Baltimore Innovation Week 2018

Mark is the Founder/CEO of IsItGood, the social community and personalized recommendation platform for podcasts. IsItGood was 1 of 7 companies selected to the Accelerate Baltimore 2018 cohort and was awarded the program's grand prize of $125,000 in seed capital in June 2018. As part of the management team of his last local startup, Parking Panda, he led the company from zero to $30M+ AGR, 40+ employees, 2+ million paying customers, $11M+ in venture capital raised, and successfully acquired in 2017. Mark has a JD/MBA from the University of Baltimore and a BA in Economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Margaret is the Chief Customer Experience Officer at Yet Analytics, a Baltimore based company that provides tools and solutions used to improve learning and talent development. Margaret is interested in the development and design of connected learning environments that leverage data analytics and blended learning. Her background is in experiential education, curriculum design, teaching, and team development. She is an active member and former VP of Community Impact for the Junior League of Baltimore, a member of the SXSWedu Advisory Board and co-founder of EdTechWomen. Margaret received her BA in English and Environmental Earth Science and her MA in Teaching from the Johns Hopkins University. She is a die-hard Blue Jay Lacrosse fan, spends a lot of time cooking, writing, organizing, and exploring and her favorite science-fiction novel is Neuromancer by William Gibson.

Johns Hopkins University Professor James E. West has over 250 patents to his name. He is best known for his work at Bell Labs and  his invention of the electret microphone. Ninety percent of microphones produced annually are his, and can be found in everyday items such as your cellphone. West was inducted into The National Inventors Hall of Fame in 1999 for the invention of the electret microphone. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering; a Fellow, and past President, of the Acoustical Society of America, and a Fellow of the IEEE. West was awarded the National Medal of Technology and Innovation in 2006 by President George W. Bush, and is also the proud recipient of the Benjamin Franklin Medal in Engineering. In addition to his scientific contributions, West has also served as an advocate for greater diversity in STEM fields serving on the board of countless philanthropic organizations including The Ingenuity Project. Jim is currently working with a local startup, Sonavi Labs, on developing a life- changing smart digital stethoscope with machine-learning algorithms to diagnose respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

Clifton Morgan has served Opportunity Youth with Year Up for nearly nine years as the College Partnerships Specialist, Director of Admissions and finally the Senior Director of Program in Year Up’s National Capital Region. Clif is currently the Site Director at Year Up, Baltimore and works with a great team providing young adults with the skills, experience, and support that will empower them to reach their potential through professional careers and higher education.

Clif knows that there is a demand for a trained and experienced workforce and a large number of youth who are disconnected from opportunities to the education and coaching needed to excel in their careers. Year Up’s six month Learning & Development phase and six month corporate internship help to level the playing field and give young adults access beyond many of the barriers to entry that may exist for them.

Clif has 25 years of experience in higher education and workforce development. He started his career as a job and career coach at Dawson Technical Institute in Chicago’s City College system. He aided in the establishment of Chicago State University’s Office of Distance Learning, and served as the department’s inaugural Assistant Director.  Clif also had the privilege to serve on the advisory board and as program facilitator for Project Brotherhood, a nationally recognized men’s health clinic, which has been featured on CNN’s “Black in America”.  Through his work with Project Brotherhood Clif was given the opportunity to partner with Grammy Award winning artist Common’s - Common Ground Foundation to establish and facilitate youth development programs for high school students on Chicago’s Southside.  

Clif holds a B.S. in Finance from Hampton University, is a trained Diversity and Cultural Humility Facilitator, a trained Predictive Index Analyst, noted speaker and has been recognized for his dedication to the communities he serves with several Honors.

A successful executive experienced in operations, product development, marketing, business development, implementation, training and education. Experience covers various industries including digital presence management, SEM & SEO, telecommunications and electronics.

Secretary Mike Gill is a business leader with four decades of experience as an entrepreneur, a technology executive, an investment banker, and a public servant.

​He was tapped by Governor Larry Hogan to lead the Maryland Department of Commerce (formerly the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development)​ in January 2015. Prior to his appointment, Mike Gill led Evergreen Advisors, an investment bank, as chairman and principal. Previously, Gill founded Hoyt Capital, an investment and advisory firm serving start​ups and growth companies. Mr. Gill was also a founder of First Page, which was acquired by Metrocall; served as chairman of Curtis Engine, a Baltimore power generator company; and was chairman of Bluefire Security Technologies, a mobile cybersecurity developer, from 2006 to 2008. In 1984, Gill founded AMERICOM, a Baltimore-based provider of cellular products and services to businesses in the area. Under Gill’s leadership, AMERICOM expanded nationwide with more than 1,200 team members. In 2000, it was acquired by Solectron. He started his career with IBM and held a number of positions in sales and marketing. He then became Director of Data Systems in the mid-Atlantic region for Ernst & Young.

Gill served on the University System of Maryland Board of Regents from 2004 to 2009, heading the audit committee and technology transfer and commercialization workgroup. His past and present board memberships also include the Calvert Hall Board of Trustees, Baltimore County Economic Development Commission, St. Joseph's Medical Center, Bay National Bank, and Towson University of Board of Visitors. He is also a member of the President's Advisory Board at Clemson University.

Gill earned his B.S. in business administration from Towson University in 1974 after first attending Clemson University on a baseball scholarship. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree by Towson University in 1996.

Marketing and General Management for technology companies; both early stage and start-up. Computer game executive since 1989.

Specialties: Entrepreneurship, start-up strategy and resources, international sales and marketing for technology with an emphasis on computer games. Experience in the Middle East and globally.

Dave is the Founder and CEO of Enradius, One of the BBJ’s Fastest Growing Private Companies. He started his career in radio and television advertising sales and went on to help grow a regional web design shop. Spawning products like Targetware.com. Later he went on to lead the search division at Advertising.com Dave is always looking forward to helping businesses with creative targeting solutions. Driving successful client results with data is his passion.