Meet The Team!
Heidi Cuppari
Co-Founder + Executive Director
Meet Heidi, an innovative leader dedicated to social change and youth empowerment. As an alumna of Brown University, where she gained a deep fascination for understanding how individuals and organizations can drive positive change, Heidi has been on a remarkable journey to transform the world.
Heidi is a Divine Life Coach, youth mentor, and expert in Financial Attunement. She guides individuals and families in aligning their personal and financial goals with their values, helping them navigate their journeys towards abundance and fulfillment.
Heidi’s unwavering commitment to empowering young minds led her to co-found Dream Tank in 2016. Recognizing the boundless imagination and creativity of children, she envisioned a platform that nurtures their talents and encourages them to become bold change-makers in their communities. Through mentorship and community connections, Heidi fosters an ecosystem where youth voices are amplified, driving transformative change on a global scale.
Recently, she embarked on a powerful new role as a steward of land in Baja, Mexico. Through this venture, she has embraced the profound connection between nature and personal growth and is committed to creating a sustainable and regenerative community that fosters environmental stewardship and holistic well-being.
Jenny Heinze
Technology Director
Jenny Heinze is a visionary leader with over 30 years of experience in corporate innovation and social entrepreneurship. As a Board Member of the Guardianship Council, she brings her expertise in technology and impact-driven collaboration to help scale the 14-City Resilience Initiative, a key program aimed at fostering sustainable and regenerative global change. With a background innovation management and information technology, Jenny has led transformative projects that integrate cutting-edge technologies with social impact initiatives, empowering youth and communities to become active changemakers. Her work continues to inspire future generations to leverage innovation for creating a better world.
Ava-Celeste Matos
Chief of Staff Fellow
Celeste is a Brown University Senior, dynamic leader and emerging strategist dedicated to building scalable, youth-led impact initiatives. As Chief of Staff Fellow and youth member of the Guardianship Council, she is instrumental in structuring and operationalizing the 14-City Resilience Initiative, ensuring seamless coordination, strategic planning, and alignment with key partners. With a passion for systems change and social entrepreneurship, Celeste is committed to empowering young leaders and shaping regenerative solutions for a thriving future.
Kalyahn Varanasi
Program Design Fellow
Kalyahn Varanasi is a passionate high school junior with a strong drive for STEM and a commitment to solving real-world problems. As a Dream Tank Fellow, Kalyahn is focused on designing and coordinating programs aimed at addressing the critical issue of climate anxiety in youth. With a background in electronics and hands-on STEM experiences, Kalyahn brings a unique perspective to his work at Dream Tank. He leverages his skills in electronics, math, and critical thinking to create opportunities for youth to engage in meaningful, solution-driven projects.
Outside of his work with Dream Tank, Kalyahn is an active competitor in Science Olympiad, a member of Black Knights Robotics Club, and has contributed to community service projects through organizations like the Boulder Public Library. He is dedicated to developing innovative solutions in electrical engineering and sustainable energy, with a goal of creating change through hands-on learning and collaboration.
Summer
Co-Founder, Co-Author, Assistant Producer
Summer, now 19 years old, has come a long way since her early involvement with Dream Tank. As a graduate of Fairview High School, she is in her sophomore year at Leeds School of Business at CU Boulder, where she continues to fuel her passion for entrepreneurship and social impact.
In addition to her studies, Summer has taken on a vital role as a co-author and assistant producer for our column, amplifying the voices of young changemakers and driving meaningful conversations around the pressing issues of our time. Her keen insights and creative approach make her a valuable asset to the team.
Throughout her journey, Summer has been an advocate for Sustainable Development Goal 13: Climate Action. She co-founded Story Architects, a film production company, where she and her partner created Youtube Shows and produced films that raise awareness and inspire action on climate change. Her dedication to empowering children and inspiring them to make a difference is unwavering.
As a trusted advisor to Dream Tank, Summer continues to provide invaluable guidance, shaping our programs and initiatives to empower youth to pursue their dreams and create positive change in the world. Her commitment to amplifying youth voices and fostering a more sustainable future is truly commendable.
We’re excited to witness Summer’s growth and impact as she combines her business acumen, creativity, and passion for social entrepreneurship. Stay tuned as she continues to make waves in the world of youth innovation and lead the way towards a brighter future.
Cody
Young Innovator, Game Creator, Island17 Visionary
Introducing Cody, a visionary 16-year-old innovator who is revolutionizing the world of gaming with his groundbreaking project, Island17. Although still in concept mode, Island17 has garnered immense attention and the collaboration of passionate individuals from around the globe.
Cody’s remarkable vision has attracted dedicated teams, including talented Brown University students, who have invested their time and expertise in bringing his concept to life. Together, they have created prototypes of different areas within Island17, showcasing the immense potential of this virtual world.
As Cody continues to refine his vision, he is actively seeking funding and strategic partnerships to transform Island17 into a fully thriving and operational virtual world. With the support of like-minded individuals and organizations, he aims to create an immersive and innovative gaming experience that merges social impact with cutting-edge technology.
Join Cody on his journey as he seeks to bring Island17 to life and revolutionize the gaming industry. Together, we can make his visionary concept a reality.
Co-Creators & Advisors
Those who have helped and supported us from the start
David Cohen – Brad Feld – David Brown – Krista Marks – Brian Zisk – Allie Schlosser – Greg Bamford – Sarabeth Berk, PhD – Jeff “Phoenix” Ferguson, JoDell Seaman, Sumanth Channabasappa – Patty Klauer – Greg Sklar – Nicole Glaros – John Tayer – George Deriso – Tim O’Shea – Travis Russi – Amber Nystrom – Praful Shah – Anya Smith – Jake Aloia – Corey Kohn – Amalia Rose Battle… and more below
Ramzi Faris
Storytelling, PR, Tech, Strategy
President of Indu5try, Ramzi Faris is a seasoned vet in the media, entertainment and technology industries. With over twenty years of hands-on experience in the field, he has built an extensive portfolio of work and an ever-growing rolodex of partners from the ground up. After founding and developing his own artist management company out of college, he proceeded to work as a producer for Fashion TV and Fashion One Television and later as Director of Digital Ventures and Creative Development for Times Square Communications, all the while honing his knack for creating win-win scenarios for brands, clients and customers alike. His natural ability to network and insert himself into the right scenes has led him to create Indu5try to bring fresh and innovative campaigns, products and content to the market in the only way he knows how: with a personal touch, attention to detail and follow through.
George Cummings
SDG14 Dream Master
George is the SDG14 advisor for multiple Ocean focused NGOs and coastal communities. He admires collaboration with people of Action, with his fins in the water approach to address the seven global targets for UNESCO’s Decade of Ocean Science in the seas of the Caribbean and Coral Triangle. He enjoys school speaking engagements “Ocean Talks” to inspire students to consider pursuing STEAM career paths in the emerging sustainable Blue Economy.
“ I enjoy working with leading innovative technology SDG and Edu teams, like Dream Tank. We share common dreams and visions to inspire youth to seek STEAM scientific, VR, XR, AR, Ai, Robotics, creating the sustainable world THE YOUTH WANT. Scientific education with corporate, private, public and local government collaboration will open their Dreaming minds to explore and engage our environment with a passion to act responsibly”
Dr. Tia Kansara, Hon FRIBA
Chief Replenish Officer
Tia is a multi award-winning entrepreneur and economist. The youngest to ever receive the Royal Institute British Architects honorary fellowship, she is the co-founder of Kansara Hackney Ltd, the first ISO-certified sustainable lifestyle consultancy, and CEO of Replenish Earth Ltd, a cause and a collective action to protect the global commons.
Hailed amongst the Top 100 most influential leaders in Tech by the Financial Times and Inclusive Boards, her clients include Coca Cola, Bloomberg, the European Commission, Forbes, Formula One, MIT, and Siemens.