Advisors

Subject Matter Experts (SMEs)

CAICs SMEs are available to registered CAIC participants for individual counseling on matters in the SMEs’ field(s) of expertise.

Registered CAIC participants should call 410.770.9330, ext. 5 (please do not send a text message) and leave a message clearly stating your name, phone number, and the SME with whom you would like to schedule a meeting. A CAIC Staff Member will return the call promptly.

Christine Bucan

Area of Expertise: Marketing and Communications
Christine Bucan is a communications executive with extensive experience developing strategic public relations and social media programs for clients. She has served as public relations counsel for Fortune 500 companies and for startups.

Ms. Bucan’s experience includes working as a journalist (newspaper reporter and magazine editor) and in many areas of international communications.

Originally from New York, where she served as a Vice President at Edelman Public Relations, Ms. Bucan currently lives in Miami Beach with her husband and two college-age daughters.

Christopher Hlubb

Areas of Expertise: Food Manufacturing, Operations, Biotechnology
Chris Hlubb, Program Director of the F3 Tech Accelerator, works with companies to commercialize innovations and technology. His experience includes start up innovations and turnaround successes. Mr. Hlubb has proven to be an agile mentor and catalyst for change and progress.

Shelley Lombardo

Area of Expertise: Finance
Shelley Lombardo is the Chief Operating Officer of financial consultancy Evergreen Advisors in Columbia, Maryland. She has financial and operation knowledge and experience for working with growth-stage companies. Her specific experience includes providing accounting and financial advice to entrepreneurial enterprises.

Ms. Lombardo can provide strategic and fiscal guidance to help CAIC participants achieve the goals they have set for their value-added aquaculture and agriculture businesses.

George J. Nemphos, Attorney

Area of Expertise: Business Law
Mr. Nemphos’s law firm, Nemphos Braue Law, represents entrepreneurs and their companies in the following areas:

Entity Choice and Formation
Mergers and Acquisitions
Private Placements of Debt and Equity
Complex Joint Ventures
Structural and Day To Day Issues
Corporate Governance
Securities Law Compliance

As an entrepreneur, Mr. Nemphos has the experience to work closely with clients to achieve practical, business-oriented solutions. He has specific experience in the agriculture/aquaculture sector.

Sam Zappas, Entrepreneur-in-Residence

Area of Expertise: IP, Investment, Business Growth

Mr. Zappas brings to CAIC a wealth of entrepreneurship experience in the areas of Intellectual Property, Investment, and Business Growth. Currently he heads a consulting practice that focuses on revenue strategy. Mr. Zappas’s experience includes founding media organizations and consumer companies. He serves on the Boards of several non-profits and private companies including serving on the Advisory Boards of early-stage and late-stage companies.

Mentors

Registered CAIC participants who take part in the “Business Solutions for Value-Added Producers” experience will be able to schedule sessions with the Mentors of the Virtual Presentations. Please call 410.770.9330, ext. 5 (please do not send a text message) to check Mentors’ availability. Please leave a message clearly stating your name, phone number, and the name of the Mentor with whom you would like to schedule a meeting. A CAIC Staff Member will return the call promptly.

Kim Bryden

Kathleen Overman

Kim Bryden and Kathleen Overman, Cureate

Areas of Mentorship: All phases of marketing; developing sales channels.
Kim Bryden is the founder and CEO of Cureate; Kathleen Overman is the company’s Director of Connection. Cureate is a woman-owned business based in Washington, DC. The company offers strategic counsel to help small businesses navigate shifting consumer tastes and interests in the agriculture and aquaculture food sectors. Mentorship will cover the topics of successful go-to-market strategies, market analysis, sales channels, distribution, and marketing.

Janna Howley, Grow & Fortify

Area of Mentorship: Regulations, licensing, and permitting.
Janna Howley, of Annapolis-based Grow & Fortify, focuses on value-added agriculture and aquaculture startups that require mentorship in the areas of government regulations, licensing, packaging, labeling, zoning, and permitting procedures. Although Grow & Fortify specializes in alcoholic beverage producers (breweries, wineries, meaderies), they deal with all value-added producers who need advice on regulations and licensing.