Empowering Entrepreneurial Mindset Through Co-Design Collaboration

Dr. Carol Dimopoulos has unique background which bridges the educational tourism sector and academia. In her industry role she serves as CEO and founder of Learning Journeys, an organization focused on global transformational journeys which encourages participants to immerse in their interests and passions. The brand focuses on incorporating opportunities for personal growth and restoration into the global travel platform as well as creating social exchanges which initiate economic opportunity for developing societies. Through her global exposure, she discovered what drives human empowerment at a core level. She is also a respected academic, serving as an Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship at East Stroudsburg, global speaker, published researcher and a scholar on the subjects of social entrepreneurship and responsible tourism. She earned her doctorate at The University of Illinois Urbana Champaign in Global Education and Leadership, where she had the opportunity to study with Dr. Rajmohan Gandhi, author, research professor, and grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, who inspired her to understand the application of personal grow and transformation a human right.

Xue (Stella) Dong is an educator and designer. She obtained her MID at Auburn University. As an Assistant Professor at East Stroudsburg University, Xue specializes in product/industrial design.

She was awarded several grants incorporating eye-tracking technology, augmented reality, and entreprenuership. She has collaborated with several communities such as Lehigh Valley Health Networks (LVHN), Waste Not Technologies LLC, Hasbro, and Marathon Studio Inc. Xue maintains current activity as an industrial designer and she is an active member of IDSA (Industrial Designers Society of America)

Before joining the ESU, she has wide-ranging professional experience. she holds two patents. As an engineer, she focused on the tooling and injection molding field at Cumberland Plastic Solutions, ranging from automotive, housewares, and medical devices.

Stelios Melekos is the CEO of Blitz Performance, a company he founded in June 2022 with the mission of providing anglers with the highest quality and most innovative lures for both saltwater and freshwater fishing. Under his leadership, Blitz Performance is dedicated to equipping people with the tools they need to catch more fish and make the most of their time on the water.

Stelios graduated from East Stroudsburg University in May 2024, where he majored in Business Management with a concentration in Entrepreneurship. His academic journey was marked by notable achievements, including winning the 2023 PASHEE Startup Challenge, where he secured a cash prize of $10,000. He also was the winner of the TecBridge Business Plan Competition, earning 1st place in the Collegiate division and wildcard winner, totaling $15,000 to further fund Blitz Performance.

Stelios's passion for innovation and excellence in the fishing industry, paired with his entrepreneurial spirit, has established Blitz Performance as a prominent name in the market. His dedication to providing top-tier products and his strategic vision continue to drive the company's success and growth.