The Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Maryland has expanded its Board of Advisors from 15 to 21 members. The additions are part of an effort to engage more successful founders, investors and business leaders in the activities of the Center and expand its footprint in the region and nationwide. This esteemed group advises the Center’s executive director on strategic initiatives, development and growth opportunities and provides mentorship and connections to student and alumni entrepreneurs.
The new appointees include:
PV Boccasam, NovakBiddle Venture Partners
Boccasam is a battle-hardened and active investor-operator-and-entrepreneur in enterprise (B2B and B2BC) software companies. He has over 25 years of executive management experience that have been focused on nurturing and retaining great talent, and creating a results-oriented culture that helps transform ideas into thriving, industry-defining eco-systems.
Maurice Boissiere '89, Intuitive Analytics, Adjunct Professor and Startup Coach
Boissiere is a research and startup executive with 20 years of experience at venture-backed companies. He's managing director of Intuitive Analytics which focuses on transforming data into understanding to improve customer acquisition and retention. He is also an adjunct professor teaching Writing for Social Entrepreneurship and he coaches early stage entrepreneurs to launch and find product market fit.
Paul Capriolo `06, Founder, Social Growth Technologies
Capriolo founded Social Growth Technologies, which created Social Ingot, a low level virtual goods monetization platform focusing on deeper integration, greater flexibility, and increased revenue. While growing the startup, Capriolo was named E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year, Dingman Center Alumnus of the Year and was inducted in the UMD College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences Hall of Fame. He now spends time mentoring students on how to grow their businesses.
Stephen Ferber `90, Golden Gate BPO Solutions, LLC
Ferber is founder and CEO of Golden Gate BPO Solutions, an innovative provider of global multichannel customer service solutions. He also remains active representing clients as a business attorney and buy or sell-side advisor. He played an integral leadership and management role as General Counsel for a fast-growth outsourcing company from its initial public offering on the NASDAQ National Market, sale to IAC/InterActiveCorp and then as EVP of M&A and strategic planning. Ferber started his career as a consultant with PwC, specializing in bankruptcy and reorganization, capital sourcing and M&A advisory.
Gloria Jacobovitz, PhD, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Jacobovitz is an entrepreneur, angel investor and technology manager. She has over 20 years of experience in research, technology based startups and entrepreneurship, as well as Fortune 500 companies worldwide.
Pam Rothenberg, Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, LLP
At Womble Carlyle, Rothenberg founded and leads the firm’s Impact Economy team. Providing both cutting edge strategic consulting and a full-breadth of legal services, Rothenberg’s team helps companies and entrepreneurs “grow their competitive advantage, with Impact.” The Impact Team’s innovative approach, led by Rothenberg, brings team members together to devise business strategies, develop measurement frameworks, and draft creative legal structures that serve the individual needs of clients across the Spectrum of Impact.
“Our board members serve as ambassadors for our Center and connectors for our entrepreneurs. Given their collective experience and networks, this impressive group of serial entrepreneurs and business leaders will amplify the impact and visibility of Dingman Center programs and ventures. I look forward to working with this prestigious group over the upcoming academic year,” said Elana Fine, executive director of the Dingman Center.
Continuing their service on the Dingman Center Board of Advisors are the following:
G. "Anand" Anandalingam, University of Maryland
Bill Boyle '81, FiberGate, Inc.
Charles G. Car, '85, RSM
Jason Cohen '96, Halen Brands
Matthew Fishlinger '07, Gramercy Risk Holdings, LLC
Jon Forster '86, Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Harry Geller '81, Serial Entrepreneur
Jeffrey S. Grinspoon '90, MBA '95, VWG Wealth Management - Hightower Advisors
Mark Levine, Core Capital Partners
Ted Rose '89, MBA '93 Rose Financial Services
Michael Schwab, D&H Distributing Company
Kathryn Stewart, Cranbrook Capital
Brian S. Taff, '89, Streetsense
David Quattrone MBA '05, Cvent
Ex-Officio Members
Elana Fine '97, Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship
Rudolph P. Lamone, Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship
Dean Alex Triantis, Robert H. Smith School of Business
About the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship
The Dingman Center is one of the nation’s preeminent institutions where the research, education and practice of entrepreneurship are pursued vigorously. We develop and execute curricular and non-curricular programs that uniquely leverage Smith School thought leadership, experiential learning and our network of practitioners to provide maximum resources to startup businesses. Every initiative is designed to support the Center’s mission to make entrepreneurs of all kinds successful. In 2014, the Dingman Center received the prestigious NASDAQ Center of Entrepreneurial Excellence Award from the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship.
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About the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business
The Robert H. Smith School of Business is an internationally recognized leader in management education and research. One of 12 colleges and schools at the University of Maryland, College Park, the Smith School offers undergraduate, full-time and flex MBA, executive MBA, online MBA, business master’s, PhD and executive education programs, as well as outreach services to the corporate community. The school offers its degree, custom and certification programs in learning locations in North America and Asia.