Propeller

CEO of Propeller who leads operational and strategic priorities and previously served as the organization's Senior Health Program Manager. Holds a Sociology degree from Bryn Mawr College and a Master's in Public Health from Tulane University.

Partner focused on digital assets, DAOs and the Mesh portfolio; also an angel investor and advisor who previously worked at IPG Mediabrands and co-founded a New Orleans incubator.

Rodrigo Prudencio is Managing Partner at Propeller, a climate fund focused on ocean-based and ocean-proximate industries. He has more than 25 years of experience in venture capital investing across clean energy, climate, and sustainability, and spent nearly seven years on Amazon's Global Corporate Development team, where he led investments for the Climate Pledge Fund and ran the Alexa Accelerator and Next Stage programs for the Alexa Fund. He also founded Amazon Corporate Development's diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

Director of Community Development and co-founder of enmasse Media with over 23 years in small business and economic development. A Loyola University New Orleans honors graduate with a B.A. and Juris Doctor.

Board member and Chief of Collaboration & Partnerships at the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, with prior leadership roles at Boston Public Schools and the KIPP Foundation.

Board member and serial entrepreneur specializing in tax and regulatory strategy and go-to-market execution, who also coaches founders for pitch competitions and investor meetings.

Board member and president of Grant Management Group, a former senior government executive who led New Orleans post-Katrina recovery and the Sewerage and Water Board.

Board member serving as Program Officer at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and former Executive Director of the Orleans Public Education Network, with a career rooted in social justice and education policy.

Senior Grant Writer who joined Propeller in 2024 after 15 years in communications roles and work as a grant consultant. She holds a PhD in English from LSU.

Board member and founder of the Diva Dawg Food Truck, a New Orleans native, Tory Burch Foundation Fellow, and 2020 Propeller Accelerator alumna.

Director of Entrepreneurship who grew up on the West Bank of New Orleans and earned a management degree from Tulane and an MBA from Loyola. He supports entrepreneurs with general startup questions.

Alumni Engagement Manager with over ten years in business consulting, development, and nonprofit capacity building. A Norfolk State University graduate who serves as Board Chair of the Jane Place Neighborhood Sustainability Initiative.

Member and Facilities Coordinator who moved to New Orleans in 2015 and studied Political Science and Environmental Studies at Tulane. A certified Louisiana Master Naturalist who manages Propeller's space for members and events.

Communications Specialist managing Propeller's visual collateral and storytelling. Raised in Atlanta, she studied History at the University of Miami and previously worked in nonprofit development and grant writing.

Board member and Administrative Assistant Professor of Women's Leadership and Director of Student Leadership and Engagement at Tulane's Newcomb Institute, with a PhD in Human Resource Education from LSU.

Board member and clerk of the Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal, the first African-American to hold that post, and a practicing New Orleans attorney active in numerous civic organizations.

Board member and Senior Vice President of Finance and Administration at the National Network of Public Health Institutes, a CPA with extensive nonprofit finance leadership experience.

Senior Programs Coordinator with over six years of experience in event planning, community engagement, and student development. Originally from San Diego, she holds a psychology degree from Loyola University New Orleans and a Master's in Education from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Board member who co-founded TurboSquid, an early digital media marketplace acquired in 2021, and helped author Louisiana's Digital Interactive Media incentives; chairs the New Orleans Startup Fund board.

Director of Advancement overseeing fundraising, evaluation, and communications, with over 20 years in New Orleans nonprofits. An LSU Manship School graduate who also runs a small jewelry business.

Talent and Culture Coordinator and a native New Orleanian who was a Posse Scholar at Case Western Reserve University, earning a bachelor's in International Studies and Anthropology plus a master's in Nonprofit Organizations.

Board member and Director in Prudential's Impact Investments group, responsible for sourcing and managing social-value investments; formerly co-founder of Green Coast Enterprises in New Orleans.

Board member and Executive Director of Wilcox's Academy Early Learning Center with over 18 years in early childhood care; a 2017 Propeller Accelerator alumna.

Director of Operations overseeing organizational systems, compliance, and strategy, with nearly 20 years in community development finance and nonprofit leadership. Previously an Executive Director of a New Orleans CDFI.

Board member and partner at the Barrasso Usdin law firm handling complex litigation matters, with degrees from Vassar College and Columbia Law School.

Board member and CEO of the Louisiana Public Health Institute with over 15 years of experience in public health and health equity.

Board member with a doctorate in mass communication, an MBA, and an award-winning public relations career; she serves as a media expert on social media in political and social movements.

Senior Programs Manager who supports water, education, and arts and culture ventures. Raised on Florida's Gulf Coast, they studied Music Education at Florida State and earned an MA in Arts Administration in New Orleans.

Senior Capital Access Manager who helps entrepreneurs access funding. A native New Orleanian with an engineering degree from Tulane and a law degree from George Washington University, he previously worked at a CDFI lender.

Robert Kittler is Chief Financial Officer at Propeller VC, with a background in finance and operations. His experience includes P&L management, restructuring, strategic planning, venture financing, and M&A, and he has participated in VC financings totaling $40 million. He has led functions spanning finance, IT, HR, operations, manufacturing, customer support, and hardware engineering, including work on recapitalization and inventory and margin improvements.

Stephanie Dorsey, Harvard Law‑trained and formerly corporate lawyer, focuses on fixing the global food system through early-stage AgriFood investing, mentoring founders and connecting them to retailers, distributors and food companies.