Committee

Marco V. Ávila, P.E. is a seasoned Professional Engineer registered in the State of Maryland with over 37 years of dedicated experience in Civil Engineering, including 26 years at WSP/Parsons Brinckerhoff. His expertise spans diverse sectors such as transit, highways, bridges, Public-Private Partnerships (P3), and telecommunications. Marco is recognized for his consistent success in delivering complex infrastructure projects efficiently and cost-effectively. Fluent in Spanish and proficient in Portuguese, Marco excels in multicultural environments.

As Vice President, Civil Engineer, and Program Manager at WSP-USA, Marco has earned the trust of clients and colleagues alike. Beyond his engineering passion, Marco is actively involved in numerous professional societies, including the American Society of Highway Engineers (ASHE), American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), American Council of Engineering Companies-Maryland (ACEC/MD), The Engineering Society of Baltimore (ESB), Engineers Without Borders, and the Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (MDHCC). He also serves on the Advisory Council for St. Jude-Baltimore, is a Board Member at Sail Baltimore, Maryland Governor’s Workforce Development Board, Maryland Auto Insurance Fund Board of Trustees, and holds the role of Association for Enterprise Growth (AEG)-Inner Circle Baltimore Director, among other significant positions

In addition to his engineering endeavors, Marco dedicates his free time to serving various organizations. Currently, he holds the roles of President/CEO and Chairman of the Board at the Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (MDHCC), a position he assumed in April 2019. Under his leadership, Marco has initiated significant growth at MDHCC, increasing membership from 89 to 1,100 during his first term. In his current second term, he aims to expand membership further to 5,000 by 2027, utilizing a strategy that combines organic growth with new Associate Members. Marco's vision for MDHCC includes the implementation of impactful new programs such as Mentoring, Education, Growth, Partnership, Promotion/Marketing, Procurement Advisory, International Business Marketing, and Networking. Additionally, he and his team have established the Maryland Hispanic Foundation Scholarship Program, managed through the newly formed Maryland Hispanic Foundation. This program offers scholarships to high school, college, graduate, and trade school students, as well as supports special charitable projects. Organizations are invited to collaborate with MDHCC to fund these scholarships.

Erika Baez-Grimes, CM&AP is a nationally recognized, award winning M&A advisor, SMB investor, and deal maker with more than 15 years of experience leading high stakes negotiations and structuring complex transactions. Erika is proud to have built a reputation for strategic positioning, disciplined negotiation, and maximizing enterprise value.

For the past 6 years, she served as a principal sell side broker within the largest business brokerage organization in the world, earning distinction for delivering premium outcomes for founders and family-owned businesses.

At a pivotal point in her career, Erika transitioned from advisor to owner & founded a boutique advisory platform focused on educating Main Street and lower middle market companies on the preparation, structure, and grit it takes to execute successful transitions. Today, she advises family held businesses and growth minded owners across the globe on valuation strategy, deal structure, buyer positioning, and legacy planning.

In addition to her M&A work, Erika actively invests in small businesses,  teaches Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition and Scaling Through Acquisition. She trains entrepreneurs, operators, and investors worldwide on how to acquire, scale, and transition companies using disciplined acquisition frameworks. Her work centers on ownership, leverage, wealth creation through acquisitions, and decisive execution. She has educated and mentored aspiring buyers across multiple cohorts, helping them move from employee to owner.

Erika is also deeply embedded in the Vistage Worldwide Inc. ecosystem. As a market leader, she works closely with CEOs, Key Leaders, and business owners, helping place qualified executives into Vistage peer advisory groups where they gain access to confidential, high-level decision-making forums and peer to peer executive development. She serves as a strategic connector between growth minded CEOs and the Vistage community, strengthening executive networks and elevating leadership capacity internationally.

An entrepreneur at heart, Erika founded a payment processing company in 2014. Following the post pandemic economic shift, she transitioned the CEO role to her husband while remaining strategically involved. To date, the company has helped clients process multi-millions and they continue to achieve steady year over year growth.

Erika’s roles on Main Street, inspired her to dedicate free time to serving various profit and Non-profit organizations.

Currently, she holds 2 board roles with eyes on strengthening the economic landscape in the community.  Her work has always sat at the intersection of M&A, valuating, growth, executive leadership, and peer group development.  And she will continue to stay committed to helping business owners build enterprise value, execute strategic exits, step into ownership with clarity and confidence and identify CEO communities to help them flourish!

Originally from western Pennsylvania, I joined Sinclair Ventures in Hunt Valley, Maryland in September 2025 as Principal, overseeing the private equity, venture capital, and real estate portfolios while helping shape the firm's long-term investment strategy. This role builds on 20+ years leading strategic investments, including direct control buyouts in the lower/mid middle market.

Jonathan is a life sciences entrepreneur and inventor and is the founding CEO of 20/20 Biolabs, a Maryland based diagnostics company that develops and commercializes tests to prevent and detect cancers and chronic diseases. This month 20/20, which has seen over 10 consecutive quarters of sales growth, announced its plans to merge with Longevity Health Holdings, a NASDAQ company seeking to growth its healthy aging business through a combination of organic growth and M&A.

McKeever “Mac” Conwell II is a software engineer by trade and was a former DOD contractor with a top-secret clearance. He was a two-time founder with an exit. Next Mac moved on to venture capital via the Maryland Technology Development Corporation as part of their Seed Investment Team. Mac went on to found RareBreed Ventures in 2020.

Luke Cooper is Partner at San Francisco-based Preface Ventures, and Founder and CEO of Latimer Ventures.Luke sold his previous venture, Fixt, to Assurant. He raised over $6MM in Series A funding, and delivered an Enterprise SaaS product used by millions of end users. Luke served as VP, Global Growth, Alternative Service Delivery at Assurant following the transition. Luke advises dozens of high growth companies, and is a trusted advisor to investors, business leaders, start-up founders, academia, and government leaders. Luke currently serves as the President's Distinguished Scholar at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. He has previously been a member of the Maryland TEDCO Board of Directors, and was the Entrepreneur in Residence at Georgetown University.

Billy Duffy joined Acacia Partners as a Principal in 2021. Prior to joining Acacia, Billy was a Director with KPMG Corporate Finance LLC and a Vice President with M&T Investment Banking Group, where he advised clients on mergers, acquisitions, and capital raising transactions. Billy has diverse industry experience including business services, niche manufacturing, transportation and logistics, and healthcare services. Prior to investment banking, Billy worked in the audit practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Billy graduated with high honors from Bucknell University with a BSBA in Accounting.

Joe serves as Market President of Fulton Bank in DelMarVa. He joined the bank in 2014. He is a native Baltimorean with 40 years of financial services experience in the market. Joe attended Calvert Hall College High School before graduating from Towson University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Economics. Continuing education includes the Columbia University Graduate School of Business / Executive Education Program and completion of Leadership programs in Anne Arundel and Harford Counties, MD. Joe is very engaged in the Baltimore Metro community, currently serving in the following roles: Chairman / Board of Directors, Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake, Inc. (also a member of their Executive & Human Resource Committees); Board of Directors, Greater Baltimore Committee; Board of Directors, Maryland Business Round Table for Education; Y Community Engagement Committee, The Y of Central Maryland.

As an advisor to high-net-worth families and institutions, Michael focuses on the creation and implementation of investment portfolios that are customized to the goals and objectives of his clients. He is directly responsible for investment portfolio construction as well as day to day management of client portfolios. Additionally, Michael serves on Fulton Private Bank’s Investment Policy Committee which determines the firm’s strategic and tactical asset allocation policies in alignment with Fulton’s core investment outlook.

Michael holds the designation of Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor (CTFA). He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Towson University, a Master of Finance degree from the D'Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern University, and a Master of Liberal Arts from the Krieger School of Arts & Sciences at Johns Hopkins University.

Doug Falk, MS, co-founded and joined Vita Therapeutics, Inc. as Chief Executive Officer in 2019. Prior, he spent six years in the investment world with a particular focus in biotechnology at Brown Advisory, where he was a principal, Merrill Lynch, and Lazard. He was also involved in the formation of Regron Therapeutics, a Johns Hopkins spin, and currently sits on the board of directors. In addition to his work at Vita, Doug is actively involved in the venture capital scene, serving as a venture partner for Riptide Ventures. He received his MS from Johns Hopkins University in biotechnology and his BA from Goucher College in economics and business management.

Josh Finifter joined Access Holdings in 2020 and serves as a Managing Director on the Investment Team, where he leads and supports thesis development, origination, execution, and portfolio management. Previously, he served in various investment and financial roles at Corridor Capital, Raymond James and PwC. He earned an honors degree from the University of Maryland and is a Baltimore native.

Yair is the President of SmartLogic, a company that creates data-driven web and mobile software applications.

Michael Ginsberg brings over 25 years of experience in the construction industry, where he serves as the Executive Vice President at Chesapeake Contracting Group. With a proven track record of strategic leadership, preconstruction and project management, Michael oversees the company’s construction operations. Michael graduated from the University of Maryland Robert H. Smith School of Business and was a pitcher on the baseball team.

Sean joined Klein Enterprises in January 2017 and serves as the firm’s Chief Investment Officer. In this role, he oversees the sourcing, evaluation, and management of investment opportunities across Klein’s expanding portfolio. His responsibilities span the full investment lifecycle, including development, acquisitions and dispositions, deal structuring, financing, investor relations, and firm-wide capital raising.

Prior to joining Klein Enterprises, Sean spent more than a decade in the hedge fund industry in New York, where he held both trading and analytical roles. He earned an M.B.A. in Finance and Real Estate from New York University’s Leonard N. Stern School of Business and a B.A. in Political Science from Northwestern University.

Sean resides in Pikesville, Maryland with his wife, Stacey, and their two children, Jake and Brielle. He is actively involved in his community, currently serving on the Board of the Krieger Schechter Day School, the Real Estate Committee of the Associated Jewish Federation of Baltimore, and contributing to the asset allocation strategy of the Klein Family’s Charitable Foundation. Outside of work and his charitable commitments, Sean enjoys traveling and spending time with his family, often chauffeuring his children to a full schedule of youth sports and activities.

Anita joined Arctaris in 2020 and serves as Principal of the Baltimore Market.  She leads the sourcing, due diligence and execution of debt and equity investment opportunities in Baltimore. Anita has over 25 years of experience as a private equity investor and has made direct investments in an array of sectors leading transactions that total in excess of $300 million.

Prior to joining Arctaris, Anita was co-founder and Managing Director of Graham & Associates, a company that assembled and partnered with professionals experienced in assisting management teams in developing processes to meet operational and financial objectives, identifying the appropriate source of capital to support the management team’s goals, and performing internal operational and financial audits to insure that the goals are being met.

Harold Green is a serial entrepreneur. His latest endeavor involves writing VM0039, a patented carbon emissions offset Methodology in the transportation/construction industry. GE is both a Project Developer and seller of carbon emissions in the Voluntary market.

Brad, a former Lead Clinical Research Specialist at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, is now leading the way in offering physical therapists a fresh approach to effectively and sustainably alleviate the negative impacts of foot drop. Over the past decade, he has worked alongside his co-founders to secure several research grants, establishing a solid and secure foundation for the company.

Craig Heron advises municipalities, agencies, authorities and 501(c)(3) organizations in connection with public finance transactions, as well as counsels companies on loans and provides opinions on corporate and real estate transactions. Craig represents these clients as bond counsel and borrower’s counsel in both tax-exempt and taxable financings in public offerings and direct placements, including deals in which small and rural towns receive money from state and federal agencies. Craig also serves as underwriter’s counsel. Public universities and other institutions also rely on Craig for advice with respect to tax-exempt and taxable financings of student housing and mixed-use facilities, including through public-private partnerships.

In addition to his public finance work, Craig represents non-profit and corporate clients who are seeking to borrow money to support their ongoing business goals. His work in this area includes preparing, negotiating and reviewing loan documentation. Craig also regularly serves as Maryland local counsel by providing legal opinions in connection with corporate and/or real estate transactions. 

Fred joined Harbor Investment Advisory is 2014 as President and a Managing Principal.

As President, Fred works closely with our COO & CFO in creating, communicating, and implementing Harbor’s vision, mission, and overall direction. Fred’s priority is to be a business partner to our advisors and help them better serve their clients by developing their competencies and operating more efficient practices.

Fred started his career as a Financial Advisor with Shearson Lehman Brothers in 1987. Since 1992, he held various management positions within the organization and its successor firms. By 2004, Fred was a Managing Director with Smith Barney with oversight of Operations, Risk, Administration and Revenue at the Complex and Branch office levels. These assignments covered businesses ranging in size from $7 million in revenues with 50 employees to $160 million in revenues with 300 employees. From 2011 to 2013, Fred served on the Branch Manager Advisory Council to senior management within Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Fred has been recognized by On Wall Street magazine as one of the top 100 Branch Managers in the Industry for 5 consecutive years.

Over the past three decades, Fred’s experience as both a Financial Advisor and in Management, have allowed him to gain invaluable experience and competency in addressing the vast array of wealth planning and investment management challenges faced by wealthy families.

James Jones is a 20-year veteran of the commercial bank industry, serving as the Fulton Bank middle market banking execute for MD, DC, & VA. Throughout his professional career, he has also been a business owner/operator entrepreneur with businesses in several industries, founded a private equity fund, and ran a platform company for a PE firm. These experiences provide a unique perspective to commercial banking.

At Gridiron Capital, Sean focuses on developing new business partnerships, marketing, communicating with business owners, and managing investment sourcing and exit planning. Prior to joining Gridiron Capital, Sean served as vice president at BB&T Capital Markets in Richmond, Virginia. His responsibilities at BB&T included executing mergers and acquisitions advisory for middle-market businesses, as well as establishing and strengthening business development relationships with middle-market investors. Earlier in his career, Sean worked at Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank.

Lee is managing partner of Smart Business Network Inc., a national events, media and marketing company founded in 1989, primarily responsible for expanding the company’s Aspire deal-making conference throughout the U.S. He plays a key role in establishing corporate policies and developing long-term strategy and growth plans. Previously, he founded and chaired the Growth Group at national law firm Arter & Hadden LLP (now Tucker, Ellis & West), which focused on working with middle-market and high-growth technology companies. 

Creating ways for people to interact socially without barriers such as gender, age or athletic ability. With leagues, events, and team building activities. Using various social media outlets to market this idea of Get Social, Get Fit & Get Connected in our 6 markets.

Taking Social media to real life, I started and manage several Brands in 6 markets (NYC, SF, Denver, Baltimore, Seattle & Charleston SC. We currently offer Bocce, Kickball, Soccer, Flag Football, Skeeball, Cornhole, Volleyball, Basketball, Dodegball & Sailing Leagues and one off events. It's a great way to get in shape, network or a company outing.

Recognized as one of the region's leading technology attorneys and ranked by Chambers for his corporate expertise, he represents clients ranging from entrepreneurs to Fortune 500 companies on commercial transactional matters. His practice focuses on helping businesses improve their core functions through legal counsel in areas including financing, mergers and acquisitions, venture capital investments, and general corporate matters.

Bill has established himself as an expert in managing and developing commercial technology strategies, providing representation on complex business transactions such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, electronic commerce, outsourcing, and intellectual property management. His unique value stems from his executive business and technology management background, having worked for one of North America's largest book manufacturers and a major global ocean carrier before becoming an attorney, where he developed software and managed major vendor contracts.

A cum laude graduate of the University of Baltimore School of Law with a B.A. in Computer Science from Brown University, Bill has received numerous professional recognitions including being named Lawyer of the Year for Information Technology Law in Baltimore multiple times (2019-2022) and for Copyright Law in 2024. He is a frequent business and technology law columnist for publications including the Legal Times, National Law Journal, Baltimore Business Journal, and The Daily Record.

Charles McCusker is the Managing Partner of the Patriot Capital Group and is one of the founders of Patriot Capital I, Patriot Capital II, Patriot Capital III, and Patriot Capital IV.

Prior to Patriot Capital, Mr. McCusker was a General Partner of the ServiceMaster Venture Fund, a highly successful portfolio of focused private equity investments in consumer services, for-profit education, application software, and business e-commerce industries.

Mr. McCusker also founded and held several operating executive positions, including President and Chief Operating Officer of a joint venture between The ServiceMaster Company (SVM) and Kleiner Perkins.

Mr. McCusker has also served as the Chair of the Small Business Investor Alliance, the leading industry association for lower and middle market private equity firms, and currently serves on the Board of the University of Chicago’s Private Equity Council for the Booth School of Business. 

Ryan was previously a partner at Ember Capital (fka Nomura Mezzanine), a private credit manager which managed a ~$350 million mezzanine fund sponsored by Nomura in addition to ~$200 million for senior debt investments. Before joining Nomura in early 2005 to help launch its private credit investment business, Ryan was an investment professional at AIG-MezzVest, a ~$750 million mezzanine fund sponsored AIG. Earlier in his career, he was an investment banker at HSBC and at Stephens Inc. Ryan has an MBA from HEC Paris and a BA from Vanderbilt University

Mary Morris brings over two decades of experience in economic development, with a strong focus on emerging technologies, entrepreneurship, and community advancement. Currently, Mary serves as Director of the Baltimore Fund at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), funding early-stage companies. Her outreach, programming, and mentorship work for the BioPark is helping to build a vibrant, inclusive innovation ecosystem in Baltimore.

Chuck Morton, the Managing Partner of Venable's Baltimore Office, supports privately held businesses and their owners thrive in a constantly evolving business environment. As part of Maryland's largest law firm, he and his team provide practical guidance to help you seize your greatest opportunities and navigate your most complex challenges.

Kimberly Noonan, PhD  is a scientific co-founder of marrow infiltrating lymphocyte (MIL) technology. Dr. Noonan, along with Ivan Borrello, MD have pioneered the use of MILs cell therapy. This therapy is showing promise for patients with multiple myeloma, but their research indicates that this personalized cell therapy would be beneficial in treating a variety of blood and bone marrow cancers as well as solid tumors. Dr. Noonan received her BS in Microbiology and PhD in Immunology from the University of Pittsburgh. She also holds an MPH from Johns Hopkins University.

Dr. Noonan is published author on many peer-reviewed papers, review articles and book chapters and holds many patents. She joined the faculty of Johns Hopkins University in 2004. Along with being the founder, EVP and CSO and current CEO of WindMIL Therapeutics, Dr. Noonan has also founded two other biopharma startups in the cancer vaccine and bispecific spaces as well as two in the cell manufacturing space. She has served as an consulting advisor to several mid to large biopharma companies. Dr. Noonan currently serves as the CEO of WindMIL Therapeutics, CSO of Nacelle Bio and is a consultant for several other groups in the cell and gene therapy space.

Nate O’Brien, CVA, CEPA, is Director of Business Valuation and Exit Planning at KatzAbosch. He advises middle-market business owners and their advisors on valuations for transactions and strategic decision-making. Taking a valuation-first approach to exit planning, Nate helps owners explore third-party sales, internal transfers, and ESOPs, guiding them through their options while aligning value, timing, and deal readiness with market expectations.

Ted Olsen is a serial entrepreneur and operations executive. He is currently a principal at Neowise, a product development company. Olsen also serves on the board of Astek Diagnostics, is a partner at BLU Venture Investors and Next Gen Venture Partners. Previously, he was co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Aqualith Advanced Materials. Prior to Aqualith, Mr. Olsen was the founder and CEO of PathSensors, where he led the sale to Smiths Group in 2020. Earlier in his career he was Chief Operating Officer at Innovative Biosensors. In the late 1990’s, Olsen was one of the early employees at Corvis Corporation, a Columbia, MD telecommunications company which raised $1.2B via a public offering in 2000.

Ted spent the early part of his career with Corning, working through a series of management roles in glass, ceramics, and telecommunications. His career focused on product / process development and manufacturing operations.

Mr. Olsen served for seven years on the State of Maryland’s Life Science Advisory board. He is an advisor and mentor to Georgetown University’s start-up accelerator;TechStars Equitech Accelerator;The Tech Council of Maryland;The Biotechnology Institute of Maryland;and Baltimore City Community College’s biotechnology program. He is an engineering graduate from The Catholic University of America.

Bringing three decades of experience in investments, commercial banking, and advisory, Chris Oven offers a well-rounded perspective on business valuation and strategic decision-making. His career has spanned both publicly traded and privately held companies, where he has worked closely with business owners to navigate challenges, assess opportunities, and drive long-term value creation. 

Chris holds an MBA from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University and a BS from the University of Scranton. He is also an Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA) in Business Valuation and has shared his expertise as an adjunct professor at Loyola University’s Sellinger School of Business. 

As founder of Legacy Wealth Capital Group, Tyrus now leads a team that has guided entrepreneurs to raise more than $300 million in growth capital, optimize EBITDA margins by double digits, and prepare for premium exits. Tyrus’ thought leadership has been featured in Forbes, and founder‑focused podcasts worldwide. Offstage, he mentors veteran founders, invests in small‑cap acquisitions, and champions financial literacy in underserved communities. His north star is simple: freedom, mastery, and truth for himself and every entrepreneur he serves.

Phil Tulkoff is the third generation of Tulkoff's to lead the company and has been the President for the last 20 years. He holds a degree in mechanical engineering and an MBA. Prior to joining the business, he spent 11 years in aerospace engineering and 11 in computer consulting.

Elliott is responsible for strategic leadership of the company, including long-range goals, vision, mission, policies, and fiscal direction. Wiley has 30 years of management experience in the industry and has directed, written and produced hundreds of video, film, radio, web, and print projects. Wiley is knowledgeable in all creative and technical aspects of broadcast, Internet and print production with public and private sector institutions and has taught on the university level. A graduate of Howard University, Wiley received MBA executive leadership training at Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business.

He is Chair of the Education Committee of the American Advertising Association of Baltimore Board of Directors, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, a member of the Baltimore Greater Baltimore Committee’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Committee and is active with other civic and charitable organizations.

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 with upwards of 500 attendees, featuring VIP guests, speakers, exciting presenting companies, and the best CXO to CXO networking on the East Coast. Since 2012, over 1200 companies have presented, half of whom have received funding from investors from the CONNECTpreneur investor network.

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.