Neal Sales-Griffin

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Profile

Neal Sales-Griffin
CEO at Code Academy
Computer Software | Greater Chicago Area, US

Summary

Learning Ruby on Rails. Solving problems.
Specialties: Video Gaming. I also thrive when addressing questions of sales, strategy, operations, and overall successful execution and implementation in organizations. I hope to add computer programming to this section someday...

Experience

  • Jun 2011 - Present
    CEO / Code Academy
  • Jul 2010 - Present
    Coordinator / IGDA Chicago
  • Jan 2007 - Present
    Coach, Judge, Mentor / NFTE
    Guest speaker, kellogg mentor, business plan judge.
  • Sept 2010 - Jun 2011
    campusCATALYST Coordinator / Northwestern University
  • Jan 2010 - Jun 2011
    Associate Board Member / Urban Students Empowered Foundation
    I help raise $
  • Jan 2008 - Apr 2011
    Teaching Assistant / Northwestern University
    I am a three-time TA for Troy Henikoff's Entrepreneurship class at Northwestern.
  • Sept 2009 - Jan 2011
    Safe Ride Driver / Northwestern University
    I help NU students, faculty, and staff travel safely!
  • Jan 2010 - May 2010
    Analyst / Sandbox Industries
    Generate ideas for products and services, vet those concepts, and build the most promising opportunities into great companies. I have a special interest in video gaming.
  • Apr 2008 - Apr 2009
    President / Northwestern University Associated Student Government
    Helped build a better, more unified Northwestern.
  • Jun 2008 - Jan 2009
    Analyst / OCA Ventures
    Researched video-games and assisted with due diligence on technology and for-profit education start-ups
  • Sept 2007 - Sept 2008
    Associate / Kellogg School of Management Larry and Carol Levy Institute for Entrepreneurial Practice
    Helped create educational programs and did research for Kellogg Entrepreneurship Professors.
  • Mar 2008 - Jun 2008
    Intern / Smith Whiley and Company
    Private Equity firm focused on late-stage mezzanine financing managing a portfolio of $250MM
    • Assessed the competitive landscape for similar firms in the Midwestern region
    • Modeled pre-clearance valuations for prospective portfolio investments
  • Jul 2007 - Jun 2008
    Campus Representative / American Airlines
    Responsible for all AA marketing at Northwestern for a year.
  • Oct 2005 - Apr 2008
    President / The Institute For Student Business Education
    Founding member, created minority business wing, led organizational refinements, established new sustainable initiatives.
  • Jun 2007 - Aug 2007
    Chief Operating Officer / Flawless Cuts Barbershop, LLC
    Led operations and business development.
  • 2006 - 2007
    Founding Member/Sales Manager / ContextMedia
    Established and led initial sales arm.
  • Mar 2006 - Mar 2007
    President / Ayers College of Commerce and Industry
    Led 13 member executive board, managed maintenance and activities budget and generated experiential business programs for residents.
  • 2005 - 2006
    Intern / C.W Henderson
    Assisted with technology and archiving projects.
  • Dec 1998 - Jan 2001
    Sales Representative / Circle Pines Foundation
    Sold Christmas Trees during the month of December.

Education

  • 2005 - 2009
    Northwestern University
    Bachelor of Science in Education and Social Policy; Learning and Organizational Change, Minor in Business Institutions
    Activities: President, Institute for Student Business Education President, National Black MBA Association, Northwestern Chapter President, Ayers College of Commerce and Industry Founder and Director, Minorities in Business Senator, Associated Student Government Security Monitor, Jones Residential College Entrance/Exit Clerk, Northwestern University Library Reality Show Contestant, Chevy Aveo Challenge
  • 2001 - 2005
    Mount Carmel High School
    Activities: State Competitor, IHSA Chess Championships Cornerback, Mount Carmel High School Football Team Captain, MVP, Mount Carmel High School Track Team Chicago Urban League Award, Excellence in Leadership Donovan McNabb Essay Scholarship Recipient Daniel Murphy Scholarship Recipient Television Host, Elma and Company
  • Northwestern University

Additional Information

Honors:
Gold Medalist, USATF Junior Olympics Regional Northwestern University School of Education and Social Policy Alumni Leadership Award Northwestern University Kapnick Prize for Business Institutions
Interests:
Video Games, Entrepreneurship, Venture Capital, Business Development, Leadership Development, Organizational Change.
Resume
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Posts

February 01, 09:10 PM

Invader Hunt

January 03, 10:42 PM

How big is Call of Duty?

December 23, 06:25 PM
Gamers...prepare for war.
November 18, 05:20 PM

Accost of Responsibility: Affairs of Darkness

August 23, 07:53 PM

God of War

July 15, 05:34 PM

Baby Chun-Li

SPINNING (baby) BIRD KICK!

July 15, 05:26 PM

Couldn’t agree more

June 19, 06:23 PM

Why we play the best games

June 08, 04:48 PM
May 01, 09:57 PM
April 20, 07:42 PM
It's Dangerous To Go Alone! Take This.: 30 Day Tumblr Gamer Challenge

So, I modified the Tumblr 30 Day Challenge and added an obvious twist. (: I’d love to see some of you do this too, so feel free to copy & paste and such.

Gamers Unite!

01 - Your current favorite game - Mass Effect 2
02 - The most underrated game you’ve ever played
03 - A game that makes you really happy
04 - A…

April 20, 07:21 PM

ODST Achievement Hunter

April 19, 07:58 PM

It’s Indie Man!

April 19, 07:52 PM

If only…

April 18, 01:08 PM
Raiden taking out Ocelot is like playing as WaLuigi for a level of a Mario game, then having HIM save the princess. And having your game deleted.
April 16, 06:06 PM

Let’s hunt some ducks

April 12, 08:31 PM
April 12, 02:55 PM
Portal: A game that can enhance your cognitive skills

Originally released back in the fall of 2007 as part of Valve’s The Orange Box, Portal was the breakout hit of the epic compilation package. This original, darkly humorous and brilliant little puzzle game has quickly developed a cult-like following and is arguably one of the most important video game releases of the last decade.

In Portal, you control a protagonist named Chell, who is challenged to navigate through a series of increasingly dangerous rooms using a portal gun. As the name suggests, the portal gun allows you to shoot entrance and exit portals into a wall, and by stepping into one you pass through the other. This spatial mind-bender takes into account everything from physics to linear thinking, and the outside-of-the-box solutions will have you using parts of your brain you didn’t know existed.

The best aspect about Portal is that while you play your way through the increasingly crazy chambers of the Aperture Science Computer-Aided Enrichment Center, you are actually improving your own mental capabilities. Rarely has working out your brain been this much fun, but Portal is an example of an award-winning video game that can actually sharpen your intelligence and problem-solving skills.

April 10, 03:14 PM

Deal with it.

April 10, 02:01 PM

EPIC WIN. ‘Cause we’re not facebook farmers.

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I'm Neal. I like video games. I play in a Sandbox and build things.

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