Staff

Dr. Richard Lester, Executive Director

Richard is the Executive Director of the Center for New Ventures and Entrepreneurship and a clinical associate professor in the Department of Management in Mays Business School.

Richard graduated with his BS from Wright State University, earned his EMBA from the University of Houston, and received his PhD in Strategic Management from Mays Business School at Texas A&M University in 2003.

His current research interests focus on corporate governance, upper echelons, and entrepreneurship. Prior to his academic career, Richard spent 25 years in primarily oil and gas related firms. His last corporate position was Vice President and General Manager at Triten Corporation in Houston, Texas.

Ashley Crane, Assistant Director

Ashley Crane is the Assistant Director of the Center for New Ventures and Entrepreneurship.  Ashley graduated with her BBA in accounting from Texas A&M in 2005. As an undergraduate, Ashley worked as a student worker for CNVE.

After graduation, Ashley worked for Dell, Inc. in Austin. She returned to Aggieland to work for the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) at Texas A&M as a project accountant for the retrofit project of a riserless drilling vessel in Singapore. Her most recent work at IODP involved program planning, policy development and process improvement project management. She returned to CNVE in August of 2010.

Dr. Gerald David Flint, Clinical Associate Professor

David Flint has been involved in entrepreneurial activities since the early 1980s and is presently involved with five small business endeavors covering software, real estate, insurance, education outside of the United States and transportation activities. He also serves on the board of several non-profit organizations with both domestic and international activities. David is leading our development of new entrepreneurial curriculum.

David graduated with a BA from Grand Canyon University in 1986, earned an MIM from Thunderbird in 1990, and earned his Ph. from Texas A&M in 1997. His undergraduate education focused on history and computer science studies. His masters level studies focused on the development of the EU market and its institutions. His doctoral studies focused on business/government relationships and their strategic implications for the conduct of business domestically and internationally.

Strategic management and international management courses are his areas of teaching emphasis at Mays.

Katie Melson, Financial Student Worker

Katie is a senior seeking a BBA in Accounting with a Master’s of Science in Accounting through the PPA program.  She is also pursuing a minor in International Business.  She joined the CNVE staff in April 2011 to be the primary assistant to the programs director, manage the financial accounts, and serve as the primary point of contact for many of the programs run by CNVE.

Katie is also very dedicated to student activities.  She has been involved in Aggie Orientation Leaders, Women Helping Out Other People, and a Fish Camp counselor.  She currently serves on 2011 Fish Camp Staff as a proud Co-Chair.

Erin Williams, Communications Student Worker

Erin is a junior seeking a BA in English with minors in Journalism and Business Administration.  She joined the CNVE staff in April 2012 to write and distribute our quarterly newsletter, manage website content and social media, and help coordinate our events. 

Erin is actively involved in student activities as well.  She is a member of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority and has held a number of offices, including Administrative Vice President and Standards Chair. She also was on the Texas A&M 2011 Women's Nationals Fencing team, and fenced with saber at the Nationals tournament.

Meredith Harper, Event Planning Student Worker

Meredith is a senior seeking a BA in Management, a minor in Horticulture and a certificate in Entrepreneurial Leadership. She joined the CNVE staff in December 2011 to assist the programs director and to plan and coordinate events. 

Meredith has been involved on Texas A&M’s campus in multiple ways. She served as a director for the Memorial Student Center’s Leadership and Empowerment of Aggie Females (MSC LEAF), was a member of Aggie Angels, and served as a Fish Camp counselor for two years. Currently, Meredith is a worship leader and teaches bible study for Freedom, Central Baptist’s college program.