Marco V. Ávila, P.E.

President, CEO & Chairman of the Board, Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Vice President, Civil Engineers, WSP

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.

Kristen Barr

President & CEO
Versatility

Kristen D. Barr is an accomplished technology executive and consultant with over 20 years of leadership experience spanning multi-scale corporate environments, public sector organizations, and entrepreneurial ventures. Her key areas of expertise include IT Program Management and System Delivery, Agile Coaching and Transformation, and Strategic Advisement. Since launching her career at J.P. Morgan, she has built a proven track record of spearheading complex enterprise initiatives, leading cross-functional teams, and driving measurable business outcomes.

Kristen is the Founder and President of Versatility, an IT and Management Consulting firm specializing in Business and Digital Transformation. Versatility provides tailored products and services designed to accelerate modernization, foster operational efficiency, enhance scalability, and ensure sustainable success. The company has developed innovative solutions and generated valuable impact for clients across multiple industries including Technology, Financial Services, Healthcare, and Government, among others.

Jack Cavanaugh

Partner
Brown Advisory

Jack is a partner of Brown Advisory and senior advisor on the firm's private client team. During his tenure, Jack has served as Head of the Private Client Business, Private Client Chief Operating Officer, Head of Baltimore Private Client, and both a member of the firm's Executive Committee and the Private Client Leadership Team. Prior to joining Brown Advisory in 2010, Jack served as Chief Executive Officer of Cavanaugh Capital Management (CCM), a fixed income investment management firm. Prior to joining CCM in 2002, Jack spent 11 years in marketing and sales roles for Morgan Stanley Investment Management, AOL Time Warner, The New York Times Co., and Young & Rubicam, all in New York.

Parker Davis

Partner
Slate Capital Group

Parker is a Partner of Slate Capital Group, a private equity group focused on partnering with lower-middle market companies. Parker is engaged in all aspects of Slate, including business development, capital raising, portfolio company management, board representation, and investment realizations. Parker has been in private equity for over 20 years. Parker also spent six years in investment banking at Merrill Lynch in New York, where he was responsible for relationships with several client accounts and was directly involved in over 40 completed transactions with an aggregate value of over $30 billion, including public and private offerings of debt and equity, mergers, acquisitions, and advisory assignments.

Billy Duffy

Principal
Acacia Partners

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 Durham

Market President
Fulton Bank

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.

Douglas Falk

Co-founder and CEO
Vita Therapeutics

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.

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.

Yair Flicker

President
SmartLogic

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

Paul Fox

Managing Director
Harbor Investment Advisory, LLC

Paul began his career in the investment services industry in 1993. Prior to joining Harbor Investment Advisory, he was a Senior Vice President and Alternative Investment Director at Morgan Stanley. He earned his BBA in Finance and Master of Science in Finance degrees from Loyola University in Maryland.

Paul currently holds the designations of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst®, Certified Investment Management Analyst ® and Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor®. He was named a Financial Times Top 400 Financial Adviser in 2014 and 2015.

Anita Graham

Principal, Baltimore Market
Arctaris Impact Investors

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

Ecopreneur
Global Emissionairy, LLC

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.

Deborah Hemingway

Managing Partner
Ecphora Capital

Dr. Deborah Hemingway, as the Founder and Managing Partner of Ecphora Capital in Baltimore, spearheads this Baltimore-based venture capital firm focused on medtech and diagnostics. She boasts an impressive entrepreneurial background, having founded, funded, or served on the boards of 53 startups. Dr. Hemingway holds a Ph.D. in Biophysics from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Kathryn Doran Hickey

Member
McDonald Hopkins LLC

Kathryn is a Member in the Business Department at McDonald Hopkins and part of the Firm’s Mergers and Acquisitions Practice Group. Her practice is focused on representing companies across a broad range of industries in various types of domestic and international transactions, including buyers and sellers in complex mergers and acquisitions, business restructurings, asset purchase and sale transactions, and equity purchase and sale transactions. Kathryn also represents companies and investors in venture capital and angel investment transactions and has extensive experience with M&A transactions in the government contracting and healthcare industries.

John Ireland

President
Upfront Analysis

John Ireland is a serial entrepreneur and seasoned executive with 30+ years of experience who helps companies of all sizes and industries with finance, business development, and strategic services. A practicing fractional CFO and business owner.

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 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.

Charles McCusker

Managing Partner
Patriot Capital Group

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 McGovern

Managing Director & Investment Committee Member
Star Mountain Capital

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

Brian Meltzer

Partner
Saul Ewing LLP

Brian Meltzer advises businesses in the technology, retail, and life sciences sectors on legal issues connected with transactions that facilitate their strategic growth. Companies ranging from start-ups to established enterprises operating as public and private companies rely on his counsel in mergers and acquisitions as well as private equity and venture capital financing deals. He also represents private equity groups, venture capital groups, investors and investment firms in these transactions.

Clients also look to Brian to provide outside general counsel services on contracts, operational, organizational and employment matters, corporate governance and other legal issues. He brings an analytical, problem-solving mindset to this work and navigates clients through their unique issues on a journey aligned with their business goals and expectations.

Chuck Morton

Partner
Venable LLP

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.

Joe O'Rourke

Vice President; Banker
J.P. Morgan Private Bank

Ted Olsen

Principal
Neowise, LLC

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.

Rhonda Overby

Chairman & CEO
Camera Ready, Inc.

Rhonda Overby is an investor, board director, and founder/CEO of Camera Ready, a strategic communications company that aligns mission, vision, and message(s) with target audiences to achieve.  Overby guided Camera Ready to profitability in year-one and has successfully managed through rapid, unprecedented, global industry changes by embracing them as opportunities to pivot. Experienced as director, advisor, and public communicator, Overby thrives upon evolving and adding value.

Stanley Rodos

Partner
Crate Capital

Stanley is a Partner at Crate Capital, an investment firm focused on buying, building, and operating exceptional small businesses.

Prior to founding Crate Capital, Stanley worked at Clairvest, a private equity firm investing out of its $1.2B Fund VII, where he was responsible for investments in distribution and industrial services businesses. Stanley joined Clairvest from Evercore, where he was a Vice President in the M&A group.

Earlier in his career, Stanley led the growth of a national surface coverings distributor, working with the owner to professionalize the business, strengthen the management team, and expand into adjacent products and markets, ultimately doubling the company's sales over four years.

Stanley earned an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, where he graduated as a Zell Fellow, and his HBA with distinction from Ivey Business School at Western University in Canada.

Scott Rottmann

Director
SC&H

Scott works with CEOs, CFOs, Boards, and Executive Leadership teams to optimize organizations, providing strategic guidance on due diligence, valuation, and post-transaction integration. With a hands-on leadership style, he drives global initiatives by aligning people, process, technology, and data to maximize efficiency and results.

Before joining SC&H in April 2024, Scott held leadership roles at EY, Deloitte, and MorganFranklin Consulting, where he advised clients on complex transactions, business transformation, and strategic growth initiatives. His experience spans industries and business functions, positioning him as a trusted advisor for organizations seeking to drive sustainable value.

Scott earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Ohio University and a Master of Science in Accounting and Accounting Information Systems from George Mason University. He is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Beyond his professional work, Scott serves on the Board of Directors for the National Capital Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), supporting efforts to fund research and improve the lives of those affected by Type 1 diabetes.

John Sheets

President & CEO
Pantheon Vision

John W Sheets, Jr., Ph.D. is a business and technical leader in the medical device, pharmaceutical and biotech industries. John has been recognized for delivering innovative products through efficient product development, strong collaborations with customers, executional focus and building organizational teamwork. He has also mentored and developed numerous staff members who have attained significant leadership roles.

Rick Steiner

Senior Vice President & Commercial Banking Manager
First National Bank

Mac Tisdale

President, Mid-Atlantic Region
FNB Corporation

Mac Tisdale is President, Mid-Atlantic Region for First National Bank. With strong and relevant experience, Mac joined First National Bank in January 2013 as President of the Bank’s Maryland Region. In addition to coordinating Corporate and Business Banking and the overall business strategy in the Bank’s Mid-Atlantic Region, Tisdale manages the integration of sales by Retail Banking, Investment Real Estate, Asset Based Lending, Private Banking, Wealth Management, Investment and Insurance professionals.

Prior to joining First National Bank, Tisdale served for 12 years with SunTrust Bank in Baltimore, Maryland, as Market President and Commercial Banking Manager.

Tisdale earned an M.B.A. in Finance from Maryland’s Johns Hopkins University, as well as a B.A. in Economics from Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. Currently, he serves as a member of the board of directors for the Greater Washington Board of Trade, the executive committee of the Greater Baltimore Committee, Downtown Partnership of Baltimore, Living Calssrooms and Junior Achievement. He is also Chairman of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Maryland Chapter. In addition, he is also the past president of both the Maryland Chapter of Association for Corporate Growth and Washington and Lee University’s Alumni Association, Baltimore Chapter.

Philip Tulkoff

President & CEO
Tulkoff Food Products, Inc.

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.

Tien Wong

Chairman & CEO
Opus8, Inc.

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.