Joe and Megan Johnson are the founders of Vade Nutrition, and the inventors of the world's first and only portable protein powder- Dissolvable Protein Scoops (PATENT PENDING). They met years ago at a summer camp for college athletes; Joe was a wrestler at Michigan State University Megan was a cheerleader at the University of Arizona. They now live in East Lansing, MI with their son Noah. With Joe being a true entrepreneur at heart, he always wanted to run his own company and bring a new product to market.

In the summer of 2016 they gave up other job opportunities to pursue Joe's dream of starting his own business, and that's when VADE Nutrition was born. This huge step of faith changed the course of their lives dramatically as they risked everything to make this business happen.

Joe and Megan originally thought of these "Pods" for protein powder when they began to realize that scooping protein powder in the car after a workout made the seats and console of their car covered in powder, and taking protein powder on the go was impossible without prepping ahead of time by pre-measuring into a baggy or bottle compartment.

The Johnson's goal is to help make people's lives easier with their Patent Pending Dissolvable Protein Scoops and to give back to their community through creating jobs and donating VADE's products to feed the hungry.

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A native of Lansing, MI, Desmond graduated from Lansing Everett High School and earned a basketball scholarship to play for the University of Missouri. He later transferred to the University of Detroit Mercy (U of D) where he also earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management & Accounting while leading his team to two second round appearances in the NCAA tournament.

Desmond has enjoyed an illustrious professional basketball career spanning over more than a decade with teams in Bulgaria, Dominican Republic, Germany, Holland, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Spain, and in Halifax, Nova Scotia. In 2004, he played one season with the NBA’s Portland Trailblazers.

Passionate about the game of basketball, Desmond launched Moneyball Sportswear in 2002 during the off-season. The company now supplies a number of teams with a diverse line of athletic apparel and specializes in the customization of uniforms for basketball teams in throughout the United States and abroad.

Desmond’s leadership role in the sector of professional sports led him to found the Moneyball Pro-Am Summer League (MPSL). Since the summer of 2004, current and former professional & collegiate basketball players compete in a tournament style 6-week schedule aimed at strengthening relationships between the league and the community, as well as providing spectators and youth with a positive recreational and entertainment activity. The league has grown to now generate a 6-team, 78 player roster.

Fostering a strong commitment to the development of “at-risk” school-aged youth athletes, Desmond developed the Desmond Ferguson Free Basketball Clinic aimed at mentoring and providing underprivileged youth with training in the disciplines of physical conditioning, healthy eating, teamwork, sportsmanship, self-control and self-confidence. Since its inception in 2004, youth participants take part in a 3-day program that integrates sports leadership with life skills education.

Jennifer Estill is the principal and creative director at Redhead Design Studio—a marketing and strategy agency in Old Town, Lansing. There, she helps build brands and advocacy campaigns that speak to audiences in meaningful ways.

Jennifer believes the best communications and marketing solutions are found at the intersection of critical thinking, strategy, creativity, and logic. She has served a variety of clients in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors, such as the City of Lansing, Michigan State University, and Peckham Inc. With a passion for helping entrepreneurs and leaders find their voice and move audiences, she develops everything from company names to visual brands to marketing plans. Her work has garnered numerous awards for creativity and excellence.

Jen graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in journalism. She is also a co-host of the Speak Easy Podcast, which explores entrepreneurship and leadership in the creative industry. 

Rishi Narayan is a entrepreneur and early-stage investor based out of Ann Arbor, MI. Originally from the Lansing area (Okemos), Rishi has founded several companies, including Underground Printing (www.undergroundshirts.com), a national custom apparel and collegiate merchandise retailer with 30+ locations throughout the country. He is also a principal in the angel fund Chibor Angels (www.chibor.co), specializing in seed and early stage investments, as well as a lecturer in the Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Michigan. Rishi holds his B.S.E. and M.S.E. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. 

Mike Klein, a veteran of the Ann Arbor tech community, is the CEO of Genomenon Inc., a 2014 spinoff from the University of Michigan that focuses on using genome interpretation software to help provide personalized medicine.

With over 25 years of developing, building and growing 4 different high tech companies, Mike has raised over $50M in capital and had several successful investor exits.

Most recently, Klein was co-CEO of Ann Arbor-based Online Tech LLC, one of the state’s biggest enterprise-hosting, data storage and cloud-services companies, with four data centers in Michigan and one in Indianapolis. In 1993, Klein founded Ann Arbor-based Steeplechase Software Inc., which brought PC-based controls to the factory floor and was sold in 2000.

Ashlee R. Willis, Owner of Michigan Premier Events and Lansing Mosaic has been an active member in the Lansing area and has been recognized throughout the community for her exceptional leadership, professional achievement and personal dedication to the community. Born in Lansing, MI, Ashlee attended Grand Ledge High School, Lansing Community College and Michigan State University. Ashlee currently owns Michigan Premier Events, a corporate Event Planning Company and Lansing Mosaic- an online publication highlighting a diverse range of small business owners and entrepreneurs in the Lansing region showcasing their unique products & sharing their journey in business. Both of Her companies created Lansing’s 1st Annual Diversity Holiday Mixer in 2017 which had 200+ guests. Ashlee is apart of numerous organizations such as The Old Newsboys of Lansing as Board of Director, The Lansing Black Chamber of Commerce Executive Board,The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, The Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce, The Aitch foundation Hidden Key Fashion Show Committee just to name a few. Ashlee was also the instructor for the Michigan Chamber of Commerce 1st Young Entrepreneur Academy in 2017. Ashlee been featured on the cover of the Capital Area Women’s Lifestyle Magazine as there March 2018 Cover Story, Startup Lansing, Crain’s Lansing,Michigan Big Show and Michigan Business Rap to name a few. She is the recipient of 2017 Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce & Grand River Connections 10 Over the Next 10 Award Recipient, 2017 Lansing Black Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur on the Move Award recipient and was recently featured as Lansing State Journals 2018 Business Owners to Watch and featured in Lansing State Journal as Lansing’s Future Generation of Black Leaders. Ashlee reside in Lansing, MI with her husband Tony Willis and their two children Ashton and Auston Willis. 

Kelly is Lansing’s best-known and most-accomplished communications expert, evident by the results of all the MIRS/EPIC-MRA State Capitol Surveys. The poll of hundreds of Capital City insiders consistently ranks Kelly as the most effective public relations professional around.

Kelly drives our commitment to our clients and to our values. We’ve got a high bar at Truscott Rossman and Kelly sets it higher every day. As a result, no firm works harder to get the job done for our clients than we do — and it shows. Nothing lights her fire like a client challenge — and she’s at her absolute best (just watch her eyes light up!) when she’s helping our clients tackle their thorniest issues and situations.

She chairs the Michigan Chamber Foundation and serves on several other boards, including the Michigan Political Leadership Program the Citizens Research Council and the Olivet College Board of Trustees.

Although she’s been honored with many awards as a PR professional and woman business owner, nothing thrills her more than hanging out with her four kids and her beloved husband, Officer Dave.