Staff

Staff

Executive Director

Raman Chadha, Executive Director of the CEC, has been an entrepreneurial consultant, advocate and educator for over ten years. Prior to joining DePaul, he ran his own consulting practice, through which he helped over 200 entrepreneurs start, grow, and manage their companies. Raman has been active in entrepreneurial development through the creation of innovative courses and programs, and has taught entrepreneurship at DePaul since 2002, helping integrate the practice of entrepreneurship into the university’s academic offerings.

Founder

Dr. Harold P. Welsch, founder of the CEC, has been active in entrepreneurship development for more than two decades as an educator, consultant, researcher, entrepreneur, author and editor. He is well known for his research into the privatization of centrally planned economies, entrepreneurship career paths, strategic planning, ethnic entrepreneurship, and problems encountered by small businesses. Dr. Welsch has held the Coleman Chair in Entrepreneurship at DePaul since 1989.

Associate Director for Consulting

Originally working at the CEC as a MBA consultant, April Lane received her MBA in Entrepreneurship in June 2006. In her new role, April is responsible for growing the consulting business, managing client relationships, and managing the MBA consultants while continuing to work with clients. April received her bachelors degree from the University of Michigan, and has a strong background in entrepreneurship and marketing. She is on the Associate Board for the Chicago Arthritis Foundation (CAF), and has chaired the CAF Arthritis Walk for the past two years.

Marketing & Outreach Manager

Stephanie Furlan, Marketing & Outreach Manager, manages the Center’s marketing and communications efforts; plans and manages event production; and helps build and maintain the Center’s strategic partnerships. Stephanie attended Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN where she received a B.A. in Communications. She looks forward to increasing awareness among entrepreneurs and students about the valuable services the Coleman Center has to offer and how they can take advantage of these resources. In addition, she plans to attend graduate school at DePaul within the upcoming year.

MBA Consultant

David Spear is an MBA student concentrating in Entrepreneurship and Marketing, with a goal of eventually obtaining a PhD in Entrepreneurship. He is excited about working at the Center because of the opportunity to affect real positive change for entrepreneurs, whether they just starting up, or have been in business for 10 years.

Assistants

Amy Bretz is the Center’s Administrative Assistant. Amy graduated from Augustana College in May 2007 with a double major in Public Administration and Political Science. She was active in the Chi Alpha Pi Sorority where she worked on many fundraising events such as “Relay For Life” for The American Cancer Society. She enjoys working in an environment like DePaul where “honesty, hard work, and integrity really matter.” Amy feels lucky to help make a difference in the lives of students and entrepreneurs in the area. She looks forward to continuing her work at the Coleman Center and eventually hopes to further her education as a graduate student at DePaul.