Behind the Spark CU Team

In its first year, Spark CU has brought together a uniquely committed group. Each member comes in with their own story, their own edge, their own vision. They use the program to ignite entrepreneurship on campus. It’s a cohort defined not just by ideas, but by the people bold enough to chase them.

Lilah Greenberg

Lilah Greenberg is a Sophomore at Leeds with an emphasis in management and entrepreneurship. Originally from the East Coast, she grew up loving all things about it. The culture, the beach, and of course, the Philadelphia Eagles. 

It was through the Innovation Workshop Series that she became involved with The Deming Center. Loving the environment, she quickly became a Deming ambassador, where she creates and informs students about their events. Of course, this position led her to an opportunity in Spark CU.

Spark CU has given her a pathway to her startup. Through mentorship from other members and resources provided by Spark, she’s learning how to turn her idea into reality. That idea is a collapsible jacket designed for concerts, bars, football games, or any setting where people need an extra layer without carrying a bulky coat. 

She’s received hands-on help from CJ Riggins, program manager for The Deming Center, and other mentors, from fabric decisions to prototyping. She’s also working with a manufacturer in India despite having no experience with fashion or fabric.

To her, entrepreneurship is identifying a problem and using whatever skills and resources you have to make an impact. She emphasizes you don’t have to be an expert in anything, but taking the courage to start is how you’ll thrive. Greenberg believes entrepreneurship is versatile and creates supportive communities. The Deming Center, especially Riggins, has been central to her growth by offering connection and encouragement.

“Even if you don’t think you have those resources and even if you’re not an expert in the field, you can still make an impact… you’re more capable of solving problems than you think you are.”

Benjamin Scarbeary

Ben Scarbeary is a Sophomore at Leeds with an emphasis in marketing and entrepreneurship. He came to CU for his strong family legacy, the entrepreneurship community, and perhaps most importantly, the skiing. As an avid skier, he spends many weekends in the mountains with his friends. 

His journey into entrepreneurship began during a time when opportunities were low: 2020. At age 14, he launched a YouTube channel as a creative outlet. As it grew, he began consulting for brands on social media strategy, which exposed gaps in influencer marketing and inspired his startup, Retrofuse.

Retrofuse helps brands repurpose already-posted creator content into paid advertisements. Spark CU has allowed him to grow it through his peers and mentorship. Not only do they test and troubleshoot, but they’ve also created a genuine friendship-based environment.

“Usually, after the meetings, we stay late for 20 to 30 minutes just talking about whatever. It’s a friendship.”

To Scarbeary, entrepreneurship means the ability to create something from nothing and make meaningful change. As one of Deming’s ambassadors, he credits them with opening the door to strong connections and opportunities.  It’s one of the main reasons he became deeply involved in entrepreneurship.

Mason Levy

As a Senior at Leeds with an emphasis in business analytics and finance, along with a minor in economics, Mason Levy joined the Spark team to take on a consulting and mentoring role.

With his years of experience in consulting, including roles with Leeds Consulting Group, Bain & Company, and even as a teacher’s assistant, he’s built a strong foundation. Spark CU became the perfect opportunity to build on that legacy.

A Colorado native, Levy has always been exposed to a high level of academics. Through many accolades, including Leeds Scholars, Honors, the Dean's List, and most recently, the OLIA (Organization Leadership and Information Analytics) advisory board, it’s safe to say that Levy is a decorated undergraduate.

However, his experience before and during Spark isn’t just for resume builders, but to fulfill his passion. He’s the mentor in the group, providing valuable insights to enhance other businesses. 

He’s bringing his friendly, “people-first” face to a group of ambitious learners. Through his extensive help with each situation and team member, the group can thrive. With experience in unfamiliar places, including Bocconi University in Milan, Levy is a clear, trustworthy source.

But above all, he loves the friendship and community they’ve built at Spark. To him, it’s that “professional friend group” they all talk about that makes Spark CU that much more worthwhile. He’s able to exercise “playful banter” with team members, despite having vast differences in emphasis and experience. This is just the beginning of a fantastic career for Levy.

Geoff McIntyre 

A self-proclaimed “super-duper senior”, Geoff McIntyre is as ambitious as it gets. However, that ambition didn’t come out of nowhere, as he’s had quite the wild ride throughout college. After 7 semesters at the Colorado School of Mines, he sought a school with a better electrical engineering and entrepreneurship program. CU provided just that.

McIntyre proves that you don’t need to have a primary emphasis in Leeds to be an entrepreneur. In fact, it’s more common than you may think. For him, engineering provides the hard skills, and entrepreneurship is the “Spark” for his startup, TinyCore.

TinyCore is a hardware-software platform that lets students and makers from any field add electronics to their prototypes without the usual complexity. Put simply, anyone can use it, no electrical engineering skills needed.

McIntyre pushes back on the idea that entrepreneurship is exclusive. In his view, it’s open to anyone willing to create.

“Everyone is creative… I have the strongest belief that everyone is creative in some way, and therefore, entrepreneurship is for everyone.”

To him, it’s the act of taking an idea in your mind and impressing it onto the world, leaving a positive mark on society by making something real. Through CU’s remarkable resources, he encourages students to stop hesitating and start building.

Kiara Blacher 

Kiara Blacher is a senior in Leeds with an emphasis in marketing & strategic entrepreneurial thinking.

Originally from San Diego, she’s always had a passion for building and developing projects. This was exemplified through her non-profit charity, Kids for a Cure. It organized benefit concerts and fundraising events that raised over $5,000 for St. Jude. The impact resonated just as much with the people it supported as it did with her.

“That (the non-profit) is a big part of who I am, and I want to incorporate that into a business.”

Seeking an out-of-state experience, along with prior knowledge of Leeds’ fantastic program, Blacher ultimately landed at CU. She first learned about Spark CU while working as a barista at Violet Peak, when a customer informed her about the program. Fast forward a couple of months, and she’s now using the program to build her start-up, Caffi.

The venture reimagines the traditional Italian moka pot by combining its design with an electric base. Essentially, it creates a fast, simple, and affordable stove-top style espresso maker that doesn’t require pods or a high-end machine. 

Spark CU is shaping her understanding of building a business in the U.S., especially as a first-generation American with limited exposure to entrepreneurship within the country. The team circles and guest speakers provide her guidance and help strengthen the team's bond.

In the future, she looks to use her compassionate and selfless personality and pour it into entrepreneurship. Her experiences in nonprofit work shape how she creates value and serves others. It’s why impact, not income, guides the way she builds.

“(Entrepreneurship) is watching something important to you grow, even if it’s not necessarily for revenue, just seeing the reach your idea has with everyone else and the impact it has.”

Finn Conway Reiser 

Finn Reiser may be a freshman at Leeds, but he comes across with the confidence and composure of someone far beyond his first year. Through his personal brand, his maturity suggests he’s had experience in the field for many years. That instinct is spot on.

Growing up, he aspired to be an influencer, and in classic entrepreneurial fashion, he made it happen. As early as 4th grade, he consistently posted on social media platforms, specifically YouTube. It’s a common gig for kids to do, especially in his era, but following through is the part most never reach.

That’s where Reiser is an outlier. Throughout middle & high school, he created a monumental following through a strong personal brand. However, it’s one thing to build the following, but it’s another to act on it.

“If you can build your personal brand along with your business, there’s no limit to what you can do, because once you have that following, you have such a large audience to promote to.”

Through his multiple accounts and channels, finnontrack and finnontren, he’s made a name for himself. After producing viral videos for major supplement brands like Fairlife, GNC, and Liquid IV, he realized how much revenue his content generated compared to his earnings. This ignited the creation of his personal venture, Rocky Mountain Supplements.

Now, Spark CU is giving him the needed tools and business skills to enhance his career. He teaches other Spark members how to build their own brands and create efficient content using platforms like N8N and LangGraph. Even with his experience, he sees the program as an opportunity to build and influence an amazing community.