Each year, about 30 business, impact and community leaders volunteer as mentors in the United Way Social Innovation Accelerator. They coach local founders (we call them fellows) who are building new solutions in education, financial stability and health across North Texas. Combined, mentors give more than 1,500 hours of their time a year. 

In this Q&A, you’ll hear directly from three of our long-serving mentors about why they chose to get involved, what they’ve learned from the experience and how mentorship helps innovative organizations increase their impact across North Texas. 

What is the Social Innovation Accelerator? 

The Social Innovation Accelerator helps early-stage social entrepreneurs grow and strengthen their ventures through funding, mentorship and strategic connections.  

Mentorship is one of the program’s most valuable components. Each fellow is paired with three volunteer mentors who provide coaching, strategic guidance and introductions to resources throughout the United Way network. 

“I often say our mentors are the secret sauce of the Accelerator,” said Marco Johnson, senior manager of the Social Innovation Accelerator at United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. “Our fellows get the spotlight, and rightly so, but mentors are the unsung heroes working alongside them for months behind the scenes.” 

Marco points out that social entrepreneurs are taking on some of society’s most stubborn problems, often with limited resources and enormous pressure to succeed—which is why mentorship is so beneficial. 

“It’s a lonely and demanding journey, and our mentors bring much more than business expertise,” he said. “They bring diverse professional perspectives and serve as strategic advisors, trusted confidants and sometimes even unofficial therapists, helping founders navigate the very different challenges of serving their communities, attracting funders and building financially sustainable organizations.” 

Since the program launched in 2013, Accelerator alumni have reached more than 570,000 North Texans. 

Who are the mentors? 

Accelerator mentors come from a wide range of professional backgrounds, including corporate leadership, entrepreneurship, investing, public policy and the nonprofit sector. They bring valuable expertise, fresh perspectives and extensive networks that help fellows navigate challenges and accelerate growth. 

The experience is rewarding for mentors as well. Mentors gain new insights, build meaningful relationships and develop lasting connections with the entrepreneurs and organizations they support. They help advance innovative solutions for North Texas, providing a unique community service that benefits hundreds of thousands of our neighbors. And, as many of our mentors have pointed out, they have the chance to connect with other mentors, forming friendships and expanding their network in powerful and sometimes unexpected ways.  

Hear From Our Mentors 

We asked a few of our mentors to share what keeps them coming back year after year. 

Renee George

Gwen Echols

Lane Conner

Q: What inspired you to become an Accelerator mentor? 

Renee George, Nonprofit Advisor and Board Member 

“I’ve been a mentor with the Accelerator for 10 years, and it’s been one of the most rewarding volunteer experiences I’ve had. I love rolling up my sleeves, thinking strategically alongside nonprofit leaders and helping them tackle challenges, explore opportunities and take their organizations to the next level.” 

Gwen Echols, Nonprofit Advisor and Board Member, Retired, Bank of America 

“I’ve been a mentor with the Accelerator for seven years. My family has supported United Way of Metropolitan Dallas for more than 30 years, and mentoring has been a meaningful way to combine philanthropy with my experience in the North Texas business and nonprofit community.” 

Lane Conner, Chief Payment and Logistics Officer, JustPark 

“What initially caught my attention was the caliber of the people involved. The fellows were talented and ambitious, and the mentors included some of the most respected people in Dallas’ entrepreneurial community. But what impressed me most was their willingness to give their time and experience so generously. I wanted to be part of that. I wanted to help strengthen the startup ecosystem in North Texas while supporting people who were building not simply to create a successful organization, but to make Dallas a better place.“ 

Q: What is your favorite part of the mentoring experience? 

Renee George 

“Without question, it’s the people. The fellows who come through the Accelerator are extraordinary leaders doing incredible work to improve lives across North Texas. I’m continually inspired by their passion and commitment, and I love getting to know what drives them and partnering with them to help scale their impact.” 

Gwen Echols 

“Being able to interact with business and nonprofit leaders, as well as social entrepreneurs. The strong friendships built with committee members and fellows. Everyone is volunteering for and contributing time and resources for something bigger than themselves.“ 

Lane Conner 

“The heart behind it. The fellows care deeply about the problems they’re trying to solve, and the mentors genuinely want to help them succeed. When you bring together founders determined to make a difference and mentors willing to invest in them, the energy is contagious.” 

Q: Why is mentorship so important for social entrepreneurs? 

Renee George 

“When you’re deeply immersed in the day-to-day work of running an organization, it can be difficult to step back and think strategically. Great mentors don’t come in with all the answers. They ask thoughtful questions, challenge assumptions, bring fresh perspectives and help leaders see opportunities they might not have considered.” 

Gwen Echols 

“Our fellows all put in a huge effort towards bettering our community, and their workload and responsibility can leave little time for reflection, testing new ideas and making connections.  As mentors, we can provide feedback and resources to help our entrepreneurs more efficiently address their biggest challenges and ultimately be a resource to help them grow their mission.“ 

Lane Conner 

“A mentor’s responsibility is not to hand a founder a map or tell them which road to take. It’s to help them see the turns, opportunities and potential hazards they may not recognize yet. Dallas benefits when talented people do more than identify our challenges. It benefits when they stay here and build solutions.” 

Q: Can you share a memorable example of mentorship in action? 

Renee George 

One of George’s proudest moments came while mentoring Dr. Antoria Gillon, founder of From Ordinary to Extraordinary. 

“Antoria had never presented in front of an audience before and was much more comfortable letting her clients tell the story of the organization’s impact. Through the Accelerator, she developed her own narrative and gained the confidence to share it. Watching her speak with pride and conviction about the organization she built and the thousands of lives she had touched was incredibly rewarding.” 

Gwen Echols 

“Our team helped our fellow execute a big step up in nonprofit governance by assisting with establishing modern nonprofit by-laws, and board and leadership team succession planning.” 

Lane Conner 

“I love bringing together people who can help one another, and the Accelerator has given me the opportunity to open doors for fellows both inside and outside the organizations I have formally mentored. Across the organizations I’ve worked with, that has meant making introductions, sharpening pitches, thinking through business models and helping founders look at challenges from a different angle. Sometimes the value of mentorship isn’t having the answer. It’s helping someone discover that what looked like a wall may actually be a door they haven’t learned how to open yet.” 

Q: What keeps you coming back? 

Renee George 

“One of the unexpected joys of being an Accelerator mentor has been the relationships I’ve built with other mentors. We bring different experiences and perspectives to the table, but share a genuine desire to help these organizations succeed. It’s collaborative, energizing and a lot of fun.” 

Lane Conner 

“My favorite moment returns at the beginning of every new Accelerator class. The fellows are meeting one another for the first time. The mentors are hearing their stories. Every introduction carries possibility, and every conversation feels like it could change the direction of an organization. The room is filled with the belief that something important is about to happen.” 

Meet Our 2027 Accelerator Mentors 

 Thank you to the volunteers mentoring this year’s Accelerator cohort: 

• Veena Attivilli, Healthcare Innovation Leader, Nonprofit Board Member & Advisor 

• Ron Bose, Community Volunteer; Professor, UT Dallas (Retired) 

• Andy Chen, Chief Product Officer, Glassdoor 

• Laura Hayes Cobb, Founder and CEO, The Learning Bridge 

• Lane Conner, Chief Payments and Logistics Officer, JustPark 

• Steve Dennis, President and Founder, SageBerry Consulting; Senior Retail Contributor, Forbes 

• Chris Dietrick, Retired, PricewaterhouseCoopers 

• Jamica Doakes, Director, Corporate Responsibility, AT&T 

• Jason Dyke, President and Founder, Carson’s Village 

• Gwen Echols, Nonprofit Advisor and Board Member, Bank of America (Retired) 

• Jennifer Gallegos, Transformation and Change Leader, Strategic HR & Employee Strategy 

• Renee George, Nonprofit Advisor and Board Member 

• Aaron Gougis, Texas Initiatives Manager, Capital Impact Partners 

• Nakita Johnson, Founder and Principal, The Gem Factor 

• Corey Kirkendoll, President and CEO, 5K Technical Services 

• Bob Kraut, Chair of the Social Innovation Accelerator 

• Shawn Leamon, Founder and Chief Strategist, LaGrande Marketing 

• Ty McAden, Senior Leader and AMBG Go-to-Market Lead, Accenture 

• Jeff Meade, Founding Director of Entrepreneurship, Paul Quinn College 

• Barrett Popst, Partner, Grant Thornton/Transaction Advisory 

• Paige Schnabel, Marketing Strategy for Healthcare and Education 

• Scott Schoenvogel, Partner, SWFT Health 

• Kim Snopik, Marketing Leader and AT&T (Retired) 

• Jill Surdek, Operations Leader, Amazon Logistics 

• Sanjiv Teelock, President and CEO, Xceede Solutions 

• Keith Thode, CEO & Chief Scientist, AdvanceNet Labs 

• Jordan Travis, Senior Brand Manager, The Hershey Company 

• Benjamin Vann Sr., Founder & CEO, Impact Ventures 

• Lisa Weaver, Founding Partner & Executive Coach, Unstuck Minds 

• Shan Zaidi, CEO, GreenPath Group & ZETA 

Interested in becoming an Accelerator mentor? 

Wondering how to give back to the community? The Social Innovation Accelerator is one of the best ways to leverage your talents to make an impact.  

If you’ve built a company, led a team or run a nonprofit, your experience could help a local founder. By sharing your expertise, perspective and network, you can help create solutions that strengthen education, financial stability and health for our community. 

Learn more about the Social Innovation Accelerator and opportunities to get involved.