Baltimore Innovation Week 2018

I am a patent lawyer who enjoys the technical rigour of patent prosecution while also embracing the world of art and design. My clients have included startups and early stage companies as well as members of the Fortune 100. I have experience in a range of technical fields, including artificial neural networks, integrated circuits, FinTech, medical devices, wearables, and EdTech. The non-technical side of my practice includes the protection of designs and other creative works through the prosecution of design patents, trademark and trade dress rights, and copyright registrations.

I frequently counsel early stage companies emerging from universities and government research labs on IP licensing and patenting strategies. In the context of corporate M&A or IP acquisitions, I advise on the ownership, validity, scope, and enforceability of IP assets, as well as conduct freedom-to-operate analyses.

Rick leads BIA Advisory Service's strategy consulting practice and serves as an adviser to an affiliated investment banking group BIA Capital Strategies. Rick works with media, adtech and martech companies to see and evaluate opportunities and strategies in the market to achieve corporate goals. He helps client with strategic planning, developing partnership strategies, product planning, and achieving revenue growth and diversification. He helps marketers including brands and agencies with effective planning and use of digital media platforms. He also works on investment banking projects assisting buy-side and sell-side clients.

A nationally recognized management development consultant, Joni Daniels is Principal of Daniels & Associates, providing solutions and presenting programs on effective management and professional effectiveness. She has successfully worked with a variety of clients, written articles on professional issues, and serves as a resource for many online and print publications, TV, and radio. Author of “POWER TOOLS FOR WOMEN®: Plugging into the Essential Skills for Life and Work,” she has served as an instructor in management topics for a variety of colleges and universities. Joni regularly contributes to CityBizList.com, currently serves on the Board of Overseers for the Baltimore School for the Arts and is the facilitator of TEDCO’s Women’s Executive Leadership Roundtable.

Akilah Lindler is a Philadelphia native and graduate of Temple University. She is currently an IT Consultant working in the private sector creating websites for background screenings. She has worked for privately held fortune 500 companies in the areas of Distributions, Capital Markets, Banking and Real-Estate. Akilah is also the owner of The Lindler Consulting Group; an events planning consulting firm based in Philadelphia. She is an advocate for diversity initiatives and has become a catalyst for change by closely working with small businesses, faith based organizations, community organizations, non-profits, and other power influencers. With over 19 years of business acumen in the corporate world, Akilah became an advocate for women in business that want to become successful entrepreneurs. Akilah furthered her business talents and partnered with a group of successful African American entrepreneurs to produce and become a cast member for “Makin’ It Philly.” "Makin' It Philly", an independently produced docu-series that depicts the lives of African American entrepreneurs coming together to form Palmieri Jeans that aired on Bounce TV. The show gave inspiration and hope to families that shared her background. "Knowing who you are and where you come from is important to building your future success! Akilah has professional affiliations to Destined for a Dream Foundation, Temple University Black Alumni, National Action Network, New Born Productions, Toastmasters, Nicetown Community Development Center, National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Women of Faith & Hope, Network of Women in Computer Technology, National Association for Female Executives, Black Data Processing Association and National Black MBA Association, Inc. She is featured in many publications and received numerous awards including a citation from the City of Philadelphia and 2016 American Black Film Festival finalist for VH1 Storytellers Workshop. Akilah attributes her merit to her mother and the many great women in her community that has helped to cultivate her life through mentoring. Currently, Akilah is working as a contributor to several media outlets and working on her technology book entitled "Stems and Olive Branches" which will be released in 2018. She is also working on a future project for the depiction of race and equality of Catholic School Girls and several short films to launch in 2020.

Nicole Hayes is the Regional Director for CarNow, the fastest growing autmotive technology company in history. CarNow is transforming the way dealers communicate and transact with customers. CarNow’s tools are built on a unique software architecture that provides dealers the ability to have their consumers get all of their questions answered within seconds as well as complete all of the details of buying a car online within a dealers current website- therefore saving the consumers time in the dealership.

Nicole has over 15 years of experience in the automotive digital landscape working within every facet of buisness including the vendor, agency and dealership side. Nicole was a graduate of Towson University where she played college lacrosee and graduated with a Major in Mass Communications and a Minor in buisness, she now lives in Harford County with her 3 kids and husband.

Alexandre Wing is a Co-Founder at MoJoe Brewing Company who helps busy professionals to conveniently brew and enjoy coffee on the go, so that they can be more productive and have more energy throughout the day.

Before joining MoJoe Brewing Co., Alexandre worked a number of years as a freelance brand identity designer, one-man video production team, and photographer.

After a successful career helping fitness trainers, and small businesses, Alexandre now consults them on how to get more sales with video and digital marketing strategies.

Alexandre is an early student of UX, lover of visual storytelling, and a stickler for branding and proper water-to-coffee ratios.

With his private practice and in-house experience, Jay Reilly brings to clients a dual perspective of legal issues facing businesses. He has a deep knowledge of the bio-tech, life sciences and pharmaceutical industries and regularly counsels entrepreneurs and early-stage companies on a wide variety of business matters.

Prior to joining Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr, Jay was General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer for Emergent BioSolutions, a publicly traded specialty pharmaceutical company in Washington, D.C. In this position, Jay managed the company's in-house legal staff and monitored government contract and compliance matters. He has extensive knowledge of securities law compliance and has directed numerous complex corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, real estate deals, joint ventures, strategic alliances and licensing agreements. In addition, Jay has first-hand experience counseling members of boards of directors on governance, fiduciary duties and risk mitigation.

Valerie is currently the Regional Director of the Singapore Economic Development Board’s (EDB) office in New York. Prior to her role, Valerie was a Senior Officer in the Infocomms and Media cluster of the EDB and was part of the team overseeing the Internet, Software and IT Services sectors in Singapore. She was also involved in Singapore’s efforts to develop a data analytics ecosystem, through programs for talent development and research. Valerie obtained an MSc in Management Science and Engineering from Stanford University in 2012, and a BSc First Class Honours degree in Economics from the London School of Economics in 2011. She was awarded the EDB scholarship in 2008. Valerie enjoys trekking, running and coffee