Meet the Team

Abigail Ingram is executive director of the Polsky Exchange, a 34,000-square-foot incubator space that leads the Polsky Center’s engagement with the South Side community through programs and initiatives that support local business owners and entrepreneurs. Abigail is passionate about the role of entrepreneurship as a pathway to opportunity and the importance of measuring impact.

Prior to joining the Polsky Center, Abigail launched the Women in Entrepreneurship Institute (WEI) at DePaul University’s Driehaus College of Business, and served as its inaugural director for three years. While at WEI, the nation’s first comprehensive institute for women founders, Abigail designed and proved a model that measurably increases economic empowerment for entrepreneurs. An entrepreneur herself, Abigail also taught courses at Driehaus in Entrepreneurship Law, Entrepreneurship Strategy, and Women Entrepreneurs.

She launched her first venture, a music studio in Denver, Colorado, in 2009, and spent four years exploring sustainable business models for creative entrepreneurs. Abigail is a practicing attorney who founded and runs a boutique law firm that provides legal counsel to entrepreneurs.

Abigail  earned her J.D. and an M.A. in English from DePaul University. She went to undergrad at Eastern Illinois University, where she also studied English.

Vince Beachum is Senior Program Manager and Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Director at Polsky Exchange.  In this role, Vince is responsible for setting the strategic direction for the Center, day-to-day operations, including one-on-one advising, strategic business & feasibility planning, business development, financial analysis & modeling, accessing capital, market research and education & training to new and existing business owners.  Vince also focuses on community outreach, works closely with community organizations, businesses and industry leaders in effort to align resources, initiatives and training.

Vince is a Desert Storm Veteran and has over 20 years of experience working for Fortune 500 companies such as General Electric and John Deere, where he led multiple business units in operations optimization, cost reduction, profit maximization and strategic growth.  After leaving the corporate world, Vince spent 12 years as owner of several small businesses, including a mechanical engineering company and logistics & distribution franchise.  Prior to joining Polsky Exchange, Vince worked as an Illinois and Indiana SBDC Business Advisor.  He is also an adjunct professor for the City Colleges of Chicago where he teaches in the Business and Supply Chain Management disciplines.

Vince earned his B.S. in Process Management from Franklin University and an M.B.A. from the University of Notre Dame.  Vince is a golf enthusiast, comedy buff and audio books fanatic.

Cindy Domecki is responsible for all visitors’ first impressions of the Polsky Exchange both in person and through telephone. Additionally she assists with various administrative tasks.

Danielle Moore is responsible for all visitors’ first impressions of the Polsky Exchange both in person and through telephone inquiries regarding membership. Additionally she assists with various administrative task.

Jane Johnson serves as the 3D and Fabrication Fellow at the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. She assists members with prototyping and ensures lab equipment is properly functioning. Prior to joining Polsky, she was in the Metal Fabrication industry as a CNC Machinist where she worked on projects for aerospace and other projects related to the Department of Defense. Jane recently completed the robotics training program at Building Self Determination, and is also certified by the National Institute for Metalworking Skills.

Jane joined Technology Manufacturing Aligned in 2013 and the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council in 2017. In her spare time, she serves the homeless in her community and is part of a motorcycle club. She also practices yoga.  

Elizabeth Koprucki serves as the assistant director, Fab Lab and design at the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. She manages the Polsky Center’s Fab Lab where she mentors entrepreneurs and researchers through the prototyping process. She oversees the Fab Lab’s programming and staffing and connects Polsky Exchange members with resources on campus and across Chicago. 

Prior to joining Polsky, Elizabeth designed and co-taught a maker program at the Ancona School, as well as working as a maker educator at the Art Institute and the Chicago Public Library. She served as CNC area host at Pumping Station:One and has done graphic design for a number of South Side businesses and nonprofits. 

Elizabeth earned a BA in graphic design from Bradley University. 

Elizabeth is passionate about getting people involved in prototyping and making. In her spare time, she continues to be active in the Chicago maker community. She volunteers as a NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador and enjoys making jewelry and traveling. 

Barbara Agyapong serves as the Program Manager at Polsky Exchange. She manages community-facing programs and completes research on program effectiveness. She is responsible for planning, directing, coordinating, managing and evaluating daily operations of various Polsky Exchange programs.

Barbara advocates for social justice, inclusivity and development, with a passion for social innovation and a commitment to fostering positive economic and social change. Throughout her career, she has worked across sectors, from academia to the non-profit world and corporate environments, consistently delivering impactful results, developing strategies, fostering partnerships and driving community development. As an ENACTUS alumnus, she has been actively involved in empowering communities and fostering collaboration on a global scale.

Prior to joining Polsky, Barbara worked in Social Impact at Wright-Patt Credit Union, Ohio managing the organizations DE&I programs whilst assisting them in achieving their Corporate Social Responsibilities through policies that promote transformation and drives community development. These experiences have equipped her with a global perspective and a deep understanding of effective policy and program implementation.

Barbara holds an MA in International and Comparative Politics from Wright State University, Ohio and a BA in Political Science from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana.