Working towards a more joyful, fulfilling, and rejuvenated world for all.

Quinnovate Strategic Navigation Crew

(A.K.A. The QCREW)

Brenda Trosin (she/her)
​Workflow & Project Manager

  • Bio coming soon

Nicole Aquila (she/her)
Director of Strategic Solutions
Services provided by Thrive Differently

  • ​Nicole Aquila is the founder of Thrive Differently- a coaching and consulting firm dedicated to supporting social impact entrepreneurs. She helps visionary leaders and organizations reverse engineer their boldest visions for humanity, with strategic acumen, innovative thinking, and project planning groundbreaking initiatives. She understands the intricacies of helping individuals and teams reach their full potential, drawing from her years of experience in both athletic and entrepreneurial contexts.
    ​Nicole actively advocates for the inclusion of underrepresented perspectives and narratives through her podcast “Thrive Differently,” and as a speaker in the Nashville community and beyond. She is an Advisory Board Member of Global Health Film in London, a council member for Nashville Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals, and actively participates in charities and volunteer efforts that support local, regional, and global communities.

Ferwayne Yalung (he/him)
Systems Integrity & Structural Design Strategist

  • Ferwayne Yalung (he/him) is a campaigner (ENFP-T): enthusiastic, sociable free spirit who can always find a reason to smile and a time to learn. By the start of 2024, he joined Quinnovate as the first Operations Manager, bringing his 10 years of expertise in the BPO industry (US/AU clients), being multi-faceted, he covers various roles, including Operations, QA, Training, Sales, and Retention, E-Learning Design, Executive Services, Lead Generation, Coaching and Development, to Customer service. This all-rounder is a self-proclaimed dancing and dancing chef, and wherever he goes, fun and food follow.

Cassandra Quinn
she/her (​what's this?​) 
Founder & Principal

  • I exist to be a driving force of joy and rejuvenation.
    ​
    With over 14 years of business ownership and diverse industry experience, I provide training, consulting, and outsourced operational services that cultivate long-term growth and success.

    My people-first, systems-driven approach that empowers socially conscious businesses to drive the paradigm shift that harnesses the unique potential for business to be the greatest champion and contributor of human cooperation and social good.

    I'm proud to be a Goldman Sachs 10K Small Business Program Alumni Ambassador, a member of the Trusted Advisors Council, and to serve on the leadership team of Conscious Capitalism Chicago Chapter.

    Beyond that...I love my life. Truly. 

    There's so much that brings me joy that I couldn't possibly list it all. But here is a list of just a few of the things that bring me joy:

    ​Traveling, frozen treats, fantastic conversations over fabulous whisk(e)y, keeping my houseplants alive (so far!), finding local adventures here in Chicago with my loved ones, and creating my best eco-lux life through discovering and implementing more sustainable living practices. 

Creative Team

Bruce Phillips (he/him)
​Communication Trainer
​& Improvisor Manager

  •  Bruce Phillips is an actor, writer, director and comedian in Chicago. He specializes in communication corporate training and event production. He is a co-founder and executive director of High Stakes Productions and has worked with clients such as Chicago Public Schools, West Monroe Partners, The University Club of Chicago, Navigant, and many more.  
    ​Bruce is a Jeff Award winner for his work designing robots for Heddatron at the Steppenwolf Garage. He currently performs with Malarkey Theater, resident company at iO, and has been the primary understudy for Second City’s 111th, 112th, and the 113th Mainstage Revue currently in progress. He is a faculty member at The Annoyance Theater teaching Advanced Improvisation.​

Macy Hernandez (she/her)
Personal Stylist

  • Macy Marie (she/her) is Chicagoland Hair Stylist, colorist, make-up artist, and creative with a background in marketing, theatre, education, and business development. You can check out more of her work at https://www.instagram.com/macymarieartistry/

Lola VonRoda (she/her)
Identity & Brand Strategist
Services provided by Iconic Details

  • Lola (she/her) is an identity-focused brand strategist. With over a decade of business and brand experience, she's mastered the process and offers a unique approach she calls “Personified Branding.”
    She's worked with over 70 companies and iconic authorities to launch, refine, and enhance their brands.
    "For me, branding is something to be and not something to do. It’s a lifestyle or company culture that’s conscious, intentional, and symbolic. It’s a code of conduct with the same integrity a knight uses to swear his oath." - Lola Van Roda
    Read more about Lola's work here:
    https://www.iconicdetails.com/about

Cathlyn Melvin (she/her)
Copywriter & Presentations Coach
Services provided by RightCat Creative​

  • Cathlyn Melvin is a TEDx coach and copywriter whose insight has been featured via TEDx, Thrive Global, Fempreneur Online, The Writing Cooperative, and other outlets.
    With a degree in theatre performance and over a decade as an actor, director, writer, editor, and educator, Cathlyn draws on her diverse experiences to help mission-driven experts design and deliver their world-changing messages through TEDx coaching and done-for-you copywriting services.
    When she’s not writing or coaching, you might find Cathlyn baking something delicious made of chocolate, making laps on her purple-wheeled roller skates,  or reading in the sunshine with her very snuggly and loudly purring cat, Tucker.

Chris Daley (he/him)
Presentations Coach

  • Chris Daley (he/him) joined Quinnovate in 2024 and provides assistance to the executive team along with individual project support. He brings a breadth of experience from the worlds of art, entertainment, hospitality, and event planning. Being a part of the CQC team allows him to exercise his core values of open-hearted listening, cooperative unity, and space holding; practices he will continue to employ in his future work as a mental health practitioner. 
    ​Outside of work, his passions include completing the Sunday New York Times crossword (in pen!), his thriving house plants, practicing Nichiren Buddhism with the SGI-USA, baseball history and statistics, and a well made classic cocktail. He is based in New York City.

Finance Team

Moses Chung (he/him)
Tax Accountant
Services provided by Basileia Financial Services

Carleen Lamay (she/her)
Fractional Controller & Accountant
Services provided by C2 Accounting

"The totality is not, as it were, a mere heap, but
the whole is something besides the parts."

“The whole is greater than the sum of the parts.” 

In the past I found myself echoing this sentiment when I’ve felt a group's unique and potent blend of power, energy, and conviction.

However, when I read the full quote, I felt an entire body tingle that shifted my whole perspective.

“In the case of all things which have several parts and in which the totality is not, as it were, a mere heap, but the whole is something besides the parts,  there is a cause; for even in bodies contact is the cause of unity in some cases, and in others viscosity or some other such quality.” - Aristotle (1908 translation by W.D. Ross)

That's when it hit me:
​
In the commonly paraphrased version, “Greater" still seems to echo the belief that ‘bigger is better’ and implies ‘more’ is the goal.

The word ‘sum’ evokes notions of math equations and has an undercurrent of a system where some are still playing a zero-sum game.

On the other hand, “THE WHOLE IS SOMETHING BESIDES” conjures images of Co-creation and MAGIC
– a force that forges a new existence, made possible only by the unique elements coming together.

Building a team is not math. It’s magic.

We aren’t just a team. We’re magic embodied.

Cassandra Quinn

Owner & Founder