What to Expect:
- Strategy Talks
- Interactive Learning Sessions
- Valuable Networking Opportunities
Be among the first to witness the next chapter in Howard County’s evolution. Space is limited. Secure your spot now!
Keynote Speaker
Femi Ayanbadejo
Femi Ayanbadejo, a visionary in human performance and institutional strategy, is the pioneering founder of HealthReel Inc., an innovative AI-driven health assessment tool that revolutionizes the approach to health by encompassing mental health, metabolic performance, disease risk, and body composition analysis. His work extends beyond the bounds of his company, as he consults with numerous organizations, weaving individual holistic health into the fabric of institutional culture and, consequently, business productivity.
Before embarking on his entrepreneurial journey, Femi's tenacity and talent shone brightly in the NFL, where he enjoyed an illustrious 11-year career, highlighted by a Super Bowl victory with the Baltimore Ravens. His transition from professional sports to the business world was marked by his academic achievements—an MBA from Johns Hopkins and certifications from Harvard and Wharton, underscoring his commitment to lifelong learning and excellence.
Notably, Femi has achieved a historic milestone as the first athlete to sign a technology partnership agreement with NASA, where he continues to lend his expertise as an external consultant. This collaboration mirrors his passion for optimization and the pivotal role AI plays in enhancing mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health. Through his work, Femi Ayanbadejo is not just shaping the future of health assessment but is also redefining the potential for AI to empower health practitioners and the communities they serve.
Innovation Presenters
Briana Vecchio-Pagan
Dr. Briana Vecchio-Pagán is the program manager of the Innovation and Collaboration program at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL). Since joining APL in 2016, she has excelled as a multidisciplinary project manager and informatics scientist, leading projects in genomic analytics, biological threat surveillance, and wearable sensors. Her commitment to advancing science and technology earned her the role of program manager in 2021. For more information click here.
Shawn Harris
As a Sales Engineer at Comcast, I bridge the gap between technical solutions and customer needs, leveraging my expertise to design and present tailored communication and data solutions to enhance client satisfaction.
Natalie Hopkins
Natalie Hopkins is a Senior Business Development Representative working to expand the Comcast Business market. Her cross functional background includes telecom, commercial real estate and information technology (GIS and web-based SAAS). Currently she is an active board member for Women in Technology – Washington DC/Baltimore Chapter, and involved in WIT/Women in Technology, Maryland Tech Council, and CREW/Commercial Real Estate Women of Suburban Maryland. She networks and attends multiple chamber of commerce, economic development and industry events to promote Comcast and progressive economic development in the greater DMV.
Cybersecurity Presenters
Sal Perez – Cybersecurity Sales Specialist
Sal is a seasoned Cybersecurity Account Executive at Cisco, specializing in Security solutions and making them easy to consume with executive stakeholders. With 10 years of experience, he has consistently developed strong customer relationships in both public and commercial sectors.
Susan Case – Cisco IoT Specialist
Susan is an experienced IoT Specialist at Cisco, developing strategic networking solutions for the Central East Public Sector Region. With her background as a Regional IT leader with over 15 years she brings her expertise in IoT and networking solutions for both public and commercial sectors.
Jimmy Alignay – Cisco Solution Engineer
Jimmy is a seasoned Solutions Engineer at Cisco, where he develops innovative technology architectures covering State, Local, Federal, and Enterprise solutions over two decades. He is also a resident and local fire department volunteer in Howard County.
Jason Schaum – Supervisory Cybersecurity Advisor
Jason Schaum is the Supervisory Cybersecurity Advisor for Maryland with the Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency (DHS CISA). In this role Mr. Schaum is responsible for proactively engaging with members of the private and public sector to drive down cybersecurity risk to the nation’s critical infrastructure. Mr. Schaum leads a team of CISA Cybersecurity Advisors and Cyber State Coordinators within CISA Region 3 that perform a variety of cyber risk reduction services throughout the region. For more information click here.
Jackie Anna – Apprenticeship and Occupations Coordinator
Jackie Anna brings over three years of experience to Howard Community College, where she currently serves as the Apprenticeship Program Coordinator. In this role, Jackie oversees nontraditional apprenticeship programs encompassing 10 occupations across various industries. Her commitment to innovation and excellence has been instrumental in expanding Howard Community College's apprenticeship offerings, opening doors for countless individuals to pursue rewarding careers in high-demand sectors.
Local Government Presenters
Dean Hof
Dean Hof is the Procurement Administrator with over two decades of successful procurement experience in both the private and public sectors. He possesses a Bachelors of Science from the University of Maryland College Park in Agricultural and Resource Economics. Dean also possesses two professional certifications in his field including Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO) and NIGP Certified Procurement Professional (NIGP-CPP). His mission is to promote responsible stewardship of County resources and encourage participation from local and diverse businesses in all procurements.
Darshni Patel, Director, Business Finance
Darshni oversees the Business Finance Unit which manages Catalyst and LIFT Loan programs as well as business incentives including Howard County property tax credit and Howard County workforce training grant programs. She serves as a liaison with Maryland Department of Commerce, Howard County EDA’s Incentives Committee, and with Howard County Office of Finance.
Kierra Kimmie - Associate Director, Strategic Outreach
Kierra manages stakeholder communication with HCEDA’s Board of Directors, community partners, and state/local elected officials. Through community outreach and event participation, Kierra works to establish and strengthens relationships with community partners to create opportunities to collaborate or create new initiatives support the business community and provide education on HCEDA’s resources and services.
Tracy Deik, Director, MIC Programs
Tracy coordinates and manages programming for entrepreneurs at the Maryland Innovation Center. Tracy manages a robust program calendar which consists of workshops, trainings, and lunch and learning sessions. Tracy administers the Business Revitalization Initiative Through Entrepreneurship (BRITE) program which was established specifically to provide upskilling programs for underrepresented, underserved entrepreneurs.
Leah Miller, Energy Manager, Howard County Government
Leah Miller is the Energy Manager for Howard County. In this position, Ms. Miller develops policies and manages programs to address climate change, conserve energy, and promote the use of renewables both within County government and for the public. She has twenty years of experience in sustainability and environmental education program management.
Panel # 1 – Innovation, Entrepreneurship and its Impact
Michelle Crawley – President, Xcision
Michelle joined Xcision in 2012 as VP of Operations. In 2020 she assumed responsibility for the Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance activities. In 2022, she was promoted to President and is now responsible for developing and implementing the strategy and day-to-day functioning of the organization, for sales and operations outside of mainland China. For more information click here.
Vineet Rajan, CEO and Co-Founder of Forte
Vineet holds an MBA from Stanford, a Masters in International Relations from Cambridge (w/ Distinction), and a BS from Drexel. Prior to Forte, Vineet served as a venture capitalist at Acumen America and as a consultant with The Skoll Foundation. Additionally, Vineet served as a Marine officer for 10+ years leading in Iraq, and Afghanistan, as an exchange officer in the UK Ministry of Defense, as a Congressional Fellow on Capitol Hill, and in the Pentagon. He currently resides in the greater Washington DC area with his family.
Ronald Steptoe, CEO and Co-Founder of Warrior Centric Health
Ron’s entrepreneurial career reflects his dedication to national service and health equity. He is an 8th-generation military veteran, educated at the United States Military Academy at West Point, whose family’s legacy of service to the nation dates to the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. His own military and professional experience compelled Ron to both inspire and lead the movement to achieve health equity for American veterans and military communities. For more information click here.
Jack Miner
As TEDCO’s Chief Investment Officer, Jack stewards TEDCO’s diligence and investment processes, leads the Social Impact, Seed and Venture Funds and investment portfolios to maximize the financial return, and ensures a lasting impact for the State of Maryland. For more information click here.
Vendors
App Beacon
App Beacon is a mobile app platform that makes it easy and affordable for any service business to implement and manage a fully branded, customized mobile app to augment their brand, enhance their overall client experience, and stay connected with their online community
Ataia Medical Blurb
Ataia Medical is empowering patients with the freedom to speak with their product, the SPEAX Communication System. SPEAX attaches to the outside of noninvasive ventilation masks and allows patients to communicate without interrupting the airflow of the therapy in both the clinical and home setting. Here is a video demonstrating the technology in action. Restoring these patients' ability to communicate allows them to be more active in discussions of care goals and treatment, as well as improves compliance, comfort, and patient satisfaction.
Consult Lemonade
Consult Lemonade is a 501(c)3 non-profit management and technology resource firm dedicated to empowering underrepresented talent through training and employment opportunities in the tech industry. Their mission is to bridge the income gap and counter systemic oppression by providing a pathway to generational wealth through six-figure tech careers. For more information click here.
Autism Society of Maryland
The Autism Hiring Program (AHP) is an initiative of the Autism Society of Maryland that advances workplace neurodiversity, connecting businesses to an untapped workforce of skilled Autistic adults and targeting jobseekers not supported by existing systems in Maryland. For more information, visit https://autismsocietymd.org/autism-hiring-program/ or contact Linda.Hoyt@autismsocietymd.org.
EcoWorks
Howard EcoWorks is a regional force for social and environmental change. We engage and educate the community about environmental sustainability and restoration, while creating pathways to green jobs through our workforce development programs. For more information click here.
MakingChange
MakingChange is a Howard County-based nonprofit that provides free one-on-one financial counseling to individuals, as well as customized financial education in group settings through our partnerships with local employers, community organizations and governmental agencies. For more information click here.
Verfico
Verfico Technology empowers businesses by offering cutting-edge solutions that ensure wage protection, visibility and compliance in complex labor environments. Its dedicated team provides essential tools for accurately documenting and authenticating wage-related information, fostering transparency and accountability in the multitiered labor landscape. For more information click here.
Comcast
Leveraging a strong network, broad portfolio, and strategic alliances, Comcast Business delivers global secure network solutions like advanced security, SD-WAN services, and reliable connectivity. Businesses continue to undergo rapid digital transformation — and Comcast Business solutions are here to help. Read the Gartner® report to learn more about how to prepare for the cybersecurity impacts of generative AI.
Community Action Council
The mission of Community Action Council of Howard County (CAC) is to diminish poverty and enable self-sufficiency for all Howard County individuals, children, and families in need. They fulfill this mission by providing 5 core programs to county residents including food access at the Howard County Food Bank, housing assistance, energy assistance, early childhood education, and weatherization support. For more information click here.
Community Ecology Institute
The Community Ecology Institute is a Howard County based non-profit organization with a mission to cultivate communities where people and nature thrive together. We work at the intersections of the environment, education, equity and health and serve an intergenerational audience with programming from our two properties, Freetown Farm and the Green Farmacy Garden.
ESPSmart
eSPSmart is a Full Service Agency offering printing, direct mail boost with social media match, graphic design and branded promotional products. For more information, click here.
Forte
The mental well-being platform that connects every employee to certified Guides so they can process whatever they want however often they want helping them be present, find focus, and live a more fulfilled life. for more information, click here.
Hawkeye Medtech
TotalCare Telehealth by Hawkeye MedTech is more than just a video platform. Not only can users schedule virtual visits with their providers, they can also use TotalCare to self-manage their chronic conditions like obesity, hypertension, COPD, diabetes and other cardio-vascular issues. For more information click here.
LindaBen Foundation
LindaBen Foundation is a public charity, 501(c)(3) community-based organization founded by Annabelle Beavan in 2020 during the height of the coronavirus pandemic. Our mission is to be a channel of safe haven for the homeless, at-risk population and underserved community by uplifting their conditions and providing wrap-around services founded in love and friendship. For more information click here.
Respite Retreats
Respite Retreats creates an environment focused on fun, relaxation, and self-care. We support the healing of the body, mind, and spirit. We know a cancer diagnosis affects the entire family. Our 501(c)3 organization was founded with a fierce determination to let everyone affected by cancer take a break. For more information click here.
Upcycle
Our mission at Upcycled is to create a more environmentally conscious community through the upcycling of single-use plastic waste into long-term products. Our main program, Waste to Wonder, emphasizes community engagement by organizing clean-ups of local natural areas, setting up drop-off locations for recyclables, upcycling those recyclables into building materials, and donating built structures such as picnic tables, benches, and garden beds back to the community.