Dr. Greg Bacon has 25+ years of experience in software engineering, artificial intelligence, and machine learning that span Department of Defense and NASA contracting, a university research center, and commercial industry. He was cofounder of Omicron Research Corporation, now an OASYS, INC. subsidiary. Greg holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science (CS) and is an adjunct instructor with the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) CS Department. He is an instrument rated commercial pilot and Certificated Flight Instructor. Greg is a graduate of the Alabama School of Mathematics and Science (ASMS) in Mobile.

As an HR Professional of a Small Business, Connie fosters a culture centered on leadership development, performance excellence, and positive organizational change. With more than 15 years of HR experience—including over a decade in defense and government contracting—she is known for her collaborative, servant-leadership approach and strong employee advocacy. Her focus on connection, growth, and trust makes her a valuable voice on how organizations can preserve the human element while embracing AI-driven transformation.

Katie Faatz is a Small Business Liaison Officer on the Strategic Sourcing & Partnership (SSP) team at The Boeing Company. She is the Key Initiatives Program Manager for the SSP team and leads the Mentor Protégé Program as well as SBIR/STTR and HBCU/MSI initiatives. She also worked in procurement, supporting the technical services team for several years before becoming an SBLO.
Prior to joining The Boeing Company, Katie worked for the University of Alabama Huntsville Small Business Development Center. She worked on business development projects with multiple small businesses and facilitated and coordinated events, including a Fall Matchmaker with the Procurement Technical Assistance Center. Before her time at UAH, she worked in various positions in the hospitality and tourism industry.

Katie holds an MBA from the University of Alabama Huntsville, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Business. She has volunteered with several military spouse groups throughout her career. She is married to a USAF veteran and has one daughter. In her free time, she enjoys travel, spending time with her family and dogs, and reading – preferably on a beach!

COL (Ret) Will Johnson is the Palantir Lead for the Huntsville market with responsibility for current programs supporting Army Materiel Command and other Army and DoD customers around the globe.  A highly decorated veteran, Will led Soldiers in numerous units over a 30-year Army career, including commands in combat with the 3d Infantry Division in Iraq and 101^st Airborne Division in Afghanistan and is an inductee into the Madison County Hall of Heroes.

An analytical financial professional who combines data-driven strategy with a people-first mindset, Seth helps clients approach investing with clarity, confidence, and purpose. His focus on trust and long-term well-being reflects a balanced perspective—one that values both human insight and technological advancement in today’s evolving financial landscape.

Prior to joining Accenture Federal Services, Ambrosia, “Ambro” spent 20+ years in the FBI. She is also a leadership coach, wife to Justin and mother to Pax and Esthero.

Mrs. Michele K. Platt is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of AVNIK Defense Solutions, Incorporated, a Woman Owned Small Business headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama, with additional personnel in Patuxent River, Maryland.

Mrs. Platt has over 30 years of experience in defense engineering and military aviation maintenance. She began as an engineer at a sensor OEM prime contractor before joining the Apache Program Office, where she led the first effort to install a flight data recorder on a rotary-wing platform in the 1990s. This work established the foundation for Condition Based Maintenance (CBM) and put operational data in the hands of warfighters.

In the early 2000s, Mrs. Platt developed Army Aviation’s Condition Based Maintenance Plus (CBM+) program, which became the technical foundation for AVNIK’s research and development work. After 20 years as an engineer and logistician with the Apache Program Office, she founded AVNIK Defense Solutions in 2006.

Mrs. Platt recently led AVNIK for two (2) Navy Phase Two Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) projects as the principal investigator, where AVNIK is using intelligent systems, predictive analytics, correlation, and optimization techniques to increase readiness for NAVAIR weapons systems.

She develops partnerships with industry, government, and academia for improved prognostic systems in DoD, Energy, and Space sectors while directing AVNIK’s technical operations.

Mrs. Platt earned her Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the University of Central Florida in 1984 and her MBA from Florida Institute of Technology in 1990. She has published work on CBM+ fleet implementation, fatigue life management, utilization of prognostics data by operational units, and CBM key enablers for army attack helicopters. AVNIK provides engineering services and R&D to DoD customers including the US Army Future Vertical Lift program and NAVAIR.

Michele is married to Don Platt and the mother of Nikita, an Auburn alumnus (War Eagle!). The name “AVNIK” is a combination of “Aviation” and their son “Nikita”.

Angela is the CEO and founder of Riverstone Solutions, Inc. (RSI), a cybersecurity and engineering firm headquartered in Huntsville, AL. RSI is a woman owned small business, HUBZone company and an MDA Protégé, serving the MDA, USAF, Army, NASA and commercial cybersecurity clients. Angela leverages her authentic experience in balancing a family and career in every engagement as a founder, leader, volunteer, and longtime advocate for women in technology and STEM programs. She is also the founder of the Jefferson Street Innovation Center in downtown Huntsville and CyberReach.Org, a 501c3 non-profit organization.

With deep experience in labor relations, Hibah understands the balance between organizational goals and workers’ rights—something increasingly vital as AI reshapes the workplace. Hibah’s career has been built on fostering open communication, trust, and fairness among unions, employees, and leadership. A seasoned speaker and educator, she translates complex labor issues into relatable insights that emphasize empathy, collaboration, and the human connection at work.

Victoria Tripiano is the Program Manager for The Catalyst’s Mentor-Protégé Program efforts, as well as its Innovation & Technology programs. Victoria started her career in the U.S. Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal where she supported several different programs, including the SBIR/STTR contracting office. She then moved into industry where she worked for small businesses, owned her own business, and then made her way to The Catalyst Center where she enjoys the opportunity to bring her experience together to support other small businesses in their endeavors. 

Dave Truitt has been with NASA for over five years. For the last year, Dave has worked as the SBIR/STTR Center Liaison to Marshall Space Flight Center. In addition to coordinating SBIR/STTR activities with MSFC stakeholders, Dave is a member of the Solicitation and Requirements Development team and the Review and Selection team in the SBIR/STTR program office. Prior to joining the SBIR program, Dave worked in Center Operations, managing facilities construction projects across Marshall Space Flight Center.

Chase Wortman, the Founder, President, and CEO of Outpost Technologies, Inc., has led the company since its inception in 2017, transforming it into a leading provider of vertically integrated engineering and manufacturing solutions for the Defense and Space industries. With experience gained from government and other industry leaders, Chase has driven Outpost’s growth, emphasizing innovation and uncompromising quality standards throughout program lifecycles. Possessing bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Auburn University and drawing on his background as a Mechanical Engineer, Chase brings expertise in engineering management, systems engineering, and manufacturing, ensuring tailored solutions that consistently exceed customer expectations.

Beyond his corporate role, Chase fosters a supportive work environment that prioritizes work-life balance and employee well-being. Known for his compassion and approachability, he leads by example, demonstrating a commitment to both professional excellence and personal fulfillment. Outside of work, Chase enjoys family time on his farm, indulging in hobbies like golf and cooking, and passionately supporting Auburn sports. Chase also currently holds positions on the Auburn Mechanical Engineering External Advisory Board and the Auburn Engineering Young Alumni Council. Through his multifaceted leadership, Chase not only drives Outpost’s success but also cultivates a culture of care and achievement within the organization.

Ms. Candace Wright, is the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program Manager within the Missile Defense Agency (MDA). Her office provides government funding opportunities that encourage domestic small businesses to engage in Federal Research/ Research and Development (R/R&D) with the potential for commercialization and transition into DoD major weapon systems Ms. Wright has served over thirteen years within MDA as an acquisition professional, managing cost, schedule, and performance, for several major weapon system program offices to include serving as the Acquisition Lead for the Homeland Defense Radar- Guam and for the multi-billion dollar Ground-Based Missile Defense System (GMD) Next Generation Interceptor (NGI). Ms. Wright also served as the Executive Officer to the MDA Executive Director in which she supported Agency Senior Leaders with day-to-day mission planning and execution of the Missile Defense System in support of the warfighter. Prior to her current role, Ms. Wright served as the Division Lead for Program Baseline Support where she successfully led in the coordination, synchronization, standards, policies, and processes of the Missile Defense Baselines. In addition, her organization executed program planning, analysis, execution of Director’s Reviews, and MDA Baseline Change Management Processes.

Ms. Wright holds a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Data Analytics from Auburn University. She is Scrum Master Certified and DAWIA Certified in Program Management.

Dr. Carlos E. Alemán is the CEO of the Hispanic and Immigrant Center of Alabama (¡HICA!), Alabama’s leading community development and advocacy organization for Latino and immigrant families in Alabama. He is also the President of the Camino Loan Fund, ¡HICA!’s Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), providing small business loans to LMI (low to moderate income) entrepreneurs. He and his family are deeply rooted in the Birmingham community, exemplified by his civic commitments. In August 2020, Dr. Alemán was elected to Homewood’s City Council, becoming the first Latino elected official in Alabama. He was appointed by Alabama Governor Kay Ivey to the Alabama Workforce Board and the Alabama Office of Minority Affairs.  He serves on the boards of the National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA), the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, REV Birmingham, the Alabama Business Charitable Trust Fund, and Kiwanis Club of Birmingham. In 2023, Dr. Alemán was named Non-Profit Leader of the Year at the Summit Media Minority Business Awards and a Birmingham Business Journal Nonprofit CEO of the Year award finalist. In 2024, he was recognized as the Humanitarian of the Year by the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship of Alabama.

ShaVonne Cammack is the Founder and Managing Partner of Councill Consulting Group LLC and a faculty member at Alabama A&M University. She leads IT modernization and culturally affirming service design for HBCUs and mission-driven organizations, pairing strategic vision with human-centered innovation. A certified expert in IT Service Management, cybersecurity, and Lean Six Sigma, she helps institutions modernize legacy systems, strengthen operations, and elevate the student experience. Cammack is a passionate advocate for educational equity and the advancement of Black women entrepreneurs, translating AI and emerging technologies into practical tools that scale impact and expand access. At AAMU and across the HBCU ecosystem, she works at the intersection of technology, culture, and community—equipping leaders with inclusive, future-ready services and guiding founders through digital transformation with confidence.

Nelson’s investment activities focus on information and infrastructure technologies, enterprise and Internet software, database-related applications, and other emerging software and hardware technologies. He has led a broad range of Kinetic investments including Cardlytics (NASDAQ: CDLX), LogicBlox-Predictix (acquired by Infor), Tower Cloud (acquired by Uniti; NASDAQ: UNIT), BroadWare (acquired by Cisco; NASDAQ: CSCO), VerticalOne (acquired by SONE; NASDAQ: SONE), FoodBuy (acquired by Compass Group; LSE: CPG.L), Instant Financial, Navistone, OPTii Solutions, Kobiton, and ProctorFree.

Prior to joining Kinetic Ventures, Nelson was a management consultant with McKinsey & Company and a Development Manager with Oracle. He received his BS in Electrical Engineering (summa cum laude) from Virginia Tech, his MS in Electrical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his MBA with distinction from Harvard Business School.

Ms. Cynthia Crutchfield is the CEO of Innovate Alabama. In this role, she oversees the development and implementation of corporate strategy, leads day-to-day operations and ensures the advancement of the organization’s mission through forging partnerships, developing programs and managing innovation activities.

Bob Dickerson has spent his career figuring out how to get money into people’s hands. He did it for years as a commercial and consumer lending officer at numerous large financial institutions. Today, he does it as the Executive Director of the Birmingham Business Resource Center (BBRC) and the Chief Executive Officer of Foundation Capital, an SBA Certified Development Company. He is actively engaged in numerous foundations, boards, and civic organizations. Bob is a member of the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC), where he advocates for equitable reinvestment and national community development initiatives. He also sits on the Board of Directors for the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. In addition, Bob lends his leadership and expertise to several other organizations, including the Birmingham Business Alliance, the A.G. Gaston Boys & Girls Club, the Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama, the Commercial Development Authority of Birmingham, and the Community Capital Trust Board of Trustees. He currently serves on community advisory boards for multiple national financial institutions, where he assists CEOs in building more effective, high-impact community development programs. His work focuses on expanding access to capital, providing technical assistance, and advocating for small and minority-owned businesses.

Member Board of Trustees – The University of Alabama System, Founding Chair – HSV AI Taskforce

A native of Birmingham, Ivan Wesley Holloway holds both a Bachelor of Science and a Master in Urban and Regional Planning from Alabama A&M University (AAMU) in Huntsville, AL. Before joining Urban Impact, he served as Executive Director of A Step Forward in Baltimore, Maryland. He is the former Vice President and Managing Director of Seedco Financial Alabama (now TruFund Financial), where he launched the first statewide CDFI loan fund. Ivan also previously served as Assistant City Planner for the City of Athens, AL.

Mary Ellen Judah is Executive Director of Neighborhood Concepts, Inc., a Huntsville-based nonprofit dedicated to strengthening neighborhoods by advancing housing and economic opportunity so all may thrive. Under her leadership, NCI develops affordable housing across the Southeast and manages the North Alabama Revolving Loan Fund, a U.S. Treasury-certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI).  With over 30 years of experience in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors, Mary Ellen brings deep expertise and commitment to community development. A Huntsville resident for 38 years, she serves on the boards of Fahe, Opportunity Community Capital, Building Alabama Reinvestment, and Collaborative Solutions.  She is a 2017 OFN Opportunity Fellow, a graduate of Leadership Alabama Class XXVIII, a member of the Huntsville Committee of 100, and the recipient of the 2020 Fahe Voice of the Region Award.

Samuel Kellett is the Chief Operating Officer with Sabre Finance, a non-profit lender and technical assistance provider, based in Birmingham that services the entire state of Alabama and the Columbus, GA metropolitan area. Sabre Finance, founded in 2014 by Dr. Ray Morris is a CDFI and SBA lender serving entrepreneurs through expert technical assistance and prudent access to capital. Sabre Finance is a mission driven organization serving the underserved small business community, growing alongside them from start-up to expansion. Sam has worked directly with small business owners to meet their individualized needs since 2019. Since 2020, Sabre Finance has provided 354 loans for $21.6 million to small businesses in Alabama. 

Jennifer Kwan Mandelbaum is a Partner at Halogen Ventures, bringing over 15 years of experience in the investments space and supporting consumer innovation. At Halogen, she serves as board observer of two consumer-related companies and supports women-led companies across technology, healthcare, and fintech that are transforming industries and shaping a more inclusive future.

Dr. Timothy Mantz is Dean of the College of Business and Public Affairs at Alabama A&M University, where he leads programs serving nearly one-third of the student population and recently launched the university’s new Venture Hub Entrepreneurship Center. With more than two decades of leadership in higher education and business, Dr. Mantz has taken two companies public, turned around two others, and advised numerous startups at universities across the country. He has forged partnerships with Fortune 500 firms, defense organizations, and regional industry leaders to embed real-world innovation into academic and entrepreneurial programs. A scholar with multiple “Best in Journal” awards, Dr. Mantz is also Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Business Research. His work bridges academia, industry, and community, preparing the next generation of entrepreneurs and business leaders to drive sustainable growth and economic development.

A native of Lee County, Jeremy graduated from Mooreville High School, Itawamba Community College, and The University of Mississippi with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute in 2018. He taught school for several years in several diverse locations–inner-city Houston, Texas (Crispus Attucks Middle School); the Mississippi Delta (Quitman County Middle School); Mooreville High School; and Tupelo Christian Preparatory School—before becoming North Mississippi Service Coordinator for the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office in 2008. Jeremy served on the Board of Directors for the Tupelo Exchange Club and Eight Days of Hope—a nationally-recognized construction ministry. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Mantachie Lions Club, Lee County Republican Executive Committee, and Tammy Wynette Legacy Center. Jeremy owns JAM Media, LLC and hosts the Century of Country Radio Show, broadcast weekly to listeners online and over the radio.

Sonya Merritt’s philosophy is to “Aspire, dream, develop and achieve.” Her mission is to transform lives by directing, advising, and coaching students through life choices and professional development strategies as they discover a path for their future. Her ability to communicate effectively in diverse environments is a skill that connects her to the people she leads, industry partners that are served, and community leaders that she interacts with. One of her focuses is business collaboration, that results in community impact and global reach. Uniting business partners, faculty, and learners in the College of Business and Public Affairs at AAMU is one of Sonya’s professional assignments.

Dr. Lyndell J. Parris is Director of the Venture Hub Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center at Alabama A&M University and a visionary entrepreneur, educator, and innovation strategist. Holding a Ph.D. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, she blends research-driven insights on leadership and growth with lived entrepreneurial experience. She has secured competitive grants, built scalable revenue models, and launched Juggernaut Week, a multi-day festival of innovation and entrepreneurship. Drawing on more than two decades in the consumer-packaged goods industry, she equips founders with practical frameworks for building resilient, tech-enabled businesses. At AAMU, Dr. Parris is developing a first-of-its-kind 5,800-sq-ft hub and forging partnerships with Fortune 500 companies, philanthropies, and state initiatives to deliver programming in STEM, tech innovation, and entrepreneurship—including the responsible use of AI—preparing students and community members to launch and scale inclusive ventures that drive regional economic development.

A native of Greene County, Alabama, Dr. Ed Pearson III serves as Associate Dean for Student Success for the College of Engineering, Technology, and Physical Sciences (CETPS) and as an Assistant Professor in the Computer Science Program at Alabama A&M University. Dr. Pearson earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Alabama A&M University and his Ph.D. from Mississippi State University. He is the director of the Cybersecurity Outreach, Research, and Education (CORE) Laboratory at AAMU, where his research focuses on the intersection of cybersecurity and human-computer interaction, with an emphasis on social engineering and phishing attacks. Dr. Pearson is a founding member of the HBCU Data Science Consortium, where he holds the role of Executive President, helping to foster collaboration, education, and innovation across historically Black colleges and universities.