Good Company
Makes
Good Companies
We are a team of driven young professionals dedicated to creating valuable content for the development of life skills in other young professionals.
Our team is varied in background, beliefs, and interests. Rooted all around the U.S. and in South Korea, our experiences assist us in creating relevant content surrounding life skills for young professionals in today’s world.
The Aspire Team
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Robb Lindquist
Founder and President
After a long career in telecom and high-tech consulting, Robb switched gears and founded Aspire Skill Development, hoping to make a difference in the lives of young professionals. His goal was to supplement students’ academic endeavors with hands-on, interactive learning in some areas that remain relatively untouched by higher education: skills in which, throughout his career, he had consistently observed an opportunity for improvement in new hires recently graduated from college.
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Emma Calarco
Director of Operations
After participating in the Fall 2021 internship program Emma joined the Aspire Skill Development team and now serves as our Director of Operations. Emma strives to broaden our mission and reach through community college outreach. Emma also plays a role in strategic planning and hiring efforts. Emma earned their B.S. in Biology and Sociology from Union College in New York in 2022 and most recently earned an MBA in Healthcare Management from Clarkson University in 2023. They are originally from Avon, Colorado, but are currently located in Southern California. In their free time, Emma enjoys making multi-media art, meditating, and spending time outdoors!
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Lillian Jeffries
Operations Manager
After participating in the Spring 2023 internship program, Lillian joined the Aspire Skill Development team. She now works as a Programming Manager and serves the team by leading our DEI efforts, facilitating internship cohorts, and working with the social media team. She grew up in Frederick, Maryland and received her B.A. in Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies from McDaniel College. She currently lives in Kentucky where she is an EMT student, pursuing a lifelong career in emergency medicine. In her free time, Lillian enjoys running, cooking, and photography!
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Lizzie Ballantyne
Grant Coordinator and Mentorship Manager
After participating in the Fall 2022 internship program, Lizzie joined the Aspire Skill Development team and now serves as the Grant Coordinator and Mentorship Manager, leading our grant initiative and mentorship efforts for interns. She is originally from Frederick, MD, and has completed her Masters of Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh. Lizzie now lives in North Carolina working as a mental health therapist. In her free time, Lizzie loves to be with friends, go to concerts, and spend time outside.
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Oscar Liao
Community Engagement and Design Manager
After participating in the Spring 2023 internship program, Oscar joined the Aspire Skill Development team and now serves as our Community Engagement and Design Manager. Oscar works on operations, curriculum development, and community outreach in his role. He was born in Shenzhen, China, but spent most of his life in San Diego, California. Oscar attended the University of California, San Diego where he graduated with a B.S. in Social Psychology and Human Biology. While still living in San Diego, Oscar is pursuing a career in UX design and research. He enjoys traveling, playing video games, and staying active in the gym or playing pickleball!
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Tyler Nguyen
Project Manager
After participating in the Fall 2022 internship program, Tyler joined the Aspire Skill Development team as a Project Manager. He currently resides in Ontario, California and is working on his Master’s in International Cooperation at Yonsei University. Before attending university, he served in the U.S. Navy as a hospital corpsman for 5 years, being stationed at Naval Hospital, Bremerton, and Camp Pendleton, California. In his free time, he enjoys playing computer games and working out!
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Hung Pham
Asynchronous Project Coordinator
After participating in the Fall 2023 internship program, Hung joined the Aspire Skill Development team as a Project Manager. His area of focus is data analytics and outreach projects. Born and raised in San Diego, California, he graduated from San Diego Mesa College where he is earned a degree in Health Information Management. Some of his hobbies include thrifting, baking, gaming, and trying out new cuisines with friends.
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Mia Bonanno
HR Representative
After participating in the Fall 2023 internship program, Mia joined the Aspire Skill Development team and now serves as our HR Representative. She hopes to continue inspiring and furthering the development of other young professionals in the same way she experienced throughout the program. Mia grew up in San Diego, CA and graduated from the University of Southern California in December 2023 with a Bachelor's degree in Political Economy. She enjoys spending her free time at the beach, hiking, reading, and baking.
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Joanne Lee
Project Coordinator
After participating in the Fall 2024 internship program, Joanne joined the Aspire team as a general project coordinator. She was born in the Bay Area and currently goes to school at the University of California San Diego, pursuing a bachelor's degree in communications. In her free time, she enjoys checking out new cafes, hiking, and music.
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Izzy Hawkins
Project Coordinator
After participating in the Fall 2024 internship program, Izzy joined the Aspire Skill Development team. She is a soon-to-be graduate from Colorado State University, exploring Communications, Spanish, and Production. She is very passionate about non-profits, and the power of media. She loves to work with people and to become inspired by those around me. In her free time, she enjoys trying new things (like food), being with friends, playing games, and celebrating life!
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Blu Keegan
Project Coordinator
After participating in the Fall 2024 internship program, Blu joined the Aspire Skill Development team as a Project Coordinator. She is studying Graphic Design at Art Center School of Design in Pasadena, California. She looks forward to working with other creative and ambitious individuals. In her free time, she enjoys freelance designing, reading books, and trying new cooking recipes.