2021 SPEAKERS
February 24 – 12:00 -1:00 pm – To Be Held Virtually
Relentless Execution- Lessons Learned and Advice for Bootstrapping Your Way to a Successful Business
Adrian Rosebrock ’14
Click here for the replay!
March 10 – 12:00 -1:00 pm – To Be Held Virtually
Navigating the Business of Art
Justin Winkel ’13, Artist and Owner, Winkel Gallery
Click here for the replay!
April 7- 12:00- 1:00pm – To Be Held Virtually
Entrepreneurs Panel
Melanie Okoro ’11, Eric Taft ’13, and Balaji Viswanatha ’06
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Wednesday, September 29 – 12:00 -1:00 pm – To Be Held Virtually
Entrepreneurship: The Roller Coaster Ride to Unknown Outcomes
Ramya Joseph ’02
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Wednesday, October 20 – 12:00 -1:00 pm – To Be Held Virtually
Transformational Leadership: How to Build Teams that Win
Matt DiMaria ’84
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Monday, November 8 – 12:00- 1:00pm – To Be Held Virtually
Entrepreneurs Panel- Pulling Back the Curtain on the Music Industry
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2020 SPEAKERS
March 4 – 12:00 -1:00 pm – Lecture Hall 1
Social ENTR to Reduce Food Waste, Food Insecurity and Hunger
Evan Lutz, CEO and Founder of Hungry Harvest
April 8 – 12:00 -1:00 pm – University Center 312
From UMBC to Tech CEO
Delali Dzirasa ’04, CEO and Founder, Fearless
September 30 – 12:00 -1:00 pm – To Be Held Virtually
From UMBC to Tech CEO
Delali Dzirasa ’04, CEO and Founder, Fearless
October 21 – 12:00 -1:00 pm – To Be Held Virtually
Creating a Technology Business in a Traditional World
Sankarshan Murthy ’06
November 9- 12:00 -1:00 pm – To Be Held Virtually
Entrepreneurs Panel
John Rattray ’15, Founder & CEO, Sparkwear, Inc.
Lois Sarfo-Mensah ’15, Principal & Lead Planner, 3 Pillars Co.
Brittany Wight ’08, Founder & CEO, Wight Tea Company
2019 SPEAKERS
February 25 – 12:00-1:00 pm – UC Ballroom Lounge
From Engineer to Entrepreneur
Corey Fleischer, Co-Founder The Foundery and Mechanical Design Engineer
March 13 – 12:00-1:00 pm – UC 312
From Scientist to Serial Entrepreneur: An Unlikely Journey
Dr. Kimberly Brown, Founder, Amethyst Technologies LLC.
April 17 – 12:00-1:00 pm – UC 312
Entrepreneurs Panel Discussion
Josh Massey ’14 COO & Co-Founder, Ortus Academy
Dr. Donald Miner ’10 Founding Partner, Miner & Kasch
Catherine Zaranis ’10 Founder and CEO of Perform-Link LLC.
September 23 – 12:00-1:00 pm – UC 310
No, You Don’t Have to Graduate Summa Cum Laude to Start and Maintain a Successful Company
Nancy Squires – Founder and CEO, The Squires Group, Inc.
October 16 – 12:00-1:00 pm – UC 310
At the Nexus of Entrepreneurship and Artrepreneurship
Vinita Sud Belani – Founding Artistic Director, EnActeArts
November 11 – 12:00-1:00 pm – UC 312
Entrepreneurs Panel
Dr. Linda Dusman – Co-Founder, Octava LLC & Professor of Music
Scott Weber – Founder and President, Med-IQ
Brian Wolf – President of Wolf Professional Security, Inc.
2018 SPEAKERS
March 12 – 12:00-1:00 pm – UC 310
How I’ve Learned to Express My Creativity
Yair Flicker, President, SmartLogic
April 2 – 12:00-1:00 pm – UC 310
BIG: How Your BIG Thinking About Impact – and Getting Comfortable with Risk – Can Change the World
Jamie McDonald, CEO, Generosity, Inc.
April 18 – 12:00-1:00 pm – UC 312
Entrepreneurs Panel Discussion
Steve Chu ’12, Chef and Co-Owner, Ekiben
Cameron McDonald ’16, Co-Founder and COO, Diamond Hook Media
Katelyn Niu ’05, Founder and Dentist, Niu Dentistry
September 26 – 12:00-1:00pm – UC 310
Success as an Intrapreneur and Innovator in Arts and Education
Carol Bogash, President, Bogash Consulting: Creative Solutions for Arts and Education
October 17 – 12:00-1:00pm – UC 310
Life, Legacy, and Lessons Learned: The Journey of a 5th Generation Entrepreneur
Russel Fugett, President and Chief Revenue Officer, Good Word Digital
November 12 – 12:00-1:00pm – University Center Ballroom Lounge
Entrepreneurs Panel Discussion
Zhensen Huang ‘04, Founder and CEO, Precise Software Solutions, Inc.
Yasmin Karimian ‘11, Co-Founder, Suspended Brewing Company
Brendon Thach ‘16 & Erin Patterson ‘16, Co-Founders, SenkoSkipper
2017 SPEAKERS
March 1 – 12:00-1:00 pm – UC Ballroom Lounge
Making a Difference by Strengthening Families and Urban Communities
Joseph Jones ’05, Founder and CEO, Center for Urban Families
April 3 – 12:00-1:00 pm – UC Ballroom Lounge
Building a House
Paul Mangus ’86, Founder, Bart & Associates, Inc.
April 19 – 12 – 1pm – UC 312
Entrepreneurs Panel Discussion
Alex Chizhik ‘97, Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel, VIMRO, LLC
Rob Deford ‘93, Owner and President, Boordy Vineyards
Kara Redman, CEO, Backroom
September 27 – 12:00-1:00 pm – UC Room 310
Experiences and Lessons Learned Building Software Companies
Ron Gula, Partner, Gula Tech Adventures
Cyndi Gula, Partner, Gula Tech Adventures
October 16 – 12 – 1pm – UC 310
It’s Just F(ri)ckng Design
Joseph Carter-Brown, President, AIGA Baltimore and Serial Entrepreneur
November 20 – 12:00-1:00 pm – UC 310
Entrepreneurs Panel Discussion
Joseph Hyman ‘11, CEO & Founder, MoJoe Brewing Company
Tamika Payne ‘09, Co-Founder, STEM Advance
David Schleigh ‘99, Founder & Creative Director, HighRock
2016 SPEAKERS
March 2 – 12:00-1:00 pm – UC 310
Start-Ups Are Hard Work
Greg Vetter, Co-Founder, Tessemae’s All Natural
March 30 – 12:00-1:00 pm – UC 310
Turn on your Creativity
Neil Beller ’83, President, Kit & Kaboodle Productions & The Beller Group
April 20 – 12 – 1pm – UC 312
Entrepreneurs Panel Discussion
Stephanie Day ’96, Owner and CEO, Stephanie Day Events
Perry Ogwuche ’14 , Co-founder and CEO, Shypmate
Scott Townsley, President and Co-Founder, The Center for Innovation, Inc.
September 28 – 12-1pm – UC 312
The Entrepreneurial Teaching Artist
Jamaal “Mr. Root” Collier, Full time Artist
October 24 – 12 – 1pm – UC 312
Managing Growth
Brian Razzaque, CEO and founder of Social Toaster, Inc.
November 21 – 12 – 1pm – UC 310
Entrepreneurs Panel
Spencer Holmes ’05, Co-Founder and Operations Manager, PlateDate
Tom Terenyl ’03, Chief Technologist, We Are Kenya Inc. Owner & Principle Consultant, Digital Natives Consulting, Co-Founder/CTO, G2Xchange
Samantha Walls ’12, Owner and President, Leaps Ahead Learning Center
2015 SPEAKERS
March 4 – 12:00-1:00 pm – Commons 331
When Challenges Arise…. Entrepreneurs Step In
Nina Beth Cardin Founder and Director, Baltimore Orchard Project
March 30 – 12:00-1:00 pm – UC 310
So You Want To Be An Entrepreneur, Really?
Matt Tormollen Executive Vice President/General Manager, Avalara, Inc.
April 15 – 12:00 -1:00 pm – Commons 331
Entrepreneurs Panel Discussion
Dr. Kimberly Brown, Founder and CEO, Amethyst Technologies, LLC
Joseph M. Hyman ’11, CEO and Founder, MoJoe Brewing Company
Patrick Rife ’10, Innovation Entrepreneur, Pixilated, Startup Soirée
Maneet Sarai ’11, CEO/Founder, SeeFuture
September 30 – 12:00-1:00 pm – UC 310
Remixing Social Innovation
Shayla Adams
CEO and Founder, RemixEducation
October 21 – 12:00-1:00 pm – UC 310
Design Entrepreneurship: Creative People with Great Ideas
Alyson Beaton
Owner and Creative Director , Grow Studio, LLC
November 18 – 12:00 -1:00 pm – UC 310
Entrepreneurs Panel Discussion
Danielle Burnett ’05, President, Applied Technology Services
Arsham Mirshah ’08, Cofounder, WebMechanix
Mike Vess ’98, Chief Technology Officer, Kinglet
2014 SPEAKERS
March 3 – 12:00 1:00 pm – UC 310 (Canceled due to Inclement Weather)
So You Want To Be An Entrepreneur, Really?
Matt Tormollen ’87, President and Chief Executive Officer, FuelQuest
Inc., Houston, TX
April 9 – 12:00 1:00 pm – Commons 329
Entrepreneurs Panel Discussion
Les Craig, Co-Founder and VP of Analytics, RedOwl Analytics, LLC
Rodney D. Foxworth, Jr. ’07, Founding Member BMe (Black Male Engagement)
Brooke Hall, Founder and CEO, What Works Studio, Cofounder and Publisher, What Weekly, Cofounder, Light City
April 30- 12:00-1:00 pm – UC 310
“Outside the Box”: Finding Your Path as a Female Entrepreneur
Melinda Wittstock
Founder & CEO, Verifeed
October 1 – 12:00-1:00 pm – UC 310
Entrepreneurship and the Art of Self Re-invention
Shelly Blake-Plock
CEO and Co-Founder, An Estuary
October 29 – 12:00-1:00 pm – UC 310
“Crab Cakes and Tech Startups – That’s What Maryland Does”
Aaron Altscher
CEO, Handteq
November 10 – 12:00 1:00 pm – Ballroom Lounge
Entrepreneurs Panel Discussion
Dr. Joseph G. Ferko III ’88, DO ,MS, President, EMS Innovations, Inc.
Susan Malone, Executive Director, Wide Angle Youth Media
Benjamin Walsh, CEO and Founder, Pure Bang Games
2013 SPEAKERS
April 3 – 12:00 1:00 pm – Commons 329
Alumni Entrepreneurs Panel
Adrian Rosebrock, Owner/Managing Partner, Chic Engine LLC., Shifty Bits LLC.
Mary C. Slicher, Executive Director, ProjectPLASE, Inc.
Jeehye Yun, Founder and CEO, SSG (Secured Sciences Group), LLC.
April 15 – 12:00 1:00 pm – UC Ballroom Lounge
Are You Ready To Get Started?
Chris Brandenburg, Co-founder, Executive Vice President
& CTO, Millennial Media, Inc.
UMBC alumnus
April 24 – 12:00 1:00 pm – PUP 105
Embracing the Female Voice in Our Society
Deborah Randall, Artistic Director/Founder Venus Theatre
UMBC aluma
October 2 – 12:00 1:00 pm – UC 310
The 5 most critical factors for creating a successful startup
Vlad Friedman, CEO, Edgewebhosting
October 30
Me, an Entrepreneur?
Cheryl Burke DVM, CCRP founder and medical director
Paradise Animal Hospital
November 11 – 12:00 1:00 pm – Commons 331
Starting Up In Baltimore, Even If You Didn’t Go To High School Here
Lunch and Learn: Jason Hardebeck, Executive Director, The Greater
Baltimore Technology Council
2012 SPEAKERS
March 5 – 12:00 1:00 pm – UC Room 310
Social Entrepreneurship: Doing Well by Doing Good
Jamie McDonald, Co-Founder and CEO GiveCorps.com
March 28 – 12:00 1:00 pm – Commons 329
Alumni Entrepreneurs Panel
Ryan Bricklemyer, Director of Cold Ones, BeerGivr
Dr. Sheldon Broedel, Chief Executive and Science Officer, Athena Environmental Sciences, Inc.
Delali Dzirasa, Founder and President, Fearless Solutions, LLC
Nancy Krebs, Founder, The Voiceworks Studio
April 25 – 12:00 1:00 pm – Commons 331
Come Home to a Better World
BethAnn Lederer, CEO of WorkingWonders™ and LEED AP
Casey Willson, Retail Industry and Sustainability Programs Manager
October 3 – 12:00 1:00 pm – Commons 331
Artist Management: A Winding Path to a Career Managing Artists
Mike Mowery, President, Outerloop Management
October 31 – 12:00 1:00 pm – Commons 331
Product Development: If You Can Do It Better, Then You Should
Kevin Giffhorn, Founder & CEO, WeLearn Educational Software, creator of the eNotebooks note taking apps
November 12 – 12:00 1:00 pm – Commons 331
Alumni Entrepreneurs Panel
Austin Farnham, Co-Founder, Pharad, LLC
Maggie Lebherz, Owner, Lebherz Oil and Vinegar Emporium (L.O.V.E.)
Drew Westervelt, Co-Founder, Odor Balance, LLC and Partner, BactiBarrier, LLC
2011 SPEAKERS
February 28 – 12:00 1:00 pm – Commons 331
Back to Basics….How to Build a Successful Business
David Powell, Partner and Chief Operating Officer, Federal
Business Council, Inc.
March 30 – 12:00 1:00 pm – UC Ballroom Lounge
So You Want To Be An Entrepreneur?
Larry Davis, Vice President of Community Relations
SCORE
April 25 – 12:00 1:00 pm – Commons 331
Growing Green Affordable Housing in Baltimore… One Home at a Time
David Borinsky, CEO, Bridge Private Lending
Earl Johnson, Executive Director, One Green Home At A Time Foundation
September 28 – 12:00 1:00 pm – Commons 331
Bootstrapping – The Key to Creative Entrepreneurship
Chris Jeffery, CEO, LocalUp Solutions
October 26 – 12:00 1:00 pm – Commons 331
From Engineer to CoE (aka Chief of Everything)
Christopher W. Dunn, President & CEO, Applied Network Solutions, Inc.
November 14 – 12:00 1:00 pm – Commons 331
Be Your Own Boss: Alumni Entrepreneurs Panel Discussion
Stuart Z. Cohen, President of Environmental & Turf Services, Inc.
Francisco Ward, Owner of Seton Pain and Rehabilitation Center (SPRC)
November 16 – 12:00 1:00 pm – UC 310
Deam A Little Dream With Me
Heather Harvison, Director and Founder, My Sister’s Circle, Inc.
2010 SPEAKERS
March 1 – 12:00 1:00 pm – Commons 331
My Journey in the Technology Field
John McBeth, President and CEO, Next Century
March 24 – 12:00 – 1:00 – UC 310
Be Your Own Boss – Alumni Entrepreneurs Panel Discussion
April 28 – 12:00 – 1:00 – Commons 331
The Challenge and Excitement of Being a Student AND a CEO
September 29 – 12:00 – 1:00 – Commons 331
Algae: From Scientific Curiosity to Commercial Products
Paul Behrens, Co-founder and Director, Martek Biosciences Corp.
October 27 – 12:00 – 1:00 – UC 310
Driving Value Innovation Through Self-Awareness – A Journey to Success
Joseph Weaver, President of Global Design Interactive
November 15 – 12:00 – 1:00 – Commons 331
Lunch and Learn: Booming Industries
Greg Cangialosi, President Blue Sky Factory
Eric Conn, Founder and President, Gloto
Thomas Jarboe, Chief Operating Officer Technology Security Associates, Inc.
George Oyler, President Synaptic Research
Jill A. T. Sorensen, Executive Director Baltimore Electric
Vehicle Initiative, BEV
2009 SPEAKERS
March 30 – 12:00 1:00 pm – UC 312
The Imperative of Entrepreneurial Leadership in Nonprofit Management
Jeannie L. Howe, President BayCliff Associates,Inc.
April 27 – 12:00 1:00 pm – UC 312
Be Your Own Boss – Alumni Entrepreneurs Panel Discussion
Eric Bennett, ’94, President and CEO, Pyxis Engineering
Janine Cormier Fleming, ’80, Owner, Massage at University One
Dr. Duke Thompson, ’78, Director, Maryland Conservatory of Music
September 30 – 5:00 – 6:00 pm – UC 310
Empowerment through Business Ownership – The Entrepreneurial Journey
Kathryn Freeland, Founder and CEO, Freeland and Associates, LLC and
Author, Navigating Your Way to Business Success: An Entrepreneur’s Journey
October 26, 2009 – 12:00 1:00 pm – UC 310
Do What You Love
Crystal Moll, Fine Artist, Crystal Moll Paintings
Division of RCM Productions
November 16 – 12:00 1:00 pm – Commons 331
Lunch & Learn Panel Series/The Inventors
Todd Marks, CEO/President, Mindgrub
Charlene Riikonen, President/CEO, Cera Products, Inc.
Angela Singleton, Founder and Chief Technology Officer, Pique
2008 SPEAKERS
March 7 – 12:00 1:00 pm – UC 310
From Engineer to Entrepreneur
Eric Conn
Founder, Gloto Corporation and UMBC Alumn
March 12 – 4:00 – 5:00 pm – Library Gallery
Everything I Needed to Know as a Social Entrepreneur I Learned through My Study of the Humanities
Dr. Keith P. Taylor
President/Executive Director
Modest Needs Foundation
April 21 – 12:00 1:00 pm – Meyerhoff Chemistry Bdlg., Room 120
All Paths Chosen Can Lead To Success
Melvin Sharoky, M.D.
Former President and CEO
Somerset Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
September 29 – 12:00 1:00 pm – UC 310
Strategies for Entrepreneurial Sustainment
Dwayne Robinson
President and CEO
Vision Systems & Technology, Inc. (VSTI)
October 29 – 12:00 1:00 pm – Meyerhoff Chemistry Bldg., Room 120
A Close Look at the New Life Science Ecosystem
Dr. Peter T. Kissinger
Founder, Bioanalytical Systems, Inc. and
Founder, Phlebotics, Inc.
2007 SPEAKERS
February 28
From Passion to Purpose: An Incredible Journey
John Erickson
Chairman and CEO, Erickson Retirement Communities
April 2
The Rise of WeatherBug!
Robert Marshall
Founder and CEO, AWS Convergence Technologies, Inc. (WeatherBug)
April 30
You Never Know: From Counseling Kids to Consulting with CEOs
Joni Daniels
Principal, Daniels & Associates
September 26
From Big Pharma to One Moon
Dr. Bruce Johnson
President, One Moon Scientific, Inc.
October 24
Top Tips for Getting from the Classroom to the Boardroom
Howard Block
Principal, Nuwave Solutions, LLC
November 28
Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship – Making a Difference that Matters!
James Piper Bond
President and CEO, Living Classrooms
2006 SPEAKERS
February 27
Entrepreneurship and the Music Industry: Putting Dinner on the Table and Doing What You Love
Anjan Shah
Executive Producer, Capitol Quartet
April 3
Backpack to Briefcase: UMBC Alumns Talk About “Life After UMBC”
Eli Eisenberg
Founder and Prinicpal, Video Production Consulting
Frank Taylor
President, The First Choice
May 1
The Business of Matrimony – How to Craft a Successful Career in the Wedding Industry
Linnyette Richardson-Hall
Founder, The Business of Matrimony
Founder, Premiere Event Management
September 25
Turning Dreams into Realities
Nuby Fowler
East Coast Regional Director, Small Business Administration
October 25
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: A True Story About How a Start Up Business Made It
Mike Rosenfeld
Managing Partner, Webconnection
November 20
The ParentPreneur Edge: What Parenting Teaches About Building a Successful Business
Julie Kirk
Founder, Path Forward International
All sessions will be held in the University Center room 310 from 12 – 1 p.m. Admission is free.
2005 SPEAKERS
February 23
Ed Peters
Former President and CEO, DataDirect Technologies
March 14
Duff Goldman
UMBC Alum and Baker/Owner of Charm City Cakes
April 6
Dr. Ravinder Dhallan
Chairmen & CEO, Ravgen
April 20
Diane Bell McCoy
President and CEO, Empower Baltimore Management Corporation
September 28
Jay Steinmetz
President and CEO, Barcoding, Inc.
October 24
Yuval Boger
CEO, Oblicore, Inc.
November 21
Karen Bokram
Publisher and Founder, Girls’ Life Magazine
2004 SPEAKERS
March
Keri Burneston
UMBC visual/performing arts Co-founder, Fluid Movement
April
Jerry South
President & CEO, Towne Park
September 20
Dennis Hightower
Strategic Management Consultant
October 18
Sean Carton
Chief Experience Officer, Carton-Donofrio
November 17
Suzanne Joyce
President/CEO, TechGuard Security
Johnny Flores
Director of Operations, TechGuard Security
February
David Bach
President/CEO, Scientific Products & Systems, Inc.
2003 SPEAKERS
January 15
Robert Brennan,
Assistant Secretary of Financing Programs
Vernon Thompson,
Assistant Secretary of Regional Development
March 17
Kathryn Freeland,
Chief Executive Officer RGII Technologies, Inc.
April 8
“How to Get on the GSA Schedule: Marketing to the Federal Government and More”
Arnetta Cook,
Business Specialist General Services Administration (federal agency)
Morgan Allyn,
Program Manager Federal Research Funding Opportunities Maryland Technology Development Corp. (TEDCO)
Edward Kim, Esq.,
Government Contract Law Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP
April 14
John Berndt,
President theberndtgroup
May 1
Aris Melissaratos
Department of Business Economic Development
September 24
Paresh Shah
Principal, Forge Advisors
October 15
Deborah Tillett
President, BreakAway, Ltd.
November 12
Joseph Reddix
President/CEO, The Reddix Group
2002 SPEAKERS
March 6
Syd Rubin,
President and COO e-magination
April 1
Sheila Heinze,
Founder and CEO SM Consulting
May 1
“Summer Intern to Chairman”
Hilton Augustine,
CEO Global Management Systems Incorporated (GMSI)
September 25
Shirley Collier,
President/CEO and co-founder Paragon Computer Services
October 7
Executive Techpreneur Tours with the City of Baltimore 3-6 p.m.
(admission selective)
October 23
Gib Mason,
Chief Financial Officer Big Bang Products
November 20
Donna Stevenson,
Chief Executive Officer Early Morning Software, Inc.