Iris Hammel

Executive Director

Iris Hammel is a creative problem solver and lifelong learner with a passion for helping others to unleash their potential through connecting people, resources and ideas.

Iris’s unique background consists of over ten years of both business and education. This experience includes being a co-founder of Connected Classrooms and TeachMe3D.org as well as starting an entrepreneurial middle school. Iris wants to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs to make a lasting impact on our community.

Cole Kuiper Headshot

Cole Kuiper

Business Development

Cole Kuiper is a 2020 Finance graduate from IUSB and a lifelong advocate for entrepreneurial endeavors. Cole believes entrepreneurship is a vital life skill that helps individuals recognize the hard work and perseverance it takes to accomplish goals in order to live the life they wish for.

Cole has worked in startups ranging from SaaS Business-to-business sales in medical education, event management, and solar energy. He is passionate about helping others achieve financial stability and creating a long term model for sustaining wealth and happiness.

Nick Paliga

Content & Instructional Designer

Nick is a passionate educator who has excelled in designing and delivering effective instruction across multiple grade levels. While teaching all core subjects, he also enjoyed creating and implementing after school clubs, promoting skills from engineering to personal wellness. Since graduating from Purdue University in 2016, he has been dedicated to his mission of creating personalized and diverse instruction in order to bring success to each and every student.

He comes from a family with multiple generations of entrepreneurship. He is eager to bind his background in education and entrepreneurship in order to give students of all ages an opportunity to pursue their dreams.

Be a Part of RISE

RISE teacher training is taught by talented educators, entrepreneurs, and community builders. The essence of this training is driven by the way it is facilitated. You will experience an immersive and vibrant atmosphere where we model what a day in the life looks like for a RISE student.

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