InnovateEd Summit

Kevin Beverly served as President and CEO of Social & Scientific Systems until 2020, leading the company through a period of significant growth. His career spans leadership roles across prominent technical and policy organizations, including Abt Associates, BAE Systems, Tracor Corporation, and the World Health Organization. He brings deep expertise in operations, project management, sales, and strategic leadership. Kevin holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and a master's in library science and information services from the University of Maryland. He is the founder of the Mildred Beverly Memorial Family Fund, supporting college scholarships for underprivileged youth, and currently chairs the Board of Directors for the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation. He also serves on multiple nonprofit and community boards across Montgomery County.

Carrie Brown is an experienced Corporate Recruiter with 20 years of in-house talent acquisition expertise, specializing in technical and engineering roles such as Reliability Engineers, Software Engineers, Project Managers, and Data Analysts. Known for using strategic and creative sourcing methods to fill key positions quickly and effectively. With over 15 years of experience working remotely from Maine, they are adept at managing national recruiting efforts and attending corporate events as needed. Passionate about connecting with fellow HR professionals and exploring innovative talent acquisition solutions.

Will Carroll is a dedicated policy analyst and strategic adviser with extensive experience in both K-12 and higher education, specializing in education finance at the state and federal levels. As a leader on HCM’s postsecondary policy team, he guides efforts to improve college affordability and student success through data-driven strategies and equitable funding models. His work has supported states like Illinois, Ohio, Oregon, Nevada, and Pennsylvania in redesigning higher education finance systems and aligning institutional planning with policy goals. Prior to joining HCM, Will spent over 12 years shaping federal education policy in the U.S. Department of Education, the Senate HELP Committee, and the Office of Management and Budget, where he led initiatives focused on Pell Grants, college affordability, and new grant programs. He also contributed to the Tackling Transfer Initiative through a detail with the Aspen Institute’s College Excellence Program. He holds a Master of Public Policy from Duke University and a B.A. from Haverford College.

Warren Christopher is a seasoned executive leader and retired U.S. Army colonel with a track record of transforming organizations and leading high-performing teams in both military and federal government settings. Over a distinguished 14-year Army career, he rose through six rapid promotions, ultimately overseeing 2,600+ personnel and $600M+ in resources across the Asia-Pacific region. After retiring from the military to focus on family, Warren transitioned into federal leadership, spearheading strategic planning at FEMA and driving a $400M turnaround at the Interior Business Center. As a certified leadership coach and published author of Incremental Courage, he now consults on organizational improvement while championing youth development through STEM and JROTC programs. Warren holds numerous degrees and certificates which demonstrate his commitment to data-driven leadership and servant-led impact including an MBA from the University of Georgia and a DBA from Drexel University.

Amanda Cowley is responsible for ensuring U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) is prepared to meet the current and future call of its mission, strengthening the global supply of quality medicines. Her passions for strategy, policy and culture unite in a long-standing professional commitment to strengthening institutions, and the people within them, to better serve the public.  Amanda has spent most of her career in healthcare and benefited from the diverse perspectives that come from working in many different countries, and from the vantage point of both regulators and industry. She has worked both in the US Government, at Health & Human Services/Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and across the private sector, including more than a decade as a leader in McKinsey’s Healthcare Practice.

Amanda oversees USP’s global strategy, insights, analytics, planning and pricing activities; Global Legal Affairs, as well as its Legal Standards function, which is responsible for USP’s unique standard setting role in U.S. law; and Global People and Culture function.  Amanda is Executive Sponsor of USP’s Global Women’s Affinity Group, UGWN.

Amanda is an enthusiastic cyclist and iron man finisher, who met her husband while cycling from Khartoum to Cape Town.  They live in Washington, DC with their two children (who are also enthusiastic cyclists) and their dog (who is not).

Marc Elrich was elected Montgomery County Executive in 2018 after serving three terms on the County Council and nearly 20 years on the Takoma Park City Council. A former elementary school teacher, he has long championed equity, environmental protection, affordable housing, and smarter growth. He led efforts to raise the minimum wage, expand tenants’ rights, and proposed the County’s first Bus Rapid Transit system.As County Executive, Marc launched the Early Care Initiative, signed the County’s first Racial Equity and Social Justice law, and reformed procurement to better support local businesses. A lifelong advocate for civil rights, his commitment to systemic change began in childhood and continues to guide his work.

Anthony Featherstone joined WSM in 2021, bringing over 15 years of workforce development experience. He previously served as Director of Workforce Operations at KRA Corporation and held leadership roles at the South Carolina Department of Employment & Workforce and the DC Department of Employment Services. Throughout his career, Anthony has managed high-quality programs for various populations, including WIOA, TANF, and SNAP, and gained expertise in fiscal management, program operations, and strategic planning. He is a Certified Career Services Provider and Global Career Development Facilitator. He also holds an MBA in Human Resource Development.

Elana Fine joined VWG Wealth Management as CEO, bringing extensive experience in business strategy, leadership, and entrepreneurship. Prior to VWG, she served as Executive Director of the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Maryland and held roles in consulting at Accenture and investment banking at Bear Stearns and Revolution Partners. Elana has led high-impact teams, developed long-term business strategies, and supported innovation across industries. She holds a B.S. in Finance from the University of Maryland and an MBA in Finance and Accounting from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. She also serves on several boards and is an active supporter of the local community.

Angela Franco is President and CEO of the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce (MCCC), bringing extensive leadership experience in business and civic engagement. Prior to joining MCCC, she served as President & CEO of the DC Chamber of Commerce from 2020 to 2024, guiding the organization through the challenges of the pandemic and social unrest while strengthening its impact and value to members.Franco has led and revitalized organizations including the DC Health Benefit Exchange Authority and the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. She holds degrees in finance and business administration, and serves on several boards including the United Way of the National Capital Area and the DC Policy Center.

Rose Jackson-Speiser is the Manager of USG Institutional Research and Data Analytics at the Universities at Shady Grove (USG), where she has worked since November 2022. In this role, she is responsible for analyzing data to support USG’s strategic goals, preparing reports for various stakeholders, and presenting complex data to a range of audiences. Rose also develops custom reports and surveys, creates a program classification system, and leads data efforts on multiple USG committees.

Dr. Anne Khademian is the Executive Director of  USG and Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs for the University System of Maryland. Appointed in 2020, she leads a unique regional higher education center that brings together nine Maryland universities on one campus, advancing access, affordability, and workforce development across Montgomery County. With nearly 30 years of experience in higher education, Dr. Khademian is a nationally recognized scholar in inclusive leadership and organizational change. Prior to USG, she was a Presidential Fellow and professor at Virginia Tech, where she also served as Director of the School of Public and International Affairs. She has authored three books and numerous articles on public management, leadership, and regulatory policy. A Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration, she also serves on several regional boards, including the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce and the American Red Cross. Dr. Khademian holds a B.A. and M.P.A. from Michigan State University and a Ph.D. from Washington University in St. Louis.

Jack McDougle is President and CEO of the Greater Washington Board of Trade, where he leads regional efforts to advance smart infrastructure and economic growth across D.C., Northern Virginia, and suburban Maryland. With over 20 years of experience in business, government, and nonprofits, Jack has held leadership roles in the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Council on Competitiveness, and in the private sector. He holds an MBA in strategy and finance from Northeastern University.

Stephen Moret is President and CEO of Strada Education Foundation, where he leads efforts to connect education and employment through public-private partnerships. He previously led Virginia’s successful Amazon HQ2 bid and launched major workforce initiatives like the Tech Talent Investment Program. Moret has held leadership roles at the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, Louisiana Economic Development, and McKinsey & Co. He holds an MBA from Harvard and a doctorate in higher education from the University of Pennsylvania.

Delegate Lily Qi has served in the Maryland General Assembly since 2019 representing Montgomery County, a million-people community next to Washington, D.C. As the first American state legislator who grew up in the People’s Republic of China during political turmoil, her history-making election was featured in the Washington Post and on National Public Radio and Voice of America for
energizing first-time immigrant voters.

Delegate Qi focuses on making Maryland more competitive, inclusive and sustainable. She was named “Legislator of the Year” three times for championing innovation economy and small businesses and a “Green Champion” for environmental leadership. Her legislation has led to the establishment of a state green bank for clean energy innovation, funding for manufacturing and tech industries, the Family and Medical Leave Insurance program (FAMLI), and the Maryland LGBTQ+ Commission. Before her elective office, Lily was a political appointee in Montgomery County, Maryland, where she led economic and workforce development strategies, public-private partnerships, and government cultural competency work. Prior to her decade of service in Montgomery County, she was part of the economic development leadership team involved in the revitalization of Washington, D.C. that helped transform the capital city and its neighborhoods.

As an immigrant and a native of Shanghai, Delegate Qi is a cultural broker and inspirational speaker on immigrant integration and civic engagement. Her extensive civic leadership includes serving on numerous nonprofit boards from hospitals to arts organizations. For her professional and community
leadership, Delegate Qi was named one of “Maryland’s Top 100 Women” by the Daily Record. Her story was made into an illustrated comic by Radio Free Asia’s affiliate WhyNot.

Dr. Rudy Ruiz is Vice President and Partner at FourPoint Education Partners and the READY Director at USG as of 2025. With over 20 years of experience in college and career readiness, Rudy has worked in school systems in Milwaukee and Baltimore, leading initiatives that increased FAFSA completion and college enrollment for underserved students. A first-generation Stanford graduate, Rudy has also served as Chief Education Officer at the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education. At FourPoint, he leads efforts to strengthen student success systems for nonprofits, school districts, and businesses. He holds a doctorate in education from Johns Hopkins University and serves on several nonprofit boards.

Andy Schell's recent experience is as a Human Capital Consultant at Deloitte, supporting the Department of Homeland Security with performance management, talent development, and data strategy for the Cybersecurity program. He has also worked with the NIH and VA, where he led the VA’s first Congressional 508 Compliance Initiative. Previously, Andy led DEIJ efforts at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and served as a USG Innovation Fellow. He is passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion and co-hosts Deloitte’s DEI podcast, LivedX. Andy holds a Master’s and Bachelor’s in Psychology and a Bachelor’s in Biochemistry from the University of Maryland.

Westley Sturhan is a Research Analyst at the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation, where he supports the VP of Research and Policy in analyzing trends and their local economic impact. He holds an MSc in Health and Economic Development from the London School of Economics, as well as a BS in Public Health and a BA in Economics from Tulane University. With experience at the International Vaccine Institute and the New Orleans Business Alliance's Bioinnovation team, Westley brings a strong background in economic development and the health sector. Outside of work, he enjoys volunteering at construction sites, exploring UX design, and spending time at local Makerspaces.

Dr. Thomas Taylor became the superintendent of MCPS in July 2024, overseeing 211 schools with over 160,000 students and 25,000 staff. With over 25 years in education, including 12 years in district leadership and six as a superintendent, he previously served in Stafford County, Virginia, where he was named Region III Superintendent of the Year in 2024. Dr. Taylor led several key initiatives in Stafford, such as developing career-focused specialty centers and expanding work-based learning, while also securing a partnership with the Jed Foundation to address student mental health. He holds degrees from Virginia Wesleyan University, the University of Virginia, and an MBA from William & Mary Raymond A. Mason School of Business.