follow Scott on Twitter @askgerber or friend him on Facebook at facebook.com/scottgerber.
Ryan Paugh, Chief Of Staff & Community Director
Ryan Paugh is a community-building expert with a track record for building organizations that help people connect, learn, grow and have fun. He’s the Founder of Brazen Careerist, a community where ambitious young professionals come to learn and grow. In 2009, Mashable called Brazen Careerist the #1 social network for Generation Y.
Ryan brings his community building skills to the YEC as their Community Director and oversees much of the product development that is happening behind the scenes. He wears many hats, but his most important job is making sure that members of the YEC are getting the most out of their membership.
Kimberlee Morrison, Executive Editor
Kimberlee Morrison is a freelance writer, independent editor and co-author of The Freedom Writer’s Diary, an aspirational collection of autobiographical short stories, and the basis for the 2005 Paramount Studios feature film, “Freedom Writers.” Kimberlee has more than a decade of publishing industry experience, in both digital and print mediums, including small blog networks, national magazines and best-selling books. She is the Executive Editor of the YEC, helping contributors communicate effectively and ensuring the production of high quality content.
Tanya Payne, Editor
Tanya Payne, content manager for the YEC, is an accomplished editor and freelance writer. She co-authored The Freedom Writer’s Diary, an autobiographical collection of short-stories that reached No. 1 on The New York Times bestseller list. The book lead to the feature film, Freedom Writers, released in 2005. She’s also an accidental small-business marketing expert, cutting her teeth at Entrepreneur magazine.
Jennifer Edwards, Community Manager
Jennifer Edwards is a community manager and social media strategist with a passion for Gen Y entrepreneurship. She has years of sales, marketing, business development, community management, and social media experience, and has worked with brands like Monster.com and Bumble Bee Tuna. Jennifer is the Community Manager for the YEC, helping promote both YEC and member content through our public marketing channels, planning educational events, working with media partners, helping members with editorial and tech-related issues, and working to help members increase their press opportunities. Follow Jennifer on Twitter @GenYJen or friend her on Facebook.
Board Of Advisors:
Jeremy Johnson, Co-Founder & CMO, 2tor, Inc.
Jeremy Johnson is the co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer at 2tor, Inc., an education-technology company that partners with preeminent institutions of higher education to deliver transformative online degree programs. Prior to working at 2tor, Johnson dropped out of Princeton University after receiving funding for a company which built an online social network around the college admissions process. The company was acquired by Zinch.com. As a digital media evangelist and technology entrepreneur, Johnson advises a number of start-ups and speaks regularly about the changing landscape of online marketing and trends in higher education.
Tina Wells, CEO, Buzz Marketing Group
Tina Wells, CEO and founder of Buzz Marketing Group. Tina has worked with clients including: Maidenform, SonyBMG, PBS, P+G, Sesame Workshop, and American Eagle Outfitters. Tina’s long list of honors include Essence’s 40 Under 40, Billboard’s 30 Under 30, and Inc’s 30 Under 30, just to name a few. Wells is the author of the tween series Mackenzie Blue, published by HarperCollins Childrens Books, and the youth marketing handbook Chasing Youth Culture And Getting It Right, published by Wiley in April 2011.
Scott Becker, Co-Founder & CTO, Invite Media
Scott Becker is a technical entrepreneur, startup advisor, and angel investor. He was Co-Founder and CTO of Invite Media, a venture backed advertising startup that was acquired by Google in 2010. Scott is currently focused on entering the biotech and pharmaceutical space.
Jordan Goldman, Founder & CEO, Unigo.com
Jordan Goldman is the founder and CEO of Unigo.com. Through an exclusive partnership with The Wall Street Journal, Goldman created a new brand — WSJ On Campus — which produces journalistic content about college admissions and college life. Goldman also inked an exclusive partnership with McGraw Hill, through which he helped create original curriculum on college and career readiness, now taught in high schools throughout America.
David Hauser, Co-Founder & CTO, Grasshopper Group
David Hauser oversees the strategic direction and operations of Grasshopper Group and serves as the company’s technology visionary. A technology start-up veteran, Hauser was co-founder of Return Path, an e-mail performance management company. Hauser is the President of the Boston chapter of Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), and a member of the Global Advisory Board for Students for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship (SAGE).
