Liang works for IBM as a Solution Development Executive for IBM’s New Energy and Environment Global Industry. She promotes emerging solutions that leverage the IOT and analytics to better balance the distributed renewable energy supply and demand, eliminate energy waste via machine learning and reduce Green House Gas emission via cognitive computing. Her professional experience spans over 20 years in consulting, program management and emerging technology development across multiple industries.

Sharma Analytics provides technology project management services. We help small organizations Scope, Cost, Plan, and Implement technology projects. Our flexible engagement model offers clients access to experienced IT Executives when they need them.

Renée T. Walker has literally honed her business, brand, communication and leadership expertise through executive positions with multimillion and billion-dollar brands in the private, public and nonprofit sectors. Following nearly three decades of executive experience, she launched her own strategic communications consultancy, RENEE WALKER & ASSOCIATES, in 2012. Renée is on a mission to help entrepreneurs, executives and organizations amplify their brands to achieve greater success.

Dennis has 30 years of Sales and Sales Management experience in Global Telecommunications, Cloud, Security, and IT Managed Services. He has built, run, and transformed sales organizations from $30 million to $400 million plus in annual revenue. He has extensive experience in recruiting, training, and retaining top talent in sales, sales management, sales support, and presales. He has led multiple Go-To-Market (GTM) initiatives, which focused on revenue and profitability growth.

​A pioneer in the Women in Sales space, Cynthia Barnes is Founder and CEO of both Barnes Sales Institute and the National Association of Women Sales Professionals. As a Women in Sales Expert, she is passionate about advancing #WomenWhoSell and helping women entrepreneurs create, implement, and manage their sales and marketing process.

Terrence is an experienced co-founder, consultant and venture capital attorney in Taft’s Venture Capital Group. Terrence focuses his practice on advising early stage startups and high growth tech companies with formation and governance matters, and through all stages of financing and growth. He leverages his wide-ranging knowledge of the entrepreneurial ecosystem to deliver value-adding legal solutions at the intersection of risk awareness, competitive advantage and growth.

Alford Kindred has been with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office since 1997. During this time he has served as a patent examiner, Supervisory Patent Examiner, Acting Director of the Office of Information Management Services, Regional Manager of the Midwest Regional Office and currently is the Outreach Regional Assistant Director for the Elijah J. McCoy Midwest Regional USPTO located in Detroit, Michigan.

With practices in Banking & Financial Services, Corporate/Mergers & Acquisitions, Aviation Law & Finance, Construction, Health Care, Environmental, Enterprise Procurement, Real Estate, Intellectual Property, Data Privacy & Security, Tax, Trusts & Estates, Labor & Employment, Bankruptcy, and Insurance, we work to understand our clients' businesses and the markets in which they operate.

Catherine has over 27 years of experience in intellectual property law (IP). She focuses on preparing and filing patent and trademark applications and their prosecution in the US, as well as globally, but also specializes in IP due diligence reviews. She also handles clearance work for both products and trademarks. Her technology areas include mechanical and electrical, such as medical, automotive, semiconductor, energy, firefighting and fire protection, and material handling.

Leslie focuses her practice on providing attentive and cost effective outside general counsel services to start ups and established businesses. Being an entrepreneur and commercial real estate owner herself, Leslie has a unique perspective and ability to connect with her clients. Prior to starting her own legal practice, Ms. Lott represented businesses in transactional and general counsel matters and national banking and lending institutions in complex commercial litigation.

Mr. Wilson has served on the Executive Board of the Patent & Trademark Office Society and continues to be an active member of the organization. As a Primary Examiner, James served as a Chemical
Representative in Patent Office Professional Association. Mr. Wilson became a Supervisory Patent Examiner in TC 1600 in 2002.

Matt is a partner in the Varnum law firm where he focuses his practice on representing startup and early-stage technology and venture-backed companies. His practice includes, among other things, corporate formation and organization, venture financings, joint ventures, securities law, and intellectual property protection and transactions.

Shelly and Bret have a combined 35 years of experience in marketing communications, working with a multitude of companies across a variety of industries to help them reach their goals through smart, well thought-out marketing strategies and solutions in two critical areas: sales and human resources. WayPoint places an emphasis on establishing measurable goals that are directly aligned with desired business outcomes to help ensure that key objectives are met.

Kevin is President of Kyrris Marketing, a strategic marketing and communications agency. He has more than 23 years of experience in strategic planning, branding, marketing and communications. Kevin helps his clients define their brand narrative and express it across a wide range of digital and traditional marketing channels.
Kevin is also an Adjunct Professor of Marketing at the Wayne State University Mike Ilitch School of Business.

Mary Aviles is the principal consultant of Connect 4 Insight, an insight-based strategic marketing consultancy. Mary offers marketing subject-matter expertise to include categories like: developing a one-page marketing strategy, social media strategy and tactics, website marketing, email marketing, event marketing, and basic marketing research (DIY surveys, polls, and customer satisfaction).

Elizabeth Mays is the CEO of MCS Multimedia formed in 2011, after inheriting Mays Printing, founded in 1946 by her late grandfather, J. Caulton Mays. Mays is a 3rd generation printer, entrepreneur and visionary who works closely with entrepreneurs and executives by using branding, printing, graphics, web design and marketing tactics to overcome roadblocks to increase provability. Mays is president and co-founder of Entrepreneur & Executive Magazine and Chief Consultant of Valley Publishing.

Entrepreneur, product designer, and software developer that has worked with startups in diverse industries across the nation from seed-stage concepts to established market-leaders. He runs GhostLab.io, a full service UX/UI design and digital development agency in Columbus, Ohio working with startups to build innovative products and apps for mobile and web. Nafis is looking to provide feedback and analysis on products/ventures through a casual discussion offering guidance in product, design, growth, and more

Tom is a tech entrepreneur, business owner, podcaster, and YouTuber. He has spent more than 22 years working in IT. During the past 15 years, his company Lawrence Systems has grown from a little-computer-shop-that-could into a thriving technology solutions company with over 6000 clients. He loves sharing his technical knowledge and business insight and especially likes to put his years of designing technical solutions to work helping others start their companies and bring their ideas to life.

Armando fell in love with programming after he took one course on CodeAcademy.com just to “try it out” . His love for entrepreneurship and technology drives his motivation for success in anything he picks up. He served in the Army for 6 years and has taken every lesson learned from the military to apply it to everyday business strategies. Armando can provide guidance to teams with no technical co-founder as well as answer general technology questions.

Avery serves as Delivery Lead at Atomic Object with a focus on ensuring clear communication between clients and teams, and that everyone is on the same page throughout the project. She graduated from Harvard with a degree in Visual Arts.
Jonah is one of Atomic Object's Managing Partners, working with our global leadership team to further the firm's reach in Southeast Michigan. He is a designer by trade, aiming to create processes and practices that empower teams to excel in custom software project work.