AZ Abiud

Founder & CEO
Acumen Companies

AZ Abiud, a trailblazing entrepreneur, has carved a distinguished path in the business world with three remarkable exits, demonstrating his exceptional ability to identify and cultivate lucrative opportunities. His journey into entrepreneurship began at just seventeen years old, marking the start of a storied career defined by innovation and success. While still in college, AZ launched a PropTech property management platform, a venture that masterfully utilized master leasing agreements with landlords to sublet properties to students. This early endeavor not only showcased his entrepreneurial acumen but also led to his first million net revenue before the age of twenty-one.

AZ's business ventures have consistently broken ground and garnered widespread recognition. His development company was listed as one of the top five fastest-growing real estate firms by Inc. Magazine in 2013, a remarkable achievement for any entrepreneur. Further accolades followed, with Blackbusiness.org naming AZ’s company among the top five Black-owned fast-growing companies in the United States in 2015. AZ's entrepreneurial spirit continued to thrive with Acumen Capital, which ranked second on INC. 5000's fastest-growing companies in D.C. in 2016 and was also recognized by Inc. Magazine as the fastest-growing company led by an African-American nationwide.

Ethan Assal

Managing Partner
CYwP Fund

Ethan Assal is managing partner of CYPF Manager, LLC, CYPF Manager III, LLC, CYPF Manager IV, LLC, CYPF Manager V, LLC, CYPF Manager VI, LLC and CYPF Manager VII, LLC, each of which manages its related CYwP Fund.

Before establishing CYWP Fund, Assal founded and served as Chairman and CEO of Multi-Media Holdings, Inc. (MHI). In 2000, the Washington Business Journal ranked MHI as the largest advertising firm in Washington, DC. At MHI, Assal grew capitalized billings to $400 million and managed a staff of 600 employees in offices across five states. He negotiated more than $50 million in a combination of mezzanine and equity financing and oversaw a mergers and acquisitions program that successfully purchased and integrated more than 20 competitors’ firms. Prior to MHI, Assal founded Personalities, Inc. while still in college. Assal directed all licensing, marketing, product development and manufacturing. Under his leadership, the company grew to be the largest manufacturer and distributor of non-apparel licensed rock n’ roll merchandise. In the 1980s, Personalities, Inc. shipped more than one million buttons and key chains per month to major retailers for bands including The Police, Duran Duran, AC/DC, Grateful Dead and The Rolling Stones. Assal sold the business in 1986 at the age of 25.

A graduate of Brandeis University and the Harvard Business School OPM Program, Assal is an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award winner and served as a judge for the prestigious award for several years. He also is a recipient of the Washington Business Journal’s “Forty under Forty” award and the Mass Mutual Blue-Chip Award. Assal is an active member of the Washington-Baltimore World Presidents’ Organization.

Robert Berdanier

Managing Director
Riveron

Robert Berdanier is a Managing Director in Riveron’s Business Restructuring & Turnaround Services practice. His focus is on middle-market companies, both distressed and healthy, seeking financial and operational improvement through interim leadership and re-organization. Robert is a seasoned restructuring professional, with significant experience in the manufacturing, distribution & hospitality.

Bill Bien

Founder
Contracts.ai

Bill co-founded and leads Contracts.ai, a native AI company that provides automatic contract-to-business reconciliation to improve working capital, lower costs, & increase revenues. He has also served as a CEO of high tech & industrial growth stage & enterprise companies, and as a CMO & Strategy Officer for publicly traded companies. Experience in turnarounds, revenue growth, P&L improvement, team building, fundraising, IPOs, and M&A & leading teams in USA, Europe, Greater China, Australia, and South America.

Melissa Bradley

CEO & GP
New Majority Ventures

Melissa L. Bradley is CEO of New Majority Ventures and General Partner of the BEA Venture Fund. She is also the Managing Director of Entrepreneurship Initiatives at the Black Economic Alliance Foundation. Melissa is a renowned entrepreneur and the driving force behind many ventures, including most recently 1863 Ventures and the exited tech platform Ureeka. Her vision is to foster responsible entrepreneurship, reshape the support and narrative around New Majority founders, and drive meaningful change in the entrepreneurial landscape.

Kenneth Brown

Founder, President, & Managing Partner
Lionchase North America

Chris Buffone

Director
IMB Partners

Chris joined IMB in 2025 and is the Director of Business Development. In his 10-year career, Chris has worked in investment banking, capital markets, research and business development.

Prior to IMB, Chris was a Vice President with 890 5th Avenue Partners, where he was responsible for originating, evaluating, and negotiating transactions across various special purpose acquisition companies. Before 890 5th Avenue Partners, Mr. Buffone worked as an Investment Banking Associate at Landmark Ventures, where he focused on buy-side and sell-side M&A, and equity and debt-capital raises for technology, media and telecommunications companies.

Mr. Buffone received his BA in American Studies from Georgetown University.

Benjamin Carson Jr.

Co-Founder and Partner
FVLCRUM Funds

Ben Carson Jr. is Co-Founder and Partner at FVLCRUM, where he is responsible for the overall guidance of the company and the portfolio. Previously, Mr. Carson served as Executive Vice President at The Warner Companies, where he led TWC Capital, a division that advised companies on mergers and acquisitions, capital structuring, capital raises, investments, insurance, and strategic planning.

Gina Carvana

Certified Business Performance Advisor
Insperity

Throughout her career in business development, account management and engineering, Gina Carvana has demonstrated a proven ability to exceed sales predictions, and client expectations. Her decade of strong executive sales experience and savvy negotiating laid the perfect groundwork for her transition to small business consulting after serving as an accomplished director of business development for various software firms, and as an award-winning software account manager for IBM Corporation.

Besides being consulting and tech savvy, Gina is expert at developing personal relationships with clients and maintaining a high level of customer satisfaction. Her interpersonal and managerial skills partner with her keen eye for detail to ensure that every deal is navigated with utmost attention and finesse.

Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Gina has deep family roots in the hometown market she knows and loves. Gina will approach your challenges with an analytical yet creative approach.

Gina is a graduate of the University of Virginia in Charlottesville with a B.S. in Systems Engineering. She also studied Liberal Arts at City of London Polytechnic in London, England. When not busy working, Gina spends her time as an involved mother and an active community member

Jennifer Colvin

Director
Stellex Capital

Ms. Colvin is a Director on Stellex's Business Development Team. Ms. Colvin joined Stellex after a career in business development with Perkins Coie, an Am Law 50 law firm, and two private equity firms - Wynnchurch Capital and Pfingsten Partners.

Mark Eklund

CEO
PulseIQ, llc

Mark has been delivering solutions to clients since the early 1980s, by combining sensor technologies and wireless connectivity with other technologies for mobile data communications and tracking of assets and personnel to Green Energy. Mark has been involved in the ASIS International community for over 20 years. He served on the board of directors for several years at the Long Island New York chapter of ASIS International, holding positions from Treasurer to Vice Chair and Chairman. He is currently on the ASIS International Foundation Board of Trustees, and previously, on the Awards Committee of ASIS International. Overall, Mark Eklund has been a successful entrepreneur and leader in the security and technology industries for several decades, and his contributions to the field continue to have a significant impact on both public and private sectors.

Ticki Favaroth

President
BOW Enterprises

Ticki Favaroth is a faith-centered CEO, strategist, and visionary founder dedicated to creating a legacy, driving purpose, and achieving transformative impact. With decades of multi-sector leadership, she champions values-based strategies that empower individuals and organizations alike. As the driving force behind HR&Co., The Wisdom Table, and The ADISA Institute—and serving as Vice President & Chief People Officer of The BOW Collective and President of BOW Enterprises—she advances growth, authenticity, and generational wealth, all anchored in clarity and service.

Deborah Fell

Managing Partner
Chief Outsiders

Deborah Fell is Managing Partner for Chief Outsiders and brings a background of consistent value creation through sales and marketing plans, people, processes, organizations, tactical ability and measurement visibility. She identifies blocks and gaps, as well as the right fractional sales and/or marketing leader for immediate and enduring success.

John Gambaccini

Partner
Womble Bond Dickinson

A Corporate and Securities Transactions partner and member of the firm’s Public Company Advisers Team, John Gambaccini has more than 20 years of experience advising middle-market public and private companies, investors and individuals in connection with mergers and acquisitions, capital and equity financings, securities regulation, joint ventures, corporate governance, and general corporate matters. His experience with clients crosses a variety of industries, including technology, health care, finance, government services, and industrial manufacturing. 

John has a particular niche in assisting private equity funds and related financial sponsor groups in domestic and international middle-market transactions. He also represents private equity portfolio companies through their life cycle, from acquisition through add-on acquisitions, growth and exit. 

A native Ohioan, John now practices law from the firm’s Tysons, Virginia office, where he is also active in the Association for Corporate Growth - National Capital Chapter (ACG) and the Alliance of Merger & Acquisition Advisors (AMAA) - DC/MD/VA chapter. He also serves as the current Managing Partner of the firm’s Tysons, Virginia office.

Michael Gold

Partner
Saul Ewing

For more than 25 years, Michael Gold has assisted clients in a wide variety of industries in corporate and transactional matters. He is a trusted advisor to general counsel, senior management and boards of directors across the country. Michael is a "closer" with a record of negotiating complex transaction to a satisfactory conclusion, focusing on his clients' business objectives.   

Michael has extensive experience with public securities markets and securities regulatory matters, particularly in the M&A, corporate governance and general disclosure and compliance areas. 

He has also advised numerous clients regarding private equity, hedge fund and venture finance transactions, representing both investors and issuers. He handles issues related to structuring complex securities transactions, and trading practices and policies within different securities markets and firms.

In addition, Michael has represented companies and individuals in numerous corporate crisis situations, has conducted internal investigations and assisted with enforcement actions brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the NYSE and FINRA (formerly the NASD). 

Prior to law school, Michael was a financial analyst for Goldman, Sachs & Co. in New York City, specializing in mortgage finance.

Dahna Goldstein

Managing Partner
Halycon Venture Partners

Dahna Goldstein is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Halcyon Venture Partners, which invests in seed stage companies in climate, health, and equitytech. Dahna's career has been focused on the intersections of entrepreneurship, technology, and impact. She has founded two impact ventures – PhilanTech and Resistance by Design – taught entrepreneurship, and written extensively about social impact.

Jennifer Goode

Managing Director, DC Market Leader
Riveron

Jennifer is the DC Market Leader for Riveron a business advisory firm with 16 Global Offices and over 1100 professionals advising CFOs, Private Equity sponsor and other key shareholders. She has worked for over 25 years providing business improvement, transaction advisory and technology enablement services for public and privately held companies. She enjoys helping clients balance people, processes, data and technology, to achieve strategic objectives. Jennifer has industry specialization in Defense Contractors, Healthcare, Technology & Media, Asset Management, Financial Services and Non-Profits.

Jennifer is on the board of Bite Me Cancer, a foundation based in Oakton, Virginia that provides support for teens going through cancer treatments. The organization also raises money for thyroid cancer research and education.

Deborah Hemingway

Managing Partner
Ecphora Capital

Dr. Deborah Hemingway is the Founder and Managing Partner of Ecphora Capital, a venture capital firm funding early-stage medtech ventures headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland. With a doctoral degree in Biophysics from the University of Maryland College Park, Dr. Hemingway brings over two decades of entrepreneurial experience to her role and held board positions for 53 startup companies. She was recognized by the UMD Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship as the 2019 Angel Investor of the Year and by the Baltimore Dealmakers Conference as a 2024 Baltimore Dealmaker of the Year.

Chadd Hunt

Partner
The HiGro Group

As Partner and Head of Origination at HiGro, Chadd has nearly 20 years of private equity and capital raising experience. He specializes in sourcing off-market deals and driving growth for portfolio companies. His expertise spans business and tech-enabled services, as well as media, and he leverages a broad network to deliver strong outcomes for investors and management.

Daniel Jakus

Associate Director
Riveron

Daniel is a dedicated professional with 10 years of business development experience. Acting as a trusted advisor, his goal is to serve clients by working with them to deliver custom solutions that transform their unique challenges and needs into opportunities for sustained growth and success. Throughout his career, he has supported a diverse range of organizations in the consumer markets, media, technology, transportation and logistics, healthcare, and industrial products industries.

Daniel Jakus earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing from Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business between 2008 and 2011.

Jason Jones

SVP, DC Market Leader
Unison Risk Advisors/RCM&D

With extensive experience leading high-growth teams, I have consistently driven impactful and innovative results across various industries. My focus is on fostering environments that challenge the status quo, aiming for outcomes that have not been achieved before. This mindset fuels my passion for innovation and excellence in every project I take on.

I thrive in roles where collaboration and direct client engagement are key. By working closely with clients, I ensure that their unique needs are understood and met, while also guiding teams to deliver solutions that exceed expectations. This approach has led to the successful scaling of businesses and the delivery of cutting-edge products and services.

Inspiring and empowering others is at the core of my leadership style. I believe that strong teams are built on mutual respect, shared goals, and open communication. By fostering a culture of collaboration, I help individuals reach their full potential, encouraging creativity and problem-solving in an environment where everyone can contribute.

Additionally, I am a staunch advocate for continuous learning and growth. Staying ahead of industry trends and encouraging ongoing personal development within my teams has been instrumental in ensuring long-term success and adaptability. This commitment to learning and evolving drives not only my own professional growth but also the growth of the teams I lead, creating sustainable success in dynamic, fast-paced environments.

Crissola Kennedy

Senior Vice President
First National Bank of Pennsylvania

Criss Kennedy, SVP, is a Team Leader of Commercial Banking with First National Bank’s Mid-Atlantic region, having joined in 2022. She has more 30 years of in the mid-Atlantic region and holds MBA from Western Illinois University. She serves in the Professional Services Council, NOVA Chamber of Commerce and holds board positions with Senwah Foundation, KDHC, and the UMD Advisory Council.

Lee M. Koury

Managing Partner
Smart Business Network Inc.

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. 

William Krusen

President
Falcon Affiliates

Will Krusen is President & CEO of Falcon Affiliates, a holding company managing mission-critical B2B service businesses generating $200M+ revenue. Formerly a Raymond James Managing Director, he has deep finance and private equity experience. He serves on boards including Mutual Assurance Society of Virginia and Dominion Financial Group. A Princeton and Harvard MBA graduate, he’s active in YPO and philanthropy. He lives in Richmond with his family.

Wright Lewis

Partner
Dunlap Bennett & Ludwig

Wright Lewis is a Partner at Dunlap Bennett & Ludwig, a mid-sized business boutique law firm with a nationwide practice. Wright's practice is focused on mergers and acquisitions, venture capital, and providing outside general counsel for matters arising throughout the business life cycle, including entity formation, governance, restructuring, contracts, equity compensation, and succession planning.

David Link

CEO
ScienceLogic

As ScienceLogic’s CEO, David used his market knowledge and customer focus to lead the ScienceLogic IT management system to dramatically exceed the needs and expectations of clients.

Prior to founding ScienceLogic in 2003, David was Senior Vice President and a corporate officer at Interliant, Inc., where he led the establishment of Interliant’s strong presence in the ASP/MSP market. He previously held senior management positions within IBM’s Software Division, leading the development of Internet commerce products.

David also spent nine years in IT solutions with CompuServe, building innovative global online communication solutions while establishing the market for business and consumer online services.

David earned his BS at Denison University.

Behzad Mansouri

Division Executive
Charles Schwab & Co.

Behzad Mansouri is a Division Executive at Charles Schwab where he helps lead the growth of the firm's UHNW and Institutional client business, across all asset classes. He serves on the Board of a VC Fund and clean energy company, complimenting his background in capital markets and investment management. An alumni of Columbia University and Harvard Business School, he has previously worked for both US and International firms including Merrill Lynch, Barclays Captial, BNY Mellon and Credit Agricole.

William McComas

Co-Founder
Jensen McComas

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.

Molly Merritts-Ricci

Counsel
Venable LLP

Molly Merritts-Ricci is an experienced transactional attorney, routinely assisting clients with mergers and acquisitions, equity and debt financing transactions, and general corporate governance. Molly has led deal teams in complex transactions across an array of industries, including technology, healthcare, heavy equipment and automotive, cybersecurity, and hospitality. She also serves as outside general counsel to private equity groups, family offices, operating companies, and new business ventures. She has extensive experience in drafting and negotiating commercial contracts, limited liability company agreements, stockholder agreements, buy-sell agreements, and other key business documents. Molly also assists companies with equity incentive grants and internal reorganizations.

Molly's practice also includes representing companies and investors in equity financing and investment transactions. In addition, she advises borrowers and lenders in debt financing transactions, including acquisition financing, working capital lines of credit, and other types of loan facilities.

Curtis Ofori

Partner
Greenhall Capital Partners

Curtis Ofori is a Partner at Greenhall Capital. Throughout his career, he has been investing in and partnering with leading businesses and management teams across technology, communications infrastructure, tech-enabled services, payments and software.

Before Greenhall, Mr. Ofori worked in the investment banking division at Morgan Stanley (TMT) and the U.S. Treasury Department. He also was on the U.S. Economics and Business Analysis (EBA) team at Booz Allen, where he primarily focused on telecom. Mr. Ofori began his career as Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and worked as an auditor at PriceWaterhouseCoopers.

Jean-Luc Park

Sr. Director Social Impact Funds
TEDCO (MD.Technology Dev. Corp.)

Jean-Luc has been investing and working with start-up companies since 1998. During that time, he had the opportunity to ride many bubbles up and down and enjoy the highs and the lows in the venture capital space. He has worked with and coached hundreds of entrepreneurs, and seen the emergence of several new industries during that time. He is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, B.S. 1994, B.A. 1994, MBA 1998.

Mali Phonpadith

Founder & CEO
SOAR Community Network

Mali Phonpadith is the Founder & CEO of SOAR Community Network, TEDx Speaker, International Best Selling Author, and Leadership Advisor. SOAR develops leaders through executive coaching, designs cohesive teams using behavioral data, and transforms workplace cultures with its C3 Culture Framework. In 2022, SOAR acquired Successful Culture International to expand leadership and talent development for mission-driven small and midsize businesses and nonprofits.

Zaria Pompey-Smith

Program Director
Nex Cubed

Zaria serves as Program Director at Nex Cubed Venture Capital Firm in San Francisco, within Washington DC. With expertise spanning software engineering, healthcare, and startup development at Amazon Web Services, she has established herself as a pivotal figure in supporting emerging entrepreneurs and fostering diversity in tech.

At Nex Cubed, Zaria specializes in connecting, building, and supporting startup founders from pre-seed to Series A stages. Zaria is a passionate ecosystem builder with a background in cloud technology and startup consulting. After college, she launched her career at Amazon Web Services as an Early Stage Startup Cloud Consultant. This experience ignited her desire to create and nurture ecosystems that facilitate resource sharing within the tech industry. Zaria's unique blend of technical knowledge and entrepreneurial insight drives her mission to foster innovation and collaboration in the startup world. Her strategic vision led to the creation of the Nex Gen Program, a successful collaboration with Harvard iLabs. As a member of Select Global Women in Tech, she continues to break barriers and create opportunities for Global Majority communities in the technology sector.

Zaria’s commitment to empowering the next generation earned her the prestigious Lanta Evans-Motte Youth Advocate Award, recognizing her substantial impact on youth and young adults under 30. This accolade reflects her dedication to career development and student enrichment, particularly through her work at the University of Maryland.

A proud graduate of North Carolina A&T State University and member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Zaria brings shared knowledge of experience from her background in tech startups and healthcare to her current/previous role and studies. She leverages this diverse expertise to amplify the voices of global majority communities in technology while advocating for mental health and wellness in the industry.

As she guides early-stage startups through the complexities of growth and development, Ms. Smith remains committed to being a catalyst for change and innovation.

Pramod Raheja

Co-Founder & CEO
Airgility

Pramod Raheja is the CEO of Airgility and an Aerospace Engineering graduate from UMCP with over 30 years of aviation/aerospace operations experience. He is an experienced entrepreneur with demonstrated success in leadership roles and a consistent history of surpassing revenue goals. He has a crazy passion for growing businesses, creating new service offerings, cultivating executive-level relationships, and strategizing with and mentoring team members. He has a comprehensive understanding of technology at a tactical and strategic level and always takes a customer-focus approach to management, new business development, revenue generation, and profitability. He is also a Graduate of the Founder’s Institute and the Entrepreneurial Master’s Program at MIT.

Sarah Remski

Partner (Tax Partner)
PwC

Sarah is a tax partner with PwC's Private Company Services team focused on providing tax consultation to privately owned companies and high net worth individuals. Her experience includes working with PwC’s National Tax Services group (NTS) in Washington DC where I worked closely with subject matter specialists in NTS including PwC’s Tax Controversy and Dispute Resolution team and the National Mergers and Acquisitions group. While working with the M&A team, Sarah focused on partnership and S Corporation compliance and consulting.

Michael Rickard

Senior Vice President
Marsh McLennan Agency

Mike is responsible for leading a team of resources to deliver the MMA Value Proposition of World Class and Local Touch experience. His clientele include companies in the government contracting, construction, information technology and artisan trade industries. He focuses his time and efforts in these areas as well as real estate and technology which are fields that align with his experience.

A native of Arlington VA, Mike is a high impact sales and marketing executive with over 25 years’ experience in sales and sales management. His professional background includes numerous management and functional roles with two Fortune 500 companies.

Nikki Rogers

CEO, Bladen Group
Host, Women Thriving in Business Podcast

Nikki is responsible for cultivating company culture and aligning strategy with our priorities of Team, Clients, and Excellence. Nikki is an experienced management consultant who has worked across manufacturing, healthcare, and government contracting industries. She is a voracious reader and passionate traveler. Nikki earned a B.S. in Accounting from North Carolina A&T State University, and dual MBA and MHA degrees from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill.

Nikki completed the Change Management Advanced Practitioner (CMAP) program at Georgetown University and the Leadership Development Program (LDP) at Johns Hopkins University and is a Project Management Professional (PMP®). Nikki is a Leadership Fairfax alum and co-chair of the LFI Program Committee.  She serves as a board director for Washington Improv Theater and on the advisory board of the UNC-CH Director Diversity Initiative (DDI).

Peter Russo, Jr.

Certified Exit Planning Advisor (r) & Managing Director-Investments
Wells Fargo Advisors

Pete runs a Certified Exit Planning Advisory team for Wells Fargo Advisors. He helps business owners and corporate executives navigate the complexities of monetizing their business in a tax efficient way that meets both theirs and their employees' goals. Throughout this process, where appropriate, he works in conjunction with an individual’s attorney, investment banker, CPA, and other advisors. He is a regular panelist at M&A events, speaking to the strategies used as executives and business owners create liquidity for themselves and employees. He is also responsible for all of his teams ongoing structures and disciplines.

Leo Scott

Managing Director
DataTribe

After a 25-year history as a technology entrepreneur, Leo is now at DataTribe helping other teams to traverse the adventurous terrain of startup land.

Previously, he co-founded three startups and guided them from inception through acquisition. Over the years, Leo has been in organizations ranging in size from two guys in a basement to thousands, building products to solve a variety of business and technology challenges. He has led high-growth, venture-backed companies and have helped to lead companies through difficult restructuring and turnaround situations. Throughout these different experiences, he has been focused on leading technology and product development in a wide variety of domains such as big-data-driven marketing technology, financial portfolio management, satellite telemetry processing, and the TV Everywhere initiative.

Specialties include: Entrepreneurship, Technology leader and architecture, Building teams, Startup strategy

Alex Seleznyov

Director
HITT Holding Corp

Alex oversees the subsidiaries of the HITT Holding Corporation and runs the Investment Committee and the Capital Allocation process for the organization.

Thomas Seneca

Managing Partner
TM Wealth Management

Hammad Shah

CEO
Clarest Health

As CEO of Clarest Health, Hammad Shah, RPh, is at the helm of the organization’s vision to embrace modern technology and Personalized Medication Management to ADVANCE PATIENT HEALTH AT EVERY STEP. With an intense focus on patients, he is charting the path for the future of pharmacy care, increasing access to better, more efficient solutions.

A pharmacist by trade and education with over 30 years of experience, Hammad’s expertise crosses disciplines, including product development, sales, process improvement, and mergers and acquisitions. Before joining Clarest, Hammad focused on corporate direction and strategy as the President and CEO of SOC Telemed, successfully growing the company’s ability to connect patients to the highest quality clinicians at the right time – regardless of proximity. Previously, Hammad championed FreseniusRX’s vision to change the practice of pharmacy from simply dispensing medications to playing an integral role in patient care as their President.

Hammad has a deep understanding of operating in rapidly changing healthcare markets. His efforts and expertise in healthcare leadership have positively impacted patients and providers by increasing access to higher-quality care and services.

Tom Springer

Managing Partner
SD Capital

With over 20 years of professional experience, Tom developed a deep, hands-on understanding of M&A and technical advisory services while working for the world's most prestigious professional services and private equity firms. He has served as a PE portfolio company CEO and a strategic advisor to the PE community and has built, run, and sold multiple companies. In addition, Tom has led or participated in numerous transactions, including small to enterprise-level M&A deals. He has considerable experience with strategic planning, business development, interim management, and technical advisory services, catering to private equity firms, portfolio companies, and public and private enterprises.

Tom creates and unlocks value, helping owners evaluate and prepare for various financial events, such as recapitalization, management buyouts, family transitions, or other forms of monetization. His unique blend of experiences as a former business owner, PE operating partner, and C-level executive equips him with the insight to maximize enterprise value and the stakeholder's benefit. 

Further, Tom is well-known for his ability to solve intricate business challenges for middle-market clients across industries. He leverages his technical knowledge in application development, cyber security, and systems integration, along with his business acumen, to create unique, out-of-the-box solutions.

Before joining Schneider Downs, Tom co-founded Springer Lawson and Associates, LLC, which assisted clients in various industries with value creation and sell-side advisory services.

Tom is married with three children and enjoys outdoor activities, youth sports, and spending time with his family. He is a U.S. Air Force Veteran and holds a B.S. in Business Administration and Computer Information Systems from North Carolina Wesleyan and an M.S. in Telecommunications from Johns Hopkins University.

Aquil Stinson

Director
Lafayette Square Partners

Aquil Stinson is a Director at Lafayette Square on the origination team covering the mid-Atlantic. Lafayette Square is a private credit fund providing growth debt capital for middle market companies. Previously, he worked for JP Morgan Chase in their middle market banking group covering Charlotte. He also spent time at Goldman, Sachs in the investment banking group trading fixed income securities for 4.5 years. Aquil is an Entrepeneur and has been an owner/operator for a logistics company.

Matthew Totsch

Chief Executive Officer
KeenLogic, LLC

Matthew Totsch is the Founder and CEO of KeenLogic and a U.S. Army veteran. Matthew has brought KeenLogic to consistent profitability through differentiation, quality management, and steady year over year growth since 2012. He has over 18 years of government sales and contracting experience, and built the company with his own capital, market intelligence, business experience, and foresight though a disciplined controlled growth strategy that relied on establishing and solidifying a foundation built on quality.

Robert Turner

Founder & CEO
Vanjure

Robert Turner is a dynamic serial entrepreneur recognized for his creativity, leadership, and unwavering pursuit of excellence to become a successful CEO and business leader. He has built and scaled multiple ventures, including Vanjure, an innovative technology company and Great Dwellings, a thriving short-term property management firm collectively generating millions in revenue.

Brian Ullsperger

Managing Director
Andersen

Brian Ullsperger has over 30 years of experience in the investment consulting industry. He focuses on providing investment consulting and wealth management services to high-net-worth individuals, families, foundations, and endowments.

Before rejoining Andersen in early 2010, Brian was a founding partner of Capital Fiduciary Advisors. Prior to that, Brian was at Charles Schwab. During his career, Brian has provided a wide variety of client services, including private and institutional consulting, wealth management, retirement and estate planning, and insurance planning.

Brian has earned advanced professional certificates from the Investment Management Consultants Association (taught in conjunction with the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania), the Center for Fiduciary Studies (taught in conjunction with the Joseph Katz School of Business, University of Pittsburgh), and the College of Financial Planning. He is a Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA), an Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF), an Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS), and a Chartered Mutual Fund Counselor (CMFC).

Brian is a frequent speaker on investment and wealth management topics.

David Wallis

CEO
NewConnect LLC

Entrepreneur having started and operated multiple companies including Management Representation with offices in the US and Europe, Travel Management company sold to a public company, software for expense management, franchise burger stores, and currently an ISP focused on business's in office buildings...largest independent ISP in the Washington region.

Casey Williams

Partner
Fenway Summer

Casey Williams is a Partner at Fenway Summer, a venture capital firm investing in early stage fintech companies.

Allison Wisniewski

Principal
The Carlyle Group

Allison Wisniewski is a Principal focused on digital infrastructure opportunities globally. She is based in Washington, D.C.

Prior to joining Carlyle, Ms. Wisniewski was an Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company, where she focused on helping clients deliver large capital projects. Her experience includes serving as restructuring advisor to a renewable energy company.

Ms. Wisniewski received an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a B.S. in industrial and systems engineering from the University of Southern California.

Tien Wong

CEO
CONNECTpreneur

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.