[email protected]

Amelia is co-founder and COO at Hatch Apps, an automated software development company enabling business leaders to launch a custom app on iOS, Android and web for a fraction of the cost of hiring a software development firm. Amelia has been recognized as a Y Combinator Fellow, a Washingtonian Tech Titan, a Top 40 Entrepreneur Under 40, one of DC's 50 On Fire, and a Power Woman of DC Tech, and she was recently profiled in TIME.

Javier Ramirez began his FMCS career as a Commissioner in 2005 and currently is the Manager of National/Field Programs, Initiatives and Innovation for the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Ser- vice (FMCS). This office bears responsibility for ADR and International services, Education & Train- ing, the FMCS Institute for Conflict Resolution, and National Programs and Innovation. The com- bined efforts of these departments help identify, develop, and implement innovative approaches to labor-management relations and conflict resolution to improve knowledge, delivery and utilization of Agency services. This office plays a key role in achieving and embedding transformational change in the methods and means of delivering services through strategic skill-building, innovative uses of new technology platforms, and cutting-edge approaches.

Shannon Turner is the founder of Hear Me Code, an organization offering free, beginner-friendly coding classes for 3000 women in DC. Hear Me Code focuses on leadership development, peer mentoring, and turning students into teachers. In 2015, Shannon was named one of Washington’s Tech Titans by the Washingtonian. She currently serves on DC’s Open Government Advisory Board and on the DCFemTech leadership team.

Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant is a large carnivore ecologist with an expertise in using statistical modeling to investigate how anthropogenic factors can influence the spatial patterns of carnivore behavior and ecology. In particular, she is currently studying the ecological and social drivers of human-carnivore conflict, and the influence of fine-scale human activity on connectivity of suitable carnivore habitat. Her current field system encompasses part of The Great Plains in northeastern Montana where she is studying potential corridors to facilitate grizzly bear conservation. Her previous research questions surrounded the ecological drivers of human-carnivore conflict with black bears in the Western Great Basin, African lions in rural Kenya and Tanzania, as well as grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

Amy Brandwein is the chef and owner of Centrolina, a combined seasonal Italian restaurant and market that opened in CityCenterDC in spring 2015. Throughout her career, Chef Brandwein has earned many accolades, including recognition in 2017 and 2018 as a James Beard Foundation Award finalist in the Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic category.

In June of 2018, Chef Brandwein won the coveted title of Chef of the Year at the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) RAMMY Awards. Chef Brandwein’s prior RAMMY Award nominations include Upscale Casual Restaurant of the Year (2018) Chef of the Year (2016, 2017 & 2018), New Restaurant of the Year (2016) and Rising Culinary Star (2007.)

In 2017, Chef Brandwein was accepted to the James Beard Foundation's prestigious Women's

Entrepreneurial Leadership Program fellowship, and has earned additional scholarships from the foundation, as well as the International Association of Culinary Professionals.

Prior to opening her own restaurant, Chef Brandwein was instrumental in the opening of numerous Italian restaurants throughout Washington D.C. and New York.

With a passion for responsible and locally sourced ingredients, Chef Brandwein became an early partner with DC Urban Greens, a nonprofit urban farm located in Ward 7 that provides fresh and affordable produce to the local community. Centrolina is DC Urban Green’s first and currently only wholesale client, and as part of the partnership, Chef Brandwein assists DC Urban Green in growing more fruits and vegetables, and increasing their efficiency process.

Chef Brandwein is also an advocate for charities that support healthy eating and ending hunger,

including So Others Might Eat, DC Central Kitchen, and Martha's Table. She is a longtime member of Les

Dames d’Escoffier and Women Chefs and Restaurateurs.

In September 2017, Chef Amy participated in the James Beard Foundation’s 10th Chefs Boot Camp for Policy and Change, a program dedicated to educating and training likeminded chefs to become more effective leaders for the food-system change.

Chef Brandwein graduated from L'Academie de Cuisine Culinary School. She lives in her hometown of Arlington, VA with her husband, Jeremy, and their fluffy cat, Bailey.

Dr. Q, otherwise known as Dr. Alfredo Quinones-Henojosa, is a noted neurosurgeon formerly with Johns Hopkins University and now with the Mayo Clinic. His specialty is Neurology and Oncology.

Dr. Q as he is known because of his book, Dr. Q, One Man's Journey, shares the story of his journey from a life of poverty to one of great professional achievement. His story is both different and the same as the story of success and failure of many Americans.

One notable difference is the fact that he started his career as an "illegal immigrant". He tried entering this country and was returned three times before he got in as part of President Regan's amnesty program.

His undergraduate degree is from Berkeley and medical degree from Harvard.

Charlie is Data Scientist at Storyblocks, an online library for stock media. He helps build data pipelines and visualization tools to help the business understand how users interact with their website. Also a big music fan, he writes tutorials about analyzing music with R on his blog at RCharlie.com. In his free time he likes playing guitar, snowboarding, and video games.

Brian Roberts is the CEO of Croix Connect. He provides "CEO Whisperer" services to small business owners ranging from $5-100M. This service includes advising and coaching CEOs and other executives, and a "connector" to any services they may need.

Brian also serves as CEO Peer Group Leader for Vistage Worldwide, where he has four groups of 10-15 executives who work on real-world problems together in a confidential and agenda-free setting.

Prior to founding Croix Connect in 2001, Brian had various senior executive roles at various technology companies of all sizes in the 90s.

A 15-year veteran of the US Air Force, Brian's favorite assignment was with the White House Communication Agency where he was part of the Presidential Communications Advance team for the first two Reagan-Gorbechev summits in Geneva and Reykjavik.

Shana is Chief Marketing Officer at Crowdskout, a CRM and data analytics platform built for advocacy and campaigns. She is also heavily involved in the DC Tech community as co-organizer of DC Tech Meetup, cofounder of DCFemTech, and board member of The Vinetta Project. With over 15-years in marketing and sales at various tech companies–including Blackboard and SocialRadar–Shana has also become a go-to technology commentator for national television networks.

Stephanie Landrum is President & CEO of the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership (AEDP). Appointed by the Board of Directors in April 2015, Stephanie has held leadership roles in the organization since 2005. AEDP is responsible for leading the City of Alexandria’s efforts to grow the tax base, diversify the economy and attract and retain businesses and organizations. The public-private corporation is focused on defining and marketing Alexandria as an innovative, creative, diverse, knowledge-based community with a high quality of life.

Stephanie serves in various capacities on Boards, Commissions and Committees related to economic development, marketing and business throughout the Washington, DC region. In 2017, she was selected to participate in the inaugural class of ULI Washington’s Regional Fellows. She also serves on the Executive Committee and Board of the Virginia Economic Developers Association (VEDA), focused on shaping economic development public policy statewide, as well as providing strong and effective education and networking for economic development professionals.

Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Science degree in City and Regional Planning from the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business.