Past Hosts
Jessica Abdoney
Jessica Abdoney is the Marketing Coordinator at The New Bohemian Innovation Collaborative, based in Cedar Rapids. In addition to 10+ years running her own photography business, she manages over 7 social media accounts, specializing in content creation, social media analytics and tracking, and copywriting. She is adept at tailoring content to engage and grow audiences, and is always on the lookout for innovative ways to reach new markets. Additionally, she works as a Marketing Associate at Theatre Cedar Rapids, where she launched the organization's TikTok account and does the content schedule and creation for their social media channels. A graduate from Mount Mercy University (Journalism/communications, English, and History), Jessica's extensive background in writing and research has honed her ability to craft compelling content that resonates with audiences.
Jess Bertling
Jess is the Lead User Experience Designer and Front End Developer at NewBoCo. She routinely shares her skills, knowledge, and experience through speaking engagements at conferences, code bootcamps, and business accelerator programs and holds the distinction of Emerging Technology Leader from The Technology Association of Iowa at the 2021 Prometheus Awards. “We need more girls on this stage” - Jess Bertling at the 2021 Prometheus Awards
Anthony Betters, Jr.
Anthony is NewBoCo's Community Engagement Manager, helping to build partnerships and entrepreneurial programming in other Iowa communities. Originally from Waco, Texas, he moved to Cedar Rapids to help start an in-home healthcare company, which he ran for 4 years. Along with his lovely girlfriend, Cynthia, he is a dad/stepdad to three kiddos in the house: his baby Brylee, Mariah, and Jacob. Anthony feels privileged to pursue his deep passion for helping the community he lives in.
Kaitlin Byers
Kaitlin serves as the Director of Development at NewBoCo. She aims to implement a strategic approach to fundraising for NewBoCo by engaging the community, increasing major gifts, focusing on corporate donations, and continually seeking out opportunities for grant funding. She spends her free time traveling, volunteering with area nonprofits, participating in local theatre productions, and staying active outdoors with her husband and two young children.
Samantha Dahlby
Samantha Dahlby is a recovering software engineer with passions for public transportation, kids, and technology. As Director of K–12 Education at NewBoCo, Samantha promotes and supports K–12 computer science education in Iowa, oversees NewBoCo’s K–12 programs for students and educators, and tries to find as much time as possible to play with technology and kids.
Mike Heaton
Mike was born and raised in Mt. Pleasant. He is an alumnus of the University of Iowa and holds a master’s degree in nonprofit management. His extensive experience includes serving as the vice president for University Advancement at Iowa Wesleyan University and as the Great Plains Regional Director for UNICEF USA.
Aaron Horn
Aaron Horn is the Executive Director of NewBoCo in Cedar Rapids. He holds a degree in Management Information Systems and spent more than 15 years in the technology industry before joining NewBoCo. As Executive Director, Aaron has helped bring the Kiva microloans program to Iowa entrepreneurs and overseen the creation of NewBoCo’s Community Partnerships Pilot Program to bring entrepreneurial education and support structures to other regional communities.
Rob Merritt
Rob is an award-winning writer, editor, and videographer who crossed over into his current role after a decade of working in the journalism industry. He is a longtime Eastern Iowan and a graduate of the University of Iowa and volunteers with multiple nonprofits and theatre organizations. Rob is always exploring new ways to tell the stories of his community.
Stacey Milder
An Iowa transplant from the D.C. area and Coe College alum, Stacey spent several years working in local accessibility spaces. She currently works as a Software Developer with NewBoCo as well as NewBoCo’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee facilitator, and strongly believes that diversity is the most important catalyst for creating innovative solutions.
David Tominksy
David Tominsky is an entrepreneur and community builder based in Cedar Rapids Iowa. he spent 15 years in the technical staffing industry before joining NewBoCo (then, Iowa Startup Accelerator) in 2014 as Managing Director. Now, he is NewBoCo’s Chief Relationship Officer and runs the Studios team, which is dedicated to build web and content assets for startups and established businesses alike.
Dan Tuuri
Dan brings fifteen years of experience as an educator having taught in career education, at the community college and university level. Prior to beginning his career as an educator Dan spent ten years working in industry as a consultant, in IT security auditing, and in IT management roles. Dan believes strongly that the classroom experience must be adaptable and reflective of current industry need and values experiential learning where students are encouraged to apply knowledge in meaningful ways.