Meet VL's Director and Brand Ambassadors (2022-2023)

Samantha Steidle - Director of Venture Lab

The Venture Lab's Director is Dr. Samantha Steidle. Dr. Steidle has a Bachelor of Accounting from Radford

University (Class of 04'). Since 2010, she co-launched six different start-up spaces. Venture Lab is the seventh. 

Steidle decided to join Radford's Davis College of Business and Economics in 2021 to support the Venture Lab's 

post-COVID re-launch and the amazing business and social entrepreneurship students across campus. She is 

now a professor of entrepreneurship in the Department of Management. As a Junior in college at Radford, she

started her first business so it's quite fulfilling to support student entrepreneurs and innovations taking similar paths, 

regardless of whether they intend to be entrepreneurs, employees, or a hybrid of both. Innovation is a powerful 

tool for all career paths. 

Bradley Persons - Lead Brand Ambassador

Bradley is a senior Finance major who loves skateboarding. Bradley, the Lead Brand Ambassador,

supervises 7 Brand Ambassadors, ensuring the execution of Venture Lab’s strategic mission. He also facilitates 

innovation workshops and is exploring Virtual Reality options for the Lab. One thing that Bradley loves about the VL

is the inclusive environment; it is a place for anyone no matter what idea or project someone has.

Ben Moore - Senior Brand Ambassador (Facilitator)

Ben is a junior Criminal Justice major who finds that hard work and determination are some of the

best ways to be successful in life. Ben, our Senior Brand Ambassador, keeps the flow of the Venture Lab

strong by leading the facilitation of Innovation Workshops. He also works to increase awareness about the Venture Lab.

Ben loves the VL because it is his safe space to come in with motivated coworkers and tackle the day.  

Jackson Hughes - Brand Ambassador (Problem-Solving)

Jackson is a freshman Accounting major who one day wants to get his Masters in Business

Administration. His role at the Venture Lab is to help coordinate and lead the events that Venture Lab

hosts on campus. Jackson loves the Venture Lab because it provides an open space for entrepreneurs

to work and create ideas. 

Jake Miller - Brand Ambassador (Video/Graphic Design)

Jake is a sophomore Marketing and Management major who owns his own clothing company based out of Roanoke, Virginia. His roles include planning and editing videos for the Venture Lab and ensuring that the proper information is conveyed in the videos.

Karly Slaysman - Brand Ambassador (Social Media Lead)

Karly is a junior Business Management major who is a member of Alpha Kappa Psi, a business fraternity at Radford University. She helps create social media posts and comes up with marketing strategies for the students on campus. Her professional goal is to manage a business and lead a team.

Jessica Britton - Brand Ambassador (Blogging)

Jessica is senior Journalism student, and also the president of the Women’s Studies Club. She writes blogs and press releases to share with the Radford community about what the Venture Lab is doing. Jessica aspires to work at NPR (National Public Radio) one day. She loves being and giving students at Radford University a voice through her writing. 

Coleman Morgan - Brand Ambassador (Social Media)

Coleman is a senior economics and marketing student, and a member of Alpha Kappa Psi. Coleman helps create social media posts and strategizes ways to engage the Venture Lab audience. One day he hopes to own a financial advisory firm. Coleman joined the Brand Ambassador team because he loves the welcoming environment that the Venture Lab gives students.