MJ Petroni, Principal

MJ Petroni is a consultant based in Portland, Oregon and the Bay Area. He is the owner and founder of Causeit, Inc., where he leads a team supporting social enterprises through coaching, consulting and branding.  There, he has offered tangible startup support, strategic product creation, brand strategy and coaching to over 250 clients, approximately 85% of whom are minorities. He studied a combination of Sociology, Anthropology, English and Latin American Studies at Lewis and Clark College, where he conducted ethnographic research in the emerging field of Cyborg Anthropology, examining the complex relationship between humans and technology. His educational and practical experience includes exploration of the intersections of class, gender, race, education and other issues affecting gaps in technology access in order to create opportunities for social advancement through business. Recently, he has been focusing on community engagement work through branded innovation and content, offering his brand strategy and executive facilitation expertise in support of a major university and a major tech company while attending thought leadership conferences like the TEDxSummit, Compass Summit, the Wisdom 2.0 Summit and BlogHer Entrepreneurship. He is also producing TEDxBellevue in coordination with other Causeit team members.

Petroni is mentored by Mark Bonchek, PhD, Senior Vice President of Networks and Communities at Sears, a recognized innovator in citizen engagement, social empowerment and world-class business innovation.

Chris Dawson

Chris Dawson is a technically-skilled entrepreneur with corporate management, startup creation and software architecture experience. After receiving his degrees in Computer Science and Japanese Language from the University of Washington, he began his career in the technical field at Claris, then a subsidiary of Apple. He then went to RealNetworks, the company which created the internet multimedia and streaming space and was one of the highest performing stocks on NASDAQ in 2000.  He transitioned to Virage, a pioneering digital media company with some of the smartest people on the planet, including Bradley Horowitz (VP Product, Google Apps) and Dave Girouard (President, Google Enterprise).  When Virage was acquired in late 2003, Dawson went on to found Box Populi, where he produced an award-winning podcasting and live broadcasting device called Webcast in a Box.  In 2010 he sold a majority share in Box Populi for sizable ROI, and has since been engaging in social service projects and writing while integrating with Causeit’s innovation and development teams. Dawson’s work also has a strong focus on international business, with a particular focus on Brazil. 

Matthew Koren

Matthew Koren is an associate consultant with Causeit, Inc., where he manages business operations for three Causeit co-brands. He consults with startup clients around infrastructure, team development and product feasibility, with a specialization in cross-cultural communication. Koren’s academic background is in Social Psychology  (with a research focus on the implications of online communication) at Reed College.  Recently, he has been integrating knowledge from his previous career in academic success coaching for university students into work supporting a major university through innovation content work and strategic project management. Koren’s long-term strategy involves international business in Pacific Rim countries, informed by his research and travel in Asia.

Anna Choi

Anna Choi is an associate with Causeit, Inc., where she supports team leaders and individuals in need of focused, results-oriented coaching. A fiercely-committed woman empowering the next generation of leaders through innovative models of global education, she has taken on launching TEDxBellevue: Sustainable Happiness, where she is assisted by other Causeit team members and an extraordinary team of volunteers. Before selling her financial planning practice in 2010, she founded InsideOut Investing, a wealth planning and management firm. She was also co-founder of Focus & Sustain, helping couples around budgeting, life, and family planning. Completing thousands of hours of personal and professional development training, Anna was an Eagle’s Circle member through Woodbury Financial, an Emerging Leader for Seattle-Bellevue's eWomen Network and has been featured on radio and interviewed for the "Women of Wealth" article in Wealth Manager.

Anna served on the Board of the University of Washington Alumnae, dedicated to providing full-tuition scholarships for college students, graduating from the University of Washington in Art and Community, Environment and Planning. Anna lives in Seattle with her husband and she adores nature, dancing and playing her violin.

Jessica Long

Jessica Long is a content specialist with Causeit, Inc., where she collaborates with Causeit team members and clients to craft written and aesthetic content—online and in print—with a superior and consistent blend of integrity, brand and style.  Long is also a driving force in development and operations for Causeit’s co-brands, managing infrastructure with a powerful blend of practicality and innovation. She specializes in translation and synthesis of diverse learning and working styles to generate cohesive, effective organizational culture and messaging. Her natural talent for working with language, systems, and communication has been refined by academic pursuits at Smith College and Portland State University and 15 years as a progressive educator and facilitator.