Eric St. John, CCIM, is Vice President of Crunkleton Commercial Real Estate where he oversees office leasing and brokerage, is actively involved in multi-family land sales, and works in other segments of the market including industrial. Born and raised in Huntsville, Eric attended The University of Alabama in Huntsville where he received his bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting. Throughout his 11+ year career in commercial real estate, Eric has been involved with several high-profile projects and developments that have become integral to the Huntsville/Madison community. His leasing/brokerage roster includes multi-use destinations like Stadium Commons, Lincoln Mill, The Range, Times Plaza, and Stovehouse; many medical facilities and tenants; numerous financial institutions—local, regional, and national; and other businesses like IBM, Bankston Motor Homes, Schoel Engineering, and Arrow Electronics, to name a few. In addition to his professional work, Eric serves on the UAH Foundation Board of Trustees, serves as the Board Chair for Madison CEO (Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities) and has served in numerous capacities on the UAH Alumni Association Board of Directors. He enjoys mentoring both high school and college students to help them broaden their horizons on what opportunities are available to them. In his free time, he enjoys visiting the mountains, traveling, and spending time outdoors.

Valentina is an Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship and the Coordinator of the Entrepreneurship Program at the College of Business and Public Affairs at Alabama A&M University. She has experience as a Professor of Entrepreneurship, Innovation Management, and Social Media Marketing in undergraduate and graduate courses. She is an entrepreneur and a startup mentor with 10+ years of experience with national and international companies. She is the Director of Women in Technology Huntsville and serves as a mentor at the Invention to Innovation Center at UAH.