TAMPA 鈥� The USF Nault Center for Entrepreneurship has launched its Entrepreneur in Residence program, naming two distinguished alumni as its inaugural mentors. Jennifer Sineway and Christian Brown, both accomplished entrepreneurs and longtime supporters of USF, will deepen their involvement with the center by guiding students in their entrepreneurial journeys.
The new program formally recognizes alumni who have made exceptional contributions to mentoring, advising and supporting USF鈥檚 entrepreneurial programs.
Sineway: From Student Entrepreneur to Mentoring Leader
For Sineway, the appointment is a full-circle moment. As a former USF student who built a multimillion-dollar business from scratch, she understands the challenges aspiring entrepreneurs face 鈥� and is committed to helping them navigate those hurdles.
Sineway co-founded Allied Analytic, now the leading U.S. servicer and reseller of Vetscan blood analyzers, supporting cancer research, veterinary hospitals and wildlife conservation globally. She launched her first medical equipment brokerage at just 22 while still a student at USF, bootstrapping her way into a successful career.
But beyond business success, Sineway鈥檚 true passion lies in mentorship. She founded the Entrepreneur Mentorship Program at the Nault Center while earning her Master of Science in Entrepreneurship in Applied Technologies in 2011. Over the past decade, she has cultivated a robust network of business leaders, attorneys and investors, connecting them with students through one-on-one coaching and hands-on entrepreneurial training.
Jennifer Sineway (second from left) speaks on a panel at a USF CONNECT event, where she shares her expertise and mentors students.
鈥淓ntrepreneurship is a journey best traveled with guidance,鈥� Sineway said. 鈥淲hen I was a student, these opportunities didn鈥檛 exist. Now, we鈥檙e giving students access to real-world insights, connections and direct mentorship that can accelerate their success.鈥�
A longtime advisory board member for the center, Sineway also guest lectures on bootstrapping, international business strategy and scaling new ventures. When she鈥檚 not mentoring future entrepreneurs, she鈥檚 an avid competitive angler and a U.S. Coast Guard 100-ton master captain, competing in international fishing tournaments.
Brown: Building Student Entrepreneurs From Day One
With a track record of scaling and exiting multiple companies, Brown knows what it takes to build a business from the ground up 鈥� and he鈥檚 eager to share that knowledge with USF students.
Brown, who earned his Bachelor of Science in Management from 最新天美传媒 in 1987, launched his career in staffing and recruitment before founding and selling multiple companies, including:
- Burlington Wells Inc. (acquired by TMP Worldwide/Monster.com)
- Insights Search (acquired by On Assignment)
- Harmony Healthcare (grew to more than 800 employees before acquisition by Addison Holdings)
After decades in the corporate world, Brown鈥檚 focus has shifted to giving back. Since joining the Nault Center advisory board in 2023, he has been involved in mentoring students through competitions and workshops. His passion for mentorship led to his new role as an entrepreneur-in-residence specializing in the Every Student Entrepreneur program. That program is an initiative in which students launch their own businesses over the course of their degree.
鈥淚鈥檝e spent 35 years developing young professionals, helping them find their strengths and build successful careers,鈥� Brown said. 鈥淣ow, I get to do that full time at the Nault Center, helping students take their ideas from concept to reality.鈥�
Brown believes that entrepreneurship isn鈥檛 just for business students 鈥� it鈥檚 for anyone with ambition and drive. The Every Student Entrepreneur program automatically enrolls all USF students in an entrepreneurial pathway, exposing them to startup fundamentals, mentorship opportunities and funding resources.
Christian Brown (third from left) attends a Nault Center Speaker Series event, sharing lunch and insights with students.
鈥淥pting students in by default is a game-changer,鈥� he said. 鈥淪ome of the best founders come from unexpected backgrounds. Our goal is to make sure every student has the tools and support to succeed, whether they launch a startup or take an entrepreneurial approach to their careers.鈥�
Expanding Entrepreneurship at USF
The launch of the Entrepreneur in Residence program is part of a broader effort to position USF as a national leader in entrepreneurship education. By engaging accomplished alumni as hands-on mentors, the Nault Center aims to bridge the gap between academia and real-world business challenges.
Sineway and Brown attend a Nault Center advisory board meeting.
鈥淭he impact of seasoned entrepreneurs like Jennifer and Christian is invaluable,鈥� said Allen Clary, executive director of the Nault Center. 鈥淭heir guidance helps students turn ambition into action, equipping them with the mindset, skills and connections they need to thrive.鈥�
As the program grows, more alumni will be recognized as entrepreneurs-in-residence, strengthening USF鈥檚 commitment to fostering innovation and preparing students to excel in the evolving business landscape.
To stay up to date on Nault Center initiatives, visit this page.