The People Behind Space Grove
Meet the Team
Powered by experienced leaders in space, defense, workforce, and advanced technology, our team brings together ecosystem builders, federal advisors, and commercialization experts shaping Florida’s next generation of innovation.
Leadership
Dr. Melissa Patton
Founder and CEO, Space Grove Ventures, LLC
Ecosystem architect and workforce strategist with 20+ years of experience aligning government, industry, and academia across space, defense, and advanced technology. Founder of Space Grove Ventures and national leader in commercialization and talent pipeline design.
Dr. Melissa Patton
Dr. Melissa Patton is a nationally and internationally recognized ecosystem architect, workforce strategist, and operations leader with more than two decades of experience across education, innovation, and industry. She is the Founder and CEO of Space Grove Ventures, LLC, where she leads the development of a cross-sector platform aligning government, industry, academia, and workforce partners around space, defense, and advanced technology.
A former tenured professor, dean, and chief academic officer turned entrepreneur, Dr. Patton has led and scaled mission-driven organizations across education, health, and technology, including successful enterprise exits. Her work focuses on translating complex national priorities into executable ecosystems that accelerate talent readiness, innovation adoption, and commercialization.
Dr. Patton regularly speaks at national and international forums including Space-Comm Europe, Space Symposium, Spacepower, SpaceCom | Space Congress, SETA, ASU+GSV, and UCF Space Week as a proud UCF board member. She is known for her direct, systems-level approach to building sustainable pipelines between talent, technology, and mission outcomes.
Denise Sonnefeldt
Founder & Owner, Social Management Solutions Inc.
Director of Special Events & Programs, Space Grove Ventures
Denise Sonnefeldt is the Founder and Owner of Social Management Solutions Inc. and the exclusive Director of Special Events & Programs for Space Grove Ventures, where she leads the strategy, execution, and delivery of the organization’s highest-impact programs and signature events.
Denise Sonnefeldt
Denise Sonnefeldt is the Founder and Owner of Social Management Solutions Inc. and the exclusive Director of Special Events & Programs for Space Grove Ventures, where she leads the strategy, execution, and delivery of the organization’s highest-impact programs and signature events.
With more than 20 years of experience in event and program management, Denise is known for building powerful, well-orchestrated experiences that bring together industry leaders, partners, innovators, and investors. She specializes in transforming ambitious ideas into polished, results-driven platforms.
Through Social Management Solutions, Denise has become a trusted operator for executive programs, innovation launches, and public-private-corporate events across the Space Coast and beyond.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Development and Business Management from Eastern Florida State College and is a proud Florida Space Coast local.
Social Management Solutions, Inc. — You bring the need. We deliver the solution.
Founding Advisors
Mr. Tony Brown
Founder & President | AFCEA Space Coast
Federal technology executive and President of AFCEA Space Coast with decades of experience supporting DoD and civilian agencies. Brings deep expertise in cybersecurity, IT modernization, and regional defense-industry collaboration.
Tony Brown
Tony Brown is a seasoned federal technology executive and ecosystem leader with more than two decades of experience supporting mission-critical systems across the U.S. Department of Defense and civilian government agencies. He is the Founder and President of AFCEA Space Coast, where he leads regional efforts to strengthen collaboration between government, industry, and the defense and space workforce.
Tony currently serves as Director of the Products and Services Division at TM3 Solutions, Inc., an SDVOSB 8(a) information technology and information assurance firm providing secure solutions for classified and unclassified federal environments. TM3 is recognized for its risk-based approach to cybersecurity, systems integration, and protection of mission-critical information assets.
He is also the President and CEO of FEDVAR, an information technology services company he founded in 2001 that delivers hardware, software, and enterprise IT solutions to federal, state, and local government customers. Under his leadership, FEDVAR has supported organizations including the Department of Defense, National Institutes of Health, SAIC, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Services, and other major public-sector partners.
As a founding advisor to Space Grove, Tony brings deep expertise in federal IT, trusted industry relationships, and a strong commitment to community engagement and workforce development that supports national security and mission readiness.
Ms. Diana Teel
Founder | Central Florida Tech Grove
National leader in defense innovation, training & simulation, and government-industry collaboration with 30+ years supporting DoD ecosystems. Former NavalX Tech Bridge Director and NTSA Central Florida partnerships lead.
Diana Teel
Diana Teel is a nationally respected leader in defense innovation, training and simulation, and government-industry collaboration, with more than 30 years of experience supporting the U.S. Department of Defense across acquisition, outreach, and ecosystem development. She brings deep expertise in connecting government priorities with industry, academia, and nontraditional defense partners to drive mission-aligned outcomes.
Diana is the Co-Founder of Wonder Twins LLC, where she advises small businesses and nontraditional DoD companies on navigating defense acquisition, training systems, and innovation pathways. Partnering with a retired Department of the Navy engineer and program manager, she helps organizations bridge gaps between emerging capabilities and government mission needs through strategic guidance and collaborative problem-solving.
She currently serves as Community and Strategic Partnerships Director for the National Training and Simulation Association, acting as NTSA’s Central Florida representative supporting engagement across Team Orlando, all four military services, industry partners, and academia. Her work includes supporting national-level initiatives such as the Training and Simulation Industry Symposium and facilitating connections to long-range acquisition opportunities.
Previously, Diana served as the Central Florida Tech Bridge Director for NavalX and spent nearly three decades at the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division, where she was widely recognized as a Chief Evangelist and Outreach Director for innovation, workforce engagement, and industry collaboration.
As a founding advisor to Space Grove, Diana brings unparalleled insight into defense innovation ecosystems, training and simulation communities, and the relationships required to responsibly connect civilian innovation with government mission priorities.
Of Counsel
Sean C
Sean C. Harnage was born in Lakeland, Florida and raised in Melbourne, Florida. He graduated from Melbourne Central Catholic High School in 1994 and attended Brevard Community College, where he also graduated from the Brevard Police Academy and earned his A.A. degree.
Sean C
Sean C. Harnage was born in Lakeland, Florida and raised in Melbourne, Florida. He graduated from Melbourne Central Catholic High School in 1994 and attended Brevard Community College, where he also graduated from the Brevard Police Academy and earned his A.A. degree.
Sean spent more than a decade in law enforcement, serving in numerous roles including School Resource Officer, K-9 Handler, High Liability Instructor, U.S. Customs Blue Lightning Task Force member, and K-9 Sergeant. While working full-time, he earned his B.A. in Psychology and Environmental Studies from Rollins College.
Sean later served as a Deputy Sheriff and Training Unit instructor before attending Barry University School of Law. He earned his Juris Doctor in 2012, was admitted to The Florida Bar the same year, and to the U.S. District Court for the Middle, Southern and Northern Districts of Florida.
Today, as a solo practitioner, Sean focuses his practice on civil litigation, family law, traffic defense, bankruptcy, and real estate law. He is also a licensed Florida real estate sales associate.