Keynote Speaker
Chase Slepak
Chase Warren Slepak embodies the spirit of seizing opportunities with determination. Born in a blue-collar area north of Pittsburgh, Chase's upbringing instilled in him a fierce resilience. A devoted husband to Kate and father to Reagan Grace and Charlie Brooks, Chase’s journey began at 18 with diverse jobs, from door-to-door dry cleaning salesman to a night-shift security guard, which shaped his hands-on business approach.
He launched his first businesses in his late teens and early twenties, Fifth Avenue Carwash & Detailing and Fortitude Property Services, learning invaluable lessons in resilience and customer service. Today, as Chairman and President of Slepak Family Companies, he manages a diverse portfolio including Slepak Enterprises, Uncle Joe's Good Time, Swing Zone Sports Hub, and more. Chase also serves as COO for brands like Boylan Bottling Company and is Interim President of Rainshadow Labs. His public service includes roles with the Fawn Township Fire Company and the Ohio Special Response Team.
Judges
Bill White
Bill White has been in the banking industry for over 36 years. He began his career as a bank teller and eventually became the President and CEO of two different institutions.
Bill is currently the Market President for Indiana Members Credit Union (IMCU) in Clark and Floyd counties. Prior to his current role with IMCU, he served as a board member and Market President for Commerce Bank.
Prior to these roles, Bill was in senior management with the last 3 largest banks in Kentucky and was one of the founders of Independence Bancorp, the holding company for Independence Bank. Independence, later known as 1st Independence, was headquartered in New Albany. Bill served as the President & CEO of the holding company and the bank from inception until it was sold in 2008.
Simultaneous to his career in banking, Bill was also pursuing other interests. He has been a Radio Talk Show Host, a Motivational Speaker, a Business Consultant, and an Entrepreneur. Along with his wife and family, they operate Estes Waste Solutions, a family business venture.
As a speaker, Bill has presented at numerous events and to many organizations and groups around the country. These include Waste Expo, North America’s largest annual waste and recycling event, the Indiana Bankers Association, the Kentucky Bankers Association, Bank Director Magazine and Keefe Bruyette & Woods, and many others.
Bill’s presentations have covered a wide variety of topics including strategic planning, the art of leadership, creating a sales culture, and performance improvement.
Bill is also a certified Professional Selling Skills facilitator, has been a faculty member at the Kentucky Bankers Association School of Banking for many years, and has taught as an adjunct professor at the college level.
Bill received his MBA from Bellarmine University and his undergraduate degree from Eastern Kentucky University. He was inducted into the EKU Hall of Distinguished Alumni in 2007. He is also a former chair of the EKU Business Advisory Council and a is founding board member of their Banking and Financial Services Program.
Bill serves his community through service on a variety of local boards. He currently serves on the boards of Indiana University Southeast, Baptist Health Floyd, The Ogle Foundation, The Floyd County Legacy Foundation, The Floyd County Board of Zoning Appeals, The Floyd County Legacy Foundation, The River Heritage Conservancy, and the Eastern Kentucky University Banking and Financial Services Advisory Council.
He has previously served on the boards Hosparus, Inc., Goodwill of Southern Indiana, The Community Foundation of Southern Indiana, Metro United Way, and many others.
Chase Slepak
Chase Warren Slepak embodies the spirit of seizing opportunities with determination. Born in a blue-collar area north of Pittsburgh, Chase's upbringing instilled in him a fierce resilience. A devoted husband to Kate and father to Reagan Grace and Charlie Brooks, Chase’s journey began at 18 with diverse jobs, from door-to-door dry cleaning salesman to a night-shift security guard, which shaped his hands-on business approach.
He launched his first businesses in his late teens and early twenties, Fifth Avenue Carwash & Detailing and Fortitude Property Services, learning invaluable lessons in resilience and customer service. Today, as Chairman and President of Slepak Family Companies, he manages a diverse portfolio including Slepak Enterprises, Uncle Joe's Good Time, Swing Zone Sports Hub, and more. Chase also serves as COO for brands like Boylan Bottling Company and is Interim President of Rainshadow Labs. His public service includes roles with the Fawn Township Fire Company and the Ohio Special Response Team.
Jack Manzella
Jack Manzella is the Chief Operating Officer of SoFab Inks, a chemical manufacturing startup developing novel materials used to produce next-generation perovskite solar cells. Jack is responsible for SoFab’s business development, finances, and operational stability. SoFab Inks was spun out of the University of Louisville in 2023 after receiving seed funding from the US Department of Energy.
Jack also serves as an Entrepreneur-In-Residence for the College of Business at the University of Louisville. There, he is responsible for coaching and mentoring student-led start-ups, teaching courses in management and entrepreneurship, providing support to strategic-level initiatives of the Forcht Center for Entrepreneurship, and developing relationships in the Louisville startup ecosystem.
Prior to working at SoFab, Jack lead new product development and digital commercial strategy for GE Appliances’ Innovation Lab, FirstBuild. FirstBuild’s mission is to invent the future of the home, and the organization has launched nearly 100 products, including several of the most successful appliance-related crowdfunds of all time.
Jack began his career at GE Appliances, completing the 2-year Information Technology Leadership Development Program, where he specialized in AWS Cloud Computing and built the IT Innovation Bay, which was responsible for engaging employees to develop innovative solutions to challenging digital problems.
Jack holds an MBA in Entrepreneurship & Innovation, a BS in Information Systems, and certificates in Information Technology and Distilled Spirits. Jack is also an AWS-certified Cloud Architect and Developer. In his free time, Jack teaches yoga, exercises, and listens to audiobooks.
James M. Hojnacki
James M. Hojnacki is President and CEO of Cleveland Private Trust Company, a privately held trust and wealth management company based in Cleveland, Ohio that serves high net worth and ultra-high net worth families. Prior to taking on the CEO role, Jim served as COO. Jim has spent over 30 years in the Finance and Banking industry in and around Northeast Ohio. Prior to joining Cleveland Private Trust Company, Mr. Hojnacki was Senior Vice President of a $12 billion regional bank where he managed a team of private bankers, a portfolio manager and compliance and administrative staff. He began his career in public accounting with PricewaterhouseCoopers, a multinational audit, assurance and consulting firm.
Jim graduated from Cleveland State University’s James Nance School of Business with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting and pursued graduate studies at Case Western Reserve University Weatherhead School of Management with a focus on Finance and Marketing.
He is an active angel and real estate investor. His angel investing has included wide ranging involvement in consumer (Polar Delight), cryptocurrency, medical (Identify Sensors) and e-mobility (LAND) startups. Jim is also a Board member and Treasurer of True North, a non-profit that assists incarcerated youth, and is a Board member of TASCforce, a non-profit, all volunteer organization committed to promoting trails in Summit County, Ohio. His hobbies include golf, investing, racquet and water sports.
Landon Young
Landon holds a Ph.D. from Purdue University and completed his executive education at Harvard University. He was also an advisor for Stanford University’s international University Innovation Fellows Program, a design thinking and entrepreneurship program through the School. Landon is currently the Vice President of Pre-Seed at Elevate Ventures, the Midwest’s most active seed-stage fund. Landon is also an active advisor and board member for several venture-backed startup companies.