Keynote: Co-Founder & CEO, Bluemercury
Marla Beck is the CEO and Co-Founder of Bluemercury Inc., an iconic, high-growth luxury beauty retail chain founded in 1999 and acquired in 2015 by Macy’s Inc., whose exponential growth continues to be guided by her leadership and passion for entrepreneurship, innovation, and consumer brands. Marla is also a cosmetics brand developer, having co-founded M-61 Laboratories in 2008, makers of M-61 Powerful Skincare, a clean and clinical skincare line, and Lune+Aster Cosmetics, a vegan cosmetics brand. Ms. Beck was named as one of Goldman Sachs’ 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs and is the first woman to be recognized with two cover stories by Inc. magazine focusing on her entrepreneurial achievements. In 2019, she was inducted into the Washington Business Hall of Fame.
Keynote: Co-Founder & CEO, Bluemercury
Marla Beck is the CEO and Co-Founder of Bluemercury Inc., an iconic, high-growth luxury beauty retail chain founded in 1999 and acquired in 2015 by Macy’s Inc., whose exponential growth continues to be guided by her leadership and passion for entrepreneurship, innovation, and consumer brands. Marla is also a cosmetics brand developer, having co-founded M-61 Laboratories in 2008, makers of M-61 Powerful Skincare, a clean and clinical skincare line, and Lune+Aster Cosmetics, a vegan cosmetics brand. Ms. Beck was named as one of Goldman Sachs’ 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs and is the first woman to be recognized with two cover stories by Inc. magazine focusing on her entrepreneurial achievements. In 2019, she was inducted into the Washington Business Hall of Fame.
Victor Hoskins joined the Fairfax County (Va.) Economic Development Authority as president and CEO on August 5, 2019. Previously, he was the director of Arlington (Va.) Economic Development since 2015. In that role he is most known for leading the team that successfully attracted Amazon HQ2 to Arlington County, a deal that will bring between 25,000 and 37,850 Amazon jobs to Arlington, stimulate creation of another 75,000 jobs in the Washington region, and generate between $3.2 and $4.8 billion in revenue for the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Under Mr. Hoskins’ leadership, Arlington County also successfully implemented an Innovation Strategy that moved it toward technology and private-sector commercialization. Other successes in Arlington include Nestlé, Grant Thornton, Lidl, MasterCard, Deloitte, PBS and Opower-Oracle.
Previously, Mr. Hoskins worked in private real estate investment on Wall Street. He also served as deputy mayor of economic development for the District of Columbia, during which time he led the turnaround of the District’s economy with projects such as The Wharf and City Center. During his career, his work has resulted in almost 375,000 jobs, and he has led the teams that negotiated more than 700 major business deals resulting in billions of dollars in private investment.
Since he arrived at the FCEDA, Hoskins has received the 2019 Ronald Kirby Award for Collaborative Leadership from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. Virginia Business magazine named him one of the “100 people to meet in 2020,” and the Washington Business Journal included him in its “Power 100 class of 2019.” Previously, the Washington Business Journal recognized him for his role in securing the Amazon and Nestle deals, and the D.C. Building Industry Association recognized him in 2014 and 2013 for leadership in economic development.
He holds a master’s degree in city planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a bachelor's degree with honors from Dartmouth College.
Victor Hoskins joined the Fairfax County (Va.) Economic Development Authority as president and CEO on August 5, 2019. Previously, he was the director of Arlington (Va.) Economic Development since 2015. In that role he is most known for leading the team that successfully attracted Amazon HQ2 to Arlington County, a deal that will bring between 25,000 and 37,850 Amazon jobs to Arlington, stimulate creation of another 75,000 jobs in the Washington region, and generate between $3.2 and $4.8 billion in revenue for the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Under Mr. Hoskins’ leadership, Arlington County also successfully implemented an Innovation Strategy that moved it toward technology and private-sector commercialization. Other successes in Arlington include Nestlé, Grant Thornton, Lidl, MasterCard, Deloitte, PBS and Opower-Oracle.
Previously, Mr. Hoskins worked in private real estate investment on Wall Street. He also served as deputy mayor of economic development for the District of Columbia, during which time he led the turnaround of the District’s economy with projects such as The Wharf and City Center. During his career, his work has resulted in almost 375,000 jobs, and he has led the teams that negotiated more than 700 major business deals resulting in billions of dollars in private investment.
Since he arrived at the FCEDA, Hoskins has received the 2019 Ronald Kirby Award for Collaborative Leadership from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. Virginia Business magazine named him one of the “100 people to meet in 2020,” and the Washington Business Journal included him in its “Power 100 class of 2019.” Previously, the Washington Business Journal recognized him for his role in securing the Amazon and Nestle deals, and the D.C. Building Industry Association recognized him in 2014 and 2013 for leadership in economic development.
He holds a master’s degree in city planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a bachelor's degree with honors from Dartmouth College.
Keynote: Driving Innovation from Within
Dr. Kaihan Krippendorff is the author of 4 books including his most recent, Driving Innovation From Within: A Guide for Internal Entrepreneurs.
Keynote: Driving Innovation from Within
Dr. Kaihan Krippendorff is the author of 4 books including his most recent, Driving Innovation From Within: A Guide for Internal Entrepreneurs.
Keynote: Leading Change Beyond COVID-19
David Morey, founder and Chairman of DMG Global, is one of America’s leading strategic consultants and speakers. He is the best-selling author of the The Underdog Advantage, The Leadership Campaign, Creating Business Magic, the #1 New Release on Amazon, and most recently Innovating Innovation. For many years, Mr. Morey served as Adjunct Professor of International Affairs at Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania. Over the years, he has worked with a who’s who of Fortune 500 leaders—and advised five Nobel Peace Prize winners and nineteen winning global presidential campaigns. Mr. Morey’s corporate clients include GE, Verizon, Pepsi, Mars, KPMG, McDonald's, Microsoft, News Corp., Nike, P&G, Disney, Visa, The Coca-Cola Company, Linkedin, TPG, American Express, NBC, Samsung, Deloitte, CVS, and many others.
Keynote: Leading Change Beyond COVID-19
David Morey, founder and Chairman of DMG Global, is one of America’s leading strategic consultants and speakers. He is the best-selling author of the The Underdog Advantage, The Leadership Campaign, Creating Business Magic, the #1 New Release on Amazon, and most recently Innovating Innovation. For many years, Mr. Morey served as Adjunct Professor of International Affairs at Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania. Over the years, he has worked with a who’s who of Fortune 500 leaders—and advised five Nobel Peace Prize winners and nineteen winning global presidential campaigns. Mr. Morey’s corporate clients include GE, Verizon, Pepsi, Mars, KPMG, McDonald's, Microsoft, News Corp., Nike, P&G, Disney, Visa, The Coca-Cola Company, Linkedin, TPG, American Express, NBC, Samsung, Deloitte, CVS, and many others.
Session Panelist: Public Funding Options During & After the Pandemic
Under Ed’s leadership, the company has expanded its venture investing and innovation and business acceleration activities into new areas such as smart infrastructure, cybersecurity and autonomous systems. He also led the company’s founding of the Virginia Founders Fund, a venture fund for Virginia populations, e.g., women, minorities and veterans. During his tenure, the company’s flagship fund, the GAP fund, it’s grant program, and it’s MACH37 Cyber Accelerator, have invested over $50M and attracted over $1B in private capital to companies in it’s early stage venture portfolio including numerous autonomous systems startups.
Session Panelist: Public Funding Options During & After the Pandemic
Under Ed’s leadership, the company has expanded its venture investing and innovation and business acceleration activities into new areas such as smart infrastructure, cybersecurity and autonomous systems. He also led the company’s founding of the Virginia Founders Fund, a venture fund for Virginia populations, e.g., women, minorities and veterans. During his tenure, the company’s flagship fund, the GAP fund, it’s grant program, and it’s MACH37 Cyber Accelerator, have invested over $50M and attracted over $1B in private capital to companies in it’s early stage venture portfolio including numerous autonomous systems startups.
Session Panelist: The Impact of COVID-19 on Healthcare Innovation
Bikram is a seasoned CEO, innovator, and entrepreneur based in the Washington, DC area. He has led organizations ranging from early stage startups to key business divisions of a Fortune 10 company. He currently serves on the Penn Wharton Entrepreneurship Advisory Board, is a board member or advisor to a number of early stage startups, and is a cyber investment council member and principal investor with Blu Venture Investors. Bikram received the Washington DC Joseph Wharton award in 2019.
Bikram is widely recognized for his leadership in the successful turnaround of healthcare.gov, the health insurance marketplace established under the US Affordable Care Act (washingtonpost/healthcare.gov) in 2013-2014. He is also a named inventor of 13 US patents and author of research articles in several areas of computer science.
From Sep 2012 to June 2017, Bikram was a member of the Executive Leadership Team at United Health Group (UHG). From Feb 2014 to June 2017 Bikram was a member of the Office of the CEO for Optum, UHG’s $100B health services business. As CEO of Optum’s Govt business based in the Washington DC area, Bikram had oversight of federal and state government engagements. Prior to that, Bikram was CEO of Optum’s International business based out of London, UK. In that role, he managed a portfolio of businesses across Europe, South America, Asia and Australia. Optum’s charter is to make the healthcare system work better across the globe by bringing capabilities in data, technology, analytics and care management to governments, employers, health care professionals and individuals.
From 2007 to Sep 2012 Bikram was President & CEO of QSSI, a privately held health technology focused company that grew over 10x in revenues and managed over 1,000 personnel under his leadership. QSSI was the prime contractor charged with turning around healthcare.gov and implemented other key components of the US health insurance marketplaces. QSSI was acquired by UHG/Optum in Sep 2012.
Previously, Bikram held various positions in organizations ranging from Fortune 100 companies like Intel and Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), to technology start-ups like BNX systems (acquired by Citigroup in 2005). He was actively involved in the technical development as well as sales of cyber security products and internet technologies.
Bikram has an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and an MS and BE degree in Computer Science.
Session Panelist: The Impact of COVID-19 on Healthcare Innovation
Bikram is a seasoned CEO, innovator, and entrepreneur based in the Washington, DC area. He has led organizations ranging from early stage startups to key business divisions of a Fortune 10 company. He currently serves on the Penn Wharton Entrepreneurship Advisory Board, is a board member or advisor to a number of early stage startups, and is a cyber investment council member and principal investor with Blu Venture Investors. Bikram received the Washington DC Joseph Wharton award in 2019.
Bikram is widely recognized for his leadership in the successful turnaround of healthcare.gov, the health insurance marketplace established under the US Affordable Care Act (washingtonpost/healthcare.gov) in 2013-2014. He is also a named inventor of 13 US patents and author of research articles in several areas of computer science.
From Sep 2012 to June 2017, Bikram was a member of the Executive Leadership Team at United Health Group (UHG). From Feb 2014 to June 2017 Bikram was a member of the Office of the CEO for Optum, UHG’s $100B health services business. As CEO of Optum’s Govt business based in the Washington DC area, Bikram had oversight of federal and state government engagements. Prior to that, Bikram was CEO of Optum’s International business based out of London, UK. In that role, he managed a portfolio of businesses across Europe, South America, Asia and Australia. Optum’s charter is to make the healthcare system work better across the globe by bringing capabilities in data, technology, analytics and care management to governments, employers, health care professionals and individuals.
From 2007 to Sep 2012 Bikram was President & CEO of QSSI, a privately held health technology focused company that grew over 10x in revenues and managed over 1,000 personnel under his leadership. QSSI was the prime contractor charged with turning around healthcare.gov and implemented other key components of the US health insurance marketplaces. QSSI was acquired by UHG/Optum in Sep 2012.
Previously, Bikram held various positions in organizations ranging from Fortune 100 companies like Intel and Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), to technology start-ups like BNX systems (acquired by Citigroup in 2005). He was actively involved in the technical development as well as sales of cyber security products and internet technologies.
Bikram has an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and an MS and BE degree in Computer Science.
Michael Batt is Manager, Talent Initiatives, at Fairfax County Economic Development Authority. Mike has been in the technology sector for over 25 years as a seller and leading teams across, hardware, software, and business application sales. Mike's roles at Microsoft represented multiple industries, including US Federal, State & Local Government, Education and Healthcare. He has taken his corporate experience and combined that with his passion for civic duty to promote the advantages the County he has lived in his entire life.
Michael Batt is Manager, Talent Initiatives, at Fairfax County Economic Development Authority. Mike has been in the technology sector for over 25 years as a seller and leading teams across, hardware, software, and business application sales. Mike's roles at Microsoft represented multiple industries, including US Federal, State & Local Government, Education and Healthcare. He has taken his corporate experience and combined that with his passion for civic duty to promote the advantages the County he has lived in his entire life.
Session Panelist: The Impact of COVID-19 on the Workforce and Workplace of the Future
Sue Bhatia founded Rose International in 1993 and grew the company to become one of the nation’s leading providers in the recruiting and staffing industry, serving 150+ clients and employing thousands of associates nationwide from 20+ offices in the U.S. and India. Glassdoor named Rose International a Best Place to Work in 2019 and 2020; Rose International is the only staffing company to receive this award two years in a row.
Sue Bhatia is an advocate for women and minority entrepreneurs around the world and is dedicated to building a stronger, more diverse labor force. She is dedicated to creating opportunities, providing career development advice and giving back to our communities.
Session Panelist: The Impact of COVID-19 on the Workforce and Workplace of the Future
Sue Bhatia founded Rose International in 1993 and grew the company to become one of the nation’s leading providers in the recruiting and staffing industry, serving 150+ clients and employing thousands of associates nationwide from 20+ offices in the U.S. and India. Glassdoor named Rose International a Best Place to Work in 2019 and 2020; Rose International is the only staffing company to receive this award two years in a row.
Sue Bhatia is an advocate for women and minority entrepreneurs around the world and is dedicated to building a stronger, more diverse labor force. She is dedicated to creating opportunities, providing career development advice and giving back to our communities.
John Gustavo Blair is originally from the Washington, DC area. He has been at the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) since 2017. At the EDA, John serves as the Assistant Director for National Business Investment and handles the relationship with emerging tech companies in sectors ranging from artificial intelligence and blockchain, to drones and autonomous vehicles. Prior to joining the EDA, he spent close to a dozen years in a variety of business development roles for software and technical services companies and also did consulting work on sales and marketing strategies for emerging companies. In addition, he worked for economic development authorities from Germany and the United Kingdom, including Frankfurt, the former East German State of Thuringia and Yorkshire, England.
A graduate of the University of Delaware with an international relations degree and George Mason University (GMU) School of Business with an MBA, John has also served as President of the Alumni Chapter of the School of Business at GMU. Other Board experience includes serving as an Executive Director on the Executive Board of Bretton Woods Recreation Center (BWRC) in Germantown, Maryland. Bretton Woods is a 286-acre facility owned by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
John represents the FCEDA in its memberships at the international organizations, Chamber of Digital Commerce, a leading blockchain association headquartered in Washington, DC, and at the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), which is headquartered in northern Virginia.
John Gustavo Blair is originally from the Washington, DC area. He has been at the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) since 2017. At the EDA, John serves as the Assistant Director for National Business Investment and handles the relationship with emerging tech companies in sectors ranging from artificial intelligence and blockchain, to drones and autonomous vehicles. Prior to joining the EDA, he spent close to a dozen years in a variety of business development roles for software and technical services companies and also did consulting work on sales and marketing strategies for emerging companies. In addition, he worked for economic development authorities from Germany and the United Kingdom, including Frankfurt, the former East German State of Thuringia and Yorkshire, England.
A graduate of the University of Delaware with an international relations degree and George Mason University (GMU) School of Business with an MBA, John has also served as President of the Alumni Chapter of the School of Business at GMU. Other Board experience includes serving as an Executive Director on the Executive Board of Bretton Woods Recreation Center (BWRC) in Germantown, Maryland. Bretton Woods is a 286-acre facility owned by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
John represents the FCEDA in its memberships at the international organizations, Chamber of Digital Commerce, a leading blockchain association headquartered in Washington, DC, and at the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), which is headquartered in northern Virginia.
Session Panelist: The Future of Private Funding: The view from Angel Investors
Alan Brody is the "Dean" of Digital Startups and founder of Startupalooza, the pitching forum and Capital Raising Workshop that runs in eight cities and helped entrepreneurs raise millions. He is author of Are You Fundable? the book for Entrepreneurs that helps them understand the Investor mindset and get them to write a check.
Session Panelist: The Future of Private Funding: The view from Angel Investors
Alan Brody is the "Dean" of Digital Startups and founder of Startupalooza, the pitching forum and Capital Raising Workshop that runs in eight cities and helped entrepreneurs raise millions. He is author of Are You Fundable? the book for Entrepreneurs that helps them understand the Investor mindset and get them to write a check.
Session Panelist: Innovating for Supply Chain Resilience
Jonathan L.S. Byrnes is Senior Lecturer at MIT, where he has taught at the graduate level and in executive programs for thirty years. He is the author of Islands of Profit in a Sea of Red Ink, which Inc.com named to its 2010 list of Best Books for Business Owners. He is co-author of the forthcoming book, Choose your Customer: How to Compete Against the Digital Giants and Thrive. He also recently co-authored the article: " Coronavirus: How to Manage your Supply Chain Shock Waves".
He has authored over two hundred books, articles, cases, notes, and expert submissions. He wrote a monthly column on managing profitability, called “The Bottom Line,” in Harvard Business School’s Working Knowledge e-newsletter (hbswk.hbs.edu) for four years, and he is currently posting a monthly podcast called “Profit Levers” (www.profitisle.com/podcasts/).
Dr. Byrnes is the founding partner of Profit Isle (www.profitisle.com ), a SaaS company that has created proprietary big data profit analytics that have produced sustained 10-30% year-to-year profit increases on tens of billions of dollars of client revenues.
He has advised over one hundred major companies, healthcare institutions, and industry associations. Dr. Byrnes serves on the Board of Directors of MSC Industrial Direct (NYSE - MSM). He earned a doctorate from Harvard.
Session Panelist: Innovating for Supply Chain Resilience
Jonathan L.S. Byrnes is Senior Lecturer at MIT, where he has taught at the graduate level and in executive programs for thirty years. He is the author of Islands of Profit in a Sea of Red Ink, which Inc.com named to its 2010 list of Best Books for Business Owners. He is co-author of the forthcoming book, Choose your Customer: How to Compete Against the Digital Giants and Thrive. He also recently co-authored the article: " Coronavirus: How to Manage your Supply Chain Shock Waves".
He has authored over two hundred books, articles, cases, notes, and expert submissions. He wrote a monthly column on managing profitability, called “The Bottom Line,” in Harvard Business School’s Working Knowledge e-newsletter (hbswk.hbs.edu) for four years, and he is currently posting a monthly podcast called “Profit Levers” (www.profitisle.com/podcasts/).
Dr. Byrnes is the founding partner of Profit Isle (www.profitisle.com ), a SaaS company that has created proprietary big data profit analytics that have produced sustained 10-30% year-to-year profit increases on tens of billions of dollars of client revenues.
He has advised over one hundred major companies, healthcare institutions, and industry associations. Dr. Byrnes serves on the Board of Directors of MSC Industrial Direct (NYSE - MSM). He earned a doctorate from Harvard.
Session Moderator & Panelist: The Impact of COVID-19 on the Workforce and Workplace of the Future
Steve Cadigan is a highly sought-after talent advisor to leaders and organizations across the globe. As Founder of his own Silicon Valley-based firm, Cadigan Talent Ventures, Steve advises a wide range of innovative organizations that include Twitter, Eventbrite, Cisco, Intel, The Royal Bank of Scotland, Telefonica, Salesforce and the BBC. He is also regularly retained by some of Silicon Valley’s leading VC firms such as Andreesen Horowitz, Index Ventures, Sequoia, and Greylock Partners for his counsel on a wide range of talent topics.
Steve speaks regularly to conferences and major Universities around the world and his amazing work in helping shape the unique culture at LinkedIn led Stanford University to build a graduate- level class around this ground-breaking work. Steve is frequently asked to appear on global TV and is a regular guest on Bloomberg West and CNBC, and he is also a regular contributor to Forbes. Over the course of his career, the teams, cultures and organizations he has led and helped build have been recognized as exceptional, “world class” performers by the Wall Street Journal and Fortune Magazine.
Prior to launching his own firm, Steve worked as an HR executive for over 25 years at a wide range of companies and industries including ESPRIT, Allianz, Cisco Systems, Electronic Arts and capped by serving as the first CHRO for LinkedIn from 2009 through 2012, taking the company from a private firm of 400 employees, through an IPO and into the powerhouse that it is recognized as today. Today Steve serves on the Board of Directors to three companies (two based in BC: Perk Labs and Certn) and in addition sits on the Advisory Board of several other dynamic organizations. He is nearing completion on his first book which is due out this fall and is focused on the Future of Work and what it means for employers and employees
Steve graduated from Wesleyan University with an BA in History and received an Master’s Degree in Organization Development from the University of San Francisco.
Session Moderator & Panelist: The Impact of COVID-19 on the Workforce and Workplace of the Future
Steve Cadigan is a highly sought-after talent advisor to leaders and organizations across the globe. As Founder of his own Silicon Valley-based firm, Cadigan Talent Ventures, Steve advises a wide range of innovative organizations that include Twitter, Eventbrite, Cisco, Intel, The Royal Bank of Scotland, Telefonica, Salesforce and the BBC. He is also regularly retained by some of Silicon Valley’s leading VC firms such as Andreesen Horowitz, Index Ventures, Sequoia, and Greylock Partners for his counsel on a wide range of talent topics.
Steve speaks regularly to conferences and major Universities around the world and his amazing work in helping shape the unique culture at LinkedIn led Stanford University to build a graduate- level class around this ground-breaking work. Steve is frequently asked to appear on global TV and is a regular guest on Bloomberg West and CNBC, and he is also a regular contributor to Forbes. Over the course of his career, the teams, cultures and organizations he has led and helped build have been recognized as exceptional, “world class” performers by the Wall Street Journal and Fortune Magazine.
Prior to launching his own firm, Steve worked as an HR executive for over 25 years at a wide range of companies and industries including ESPRIT, Allianz, Cisco Systems, Electronic Arts and capped by serving as the first CHRO for LinkedIn from 2009 through 2012, taking the company from a private firm of 400 employees, through an IPO and into the powerhouse that it is recognized as today. Today Steve serves on the Board of Directors to three companies (two based in BC: Perk Labs and Certn) and in addition sits on the Advisory Board of several other dynamic organizations. He is nearing completion on his first book which is due out this fall and is focused on the Future of Work and what it means for employers and employees
Steve graduated from Wesleyan University with an BA in History and received an Master’s Degree in Organization Development from the University of San Francisco.
Session Panelist: The Future of Private Funding: The view from Angel Investors
Christine D. Copple, Ph.D. is currently President & CEO of Starise Ventures, Inc, which mitigates the intrinsic execution risks of translating biomedical discoveries from the bench to the bedside. Previously she was President & CEO of ASM Resources Inc., the venture arm of the American Society for Microbiology where she built their diversified investment portfolio. Prior to that, as director of the Office of Industry Liaison for the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute from 1993 to 1996, she was responsible for providing entrepreneurial guidance and services for faculty and start-up companies.
With more than 25 years of experience in senior management positions at biotechnology growth companies, Dr. Copple is seasoned in public offerings, private/venture investments, joint ventures, licensing and partnering, public corporate reporting, public relations, investor relations, international marketing, product development, regulatory affairs, legislative affairs, and facilities design/buildout.
Session Panelist: The Future of Private Funding: The view from Angel Investors
Christine D. Copple, Ph.D. is currently President & CEO of Starise Ventures, Inc, which mitigates the intrinsic execution risks of translating biomedical discoveries from the bench to the bedside. Previously she was President & CEO of ASM Resources Inc., the venture arm of the American Society for Microbiology where she built their diversified investment portfolio. Prior to that, as director of the Office of Industry Liaison for the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute from 1993 to 1996, she was responsible for providing entrepreneurial guidance and services for faculty and start-up companies.
With more than 25 years of experience in senior management positions at biotechnology growth companies, Dr. Copple is seasoned in public offerings, private/venture investments, joint ventures, licensing and partnering, public corporate reporting, public relations, investor relations, international marketing, product development, regulatory affairs, legislative affairs, and facilities design/buildout.
Session Panelist: Innovating for Supply Chain Resilience
Stephen is the Founder of Corbett Consulting, a boutique Strategy and Operations consulting company that concentrates on operational transformations across a multitude of industries. Corbett Consulting is industry agnostic and has worked across industries as diverse as heavy manufacturing, financial services, public service and not for profit. In all situations the approach of identifying the greatest impediments to effectiveness and developing solutions to minimize their impact has been effective.
Prior to founding Corbett Consulting in 2013, Stephen worked for multiple organizations with the most influential being his 13 years with McKinsey and Company and three years in Japan with Toyota’s Lean consulting group (Operations Management Consulting Division). These two organizations have shaped the way that Stephen, and Corbett Consulting, approaches projects and problem solving. In essence a never-ending focus on the elimination of “waste” through data and employee engagement.
From a supply chain perspective Corbett Consulting has:
• moved operations into Mexico
• sourced components from China
• consolidated operations from 56 locations into 3
• optimized supplier bases to support more value added (and higher margin) activities
Session Panelist: Innovating for Supply Chain Resilience
Stephen is the Founder of Corbett Consulting, a boutique Strategy and Operations consulting company that concentrates on operational transformations across a multitude of industries. Corbett Consulting is industry agnostic and has worked across industries as diverse as heavy manufacturing, financial services, public service and not for profit. In all situations the approach of identifying the greatest impediments to effectiveness and developing solutions to minimize their impact has been effective.
Prior to founding Corbett Consulting in 2013, Stephen worked for multiple organizations with the most influential being his 13 years with McKinsey and Company and three years in Japan with Toyota’s Lean consulting group (Operations Management Consulting Division). These two organizations have shaped the way that Stephen, and Corbett Consulting, approaches projects and problem solving. In essence a never-ending focus on the elimination of “waste” through data and employee engagement.
From a supply chain perspective Corbett Consulting has:
• moved operations into Mexico
• sourced components from China
• consolidated operations from 56 locations into 3
• optimized supplier bases to support more value added (and higher margin) activities
Session Panelist: Public Funding Options During & After the Pandemic
His firm is lead by John Davis, General Manager, who has more than 30 years of progressive experience as a Technician, Research Engineer, Department Manager, Program Manager, Director of Engineering, Business Area Director (marketing) and Division Manger in government R&D contracting. Mr. Davis has earned advanced degrees in Engineering and Business Administration. Davis is a leader and active participant in a number of professional and industry organizations (including IEEE, APMP, AUVSI etc.) and is an much published writer and popular speaker on the related subjects of project management and winning government R& D funding. He is active in his church and community service organizations as well.
Session Panelist: Public Funding Options During & After the Pandemic
His firm is lead by John Davis, General Manager, who has more than 30 years of progressive experience as a Technician, Research Engineer, Department Manager, Program Manager, Director of Engineering, Business Area Director (marketing) and Division Manger in government R&D contracting. Mr. Davis has earned advanced degrees in Engineering and Business Administration. Davis is a leader and active participant in a number of professional and industry organizations (including IEEE, APMP, AUVSI etc.) and is an much published writer and popular speaker on the related subjects of project management and winning government R& D funding. He is active in his church and community service organizations as well.
Session Panelist: The Pandemic and Higher Education: Crisis, Innovation and Transformation
Kate Ebner helps people see the future. Through coaching leaders and developing the potential of leadership teams and organizations, Kate shows people how to lead purposefully rather than simply react to current events. Kate specializes in leading with vision and, as importantly, how to realize that vision through effective, focused implementation. She is passionate about helping people transform their lives and work through greater awareness of their gifts and the choices that are possible for them. Her proven vision process teaches people how to translate their desires for the future into actions that take them there. Kate brings deep knowledge and expertise about how to lead transformational change within organizations and communities.
As founding director of the Institute for Transformational Leadership at Georgetown University and a member of the faculty there, Kate’s work is focused on defining and developing the capacities of leaders in the 21st century. She and her colleagues at the Institute are exploring new models of leadership, work and change that are capable of transforming individuals, organizations, communities and even nations through collaboration, innovation and effective leadership.
Kate has served as a faculty member and director of Georgetown University’s Leadership Coaching program and its Executive Certificate in Transformational Leadership and author of “Coaching for Leverage,” a chapter in On Becoming a Leadership Coach. She has been quoted in publications, such as Self, Fast Company, Forbes and Inc. magazine and speaks frequently at conferences about vision, leading transformational change, leading in complexity, women’s leadership, 21st century leadership challenges and personal transformation through the practice of leadership.
Session Panelist: The Pandemic and Higher Education: Crisis, Innovation and Transformation
Kate Ebner helps people see the future. Through coaching leaders and developing the potential of leadership teams and organizations, Kate shows people how to lead purposefully rather than simply react to current events. Kate specializes in leading with vision and, as importantly, how to realize that vision through effective, focused implementation. She is passionate about helping people transform their lives and work through greater awareness of their gifts and the choices that are possible for them. Her proven vision process teaches people how to translate their desires for the future into actions that take them there. Kate brings deep knowledge and expertise about how to lead transformational change within organizations and communities.
As founding director of the Institute for Transformational Leadership at Georgetown University and a member of the faculty there, Kate’s work is focused on defining and developing the capacities of leaders in the 21st century. She and her colleagues at the Institute are exploring new models of leadership, work and change that are capable of transforming individuals, organizations, communities and even nations through collaboration, innovation and effective leadership.
Kate has served as a faculty member and director of Georgetown University’s Leadership Coaching program and its Executive Certificate in Transformational Leadership and author of “Coaching for Leverage,” a chapter in On Becoming a Leadership Coach. She has been quoted in publications, such as Self, Fast Company, Forbes and Inc. magazine and speaks frequently at conferences about vision, leading transformational change, leading in complexity, women’s leadership, 21st century leadership challenges and personal transformation through the practice of leadership.
Session Panelist: Innovating for Supply Chain Resilience
Ran Farmer is a seasoned international executive with diverse experience as a business leader, entrepreneur and technology investor. He is currently Senior Managing Director at Ankura Consulting Group. He is also the founding investor of 3D Herndon, one of the leading centers of expertise for 3D printing, 3D scanning and design based in the heart of the Northern Virginia technology corridor. The company operates a global supply chain delivering 3D printing solutions to industry, educational institutions, government agencies and research institutions. Previously, Ran was founder of two technology companies in the fields of satellite data communications and electronic payment transactions. He built the first commercial satellite data communications network for financial transactions in the Czech Republic to overcome challenges with the existing terrestrial telecom systems at the time. He then established a modern payment transaction processing center for the Baltic countries of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia which for the first time linked banks and retail stores to the global networks for payment processing and opened up the region to chip card payments. Ran later invested in an early stage European cloud based mobile Internet software company where he joined the Management Committee, established the company’s U.S. operations and led its rapid growth in the media and entertainment, publishing, ecommerce, travel, retail, advertising and enterprise sectors. Ran began his career as a business strategy consultant working across diverse industries and achieved early success as a young partner at Deloitte & Touche. Ran lived in Central Europe for more than ten years and has worked in over twenty-five countries throughout the world.
Session Panelist: Innovating for Supply Chain Resilience
Ran Farmer is a seasoned international executive with diverse experience as a business leader, entrepreneur and technology investor. He is currently Senior Managing Director at Ankura Consulting Group. He is also the founding investor of 3D Herndon, one of the leading centers of expertise for 3D printing, 3D scanning and design based in the heart of the Northern Virginia technology corridor. The company operates a global supply chain delivering 3D printing solutions to industry, educational institutions, government agencies and research institutions. Previously, Ran was founder of two technology companies in the fields of satellite data communications and electronic payment transactions. He built the first commercial satellite data communications network for financial transactions in the Czech Republic to overcome challenges with the existing terrestrial telecom systems at the time. He then established a modern payment transaction processing center for the Baltic countries of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia which for the first time linked banks and retail stores to the global networks for payment processing and opened up the region to chip card payments. Ran later invested in an early stage European cloud based mobile Internet software company where he joined the Management Committee, established the company’s U.S. operations and led its rapid growth in the media and entertainment, publishing, ecommerce, travel, retail, advertising and enterprise sectors. Ran began his career as a business strategy consultant working across diverse industries and achieved early success as a young partner at Deloitte & Touche. Ran lived in Central Europe for more than ten years and has worked in over twenty-five countries throughout the world.
Session Panelist: The Impact of COVID-19 on the Workforce and Workplace of the Future
With over 20 years of industry experience, Genzler serves as Randstad Technologies’ president and chief client officer. In this role, she oversees all sales teams and manages sales performance across strategic, major, key and emerging account segments, bringing strategy to major and emerging client accounts. Additionally, she is responsible for expanding the company’s staffing, permanent and solutions portfolios at the client level. Alisia graduated from Marquette University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in finance as well as a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (B.S.B.A.) in finance and financial management services.
Session Panelist: The Impact of COVID-19 on the Workforce and Workplace of the Future
With over 20 years of industry experience, Genzler serves as Randstad Technologies’ president and chief client officer. In this role, she oversees all sales teams and manages sales performance across strategic, major, key and emerging account segments, bringing strategy to major and emerging client accounts. Additionally, she is responsible for expanding the company’s staffing, permanent and solutions portfolios at the client level. Alisia graduated from Marquette University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in finance as well as a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (B.S.B.A.) in finance and financial management services.
Session Panelist: The Impact of COVID-19 on Healthcare Innovation
Jeffrey Hausfeld, M.D., M.B.A., F.A.C.S., has served on the national board and committees of specialty medical societies since he began his practice in Otolaryngology/Facial Plastic Surgery in 1982. He is an Associate Clinical Professor of Surgery at George Washington University School of Health Sciences and an alumnus of the Yale University School of Medicine. Dr. Hausfeld is widely published in the medical literature, is the pioneer of innovative laser surgery techniques, is the author of a lay oriented medical book on snoring and sleep apnea, and has appeared on numerous local and national television and radio shows as a medical expert.
He has also served as a health care consultant, spokesperson, and executive coach for multi-national pharmaceutical companies, health care firms, as well as the U.S. military. Dr. Hausfeld stepped down from his clinical duties after receiving a Masters in Business Administration from Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Hausfeld is presently developing assisted living facilities specializing in Alzheimer's and dementia care.
He serves as a consultant to several healthcare/life science startups in diagnostics, devices, biotech and Health IT. He also serves on the Investment Advisory Board of the Center for Innovation Technology's Life Science Gap Fund. The fund supports promising healthcare and life sciences ventures in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Dr. Hausfeld is the Chairman and Founder of the Society of Physician Entrepreneurs (www.sopenet.org ), a global network focused on educating healthcare and life science professionals in Bioentrepreneurship and Innovation.
Dr. Hausfeld is orchestrating the Series B Financing of BioFactura (www.biofactura.com) and acted as the lead investor in this round. He will serve as Chairman of the Board of BioFactura as well as their Chief Medical Officer as the company develops its Biosimilar platform as well as its novel Bio-defense therapeutics.
Session Panelist: The Impact of COVID-19 on Healthcare Innovation
Jeffrey Hausfeld, M.D., M.B.A., F.A.C.S., has served on the national board and committees of specialty medical societies since he began his practice in Otolaryngology/Facial Plastic Surgery in 1982. He is an Associate Clinical Professor of Surgery at George Washington University School of Health Sciences and an alumnus of the Yale University School of Medicine. Dr. Hausfeld is widely published in the medical literature, is the pioneer of innovative laser surgery techniques, is the author of a lay oriented medical book on snoring and sleep apnea, and has appeared on numerous local and national television and radio shows as a medical expert.
He has also served as a health care consultant, spokesperson, and executive coach for multi-national pharmaceutical companies, health care firms, as well as the U.S. military. Dr. Hausfeld stepped down from his clinical duties after receiving a Masters in Business Administration from Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Hausfeld is presently developing assisted living facilities specializing in Alzheimer's and dementia care.
He serves as a consultant to several healthcare/life science startups in diagnostics, devices, biotech and Health IT. He also serves on the Investment Advisory Board of the Center for Innovation Technology's Life Science Gap Fund. The fund supports promising healthcare and life sciences ventures in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Dr. Hausfeld is the Chairman and Founder of the Society of Physician Entrepreneurs (www.sopenet.org ), a global network focused on educating healthcare and life science professionals in Bioentrepreneurship and Innovation.
Dr. Hausfeld is orchestrating the Series B Financing of BioFactura (www.biofactura.com) and acted as the lead investor in this round. He will serve as Chairman of the Board of BioFactura as well as their Chief Medical Officer as the company develops its Biosimilar platform as well as its novel Bio-defense therapeutics.
Session Panelist: Innovating for Supply Chain Resilience
Cyndi Lago is a Vice President and the leader of Supply Chain for Capgemini, where she helps large, complex organizations in multiple industries digitally transform supply chain operations in areas including demand planning, order management, master data management, and analytics.
Prior to leading the supply-chain organization, Cyndi was the US Consumer Products and Distribution Leader for Capgemini, helping some of the world’s largest consumer-products companies in their efforts to develop innovative solutions that realize business value through technology.
Cyndi’s perspectives have appeared in numerous industry publications including Industry Week, Environmental Leader, Supply Chain World, and Apparel Magazine.
Session Panelist: Innovating for Supply Chain Resilience
Cyndi Lago is a Vice President and the leader of Supply Chain for Capgemini, where she helps large, complex organizations in multiple industries digitally transform supply chain operations in areas including demand planning, order management, master data management, and analytics.
Prior to leading the supply-chain organization, Cyndi was the US Consumer Products and Distribution Leader for Capgemini, helping some of the world’s largest consumer-products companies in their efforts to develop innovative solutions that realize business value through technology.
Cyndi’s perspectives have appeared in numerous industry publications including Industry Week, Environmental Leader, Supply Chain World, and Apparel Magazine.
Session Panelist: The Impact of COVID-19 on Healthcare Innovation
As CEO of WellNet Healthcare, Keith leads businesses to rethink and better manage their health insurance costs. He identifies problems with the health care system and offers innovations to improve cost and quality of care. Keith holds a patent for a network-based healthcare management system. He also founded Healthcare Interactive, a software development firm that builds applications to control and consolidate healthcare management within a single environment. Recognized on Capitol Hill for health care reform advocacy, Keith also serves the board of directors of The Economic Club of Washington, D.C., is a Trustee of The Federal City Council and is a member of The Young Presidents Organization’s (YPO) Washington, D.C. Keith is also the Chairman of The Board of Unsung Heroes, a university system platform that enhances workforce development and entrepreneurship opportunities for employees that keep the nation’s colleges running, though often go unrecognized.
Session Panelist: The Impact of COVID-19 on Healthcare Innovation
As CEO of WellNet Healthcare, Keith leads businesses to rethink and better manage their health insurance costs. He identifies problems with the health care system and offers innovations to improve cost and quality of care. Keith holds a patent for a network-based healthcare management system. He also founded Healthcare Interactive, a software development firm that builds applications to control and consolidate healthcare management within a single environment. Recognized on Capitol Hill for health care reform advocacy, Keith also serves the board of directors of The Economic Club of Washington, D.C., is a Trustee of The Federal City Council and is a member of The Young Presidents Organization’s (YPO) Washington, D.C. Keith is also the Chairman of The Board of Unsung Heroes, a university system platform that enhances workforce development and entrepreneurship opportunities for employees that keep the nation’s colleges running, though often go unrecognized.
Session Panelist:
Dan Loague is President, Washington DC ArchAngels, a member-organization formed in 2011 that holds monthly meetings attended by local investors in the MD-DC-VA region interested in evaluating exceptional start-up companies as potential investment opportunities. Membership in the Washington DC ArchAngels is limited and invitation-only.
Washington DC ArchAngels members include high-energy private investors and investment leaders that work almost exclusively with enterprises of exceptional growth potential in the global marketplace. Investments span a wide range of funding levels, include most industries and focus only on “best-of-thebest” companies with multiple revenue streams. All have a broad-based national business network of investment partners and business development experts, and several actively work with investors in Europe, Asia and the Americas. Members’ net worth profiles range from achievement of SEC accreditation requirements to wealth exceeding several hundred million dollars. Company participation is referral-only: during the past eight years, members have referred more than 6,000 companies for potential investment and have selected more than 650 as investment candidates. Of these, more than sixty have exited by acquisition, two have achieved IPO and others are in process.
Mr. Loague is also Executive Director of the Capital Formation Institute, Inc (CFI), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit spin-off of the National Association of Seed and Venture Funds (NASVF), an organization that, from 1996-2004, built the nation’s largest network of seed and early stage investment professionals. Under his leadership, NASVF produced ten national conferences and held 86 invitation-only seed investing and networking workshops across 39 states. Mr. Loague’s efforts were fundamental in building NASVF’s national network of angel and seed stage venture investors. He is also a former cofounder of WBT Innovation Marketplace (see www.wbtshowcase.com), Investment Director, Space Investment Summit II and III (see www.spaceinvestmentsummit.com), and Executive Director, National Association of Seed and Venture Funds.
He has extensive economic development experience: for twenty-five years, working for six governors of the State of Oklahoma, he directed major programs for business development and economic statistics research. Mr. Loague’s publications include “Jumpstarting Sustainable American Jobs”, Science Progress, July 27, 2010, co-authored with Thomas Gephart, Ventana Capital (see http://www.scienceprogress.org/2010/07/jumpstarting-sustainable-american-jobs).
He has held academic positions at Arizona State University, Tempe, University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City and Oklahoma City University (OCU). Military experience includes Avionics Officer (aviation electronics), Captain, USAF, Air Force Systems Command; Lawry Technical Training Center, Denver, Colorado; Keesler AFB, Mississippi; and Holloman AFB, New Mexico.
Session Panelist:
Dan Loague is President, Washington DC ArchAngels, a member-organization formed in 2011 that holds monthly meetings attended by local investors in the MD-DC-VA region interested in evaluating exceptional start-up companies as potential investment opportunities. Membership in the Washington DC ArchAngels is limited and invitation-only.
Washington DC ArchAngels members include high-energy private investors and investment leaders that work almost exclusively with enterprises of exceptional growth potential in the global marketplace. Investments span a wide range of funding levels, include most industries and focus only on “best-of-thebest” companies with multiple revenue streams. All have a broad-based national business network of investment partners and business development experts, and several actively work with investors in Europe, Asia and the Americas. Members’ net worth profiles range from achievement of SEC accreditation requirements to wealth exceeding several hundred million dollars. Company participation is referral-only: during the past eight years, members have referred more than 6,000 companies for potential investment and have selected more than 650 as investment candidates. Of these, more than sixty have exited by acquisition, two have achieved IPO and others are in process.
Mr. Loague is also Executive Director of the Capital Formation Institute, Inc (CFI), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit spin-off of the National Association of Seed and Venture Funds (NASVF), an organization that, from 1996-2004, built the nation’s largest network of seed and early stage investment professionals. Under his leadership, NASVF produced ten national conferences and held 86 invitation-only seed investing and networking workshops across 39 states. Mr. Loague’s efforts were fundamental in building NASVF’s national network of angel and seed stage venture investors. He is also a former cofounder of WBT Innovation Marketplace (see www.wbtshowcase.com), Investment Director, Space Investment Summit II and III (see www.spaceinvestmentsummit.com), and Executive Director, National Association of Seed and Venture Funds.
He has extensive economic development experience: for twenty-five years, working for six governors of the State of Oklahoma, he directed major programs for business development and economic statistics research. Mr. Loague’s publications include “Jumpstarting Sustainable American Jobs”, Science Progress, July 27, 2010, co-authored with Thomas Gephart, Ventana Capital (see http://www.scienceprogress.org/2010/07/jumpstarting-sustainable-american-jobs).
He has held academic positions at Arizona State University, Tempe, University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City and Oklahoma City University (OCU). Military experience includes Avionics Officer (aviation electronics), Captain, USAF, Air Force Systems Command; Lawry Technical Training Center, Denver, Colorado; Keesler AFB, Mississippi; and Holloman AFB, New Mexico.
Juhi Naithani is Assistant Director of International Business Investment at the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA), located in Northern Virginia, USA. She provides soft business landing support and consulting services to companies looking to expand into Fairfax County – an innovation hub and economic engine of the Washington DC metro area. Juhi’s areas of expertise are global business expansion and intercultural training. Prior to joining the FCEDA, she operated her own international business consulting practice. She began her career in the early 90’s in the Indian paper industry, providing marketing and sales support services to mills on behalf of Scandinavian principals. In the US, she has served as visiting faculty of marketing and international business at numerous universities over the last 18 years, fostering higher education at the undergraduate and graduate levels. A strong proponent of entrepreneurship, Juhi is a member of the Board of Directors of the TiE DC chapter. Juhi has an undergraduate degree from Delhi University, India and an MBA from Quinnipiac University, Connecticut, USA.
Juhi Naithani is Assistant Director of International Business Investment at the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA), located in Northern Virginia, USA. She provides soft business landing support and consulting services to companies looking to expand into Fairfax County – an innovation hub and economic engine of the Washington DC metro area. Juhi’s areas of expertise are global business expansion and intercultural training. Prior to joining the FCEDA, she operated her own international business consulting practice. She began her career in the early 90’s in the Indian paper industry, providing marketing and sales support services to mills on behalf of Scandinavian principals. In the US, she has served as visiting faculty of marketing and international business at numerous universities over the last 18 years, fostering higher education at the undergraduate and graduate levels. A strong proponent of entrepreneurship, Juhi is a member of the Board of Directors of the TiE DC chapter. Juhi has an undergraduate degree from Delhi University, India and an MBA from Quinnipiac University, Connecticut, USA.
Session Panelist: Public Funding Options During & After the Pandemic
Natalia Olson-Urtecho is a serial entrepreneur and recognized expert in finance, government, smart cities, commercialization of technologies. Prior to cofounding The Disruptive Factory, she was appointed by President Obama as the SBA Regional Administrator managing yearly 35 billion dollars in government contracts and 8 billion in loans for SMEs. Natalia was appointed to Philadelphia’s Planning Commission and served as the Vice Chair of the Zoning Code Commission. She was appointed to the U.S. Innovation Advisory Board to advise Congress and the White House on competitiveness and innovation. She has been honored with numerous prestigious awards such as Woman of Distinction for her work in sustainable infrastructure & the green economy.
Session Panelist: Public Funding Options During & After the Pandemic
Natalia Olson-Urtecho is a serial entrepreneur and recognized expert in finance, government, smart cities, commercialization of technologies. Prior to cofounding The Disruptive Factory, she was appointed by President Obama as the SBA Regional Administrator managing yearly 35 billion dollars in government contracts and 8 billion in loans for SMEs. Natalia was appointed to Philadelphia’s Planning Commission and served as the Vice Chair of the Zoning Code Commission. She was appointed to the U.S. Innovation Advisory Board to advise Congress and the White House on competitiveness and innovation. She has been honored with numerous prestigious awards such as Woman of Distinction for her work in sustainable infrastructure & the green economy.
Brian is a startup evangelist, advisor, and angel investor.
He is the DC Chapter Director of Startup Grind, which is one of the largest hi-tech startup communities in the world with over 2,000,000 startup entrepreneurs in 600 cities.
He is also the Managing Partner at the SparkLabs Cyber+Blockchain (Formerly AOL Fishbowl Labs), which is the premiere startup accelerator in the Washington DC area and he has helped raised more than $100M in funding for their portfolio companies (MHelpDesk, ThreatQuotient, Xmode, Urgent.ly, Curator, Airside Mobile).
Prior to Startup Grind, he has over 20 years professional experience in web/online/mobile product development from AOL, Merrill Lynch and has started three previous startups. He is on the board of Monte Jade DC and is the chapter director for Startup Grind DC.
He has been featured in Forbes as “17 Top Business Gurus to Follow” and other publications such as Washington Post, Huffington Post, Politico, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, Washington Business Journal, and DCInno “50 on Fire” 2017 and 2018
He has a BS in Information Systems/Policy & Management from Carnegie Mellon University.
Brian is a startup evangelist, advisor, and angel investor.
He is the DC Chapter Director of Startup Grind, which is one of the largest hi-tech startup communities in the world with over 2,000,000 startup entrepreneurs in 600 cities.
He is also the Managing Partner at the SparkLabs Cyber+Blockchain (Formerly AOL Fishbowl Labs), which is the premiere startup accelerator in the Washington DC area and he has helped raised more than $100M in funding for their portfolio companies (MHelpDesk, ThreatQuotient, Xmode, Urgent.ly, Curator, Airside Mobile).
Prior to Startup Grind, he has over 20 years professional experience in web/online/mobile product development from AOL, Merrill Lynch and has started three previous startups. He is on the board of Monte Jade DC and is the chapter director for Startup Grind DC.
He has been featured in Forbes as “17 Top Business Gurus to Follow” and other publications such as Washington Post, Huffington Post, Politico, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, Washington Business Journal, and DCInno “50 on Fire” 2017 and 2018
He has a BS in Information Systems/Policy & Management from Carnegie Mellon University.
Session Panelist: The Pandemic and Higher Education: Crisis, Innovation and Transformation
Noah Pickus is Associate Provost and Senior Advisor at Duke University, Dean of Undergraduate Curricular Affairs and Faculty Development at Duke Kunshan University, and Professor of the Practice at the Sanford School of Public Policy. He co-directs the Arizona State University-Georgetown University Academy for Innovation in Higher Education Leadership Intensive Program and has written widely on immigration, globalization, and innovation in higher education. He received his doctorate in politics from Princeton University.
Session Panelist: The Pandemic and Higher Education: Crisis, Innovation and Transformation
Noah Pickus is Associate Provost and Senior Advisor at Duke University, Dean of Undergraduate Curricular Affairs and Faculty Development at Duke Kunshan University, and Professor of the Practice at the Sanford School of Public Policy. He co-directs the Arizona State University-Georgetown University Academy for Innovation in Higher Education Leadership Intensive Program and has written widely on immigration, globalization, and innovation in higher education. He received his doctorate in politics from Princeton University.
Session Panelist: The Future of Private Funding: The view from Angel Investors
William Podd is the Executive Director of Landmark Angels (a national, private angel group), President & CEO of Landmark Capital (a boutique advisory and consulting firm founded in 1993 and based in Greenwich, CT), and President of the Landmark Family Office (an investment alliance of prominent US and international Family Offices).
Prior to founding Landmark Capital, Bill completed more than $3 billion in financings as a corporate finance banker and lawyer at major law firms in NYC and at Lehman Brothers where he specialized in both municipal and corporate finance.
Session Panelist: The Future of Private Funding: The view from Angel Investors
William Podd is the Executive Director of Landmark Angels (a national, private angel group), President & CEO of Landmark Capital (a boutique advisory and consulting firm founded in 1993 and based in Greenwich, CT), and President of the Landmark Family Office (an investment alliance of prominent US and international Family Offices).
Prior to founding Landmark Capital, Bill completed more than $3 billion in financings as a corporate finance banker and lawyer at major law firms in NYC and at Lehman Brothers where he specialized in both municipal and corporate finance.
Session Moderator: The Future of Early Stage Funding – The view from Angel Investors
Randall Reade co-founded The Washington DC ArchAngels in 2011, and has reviewed thousands of companies, and presented over 800 to hundreds of investors. He is active as an advisor to entrepreneurs and investors on Quora.com, and he is Most Viewed Writer on the subjects of entrepreneurship, angel investing and venture capital, having reached 4.5 million views wordwide. His articles have been published in Inc. and The Huffington Post. Mr. Reade set up the Suzhou, China office of the Washington DC ArchAngels, and has brought over 30 companies to China. Currently, Mr. Reade is developing an online course on how to be a venture capitalist, teaching students how to analyze a company to determine it’s investment readiness, and has conducted numerous workshops on being an investor. Additionally, he is a Director of the Polish ALFA Fund, which providing funding for biotech companies in Poland planning to enter the US market.
Session Moderator: The Future of Early Stage Funding – The view from Angel Investors
Randall Reade co-founded The Washington DC ArchAngels in 2011, and has reviewed thousands of companies, and presented over 800 to hundreds of investors. He is active as an advisor to entrepreneurs and investors on Quora.com, and he is Most Viewed Writer on the subjects of entrepreneurship, angel investing and venture capital, having reached 4.5 million views wordwide. His articles have been published in Inc. and The Huffington Post. Mr. Reade set up the Suzhou, China office of the Washington DC ArchAngels, and has brought over 30 companies to China. Currently, Mr. Reade is developing an online course on how to be a venture capitalist, teaching students how to analyze a company to determine it’s investment readiness, and has conducted numerous workshops on being an investor. Additionally, he is a Director of the Polish ALFA Fund, which providing funding for biotech companies in Poland planning to enter the US market.
Session Panelist: Public Funding Options During & After the Pandemic
C. E. “Tee” Rowe is the President and CEO of America’s SBDC, the association representing Small Business Development Centers, a nationwide network of over 1,000 centers providing free, confidential counseling and low cost training to small business owners. He joined America’s SBDC in August of 2009.
A graduate of Dartmouth College and the Tulane University School of Law, Mr. Rowe has a long history of legislative and advocacy experience on behalf of the small business community.
In addition to his job at America’s SBDC he is the past Chairman of the Small Business Legislative Council, a nationwide association of 45 small business trade associations advocating for small business policies and a member of the US Chamber of Commerce’s Council on Small Business.
Prior to joining America’s SBDC he served as Associate Administrator for Congressional and Legislative Affairs for the US Small Business Administration from 2005 to 2009.
Tee also worked for ten years in the US Congress as Counsel to the Committee on Small Business in the US House of Representatives.
Mr. Rowe resides in Virginia with his wife Laurie and his daughter, Alex.
Session Panelist: Public Funding Options During & After the Pandemic
C. E. “Tee” Rowe is the President and CEO of America’s SBDC, the association representing Small Business Development Centers, a nationwide network of over 1,000 centers providing free, confidential counseling and low cost training to small business owners. He joined America’s SBDC in August of 2009.
A graduate of Dartmouth College and the Tulane University School of Law, Mr. Rowe has a long history of legislative and advocacy experience on behalf of the small business community.
In addition to his job at America’s SBDC he is the past Chairman of the Small Business Legislative Council, a nationwide association of 45 small business trade associations advocating for small business policies and a member of the US Chamber of Commerce’s Council on Small Business.
Prior to joining America’s SBDC he served as Associate Administrator for Congressional and Legislative Affairs for the US Small Business Administration from 2005 to 2009.
Tee also worked for ten years in the US Congress as Counsel to the Committee on Small Business in the US House of Representatives.
Mr. Rowe resides in Virginia with his wife Laurie and his daughter, Alex.
Session Moderator: Innovating for Supply Chain Resilience
Ruwan Salgado is Principal of Strat8gy International, LLC, an international management consultancy, and was a Partner at Sino America Investment Partners, a venture seeking to assist Chinese companies with investing in the United States. He has expertise in business development, project management, operations, financial management and analysis, and strategic planning. As a management consultant in and outside of the U.S., Ruwan has worked with senior government officials and corporate executives in a wide range of industries including oil, mining, healthcare, finance/capital markets, education and agribusiness. He has served in general management, strategic planning, business development, operations and finance roles with both for-profit and non-profit organizations. Early in his career, he gained experience in venture capital at Calvert Ventures, which established the first socially responsible venture capital fund, helping to manage its portfolio companies and identify and assess new investment opportunities. More recently, Ruwan served as the Executive Director of World Links, an internationally award winning (e.g., from the World Economic Forum etc.) and innovative spin-off from The World Bank that focused on leveraging information and communications technology to improve global education. While at World Links, he spoke on educational technology at international conferences in Africa, Asia and the U.S.A. Ruwan served for over a decade as the President of the University of Chicago Booth School’s alumni club in the Washington, D.C. area and was co-founder and co-Chair of its Entrepreneurs’ Advisory Group, which provided monthly pro bono advise to Washington, DC area entrepreneurs. He serves on the White Flint Implementation Advisory Committee tasked to advise Montgomery County, Maryland’s Planning Board on the implementation of the County’s multi-billion dollar White Flint Sector Plan. Ruwan has an M.B.A. in Finance and Marketing from the University of Chicago and an M.Phil. in Economics from Oxford University. He received both a B.A. in Economics and a B.S. in Engineering from Swarthmore College.
Session Moderator: Innovating for Supply Chain Resilience
Ruwan Salgado is Principal of Strat8gy International, LLC, an international management consultancy, and was a Partner at Sino America Investment Partners, a venture seeking to assist Chinese companies with investing in the United States. He has expertise in business development, project management, operations, financial management and analysis, and strategic planning. As a management consultant in and outside of the U.S., Ruwan has worked with senior government officials and corporate executives in a wide range of industries including oil, mining, healthcare, finance/capital markets, education and agribusiness. He has served in general management, strategic planning, business development, operations and finance roles with both for-profit and non-profit organizations. Early in his career, he gained experience in venture capital at Calvert Ventures, which established the first socially responsible venture capital fund, helping to manage its portfolio companies and identify and assess new investment opportunities. More recently, Ruwan served as the Executive Director of World Links, an internationally award winning (e.g., from the World Economic Forum etc.) and innovative spin-off from The World Bank that focused on leveraging information and communications technology to improve global education. While at World Links, he spoke on educational technology at international conferences in Africa, Asia and the U.S.A. Ruwan served for over a decade as the President of the University of Chicago Booth School’s alumni club in the Washington, D.C. area and was co-founder and co-Chair of its Entrepreneurs’ Advisory Group, which provided monthly pro bono advise to Washington, DC area entrepreneurs. He serves on the White Flint Implementation Advisory Committee tasked to advise Montgomery County, Maryland’s Planning Board on the implementation of the County’s multi-billion dollar White Flint Sector Plan. Ruwan has an M.B.A. in Finance and Marketing from the University of Chicago and an M.Phil. in Economics from Oxford University. He received both a B.A. in Economics and a B.S. in Engineering from Swarthmore College.
Session Moderator: The Pandemic and Higher Education: Crisis, Innovation and Transformation
Justine Schaffner is an accomplished business network creator, executive board development strategist and proven industry leader in developing marketing and engagement strategies among multi-faceted complex organizations in order to advance and deliver upon executive charters for raising viability and public recognition for organizations. Justine served as the Chief Business Development Officer at the Washington Institute for Business, Government and Society. Prior to her entrepreneurial responsibilities at the Washington DC based non-profit, Justine held the position of Assistant Dean for Alumni and External Relations at Georgetown McDonough with responsibility for managing and growing the global business alumni network in order to help advance philanthropic gift giving, engagement and program development. Previous to Georgetown University, Justine served as Executive Director of the Cornell Entrepreneur Network (CEN) where she lead the efforts to grow CEN into a national powerhouse of accomplished business leaders and entrepreneurs. Preceding to joining academia, Justine spent twelve successful years within the technology industry while working for Microsoft and Microsoft business partners in Seattle, Silicon Valley and the Northeast corridor.
Session Moderator: The Pandemic and Higher Education: Crisis, Innovation and Transformation
Justine Schaffner is an accomplished business network creator, executive board development strategist and proven industry leader in developing marketing and engagement strategies among multi-faceted complex organizations in order to advance and deliver upon executive charters for raising viability and public recognition for organizations. Justine served as the Chief Business Development Officer at the Washington Institute for Business, Government and Society. Prior to her entrepreneurial responsibilities at the Washington DC based non-profit, Justine held the position of Assistant Dean for Alumni and External Relations at Georgetown McDonough with responsibility for managing and growing the global business alumni network in order to help advance philanthropic gift giving, engagement and program development. Previous to Georgetown University, Justine served as Executive Director of the Cornell Entrepreneur Network (CEN) where she lead the efforts to grow CEN into a national powerhouse of accomplished business leaders and entrepreneurs. Preceding to joining academia, Justine spent twelve successful years within the technology industry while working for Microsoft and Microsoft business partners in Seattle, Silicon Valley and the Northeast corridor.
Session Panelist:
Alan is the Summit Chair and President of the Wharton Club of Washington, DC. His dedication to the School and the Club resulted in his becoming a recipient of the Club’s Joseph Wharton Award and Wharton’s Distinguished Alumni Service Award. During his tenure, the Club has had 15 successful conferences, including the five Innovation Summits that have stimulated, connected and empowered a diverse group of innovators and entrepreneurs within and well beyond the Wharton alumni network.
An accomplished business attorney with the highest rating, “a v,” from Martindale-Hubbell, Alan’s career has been split between private practice (now in business and general practice) and public service. He received a Distinguished Service Award for his decade of service as a Senior Trial Attorney at the Federal Trade Commission after two years at the Justice Department. Alan earned a J.D. from Harvard Law School following his undergraduate work at the Wharton School.
Session Panelist:
Alan is the Summit Chair and President of the Wharton Club of Washington, DC. His dedication to the School and the Club resulted in his becoming a recipient of the Club’s Joseph Wharton Award and Wharton’s Distinguished Alumni Service Award. During his tenure, the Club has had 15 successful conferences, including the five Innovation Summits that have stimulated, connected and empowered a diverse group of innovators and entrepreneurs within and well beyond the Wharton alumni network.
An accomplished business attorney with the highest rating, “a v,” from Martindale-Hubbell, Alan’s career has been split between private practice (now in business and general practice) and public service. He received a Distinguished Service Award for his decade of service as a Senior Trial Attorney at the Federal Trade Commission after two years at the Justice Department. Alan earned a J.D. from Harvard Law School following his undergraduate work at the Wharton School.
Session Panelist: The Future of Private Funding: The view from Angel Investors
Scott Spitzer is an attorney in Washington, DC who represents entrepreneurs, startups and growth companies, both domestically and internationally. Mr. Spitzer has served as General Counsel or in senior legal positions for mid-size NASDAQ and other public companies in financial services, advanced medical technologies and business process outsourcing. He has also served as CEO of a large international precious metals dealer headquartered in New York City. He is a graduate of Lafayette College and the joint degree program of the Cornell Law School and the Cornell Graduate School of Business and Public Administration. He is a senior advisor to the DC Arch Angels, angel network in Washington, DC. He has also served as Mayor of Bernards Township, NJ and as a Justice of the Peace in Westport, CT.
Session Panelist: The Future of Private Funding: The view from Angel Investors
Scott Spitzer is an attorney in Washington, DC who represents entrepreneurs, startups and growth companies, both domestically and internationally. Mr. Spitzer has served as General Counsel or in senior legal positions for mid-size NASDAQ and other public companies in financial services, advanced medical technologies and business process outsourcing. He has also served as CEO of a large international precious metals dealer headquartered in New York City. He is a graduate of Lafayette College and the joint degree program of the Cornell Law School and the Cornell Graduate School of Business and Public Administration. He is a senior advisor to the DC Arch Angels, angel network in Washington, DC. He has also served as Mayor of Bernards Township, NJ and as a Justice of the Peace in Westport, CT.
Brad Stevens (Wharton Graduate 2002) is a lifetime entrepreneur and CEO of Outsource Access, an offshore virtual services firm he built to over 100 staff in less than a year. He’s a global speaker, author, and walks-the-walk daily with expertise on scaling, automation, outsourcing and high-performance virtual teams. For his philanthropic efforts, a documentary film was made about his firm, and he was selected to run a think tank on Economic Growth at the United Nations headquarters. He is the incoming President of the Atlanta Chapter of the Global Entrepreneurs’ Organization and lives in Atlanta, GA with his wife and two children.
Brad Stevens (Wharton Graduate 2002) is a lifetime entrepreneur and CEO of Outsource Access, an offshore virtual services firm he built to over 100 staff in less than a year. He’s a global speaker, author, and walks-the-walk daily with expertise on scaling, automation, outsourcing and high-performance virtual teams. For his philanthropic efforts, a documentary film was made about his firm, and he was selected to run a think tank on Economic Growth at the United Nations headquarters. He is the incoming President of the Atlanta Chapter of the Global Entrepreneurs’ Organization and lives in Atlanta, GA with his wife and two children.
Session Panelist: The Impact of COVID-19 on Healthcare Innovation
Dr. Vasan is the Founder and Executive Director of Brainstorm: The Stanford Lab for Mental Health Innovation, the world's first academic lab dedicated to transforming mental health through technology and entrepreneurship. She is a psychiatrist at Silicon Valley Executive Psychiatry, a concierge practice in California and New York that specializes in improving mental health, performance, and wellbeing for executives, entrepreneurs, and elite performers. She is the Chair of the Committee on Innovation at the American Psychiatric Association as well as the Chief Medical Officer of Real, a new women's mental health management startup aiming to democratize and personalize care. Co-author of Do Good Well: Your Guide to Leadership, Action, and Social Innovation, she is an alumnus of Harvard College, Harvard Medical School, and Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Session Panelist: The Impact of COVID-19 on Healthcare Innovation
Dr. Vasan is the Founder and Executive Director of Brainstorm: The Stanford Lab for Mental Health Innovation, the world's first academic lab dedicated to transforming mental health through technology and entrepreneurship. She is a psychiatrist at Silicon Valley Executive Psychiatry, a concierge practice in California and New York that specializes in improving mental health, performance, and wellbeing for executives, entrepreneurs, and elite performers. She is the Chair of the Committee on Innovation at the American Psychiatric Association as well as the Chief Medical Officer of Real, a new women's mental health management startup aiming to democratize and personalize care. Co-author of Do Good Well: Your Guide to Leadership, Action, and Social Innovation, she is an alumnus of Harvard College, Harvard Medical School, and Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Session Moderator: The Impact of COVID-19 on Healthcare Innovation
With vision and innovation, Ilyse Veron ably advises executives and directs enterprise-wide communications strategies through her consultancy Veron Ventures. Her client Darmiyan, whose non-invasive brain diagnostic predicts and monitors Alzheimer's type dementia, initially closed a seed round with Eisai leading and has been featured in WSJ, Fortune, Psychology Today and the entrepreneurial hub VatorTV.
Her more than 20-year career in Washington, DC in strategic communications began at the Brookings Institution combining interests in biology, psychology, and politics. While she believes institutions hold significant power, individuals who show imagination, advocate strategically, and value inclusion can be force multipliers.
Ilyse’s journalism career is highlighted by interviews on the House Speaker's balcony and in the Oval Office for The System plus bylines in the WSJ, and Wired followed by an Emmy award-winning decade with the NewsHour earning National Press Club recognition. Ilyse became editor of an 80-page journal on public management and was honored by CQ for Changing the Debate in Washington. Now with a track record of advising more than 50 clients – government leaders, non- and for-profit executives, and scholars – Veron Ventures has proven its value in mounting successful policy campaigns, scanning markets, launching partnerships and raising revenue.
Ilyse served as a trusted advisor to leaders at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, AARP, ACLU, Trust for America’s Health, USP, Peterson-Pew Commission, plus university program founders and film industry influencers – including ones honored at a NASDAQ bell ringing. To mount globally significant multi-platform communications, she managed diverse project teams augmented by freelance producers and external PR agencies. After stints leading nonprofit targeted donor related marketing and mentoring Halcyon incubator startups, Ilyse is increasingly sought after to direct marketing and stakeholder relations for startups.
Always curious and flexible, Ilyse earned a masters at Georgetown's McDonough School of Business in 2018 and became an author for SAGE Business Publishing in 2019. Previously she graduated with honors from Yale.
Ilyse and her husband are proud parents of two teenagers including one in the Class of 2020; her parents reside where she grew up in White Plains NY.
Session Moderator: The Impact of COVID-19 on Healthcare Innovation
With vision and innovation, Ilyse Veron ably advises executives and directs enterprise-wide communications strategies through her consultancy Veron Ventures. Her client Darmiyan, whose non-invasive brain diagnostic predicts and monitors Alzheimer's type dementia, initially closed a seed round with Eisai leading and has been featured in WSJ, Fortune, Psychology Today and the entrepreneurial hub VatorTV.
Her more than 20-year career in Washington, DC in strategic communications began at the Brookings Institution combining interests in biology, psychology, and politics. While she believes institutions hold significant power, individuals who show imagination, advocate strategically, and value inclusion can be force multipliers.
Ilyse’s journalism career is highlighted by interviews on the House Speaker's balcony and in the Oval Office for The System plus bylines in the WSJ, and Wired followed by an Emmy award-winning decade with the NewsHour earning National Press Club recognition. Ilyse became editor of an 80-page journal on public management and was honored by CQ for Changing the Debate in Washington. Now with a track record of advising more than 50 clients – government leaders, non- and for-profit executives, and scholars – Veron Ventures has proven its value in mounting successful policy campaigns, scanning markets, launching partnerships and raising revenue.
Ilyse served as a trusted advisor to leaders at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, AARP, ACLU, Trust for America’s Health, USP, Peterson-Pew Commission, plus university program founders and film industry influencers – including ones honored at a NASDAQ bell ringing. To mount globally significant multi-platform communications, she managed diverse project teams augmented by freelance producers and external PR agencies. After stints leading nonprofit targeted donor related marketing and mentoring Halcyon incubator startups, Ilyse is increasingly sought after to direct marketing and stakeholder relations for startups.
Always curious and flexible, Ilyse earned a masters at Georgetown's McDonough School of Business in 2018 and became an author for SAGE Business Publishing in 2019. Previously she graduated with honors from Yale.
Ilyse and her husband are proud parents of two teenagers including one in the Class of 2020; her parents reside where she grew up in White Plains NY.
