Entrepreneurial Ecosystems Conference
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Speakers 
Cofounder, Love and Magic Company
Pamela Abalu, co-founder of The Love and Magic Company, pioneers human-centered design practices that infuse consciousness, energy flow, and inclusivity into global workplace transformations.A Crain’s 40 Under 40 honoree, Pamela Abalu is inventing the future of workplace design...
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CEO and Founder, X-Mode
Joshua Anton (UVA-Comm 14) - CEO of X-Mode launched the Drunk Mode App in 2014, the living map for ‘when you go out'. Drunk Mode garnering over 2 Million users in eighteen months, stops you from making regrettable mistakes (drunk dialing) and keeps you safe (allowing you to find...
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President, Village Capital
Ross Baird is an entrepreneur and investor who is best known for finding, developing, and backing entrepreneurs and ideas overlooked and undervalued by mainstream markets. He co-founded Village Capital in 2009, and has invested in over 100 entrepreneurs in the last decade, and supported...
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Executive Director, theClubhou.se
Award winning ecosystem builder supporting entrepreneurs to create and build sustainable businesses locally and virtually. Collaborative strategist with 16 years experience and expertise in organizing, directing and launching solutions to catalyze strong community development and...
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Entrepreneur, Cerro Gordo Mines
Publicist. Attorney. Whiskey Slinger. Ghost Town Entrepreneur. Father to Jack the Dog.
Senior Manager, Regional Community Development, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
Jeanne Milliken Bonds is the Senior Manager, Regional Community Development for the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. In her role, she provides leadership for strategic stakeholder collaboration and community-level solutions, focusing on low- and moderate- income and underserved communities...
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Venture Associate, UVA LVG Seed Fund
Carleen joined the University of Virginia’s Seed Fund in 2018 as a Venture Associate, and is responsible for identifying and evaluating early stage venture investment opportunities emerging from the University. She also works to support the growth of the Fund’s five portfolio...
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Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Mortar
Derrick Braziel serves as a Co-Founder and Managing Partner of MORTAR, an organization dedicated to see historically marginalized entrepreneurs equipped to build communities, pursue wealth, ownership and leave legacies.Derrick’s work has led to recognition from the Indianapolis...
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Cofounder & Principal, MB2 Solutions
Marland Buckner serves as Cofounder and Principal of MB2 Solutions LLC, an impact development firm.From 2001 to 2008, Buckner was Director of Federal Government Affairs for Microsoft Corporation in Washington, DC. Prior to Microsoft, Buckner served in several Congressional staff roles...
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President/Managing Member, Bullock Properties, LLC
Tighe Bullock is a (re)developer and lawyer who has spent the last 15 years restoring historic buildings and providing mixed use space for local businesses and tenants. Mr. Bullock has helped create over 70 permanent jobs through +15 businesses while restoring 10 historic buildings...
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Executive Director, Batten Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, University of Virginia, Darden School of Business
Sean D. Carr, Ph.D., is the Executive Director of the Batten Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and an Assistant Professor of Business Administration at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business. Professor Carr provides administrative leadership for an endowed...
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Principal, SR One
Jill joined SR One in 2011 with a background in biotech partnering and corporate development. Previously, she completed multiple pharma partnerships and substantial private and public financings at Dynavax Technologies (NASDAQ: DVAX). Jill was formerly a biopharmaceutical industry...
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Executive Director, Charleston Main Streets
Ric is the Executive Director of Charleston Main Streets, the city’s community & economic development agency focused on the East End and West Side Urban business districts. Since the programs' inceptions, the districts have experienced public and private investments totaling over...
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Managing Principal, Chapman and Company
Tom Chapman is a practitioner expert on entrepreneurial ecosystems and measuring their impact. As a member of the Board and the leader of the metrics efforts, Tom has worked with the Startup Champions Network to build practical, scalable community metrics around entrepreneurial...
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CEO, Savonix
Dr. Mylea Charvat, a clinical psychologist and translational neuroscientist founded Savonix to address a critical challenge in the health care world – how do we assess the cognitive function of patients on a large scale despite limited dollars and insufficient numbers of specialists.Mylea...
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Chair, GO Virginia Region 9 Council, CEO, Patriot Industries
Tom Click and his wife Sarah founded Patriot Aluminum in 2010, the only American Owned & Operated Family Business producing the full lines of Steel, Aluminum, and Stainless Steel Electrical Conduit Products. Patriot’s focus on the traditional American Values of hard work and innovation...
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Former Mayor, Oklahoma City
Mick Cornett was Oklahoma City's longest-serving mayor from 2004 to 2018, and served as the President of the US Conference of Mayors from 2016-2017.His list of awards includes nods for urban design, health, sports and the arts. Newsweek called him one of the five most innovative mayors...
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President & CEO, Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce
Elizabeth Cromwell recently became the President & CEO of the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce following her introduction to Cville at Tom Tom Fest 2018. She brings more than 30 years of experience in marketing, corporate sponsorship, event management and public/private...
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Founder & Executive Director, Center on Rural Innovation
Matt Dunne is the Founder and Executive Director of the Center on Rural Innovation, a non-profit "action-tank" dedicated to fostering digital economies in rural America through research, thought leadership, and on-the-ground programming. Previously, Matt served 11 years in the Vermont...
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Cofounder, Love and Magic Company
Chinedu Echeruo is a serial entrepreneur who has dared to invent the future: In 2005, he founded HopStop, the pioneering travel app that helped millions of users navigate public transportation in major metropolitan areas around the world. Apple acquired HopStop in 2013 and subsequently...
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Founder, CO.STARTERS
I'm here to help connect local and regional leaders from around the country who want to build more collaborative support systems for each other... I've got a particular love for finding sustainable business models for the communities we serve. Let me know how I can be helpful!
Host, Public Radio's Full Disclosure
Roben Farzad hosts public radio's Full Disclosure, which airs on Virginia Public Media WCVE, NPR.org and NPR One. He is a special correspondent for the PBS NewsHour and author of the book Hotel Scarface: Where Cocaine Cowboys Partied and Plotted to Control Miami
editor in chief, Entrepreneur magazine
Jason Feifer is the editor in chief of Entrepreneur magazine, and host of two podcasts: Problem Solvers, about entrepreneurs solving unexpected problems in their business, and Pessimists Archive, a history of unfounded fears of technology. He has been an editor at Men's Health, Fast...
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Entrepreneurship Consultant, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
Elizabeth Freeman is a consultant in Entrepreneurship for the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, where she project manages the Inclusion Open, a funding program which seeks to expand the most effective and scalable entrepreneurial support models across the United States. Prior to joining...
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Principal, New Enterprise Associates
Jason joined NEA as a Principal in 2014 and focuses on investments in biopharmaceuticals. Prior to joining NEA, Jason was a Principal with Third Rock Ventures were he contributed to the creation and management of several companies, including NinePoint Medical, Kala Pharmaceuticals...
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Director, Inova Personalized Health Accelerator
Rick Gordon is an expert on technology investing, business strategy and early-stage venture development. He is a proven leader with more than 25 years experience in providing organizations with strategic growth. Rick serves as a Director at Inova Health System's Personalized Health...
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Founder & CEO, Ordway
Sameer’s track record designing many of the world’s leading ERP and financial billing systems equipped him with the knowledge and desire to found Ordway. As one of the first Product Managers at Zuora, Intacct, and Workday, to product leadership at First Data, Sameer developed...
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Partner, Revolution's Rise of the Rest Seed Fund
David Hall is a Partner at Rise of the Rest Seed Fund and is responsible for investment sourcing, execution, and oversight for Revolution portfolio companies. David began his career with Revolution in 2006, serving as an investment professional for Revolution and has been working...
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Senior Program Officer - Entrepreneurship, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
Chris Harris is a senior program officer in Entrepreneurship for the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, where he focuses on building and expanding the most effective entrepreneurial support models addressing critical barriers for entrepreneurs across the United States. The strategy...
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Director of Strategic Partnerships & Impact Investment, NetWork Kansas
Imagene is the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Impact Investment at NetWork Kansas. She oversees the organization's statewide funding programs, including three loan funds and a venture fund. Imagene joined joined NetWork Kansas in December 2013 after working in compliance for...
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Co-Founder of Tribe Co-Work & Urban Innovation Lab +Blacktech Week, Code Fever Miami
Felecia Hatcher is on a mission to rid communities across the globe of innovation deserts by working with community leaders and government officials to create inclusive and diverse tech/startup ecosystems as an Author and the Co-Founder of Tribe Cowork and Urban Innovation Lab, Code...
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Founder/CEO, Stord
Sean Henry is Founder and CEO of STORD, a technology-driven warehousing & distribution network helping companies distribute products globally. While attending the Georgia Institute of Technology, Sean worked in Supply Chain Optimization at a german-based manufacturer. Following this...
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Program Officer, Winthrop Rockefeller Institute
Tiffany Henry is a Program Officer at the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute in Morrilton, Arkansas where she coordinates Uncommon Communities, a community and leadership development program that empowers citizens to make their own positive change through entrepreneurial ecosystem building...
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Director of Research and Intellectual Capital, Batten Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, University of Virginia, Darden School of Business
Erika is Director of Research and Intellectual Capital at the Batten Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the UVA Darden School of Business. She is responsible for research programs and academic conferences, related publications for academic and business audiences, and...
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Community Development, CO.STARTERS
David Hirsch works in community development at CO.STARTERS. The son of a serial entrepreneur, he has stumbled his way into supporting entrepreneurs through interconnected networks. A firm believer that strong relationships provide the best support, he founded HAVEN to create sustainable...
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Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, University of Virginia
Archie Holmes is a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Virginia and currently serves as the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs. He received his B.S. (highest honors) from the University of Texas at Austin and his M.S. and PhD. degrees from the University...
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Head of Computational Biology, HemoShear Therapeutics
Steve Hoang, PhD is the Head of Computational Biology at HemoShear Therapeutics. He completed his undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of Virginia, where he studied genomics and systems biology. He has spent the last ten years modeling biological networks and developing...
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Principal, TEConomy Partners, LLC
Mitch has a strong record of accomplishment in innovation-based economic development over the past 30 years. Recently Mitch has helped lead TEConomy's work with GO Virginia and the Virginia Research Investment Committee. Before co-founding TEConomy in 2015, Mitch served as Vice President...
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Chief Social Venturer, Social Venturers
Anika Horn is an ecosystem builder for social change. With a Masters of Science in Sustainability and her experiences in startup acceleration across Europe, Australia, the U.S. and now Canada, she helps purpose-driven entrepreneurs launch, manage and grow socially responsible bus...
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Vice President of Community Innovation, Forward Cities
Fay Horwitt leads the development and scale-up of Forward Cities’ community entrepreneurship programs, as well as the ESHIP Communities program in partnership with the Kauffman Foundation. As an accomplished ecosystem builder and inclusive entrepreneurship expert, Fay is innovating...
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Sr. Program Manager, UVA
Denise Hubbard serves as the Program Director for the Office of Economic Development at the University of Virginia. In this role Denise identifies opportunities, convenes conversations and manages programs in support of the University’s efforts to spur economic development in the...
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Executive Director, Virginia Impact Investing Forum
Matt Illian, CFP® serves as a champion of Virginia's impact investing ecosystem. He works to convene, educate, and empower philanthropic and civically minded people who have a desire to invest capital in ways that place attention on both financial and social returns. Matt serves...
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Economic Development Director, Albemarle County
Director of Economic Development. He’s been with Albemarle County for just over a year, but working in concert with universities for a couple decades whilst employed in both local government, as well as, the private sector. He graduated from Appalachian State University with a Bachelors...
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Director, The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development
Erik Johnston serves as Director of the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). Governor Ralph Northam appointed him on January 15, 2018. Erik is responsible for management and oversight of the agency, which provides community development, economic development...
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President and cofounder, National Center for Resource Development (NCRD)
Joe Kapp is a serial entrepreneur and the President and cofounder of the
National Center for Resource Development (NCRD), an NGO that helps other nonprofits achieve greater impact by developing resources to execute their missions more effectively and by applying entrepreneurial principles. Kapp has helped numerous clients raise millions of dollars by significantly growing their funding streams...
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Senior Director, Faegre Baker Daniels
Bo Kemp partners with a national network of advisors, advocates, government and business leaders to help drive growth, tackle major initiatives and boost efficiency in municipalities. Highly experienced in the structuring and execution of public-private partnerships, Bo has a reputation...
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Director of Strategy, Capitol Broadcasting + American Underground
Adam Klein is Director of Strategy for Capitol Broadcasting Company--a diversified communications company which owns and operates businesses in television, radio, commercial real estate, technology entrepreneurship, and residential building supplies. His work is focused on the intersection...
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Community Activator, Kauffman Foundation
Christine Lai is a cross-sector collaboration catalyst, connecting capital, ideas, opportunities, and people for positive social change. She serves as a Community Activator on the ESHIP Summit Team, an initiative launched by the Kauffman Foundation, where she focuses on partnerships...
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President & CEO, Alexandria Economic Development Partnership
Stephanie Landrum is President & CEO of the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership (AEDP). Appointed by the Board of Directors in April 2015, Stephanie has held leadership roles in the organization since 2005. AEDP is responsible for leading the City of Alexandria’s efforts...
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CEO, Conductor
Kim Lane strives to reduce barriers to entry for entrepreneurs, makers and innovators. She serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Conductor (www.ARConductor.org), an initiative that provides entrepreneurial support through consulting, mentorship, access to capital, and maker...
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Senior Associate Dean and Chief Strategy Officer, University of Virginia, Darden School of Business
Professor Lenox is the Tayloe Murphy Professor of Business at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business where he teaches business strategy. Professor Lenox serves as the school’s Senior Associate Dean and Chief Strategy Office, and has served as a tenured professor...
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Senior Vice President and Director, McGuireWoods Consulting, LLC
Chris Lloyd leads the McGuireWoods Consulting infrastructure and economic development team where he specializes in site selection and economic development incentives negotiations. Chris has also worked closely with clients on numerous public-private partnership projects for transportation...
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Vice President for Academic Innovation and New Ventures, George Mason University
Dr. Michelle Marks is the Vice President for Academic Innovation & New Ventures at George Mason University. In this capacity she is responsible for identifying, launching, and sustaining educational initiatives that fulfill Mason’s strategic plan and generate financial resources...
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Director, Galant Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, University of Virginia
Eric Martin’s 20-year career includes successful operating experience as a chief executive, entrepreneur, strategist (global consultancy partner), and change agent (business transformation and turnarounds). Currently, Eric advises leading large and middle-market companies across...
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Chief Executive Officer, York Exponential
John McElligott is founder and Chief Executive Officer of York Exponential, a collaborative robotics and artificial intelligence company located in York, Pennsylvania. He is also president of the Fortress Initiative, a non-profit organization focused on ensuring no one gets left behind...
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Executive Director, 757 Accelerate
Evans is passionate about solving problems through innovation and collaboration. As an attorney, she helped growing businesses rethink their options and knock down the hurdles in their path towards growth. Most of Evans’ opportunities materialized because she was willing to say...
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Vice President, National Center for Resource Development
Tina Metzer, Vice President, National Center For Resource Development (NCRD). NCRD was founded on the principle of collaboration and community. Tina is a native West Virginian and has worked in the nonprofit community as a career and volunteer for most of her life as well as being...
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author/journalist, freelance
Jennifer Miller is the author of four books: Mr. Nice Guy (St. Martins); The Heart You Carry Home (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt); The Year of the Gadfly (HMH); and Inheriting the Holy Land (Ballantine). She is currently working on a new book about first-generation college students, for...
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Research and Communications, Blueprint Local
Maegan leads research and communications for Blueprint Local. She recently completed her MBA at the University of Oxford Saïd Business School, specializing in social entrepreneurship and innovation. Prior to Oxford, Maegan lived in Charlottesville where she worked for the University...
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President and CEO, Virginia Economic Development Partnership
Before joining VEDP in January 2017, Moret served as chief executive of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber and Louisiana Economic Development, as well as the LSU Foundation and its real-estate development arm.At VEDP, he has collaborated with state, regional, and local partners to craft...
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President and Founder, theClubhou.se
Eric R. Parker, AIA, Founder & President of theClubhou.se, and co-founder of Make Startups, bring years of experience in innovation, architecture, design, community strategy, marketing, and public relations together to help communities and individuals build economic independence...
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CEO, TypeZero/Dexcom
Chad Rogers is a serial entrepreneur with more than 20 years of experience in medical device technology, early stage startup management, and venture capital. Chad founded TypeZero Technologies, Inc. in 2013 and has led seven successful startups throughout the course of his career...
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Dean of Engineering, Virginia Tech
Julia Ross, the Paul and Dorothea Torgersen Dean of Engineering, leads the largest, most comprehensive engineering program in Virginia. She began her tenure as dean of Virginia Tech’s College of Engineering on July 31, 2017 and holds tenured appointments in chemical engineering...
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Senior Investment Director, CIT
Marco is responsible for sourcing, diligence and closing of seed and early stage investments on behalf of the CIT GAP Funds. He serves on the board of numerous portfolio companies and leads seed/early stage investment in aerospace/UAS, energy, and software sectors. Marco has held...
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Managing Editor, Virginia Business
Jessica Sabbath is the managing editor of Virginia Business, a statewide magazine covering the industries, businesses and people influencing Virginia's economy. Sabbath joined the magazine in 2006 as special projects editor. Her work has received several awards from the Alliance of...
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President, Virginia Tech
Timothy D. Sands is the 16th president of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, joining the university in June of 2014. A scientist, educator, and inventor, he has dedicated much of his career to advancing the impact of research and innovation in public education. As...
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Provost, altMBA
Marie leads Seth Godin's altMBA, The Bootstrapper's Workshop and The Marketing Seminar. She believes in a culture of possibility, responsibility and creativity.Marie loves design and making things better. Prior to her work with Seth, she was the director of Hopscotch Design Festival...
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Principal, Miles & Stockbridge P.C.
Gene Schleppenbach represents early-stage to mature companies in diverse industries concerning a variety of corporate, high-tech and intellectual property matters. His corporate experience includes representing clients on formation issues, corporate governance, shareholder agreements...
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CEO & Co-Founder, ArcheMedX
Joel is a digital innovation leader who has spent the past 15 years improving access to information and data across the healthcare industry as an entrepreneur, board member, and advisor. He co-founded and currently leads ArcheMedX, which applies behavioral science to transform learning...
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Senior Director, iLab, University of Virginia
David oversees and supports the people, programs and resources of the i.Lab, while working to develop new initiatives, connections and opportunities. Prior to university life, David held founding, executive or advisory roles in a series of both bootstrapped and venture-backed startups...
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Assist Director, Depart. of Economic Development, City of Norfolk
Sean Washington is a results-oriented business professional who excels in attracting, retaining, deepening and developing business relationships in the Hampton Roads community. As a senior business development manager for the City of Norfolk, Sean helps bridge the gap between Norfolk...
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Co-Founder, Proximity
Brian Watson is an entrepreneur, connector, and community developer. Brian has been starting and running businesses since he was 17 and believes that entrepreneurship is the greatest tool we have to positively impact our communities. His startup, Proximity, strives to help connect...
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Managing Director, CIT GAP Funds
Beginning in 2004, Mr. Weithman has established and grown CIT GAP Funds, a family of early stage venture funds focused on making equity investments in Virginia’s most promising tech, life science and clean tech companies. A “double-bottom-line” fund, CIT GAP Funds invests in...
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Author / Researcher, The Next American City / CITEE Initiative
Jayson White is a researcher at UVA's Darden School of Business and co-author of Penguin Random House's new release The Next American City with Former OKC Mayor Mick Cornett. Mr. White has worked in urban affairs and innovation for the past decade, leading the Urban Policy Advisory...
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Director, Business Investment, Arlington Economic Development
Christina Winn is the Director of Business Investment for Arlington Economic Development. Since 2014 she’s led Arlington’s efforts in business retention, national recruitment, entrepreneur support, and catalyzing the innovation economy. Under her leadership, her team has recruited...
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Chairman, Virginia Growth and Opportunity Board
John O. Wynne is the retired President and Chief Executive Officer of Landmark Communications, Inc., which has interests in newspapers, broadcasting, cable programming and electronic publishing.Currently, Mr. Wynne chairs Reinvent Hampton Roads, a 501(c)(3) created to strengthen Hampton...
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Founding Executive Director, FARMS+WORK+WONDERS
Paul Yandura is the President of FARMS+WORK+WONDERS, a successful farm and food-based nonprofit social enterprise dedicated to expanding opportunities for Appalachian youth.Paul and his partner Donald Hitchcock, built their weekend cabin in the Appalachian Mountains in 2008 to escape...
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Founder & Managing Director, Innovation Collaborative
Beth is a social impact entrepreneur. She is a cofounder and the Managing Director of the Innovation Collaborative. In 2010, she identified the need to improve and grow our entrepreneurial ecosystem. With a deep network regionally, she was able to pull together a strong team of thought...
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