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A seasoned SaaS leader with over 20 years of experience driving consistent and transformative growth across diverse industries. Chris' expertise spans building high-performing teams, developing repeatable and scalable GTM processes, and fostering a strong, purpose-driven culture that fuels success. As the founder of a GTM consulting practice, Chris partners with organizations across multiple verticals to solve their most pressing challenges, whether scaling revenue, refining sales and marketing alignment, or navigating the integration of acquired companies. He specializes in managing remote and virtual sales teams, mastering complex sales cycles, and crafting innovative strategies tailored to each client's unique goals.

As CEO at Ripple Operations, she leads the company's strategy, operating model, and execution across product, go-to-market, and client delivery. Her focus is on building a durable, product-led SaaS business, aligning teams around clear priorities, strengthening operational discipline, and delivering reliable outcomes for customers in complex, regulated environments. With over two decades of experience driving product innovation and growth in the tech sector, Kara brings a wealth of knowledge and a proven track record of scaling products and teams for global impact.

Dr. Low brings a remarkable 41 years of dedicated service to the state of Georgia. She served as the State Director of the Georgia Department of Education, Division for Special Education Supports and Services. Her extensive experience spans roles such as Senior Program Manager, where she has championed pivotal initiatives including the Teacher/Provider Retention Program, the CEEDAR project, and the Special Education Leadership Development Academy (SELDA). Her expertise in transition services, assistive technology, and professional learning has significantly advanced post-secondary outcomes for students with disabilities. Dr. Low's career is decorated with prestigious accolades such as the G-CASE 2013 Lillie Moncus Award for Outstanding Special Education Administrator of the Year and the GAEL 2014 President's Professional of the Year Award. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Middle Grades Education from Brenau University, and both a Master of Education in Special Education - Learning Disabilities and an Education Specialist in Special Education Administration from the University of West Georgia.

Katherine Hill Ritchie has more than 19 years of finance and investment experience. She is a frequent speaker and content provider to investment conferences and publications worldwide. She founded Private Capital Investments, LLC while she was working in Geneva, Switzerland in 2009 when she realized there was a need for personalized investment services for family offices beyond typical brokers, bankers or wealth managers. Katherine has worked internally and as an advisor to 8 family offices, 4 Billionaires, through her firm, Private Capital Investments, LLC. She serves as Director and Board Member for Nottingham Spirk Family Office, and her past roles include: Simon Group Holdings, Eden Capital, PEX Global, and Wedge Alternatives. She spent 7 years in Switzerland where she was a Managing Director at Palladio Alternative Research and Senior Analyst and Investment Committee Member for the Saad family office's $3.5 billion investment portfolio. She is an early-stage Angel Investor, a member of Citrine Angels, and is on the investment committee for University Impact, a social impact Venture Capital fund. Katherine is an advisor to several start-ups and likes to focus on female and diverse founders, technology, medtech, consumer and impact related early-stage venture companies. Katherine received her MBA from Fordham University and her BS in Psychology from University of Maryland. She has also been recognized for her work within the family office industry, receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Global Family Office Investment Summit. Her Board member activities include: Chair of the ACG New York Family Office Committee, Board Member of ACG NY, and Family Office Advisory Board of TriState Capital. Her past philanthropic volunteer activities include: Global Co-Chair of The Guild, the Philanthropy and Education Committees of 100 Women in Finance, and Fordham MBA Overseers Board.

After a successful fifteen-year career as an entrepreneur that included founding, growing, and ultimately selling his startup, Dan Cohen transitioned to academia full time in 2005 when he accepted a faculty appointment at The University of Iowa's Tippie College of Business from 2005-2007. While at the University of Iowa, Cohen earned accolades for teaching, advising and mentoring excellence before moving on to Cornell University from 2007 to 2015. While at Cornell, Dr. Cohen taught courses on entrepreneurship and business at the undergraduate, graduate, and executive levels and founded and directed eLab, Cornell's entrepreneurship accelerator program hailed by Forbes Magazine as a major driver of Cornell's ascent to a #4 national ranking in entrepreneurship. Professor Cohen was also awarded Cornell's Robert N. Stern Memorial Award for Mentoring Excellence in 2012. In 2015, Cohen moved on to Wake Forest University as a Full Professor of Practice in business and entrepreneurship. In 2016 Cohen co-founded Startup Lab and became more integrally involved in the Center for Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship. In the summer of 2017, Cohen was named the John C. Whitaker, Jr. Executive Director of the newly minted Center for Entrepreneurship while remaining a full Professor of Practice in Entrepreneurship. In terms of research, Professor Cohen studies how nascent entrepreneurs develop passion for entrepreneurship and how, and under what conditions, they form an entrepreneurial identity. Cohen also researches how entrepreneurs develop key capabilities such as how to spot and develop valuable opportunities.

Accomplished national education leader with a strong track record of building organizations/programs and cultivating relationships. Adept at strategic alliance, partnership management and program execution. Led education-oriented corporate social responsibility efforts for Microsoft and served as the former CEO of the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA). Former policy advisor and strategist for state federal initiatives including The Helping America's Youth Initiative, Building A Grad Nation Summit for America's Promise Alliance, and NBC News' Education Nation. Also served as the National Program Leader for Youth Development for the USDA, overseeing all 90,000 4-H Clubs. Internationally recognized speaker and author with a focus on leadership development and social emotional learning. Published by Scholastic.

Jon Isaacson has nearly two decades of experience working in the private equity and venture capital industries as both an investor and executive. From January 2019 to December 2019, Mr. Isaacson served as the Chief Financial Officer of Senseonics, Inc. (NYSE: SENS), a portfolio company of venture capital firm New Enterprise Associates, and provided advisory services to Senseonics from January 2020 to June 2020. Prior to joining Senseonics, he served as the Chief Financial Officer of Edelman Financial Services, LLC from November 2017 to December 2018. Before joining Edelman Financial Services, he served as a Managing Director for over 14 years at American Capital, Ltd from November 2002 to January 2017. Mr. Isaacson also held roles at Thayer Capital Partners, L.P., GTCR LLC, McKinsey & Company and Morgan Stanley & Co., LLC. He served as a director of ECA Medical Instruments, The Meadows and Alchemy Corporation from 2014 to 2016, where he served on the compensation and audit committees of each.

Prior to co-founding University Startups, John started and ran international business units at GlaxoSmithKline and taught Entrepreneurship at Georgetown University. John is a multiple Entrepreneurial Excellence and Outstanding Faculty Award winner at Georgetown, and his student teams have won school and industry awards, government grants and investor funding. His books Mastering Customer Interviews for Entrepreneurs and Mastering Social Impact for Entrepreneurs are used in new business design courses nationwide. John was named Maryland Entrepreneur of the Year by the Clean Energy Center, and his past companies have been awarded Maryland Incubator Company of the Year and 'Best For Environment' by the non-profit B-Lab.

Ravi Puli is a self-made, first-generation entrepreneur and the Founder, President, and CEO of International Solutions Group (ISG), an award-winning technology services firm. Ravi has over 30 years of experience in the tech space. Ravi is passionate about seeking resources and opportunities to empower businesses and individuals in reaching their full potential. Born in India, Ravi embarked on his journey as a first generation immigrant with a deep desire to make a difference. Fueled by hard work and determination, he is a serial entrepreneur who has played a pivotal role in helping businesses flourish, as evidenced by the heartfelt testimonials from satisfied customers. At ISG, Ravi leads a dedicated team of professionals who share his vision of creating value for clients through innovation and hard work. The growth structure at ISG ensures that employees have ample opportunities to develop and enhance their skills, contributing to their professional growth. However, Ravi's commitment to philanthropy extends far beyond his business ventures. He strongly believes in supporting social and humanitarian causes and actively participates in initiatives that bring about positive change in society. Ravi is particularly passionate about empowering start-ups in the fields of education and healthcare, as he recognizes their potential to drive meaningful and lasting transformation.

New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan-Grisham appointed Dr. Arsenio Romero as the state's fifth Secretary of Education in February 2023. Now retired, Secretary Romero is the son of a New Mexico educator and grew up with a clear understanding that there is no greater calling in life than that of a teacher. He has spent his entire life in the classroom focused on providing every student a world-class education and an equitable pathway to opportunities. He is a proud homegrown leader, born and raised in New Mexico. As Secretary of the New Mexico Public Education Department, Dr. Romero was responsible for more than 330,000 students at every level and every age, and he led initiatives in academic excellence, educator pathways, and student well-being. A homegrown New Mexico leader, Dr. Romero has 25+ years of experience as a teacher, principal, and superintendent. He's been recognized as National Superintendent of the Year and Administrator of the Year and taught at NMSU for over a decade, where he also served on the Board of Regents.

Bobby Tahir was the Chief Technology Officer at Hobsons, leading long-term technology vision and responsible for the Hobsons technology organization spanning Software Engineering, Cloud Operations, Data Science & Analytics, and Enterprise IT. He also facilitated the technical community within Hobsons. Prior to joining Hobsons in 2018, Bobby served as CTO of the K12 Division of Community Brands, a leading provider of software solutions to the Private School market, where he helped the company to integrate and bring to market a number of significant software services. Previously, Bobby was Vice President of Engineering at Diamond Mind, where he focused on development of PCI-compliant payment processing and reconciliation systems and mobile-enabled payment solutions. Bobby joined Diamond Mind from Envictus, a pioneer in the EdTech market, where as CTO he focused on development of college readiness and financial aid platforms and K12 learning management systems. In addition, Bobby served as a Consultant with Nortel Networks Global Professional Services Group working with Fortune 500 organizations focused on the Internet Service Provider (ISP) market. Bobby has a B.S. in Physics from Virginia Tech.

Rana M. Alhumaidan, Senior Advisor at the Saudi Ministry of Economy and Planning (MEP), is a key figure in the Kingdom's economic landscape. Since January 2024, after nearly five years as an Advisor, she has also been serving as the Acting Head of the International Economic Advisory Board Secretariat. A committed angel investor and Misk Foundation mentor, she supports the burgeoning entrepreneurial ecosystem. A graduate of King Saud University, Rana is recognized for her strategic vision and engagement in international economic cooperation.

Mohammad S. Almadani, Co-Founder, Chairman & CEO of Classera Inc., a leading global EdTech firm. His journey includes building IT ventures at age 18, pioneering AI-driven learning, and driving digital transformation. Recognized as a high-impact Endeavor entrepreneur, he brings unparalleled vision and experience to University Startups. A proud alumnus of Oklahoma State University with credentials from Stanford and Harvard.