About
Accelerate UP offers free, confidential, and personalized consulting and coaching services to individuals and business owners, who want to Start-Expand-Diversify a business in Marquette County.
Vision:
Entrepreneurial start-ups and small businesses are thriving, strengthening the economic fiber of our community, and creating jobs and financial well-being for individuals, families, and the community.
Mission Statement:
We empower entrepreneurs and propel small businesses to start, build, and expand through a system of business coaching, peer assistance, and community support.
Values:
We provide confidential and accessible services to empower our clients to achieve their goals for their business.
We serve as trusted advisors, providing honest and objective business coaching services.
We cultivate a peer-to-peer community network with a wealth of resources to support client success.
How it Works
Board of Trustees
Accelerate UP is directed by a seven-member volunteer Board of Trustees which provides the organization with strategic vision and financial oversight.
Resource Team
Accelerate UP’s Resource Team is comprised of a dedicated group of civic leaders, community professionals, small business owners and economic development practitioners. They engage with our Executive Director to provide creative suggestions and advice to support the success of entrepreneurs and small business owners in the community.
Meet Our
executive director
Alex Kofsky, an Upper Peninsula native, is a strategically-minded individual ready to help entrepreneurs follow their passions and fulfill their dreams. He has worked and traveled through all corners of Marquette County and the U.P. during his time as a small business consultant, interim EDC director, business developer for a marketing firm, and co-restaurant owner.
“In the Upper Peninsula, we fight hard to make a living and create opportunities for our community. I believe we do this because of love and passion for our home,” said Alex of his career/community experience. In his role as Accelerate UP Executive Director, he looks forward to brainstorming solutions to both entrepreneurial problems and possibilities.
Off the clock, you will find Alex hiking, hunting, fishing, and traveling (weekend trips in the U.P.’s backyard and occasionally international for perspective).
Liam Goetz
Liam Goetz is a versatile professional with expertise across multiple disciplines, currently serving as a Small Business Resource Navigator for the Central UP Small Business Support Hub. In this role, he supports entrepreneurs and small businesses throughout Marquette County by guiding them through resource navigation, growth strategies, and operational challenges. Liam’s background spans a wide range of fields, including accounting, cybersecurity, and community development, giving him a comprehensive perspective on the diverse needs of small business owners.
Liam holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Western Oregon University and is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Data Analytics from Northern Michigan University. His multidisciplinary background enables him to provide well-rounded and strategic support to the local business community.
Outside of work, Liam is passionate about the outdoors. He enjoys flyfishing the rivers and streams of the Upper Peninsula, biking through scenic trails, and spending weekends in the area’s expansive backcountry.
Small Business Resource Navigator,
Central UP Small Business Support Hub
Brittany Cappoferri
Strategic Operations & Marketing Coordinator
Brittany Cappoferri is the Strategic Operations and Marketing Coordinator at Accelerate UP, where she combines her expertise in operations and marketing to support local entrepreneurs and small businesses in Marquette County. A graduate of Northern Michigan University with a degree in Public Relations and a minor in Marketing, Brittany is dedicated to fostering community development and creating opportunities for business growth.
In her role, Brittany plays a key part in streamlining operational processes, tracking client metrics, and developing marketing strategies to enhance Accelerate UP’s visibility and outreach. She ensures effective communication with the community while creating content that showcases the organization’s impact. Brittany loves to see continued growth and to support the diverse needs of local businesses as they navigate their entrepreneurial journeys.
When she’s not working, Brittany is on the move—whether it’s running marathons, attending concerts, or exploring new travel destinations, she likes to make life an adventure.