Team
Supporting the vision and business goals of our nation's young entrepreneurs takes the commitment and passion of many people. The Institute for Enterprise is privileged to to have many such people working with as mentors, advisors, directors, ambassadors and partners.​
Directors
Our I4E Directors are committed to promoting the role of entrepreneurship and helping young scholars and business people achieve their entrepreneurial dreams. Our Directors are active in creating the educational and business partnerships, which are the heart of I4E, and work directly with young entrepreneurs and the community.
John Campbell Elwell
Co-Founder
A graduate of the University of British Columbia and the University of Toronto, Mr. Elwell spent 37 years as an Executive in the North American lumber business. He worked for NYSE companies Rayonier, Plum Creek, MacMillan Bloedel, and Universal Forest, guiding the marketing efforts to retail giants Home Depot and Lowe’s as well as many other retail lumber companies. For the last several years Mr. Elwell has been the Managing Partner of the Elwell Advisory Group on Amelia Island, Florida, served on the Board of the Boy’s and Girl’s Club Foundation of Nassau County, Florida, for 8 years, and was recently named Chair of the Marketing & Entrepreneurship Advisory Board for the Nassau District Schools.
Tonya N. Wood
Director, Secretary & Treasurer
A graduate of Lake Superior State University with an Associates degree in accounting, Ms. Wood also studied for her degree in Microbiology at the University of Michigan. She has spent over 20 years in the finance sector, most recently with First Federal Bank of Florida and Amelia Underwriters of Fernandina Beach, FL. Ms. Wood currently is the administrative coordinator for Nassau County, FL.
Claudia Watts
Director
A graduate of Jacksonville University with a B.A. in Communications, Ms. Watts has spent the last 25 years in the real estate business on Amelia Island. For 12 years she was the top listing and sales agent at RE/MAX Professional Group and is currently one of the principals at COLDWELL BANKER, The Amelia Group. Ms. Watts is a past Board Member of the Amelia Island Club, a Director with BB&T, and a Guardian with the Boy’s & Girls Club of Nassau County. She has also been a volunteer with the First Tee Golf Program and Osprey Village Assisted Living Facility.
Timothy M. Poynter
Director
A graduate of the University of Cincinnati in marketing, Mr. Poynter has spent over 30 years as an entrepreneur in a variety of small business ventures. Currently he owns and operates several restaurants and a construction company in North Florida, has served on the Fernandina Beach City Commission and has served on the Boy's and Girl's Club Foundation of Nassau County, Florida.
Sherri Mitchell
Director
Ms. Mitchell is currently the Executive Director of Nassau County FL Economic Development Board. Prior to this role she spent seven years with the Jacksonville Jaguar organization and fourteen years as the Director of Finance for the First Coast Manufacturers Association.
Bryan Poynter
Director
Bryan graduated from Rollins College in Orlando with a B.A. in International Relations and an MBA in Finance & Management. He is currently the CEO of McGregor Management Group, a family owned business consisting of Karibo Kitchen, Timoti’s Seafood Shak, McGregor Mini Links, and Fernandina Duck Pinz. A true entrepreneur, Bryan enjoys creating new brands, building them into businesses, while always keeping an eye on the future to catch new trends and opportunities.
Ambassadors
Our I4E Ambassadors help with community outreach and bringing awareness to the mission of The Institute for Enterprise. Each Ambassador supports I4E by utilizing their skills and sharing the benefits of partnering with the Institute. They are people from all walks of life who are passionate about the role of entrepreneurship in today's society. If you a are young entrepreneur seeking to find out more about how I4E can help you reach your goals, our Ambassadors are available to answer any questions you may have regarding their experience with The Institute for Enterprise.
Stan Cottle
As owner of CCOM, a digital media production firm originating in Chicago, Stan works with clients nationwide ranging from the Fortune 500 to regional businesses from his base in Florida. His work has included projects for national clients such as 3com, AT&T, Anheuser-Busch, Carrier, Coca-Cola, Ford Motor Company, Humana, Kraft Foods, and Nestle, among many others. Stan’s educational projects are narrative dramatic programs distributed throughout school and institutional markets.
Alexandra (Ali) Elwell
Ali graduated from Florida State University with a B.S. in Criminology and Criminal Justice with a double minor in Political Science and Psychology as well as a JD from Texas A&M School of Law. She is currently practicing law.
Brie Rupp
Brie Rupp graduated from Florida State College of Jacksonville and is working towards her Bachelors in Business Management. She has worked with numerous companies, both large and small, promoting business with the importance of advertising and customer relations/retention. She currently works in import management in Fernandina Beach, Fl.
Douglas M. Newton
A graduate of Drexel University with a B.S. degree in accounting, Mr. Newton began his career as an accountant with Deloitte Touche, LLC, one of the top four accounting firms. For the last 40 years, Mr. Newton has been the owner of his own accounting firm, serving individual and business clients across the Unites States as well as internationally. In addition, Mr. Newton is the co-founder of the Fernandina Observer, an online news journal on Amelia Island, FL.
Partners
Support from our partners is vital to I4E fulfilling it's mission of helping young entrepreneurs. We are appreciative of the input and effort that all of our partners provide the Institute and are always looking for new organizations and individuals with whom we can collaborate to help young entrepreneurs succeed. If you are interested in becoming a partner and supporting today's youth on their path the economic achievement, please contact us.​
