Meet the ROUND2 Judges
of the 2020 UP/Start
Venture Competition!
*As a result of new directives released by MICA, the April 14 finale event will transition to a virtual format. Vote for an UP/Start 2020 Finalist to win the $5,000 People’s Choice Award! Online voting from April 14 - 24.
Peter Beaugard '06, Head of Brand Strategy, Marketing & E-commerce, Dooney & Bourke
Peter Beaugard is an innovative and creative leader with proven success in fashion, arts, and academia as tenured faculty, including overseeing all brand marketing, creative, and design, e-commerce, customer service, and public relations for the fourth largest leathergoods company in the US; managing the Art & Design department at the third largest school of Architecture in the US; leading innovation consulting engagements with Fortune 500 and private equity clients on four continents; and succeeding as an artist, gallerist, and social entrepreneur with a focus on community engagement. He is currently Head of Brand Strategy (Marketing, E-commerce, Customer Service, & PR) at Dooney & Bourke in Norwalk CT. |
Aleksandra Bogunovic '12, '13, Principal Thermal Blanket Specialist, Aerothreads
Aleksandra is an Experienced Thermal Blanket Specialist for Aerothreads, a Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB) founded in 2014 and located in the heart of College Park, Maryland. They are a specialized provider of Multi-Layer Insulation (MLI) blanket products and critical support services to the aerospace industry. She has extensive professional experience in all phases of thermal blanket support for complex aerospace projects, including preliminary consultations, procurement of materials, design, fabrication, integration, and launch site support. Seasoned, successful proposal writer, also well-versed in the production procedural and requirements documents. |
Marjie Cota, VP Strategic Partnerships & Market Development, Harbor Designs
Marjie’s leadership, communication, problem solving and strategic thinking skills were honed growing up in a naval family, working her way through College in the Residence Hall System, and participating in Cross Functional teams to achieve Customer, Employee and Financial Goals in one of the worlds largest Airline Catering companies, LSG Sky Chefs. She has also showed extreme confidence in sailing over 35,000 blue water miles in US, the Bahamas, Canada, the Caribbean and Med. Her ability to gain trust and use her network to find connectors, influencers and advisors; drives success in defining markets and impacts bottom line results in any industry. Marjie credits her ability to influence and impact change to great mentors, a competitive nature and strong work standards. Tina Davenport, Trustee, Philip E. and Carole R. Ratcliffe Foundation
Career Advantage Military Sales and Services – Account Development Manager Sarvis, Inc. - Account Manager Navy Exchange Service Command – Retail Operations Manager, Navy Exchange, Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico Navy Exchange Service Command – Corporate Trainer Education M.A. in Education and Human Development, The George Washington University B.S. in Health Science, James Madison University |
Hakim Dyer, CEO, Dyer Bermingham
Hakim Dyer is Managing Partner of Dyer Bermingham, a management consulting firm based in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area. Dyer Bermingham specializes in strategic planning, cash flow management, and corporate financial structuring for growth oriented early stage and middle market businesses. Mr. Dyer also advises public and quasi-public entities as well as non-governmental organizations on commercial, real estate, and economic development matters. Among Mr. Dyers many achievements include 27 years in international commercial lending, real estate development, and government contracting, experienced financier, and CFO, expertise in high impact community-oriented alternative finance and significant experience with global institutional and private investors. Mr. Dyer is a graduate of Dartmouth College and earned his Masters while studying at the University of Paris, L’Institut des Sciences Politiques and the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry, where he was one of only two students awarded the Advanced Diploma with High Honors. |