2022 Tech Summit House

Moderator: Jeff Johnson

Jeff Johnson has leveraged two decades of non-profit executive, media and strategic communications expertise to provide executive-level counsel to brands, institutions and municipalities. 

The work builds cultural competency and credibility, expands market-driven inclusion, and maximizes your message through executive-level thought leadership, strategy development and communications support. He supports corporate clients behind the scenes by advising the implementation of Inclusion and Equity strategy, strategic communications and brand management work. 

Executive roles with the NAACP , Hip Hop Summit Action Network, ten years of providing commentary to urban markets every week via the Tom Joyner and Rickey Smiley Morning Shows and a 13-year run as the voice of community impact for Black Entertainment Television gives him unmatched credibility and places him at the epicenter of impact-driven culture. 

Additionally, he successfully managed his own strategic communications firm serving primarily Fortune 100 and 500 companies around growth driven Diversity and Inclusion. Consequently, he’s crafted a unique career that has seamlessly fused corporate America, entertainment, and politics to leverage culture, equity and impact with success and integrity.

Panelists

Adam J. Martin

Adam J. Martin is the Chief Digital Officer with the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Since joining the museum in 2016 as its senior digital strategist, Adam has helped further the museum’s commitment to developing innovative, accessible and inclusive digital experiences that meet the emerging needs of the museum’s diverse, global audience. Before joining the museum, Adam served as the Director, Technology and Innovation with the U.S. Agency for Global Media, an independent federal agency overseeing U.S. international media. He began his career at the intersection of community, media and technology as a digital media producer and product manager with National Public Radio. He holds a master’s degree from American University and a bachelor’s from Boston University. A Massachusetts native, he now makes his home with his family in the Washington, D.C. area.

Delali Dzirasa

Delali Dzirasa is the CEO and founder of Fearless, a full stack digital services firm in Baltimore, Maryland with a mission to create software with a soul — tools that empower communities and make a difference. He’s also the CEO and founder of Fearless Sports, an apparel company with a mission to ignite, equip and uniform the impactful. Delali’s committed to creating a soulful world where action breeds impact, and he’s been named as one of Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneurs of the Year for the Mid-Atlantic Region, the Daily Record’s Most Admired CEOs, in the Baltimore Business Journal’s (BBJ) Power 10 list, and in the Black Business Review’s 40 under 40 list. He chaired the inaugural DevOpsDays Baltimore and is a founding member of the governing board of the Digital Services Coalition. Delali is also the Chair of Hack Baltimore: a city-wide innovation movement that teams up technologists, civic leaders, and city residents to design sustainable solutions for Baltimore’s biggest challenges.

Delali’s passion and entrepreneurial spirit started at a young age. As a kid, he used to knock on doors and offer to cut grass, mow lawns, wash cars or walk dogs. He then went on to graduate from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) with a B.S. in Computer Engineering. Delali has over 15 years of experience leading agile software teams and programs, and he strives to make a difference in technology and in his surrounding community. He’s passionate about increasing the rate of city youth heading into STEM fields. 

David Simeon

David Simeon, Jr. is Fearless’ Chief Digital Services Officer. Previously, David has served as a Portfolio Manager leading the Fearless team responsible for growth and management of business with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Prior to joining Fearless, Simeon served as Principal for ICF, a global consulting and technology services firm; lead digital transformation for Fortune 500 companies and government agencies as Engagement Director for Pivotal; and served as Division Chief, Innovation & Technology for USCIS.

Panelists

Sheldon Candis

Baltimore native Sheldon Candis is a graduate of the prestigious USC School of Cinematic Arts. Candis’ feature directorial debut LUV was an official selection in the 2012 Sundance Film Festival Dramatic Competition starring Common, Michael Rainey Jr., Danny Glover, Dennis Haysbert, Charles Dutton, Michael K. Williams, Meagan Good and Russell Hornsby. Candis directed the feature length documentary BALTIMORE BOYS for the prestigious ESPN Films banner.

Candis directed WHO WILL SURVIVE AMERICA for the AMC Networks/ Sundance Now Doc Club original series Take 5: Justice in America. The short documentary chronicles the United States’ storied love affair and easy accessibility to guns. Candis’ has also directed the docuseries I WILL WHAT I WANT for Under Armour and ballerina phenom Misty Copeland along with the Charles Barkley Executive Produced DREAMS.

WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE BRIGHTEST, a cinematic story within the cult video game series NBA 2K 20 for Springhill Entertainment Candis has helmed. Executive Produced by LeBron James and Maverick Carter and starring Idris Elba, Rosario Dawson, Thomas Middleditch and Lamorne Morris.

Candis’ high impact storytelling has seamlessly translated into the advertising world, with Candis directing cultural defining campaigns for the likes of Amazon, Ford, Honda, Walmart and Microsoft along with helming numerous national public service announcements, including the IT’S ON US sexual awareness campaign for the Obama-Biden administration.

Candis’ television credits include the BET Detective Noir series REBEL starring Giancarlo Esposito and Mykelti Williamson. OWN’s CHERISH THE DAY starring Joy Bryant, Henry Simmons, and Richard Roundtree along with his most recent work on the CW and DC Comics super hero series NAOMI. Along with THE GAME PLANfor TNT and Executive Producer Shaquille O’Neal.

Candis recently helmed the Netflix and ARRAY production COLIN IN BLACK & WHITE with Executive Producer Ava DuVernay. Starring Nick Offerman, Mary Louise Parker, and Jaden Michael. The prestige limited series chronicles the early
wonder years of civil rights activist and cultural icon athlete Colin Kaepernick.

D. Watkins

D.  Watkins is Editor at Large for Salon. His work has been published in the New York Times, New York Times Magazine, The Guardian, Rolling Stone and other publications. He holds a Master’s in Education from Johns Hopkins University and an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Baltimore.

Watkins is a college lecturer at the University of Baltimore and Arts and Social Justice Visiting Professor at  Johns  Hopkins University. He  has also been the recipient of numerous awards including the Dambach Award for Service to the Literary Arts, BMe Genius Grant, and the Maryland Library Association William Wilson Maryland Author Award. Watkins was also a finalist for the Hurston Wright Legacy Award and Books for A Better Life. He has lectured at countless universities, and events, around the world. Watkins has been featured as a guest and commentator on NBC’s Meet the Press, CNN’s The Erin Burnett Show, Democracy Now and NPR’s Monday Morning, among other shows.

Watkins is from and lives in Baltimore. He is the author of the New York Times bestsellers The Beast Side: Living (and Dying) While Black in America and The Cook Up: A Crack Rock Memoir and We Speak for Ourselves: A Word from Forgotten Black America. His forthcoming memoir Where Tomorrows Aren’t Promised co-written with Carmelo Anthony is releasing in the fall.

Moderator: Wendy Osefo

An award-winning researcher, Dr. Wendy Osefo is a Nigerian-American television personality and progressive political commentator. She has been interviewed by and frequently provides commentary for CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, ABC and TV-One to name a few. She is a Contributor to The Hill, the Founder and CEO of the 1954 Equity Project and is an Assistant Professor at The Johns Hopkins University. Most recently, Dr. Osefo joined the cast of the hit Bravo TV show Real Housewives of Potomac.

Her current research examines the impact of the 2016 presidential election on black and brown communities and the role of inclusion and asset based strategies in higher education. Wendy is the former Director of Family and Community Development for the Obama Administration’s DC Promise Neighborhood. She holds a B.A. in Political Science from Temple University, an M.A. in Government from The Johns Hopkins University and an M.Sc. in Public Affairs from Rutgers University. Dr. Osefo made history when she became the first black woman to earn a Ph.D. in Public Affairs-Community Development from Rutgers University.

Dr. Osefo is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated and The National Urban League. She has received numerous awards over the years, but Wendy is most proud of being a recipient of the Johns Hopkins Diversity Recognition Award, a recipient of the Johns Hopkins University Outstanding Graduate Award, a 40 Under 40 Honoree, a 25 Women to Watch Honoree and a Black Women in Media Honoree.

Panelists

Jeff Cherry (Conscious Ventures Lab)

As a CEO, hedge fund manager, designer, entrepreneur, educator, mentor and consultant, Jeff has a diverse and unique career spanning more than 25 years of executive leadership. During his time as an executive and business consultant he has developed significant expertise in a broad range of operational disciplines and industries including: technology, design and construction, finance, hospitality and professional services.

In his capacity as an executive and business strategist, Jeff has helped organizations from start-ups to established middle-market companies and government agencies create operational strategies and business ecologies aimed at inspiring knowledge worker performance. His diverse background and experience has helped companies create everything from new office environments and online offerings to completely new innovative business models.

As a thought leader in the areas of stakeholder management and the emerging discipline of Conscious Capitalism®, Jeff had the honor of consulting with authors David Wolfe and Raj Sisodia on their book Firms of Endearment, How World Class Companies Profit from Passion and Purpose, which was published in 2007. Jeff later expanded on the ideas of Conscious Capitalism® to form Concinnity Advisors, a hedge fund focused on identifying and investing in companies operating from a more holistic, long-term value mindset.

Prior to forming Concinnity Advisors Jeff was the co-head of research for Multi stakeholder investment strategies for a multi-billion dollar hedge fund based in Stamford, CT. Immediately before that Jeff spent 20 years as founder and CEO of Lloyd Lamont Design, Inc. a multifaceted management, architecture and technology consulting firm, which, after being named as one of the fastest growing privately held companies by Inc. Magazine was acquired by a strategic investor in 2006.

Jeff received his Bachelors of Architecture and Masters of Science in Architecture from The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. He also completed extended executive study courses at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, Program for Growing Companies. Jeff is currently a member of the Society of Human Resources Management, ANSI Investor Metrics Workgroup as well as the Industry Working Groups (IWG) for the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB).

He was recently a guest class speaker on the issues of sustainability and investing at the Columbia University, Earth Institute Center for Environmental Research and Conservation. And was a panelist at the Partnership for a Healthier America Summit discussing issues of how corporations could use a conscious capitalists mindset to help solve the childhood obesity epidemic.

Luke Cooper (Fixt)

Luke is a tech entrepreneur with multiple $25M exits, and one of only three Black founders in the U.S. to reach a multi-million dollar exit during the pandemic. In addition to investing in and advising companies in his personal portfolio, he is also a partner at Preface Ventures, a $23M fund focused on enterprise SaaS. Cooper’s latest venture, Latimer, is a $500M fund focused on creating outcomes for women and BIPOC owned businesses.

He also serves as an EIR at multiple institutions, providing counsel to students and leaders.

Luke’s book Mud to Magic: A Black Tech Entrepreneur’s Journey is set to release in late 2021. To learn how Luke can help your audience turn their mud into magic, visit nomudnomagic.com.

Eric Reed (Verizon)

Eric Fitzgerald Reed, Vice President – Public Policy & Local Engagement for Verizon Communications in Washington, DC, is responsible for analyzing emerging tech industry trends and managing telecommunications developments as they relate to public policy and local engagement. Reed leads Verizon’s outreach to an array of technology and community based stakeholders with vested interests in telecommunications and tech policy, regulatory and legislative matters at the state and local level. In this role, he advances the company’s positions and analyzes emerging technologies, consumer and industry trends and related telecommunications policy issues.

In addition to his public policy and local engagement responsibilities, Reed manages relationships with business and tech associations, strategic partners, state and local government agencies and community-based organizations important to the policy process. He previously led Verizon Foundation activities and initiatives for the Pacific & North Central markets.

Eric began his career at Verizon in November 2000 and has worked in various government affairs and legal functions since joining the company.

In the community, Mr. Reed is a member of the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore Board of Directors which he joined in October 2019. He is also a member of the Newark Museum of Art Board of Trustees which he joined in June 2019.

Eric previously served on the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles-based, LA Promise Fund Board and the Museum of African Diaspora (MoAD) in San Francisco, a Smithsonian Affiliate. Mr. Reed also served as a member of the Consumer Technology Association Board of Industry Leaders from 2013 – 2015.

Mr. Reed received his Masters in Business Administration from University of Maryland University College in May 2005. He also received a Masters of Science in Telecommunications Management from University of Maryland University College in 2001 and his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from American University in 1996. Mr. Reed has also completed senior executive management programs at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business and the University of Virginia – Darden Graduate School of Business.

Dr. Tammira Lucas

Recognized as one of Baltimore’s Top 40 under 40, Dr. Tammira Lucas is a thought leader who has quickly emerged as a trailblazer among millennial professionals and a powerful voice for communities locally, nationally, and internationally. Dr. Lucas is the founder of The Cube, Cowork, the largest black women owned coworking space in the United States that provides babysitting services. Dr. Lucas is a strong advocate for women in business especially moms. With her dedication to ensure that all moms have access to resources and support to balance their careers, businesses and family, she cofounded The National Association of Mom Entrepreneurs. Dr. Lucas has helped cultivate many entrepreneur communities locally and nationally to help increase access to funding and support service resources for founders of color. Currently Dr. Lucas is the Venture Growth Advisor for the Urban Business Innovation Initiative at TEDCO. 

Performance by MuMu Fresh.

Speakers

Pava LaPere

EcoMap Technologies
Can Entrepreneurs Actually Save the World?
The past two years have brought into focus the vast challenges our society will face over the next century. From climate change to systemic racism to income inequality, there is no shortage of problems that must be addressed to ensure the sustainability of our world. Thankfully, there’s also no shortage of entrepreneurs working to tackle these issues. The inventions, organizations, and initiatives these entrepreneurs create are crucial to solving big problems – but they can’t do it alone. Whether or not entrepreneurs can save the world depends on how the communities, institutions, and individuals around them step up to support – or thwart – their work.

Pava LaPere is the CEO and cofounder of EcoMap Technologies, a rapidly-growing tech company that creates platforms to answer the question “who is doing what?” within any given ecosystem. EcoMap’s platforms help thousands of people navigate everything from Baltimore’s tech community to the entire AR/VR industry, and they work with clients spanning local nonprofits to companies such as Meta. Before EcoMap, Pava founded and ran the Accelerators at Johns Hopkins University, a low-code development agency, and two nonprofits focused on building more equitable entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Ashton Keys

Company: Athlytic
Monetizing Name and Image Likeness of Black Athletes to Generate Wealth Creation.
With new laws changing allowing collegiate athletes across the country to monetize their name, image, and likeness. I will be discussing how this can create a new opportunity for wealth creation within black communities and the importance of having black representation as new companies form to create the infrastructure of how this industry will work.

Michael Ogunsanya

Company: MindStand
Microaggressions to Mindstand
How workplace microaggressions led to the creation of will take you through a series of events that defined him and his entrepreneurial journey.

Arion Long

Company: Femly
Believe black women…and fund them!
Despite the overall increase in funding, female-founded companies raised just 2% of dollars invested in VC-backed startups. Studies consistently show that companies founded by women and diverse leaders consistently outperform their peers in revenue, growth and a host of other metrics, yet female founders continue to lack access to capital with Black women getting a fraction of available funding. In this discussion, you’ll hear from a Black woman who successfully raised funding, beat the odds, and creatively funded her startup by leveraging culture, influence, and technology.

Emmanuel Iroanya

Company: Theta
Change is Constant, So is Tech
Short abstract: thinking outside of the box with your product development or digital services approach by following a “build it to change, not to last” mindset because users, just like technology, can change. Being conscious about that can allow us as technologists to build applications that can actually help bridge the digital divide rather than patchworking the status quo.

Paul Plymouth

Paul Plymouth is a Director of State Government Affairs and Local Engagement for Verizon, completing public policy work and engaging communities in the Baltimore metropolitan area and all the Eastern Shore. He’s been involved in efforts to increase access to 5G, or “Fifth Generation”, technology to urban, suburban, and rural parts of Maryland. Also, he’s been involved in projects to enhance workforce development and upskilling/reskilling opportunities in Baltimore to prepare more residents for booming careers in tech.

Prior to joining Verizon, Paul was Government Relations Project manager for Crown Castle, where he served as in-house lobbyist and government relations manager for the MD, DC, and VA market on legislative, regulatory and policy issues at the federal, state and local levels. Also, Paul served as a Legislative Aide to former City Council President Bernard C. “Jack” Young, and served as one of the youngest Reading Clerks in City Council history. Paul has Bachelors of Arts from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a Master of Public Administration from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Finally, his hobbies include being a mentor, traveling, playing poker and starting-then-stopping house projects.

Jessica Watson

Company: Points North Studio
You’re the One You’ve Been waiting For.
The best way to predict the future is to create it. This lightning talk is your motivation to take charge of your story and step into the limelight. Your story matters. Make sure you’re telling it like you mean it.

Moderator: Joe Clair

Joe Clair, host, comedian, radio personality and on-air veteran is no stranger when it comes to Washington, D.C. This native of Seat Pleasant, MD is the current host of WPGC’s 95.5 – “Joe Clair Morning Show”, taking the morning airwaves by storm and making the drive to work much more enjoyable for listeners across the DMV. He is a proud graduate of Morgan State University, where he pledged Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, but found his passion for comedy, music and communications.

Joe Clair is a multifaceted entertainer with a career spanning two decades. You can call him Joe, Cleezy or Mr. Clair. Whatever you call him, it is undeniable that Joe Clair is 100%. Whether it is in the radio, comedy game, hosting arena, acting or community service, Joe Clair definitely gets it in.

Clair’s night time gig as a stand-up comic has lined his pockets for years. With appearances all over the country in clubs, colleges and arenas, Joe has gained an underground following. He is bold, witty, crazy, spirited and animated when it comes to the jokes and the mic. Joe got his start on HBO’s famed Def Comedy Jam, before gaining national notoriety as host of BET’s
famed show “Rap City,” where he introduced the world to hip-hop and rap super-stars. He is most notably known as the last person to interview hip-hop icon Notorious B.I.G.

While finding notoriety on Rap City, Joe was offered an opportunity to launch a career in radio on the #1 radio station in the DMV, WPGC’s Sunday Night Hip-Hop Show with Big Tigger before making his way to Hot 97 in New York City, Sirius XM-Foxxhole in Los Angeles and V-103 in Atlanta.

Panelists

Aaron Maybin (Artist)

Aaron Maybin is a former linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) and the Canadian Football League (CFL). His college football career was at Penn State University where he received consensus All-American honors. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft, and also played for the New York Jets. Maybin’s professional football career lasted until 2013, after which he became a full-time professional artist. He is also the founder of Project Mayhem, and the author of the 2017 book Art Activism. He is a teacher at Matthew A. Henson Elementary in his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland.

Sean Glover (Sound Exchange)

As Director of Industry Engagement, Sean Glover is responsible for educating and supporting the music industry on SoundExchange’s creator-facing systems and services, making the business of music more simple, more efficient and more fair.  His work ensures that artists and rights owners are compensated when their work is streamed on digital radio. Sean leads DEI initiatives for SoundExchange in the Washington, D.C. area and is an honoree on the Billboard’s 2021 R&B/Hip-Hop Power Player List. SoundExchange collects and distributes digital performance royalties on behalf of nearly 260,000 recording artists and master rights owners accounts and administers direct agreements on behalf of rights owners and licensees. To date, SoundExchange has paid out nearly $9 billion in royalties. 

Koykai (Artist)

Multidisciplinary artist. producer. Grammy-nominated musician. Preeminent Improvisational vocalist, educator, storyteller, and connector of dots. chief ideator and co-curator of BeatsnBeans: a cultural design project examining the intersections of creativity, coffee culture and the re-imagining of creative spaces. 2022 Nicholson Arts Fellow, Halcyon Arts Lab Fellow, Creative DSGNR for projects with Grammy-nominated artist Goldink and artist/musician Guillermo Brown/Pegasus Warning, Ambassador Manager Grant for the Web/W3. He can be heard on Nate Smith’s Kinfolk 2, Terri Lyne Carrington + Social Science Waiting Game, Goldlink’s At What Cost, MTV’s Rebel Music, Kevin Hart’s Laugh At My Pain, and a multitude of titles spanning: Jazz, Hip Hop, Punk and R&B. KOKAYI continues musical work with his own band as well as collaborating with ensembles including; Ambrose Akinmusire Origami Harvest, Terri Lynne Carrington + Social Science, Nate Smith + Kinfolk, Whose Hat is This?, Ego Mondo, and MacArthur recipients Dafnis Prieto Proverb Trio and Steve Coleman Five Elements, respectively.

Sharon Ingram (Grammys)