Meet the Team

Carla Anderson is a builder of systems, relationships, and ideas that make things work better - for people and for communities. As Director of Operations at Akron Innovations, she helps turn big goals into practical, day-to-day action, with a focus on expanding community access to digital skills and creating real economic opportunity. Carla's path has taken her from the classroom to the IT department to the strategy table. With a background in education and legal tech, she's developed a knack for translating complex problems into clear solutions and for bringing the right people together to get things done. Whether she's leading a technology rollout or rethinking an internal process, Carla brings equal parts structure, creativity, and empathy to the work. She's endlessly curious, always looking for smarter ways to connect people with tools, ideas, and each other - and she believes that good operations should feel like momentum, not maintenance.

Miranda Fothergill-Shoup is an executive operations and human resources professional who drives organizational efficiency and execution at the leadership level. As Executive Assistant to the CEO, she acts as a force multiplier, translating strategic priorities into action, streamlining operations, and enabling leadership to focus on high-impact initiatives. She earned an MBA from Kent State University and brings experience across talent acquisition, performance management, policy compliance, internal operations, event planning, and client coordination. Recognized for her precision, adaptability, and operational discipline, Miranda plays a critical role in supporting scalable growth and day-to-day execution. She is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) at both the national level and through the Akron Area SHRM chapter.

Dawson Buchwald is a relationship-driven Sales Development Representative at Akron Innovations, focused on connecting people, ideas, and opportunities to fuel the organization's growth. Through strategic outreach, social media engagement, and operational support, he plays a key role in expanding reach and deepening community presence. With a background in marketing and sales from Ohio University, Dawson brings a blend of technical curiosity and interpersonal awareness to his work. He's someone teammates can count on—approaching each challenge with an enthusiastic drive to find solutions while investing in the people around him. Dawson is passionate about building meaningful connections and believes that when good people are equipped with the right technology, they can create a lasting, positive impact.

With over a decade of experience in software development, Seth specializes in designing and building scalable, high-performance applications. Over the years, he has led multiple development teams, fostering collaboration, driving innovation, and mentoring team members to enhance efficiency and technical excellence. As Principal Solutions Architect, Seth focuses on delivering robust technical solutions that align with business goals, ensuring seamless integration and long-term success. His expertise spans architecture design, software engineering best practices, and leadership in complex development projects.