Ascender welcomes new Executive Director

Dear Ascender community,

We're thrilled to share big news: Anneliese Martinez has been named Ascender's new Executive Director!

Anneliese brings 15+ years of building mission-driven organizations and raising millions of dollars to fuel innovative, community-centered programs. She co-founded the Pittsburgh Learning Collaborative, worked with 412 Food Rescue, and held leadership roles at The Andy Warhol Museum, the Remake Learning Network, and The Sprout Fund; partnering along the way with the Carnegie Museum of Art, University of Pittsburgh, and Carnegie Mellon. At the Warhol, she helped raise more than $7 million for The Pop District initiative, and she launched Remake Learning Days, which grew from a regional effort into a movement spanning 25 cities. Mozilla named her one of its "50 People Making the Internet a Better Place."

What excites us most, though, is how she leads: with a deep belief that Ascender is a community, not just a resource; one built on people sharing ideas, making introductions, and creating opportunities together. In her own words, Anneliese is looking forward to "listening, learning, and working alongside the entrepreneurs and partners who make Ascender what it is."

We also want to thank Nadyli Nunez for her strong, future-focused leadership and everything she did to strengthen Ascender as a resource for Pittsburgh's underserved entrepreneurs. She leaves Anneliese a wonderful foundation to build on.

Anneliese joins us September 1.  Stop by and say hello! You can also meet her at our member event on September 15 (evening) at East End Brewery. Hope to see you there.  Thank you for being part of this community. We can't wait to introduce you to Anneliese and keep building what's next, together.

With gratitude,
Caitlin Green
Board Chair, Ascender