SUSAN MCCARTHY, Committee Chair

Susan McCarthy is President of Classic Forms & Design: an innovative promotional product and

printing company, which provides unique marketing solutions in addition to goods and services

of exceptional distinction and quality for the financial, technology, retail, manufacturing,

healthcare, international aid, state and liquor industries.

Susan received her Bachelor's Degree in Marketing and Finance from Loyola University with

Summa Cum Laude. She was also awarded the exclusive and prestigious Marketing Medal as

well as the Finance Medal for excellence in a discipline. Susan also holds two MBA degrees from

Loyola and graduated at the top of her class in Marketing and Finance. In 1991 she founded

Classic Forms & Design, Inc. and, over the years the product offerings have increased to include consulting, strategic

planning, design, direct mail and fulfillment programs with the goal to enhance sales and maximize corporate return on

investment. Susan’s areas of expertise include entrepreneurism, marketing, sales, strategic business planning and

business development.

AWAIS AKBAR

Awais Akbar's role as Senior Associate includes developing and growing strategic partnerships.

Mr. Akbar most recently led a team within Johns Hopkins Medicine through the acquisition of

controlling interest of Sleep Services of America; along with management of key strategic

relationships with external partners, such as Walgreens. Additionally, Mr. Akbar focuses on the

development of business strategies based on faculty initiated research, such as consulting

relationships and private investment opportunities, while assisting faculty and other key leaders

throughout the Johns Hopkins medical enterprise. Awais’s areas of expertise include sales,

marketing and business development.

STEVE BRAUN

Steve Braun received his MBA with honors at Loyola University and is the President and Chief

Executive Officer of Search Consultants International, part of the MRI Global Network, the

world’s largest executive search network. Steve joined MRI in 1976 as an Executive Recruiter

and started his own practice in 1979. He grew his operation to its present status of conducting

global searches on behalf of several Fortune 500 companies and hundreds of midsize and

small business clients. Steve Braun’s practice focuses on several areas including sports,

healthcare, nonprofit, consumer packaged goods, marketing, and accounting.

Steve has been consistently recognized with Search Firm of the Year awards and top industry

honors. He serves as President of the Maryland Recruiters Association and is on the Board of the Maryland Chamber of

Commerce as well as the Loyola University Alumni Board. Steve is an active member of IBoard, Ronald McDonald House

Charities, Living Classrooms, March of Dimes, and Cristo Rey.

ELIZABETH DODSON

Elizabeth Dodson is Co-Founder of HomeZada, an online home management portal that helps

homeowners manage their largest asset through efficiency, visibility, and understanding.

Elizabeth’s career reflects the adaption to change from a corporate job, to joining an early

stage startup that grew to a successful acquisition, to recently being a co-founder in her own

consumer internet start-up. Elizabeth has an MBA from Loyola in Maryland, and a BS in

Business from Stevenson University.

She has a wide array of skills in sales, marketing, and partner management and her passion

is to mentor other entrepreneurs and women through various organizations.

KURT FIORE

Kurt has served as a board member on the Loyola University Sellinger Graduate Alumni Association and on the Mentoring Committee since 2013. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from St. Joseph’s University and a MBA from Loyola University Maryland. He has approximately 10 years of experience having worked at PwC in their Forensics Advisory Services and Johns Hopkins Medicine in their Finance department. He has interest and experience in corporate finance, strategic business planning, business development, healthcare startups, and financial consulting.

ADRIAN JOHNSON

Adrian is the Senior Vice President & CFO for the Municipal Employees Credit Union of

Baltimore, Inc. (MECU). He oversees Accounting/Finance, Internal Audit, Compliance, and is

a member of the Senior Leadership Team which develops and implements strategies for the

organization. Adrian has been with MECU since July 1997 and has been in the financial

services industry for almost 37 years. He holds a BS degree in Accounting from the University

of Baltimore and a MBA from Loyola University in Maryland. In 2007, Adrian graduated from

the Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC) Leadership Class.

Adrian’s honors include recognition by the Baltimore Business Journal in 2014 as one of eight

top CFO’s in the region for their contributions to their companies, the distinguished Alumnus

Award from CCBC in 2013, the Icon Award from the Associated Black Charities (ABC) for community service and giving

in 2012, the Urban Financial Services Coalition (UFSC) – Central Maryland Jereleigh Archer Member of the Year Award

in 2012 and Robert J. Samuels Award in 2011, the National Academy Foundation “Finance Professional of the Year

Award” in 2010. Adrian’s areas of expertise include accounting, finance and audit.

MATT NESTORICK

Matt Nestorick is a proven business leader who has held various roles within marketing,

innovation, international business and business development at Stanley Black & Decker and

is currently the Director of Sales. He has background in leading a highly efficient team,

managing complex projects, finding untapped opportunities and negotiating business deals.

He graduated from The Catholic University of America with a Bachelor’s of Science in 2003

and Loyola University with a Masters of Business Administration in 2006. Matt’s areas of

expertise include mentoring sales, marketing, product development and management.