Events - Event View

This unique event is focused on "growing through customers"...as opposed to through government grants/contracts or investors. As grant sources become more competitive and investors are funding less and asking for more ownership, the idea of growing organically through real, live, paying customers is even more appealing. While it is always challenging to find customers with application needs that fit your offering, there are some common factors that most buyers use in evaluating potential vendors. This event will highlight some of these decision drivers by placing a small group of presenting companies in front of a group of panelists made up of decision makers. The theme of the event is technologies that have multiple applications in both government security and the private sector.

Panelists

Steve Emanuel, Chief Information Officer of Montgomery County (MD), where he has completed the Country’s first Enterprise Technology Strategic Plan encompassing a comprehensive view of technology, solutions, and support. Steve also sponsored the County’s newest modernization plan for Public Safety, which includes the County’s Interoperability Communications Plan, and is a key leader in developing and executing the County’s Enterprise Resource Planning and Constituent Relationship Management projects. Prior to his current position, Steve was Senior Director, CIO of Northeast Corridor operations, for Amtrak, where he completed a technology strategic plan, was the Site Manager for all power plant IT operations at Oyster Creek Nuclear Station, and did planning and design work for CNA Insurance. Steve received his BA from Eastern College (now Eastern University).

Suprotik Ghose, Head of Information Security at FINRA, which is the largest independent regulator for all U.S. securities firms and is dedicated to investor protection and market integrity. In his role, Suprotik is responsible for infrastructure security of systems, databases, and networks, as well as application security and compliance. Previously he raised multiple rounds of venture funding to build a software security management product that allowed efficiencies in provisioning costs, accelerated revenue recognition, and increased consumer satisfaction. Prior to that, Suprotik was the VP for Products at Inciscent, a Senior Manager at AT&T Security, and a member of Citibank's Information Security group. He is a CISA, CISM, and CISSP and holds an MBA from Illinois and an undergraduate electrical engineering degree.

David Levy, co-founder and COO of Verdi Consulting, Inc., an 8(a) consulting firm focused on financial systems and database implementation for Federal and other government clients. Verdi currently is the prime contractor for engagements at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), U.S. Census Bureau, and The World Bank. Throughout his career, David has been a highly-successful innovator and entrepreneur, founding and running several businesses which have raised capital and been sold. A sampling of his background includes roles as CFO at Envisionier, a medical device company; co-founder and Principal at Value Advisors, Inc., a firm specializing in ad valorem tax appeals and real estate valuation that has saved clients in excess of $100 Million; co-founder and President of Roam Secure, Inc., a wireless communications software company focused on emergency notification which was eventually purchased by Cooper Industries (NYSE:CBE), a $6B enterprise; Director at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC), where he was the Southeast Region Leader for Property Taxes; co-founder of Property Tax Specialists, Inc. (PTS) and Storage Tax Specialists, Inc. (STS), high-growth property tax boutique firms. PTS was selected by Inc. magazine for inclusion in its 1994 edition of the “Inc. 500” and was later acquired by PwC. David earned an accelerated BS/MBA joint degree from Carnegie Mellon University.

Paul Newman, Associate Director of Computer Systems and Applications at Westat, a leading provider of research services to federal, state, and local agencies. Paul, who serves on the Board of Directors for Rockville Economic Development, Inc (REDI). has more than 25 years’ experience in the application of computer systems and technology in business and survey research. At Westat, he leads programs in systems operations and data security, software selection and configuration, and strategic planning. Prior to this, Paul had over 10 years’ experience directing, managing, or supporting research projects in the fields of operations research, organization and management, workforce and workgroup productivity, and implementation of new technologies. He has taught classes and presented papers nationally on operations management, best practices, emerging technologies, and systems support and staffing. Paul has an MS (Engineering and Operations Research) from Virginia Tech and a BA (Psychology) from Muhlenberg College.