Find Your Mentor

Andy L. Berger has built a distinguished career spanning more than 40 years in invention, product development, manufacturing, patent licensing, and retail marketing. As the driving force behind Axis International Marketing, Ltd., he has combined his experience as an inventor and entrepreneur to help transform ideas into commercially marketable products — contributing to approximately $150 million in retail sales over his career. Andy holds 20 issued U.S. patents and has helped bring more than 500 products to market, building business relationships with leading retailers including Walmart, Target, Amazon, Crate & Barrel, Home Depot, Wayfair, and Dollar General. He has successfully helped inventors bring patented products to market, with numerous products generating ongoing royalty income for their creators. With more than 30 years at Axis International, Andy has built a business that combines licensing, product development, manufacturing coordination, warehousing, and distribution support — developing decades of contacts among manufacturers, retailers, distributors, and wholesalers. Andy's greatest accomplishment is combining the firsthand experience of an inventor with the practical knowledge of a manufacturer, marketer, and retail supplier. His career reflects four decades of turning ideas into products, securing commercial opportunities, and helping inventions progress from patent protection to the marketplace. If you have an idea, a patent, or a product you want to bring to market, Andy has walked that road — and he can show you the way.

Jason Pope is a results-driven professional with over 17 years of experience in the printing industry, including 9 years with HP where he has held roles spanning production, technical training, project management, and business transformation. Throughout his career, Jason has helped customers improve production efficiency, optimize equipment performance, develop operators, and increase profitability — supporting 37 of 41 HP Indigo Series 3 and 4 installations across his tenure. He developed training programs that elevated operator capability, improved processes that drove measurable outcomes, and contributed directly to a 10% increase in PrintOS application revenue. Today, Jason serves as a Business Transformation Solutions Project Manager, leading flagship programs including End-to-End (E2E) Production Excellence and Reward for Results — initiatives designed to help print businesses operate at their highest potential. Before his corporate career, Jason completed 8 years of service in the Army National Guard, including an overseas deployment, where he developed the leadership discipline, composure under pressure, and systematic problem-solving skills that continue to define his professional approach. Jason's greatest strengths are building lasting relationships, developing high-performing teams, managing complex projects from concept to completion, and finding creative ways to help both customers and organizations succeed.

Robert Neisius has spent 5 years building a contracting business from the ground up — and the lessons he learned along the way are the kind you can't find in a textbook. He started out doing everything, the way most new contractors do, spreading himself thin trying to be all things to all customers. Then he made the decision that changed everything: he niched down. Today, Robert focuses exclusively on kitchens and bathrooms, with a specialty in tile work and custom showers, and the results speak for themselves. His phone rings off the hook. He has cornered his local market, built a reputation that generates consistent referrals, and turned a trade into a thriving, lucrative business. Robert's core philosophy is simple but powerful — find what you're good at, stick with it, and never give up. He knows firsthand that some days will be harder than others, and he believes it's how you push through those hard days that truly defines you as an entrepreneur. Whether you're just starting out in the trades, thinking about going out on your own, or trying to figure out how to stop chasing every job and start dominating one, Robert brings the kind of straight-talking, real-world mentorship that only comes from someone who has lived it.

Alexander Day is a combat veteran, entrepreneur, and published author based in Portland, Oregon. He served in the Oregon Army National Guard, deploying to Iraq (2009–10) and Kuwait (2014–15). After returning home, he founded Veteran Fence Experts, which he has grown over 11 years into a thriving business. Alexander holds 3 patents — one of which has been licensed — and is the published author of "Where the Word Dragon Came From," available on Amazon. He has personally mentored over a dozen friends and family members through starting businesses and navigating career transitions, bringing the same discipline and mission-focus he developed in the military to every mentoring session.

Lee Ennis has spent 57 years living and breathing the automotive industry. As the owner and operator of A1 Muffler, he has built a reputation for quality craftsmanship and straight-talking expertise that keeps customers coming back decade after decade. Beyond the shop, Lee leads the Ugly Duckling Drag Race Team — channeling the same mechanical precision and competitive drive into high-performance racing. With nearly six decades of hands-on experience spanning exhaust systems, engine work, and small business ownership, Lee brings rare depth to every mentoring conversation. Whether you're looking to break into the trades, open your own shop, or simply learn from someone who has seen it all, Lee delivers real-world wisdom without the fluff.

Barry Purdy brings 40 years of professional excellence forged across two demanding careers. He spent 30 years in the United States Military maintaining the readiness, welfare, and operational effectiveness of soldiers — developing a reputation as one of the most dependable and respected office managers in the service. His ability to lead under pressure, manage complex logistics, and develop high-performing teams earned him recognition at every level of command. For the past 10 years, Barry has served as a Program Assistant with the US Fish and Wildlife Service Law Enforcement Program, where he manages crews, field sites, and multi-faceted programs across the entire Pacific Northwest region. In this role he coordinates cross-agency operations, oversees compliance and reporting, and ensures mission continuity across a vast and diverse geographic footprint. Barry's career is a masterclass in adaptability, institutional leadership, and getting results in environments where the stakes are high and the margin for error is low. Whether you're transitioning out of the military, navigating a government career, or looking to sharpen your operational and management skills, Barry offers the kind of grounded, real-world guidance that only comes from decades of doing the work.

James W. Anderson has built a career as a Certified Residential Appraiser — one of the most credential-intensive and detail-driven roles in the real estate industry. With years of experience valuing residential properties, navigating complex markets, and working alongside lenders, agents, and homeowners, James brings a depth of practical knowledge that only comes from doing the work day in and day out. Now looking toward retirement, James is motivated by something bigger than a paycheck: he wants to give back. The appraisal profession is facing a generational shortage, and James believes the best way to solve it is for experienced appraisers to invest directly in the next wave of professionals. Whether you're a trainee trying to understand the path to certification, someone considering a career in appraisal, or a working appraiser looking to sharpen your skills and grow your practice, James offers the kind of honest, experienced guidance that can only come from someone who has been in the field for years. His goal is simple — help the next generation of appraisers succeed the way he did.

Lewis van Diggelen built one of the most respected wedding DJ companies in the Pacific Northwest from the ground up. As the founder and owner of The Fire DJs, he has personally delivered at nearly 1,000 weddings — accumulating hundreds of five-star reviews and a reputation that speaks for itself. What Lewis built isn't just a DJ service — it's a business. He figured out how to attract premium clients, deliver a consistently exceptional experience, scale a team, and turn a passion for entertainment into a thriving, sustainable company. Now he's starting his next venture: a moving company — proving that the systems, mindset, and hustle that built one successful service business can be applied to build another. Lewis genuinely loves connecting with people who are working to improve their lives. He's the kind of mentor who will share his real experiences — the wins, the hard lessons, and everything in between — because he believes that kind of honest conversation is exactly what most people need to take their next step. Whether you're trying to break into the entertainment industry, launch a service business, or just need to talk through your next move with someone who has been there, Lewis brings warmth, experience, and straight talk to every session.