Libraries Bridging the Gap Between Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Knights Alumni Entrepreneurs Panel

Michael Cho

Michael Cho is the founder and CEO of Impress Ink, an apparel and printing company focused on brand engagement. Michael founded Impress Ink in 2008 during his undergraduate years at UCF and has since grown his company into a multimillion dollar operation. 

Michael is a strong believer in giving back to the community that has helped him grow so much. Over the years Impress Ink has donated tens of thousands back to his alma mater through charitable contributions and sponsorships for some of UCF's largest fundraising events, such as Knight-Thon. Beyond UCF, Impress Ink has partnered with dozens of local non-profits, such as TransLife, The Assistance Fund and Florida Hospital to propel our Central Florida community into improving the quality of life of its diverse demographic.  Impress Ink has made a global impact through many natural disaster relief fundraisers, such as their Hope for the Philippines campaign, raising over $12,000 to help fund the build-out for an  education center in the Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan hit. Michael's entrepreneurial vision was recognized by the Asian American Chamber of Commerce when he was awarded their prestigious Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2015. 

In addition to Impress Ink, he has ventured into the restaurant industry and is a partner of Viet-Nomz, a locally founded Vietnamese Fast Casual  street fare concept, with 2 locations in Central Florida and expanding. He is also an avid traveler and a dog lover, especially of his Siberian Husky, Velvet.  Michael is a proud UCF Finance graduate, class of 2010.

Julie Colombino

Julie Colombino is the Founder and CEO of REBUILD globally, a hybrid social business created to fight poverty in Haiti. REBUILD globally is making an impact by providing education, job training and business development to the most vulnerable.  REBUILD globally has sewn the seeds of long term development by incubating a Haitian owned and operated business, deux mains, that provides dignified living-wage employment to 100% of REBUILD’s job training graduates.   Deux mains craftsmen and women produce high quality, handmade ethical footwear and accessories.

Under Colombino’s leadership, the past eight years has been a dramatic evolution from earthquake recovery to a sustainable and eco-friendly business that was quickly propelled into the world of ethical fashion. REBUILD globally has created partnerships with the United Nations, Kenneth Cole, supermodel Heide Lindgren and soccer star, Aurelien Collin to fight poverty and strengthen families in Haiti. 

Julie is the newest recipient of the Southern Living Beauty Awards for her work as a female entrepreneur.  She was a finalist in the 2017 Digicel Entrepreneur of the Year Award in Haiti.  She is the 2016 Martin Bell Scholar, recently received her MBA from Rollins Crummer Graduate School of Business.  She received her Master of Nonprofit Management from UCF and is the proud recipient of the 2014 Credo Social Business Award, the 2013 Rally Award; the 2013 Young Leaders for Haiti Global Humanitarian Award; the 2012 Business Innovation and Growth Award from the Chamber of Commerce; the 2011 UCF's Alumni Community Service Award; and the 2011 Public Administration New Professional of the Year Award.

Julie's book, From Death to Dollars, will be available in 2019.   It is based on her real life encounters post earthquake and documents the growth of the social business ecosystem she created to instill dignity, financial security, and an ethical fashion business in Haiti.

Ryan Parker

Ryan Parker graduated with a BA in English from UCF in 2009. He and his wife (whom he met at UCF) decided to open up Red Cypress, which officially started producing beer in October of 2015. Three years later Red Cypress beer is an award winning brewery that can be found in hundreds of locations across Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina.

Joe Sleppy

Joe Sleppy is a young entrepreneur with a mechanical and electrical engineering background as well as research experience in material science for energy conversion and storage devices. He has been involved in engineering projects with power electronics engineering companies since he was 16 and has been involved in academic research since he was 18. His unique blend of skills and his network has led Capacitech to its initial success and most recently awarded Sleppy the “Young Entrepreneurship Award” presented by Governor Rick Scott. Other accomplishments include winning the UCF Joust and the Florida Venture Forum Collegiate Business Plan Competition. He also served as a lead for I-Corps and E-Team grants.

Joe received his Bachelor Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Central Florida in May 2018.