Professional Advice for Your Idea
Hours with Experts is open to all University of Utah students to get expert advice in many fields. We have lawyers, accountants, marketers, project managers, experienced entrepreneurs, and more. Through this program, students sign up for one-on-one sessions to meet privately with an expert to discuss a project. The private appointments are first-come, first-served, and the experts available vary by date and time. Browse upcoming one-on-one sessions and register below. Do you want to join our community as an expert mentor? We are always looking for new people and those with unique or useful skills to advise student entrepreneurs. Complete this form to become an expert mentor.
Schedule a Meeting
Browse available experts and appointments below, then schedule a meeting. You should receive an appointment confirmation via email. Meeting locations, including virtual meeting links, are provided after registration.
Staff
Scott Holley
Executive Director, Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute
Scott is an entrepreneur and business executive with experience in acquisition entrepreneurship, cross-border manufacturing, and consumer branded products. In February 2025 he sold his company, Eddyline Kayaks, to Jackson Kayak, of Tennessee. Scott started his career in investment banking and consulting. Scott was a managing director and founding team member of Harken Capital, a boutique investment bank that helps venture capital and private equity clients raise funds to pursue investments in small growing companies. Prior to Harken, Scott was a strategy consultant for Monitor Group (now Deloitte Consulting) and OCC Strategy Consultants. Scott holds a BA in finance from the University of Utah and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Areas of expertise: supply chain, manufacturing, product development, search funds, entrepreneurship through acquisition, fund raising, sales strategy, channel management, branding
Entrepreneurship
Tessa Arneson
Founder, Maven District
Tessa Arneson is the founder of Maven District, a neighborhood of 100+ businesses on 900 South and 200 East in downtown Salt Lake City that encompasses 100% locally owned spaces, 90% of which are women-owned. She’s an entrepreneur, girl mom, angel investor, and real-estate developer who builds community-driven spaces for founders. Tessa is a daughter of a Utah pioneer, but a world traveled. She is always trying to learn, love big, and make the world a more equitable place for women.
Areas of expertise: wellness, real estate, small business, story telling, branding, design
Rob Dunkel
Founder & Former CEO, 3PM Shield
Rob is a seasoned entrepreneur, founder/former CEO of 3PM Shield, a SaaS company that was acquired by eBay in 2023. His journey from bootstrapping startups to successful exits gives him a wealth of experience to share. He is passionate about building high-performing teams that foster a culture of trust, empowering them to solve complex problems and deliver exceptional value. He is driven by learning and helping others achieve success. Rob has financial and international business experience.
Areas of expertise: entrepreneurship
Legal & Business Formation
Plymouth D. Nelson
Partner, Michael Best
Plymouth’s practice includes the preparation of invalidity, non-infringement, and clearance opinions. He also specializes in patentability analysis, license drafting, confidentiality, and other agreements. Additionally, he counsels clients on the acquisition and enforcement of patent rights and the avoidance of competitor patents. Plymouth worked as an attorney at an intellectual property firm in Washington, D.C., after serving in the Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps of the U.S Army.
Areas of expertise: intellectual property law, entity formation, and other legal services
Finances & Funding
Kim Tolman
Business Services Advisor, Cyprus Federal Credit Union
Growing up with entrepreneurial parents in the eastern US, Kim came to Utah to pursue a college degree. She never expected that the love of her life would insist on staying here forever! With a heart for small businesses, Kim is excited to serve the members of Cyprus Credit Union. Having worked more years in small business than she is willing to admit, she understands the struggles associated with a changing economic environment. By listening to our business members’ stories and plans for growth, she is able to guide them to tools to help them reach their goals. She can help with everything from accepting a credit card to payroll/HR solutions to funding opportunities.
Areas of expertise: lending, cash management, loans, business development
Marketing & Sales
Josh Webber
Co-founder, CEO, Big Red Jelly
As the co-founder and CEO of the marketing agency Big Red Jelly and a graduate of the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah, Josh lives by this quote: “Be the best at everything that requires no talent.” Showing up, being proactive, and exceeding expectations is how he follows this principle. He believes that effort is a universal currency that should be lived, taught, and valued. His effort in starting and growing Big Red Jelly comes from my deep passion for creating and building. His company is his hobby and he finds joy in cultivating its culture, growth, and success. He is a continual learner, whether it be listening to new podcasts, learning to cook, or traveling to new places, I appreciate new experiences.
Areas of expertise: brand strategy, brand development, business strategy, marketing, digital marketing
Zach Webber
Co-founder, COO, Big Red Jelly
Zach graduated with a degree in public relations and played rugby throughout his time there. His passion for self sustainability is contagious, and he consistently sets an amazing example for the team on how to enjoy and excel in the work we do. Zach is currently the COO of Big Red Jelly, a digital marketing and branding agency in Provo, Utah.
Areas of expertise: WordPress, ecommerce, Shopify, account management, project management, CSS UX/UI, website strategy, online tools & integrations
Product Development
Clayton Dickerson
Business Development, Honeywell
Clayton is pursuing his MBA, bringing over 9 years of experience in product management and material and mechanical engineering. He has developed successful recycled products, like Flek for 3form and smart home window shades for Lutron. He specializes in turning creative ideas into scalable, responsible solutions. He mentors students in product development, prototyping, design for manufacturing, and sustainability.
Areas of expertise: product development, manufacturing, prototyping, sustainability
Julie Simmons
Chief Information Officer, Development Dimensions Inc. (DDI)
I have a broad based technology and operations background that spans start-up to Fortune 500 enterprises in various industries. As a CIO, I have driven many digital transformations and specialize in aligning IT strategy to business goals to drive growth. I enjoy leading and developing high performance teams across complex environments. I’m passionate about mentoring future leaders, championing diversity in tech and leveraging emerging technologies to create sustainable competitive advantage.
Areas of expertise: transformation, IT, software development, technology strategy, product commercialization, leadership
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