Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Two members of the Costello College of Business at George Mason University have been honored with the Jack Wood Award for Town-Gown Relations. Selected in the staff category was Rebecca Howick, director of operations and engagement for the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE). In the student category, Iman Chaudhry, a sophomore studying management information systems, was recognized.

On Thursday, April 9, 2026, students, faculty, alumni, and other stakeholders from across the George Mason University community gathered to cheer on the final teams of entrepreneurs competing in this year’s Patriot Pitch Competition, including those featured in the competition’s newly introduced Regional Showcase.

Adopting the risk‑taking mentality of his immigrant parents, Jason Howell, BS Accounting ’97, has never put limitations on himself. As an Independent candidate, he ran for a seat in the United States Congress. He authored a book titled Joy of Financial Planning: 7 Strategies for Transforming Your Finances and Reclaiming Your American Dream and has been featured as a financial expert and political strategist on a wide array of major networks and publications. He also teaches personal finance at the Costello College of Business at George Mason University. Most recently, he celebrated ten years of Jason Howell Company.

Rayan Rahman, BS Management ’17, has achieved an impressive amount in a short period of time. Now a senior recruiter at Amazon, he has founded two companies—Changing Bangladesh Foundation and Airposted—the latter of which he sold during the COVID pandemic when it had reached a gross merchandise value of approximately one million dollars.

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 to celebrate their bootcamp graduation.

While a student at Costello, Jheen Oh's passion for business blossomed. Coming from a health-conscious family, Oh, with the help of his father, launched Susosu Water, the only naturally sourced mineral water from a 600-foot underground source in South Korea, infused with extra hydrogen for a much healthier hydration.

Apply today for the 2026 Patriot Pitch Competition.

On Saturday, August 9, the WISE program officially launched at the Hybla Valley Community Center in Alexandria, Virginia—marking a significant milestone in advancing entrepreneurship and workforce development for aspiring entrepreneurs in Fairfax County.

This year’s inaugural session of Camp Costello gets underway Wednesday, August 20 and concludes Friday, August 22. Over 100 first-year business students have registered for this opportunity to connect with their peers, academic advising and career services resources within the college, and Costello faculty, staff, and alumni—all before the start of fall semester classes.

Leticia Nunez Nova’s desire to nurture a business from the ground up paved the way for a series of internships with start-up companies.