Top Chef finalist Bryan Voltaggio and Huffington Post contributor Elianne Ramos to be featured speakers, and Pitch Across Maryland finalists to compete at TEDCO’s Entrepreneur Expo
COLUMBIA, Md. (October 15, 2012) – The Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO) announced today that it has partnered with key organizations and stakeholders to host the second annual Entrepreneur Expo, “Transforming the Way We Do Business” on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012, at the BWI Airport Marriott in Linthicum Heights, Md. Coinciding with Global Entrepreneurship Week, which includes worldwide activities in recognition of the entrepreneurial spirit, TEDCO and partner organizations will host this large-scale Expo, featuring dynamic conference programming for beginner to experienced entrepreneurs. Last year’s Expo was a nationally featured Global Entrepreneurship Week event that drew more than 300 people, and this year’s lineup of programming and speakers is expected to draw the region’s top entrepreneurs, business owners, investors, legislators and researchers.
“TEDCO recognizes that in today’s business climate, it’s more important than ever to share best practices and strategies when it comes to entrepreneurship,” said Rob Rosenbaum, president and executive director of TEDCO. “The Expo is very different from standard business conferences – we plan and format all programming to cater to the unique needs of start-up and early-stage company leaders and take pride in the energy and dynamic of the event.”
Speaking at the Entrepreneur Expo will be James Beard Award and Top Chef finalist Bryan Voltaggio, executive chef and owner of VOLT restaurant and Family Meal in Frederick, Md., and Elianne Ramos, Principal and CEO of Speak Hispanic Marketing, Vice-Chair of Marketing/PR for Latinos in Social Media (LATISM), and a contributor to The Huffington Post and NBC Latino.
The agenda for 2012 will cover a variety of programming with an emphasis on networking, breakout sessions and exciting speakers. Two unique components of the conference will be the “Mini #FailCon,”
which will highlight failures and celebrate what businesses can learn from mistakes, and “Startup
Maryland Great 8,” which will showcase the finalists from Pitch Across Maryland. These finalists, out of a field of more than 150 companies, will compete at the Expo to win a collection of valuable offerings and services from Pitch Across Maryland tour leaders, sponsors, affiliates and participants. The region’s
famed TechBreakfast and a variety of networking sessions will allow entrepreneurs to make connections
and meet potential mentors.
TEDCO will host the 2012 Entrepreneur Expo in partnership with a coordinating group called the
Entrepreneur Expo Leadership Team, composed of entrepreneurs and organizations from around the
region. The Expo has garnered the support of citybizlist, CoFoundersLab, Entrepreneurial Development
Assistance Center (EDAC) of Morgan State University, foster.ly, gb.tc, Ladies America, Maryland Business Incubation Association (MBIA), Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA), Montgomery County Department of Economic Development, MyCity4Her.com, Startup Maryland and TechBreakfast.
For additional information, online registration or to view the complete agenda and sponsorship
opportunities, visit www.innovatemd.com. Registration ends Friday, November 9, 2012. Early bird rates
are available.