2025 Speakers

David Blair is a seasoned healthcare entrepreneur with decades of experience building and leading companies that improve health outcomes and expand access to affordable, high-quality care.

As CEO and Founder of LucyRx, David is leading the company to reimagine pharmacy benefits management (PBM) with a more patient-focused, accountable, and cost-effective model. Under his leadership, LucyRx has established itself as a next-generation PBM which simplifies and improves access to prescription care. Built on a fiduciary-aligned approach, LucyRx leverages advanced analytics (LucyIQ) and proven clinical programs to deliver smarter, cost-saving solutions for employers, health plans, and members. Today, LucyRx serves more than 1,200 organizations nationwide, helping them lower costs and improve health outcomes.

Prior to LucyRX, as Founder, Chairman and CEO of Catalyst Health Solutions (now part of UnitedHealthcare) which gained recognition for its innovative drug pricing tools and healthcare solutions, Blair led the firm to become a Fortune 500 company before he sold it for $4.8 billion in 2012. His leadership helped Catalyst:
- double in size every two years establishing it as one of the fastest-growing healthcare companies in the U.S. and earning a position on Fortune’s 100 Fastest-Growing Companies 5 times, and
- secure multiple industry awards, including Fortune’s “World’s Most Admired Companies” and the Pharmacy Benefit Management Institute’s Rx Benefit Innovation Awards.

Mr. Blair’s management skills and accomplishments at Catalyst resulted in numerous awards and recognition including Forbes’ “America’s 15 Most Powerful CEOs under 40” (years of age). After leaving Catalyst, he also started Gateway Health Partners, a provider of rebates and formulary management services.

Blair’s commitment to improving health outcomes extends beyond pharmacy benefits to broader efforts in health equity. He serves as Board Chairman of the Partnership for a Healthier America, an organization dedicated to ensuring everyone has access to good food to lead a healthy life. In addition, Blair and his wife created a family foundation dedicated to purposeful giving and improving quality of life. From literacy and equity in education to at-risk youth programs and mental health access, the foundation believes in the power of opportunity to transform lives.

Blair holds a B.A. in Finance from Clemson University. He lives in Potomac, Maryland, with his wife and children.

Mark W. Grobmyer is an attorney with substantial investment
banking and international law experience. He is Chairman of the
Global Solutions Institute which matches global problems with
technology and other solutions and then seeks to accelerate the
deployment of the solutions at scale globally. He also serves on a
Blue Ribbon Climate Panel related to the UN Foundation and as
Managing Director of the P80 Group Foundation. He has also served as Chairman of the World Leaders Symposium Committee.

The Committee was developed as a part of the Center for the Study
of the Presidency and Congress Millennium Project, which he
chaired. He has also served as a lecturer and speaker for many
programs and seminars presented in the several countries. Mark
also serves as Chairman of the Global Technology Deployment
Initiative and as has been for many years a Senior Advisor to SEAF, the NASA Launch Initiative, the International Center for Sustainable Development, the American Society of Association Executives, the International Sister Cities Conference, the Congressional Award Foundation and Chief Executive Magazine, the "Club Journal" of Fortune 1000 CEOs.

Tammy Hettinger is the Executive Director of the Fulbright Association, where she leads a national network of over 140,000 U.S. Fulbright alumni and 54 chapters committed to advancing global understanding and collaboration. A changemaker dedicated to building strategic partnerships and driving mission-driven impact, Tammy brings more than 20 years of leadership experience across the nonprofit sector.

Prior to joining the Fulbright Association, Tammy served as Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships and Development at NAFSA: Association of International Educators, where she launched new global engagement strategies, expanded corporate partnerships, and increased sponsorship revenue.]

Lorraine Marchand, author of The Innovation Mindset: Eight Essential Steps to Transform Any Industry , has three decades of experience in new product development and innovation commercialization. She is an Advisor to New York University Endless Frontier Labs, the START Program at Princeton University and international entrepreneurship programs. She teaches at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and advises Fortune 500 companies. Her new book, No Fear, No Failure: Five Principles for Sustaining Growth Through Innovation will be released by Columbia Business School press in February 2026.

Brian is a startup evangelist, advisor, and angel investor. 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 $150M in funding for their portfolio companies (MHelpDesk, ThreatQuotient, Xmode, Urgent.ly, Curator, Airside Mobile).
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.
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.

Based in Charlotte, Erin serves as the Sustainability Executive for Global Commercial Banking (GCB) covering more than 10k global clients that earn from $50mm-$2Bn in revenues. In her role, Erin works to align GCB Sustainability efforts to the broader Enterprise wide Sustainability goals. Erin focuses on banker preparedness, client
engagement, and sustainable finance to help GCB clients use Sustainability to manage their operations and grow responsibly. In her current capacity, she often participates in external Sustainability discussions including; The UN Habitat Roundtable: Decarbonizing the Built Environment and The 2023 5th Annual Space Sustainability
Summit for the Secure World Foundation. Erin joined the Bank in 2016 and most recently served as Sustainability Strategy Executive for GCB and Business Banking. Prior to that, she served as Senior Vice President and LIHTC Syndication Senior Relationship Manager for Community Development Banking.

Before joining the Bank, Erin worked in NYC, starting her career in the KPMG Audit Real Estate Financial Services Practice where she served as Lead Senior for the Northeast. Erin then spent three years in JPMorgan’s Global Real Assets group as a Financial Manager of ~$6 billion in real estate assets.

Erin earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, with a. concentration in Accounting, from Fordham University; a Master of Business Administration, specializing in real estate, corporate finance and strategy from New
York University, NYU Stern Executive MBA Program where she served as Class Representative and Co-Chair of the class council. She also holds several Certificates of Achievement and Executive Education in Sustainable Finance, ESG investing, and Leadership from NYU Stern Business School. She is a recent graduate of the IESE International Business School and NYU Stern’s Inaugural Pathway to C-Suite Program. Additionally, Erin was elected President of the inaugural class and will represent her international cohort going forward. Erin continues to advance her knowledge and is currently taking courses at Harvard University in the field of Environmental Policy and
International Development.

Erin served as a 2019 participant in Charlotte’s Leading Under 40 Program. She is a member of the Bank of America Black Professional Group and Black Executive Leadership Council. She is an alumni of the 2024 Bank of America Global Leader Sponsorship Program. Erin is also a 2021 Columbia University Women in Leadership participant, and serves on the NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business EmpowHER
Program as a Mentor and Advisory Committee Member. Erin actively serves as a mentor in various other capacities to younger professionals both inside and outside of Bank of America.

Erin was a Women’s Basketball D-1 scholarship point guard, Student Athlete representative and team captain for the Fordham University Lady Rams. She enjoys international travel, sports and fitness, hiking, volunteering, and spending time with
family at her home in Charlotte.

Mark Walsh is an angel and venture investor in technology, software,
content and services through his fund, Ruxton Ventures LLC.  He served as Director of the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Investment and Innovation (OII).

He was CEO of a high growth public company, (VerticalNet NASDAQ: VERT) was a senior executive at GE, AOL, and HBO, and has invested/served on the board of several high-profile public and private companies. He was a
venture partner for Revolution Inc. (the investment vehicle founded by
Steve Case) and was on two of their boards.

He was Board Chair (and a Life Trustee) of Union College (NY), Board Chair of the Entrepreneurial Center at the University of Maryland, Board Chair of the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington D.C. - where he remains a director- and board chair of the New Leaders Council.  Walsh earned a BA from Union College, and an MBA from Harvard.  He has served or serves on many not-for profit boards including The Institute for Citizens and Scholars among others. He is married with two grown children.

He was named a “Tech-Titan” by Washingtonian Magazine for five
consecutive cycles.

Mr. Tien Wong is a tech investor, entrepreneur, and CEO. He is Chairman & CEO of Opus8, Inc., a private investment and advisory firm investing in exceptional life science and tech enabled services companies, as well as specializing in raising capital for promising tech companies and alternative investment fund managers.

He is Founder of CONNECTpreneur, a global community of 25,000+ founders, investors, CEOs, and business leaders. CONNECTpreneur organizes the world’s largest monthly virtual investor pitch events as well as in-person Forums.
Mr. Wong is also a Venture Partner in IronGate Capital Advisors, a VC and Fund of Funds manager investing in dual use technologies; Investment Advisory Board member of Virginia Venture Partners; and Chairman of Lumious, an ed tech company which provides learning & development services to Fortune 500 customers.

Mr. Wong was appointed by Governor Martin O'Malley to the 9-person Maryland Venture Fund Authority which oversees $84 million in VC allocations; he serves on the Boards of Directors of the Austin Venture Association, Association for Enterprise Growth (Chair), Frederick Innovative Technology Corp., Inc. (FITCI), and Junior Achievement, as well as on the Council of Advisors for the Washington Institute for Business, Government, & Society and the Entrepreneurship Advisory Council of The Universities at Shady Grove. He is a Mentor at the Mach37 Cybersecurity Accelerator and Conscious Venture Labs.

Mr. Wong has been named by Washingtonian magazine as a “Tech Titan” for the last 7 years (’17 – ‘23). He is a frequent guest lecturer on entrepreneurship, leadership, venture capital, and private equity at the University of Maryland and Georgetown University where he is an Entrepreneur in Residence. He is a graduate of Dartmouth College.

A recognized international expert in CRM, direct marketing, and BPO, Mr. Wong has presented at dozens of conferences around the world. He has also provided industry commentary on the ABC, Fox, NBC, CNBC, Maryland Public Television, and China’s CCTV networks, as well as for Time Magazine, The Washington Post, Inc. Magazine, and Success Magazine.

Dr. Timothy A. Akers, M.S., Ph.D., is a distinguished researcher and executive leader at the nexus of public health, epidemiological criminology, and quantum literacy. He serves as Chief Research Officer and Associate Provost for Academic Research at California State University, San Bernardino, and as Chief Executive Officer of the National Quantum Literacy Network (NQLN), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. Across a career spanning academia, government, and the military, Dr. Akers has demystified quantum technologies by developing, along with his team, the first e-learning platform and micro-credential certification in quantum literacy education.

At the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), he served as a senior scientist and developed a cutting-edge HIV/AIDS biomedical and behavioral classification taxonomy. He is the originator of the emerging theory and discipline of Epidemiological Criminology and has authored two seminal books in the field. A former U.S. Air Force Security Police officer specializing in nuclear weapons security, Dr. Akers has conducted groundbreaking interdisciplinary research supported by the NSF, NIH, DHS, and other sponsors.

In 2020, he was appointed by the White House and the U.S. Department of Energy to a three-year term on the National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee (NQIAC); he has also served as vice chair at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, focusing on the responsible conduct of research. Recognized internationally, he has published more than 268 scholarly works and received prestigious awards across the military, CDC, academia, and industry. An autodidactic innovator, Dr. Akers is the inventor on two patents in biomedical technologies for rapid clinical assessments using AI, as well as a cystic fibrosis vest that applies therapeutic wave frequencies to address respiratory congestion.

Chris Alsip is Sr. Director of Enterprise Strategy at Tyson Foods, one of the world’s largest food manufacturers. In this role, Chris leads the company’s annual strategic planning process and heads Tyson Ventures, the organization’s investment arm focused on driving innovation in the food industry. With over 30 years of experience spanning corporate finance, treasury management, investor relations, R&D, and corporate strategy, Chris brings a wealth of expertise to the stage. He has played a key role in numerous M&A transactions, leading teams through due diligence and acquisition integration. Chris is passionate about advancing strategic growth and fostering innovation across the food sector. He has a B.S.B.A in Financial Management from the University of Arkansas.

Mr. Barnett guides individuals and organizations to turn concepts into new initiatives, products, services
and enterprises. In addition, he helps leaders navigate challenging environments with thoughtful
observation, analysis, keen insight, collaborative thinking and bold moves forward. As President and
Founder of The Barnett Company, Inc., Brian leads this strategy firm to advise established and emerging
businesses, economic development projects, non-profit, government, and multi-lateral clients. Launched
in 1994, The Barnett Company, Inc. pilots clients through a process to clarify their vision and mission;
develop strategy; define goals and action plans; assign responsibilities; monitor results and manage for
the success and benefit of customers, employees, investors and their respective communities.

With 30+ years of experience launching, leading, or consulting to businesses and development projects in 42 countries spanning Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, the former Soviet Union and the
United States, Brian Barnett has equipped leaders to identify and face challenges, consider creative
options, develop vision, goals and strategy, build structure and move forward.

Prior to The Barnett Company, Inc., Mr. Barnett served as Senior Vice President for AEEC, an
information and environmental technology services firm; Interim President, Chief Operating Officer of
COMM Engineering, an environmental services engineering firm and OAR, an environmental
equipment design-build-install company; and Kazakhstan Vice President & Senior Investment Officer for the Central Asian American Enterprise Fund, a $250mm venture fund.

Brian previously moderated panels at the 2023 and 2019 Wharton Innovation Summits held in the
Washington DC area. He enjoys nature trails in forests, national parks; volunteering at Secret Passage [Horse] Ranch; and having great conversations about science, culture, worldviews and the arts. Contact The Barnett Company via: Brian@TheBarnettCo.com

As the General Partner of The Good Science Fund, Urvashi (“Urvi”) Bhatnagar invests in Breakthrough Science. Urvi invests in early-stage innovators pioneering scientific breakthroughs that transform how humanity consumes resources. Urvi’s goal is advancing solutions that make life on this planet healthier, more sustainable, and more equitable.

Prior to the establishment of the Fund and working in management consulting, Urvi led healthcare advocacy and education initiatives related to Poliomyelitis and Tuberculosis in some of the poorest states of India and improved patient access to care, particularly in the field of orthopedics. By way of her international public health and domestic impact on population health, she recognizes that global total wellness can only occur by way of sustained, systematic and intentional investment in social and environmental determinants of health.

Urvi regularly serves as a strategic advisor to payors, providers, startups, and serves as a board member for several firms in the healthcare realm. She leverages market and non-market strategies to facilitate population health strategies and utilizes healthcare analytics to refine quantitative analysis for optimized reporting. Urvi’s prior roles as a program director in both clinical operations and regulatory affairs has led to her being a sought-after expert across industries, firm-types, and geographic locations.

PHD IN INFORMATION SYSTEMS & DECISION ANALYSIS. Post-doctoral work at Harvard, MIT, Oxford. 2009: In Afghanistan; Joint Civilian Service Commendation Award. 2010: Senior National Intelligence Service Executive; asked to be Executive Dir for Congressional Commission on Research & Development Programs of U.S. Intelligence Community. Achieved bipartisan success and >75% recommendations implemented. Received National Intel Exceptional Achievement Medal. Named by Business Insider one of 24 Americans Changing the World.

Asked to give United Nations Charter Day address to General Assembly on Future of AI, Data, & Internet. Keynotes globally +Fortune 500s on leadership actions tied to AI, bio, space, quantum & IoT transformations. 2025: Invited expert witness to Congress for public hearing on AI.

Justin Brooks, MD, PhD is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and Director of Entrepreneurship at the University of Maryland Institute for Health Computing. He serves as Scientific Advisor for D-Prime LLC, Scientific Advisory Board Member for ClinLabs, Inc., and Scientific Advisor for Tanzan Medical. His work bridges computer science, physiology, and health, with a focus on wearable devices, signal processing, and mind–body connections in performance and resilience. Dr. Brooks is also active in entrepreneurship, helping
translate research innovations into real-world health and technology solutions.

Tim is a seasoned board director and corporate executive. As a 2x founder with successful public and private equity exits, he has over 25 years of experience in building, leading, and managing teams specializing in online marketplaces and digital platforms.

Tim is an EY Entrepreneur of the Year in the Mid-Atlantic Region and a Washingtonian "Tech Titan”. His work has been featured on CNN, CNBC, AP, Bloomberg, Fox Business,
Inc., Yahoo Finance, and Fortune.

Elizabeth Cho-Fertikh, PhD is Co-founder and Managing Director at the healthcare investor group, MEDA Angels and as Managing Partner at MEDA Ventures. The MEDA Angels Fund has fully deployed its Fund 1 and collectively with its SPVs, has a portfolio of 23 companies, 2 exits
and 0 shutdowns. Fund 2 will continue under MEDA Ventures, investing in early stage MedTech
and Life Science companies and is utilizing a novel funding vehicle employing a 3rd party validated AI-predictive platform and an insurance element to protect against downside risk to life science investing while increasing the upside.

She has nearly 30 years of experience in drug development & clinical trials at biotechs & startups (oncology, infectious diseases, neurodegenerative diseases), regulatory affairs, grants administration & private markets. She is also the host of the healthcare segment of the Resilient Alpha podcast, interviewing headliners, financial and investment leaders. Launched in mid-2025, the podcast has received 100K+ views, annualizing at 2 million views across multiple social media channels. The podcast is an extension of one of the largest family office networks
in the US, Ivyfon. Dr. Cho-Fertikh serves on Boards/Advisory Boards of startups and can frequently be found on the speaking, judging and mentoring circuits of the startup ecosystem.

She received her BA from Johns Hopkins, her MS from Georgetown University, her PhD from Thomas Jefferson School of Medicine and completed her postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School & NIH.

Murat Croci is co-founder and co-CEO of Ibex Biosciences (founded 2015), a biotechnology company developing breakthrough discoveries. With 20+ years in early-stage biotech, he is an inventor on five patents and previously served as financial controller at Seneca Biotech, following earlier work in tax and business consulting. A University of Maryland Global Campus graduate and decorated U.S. Army veteran (1990–96), Murat brings a mission-driven, hands-on leadership style to driving new therapies forward.

Hector Del Castillo is a growth expert and advisor specializing in mid-market software and technology companies. With over 17 years of experience, he helps businesses achieve sustaining or accelerated growth by building high-performing teams, optimizing processes, and implementing innovative strategies. His expertise drives significant improvements in profitability, operational excellence, and customer satisfaction, positioning companies to outperform their competition and scale effectively.

Mr. Edwards focuses on working with companies who are driving the energy transition. Rob is an energy industry executive and strategic advisor on global Next-Gen energy solutions and investments. Rob brings more than 20 years of diverse leadership and advisory experience supporting senior decision makers in the private sector (JPMorgan Chase, Tesla, Edison Mission Energy, DTE Energy), and in government (Department of Energy Loan Programs Office). As a recognized thought leader in Next-Generation Energy Solutions, he brings together public and private stakeholders to develop, structure, and implement multibillion-dollar energy projects in the United States and around the globe, furthering society's transformation to a decentralized, decarbonized, durable, digital grid.

Rob has spent 25 years in a series of roles in banking, project development and finance, government service and law focused on companies and projects in the climatetech, renewable energy, electric vehicles and related sectors. Rob has led more than $15 billion in energy and automotive project finance and energy M&A transactions.

Rob served the first Director of Outreach and Business Development at the Department of Energy Loan Programs Office (2021-2022) and as a Senior Presidential Appointee (non-career SES) the Deputy General Counsel for Energy Policy at the Department of Energy during the Obama Administration (2009-2011).

Rob excels in working cross-functionally with legal, finance, sales, and operations to develop innovative solutions that help clients and customers achieve sustainability strategies worldwide. In 2010, Rob was selected by Vantage Point Partners to participate in its 100 Clean Tech Leaders held at the Sundance Mountain Resort in Sundance, Utah and in 2015 Rob was selected as one of 21 nationwide leaders to participate in the National Renewable Energy Lab's Executive Energy Leadership Program.

As President and CEO, Mr. Ezrin oversees all activities of the firm, with a primary focus on M&A and Financial matters. He concentrates on developing business by providing the highest quality services through the insight and experience gained from his diverse background in accounting, law, real estate and venture capitalism.

Mr. Ezrin has over thirty-five years of experience with clients on M&A activities and financial matters. He has lectured on the subject and has written several articles for the Washington Business Journal.

Mr. Ezrin was active in the Association for Corporate Growth, National Capital Chapter, being a prior Member of Board of Directors and Treasurer, and active on numerous committees. He founded and Chaired its Scholarship Committee, oversaw its non-profit status, and handled all matters for fund raising and annual filings. He was on the Board of Directors of the Exit Planning Exchange Organization and was one of its founders. He has also been active with the University of Maryland Michael Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship, Mentor, the Macklin Institute at Montgomery College, and is a Maryland and D.C. Real Estate Licensed Broker. Mr. Ezrin has practiced accounting and law, and has been involved in many business enterprises.

A graduate of Benjamin Franklin University, American University, American University Washington College of Law, and Georgetown University College of Law, his degrees include: BCS, MCS, BA, JD and LLM in Taxation.

Mr. Ezrin is active in many civic and charitable organizations, serving on Boards of Directors, Advisory Boards, and assisting with obtaining corporate donations. Currently, Mr. Ezrin participates with NABOE, AM& CONNECTpreneur.

James Freericks is passionate about making quantum mechanics more widely accessible in order to prepare more students for the second quantum revolution. Indeed, he believes everyone can become a quantum mechanic! Educated at Princeton University (1985) and the University of California, Berkeley (1987,1991), he held postdoctoral fellowships at the Institute for Theoretical Physics in Santa Barbara and at the University of California, Davis before moving to Georgetown University in 1994. He is a fellow of American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Physical Society and has won awards from the Alpha Sigma Nu Society, the Office of Naval Research, edX, and Georgetown University. He is currently Professor and McDevitt Chair in the Department of Physics.

His research has spanned the fields of superconductivity, transport in strongly correlated materials, ultracold atoms in optical lattices, dynamical mean-field theory, ion-trap-based quantum simulation, nonequilibrium many-body physics, mathematical physics, quantum computing, quantum chemistry, and quantum pedagogy. He volunteers by offering three classes annually on edX in mathematical methods and quantum mechanics. He has served as the Secretary-Treasurer and as the Councilor for the Division of Computational Physics at the American Physical Society and as the Treasurer of the American Association of Physics Teachers.

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.

Dr. Deborah Hemingway is the Founder and Managing Partner of Ecphora Capital, Maryland’s premiere medtech venture capital firm based in Baltimore, Maryland. Under her leadership, Ecphora Capital has deployed $18 million across 12 startups in the past two years, establishing itself as a key force in early-stage healthcare innovation. The firm holds strategic partnerships and first-look access to local premier medical research and advanced manufacturing institutions and is the first and only firm to attain the top tier of Maryland’s biotechnology investment incentive tax credit program.

Over the past 20 years, Dr. Hemingway has founded, funded, and served on the boards of 53 startups, bringing a wealth of expertise in medical device commercialization, strategic growth, and venture investment. Her career reflects a consistent focus on building and scaling transformative technologies at the intersection of science, healthcare, and entrepreneurship.

Dr. Hemingway earned her Ph.D. in Biophysics from the University of Maryland, College Park and is widely recognized for her sharp investment instincts, operational rigor, and commitment to cultivating lasting impact in the medtech space throughout the mid-Atlantic region.

Obinna Isiandinso is a global leader in data centers and digital infrastructure, with extensive experience in cross-border financings, strategic partnerships, and real asset investments across private equity, credit, and infrastructure.

He currently serves as Global Sector Lead for Data Center Investments at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), where he manages senior relationships with hyperscalers, sovereign wealth funds, operators, and institutional investors. In this role, he oversees investments in data center companies and projects worldwide, spanning debt, equity, and hybrid financings for greenfield, brownfield, and M&A transactions across the Americas, EMEA, APAC, Latin America, and Africa.

At IFC, Obinna has helped shape the institution’s approach to data center and cloud services, positioning IFC as a trusted partner to global and regional operators, investors, and developers. His work integrates sector strategy, client coverage, and transaction execution to deliver scalable and sustainable digital infrastructure solutions.

A recognized thought leader, Obinna is a frequent speaker at industry forums including PTC, ITW, DCD Connect, TowerXchange, AfricaCom, and CALA. He also shares market insights, investment frameworks, and perspectives on cross-border financings through Global Data Center Hub.

Obinna holds an MBA from Harvard Business School. Drawing on the World Bank Group platform—including IFC, IBRD, and MIGA—he combines sector expertise, financing experience, and senior client relationships to advance the growth of the global data center ecosystem.

Anand is a respected global digital health innovator and leader—most known for his insights on and experience with technology, strategy and regulatory policy. Anand has been instrumental in Welldoc’s success and the development of BlueStar®, the first FDA-cleared digital therapeutic for adults with type 2 diabetes. Since joining Welldoc in 2008, he has held core leadership positions that included President and Chief Operating Officer and Chief Strategy Officer. In 2013, Anand was named “Maryland Healthcare Innovator of the Year” in the field of mobile health. Anand was also recognized as a top AI thought leader globally, when he was named to Constellation Research’s prestigious AI 150 list in 2024.

Prior to joining Welldoc, Anand was already an established, global thought leader in the wireless technology field. He had served as the Director of PRTM’s wireless consulting practice for 14 years, where helped companies take advantage of disruptive technologies, business models and process models enabled by advanced wireless technologies.

Anand was one of the co-founding Board members of the Digital Therapeutics Alliance and remains on the Board. He was also founder of the In-Building Wireless Alliance, and teaches advanced wireless technology courses to senior officers in the US Department of Defense at the Institute for Defense and Business. Prior to joining PRTM, Anand was a member of the scientific staff at Bell Northern Research and Nortel Networks. He holds an MS and a PhD in electrical and computer engineering with a focus on optical and digital pattern recognition, and an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University. He also holds a BS in electrical and computer engineering from Carleton University.

Currently, Anand serves as Welldoc’s Chief AI Officer, focused on the essential advancement of Welldoc’s AI, data strategy and analytics framework.

Jerome Johnson II is Director of Solutions Architecture for National Security and Defense at Amazon Web Services, where he leads teams implementing cutting-edge AI and autonomous systems for the U.S. Intelligence Community and Department of Defense. Currently pursuing a Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence Management at
Georgetown University, Jerome bridges the critical gap between emerging AI capabilities and real-world cybersecurity applications in high-stakes environments.

As an AFROTECH 2025 Future 50 Corporate Catalyst and recent graduate of Wharton’s Chief Technology Officer Program, Jerome brings over 20 years of experience architecting secure, mission-critical technology solutions. His unique expertise spans the convergence of artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and cybersecurity—including hands-on implementation of agentic AI systems for satellite command and control and autonomous threat detection.

Jerome’s thought leadership in AI-powered cybersecurity has been featured in prominent industry discussions, including a FedScoop interview on “The Future of Cyber Defense” where he explored the paradigm shift from reactive to proactive security postures using autonomous AI workflows. His work with Senate Intelligence and White House committees on AI policy development provides him with deep insights into the governance frameworks essential for deploying trustworthy autonomous systems.

With MIT quantum computing certifications and experience leading $1.5B portfolios of emerging technology solutions, Jerome understands both the transformative potential and critical risks of agentic AI in cybersecurity. His perspective combines practical implementation experience with strategic policy insight—essential for organizations navigating the complex landscape of autonomous defense systems while maintaining ethical standards and operational trust.

Mia Jordan is an Industry Advisor and Digital Transformation SME with Salesforce, where she advises public sector leaders worldwide on AI adoption, data strategy, and digital transformation. Since 2021, she has helped governments across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific rethink service delivery and scale impact through technology. A USAF veteran and former two-time Federal CIO, she led modernization at Federal Student Aid (U.S. Department of Education) and USDA Rural Development, bringing more than a decade of executive leadership in government. Her career began with 13 years supporting Civilian, Intelligence, and Department of Defense agencies on complex transformation programs.

Dr. Kalayoglu is co-founder and managing partner at SOAR Bio, a therapeutics-focused venture studio in Greater Washington. Prior to SOAR Bio, he was co-founder and CEO of Cartesian Therapeutics (NASDAQ: RNAC), which he led from concept to proof-of-concept clinical trials, followed by a public listing in 2023. Prior to Cartesian, Dr. Kalayoglu was co-founder and CEO of Topokine, which he led from concept to late-stage clinical trials, followed by a successful sale to Abbvie (NYSE:ABBV) in 2016. Prior to Topokine, he was co-founder and COO of HealthHonors Corporation, which he led from concept to commercialization, followed by a successful sale to Tivity Health in 2009. Dr. Kalayoglu is a board-certified ophthalmologist who completed his residency and research fellowship at Harvard, MD/PhD in immunology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management.

David Kelley was born in Germany and spent his early years in Italy before moving to the Washington, DC area for middle school and high school. He has been at the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) since 2010. David is the Vice President of Business Investment (BI). During his tenure at the EDA, David has supported companies in a wide variety of sectors including cybersecurity, software, government IT, space, aerospace, data analytics and cloud.

Before joining the EDA, David held several managerial and leadership
positions in a business development career that spanned over 25 years
working for major technology organizations such as Akamai and the Corporation for Open Systems International which established the Open Systems Interconnection model, a foundational concept for the internet and telecommunications that is still widely used today.

In the fifteen plus years that David has been at the EDA, he has worked
closely with Appian, Peraton, Booz Allen, Science Logic and other to assist them with site selection, talent and marketing communications. He has served on boards, including The Greater Reston Chamber, and the
Committee for Dulles.

David is a graduate of Utah State University with a degree in Sociology
with a focus on statistics, research methods and economic and community development. He is a classical guitarist and plays the piano.

Leo LaBranche is CEO of Unified Digital Group, where he leads digital transformation initiatives for the world's most influential multi-generational families and enterprises. With over 25 years of technology leadership experience, including roles as Managing Director of AWS Growth Initiatives at Amazon Web Services and SVP Client Executive at Avanade (JV between Microsoft & Accenture), Leo specializes in leveraging cutting-edge technologies to create transformative outcomes at massive scale. He brings deep expertise in multi-billion dollar deal negotiation, enterprise architecture, global strategic partnerships, and AI implementation to help visionary organizations turn bold visions into reality.

David Lacki is Principal of Lacki & Company, LLC, a boutique law firm advising emerging and
middle-market companies on corporate growth, investment strategies, and mergers and
acquisitions. With more than 30 years of experience, he has worked with Fortune 100 companies,
as well as innovative start-up and emerging enterprises in the manufacturing, telecom, software,
and high-tech sectors across the U.S., Europe, Latin America, and Asia.

Earlier in his career, David served as in-house counsel with Nextel Communications and Wireless Facilities, Inc., where he advised senior management with oversight of global operations. His transactional successes include negotiating a multi-million, multi-year network
development project, creating an innovative software licensing model, brokering national spectrum agreements, and closing acquisitions and capital investments.

David holds a J.D. from the. University of Houston and graduated magna cum laude in Political Science from The George Washington University. Drawing on training as a Six Sigma Black Belt, he brings a strong focus on operational excellence and process improvement. He also serves on the Committee of the Eagle Bank Foundation, helping to raise millions of dollars in the fight against cancer.

Sean Makulowich is the Founder and CEO of IdeaFireTM, an award-winning digital marketing and AI consulting and training firm based in downtown Bethesda that is celebrating a decade of innovation this year with its 10th Anniversary. For over 15 years, Sean has been consulting, training, and advising sales, marketing, and HR executives – providing and guiding them with deep insights and expertise on how to develop creative and effective marketing campaigns that drive their customers to take action. Sean is a compassionate leader who encourages his team and his business partners to foster creativity and further company growth through client success.

His consulting client base is extremely diverse and that’s exactly the way he likes it. Sean has worked with all types of businesses across many different industries – from local startups to global membership organizations like American Chemical Society and Fortune 500 brands such as Volvo. A digital native, Sean studies the ever-changing digital landscape on a daily basis – from new and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, to the latest marketing, advertising, and ecommerce tools, tactics, and growth hacking strategies.

Thanks to his father, Sean's interest and background in computers and digital technology dates back to the creation of the World Wide Web in 1993, when he also started building his own computers and websites. Since they were launched, Sean has also been a software and hardware Beta Tester for META and Snapchat – two of the earliest adopters of AR, VR, and AI. The arrival of Generative AI and incredibly powerful tools like ChatGPT only added fuel to his burning obsession with technology and innovation. Immediately, Sean started exploring how he could leverage AI for his clients to accelerate customer acquisition, innovation, and growth. And he hasn't stopped yet.

Beyond IdeaFireTM, Sean loves working with other entrepreneurs and thoroughly enjoys the work he does as a Mentor, Advisor, and Investor with Founder Institute – a world-renowned startup accelerator that has helped launch over 7,000 companies across 200+ cities and six continents.

Born and raised in Montgomery County, Maryland, Sean is passionate about supporting his local community and the businesses that fuel it. He has worked closely with The Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce since 2018, where he sits on the Board of Directors, Co-Chairs the Communications Committee, and sponsors the NextExecs Young Professionals Committee through his company, IdeaFireTM.

Belinda J. Matingou is a global partner sales and alliance leader with extensive experience driving business growth through strategic partnerships and technology innovation for customers in the public and private sectors. Belinda has led multimillion-dollar initiatives across Amazon Web Services, Dell, AT&T, Swissôtel, and American Express, accelerating revenue and market expansion in North America, Latin America, Europe, and Asia. She excels at meeting customer and partner needs with cloud and AI solutions that deliver transformative results. Recognized for her inclusive leadership, Belinda has been honored as a U.S. Black Chamber "Women of Power" awardee and served as President of the National Black MBA Association in Austin. She holds an MBA from The Wharton School and a Bachelors degree from Florida A&M University. Belinda and her husband Christian are the proud parents of Wesley, Cyrena, and Troy.

Jack Minor is a leading-edge, results-driven leader for venture-stage technology start-up companies with a deep understanding and affinity for the Venture Capital industry. He successfully partners with Research & Development, strategic investors, and investment colleagues to create and communicate the vision and launch strategy to optimize the global success of pipeline assets. Jack is adept at vetting organizations and teams and evaluating investments strategies and measuring results. He is also focused on designing and implementing corporate venture processes using the most current techniques and trends to attract investors, improve company valuations, and bottom-line return to stake holders.

Chris is the Co-Founder and Engineering Leader of MIDI. Educated in mechanical engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, he graduated with his Engineering Masters and later obtained a Master’s in Business Administration from Hofstra University. While teaching materials engineering, he joined MIDI in 1988 with the pursuit of product excellence, forward thinking and innovation for MIDI’s clients in the medical, life science and home healthcare markets.

He co-pioneered the firm’s Development DNA™ process and methodology and has implemented a comprehensive thorough philosophy involving the research, conceptualization and production implementation of medical and scientific systems while conforming to the FDA QSR & IS0 13485 design control requirements as well as the IEC-60601 risk management for Hazard & Mitigation Analysis. Utilizing DevelopmentDNA™ Chris and the MIDI team develop medical products and systems involving the fusion of design tied to reliable engineering, cost-effective manufacturing design, ergonomics and systems research utilizing the disciplines in harmonious concert.

Chris is a strong vision-orientated leader with a high level of skilled engineering problem-solving mindset in addition to sensitivity toward innovative design. He is the recipient of numerous national design and engineering awards as well as dozens of utility patents. Chris has implemented over 100 successful turnkey medical and life sciences development programs for clientele. He sits on the Board for Stony Brook University’s Center for Biotechnology as related to evaluating new medical and surgical technology candidates for funding via LIBH (Long Island Bioscience Hub). He is an active investing member at Mid Atlantic Bio Angels in New York City.

Dr. Mumm has spent thirty-one years in government and contractor service, building teams to address complex problems in national security, homeland security, and advanced technologies. He was the Division Chief for Cybersecurity at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), programming and executing a budget of over $ 140 million. He developed a unique set of continuous monitoring capabilities and the rogue wireless detection capability that supported the ICD-503 Risk Management Framework..

Dr. Mumm is a proven leader in diverse fields, including autonomous systems, post-quantum cybersecurity, AI and machine learning, advanced fuel systems, cognitive scientific research, and all aspects of the military intelligence community. He has thirteen published books, dozens of white papers, and five published co-authored quantum computing research papers.

He has notable experience in research and systems engineering, including winning awards and contracts for UAV (autonomous systems) research and creating an advanced, multiple-fuel system (AI-based), where he operated the world’s first and only helicopter that flies on five separate fuels without engine modifications. His research extends into emerging and disruptive technologies for both offensive and defensive missions, supporting US and coalition operations. His UAV and robotics expertise has focused on determining the specific uses, exceptions, and allowances for robotics operations, including studying the unintended consequences, future use, and misuse of such technologies.

Sherwood Neiss is a globally recognized pioneer in investment crowdfunding whose advocacy helped reshape U.S. securities laws and catalyzed a new era of entrepreneurial finance. As a principal co-author of the Crowdfund Investing Framework—adopted into Title III of the JOBS Act—he helped turn a vision of democratized capital into reality, opening the doors for everyday investors to fund the future.

Sherwood is the author of Investomers, a landmark book and movement redefining the economic relationship between customers and investors. Now available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble, the book explores how financial inclusion, behavioral economics, and digital infrastructure are transforming startup funding and global economies.

As co-founder of Crowdfund Capital Advisors (CCA) and CEO of GUARDD, Sherwood drives industry transformation with data and compliance tools that underpin the modern investment crowdfunding ecosystem. CCA’s data division, CCLEAR, is the premier aggregator of Regulation Crowdfunding data—powering Bloomberg terminals and enabling actionable insights for investors, policymakers, and platforms. Through CCLEAR, Sherwood and his team produce tools like CapitalPulse (for investors), the Offering Insight Report (for entrepreneurs), and Investment Crowdfunding Monthly/Sector Reports (for ecosystem stakeholders). In 2025, the firm released the definitive 210-page State of the Investment Crowdfunding Industry Report.

Internationally, Sherwood co-authored the World Bank’s Crowdfunding’s Potential for the Developing World and has written for the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB). He has served as an Entrepreneurial Ambassador for the U.S. State Department, advising governments and ecosystems on regulatory and capital formation strategies. His work spans over 43 countries, supporting the creation of crowdfunding frameworks that drive job creation, financial inclusion, and local innovation.

As Managing Partner of D3VC, a data-driven venture fund, Sherwood helps identify overlooked early-stage opportunities using AI and crowdfunding signals. His work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Bloomberg, and CNBC, and he’s a frequent speaker at global forums—from TEDx and SXSW to the World Bank and the Thai SEC.

As Founder & CEO of OptimaNova AI, Joe empowers organizations to master artificial intelligence, optimize operations, unlock critical data insights, and equip their teams for the evolving workplace. His human-centered approach ensures technological adoption is not only successful but deeply meaningful.

Nationally recognized for his innovative voter engagement strategies, Joe previously served as Executive Director of Black Men Vote. Under his leadership, the organization registered over 100,000 Black men, significantly boosting voter participation in key battleground states such as Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. His groundbreaking outreach methods, engaging men in spaces like barbershops, churches,
and digital communities, earned coverage from ABC News, Politico, and the Associated Press.

As former CEO of Byte Back, Joe secured the largest funding infusion in the nonprofit’s history—$5
million—to expand critical AI and digital literacy training. His leadership increased certification pass rates dramatically, from 10% to over 75%, positioning thousands for thriving tech careers.

During his tenure as Executive Director & COO of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Joe spearheaded a
significant financial and membership turnaround during the COVID-19 pandemic, generating $1 million in
new revenue within 90 days and achieving a 94% increase in membership revenue. His strategic clarity and decisive execution garnered broad respect across both nonprofit and corporate sectors.
At The Stafford Foundation, Joe served as COO, crafting an ambitious five-year strategic plan that drove an 83% revenue increase through innovative e-commerce solutions, significantly amplifying the foundation’s philanthropic reach.

A respected thought leader, keynote speaker, and author, Joe’s published works include Morning Cup of
Joe, AI for Good, Beyond Human, and The Doing Good Book. He regularly shares his expertise at national conferences, investor summits, and policy forums, influencing critical conversations on AI, leadership, and social equity.

Joe earned dual bachelor’s degrees in Social Science, and Spanish and Russian from Florida State University
and holds a Digital Leadership Certificate from The Wharton School. Fluent in English, Spanish, French, Russian, and Haitian Creole, Joe leverages his multicultural proficiency to bridge global discussions on artificial intelligence, technology and public policy.
His numerous accolades include SHRM’s “HR Hero” Award, Alpha Phi Alpha National Brother of the Year,
FSU Alumni of the Year, and the SXSW Innovation Award for Community Service in Tech. Whether advising Fortune 500 executives, mobilizing communities, or championing equity through technology, Joe Paul consistently redefines what visionary leadership means in the digital age.

Mrs. Pickering is a defense acquisition professional and entrepreneur, with strengths in project management, policy implementation, and workforce professional development. She has extensive experience in Government and industry, including startup of small technical services firms and management positions at Fortune 500 companies.

Mrs. Pickering’s career has encompassed acquisition of various Navy ships and intelligence community assets. Mrs. Pickering was Senior Advisor in the General Services Administration’s Office of the Chief Acquisition Officer during the second term of President George W. Bush. Her first Government position was Professor of Systems Acquisition Management at Defense Systems Management College (now part of Defense Acquisition University).

Mrs. Pickering is an immigrant and the daughter of Polish Army veterans. She holds a B.A. in History from Emmanuel College and an M.B.A. from Boston University. She recently translated “A Legionnaire’s Story” – her late Uncle’s account of his service with the Second Carpathian Brigade during WWI.

Deanne Randolph is the Founder and CEO of Lumigen Biotechnology, pioneering antibody-nanoparticle conjugates to precisely treat glioblastoma and brain metastases - areas of dire unmet medical need where traditional therapies struggle to reach their targets.

She brings more than 20 years of experience building and leading organizations that translate innovation into patient impact. Deanne began her career at Johnson & Johnson, Bayer, and Pfizer, where she led U.S., European, and global brand teams across multiple therapeutic areas. She later founded Sante Group, a boutique consultancy that guided pharmaceutical and biotech companies through successful product launches worldwide.

At Lumigen, Deanne combines her expertise in global commercialization with a passion for advancing groundbreaking science against some of the toughest cancers. She is known for bridging the gap between discovery and delivery, ensuring promising therapies can reach patients who need them most.

Deanne holds both a BA and an MBA from Wake Forest University.

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.

Partho Sanyal is currently Managing Director and Chair of Energy
Transition Investment Banking at Bank of America, based in New York.

Partho has 30 years of investment banking, merchant banking, private
equity and venture capital investing experience at Bank of America/
Merrill Lynch, International Finance Corporation, NextEra Energy and
RWE.

He joined Merrill Lynch in 2001 and has worked on a portfolio of Energy
Transition, Power, Renewable Energy, Water, Climate Technology, Climate Infrastructure, Waste
and Environmental Services and selected Core Infrastructure sectors including Ports, Toll Roads,
Railroads, Airports, LNG and Gas Midstream transactions. His Wall Street career spans 20+ years
at Merrill Lynch/Bank of America Merrill Lynch/BofA Securities in New York in various
successively senior investment banking roles as Managing Director, Co-Head of US Clean
Energy/Cleantech and Head of Latin America Power, Utilities and Infrastructure.

Partho also worked for ~5 years at the International Finance Corporation/The World Bank Group
in Washington DC focused on sell-side privatization advisory, project finance and merchant
banking in emerging markets.

In 2021, Partho joined NextEra Energy as Partner to co-run its corporate investment arm, NextEra
Energy Investments – a multi-strategy climate and enterprise tech investment fund at the
forefront of global energy transition across venture capital, private equity, ecosystem and
alternatives – a position he held for 3+ years.

Partho has worked on numerous award-winning investment banking transactions globally across
25+ countries during his career, having advised/raised capital on transactions worth over US$350
bn in 160 separate transactions.

He was a member of the U.S. National Commission on Energy Policy, a corporate member of the
U.S. Council on Foreign Relations, a working member of the U.S. Task force on the formation of a
National Infrastructure Bank, an Advisory board member to the World Biofuels Congress and has
peer reviewed technical reports by the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). He is a
frequent speaker at national/international industry conferences.

Partho holds a BA (Honors) in Economics and Mathematics from the University of Bombay, India,
and an MBA (Finance and Accounting) from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business;
Ph.D. (Financial Economics).

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.

Chetan is a Solutions Architect at Databricks, where he has spent the past two years supporting healthcare organizations on data and AI projects. In addition to his core role, he serves as a field specialist for Unity Catalog, leading workshops that help current and prospective customers understand the value of data governance on the Databricks
platform. He also collaborates closely with engineers and product managers on the rollout of Databricks’ Agentic tools, with a focus on best practices in model evaluation and data curation.

Before joining Databricks, Chetan worked in Slalom’s Data & Analytics practice, delivering data engineering and machine learning projects for enterprise clients across
the banking, telecommunications, and insurance industries.

Outside of work, you can often find him on the golf course, squash court, or making tweaks to his fantasy football roster.

Ryan Simpson is a key figure at the intersection of artificial intelligence and public service. As the Chief Technologist for Federal Partners at NVIDIA, he leads strategic initiatives to accelerate AI and data analytics innovation throughout the U.S. federal government via the NVIDIA Partner Network.

Before joining NVIDIA, Ryan had a distinguished career as a government employee. During his tenure at the United States Postal Service, he was instrumental in deploying enterprise-scale AI systems for optical character recognition (OCR), information retrieval, and image search. His innovative work led to more than 15 patents in AI and image processing and significantly advanced the agency's data capabilities. With nearly two decades of experience bridging the gap between advanced technology and governmental frameworks, Ryan offers a unique and invaluable perspective on digital transformation in the public sector.

Earl Stafford, Jr., CEO of Aperio Global, embodies the rare fusion of
visionary leadership and unwavering faith. As a Christian man whose beliefs form the bedrock of his personal and professional life, Stafford leads Aperio Global with a higher purpose, guided by the principle of "Solving for Next."

Under Stafford's stewardship, Aperio Global has achieved consistent year-over-year growth in revenue, customer base, and mission-critical impact. His faith-inspired leadership philosophy, rooted in Truth, Trust, and Transparency, has propelled Aperio to the forefront of innovation in AI, cyber operations, and
information warfare.

With over 25 years of experience, Stafford has positioned Aperio Global as an indispensable partner to the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community. His commitment to ethical innovation led to the development of NLYTEN - Aperio's groundbreaking AI-driven technology that enhances decision security, speed, and advantage.

Stafford's approach to business has fostered strategic alliances with tech giants AWS, NVIDIA, and IBM, amplifying Aperio's global impact. His leadership transcends conventional metrics, focusing on meaningful impact and long-term value creation that is aligned with his principles.

Stafford, an alumnus of Georgetown University (MBA) and George Mason University (Economics), brings a potent blend of academic rigor and faith-driven purpose to his role. His
commitment to service as a life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. extends beyond the
boardroom, embodying the Christian ideal of servant leadership.

At Aperio Global, Stafford has cultivated an environment where innovation thrives and solutions are engineered with foresight and moral responsibility. His forward-thinking
leadership ensures that Aperio remains at the cutting edge of technological advancement while
adhering to the highest ethical standards.

Earl Stafford is a beacon of strategic insight, ethical leadership, and unwavering faith in an era of rapid change and evolving global threats. Through his guidance, Aperio Global continues to shape the future of defense and intelligence, driven by a higher purpose to create a more
secure and just world.

Rae Stott builds companies and strengthens communities, with a career spanning startups, nonprofits, and grassroots initiatives. She was part of the leadership team that helped GoCanvas scale from a small startup to a $750M+ exit. Rae has built and supported organizations that serve communities at risk, including post-disaster recovery efforts with Communitere, youth and family support through Dandelion, and mental health response as a volunteer with Crisis Text Line. As co-founder and CEO of Refraction, she brings together her passion for economic development and innovation to help entrepreneurs thrive and build equitable, resilient ecosystems.

Patent, trademark, copyright, intellectual property and technology law; enjoy helping my clients achieve their goals, obtain market share, and thwart unfair practices, with particular emphasis on U.S. and foreign patent and trademark consulting, preparation, prosecution, portfolio management, and patentability, validity, enforceability, and infringement opinions, including defending and bringing the third party oppositions and other post-grant procedures. Also, teaching others on IP and changes to IP laws.
Specialties: Technology and Intellectual Property Law, Patent, Trademark and Copyright Law, Preparation, Prosecution, Opinion, Oppositions, Reexaminations/Reissues, Consulting, Strategizing, Licensing, Negotiation and Litigation. Advising, Educating and Teaching for Universities and Government. Information Technologies, Software, Life Sciences, Emerging and Converging Technologies, Nanotechnology. Publishing and Media Rights.

Dr. Merrick S. Watchorn, DMIST provides a myriad of services within the Cybersecurity industry based on his sixteen-years of active service in the United States Navy (USN) and the last several within the United States Government (USG). His work background included formal training in semantic ontologies, Big Data analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence methods, theories, and cognition. As a co-founding member of the Quantum Security Alliance (QSA), he serves as Chair for the Security Reference
Architecture (Q-SRA).

Caitlin Wheatley has extensive experience and leadership within the Biotech Industry and Innovation space. Currently, she holds the position of Senior Operations Manager at JLABS Washington, D.C. (Johnson & Johnson's startup incubator). Previous roles include Director of Quality Control at Alphazyme, Bioanalytical Lab Manager at Meso-Scale Diagnostics, Lab Manager at Cantel Medical, and Lean Program Manager at Eurofins Scientific. In these roles she has been responsible for research and development, business development, budget forecasting, leading teams (over 40 employees), process improvements, and laboratory operations. Wheatley’s core values include staying curious, not shying away from failure, and seeing ambiguity as an opportunity to create something new. She holds a B.S. in Biochemistry from Virginia Tech, an M.A. in Organizational Leadership and Learning and an M.B.A. From George Washington University.

Laurie Wiggins is a seasoned advisor, entrepreneur and engineer. She has over 35 years of experience advising and leading companies and projects to success in IT and aerospace, and related SaaS companies. She is passionate about helping companies achieve investment, high revenue and high profit growth. She has founded and led several businesses and provided clients with business and engineering expertise. She publishes articles and conducts webinars and panel discussions on organic and scaling growth strategies for SaaS and hardware companies.

Mary Wilson is the Founder & CEO of Taza AI, the platform connecting the $7 trillion impact economy through expert-trained AI. She brings over 15 years of leadership at the intersection of technology, sustainability, and the energy transition.

Mary began her career in the Power & Utilities sector, holding senior roles across Europe, the U.S., and Australia with innovators such as Sensus, Opower, Oracle, and Siemens-acquired eMeter - helping utilities modernize infrastructure and accelerate the clean energy transition.

She then joined Amazon Web Services, where she first led the Global Power & Utilities business before becoming Founding Head of Sustainability & Climate Tech. At AWS she built the foundation of AWS’s sustainability business, mapping and verifying thousands of solution providers worldwide and scaling more than 300 climate tech offerings.

At Taza, Mary has pioneered an “expert-trained AI” approach where 94,000+ curated solution providers are mapped to industry and role-based use cases, aligned to enterprise goals and regulatory compliance, demonstrating sustainable AI practices that augment, rather than replace, human expertise. Her work positions her as a leading voice on building responsible AI systems that drive measurable impact across the global impact economy.

Dendy is an entrepreneur and investor dedicated to building businesses that push the boundaries of technology. He is the co-founder of Saltenna, a company pioneering surface-wave communications—a breakthrough that enables secure, high-bandwidth wireless connectivity through water, metal, and other extreme environments.

With more than five decades of experience, Dendy has led and scaled ventures across defense, government, and commercial sectors. As Managing Partner of McLean Capital and a founding partner of Blu Venture Investors, he has played a pivotal role in launching and growing dozens of early-stage companies by combining strategic capital with deep operating insight.

Beyond his work in technology and investing, Dendy co-manages Hidden Creek Farm, a regenerative farm dedicated to restoring soil health and ecological balance. This endeavor reflects his belief that healthy soil creates healthy food, and healthy food creates healthy people.