Committee

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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 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. 

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.

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 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.

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.

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.