About Us

The Launch Pad Team is comprised of entrepreneurs, inventors, business professionals, and students who are committed to helping you at every stage of your entrepreneurial journey. Check back soon for the full list of our Office Team, Venture Coaches, and volunteers. If you would like to join The Launch Pad team, please contact us!

Members

Susan Amat, Ph.D., Executive Director

Susan (BLA '01, MBA '04, Ph.D. '08) is the Executive Director of The Launch Pad at Toppel. Susan ventured into the music business as a concert promoter at age 15. A serial entrepreneur, she started and ran a successful record label, developing a television show which aired on the E! Network and the first CD-Rom magazine, and was a consultant to media outlets, record labels, and retail stores on marketing and strategy issues. Susan then moved on to the health care sector, creating products focusing on health monitoring and preventing childhood obesity. Susan has consulted extensively on brand development and management, strategic planning, and marketing in industries including high-tech, retail, health care, and non-profits. She currently serves as a lecturer in the Department of Management at the School of Business Administration, teaching courses in strategy, entrepreneurship, and organizational behavior.

Armando Ibarra - Program Manager, aibarra@miami.edu

Armando directs The Launch Pad's Venture Coaching and Fellows Programs, and plays a key role in developing and implementing The Launch Pad's strategic initiatives. Before joining The Launch Pad, Armando provided government affairs and political consulting to corporations, non-profits, and advocacy groups in South Florida. Prior thereto, Armando worked in investment banking and corporate finance, where he focused on corporate development and capital raising for late venture stage technology companies, as well as project financing for Latin American infrastructure engineering and construction firms. Armando graduated from MIT, where he studied Management, Finance, and Economics.

Brian LeBlanc - Fellow & Web Developer

Brian is launching a web marketing and development company in South Florida after having spent the past 3 years working for small web marketing companies in Houston Texas. During that time, he has developed software used by The Houston Zoo, Reliant Park (home of the Texans football team), and the Houston Red Cross. Brian’s expertise ranges across all aspects of the web, from design and development to social media, search engine optimization, and analytics. Brian received his B.A. from Rice University in 2006.