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Kory Bailey
CEO of UpSurge BaltimoreWith over a decade of leadership in both early-stage startups and big tech, Kory Bailey has emerged as a thought leader on equitable economic growth and champion for the Baltimore tech ecosystem. Bailey is the CEO of UpSurge Baltimore, an ecosystem-building organization with a vision for Baltimore to be recognized as the first Equitech hub in the world; a new model for American innovation. UpSurge’s mission is to build a thriving tech ecosystem for innovators, founders, and talent by strengthening its culture and connectivity, and mobilizing regional and national assets around Baltimore startups. Bailey is an ecosystem builder and servant leader seeking opportunities to leverage his relationships, talents, and resources to support successful outcomes for individuals and communities. Bailey has been recognized as a 2022 Technical.ly RealLIST Connectors Award winner and 2023 RealLIST Tech Community Leader of the Year nominee.
Calvin Ball III, Ed.D
County Executive at Howard CountyDr. Calvin Ball, a Maryland native residing in Columbia for over two decades, is a proud parent and husband to Shani Ball, RN, B.S.N. Notably, he became the youngest Council Chairperson in Howard County history in 2006 and later the first African American elected as Howard County Executive in 2018.
In his second term, Dr. Ball prioritizes community safety, education, environmental conservation, healthcare, public safety, and fiscal responsibility. His leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic garnered national recognition.
As President of the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) and Chair of the Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC) in 2023, Dr. Ball advocates for diverse communities statewide. He holds degrees from Towson State University, the University of Baltimore, and Morgan State University, and is actively involved in community organizations including Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and the NAACP.
Max Beatty
Principal at Beatty Development GroupMax Beatty grew up surrounded by a family filled with designers, developers, and engineers, and he often found himself reviewing drawings and walking construction sites with his father. As a result, Max has focused his education and career on leveraging real estate development as a catalyst for creating more productive, equitable, and sustainable urban environments.
As a Principal at Beatty, Max runs the business operations of Beatty’s Design, Development, and Property Management companies. He also oversees all acquisition, investment, and development activities from initial concept through project delivery. Max is responsible for driving the programming and design process across the company’s work portfolio, and his experience in retail and hospitality development puts the end-user at forefront of the process.
Prior to joining his family’s business, Max worked with JLL’s Project and Development Services team, where he managed the design, development, and construction rollout of multi-site projects for hotel and retail brands. Max graduated from Kenyon College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Studio Arts and later earned his Master of Science degree in Real Estate Development from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Jeff Cherry
Managing Partner at Conscious Venture PartnersOver the last 30 years, Jeff has been a designer, CEO, educator, consultant, and investor. He enjoys the creative process, both from an artistic and organizational perspective. Currently, he’s bringing these divergent experiences together in order to help companies develop more conscious, purpose-driven business models; and to help investors build societal as well as financial value. He tries to bring right and left brain thinking to problem-solving, business creation, and investing ideas; hopefully asking better questions and using his expertise to make the lives of those around him more fulfilling and successful.
As the founder of the Porter Group, Managing Partner of Conscious Venture Partners, LLC, and Founder and Executive Director of the Conscious Venture Lab, Jeff is an evangelist for the transformation of capitalism. Working with private investors and early-stage businesses his goal is to create businesses that are operating at the intersection of profit and purpose. As an expert in the emerging field of Conscious Capitalism Jeff has been invited to speak or present at a number of universities around the country on the topic of impact investing and new models of business. These include The University of Maryland, The Darden School at the University of Virginia, Yale University, Columbia University, The Booth School at the University of Chicago, Howard Community College, and The University of Baltimore.
Jonathan Daniels
Executive Director of Maryland Port AdministrationJonathan Daniels was named as executive director of the Maryland Port Administration (MPA) by Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld on December 20, 2023 following an extensive national recruitment process that included a high-level executive search committee and nationally recognized maritime executive search firm. Mr. Daniels came to Maryland after serving as chief executive officer and port director since 2020 at Port Everglades in Broward County, Florida and has more than 30 years of port and economic development experience.
As MPA executive director, Mr. Daniels oversees and manages the six state-owned, public marine terminals of the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore. The marine terminals handle autos, breakbulk, containers, cruise, farm and construction equipment, and forest products. The Port of Baltimore generates about 20,000 direct jobs, with about 273,000 jobs overall in Maryland linked to the Port.
At Port Everglades, Mr. Daniels led a $3 billion plan to expand business lines in containers, energy, and cruise activity. Port Everglades is the 13th busiest container port in the U.S., the busiest energy port in Florida and the third busiest cruise homeport in the world.
From 2013 through 2020, Mr. Daniels was executive director and CEO for the Mississippi State Port Authority.
In prior years, he served as executive director of the Port of Oswego in New York, managing director for the Port of Greater Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and as port director of the Eastport Port Authority in Maine.
Mr. Daniels earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science – International Politics and Foreign Affairs from The Citadel, in Charleston, South Carolina, and continued his education at the Maine Maritime Academy in Castine, Maine
Jeremie Feinblatt
Vice President of Strategy & Development at Resonance Consultancy LtdJeremie is a global expert in branding and place marketing, with more than 20 years of experience in strategy, consulting and entrepreneurial roles in New York and Europe. At Resonance, Jeremie leads the brand strategy practice around the world. He led the team that developed and manages the new unified international brand for the Brussels Region, and helped Christchurch, New Zealand update its story, positioning and tourism strategy. He also advises clients like Houston and Hershey Harrisburg on brand strategy alignment.
Previously, Jeremie led senior positions at Matte Projects in New York and Interbrand and FutureBrand in Paris, working brand strategy and activations for iconic consumer, lifestyle and tourism brands. Jeremie has also been appointed by the French Prime Minister as a Foreign Trade Advisor, to volunteer his experience in growing France’s competitiveness.
Kathy Hollinger
CEO of Greater Washington PartnershipKathy E. Hollinger serves as the CEO of the Greater Washington Partnership (GWP), a first-of-its-kind alliance uniting leading employers across Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC to collaborate in building a vibrant, economically competitive, and prosperous place to live, work and build a business. Prioritizing the economic growth of the region, Kathy directs GWP in its mission to catalyze collaboration, convenings, thought leadership, and collective action. She connects stakeholders across public, private, and nonprofit sectors to address shared opportunities and challenges in some of the region’s most pressing issues, including skills and talent, regional mobility, infrastructure, and inclusive economic growth. Through strategic alliances, focused investments, and pioneering initiatives, she relentlessly works to find practical, impactful, and visionary solutions to the region’s challenges.
Prior to GWP, Kathy was President and CEO of the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) and Head of RAMW’s Educated Eats Foundation, where she represented and guided thousands of restaurants and the food service industry in one of the nation's largest and most visible regions. She has been widely recognized for her powerful leadership of the industry through its most dramatic and inclusive expansion period, resulting in national accolades that included Bon Appetit magazine’s 2016 Restaurant City of the Year and ZAGAT’s Hottest Food City of 2016.
Kathy was lauded for her innovative and impactful leadership of and fierce advocacy for the food and beverage industry, countless small and medium-sized businesses, and their employees through an unprecedented global pandemic. The accolades she received for her extraordinary leadership during the pandemic include the region’s Power List in 2021-2024 and Washington Business Journal’s COVID-19 Response CEO Leader of the Year. She was honored as the 2021 Washington Woman of Excellence by the Honorable DC Mayor Muriel Bowser and Person of the Year by Downtown DC’s Business Improvement District.
Kathy began her career with the City Council of the District of Columbia, working as the Campaign Press Director and Director of Communications for DC Councilmember Charlene Drew Jarvis; and as Chief of Staff for DC Councilmember Kevin P. Chavous. She was later appointed by Mayor Adrian Fenty as Film Commissioner for the City of Washington. She also led external and regulatory affairs for Comcast in Washington, DC, increasing company visibility, presence, brand, and awareness as a leading broadband supplier and telecommunications company in the region.
She holds a BA from American University’s School of Communication, and an MA in Interdisciplinary Studies and Community Relations, from George Mason University’s College of Arts and Humanities, where she received the 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award.
She is a member of The Economic Club of Washington, DC, and a long-time board member of Leadership Greater Washington, where she serves as Secretary. Kathy also serves on the Washington Business Journal’s Leadership Trust and the American City Business Journals’ Bizwomen Leadership Council.
Kathy and her husband, Anthony, live in Washington, DC with their son, Bijan, and dog, Kalli.
Al Hutchinson
President & CEO of Visit BaltimoreAl Hutchinson joined Visit Baltimore as president and CEO in November 2016. As the chief executive of the city’s official destination sales and marketing organization, he is responsible for driving positive economic impact for the city through the attraction of leisure travelers and convention business to Baltimore.
Hutchinson boasts more than 30 years of experience in the destination marketing industry in cities from Richmond to Pittsburgh to Mobile. He serves on numerous key industry boards including the United States Travel Association, Destinations International and Tourism Diversity Matters, and is currently serving as the chair of the Religious Conference Management Association (RCMA). Additionally, Hutchinson is active locally with Downtown Partnership of Baltimore, the Greater Baltimore Committee and Morgan State’s School of Business Dean’s Advisory Board, among others.
Hutchinson is a Richmond, Virginia native, University of Alabama alumnus, and with his wife, Unae, a proud father to Asia and Jalen Hutchinson.
Gordon Innes
Economic Development at Bloomberg AssociatesGordon Innes joined Bloomberg Associates in January 2017 and leads the philanthropic consultancy’s economic development practice. Its services include economic strategy development, startup and small business support, commercial real estate development and regeneration projects, workforce development, industry cluster development and business attraction and retention, neighborhood development, and tourism promotion.
Prior to joining Bloomberg Associates, Gordon was the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of London & Partners, the UK capital’s official promotional and economic development company.
Under Gordon’s leadership, the company attracted investment and spend which contributed £1.2bn GVA to the London economy, creating more than 38,000 jobs. It contributed to London becoming the world’s most popular visitor destination, with tourism numbers growing 20% and spend growing 35%. The city also rose from 19th to 5th in international congress city rankings.
Gordon has also held senior positions in UK national government — developing the government’s low carbon industrial strategy, leading the creation of the UK Green Investment Bank, and spearheading the Government’s trade and foreign direct investment efforts in the U.S.
Before entering public service, Gordon worked as a solicitor in both England and Australia.
Troy LeMaile-Stovall
CEO of TEDCOTroy A. LeMaile-Stovall serves as the CEO for TEDCO ($200M+ AUM), Maryland’s economic engine for technology companies, where he leads TEDCO in efforts to facilitate the creation of technology-based businesses and supports economic development in all regions of Maryland through the cultivation of an inclusive ecosystem. Troy also serves as a Strategic Advisor for Hunter Lewis, LLC, an investment management advisory firm led by Cambridge Associates Co-Founder Hunter Lewis.
An accomplished & award-winning CEO with significant experience in leading and implementing strategic plans via strong coaching and a focus on metrics, Troy has led or co-led over $3B in debt and equity offerings.
Troy is an entrepreneur at heart; he founded the management consulting firm LeMaile-Stovall, LLC and co-founded GulfSouth Capital, the family investment/venture capital office for US Ambassador to Portugal and SkyTel founder John N Palmer, where he served as the first President and CEO.
His previous positions include serving as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC), Interim President of Zenith Education Group; Principal at Butler Snow Advisory Services; Executive Vice President and COO of Howard University; and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at Jackson State University, where he was awarded the Thurgood Marshall HBCU CFO of the Year. Earlier in his career, Troy held positions at McKinsey & Company, Southwestern Bell Telephone, AT&T Bell Labs (youngest recipient of the Key Award), and Rockwell International.
Troy holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering cum laude from Southern Methodist University, a master’s degree in computer science degree from Stanford University, and an MBA (1st Year Honors) from Harvard University.
A NACD Certified Director (NACD.DC), Troy has served and is serving on a number of for-profit and non-profit boards, including University of Maryland School of Medicine, Parkway Properties (NYSE:PKY, Compensation Committee Chair, Audit and Corporate Governance Committees), Archipelago Learning (NASDAQ:ARCL, Audit and Compensation Committee), Internet America (NASDAQ:GEEK, Audit Chair and Compensation Committee), School Status (Audit Committee), EpiCor Software (Chair Elect, Audit Committee), Southern Methodist University (SMU) Dept. of Electrical Engineering (Chair), UDC Foundation (Treasurer), and his church Landover, MD-based Zion Church, led by Sr. Pastor Keith Battle, where he serves as Treasurer. During his time on these Boards, Troy has impacted efforts in the areas of strategic and operational planning, mergers, fiscal planning, capital formation, diversity and inclusion, organizational design, and marketing.
Troy was selected for the Leadership Greater Washington Signature Program Class of 2019, DC Chamber Chairman’s Award, Baltimore Business Journal Leadership Trust in 2020, Washingtonian “Tech Titan” in 2022, The Daily Record’s Most Admired CEOs in 2022, the 2023 class for the NACD Accelerate Audit Committee Pipeline program, a 2023 Inductee into the Baltimore Dealmakers Hall of Fame and a 2023 Baltimore Business Journal Power 10 honoree.
Troy’s top 5 CliftonStrengthsTM are Belief, Connectedness, Strategic, Achiever, and Learner and he has a “i” DiSC® style.
Brian Pieninck
President & CEO of CareFirst BlueCross BlueShieldBrian D. Pieninck is the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst), one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit healthcare organizations offering a comprehensive portfolio of health insurance products through its affiliates and subsidiaries and administrative services. As President and CEO, Brian embodies CareFirst’s mission while leading over 8,000 individuals dedicated to transforming the healthcare system to be more equitable, affordable and accessible to 3.5 million individuals across Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia.
Brian joined CareFirst in April 2015 as Executive Vice President of the Large Group Strategic Business Unit. He assumed the role of Chief Operating Officer in May 2017, responsible for the organization's four Strategic Business Units and Technology & Operational Support Services. In May of 2018, Brian was unanimously selected by the CareFirst Boards to become President and CEO, beginning his leadership of the company on July 1, 2018.
Prior to joining CareFirst, Brian was a member of Aetna Inc.'s executive team, where he held key leadership positions during a 19-year tenure, including Director of Professional Employer Organizations, President of Southeast National Accounts, and President of the Americas for Aetna International.
Brian's community involvement centers on equitably advancing opportunities at the intersection of health and economic wellbeing. He is the Board Chair of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association Board of Directors and Chairman of the Board for the Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare (CAQH). Additionally, he is an active member of several boards, including the Federal Employee Program Board of Managers, the Greater Baltimore Committee, Baltimore's Promise, BCS Financial Corporation, the Greater Washington Partnership, Synergie Medication Collective, the Greater Washington Board of Trade, the United Way of the National Capital Area, and a member of the Morgan State University Board of Regents. In 2022, Brian was named to the Health Committee of Governor-Elect Wes Moore and Lieutenant Governor-Elect Aruna Miller's transition team, and in 2023, he was named to the Maryland Economic Council and Mayor Brandon Scott's Business Roundtable. Additionally, he was named a co-chair of the 2023 and 2024 CIAA Tournament, the nation's oldest historically Black collegiate athletic conference that in 2022 had a positive economic impact of nearly $20 million in Baltimore City.
Brian holds a B.S. in Business Studies and Business Administration from Southern New Hampshire University and is a graduate of Leadership Maryland's Class of 2016. A native of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Brian and his family currently reside in Baltimore County, Maryland.
Thomas Regnante
Managing Director & Maryland Market Executive of JPMorgan Chase & Co.Tom is an accomplished and success-oriented professional highly regarded for establishing and fostering business, civic, and community relationships. In his role with JPMorgan Chase, Tom is focused on driving business growth and leading new market development in the commercial banking, lending, and treasury management sectors.
Tom’s proudest accomplishment thus far in his career is working over the past ten years to establish and build a dynamic presence for JPMorgan Chase in Greater Baltimore.
A graduate of American University’s School of International Service, Tom also received his MBA in International Business from George Washington University. He volunteers his time to benefit several organizations, including serving on the Board of Trustees for the Hippodrome Foundation, as a team captain for the annual Cycle for Survival fundraiser to support rare cancer research, and as Mid-Atlantic coordinator for the National Italian American Foundation. Tom has also been named a “Most Influential Marylander” by the Maryland Daily Record for his many business and civic contributions.
Eddie Resende
CEO of World Trade Center Institute (WTCI)With 20 years of experience in the global business sector, an MBA from Georgetown University, and expertise serving on non-profit boards, Eddie serves as the CEO of the World Trade Center Institute (WTCI), one of the largest international business networking organizations in the mid-Atlantic region.
During his 17-year tenure at WTCI, Eddie has been instrumental in launching and growing many new initiatives for the organization, including several international business and diplomacy fellowships and conferences, the annual Global Economic Outlook Report, World-Lens Podcast, and the Maryland Innovation Lab – a first-in-the-nation initiative that connects corporations with startups from around the world.
Prior to WTCI, Eddie worked with TESSCO Technologies Inc., a leading global supplier of wireless communications products. He also played a central role in the development of Gems of the Earth, a nonprofit organization that promotes social and economic development in the rural communities of Brazil, making modern technology accessible to all.
Eddie and his family migrated to the United States from Brazil when he was 11. He is an advocate for human rights issues, and today serves as the chairman of the board at New American Careers, a social enterprise that connects immigrant professionals to employment opportunities in the U.S. He previously served as vice chair of the board of its parent company, Global Refuge.
In 2023, Eddie was recognized as one of Maryland’s Most Influential Leaders by the Daily Record.
Luigi Rosa, P.E., PMP, CCM
Vice President at AmtrakLuigi is the Amtrak Assistant Vice President for the Frederick Douglass Tunnel Program. He is a Program Executive with over 25 years of experience throughout USA, Europe, and the Middle East in managing mega railway projects. Before joining Amtrak, Luigi worked on several transformational mega projects that changed the lives of millions of people: MTA NY Penn Station Access and East Side Access Projects, the Italian High-Speed Railroad program that revolutionized people’s lifestyle and mobility in Italy, and the Omani National Railway Project that is a crucial initiative shaping Oman’s future towards becoming an oil-free country by 2050.
Brandon Scott
Mayor at City of BaltimoreBrandon M. Scott, Baltimore's 52nd Mayor, focuses on tackling gun violence, restoring trust in government, and improving the city. Previously, he served as President of the Baltimore City Council, where he championed legislative agendas for community safety, government transparency, youth investment, and equity. Known for his efforts in reducing violence and promoting police oversight, Scott also spearheaded initiatives for crime data sharing and equity assessments in city operations. A recognized leader in politics, he has held positions in national organizations and remains deeply connected to his hometown.
Dujon Smith
Global Investment Lead & Black Founders Program of AccentureDujon is a visionary leader with a profound commitment to empowering marginalized communities and championing innovation. Dujon is the Global Co-Lead for Accenture's Black Founder's Development Program, aiming to amplify wealth creation in Black communities and usher in the next wave of entrepreneurs. His expertise in linking corporations and startups was refined as the Midwest Lead for Accenture Open Innovation, where he fostered collaborations between major companies and dynamic startups.
Outside this role, he is the Founder & CEO of My Block Skin, where he's transforming sun care for melanin-rich individuals, ensuring access to quality SPF protection.
Rooted in his passion for uplifting BIPOC entrepreneurs, creatives, and academics, Dujon also serves on the Global Inclusivity Board for Soho House and the University of Birmingham's Business School Advisory Board, promoting global diversity and inclusion.
Having traveled and worked in 55 countries, Dujon possesses a rich understanding of the synergy between technology, culture, and education. This global outlook drives him to advocate for equity and growth for BIPOC communities. Dujon's leadership is a beacon of positive transformation, fueling global innovation and community empowerment.
Ricky Smith
Executive Director and CEO of BWI Thurgood Marshall AirportRicky Smith was appointed Executive Director/CEO of the Maryland Aviation Administration (MAA) on July 10, 2015. Mr. Smith is responsible for the management and operations of Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI Marshall), Martin State Airport, and regional aviation activities throughout the State of Maryland.
Mr. Smith, a 33-year transportation professional, returned to Maryland after serving as Chief Executive Officer of the Cleveland Airport System, which includes Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and Burke Lakefront Airport. In addition, he was responsible for overseeing the development and management of the City’s lakefront properties.
Since returning to BWI Marshall, Mr. Smith has led the airport to five (5) consecutive record-setting years for passengers including restoring BWI Marshall as the busiest airport in the Washington/Baltimore region and the Best Airport in North America for Customer Service according to Airport Council International. Establishing a culture of performance, customer service, safety, and innovation, the airports have received several other national and regional awards for customer service, capital development, and marketing including an Emmy Awards in 2018 and 2019. In 2017, the LaunchPad program was started to enable minority-owned micro-businesses the opportunity to participate in BWI Marshall’s thriving food and retail program without barriers to entry. In 2015, he launched the BWI Marshall Summer Youth Initiative aimed at introducing youth in Baltimore City to careers in aviation and transportation. To date, over 100 youths have participated in this program.
Prior to his service in Cleveland, Mr. Smith served as the Chief Operating Officer for the MAA, where he helped lead BWI Marshall Airport through a $2 billion expansion program, increased air service throughout the world, and the creation of a new food and retail program. Prior to returning to the MAA, after a two-year departure, Ricky served as the Deputy Administrator for the Maryland State Highway Administration. In addition, he served in the private sector for several years with International Business Machines, H&R Block Business Services, The May Company, and others.
Ricky holds an Accounting degree from Howard University and an Executive MBA from Loyola University in Maryland. He is a graduate of several leadership programs, including the Greater Baltimore Committee and Leadership Cleveland. He is active on several national and local boards and industry associations including the Airport Minority Advisory Council where he serves as Board Chair, American Association of Airport Executives, Greater Washington Board of Trade, Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) Board of Directors, the BWI Business Partnership, World Trade Center Institute, Greater Baltimore Urban League where he serves as Board Chair, the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture where he serves as Vice Board Chair, Morgan State University School of Communications Board of Advisors and the University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center Board of Directors.
Shelonda Stokes
President at Downtown Partnership of BaltimoreShelonda Stokes, appointed President of Downtown Partnership of Baltimore and CEO of Downtown Management Authority in 2020, leads these nonprofits with multimillion-dollar budgets to enhance Baltimore's vitality. A key figure in the city's COVID-19 recovery, she co-chaired Mayor Young's Small Business Recovery Taskforce and Mayor Scott's Transition Committee. Formerly President & CEO of greiBO, an acclaimed marketing and entertainment agency, Stokes boasts over 85 awards and advises Fortune 100 CEOs and elected officials. Recognized by The Governor’s Office of Minority Affairs and The Daily Record, she serves on the National Women’s Business Council and Morgan State University Board of Regents. A trailblazer, Stokes was the first African American Chair of Downtown Partnership of Baltimore and contributes to various boards, including the Center Club.
Mohan Suntha, MD
President & Chief Executive Officer at University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS)In November 2019, Dr. Mohan Suntha was selected as president and chief executive officer of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), a nationally recognized academic health system that employs 28,000 people across the state of Maryland at more than 150 locations, including a network of academic, community and specialty hospitals.
Prior to his role as president and CEO of UMMS, Dr. Suntha served as president and chief executive officer of the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). Founded in 1823 as the Baltimore Infirmary, UMMC is one of the nation's oldest academic medical centers, which provides a full range of discovery-based healthcare services to Baltimore City, Maryland, the region and beyond. As the flagship academic medical center of UMMS, UMMC focuses on the delivery of exceptional, high-value care, serving as a referral center for the most time-sensitive, critically ill and injured patients. In partnership with the University of Maryland School of Medicine (SOM), UMMC is committed to its tripartite mission of delivering superior care, training the next generation of health professionals and serving as an anchor institution to the people of Baltimore to advance community health, wellness and workforce development.
Dr. Suntha also served as president and CEO of the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center from 2012 to 2016, where he worked to rebuild trust and alignment between the medical staff, employees and administration and led the organization from a loss of $72 million in FY13 to a position of profitability in FY16. Building on an established culture of safe, high-quality, compassionate care, the hospital’s turnaround surpassed all expectations.
Dr. Suntha has spent his entire career with UMMS and the University of Maryland SOM. He trained as a resident in the Department of Radiation Oncology in 1991 and joined the faculty in 1995 where he developed a national reputation for the management of head and neck and thoracic malignancies. Dr. Suntha quickly rose through the ranks and was named the vice chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology in 1997. In 2008, Dr. Suntha became a tenured professor and was awarded the inaugural Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum endowed Professor of Radiation Oncology.
From 2009 to 2012, Dr. Suntha served as vice president for system program development at UMMS. Dr. Suntha has maintained faculty and clinical appointments throughout his administrative roles.
Dr. Suntha is a member of the American College of Radiation Oncology and the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology. He received his MD from Jefferson Medical College, his MBA from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and his BA from Brown University.
Matt Tremblay
CEO of Blackbird LabsMatt Tremblay, PhD, is the Chief Executive Officer of Blackbird Laboratories, a nonprofit technology development platform, and Managing Director of Blackbird BioVentures, an early-stage biotech investment fund. Blackbird and Blackbird BioVentures aim to catalyze the creation of new medicines and enabling technologies in Baltimore.
Prior to joining Blackbird, Tremblay was Chief Operating Officer of Scripps Research and its drug discovery division, Calibr. He earned his PhD in Chemistry at Columbia University. Following postdoctoral work in the laboratory of Peter Schultz, PhD, at Scripps Research, he led a group at the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation until helping to launch and run Calibr for 10 years.
Alicia Wilson
Managing Director and Head of Regional Philanthropy for North America at JPMorgan ChaseAlicia Wilson, Esq. is the Managing Director and Head of Regional Philanthropy for North America for JPMorgan Chase. At JPMorgan, Alicia oversees the local philanthropic strategies across 40+ markets in North America, collaborating intentionally with senior leaders across the firm’s corporate responsibility and business units to drive meaningful impact across JPMorgan’s business footprint in the U.S. and Canada. This includes helping to steward the $2 billion philanthropic commitment as part of the firm’s broader Racial Equity Commitment.
Prior to joining JPMorgan, Alicia served as Vice President of Economic Development for Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Health System and Associate Professor in the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, in Baltimore, Maryland. At Johns Hopkins, Alicia led a core cross-institutional team focused on developing and implementing Hopkins’ institution-wide strategies and initiatives as an anchor institution in and around its campuses both within the United States and abroad. Alicia spearheaded the elevation and expansion of Hopkins signature commitment to its communities through investments in real estate, economic and neighborhood development, healthcare, and education.
Alicia is actively involved in civic and charitable organizations. She currently serves on the boards of Johns Hopkins University, the University of Maryland School of Law Board of Visitors, the CollegeBound Foundation, Kennedy Krieger Institute, and the France-Merrick Foundation. She is also co-founder of the Black Philanthropy Circle at the Baltimore Community Foundation. Alicia is also Chair of the CollegeBound Foundation and as such is the first CollegeBound Foundation alum, first woman, first African-American and youngest Board Chair in the thirty history of the organization. Alicia also serves as Parliamentarian within the Harbor City Chapter of the Links, Incorporated and is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.
For her accomplishments and public service, Alicia has received over fifty professional awards and honors. Most recently, Alicia was recognized as the 2024 Voice of Justice Honoree by the University of Baltimore School of Law, as one of the Power 50 Women of Influence for 2024 by the US Black Chamber of Commerce the 2023 Sally Michel Honoree by the Parks and People Foundation, and the 2023 Change Maker of the Year by the William & Lanaea Featherstone Foundation. .
Her professional and civic leadership have propelled her to the forefront of local and national media attention. Most recently, Alicia was recognized as one of the 15 Black Marylanders to Watch for 2023 by the Baltimore Sun. In mid-2022, Savoy Magazine recognized Alicia as one of the “Most Influential Black Executives in Corporate America”. She was also named a 2022 “Women Who Wins” and Newsmaker of the Year for 2021 by the Afro-American Newspaper
Christy Wyskiel
Executive Director and Sr. Advisor to the President on Innovation and Entrepreneurship of Johns Hopkins Technology VenturesChristy Wyskiel is the Senior Advisor to the President of Johns Hopkins University for Innovation & Entrepreneurship. In this role, she also serves as the Executive Director of Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures, a division of the university responsible for technology transfer, corporate research partnerships, and company incubation under the brand ‘FastForward.’ Since her appointment in 2013, Christy has transformed the culture of commercialization at Johns Hopkins, opening 44,000 square feet of FastForward innovation space to support startup companies, facilitating the creation of 75+ companies, and generating over $300 million in university revenue from licensing and industry collaborations. JHU startups have raised over $3 billion in venture capital during her tenure. Christy is a fierce advocate for the future of Baltimore and the role that Johns Hopkins University can play in populating the city skyline with companies borne, built, and grown locally.
Christy is a seasoned entrepreneur, investor, and ecosystem builder with 25+ years of experience primarily focused on the life sciences and healthcare industries. Prior to her role at Johns Hopkins, Christy co-founded two Baltimore based startups and served as a formal and informal advisor to many others. Prior to that, Christy worked as an institutional investor where she had a long track record of successful investing in both public and private companies.
Christy has a BA in Economics and German from Williams College and an MBA in Accounting and Finance from the Stern School of Business at New York University. She lives in Baltimore City with her husband and her cat. In her free time, she enjoys studying Italian, Baltimore’s farmers’ markets, biking, yoga, pilates, and reading historical fiction.