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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Brian is a startup evangelist, advisor, and angel investor. He is currently the CTO of LIT, an AI-powered procurement intelligence platform that transforms how DefenseTech wins government opportunities. He is also a Venture Partner and mentor at SparkLabs, which has invested in over 350 startups with a $6.3 billion in total post money valuation.
He is also the former COO of Startup Grind, which is one of the largest hi-tech startup communities in the world with over 3,000,000 startup entrepreneurs in 600 cities. He was the managing director of AOL Fishbowl Labs which incubated DC startups that has raised over $1B in venture funding (ThreatQuotient, Urgently (NASDAQ:ULY), XMode, MHelpDesk, AirSide).
He has over 25 years professional experience in product development from AOL, Merrill Lynch, and Verizon and has started three previous startups.
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”.
He has a BS in Information Systems/Policy & Management from Carnegie Mellon University.
Brian is a startup evangelist, advisor, and angel investor. He is currently the CTO of LIT, an AI-powered procurement intelligence platform that transforms how DefenseTech wins government opportunities. He is also a Venture Partner and mentor at SparkLabs, which has invested in over 350 startups with a $6.3 billion in total post money valuation.
He is also the former COO of Startup Grind, which is one of the largest hi-tech startup communities in the world with over 3,000,000 startup entrepreneurs in 600 cities. He was the managing director of AOL Fishbowl Labs which incubated DC startups that has raised over $1B in venture funding (ThreatQuotient, Urgently (NASDAQ:ULY), XMode, MHelpDesk, AirSide).
He has over 25 years professional experience in product development from AOL, Merrill Lynch, and Verizon and has started three previous startups.
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”.
He has a BS in Information Systems/Policy & Management from Carnegie Mellon University.
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.
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.
Ginger Greenfield is an entrepreneur and climate activist. A Washington, DC native, Ginger moved back in 2019 after living in California for 25 years.
Ginger is co-founder of Vital Tech Lab, a start-up software company based in San Jose California. While in California, she also worked as a real estate agent in the Montecito branch of Sotheby's International Realty, among its top real estate offices in the world.
Ginger has served as the spokesperson and Chapter Leader for the Foundation for Climate Restoration. In 2021 she delivered a TEDx talk on Climate Restoration. In 2022 she spoke on Climate Restoration at the United Nations Foundation. In 2023, she was a panelist speaker at a Girls Up event on climate sponsored by the United Nations Foundation.
Ginger is a former staff member and Program Leader for Landmark Worldwide, where she has participated for 30 years.
Ginger is past president of the Theosophical Society in the Ojai Valley, California a lodge started in 1930 by Annie Besant. She has been a member of the Theosophical Society for 28 years.
For the past two years, Ginger has served as Events Director on the board of the Oxford University Society of Washington, DC. She previously served on the board of the Oxford University Society of Los Angeles.
At the University of Oxford, Ginger studied Classical Indian Religion, which mostly involved reading and translating Sanskrit texts. She did graduate work in Classics at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Ginger graduated magna cum laude from Cornell University with a double major in Classics and Comparative Literature.
Ginger Greenfield is an entrepreneur and climate activist. A Washington, DC native, Ginger moved back in 2019 after living in California for 25 years.
Ginger is co-founder of Vital Tech Lab, a start-up software company based in San Jose California. While in California, she also worked as a real estate agent in the Montecito branch of Sotheby's International Realty, among its top real estate offices in the world.
Ginger has served as the spokesperson and Chapter Leader for the Foundation for Climate Restoration. In 2021 she delivered a TEDx talk on Climate Restoration. In 2022 she spoke on Climate Restoration at the United Nations Foundation. In 2023, she was a panelist speaker at a Girls Up event on climate sponsored by the United Nations Foundation.
Ginger is a former staff member and Program Leader for Landmark Worldwide, where she has participated for 30 years.
Ginger is past president of the Theosophical Society in the Ojai Valley, California a lodge started in 1930 by Annie Besant. She has been a member of the Theosophical Society for 28 years.
For the past two years, Ginger has served as Events Director on the board of the Oxford University Society of Washington, DC. She previously served on the board of the Oxford University Society of Los Angeles.
At the University of Oxford, Ginger studied Classical Indian Religion, which mostly involved reading and translating Sanskrit texts. She did graduate work in Classics at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Ginger graduated magna cum laude from Cornell University with a double major in Classics and Comparative Literature.
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.
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.
Ryan Paul Kim is a first-year college student studying business with a strong interest in the intersection of business and technology and how it can be used to maximize social impact. He is the founder of STEM4All, a 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to computers, educational resources, and STEM opportunities for underserved students. Through this work, Ryan has also helped support the creation of Laos Sansouk School, an elementary school in Laos.
Ryan has explored innovation and entrepreneurship through several selective programs. In 2025, he participated in the Jerome Fisher Summer Institute in Management & Technology, where his team developed a Braille E-reader Pad aimed at making STEM learning more accessible for blind students. In 2024, he joined LaunchX at UC Berkeley, where he developed a smart cushion designed to improve comfort and support for working and elderly individuals with back pain. Ryan is passionate about building technology-driven solutions that address real-world needs and create meaningful, lasting impact.
Ryan Paul Kim is a first-year college student studying business with a strong interest in the intersection of business and technology and how it can be used to maximize social impact. He is the founder of STEM4All, a 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to computers, educational resources, and STEM opportunities for underserved students. Through this work, Ryan has also helped support the creation of Laos Sansouk School, an elementary school in Laos.
Ryan has explored innovation and entrepreneurship through several selective programs. In 2025, he participated in the Jerome Fisher Summer Institute in Management & Technology, where his team developed a Braille E-reader Pad aimed at making STEM learning more accessible for blind students. In 2024, he joined LaunchX at UC Berkeley, where he developed a smart cushion designed to improve comfort and support for working and elderly individuals with back pain. Ryan is passionate about building technology-driven solutions that address real-world needs and create meaningful, lasting impact.
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.
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.