Jamie McDonald is CEO of UpSurge. Jamie is an experienced entrepreneur, movement builder, and speaker. Prior to joining UpSurge, she was an advisor to global entrepreneurs, social innovators, and impact-focused executives. She’s been deeply involved in work on behalf of Baltimore throughout her career.
Connect with JamieA native of Durham, North Carolina, Kory Bailey is a natural community builder, adept at cultivating and leveraging relationships for collective benefit. Experienced in tech sales and leadership for both large companies and startups, Kory brings a win-win perspective to his work. Kory leads UpSurge’s efforts with entrepreneurs and investors, connecting dots, identifying opportunities and breaking down barriers to help facilitate growth.
Connect with KoryHilary Roxe has spent more than 20 years working in and with mission-driven organizations, first as a journalist for international, national and local outlets, and later in communications and leadership positions in international development and higher education. In 2018, she founded Ellipsis Advisory, a Baltimore-based strategic communications consultancy. She leads strategic initiatives and organizational development for UpSurge.
Connect with HilaryDelshan Baker has more than 20 years working with socially-vested organizations and individuals. She focuses on operations infrastructure, and has a background in org development, financial business management, talent, and information technology integration. She designs for implementation and with the people who are most impacted. She has an MBA from Johns Hopkins and a BA in Studio Arts from Stanford University. She is of, from and for Baltimore.
Connect with DelshanTravis Hamburg built a successful career in public accounting before founding Time Capital Solutions to fulfill his passion for learning about different types of businesses and not-for-profits, offering solutions to help them reach their full potential. Born and raised in Baltimore, Travis is a graduate of Salisbury University.
Connect with TravisDazia Wallerson is a compassionate and experienced human service professional leveraging operational, managerial, and nonprofit experience to enhance the development of individuals, organizations, and thriving communities. Driven by her background in systems-thinking, she takes pride in providing the most efficient and effective strategies to help ecosystems grow. Dazia champions diversity, empathy, and connection to energize culture and inform creativity and innovation. She leads administrative and database functions for UpSurge.
Connect with DaziaMonica Wheat is a 20-year veteran of startup, corporate, and tech organizations. She is the cofounder and executive director of Venture Catalysts, an ecosystem development organization, and has helped build global accelerator programs in four cities and a 12-city investment tour with renowned underestimated founder focused-venture fund, Backstage Capital. Monica also served as the MD of Backstage Detroit and her background in engineering, strategy, and business development included several stints with Fortune 10 companies.
Connect with MonicaRamzy Ismail brings a background in corporate finance, experience as a tech entrepreneur and years of engagement in early-stage investments globally. The founder of Venuable, a unique venue marketplace monetizing underutilized spaces in emerging cities, he also led the 2015 launch of a $10M media-focused fund and accelerator in Abu Dhabi. He joined Techstars in 2016, and has since launched Techstars Dubai and expanded Techstars’ Portfolio Service efforts across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Connect with Ramzy