Our Team

Senior Vice President & Chief of Staff, Clemson University

Since his arrival at Clemson University in June 2015, Max Allen has helped strengthen the overall national reputation and awareness of the Clemson brand. He serves as the chief advisor to President Clements and is the primary liaison with the vice presidents and other direct reports to the president.  Under his leadership, he has helped design and implement the Clemson Forward strategic plan, coordinated a strategic reorganization of the campus diversity efforts, served as the primary liaison with key community leaders and partners, served as a member of the university’s crisis decision team, and helped with the successful completion of the $1 billion “Will to Lead” capital campaign.

Prior to Clemson, Allen served as the chief of staff at the University of North Carolina Wilmington and the executive assistant to the president and director of university relations at Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, GA. A retired Navy Lieutenant Commander, Allen has had many successful years of challenging assignments as a Navy public affairs officer.

Allen holds a bachelor’s degree from Jacksonville University in Florida and is a graduate of the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, and the Leadership Georgia Class of 2000. Previous leadership service includes: Past President of the 100 Black Men of Coastal North Carolina and Past Chair of the National Association of Presidential Assistants in Higher Education.  He is a member of Sigma Pi Phi (Delta Beta) fraternity. Allen serves on the Greenville, South Carolina Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Clemson Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Alliance Pickens Board, the UpState Alliance Board, and the BB&T Local Advisory Board in Greenville, SC.

Founding Director

jmhanno@clemson.edu
864-656-5868

Ph.D., Management, Cornell University
MBA, Finance, University at Buffalo
B.S. Industrial Engineering, Clarkson University

Since earning his Ph.D. at Cornell, John Hannon has been honored to teach and mentor MBA and Undergraduate students at eight world-class universities in the US, Singapore, Japan and China (Cornell, UCLA, Purdue, Buffalo, Keio, Renmin, Singapore and Clemson). 

John Hannon has a track record as an excellent teacher, researcher, colleague, and program builder. John consistently earns within the top 10% of his teaching evaluations. He has authored over twenty academic papers - including eight articles published in Tier I journals.

Dr. Hannon has extensive entrepreneurial experience through the creation of his own successful companies in Education, Hospitality, Sports and Entertainment. 

John’s full-time industry experience includes executive roles in multiple top-ranked companies, including National Grid (Utility), IBM (Technology) and M&T Bank (Finance).

Given his experience in academia, as an entrepreneur, and in industry, John is adept and comfortable in any environment, from classrooms to boardrooms to laboratories to farms to factories.

Operations Manager

eamon@clemson.edu

864-656-5882

MBA Marketing
B.A. Business Management with Minor in Accounting

Born in the Ivory Coast, Enoh Amon moved to the United States after completing high school to continue his education. He earned a degree in Business Management with a minor in Accounting and an MBA in Marketing from Liberty University.

Fluent in both English and French, Enoh Amon comes from a lineage of entrepreneurs, ignited by the profound influence of a successful entrepreneurial mother. As a former campus  minister in the greater Atlanta area he devoted efforts to uplift students towards greater self.

Over the years Enoh Amon became involved with various small businesses, offering invaluable support to entrepreneurs with their marketing needs. Enoh Amon pursued his own business endeavor and started a successful small construction business, focusing on residential and commercial painting. 

In his spare time, Enoh Amon enjoys cycling, hiking, and playing the guitar.

Operations Manager

jbbross@clemson.edu
864-656-7898

MBA, Management, The Citadel, Charleston, SC
B.A. Southern Wesleyan University, Central, SC

Jim is a native of Upstate SC where he enjoyed living in and around college communities in Central and Clemson. Following high school at D.W. Daniel and college at Central Wesleyan, Jim’s first professional career was serving hospitals and health systems.

Jim’s healthcare work included hospitals in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas, where he spent a combined 34 years in senior financial and executive leadership, and a small consulting practice. While serving in these communities, Jim developed a passion for providing strategies for employers and their employee health benefit plan needs. He founded and ran a multi-employer health benefit PPO network while simultaneously serving as a hospital CFO for several years.

 As a health professional Jim was a featured speaker at national and regional leadership conferences sponsored by Thomson Reuters (Truven Health), HFMA, and ACHI. Jim is certified as a John Maxwell leadership coach, teacher and speaker. Jim’s service to community has included a number of local and regional civic organizations and boards including the the Western North Carolina Health Network, Macon County (NC) Economic Development Commission, and the Southern Wesleyan University Board of Trustees.

Jim and his wife Angie have one daughter, Anna and one grandson. Jim enjoys spending time with his family, area high school and Clemson Tigers athletics, music, snow skiing, running, and other personal health and wellness activities.

Operations Manager

campbe2@clemson.edu

864-656-5882

MBA, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Clemson University
B.A. Elementary Education, Clemson University
B.A. Modern Languages: Spanish, Clemson University

Jessica Campbell grew up as an expat in Madrid, Spain, returning to the United States as an undergraduate to earn a double major at Clemson University. After teaching for over a decade, she started her own tutoring business.

Jessica’s love for people from all walks of life has drawn her to work for Chick-fil-A and Clemson University’s Office of Development and Center for Career and Professional Development. She graduated with a master's in Business Administration in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Her passion is to be a resource to instill courage, connect like-minded folks to each other and teach entrepreneurship.

Operations Manager

levins4@clemson.edu

864-656-7898

As a Brook T. Smith LaunchPad Operations Manager, Martin provides direct support and program management for the LaunchPad. Responsible for facility oversight while prioritizing and completing a wide variety of program support.

Originally from Ireland, Martin has extensive experience in customer relationship management and project management. Martin has worked for a number of start-up companies, including organizations funded by venture capitalists, Angel funders, high-worth individuals. Martin’s has held positions with Global Access Partners, HCYTE Management, Experience Inc, Kronos Incorporated, W.A. Wilde Company, Lloyds Registrars in the UK and Bell Communications in Ireland.

Martin studied at UCD, Dublin and continues his education achieving a Customer Loyalty Marketing recognition with the Direct Marketing Association, Project Management with PMI and CRM Administrator.

Martin’s engagements include keynote speaker at the Employer Relations & Higher Education seminar at Clemson University, University of Notre Dame Employee Relations Student Conference, keynote speaker at the CRM for SME Marketplace seminar for the Boston Emerging Technologies and Telecommunications Entrepreneurs roundtable, Chair of the Marlborough Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Office Manager

kgolden@clemson.edu

864-656-4793

As the Brook T. Smith Launchpad Office Manager, Kaye works collaboratively with the Founding Director and Operations Managers on entrepreneurial programs and initiatives, oversees budget administration, and provides office management for the Founding Director. She brings many years of experience in project management, problem-solving, and leadership.

Prior to her appointment at the Launchpad, Kaye served a total of 6 1/2 years at Clemson University, working in the Development Office as the Stewardship and Engagement Manager and in Mechanical Engineering, providing computer support, web, and publication services. She also spent over 20 years serving at nonprofit organizations, including pastoral work.

Kaye is passionate about making a difference and seeing other people succeed. She holds an A.A.S. in business with honors and was privileged to receive awards, including the Clemson University CECAS Dean’s Exceptional Staff Award and the Clemson University Board of Trustees’ Staff Award. Kaye is a continual learner and loves to step out into new territories. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling and riding bikes with her husband. Kaye is honored to be on the Brook T. Smith Launchpad team and excited to contribute to its powerful impact on students, S.C. business and economic growth, and Clemson University!

Project Manager

mnavis@clemson.edu

864-656-5874

B.A. Elementary Education, Clemson University

Michelle Navis, a native of Easley, SC, has been a die-hard Clemson fan since birth. Driven by a passion for helping others, her career began as an elementary school teacher in GA and WI for nearly a decade. After that time, she served as PTSO president, responsible for fundraising, financial management, community engagement and event organization.  

Her organization, communication skills and passion for making a difference and helping others led her to become an office manager/mentor with the Spiro Institute of Entrepreneurial Leadership. She continues to provide guidance and support and cultivate a love for entrepreneurship among the students with whom she works. She enjoys being a part of this exceptional opportunity at Clemson to serve a diverse population of students across all colleges.