Executive Team
Angel Investors Network has helped launch, build, and scale more than 10,000 companies over the past two decades. Through a combination of coaching, consulting, partnering, and investing, we are helping the next 10,000 companies generate more than $1 billion in capital.
Meet the team making it happen!
JEFF BARNES, CHAIRMAN
As a nuclear trained mechanic and scuba diver on a US Navy Submarine, Jeff Barnes traveled the world underwater at extreme depths, running a nuclear power plant and sleeping with torpedoes while learning invaluable skills. His innate leadership ability and understanding of complex systems allowed him to run the largest division on his submarine and take charge of the ship’s quality control program. After an honorable discharge from the Navy, Jeff took his expertise and experience to Corporate America, helping clients grow their businesses as a risk management consultant and helping entrepreneurs develop strategic partnerships with Fortune 500 companies. Jeff spearheaded international projects as an Innovation and technology director bringing new technology and ideas to the global marketplace.
In 2018 Jeff took over the CEO role at Angel Investors Network to help more entrepreneurs bring their products, services, and technology to the market as an advisor, mentor, coach, and venture fund manager. As an entrepreneur, two-time best-selling author, and CEO, Jeff enjoys helping business owners’ structure, systemize, and optimize their operations allowing them to scale quickly. As the manager of the Angels & Heroes Venture Growth Fund, he finds opportunities for his investors to make great returns by investing in the next generation of private companies.
Jeff earned his Leadership MBA in 2011 from the University of Washington and now mentors young professionals and entrepreneurs alike. During his free time, he sits on the board of Lifeschool, a nonprofit helping kids gain life-skills they don’t learn in school, as well as a great deal of time coaching his two boys’ sports teams, enjoying the outdoors and traveling.
NANCY MAYER, ADVISORY SERVICES
Nancy Mayer is a profit strategist and business builder who has built several businesses and has helped many of others to become a “Top 500 fastest growing company”. One of the greatest skills she brings to AIN is the ability to build high-performing teams and Advisory Boards. Most of all Nancy offers our clients “Unconventional Experiences” which creates more innovation, collaboration, and profits.
She has developed thought leadership around 3 key factors for tripling revenues and doubling productivity; Think Differently, Plan Strategically and Do It Faster.
She is a recognized international speaker, author of The Advisory Board Playbook and is known for 3 cutting-edge foundations; Visual Thinking (canvases, mapping,..), Design Thinking (Prototyping and validating business ideas), and Gamification (using game design and thinking to make work engaging and fun).
Unconventional Experience; From managing rock stars and earning Gold and Platinum records sales, to re-branding and building one of the largest music conferences in the world, from helping the longest running motorcycle charity to double their donations to designing and marketing award-winning sports and motorsports accessories, from coaching software development teams for Canada’s largest financial media company to lead strategy consultant for Canada’s investment bank (BDC) and coach for leading Social entrepreneurs. She has also taught Entrepreneurship at top Canadian business schools and Advanced Motorcycle training to the US Marines.
Nancy is passionate about making the workplace more fun and bringing out the best in people. Happy, engaged people are more productive.
She is as active in her personal life as her business life and loves adventure and “calculated risks” like extreme skiing, motorcycles. She recently moved to the Salt Lake City area from Toronto and married her high school ski buddy.
