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iB-LIEVE is a company doing good, for good We are a team of friends united by a common dream: to empower people to change their lives from the inside out. Our approach is threefold: We Create Good, Teach Good, and Do Good. With this hybrid approach to business, iB-LIEVE has been redefining what it means to do business as a social enterprise since the summer of 2007. We like to measure our success not just by how we profit, but rather by how our communities profit by what we provide to others. This is why we define ourselves as a social enterprise. We offer Products With a Purpose that build positive life-styles; we implement leadership programs and educational programs; and we join forces with other groups to support good causes. We believe if you don't profit, we don't. The iB-LIEVE team is comprised of a diverse collection of individuals, having experience in various industries expanding from business, medicine, education, psychology, athletics, government, and law. All the varied interests and careers of the co-founders contribute to making iB-LIEVE a model that is practically useful across a wide range of ideologies and life situations. Now that you've gotten a chance to get to know who we are as a business, please click on any of the co-founders to learn about us individually! |
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Jonathan Kroll Director of Educational Programs |
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About Me Good Day! Thanks for checking me out. I was raised in central New Jersey (Princeton Junction) and have earned degrees from Quinnipiac University and Miami University (Ohio). I am currently studying for my PhD in Human and Organizational Development with a focus in Leadership through Fielding Graduate University. I identify as an educator and entrepreneur. In both capacities, I facilitate leadership development programs, community building initiatives, and opportunities for reflection and meaning-making. My Role I am a co-founder and serve as the Director of Educational Services. In short, my objective is to set the direction and spearhead opportunities, both formal and informal, for iB-LIEVE to share our message. Under my leadership, over the last three years we've have grown our programs to include Success Seminars, The Workshop, and Retreat-style programs.targeted at helping college student leaders college student athletes, professional athletes, and professional educators realize and reach their potential. Please check out our Educational Programs section of the website and be in touch about how we can collaborate. Additionally, I manage iB-LIEVE's Distribution Center. A Quote That I Believe In The precise reasons for the success of the world's most celebrated social movements are hotly debated in academic literature and activist circles, but their beginnings are incontestable: SOMEBODY DID SOMETHING. - Craig and Marc Kielburger |
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Daniel McCaffrey Chief Executive Officer |
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About Me I am currently a researcher at the center for neurological imaging at the Brigham & Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA. Before moving to Boston, I lived in Washington D.C. and was a research fellow at the National Institute of Health were I explored the brain, cognition and human behavior. My work at NIMH has been published in a number of journals related to neuropsychology. Prior to switching gears in 2005, I received a bachelors degree and masters degree (MBA) from Quinnipiac University. During this time I gained valuable experience at Travelers Insurance and Goldman Sachs. At Quinnipiac I was also a member of the men's soccer team. My Role I am a cofounder and current Chief Information Officer of iB-LIEVE. I oversee the development, architecture and application of the information technology aspects of the company. My goal is to use my experience in computer information systems and business management to integrate new technology into iB-LIEVE's immediate plans and long term strategy. I also hope that my current studies and research will enable me to apply psychological theories and principles to the organization and its mission. A Quote That I Believe In Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes time. Vision with action can change the world. - Joel Barker |
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Kevin Bickart President |
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About Me I was born and raised on the Jersey Shore, where my childhood was defined by 3 things: friends, family, and athletics. After high school in Ocean Township, NJ, I began a slow hike up the northeast coast making a 5-year stop in Connecticut and settling in Boston. Along the way, I completed a bachelors degree in psychobiology at Quinnipiac University and am currently entering my 5th year as an MD-PHD student at Boston University Medical School. Here, I study what I call the neurobiology of belief. My attempt is to measure how powerfully our beliefs impact our mind, body, and overall well-being. I aim to complete my medical and research training in 2013. From there, I will set out on the path to become a professor, clinician, and researcher in academic medicine. My Role As a co-founder of iB-LIEVE, I take part in developing new and creative ways to actualize our company's vision. As CEO, I am the TEAM's visionary – my role is to take what I have learned in neuroscience and medicine and apply this to the core vision and growth of our company. I oversee and ensure that we infuse the iB-LIEVE WAY into all of our dealings with customers and that it is imbedded in the creation of all our products and services. A Quote That I Believe In A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. - Lao-tzu |
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Joe Lamendola Chief Strategy Officer |
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About Me I grew up in Ocean Township, New Jersey with several other iB-LIEVE co-founders. I received my Bachelor of Science in Finance & Accounting from New York University's Leonard N. Stern School of Business in 2003 and a JD/MBA from the University of Miami. I now practice personal injury law in South Florida. My Role As Chief Strategy Officer at iB-LIEVE, I am deeply involved with every decision, goal and strategy iB-LIEVE creates and pursues as an organization. I assist in creating, communicating, executing, and sustaining all key initiatives both in the short and long term. My experience in business and knowledge in organizational development has enabled me to wear the multiple hats I do for iB-LIEVE. Aside from my professional role at iB-LIEVE, my personal role as a Team Member is quite different. Years ago, I was diagnosed with a severe case of Crohn's Disease (an incurable inflammatory bowel disease). After a long and tumultuous battle, I successfully beat the widely believed unbeatable odds. It's because of the culmination of my life experiences (both personally and professionally) and undying belief in the "I'MPOSSIBLE" that I've come to play a major role here at iB-LIEVE. A Quote That I Believe In Do or do not. There is no try. - Yoda |
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Joseph Discepola Chief Financial Officer |
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About Me I grew up in Ocean Township, New Jersey with several other iB-LIEVE co-founders. I received my Bachelor of Science in Finance & Accounting from New York University's Leonard N. Stern School of Business in 2003 and am currently finishing a joint degree in law and business (JD/MBA) from the University of Miami. My Role As the Chief Financial Officer and Legal Counsel for iB-LIEVE, I manage the company's finances, business risk, and legal relationships. I hope to apply my professional work experience in finance, accounting, tax, and law to the management of the company so that iB-LIEVE can operate efficiently and reach its full potential as an organization. A Quote That I Believe In If you believe you can, you probably can. If you believe you won't, you most assuredly won't. Belief is the ignition switch that gets you off the launching pad. – Denis Waitley |
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Joe Villapiano Director of Marketing & Public Relations |
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About Me I was born and raised in the small shore town of Ocean, New Jersey. Growing up in a sports family allowed me to pursue an athletic passion that would have a huge impact on who I am today. I played three sports all through my years at Ocean Township high school and then went on to play football at the University of Connecticut. Playing these sports taught me so much about myself and the people around me. Words like teamwork, character, work ethic, belief, moxie, and trust, are all words I would not fully understand if I did not play sports. It was clear my senior year of college that I did not want to leave the world of athletics. So I stayed at UConn as a graduate assistant football coach and earned a masters degree in Secondary Math Education at the same time. I really enjoyed the role of being an educator whether it was math or football. So after grad school I decided to stay in college football and I received a once in a lifetime opportunity to coach the wide receivers at Harvard University. Currently I am still coaching at Harvard but I am enjoying a new role as the running backs coach and recruiting coordinator. I also still compete in athletics but in a new sport, marathon running. And my goal is to qualify and run in the most prestigious footrace in the world, the Boston Marathon. My Role iB-LIEVE is a company that was formed to benefit the people. So my role as the director of Marketing and Public Relations is to strive to continually meet the individual needs of our customers and to help our company gain exposure to the people. My goal is to offer our service and build rapport with friends, volunteers, customers, investors, and the general public so that our company has a positive public image. A Quote That I Believe In Children are apt to live up to what you believe of them. – Lady Bird Johnson |
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Raju Kansagra Director of Product Development |
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About Me Like so many of us, I was born and raised in New Jersey. My departure came as I moved to Boston where I attended Boston College. There, I spent most of my time studying finance as well as philosophy, graduating with a BS in each. After college, I moved to NYC and became an equity trader on Wall Street. After a few years of trading, I shifted my focus to entrepreneurial endeavors. From there, I've focused on a few different lines of business ranging from the wine & spirits industry, to hotel development, and to a true passion of mine - iB-LIEVE. I've learned that any form of success in this life essentially requires a fundamental element of belief that "you can". Through my experiences, I've come to understand that if you believe you can, then you will. This tipping point led to lessons that have taught me that if you don't go after what you want in life, then you will never have it and if you never challenge yourself to ask questions, then you will never discover the answers. My Role I am the Director of Product Development for iB-LIEVE. My overall objective is to implement and carry out a product development plan that reaches out to our customers and effectively conveys our mission. Using my entrepreneurial background, I endeavor to identify and communicate ongoing product opportunities within the marketplace and expand our product line to meet the needs and demands of our customers. My greatest ambition is to grow this branch of iB-LIEVE to reach the world one product at a time. A Quote That I Believe In I believe life is a series of near misses. A lot of what we ascribe to luck is not luck at all. It's seizing the day and accepting responsibility for your future. It's seeing what other people don't see. And pursuing that vision. – Howard Schultz |
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Peter Athans Director of Programs in Human Performance |
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About Me I was born and raised in Ocean Township, NJ. During the early years, most of my life revolved around loving my family, friends, and playing football. These passions consumed my life. Following High School, I earned a degree in Psychology at Sacred Heart University where I also played football. After college, I continued a career in football that brought me around the USA and to Europe playing for various professional teams. Following my football career, I earned a Master's Degree from Boston University in counseling psychology with a specialization in Sport Psychology. Today, I live in West Point, NY and am building a career as a strength and conditioning coach at the United States Military Academy. My intention is to prepare athletes for competition in a way that will allow them to transfer the skills learned as an athlete beyond the playing field into their future lives as a leader in the US Army. My Role For the iB-LIEVE Team, I serve as the Director of Programs in Human Performance where I bring the iB-LIEVE philosophy into the realm of athletics. I integrate my passion for training athletes and my knowledge of sport psychology techniques to help individual athletes and teams optimize performance, starting with the power of positive thinking. A Quote That I Believe In All that we are is a result of what we have thought. - unknown |
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Edward McCaffrey Director of Marketing & Design |
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About Me I am currently working as the Managing Director for The California Group located in San Francisco. The California Group is a political consulting firm that specializes in campaign strategy and crisis management. In the summer of 2009 I moved from Washington D.C. where I had lived for four years working as the Manager of Political Affairs for the Food Marketing Institute (FMI), a trade organization that represents the supermarket industry. I moved to Washington, D.C. in 2005 and started with FMI in the Fall of 2006 as one of their legislative assistants tracking key legislation on the Federal and State level. In 2004 I graduated from Manhattan College and earned my undergraduate degree with a double major in Government and Urban Affairs, while receiving a minor in Religious Studies. During my final semester I received the opportunity to intern in the New York City office of U.S. Senator Charles Schumer, where I gained a better understanding of the local and federal political process. While at Manhattan College I played soccer for the Jaspers on their Division I team and was named Co-Captain before my senior season. I was raised in Paramus, New Jersey and spent most of my youth playing sports with Dan McCaffrey, my older brother and fellow Co-founder of iB-LIEVE. I am the youngest of four and am grateful to have my family and friends scattered along the east coast. My Role I have been fortunate to have been involved with iB-LIEVE since its inception. I currently serve as the Director of Marketing and Design, where I work to communicate a clear and concise message while keeping a consistent look and feel to the company. Having a background in government relations, I am continually reaching out to different organizations that may help our efforts in spreading the iB-LIEVE mission to achieve our vision. iB-LIEVE seeks to reach people of different backgrounds, ethnicity and age and one of our primary objectives is to communicate our vision to each and every single one of them. A Quote That I Believe In Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort. – Franklin D. Roosevelt |
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Drew Chin |
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About Me I grew up in Chatham, NJ as a second generation Asian-American male. The middle child of three, my parents immediately instilled in me the values of hard work and gratitude in pursuit of following a dream. My dream began to take form in college, where the greatest rewards were the lessons I received outside of the classroom. Various mentors helped me reflect more deeply within and in doing so developed me into a leader. It became clear to me that I wanted to work in a helping profession and I decided my focus would be enhancing the college student experience. After obtaining my masters degree I moved down to North Carolina to work at Davidson College. In my current role as Greek Affairs Advisor, I use leadership and organizational development to help craft the mindsets of the future leaders of the world. My Role I became involved with iB-LIEVE to help mentor students with the same lessons passed down by my mentors. Timeless lessons grounded in the importance of believing in yourself, positive thinking and emotional intelligence continue to yield positive change within oneself and a community. With iB-LIEVE I assist in adapting our iB-LIEVE way into tangible exercises to assist in the development of students' leadership experience during the most impressionable time of their lives. A Quote That I Believe In The purpose of life is to discover your gift. The meaning of life is to give your gift away. — David Viscott |
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Sarah Winters Papsun |
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About Me I am currently living and working for a hedge fund in Greenwich, Connecticut. I am a Rotarian, cellist in the Hamden Symphony Orchestra, volunteer at the Norwalk Emergency Shelter and world traveler. For the past few years I have been dedicated to a cause called "3 Peaks 3 Weeks" which every year selects 12 women to hike 3 of Africa highest mountains for 3 grass roots charities. I completed this challenge in January 2010 with the help of ibelieve and will always be an advocate for Africa. I am someone who likes to explore and on this journey of life the people and places that cross our path make us who we are today. My marketing degree from Quinnipiac University has served me well in my professional life and helping fund raise money for charities. The experience I gained from my Semester at Sea helped to solidify my passion for travel, cultures, world religion and languages. I have now been to over 35 countries and counting. I am happiest when helping others. A Quote That I Believe In You must be the change you wish to see in the world. — Mahatma Gandhi |
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Denise Fung |
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About Me Greetings! I was born and raised in Northern California with my parents and my two older sisters and younger brother. I left foggy weather behind for a warmer climate and attended the University of California, Irvine (UCI) home of the anteater mascot! In my second year at UCI, I discovered my passion for student affairs. I enjoyed my four years of eating delicious food, being 20 minutes away from Disneyland and the 75 degree weather. I was growing tired of going Christmas shopping in shorts and flip flops so I decided to move out of California and to Massachusetts for graduate school at Boston College! I love snow especially snow days! I am currently a Resident Hall Coordinator at Georgetown University. I enjoy traveling the world with friends and family. I hope to just have a great time no matter what life throws at me! A Quote That I Believe In "Peace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart." — unknown |
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