Entrepreneurs Panel – APRIL 18

This year’s Spring Speaker Series will come to a close on Wednesday, April 18th with our annual Entrepreneurs Panel Discussion. This year, we’ve got three awesome UMBC alumni coming to tell us what really happens after undergrad. If you’re nervous about the real world, or just curious how these wildly different entrepreneurs made a name for themselves, you’re going to want to join us!

Steve Chu ‘12

If you’ve ever indulged in the food trucks parked at UMBC’s Homecoming or Quadmania Festival, you’ve likely come across Ekiben, a delicious Asian-fusion spot that boasts the most delicious steamed buns in Baltimore. We’re excited to host Ekiben’s Chef and Co-Owner, Steve Chu, who graduated from UMBC in 2012 with a BA in Economics. Partnering with two other UMBC alumni, Steve was able to turn his hobby into a career, starting Ekiben as a food cart before opening a brick and mortar location in early 2016. Since then, the restaurant has earned high praise from local and national publications including The Baltimore Sun, Eater, Travel and Leisure Magazine, and more.

Cameron McDonald ‘16

A more recent graduate, Cameron McDonald ’16, is also joining us. After graduating with a BA in Psychology with the Entrepreneurship Minor, Cameron took a job at a small startup called Fixt, where he lead the sales efforts before starting his own business. Founded just last year, Diamond Hook Media is a consulting agency that counsels companies on web development, social media, search engine optimization, and mobile applications. In the past 6 months, Diamond Hook Media has more than doubled in size, and they now work with over a dozen regional and national brands, non-profits, and political campaigns.

Katelyn Niu ‘05

Last but not least, we’re also excited to host Dr. Katelyn Niu, who graduated with a BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in 2005. After her time at UMBC, she went to the University of Maryland School of Dentistry where she earned her DDS/Ph.D. In 2015, she started Niu Dentistry to combine her passion for health care with her interest in business. Today, Dr. Niu and her team of professionals take great pride in caring for the dental health of the families and community of Anne Arundel County.