Led by the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) within the Costello College of Business at George Mason University, the Workforce Innovation Success through Entrepreneurship (WISE) Program gathered its inaugural class on October 25 at the Hybla Valley Community Center/WISH Center in Alexandria, Virginia.
WISE graduating class with instructors and staff. Photo by Claudia Martinez Garcia, Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Student Leadership intern.
The ceremony marked the completion of the bootcamp phase for 30 participants, who spent several weeks mastering the fundamentals of entrepreneurship.
Building on the success of the SOAR Initiative, Costello leadership partnered with Rodney Lusk, supervisor of Fairfax County, Virginia's Franconia District, to expand the program’s reach and impact for local residents.
“It really is about shifting their lens of how they look at the work and seeing the problem solving that will be required as an entrepreneur; kind of the good, the bad, the ugly of what starting a business is like, because we want them to feel empowered to go after their vision and go after their dream of starting a business.”
— Rebecca Howick, director of operations and engagement at the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
“It really is about shifting their lens of how they look at the work and seeing the problem solving that will be required as an entrepreneur; kind of the good, the bad, the ugly of what starting a business is like, because we want them to feel empowered to go after their vision and go after their dream of starting a business,” says Rebecca Howick, director of operations and engagement at the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
To lead the bootcamp, they selected Andres Jordan, a former adjunct instructor in design thinking at Costello. “I knew he would be a really great fit for this particular cohort because he can get as technical and advanced as it goes with entrepreneurship training,” says Howick. “But he also has a very human side to him of just being very approachable.”
Reflecting the diversity of Fairfax County, participants represented a wide range of backgrounds—from individuals facing housing and food insecurity to professionals transitioning from federal government careers. Classes were held weekly at the WISH Center, an accessible community hub equipped with resources and staffed by team members who regularly checked in to support participants.
“As a mentor and advisor to companies as well as executives, I have experienced that at times the fundamentals of business are missing,” says Jordan. “As such, I believe that it is important to build entrepreneurship capacity that includes the fundamentals. George Mason’s SOAR and WISE initiatives do exactly that. It is a comprehensive program that mixes a mini-MBA with entrepreneurship best practices.”
The bootcamp graduation also featured remarks from JK Aier, senior associate dean of the Costello College of Business; Supervisor Rodney Lusk; Larysa Kautz, CEO and president of Melwood; and Eboni Borden, WISH program director.
Two weeks after officially graduating from the bootcamp, the WISE participants entered the mentorship phase. During this phase, they attend group mentoring sessions led by Andres Jordan and supported by Jonathan Morse, MBA, ’94, and work closely with assigned mentors to advance their entrepreneurial ideas. By investing in local talent and creating pathways for innovation, the WISE Program is poised to drive growth for the business ecosystem of Fairfax County and the region.
The WISE program participants eagerly anticipate working with George Mason students enrolled in MGMT 452, also taught by Andres Jordan, in spring 2026. These students will focus on opportunity recognition and business plan development while gaining hands-on consulting experience by creating real deliverables for WISE entrepreneurs. This partnership is a win-win, preparing students for successful careers through experiential learning while driving societal impact for entrepreneurs across the region.