Maryland Veteran Small Businesses Owners Honored During 3rd Annual Event
The University of Maryland’s Smith School hosted the Maryland Veterans Small Business Week Celebration in College Park, honoring 12 veteran-owned businesses statewide for excellence in entrepreneurship, innovation and community service during National Veterans Small Business Week 2025.
AI Interview Prep Platform Guides Students From Classroom to Career
A student-led team at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business created STRATPATH AI, an experiential learning platform that uses artificial intelligence to simulate interviews, automate case grading and provide real-time feedback to better prepare students for careers.
Dingman-Lamone Center Renaming Celebrates Legacy of Entrepreneurial Vision
The Smith School honored former dean Rudolph P. “Rudy” Lamone with a renaming of its entrepreneurship center, recognizing his pioneering legacy. Supported by a $3.8 million gift from Linda Lamone, the Dingman-Lamone Center continues to foster ventures, innovation and entrepreneurial education.
Maximize your Smith School student experience and learn about all of the center opportunities to get involved, grow your skills, and expand your knowledge. Center representation includes the Center for Global Business, Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship, Center for Social Value Creation, and the Ed Snider Center for Enterprise and Markets.
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Charity Fundraisers: Building a Quality Product to Benefit Nonprofits
Brian Rechtman ’05, founder of Bluetree Marketing, helps nonprofits raise funds through curated experiences and auctions. Inspired by Smith School advice to “sell the best,” he’s built a social enterprise that’s supported nearly 10,000 charity events worldwide.
AI Tool That Aims for Viral Clips Takes Top Honors at Pitch Dingman
An AI tool that auto-clips livestreams for social media won the top $25K prize at UMD’s 2025 Pitch Dingman Competition, hosted by the Dingman-Lamone Center for Entrepreneurship, which awarded over $170K to ventures across five student and alumni tracks.
Startup Bazaar Showcases Smith Impact, Leadership in Business Education
Startup Bazaar, held April 12 at the Smith School, showcased the state’s tech ecosystem and featured leaders including Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller. The event highlighted Smith’s role in innovation, entrepreneurship and AI, and drew strong participation from startups and state officials.
Entrepreneurial Education From Smith Helps Alumnus Follow His Passion
Joe Kattan ’23 leveraged his Smith finance degree to land a consulting role at Bain before pursuing his entrepreneurial passion. Now the owner of AppraiseItNow, he applies automation and AI to modernize appraisals, drawing on skills honed at Smith.
One Alumna and Entrepreneur’s Three-pronged Approach to Success
Shalanda Armstrong, MBA ’12, founded 100KM Ventures to support women-led startups in digital health and the future of work. With a background in engineering, strategy, and finance, she remains engaged with Smith, mentoring students and serving on advisory boards.
A Founder’s Legacy
The Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship has been renamed the Dingman-Lamone Center for Entrepreneurship, honoring founder and former Smith School Dean Rudolph P. Lamone. A $3.8 million gift will expand its support for inclusive entrepreneurship, student ventures, and alumni businesses.