The Key Executives is pleased to announce The Top 25 Tech CEOs of Maryland for 2024. These leaders are driving the state’s robust technology sector, where 15.2% of the workforce is employed in tech, contributing to Maryland’s position as a national leader in the field. From advancing cybersecurity to revolutionizing healthcare technology and improving supply chain management and beyond, these CEOs are solving real-world problems with innovative solutions that impact both local businesses and global industries. Their work is a testament to Maryland’s growing reputation as a hub for high-tech talent, with a workforce that ranks third in the U.S.
Among this year’s awardees, Kevin McRaith, President and CEO of Welldoc, is recognized for his leadership in digital health technology, overseeing the development of AI-powered platforms that transform the management of cardiometabolic conditions. Anders Jones, CEO of Facet, stands out for his work in financial technology, driving the development of personalized financial planning solutions that make high-quality advice accessible to a broader range of individuals. Meanwhile, Keith Heilveil, President of Advantage Industries, is noted for his expertise in IT security and services, helping organizations strengthen their defenses against today’s most advanced cyber threats.
This year’s awardees were selected through a methodical nomination process and careful consideration of each candidate’s career track record and industry contributions. Please join us in celebrating The Top 25 Tech CEOs of Maryland for 2024.
1. Randy Altschuler
Co-Founder and CEO, Xometry
Randy Altschuler is the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Xometry, a global AI-driven digital marketplace that supports manufacturing and helps companies build more resilient supply chains. A successful entrepreneur and a pioneer in building an AI-centric company, Altschuler co-founded Xometry in 2013, took it public in 2021 and is currently leading it through a period of significant growth. In just two years, Xometry’s revenue has more than doubled.
An expert in the application of artificial intelligence, Altschuler also serves on the Board of Directors for OpenLane, a leading operator of digital marketplaces for wholesale used vehicles. Prior to founding and leading Xometry, Altschuler co-founded and served as Executive Chairman of CloudBlue, a leading provider of recycling services for electronic equipment that was later acquired by Micro. Before CloudBlue, Altschuler was the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of OfficeTiger, a global BPO company that would eventually employ 4,500 people.
Altschuler graduated from Princeton University, earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and also studied at the University of Vienna as a Fulbright Scholar.
2. Brendan Kelly
Chief Executive Officer, Smartlink Group
Brendan Kelly is the Chief Executive Officer of Smartlink, a leading provider of telecommunications solutions. Smartlink specializes in the development, engineering, and maintenance of communications infrastructures. Established in 2000 and headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland, the company offers a range of services, including asset inventory and management, network services, network real estate, and IT staffing support.
With over 25 years of experience in the telecom industry, Brendan has been instrumental in guiding the company through significant growth, overseeing the launch of advanced networks and strengthening Smartlink’s reputation as a trusted provider for the development and maintenance of new and existing network infrastructures. He graduated from Salisbury University.
3. Robert Lee
Chief Executive Officer, Dragos
Robert M. Lee is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Dragos, an industrial cybersecurity technology company on a mission to safeguard civilization. Lee serves on the World Economic Forum's subcommittees on Cyber Resilience for the Oil and Gas and Electricity communities, on the U.S. Department of Defense Reserve Forces Policy Board, and has testified to the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee as well as the U.S. House Energy and Commerce sub-committee to advise on policy issues with relation to industrial critical infrastructure cyber threats.
Lee got his start in cybersecurity while in the U.S. Air Force, where he served as a Cyber Warfare Operations Officer tasked to the National Security Agency. He has performed defense, intelligence, and attack missions in various government organizations including the establishment of a first-of-its-kind ICS/SCADA cyber threat intelligence and intrusion analysis mission. Lee graduated from Utica University with a master’s degree in cybersecurity and computer forensics and from the United States Air Force Academy with an undergraduate degree in social sciences.
4. Kyle Hanslovan
CEO and Co-Founder, Huntress
Kyle Hanslovan is the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Huntress, a cybersecurity company focused on protecting small to mid-sized businesses. Huntress safeguards 150,000 businesses and millions of employees. Hanslovan has successfully raised nearly $200 million in venture capital and is passionate about entrepreneurship, innovation, and social impact.
Prior to founding Huntress, Hanslovan served 10 years in the U.S. Intelligence Community and Air Force supporting Offensive Cyber Operations, and before that a CEO and Co-Founder at StrategicIO. Earlier in his career he worked with the United States Air Force as an information assurance manager. Hanslovan graduated from the University of Maryland Global Campus.
Kyle Hanslovan's Insight
“It's always an honor to represent Maryland on the global stage of entrepreneurs which makes this Top 25 Tech CEO of Maryland selection a legit privilege. With that said, I wouldn't be here today without our partners and customers who encourage the hell out of me to keep pushing boundaries and wrecking hackers while not losing sight of the humility that got us here. Today, Huntress protects millions of endpoints, identities and people from cybercriminals who are out to disrupt their businesses and livelihoods—and it serves up a daily reminder for why we wake up each morning. While we still have a long way to go to protect the world's businesses that fall below the Fortune 5000 cyberpoverty line, I'm more confident than ever that we are well on our way.”
5. Cameron Deemer
Chief Executive Officer, DrFirst
Cameron Deemer is the Chief Executive Officer of DrFirst. For 25 years, healthcare IT company DrFirst has been helping providers and patients to achieve better health through intelligent medication management. The company enhances healthcare workflows and supports patients in starting and staying on therapy through end-to-end solutions that improve prescription access, affordability, and adherence. Deemer joined the company in 2004 as Director of Product Management, was promoted to General Manager in 2005, and became President shortly thereafter.
Deemer brings more than 20 years of healthcare industry experience to his current role. Prior to joining DrFirst, Deemer was Assistant Vice President of Product Management for PCS Health Systems/AdvancePCS and also led the e-prescribing and practice management product strategy for NDCHealth.
6. Wayne Jackson
Chief Executive Officer, Sonatype
Wayne Jackson is the Chief Executive Officer of Sonatype, a role he has held since 2010. Sonatype is a software supply chain security company that offers an end-to-end solution for securing software supply chains. It combines proactive protection against malicious open-source components, enterprise-grade SBOM (Software Bill of Materials) management, and a leading platform for managing open-source dependencies.
Prior to Sonatype, Jackson served as the CEO of open source network security company Sourcefire, which he guided from fledgling start-up through an IPO in 2007, later acquired by Cisco for $2.7 billion. Before Sourcefire, Jackson co-founded Riverbed Technologies, a wireless infrastructure company, and served as its CEO until the sale of the company for more than $1 billion in 2000. Jackson holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from James Madison University, and has completed the Executive Education program for Corporate Governance at Harvard University.
7. Kevin McRaith
President and CEO, Welldoc
As President and CEO, Kevin leads the Welldoc team in the development and commercialization of innovative digital health solutions for individuals living with cardiometabolic conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, heart failure, prediabetes and weight management with GLP-1 support.
Kevin has over 25 years of experience in the life sciences sector including biotech, pharmaceuticals, hospital supplies and digital health. Prior to joining Welldoc, he held senior executive roles at Human Genome Sciences, Genentech, and Abbott after starting his career at Baxter Healthcare.
Kevin McRaith's Insight
"I'm honored to be recognized among Maryland's top tech CEOs for 2024. It is a privilege to lead a company that is at the forefront of our state’s biotech ecosystem. From pioneering the first FDA-cleared digital therapeutic for diabetes to now offering a comprehensive AI-powered cardiometabolic platform, Welldoc is reshaping the future of health. We are partnering with the largest names in life sciences and healthcare to create the next generation of care that supports individuals throughout their journey. This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our incredible team. We are excited to continue driving innovation that transforms lives.”
8. Vidya Sharma
Co-Founder and CEO, Axle Informatics
Vidya Sharma is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Axle Informatics. Axle is driven by a mission to accelerate discovery and improve organizational outcomes through innovative operational solutions. The company is dedicated to helping organizations navigate the complexities of their next major breakthroughs by delivering comprehensive research, technology, and healthcare services.
Sharma has been pivotal in steering the company towards providing innovative solutions to an array of federal and commercial clients. Over the past two decades, Vidya's journey with Axle has been characterized by innovation, strategic growth, and operational excellence, significantly enhancing the company’s effectiveness, efficiency, and profitability. Her prior endeavor, Axiom Sources, flourished under her guidance into a renowned woman-owned small business.
9. Biplab Sarkar
Chief Executive Officer, Vectorworks
Biplab Sarkar is the Chief Executive Officer of Vectorworks. He initially joined the company in 2000 as a manager of geometry and rendering, later serving as Chief Technology Officer before being promoted to CEO in 2016. A leader in design and BIM software, Vectorworks serves over 650,000 professionals across the architecture, landscape, and entertainment industries. Since 1985, it has been dedicated to helping designers capture inspiration, foster innovation, and bring their visions to life.
Prior to Vectorworks, Sarkar served as the director of research and development at Parametric Technology Corporation, where he led a large international team of programmers. He began his career as a software engineer at ICEM Systems and later became a software consultant at Intergraph. Sarkar holds a PhD in computer-aided design and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from The Ohio State University, as well as a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur.
10. Anders Jones
Chief Executive Officer, Facet
Anders Jones is the Chief Executive Officer of Facet, a financial technology company that specializes in personalized financial planning services. Facet Wealth offers comprehensive financial planning tailored to individual needs and goals, focusing on providing advice that considers all aspects of a client's financial life, including investments, retirement planning, tax strategies, and more. Jones is an entrepreneur and early stage tech investor.
Prior to Facet, Jones was a founding partner of Argyle Ventures. Argyle invests in emerging startup markets, with a focus on advertising, technology, financial technology, and healthcare IT. Prior to Argyle, Jones was on the early team at LiveRamp, later acquired by Acxiom for $310 million, and has been involved as an investor or advisor in many other startups in Silicon Valley. Jones graduated from The Wharton School with an MBA and from Stanford University with an undergraduate degree in international relations and affairs.
Anders Jones's Insight
“Facet is on a mission to make high-quality financial planning accessible to all, and I'm incredibly proud of what we've achieved together as a team. Our focus on delivering personalized financial advice has enabled us to positively impact the financial futures of tens of thousands of our members. This recognition as a Top 25 Tech CEO in Maryland is a testament to the hard work, passion and commitment of everyone at Facet who believes in our mission and strives to make a real difference in the industry.”
11. Steve Sidel
CEO and Founder, Mindoula Health
Steve Sidel is the CEO and Founder of Mindoula Health, a leading population health management company that scales the human connection through technology to address mind, body, and life challenges. Mindoula identifies, engages, and serves populations that might otherwise be overlooked or left behind, and delivers tech-enabled, team-based, 24/7 support across the continuum of care. Sidel brings 34 years of experience to his current role.
Before joining Mindoula Health, Sidel was a CEO at Edline and before that a business development and corporate integration leader at Discovery Communications. Earlier in his career he worked with Irell & Manella as a litigation associate. Sidel graduated from Harvard Law School with a JD in law and from Brown University with an undergraduate degree in political science.
12. Josh Matthews
Co-Founder and CEO, Apkudo
Josh Matthews is the Co-Founder and CEO of Apkudo, a company that provides a Circular Industry Platform to optimize the lifecycle management of connected devices through solutions such as device certification, trade-in services, and asset recovery.
Matthews brings 22 years of experience to his current role and first got his start in 2002 as a Co-Founder at Fantasy Sports Australia. From there, he went on to Celsius Retail Technology, before eventually rising to field engineering director at Open Kernel Labs, his most recent position prior to joining Apkudo. Matthews graduated from The University of New South Wales.
13. Sarah Armstrong
Chief Executive Officer, Trend
Sarah Armstrong is the Chief Executive Officer of Trend, an independent, technology-enabled payment integrity company. Through a suite of credit balance management and payment accuracy solutions, the company facilitates collaboration between healthcare providers and payers for mutual benefit, striving to eliminate waste, reduce abrasion, and enhance healthcare access.
Armstrong brings decades of experience in healthcare revenue cycle operations and technology, having managed and scaled businesses that deliver innovative solutions to numerous healthcare organizations. She also brings a dedication to client service, a passion for leadership, and a long track record of building high-performing teams. Most recently, Armstrong served as Chief Operating Officer at Ensemble Health Partners. Earlier in her career she worked with TriHealth as an executive director.
14. Thiag Loganathan
Co-Founder and CEO, Cardinality.ai
Thiag Loganathan is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Cardinality.ai, where he is responsible for customer and market strategy. Cardinality.ai is a key player in the health and human services sector, with its solutions currently used by agencies in Indiana and Maryland, benefiting over 10 million Americans.
Previously, Loganathan was a Co-Founder and President at Petram Data and before that a President at DMI. Earlier in his career he worked with Infosys as a software engineer. Loganathan earned an undergraduate degree in electrical and electronics engineering from the University of Madras.
15. Daniel Ra
Chief Executive Officer, Red Alpha
Daniel Ra is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Red Alpha, a software technology and consulting firm specializing in software development, prototyping, and innovation. Serving both defense and commercial sectors, the company offers solutions in data tradecraft, mission engineering, cloud engineering, software engineering, innovation, and system engineering.
Prior to founding Red Alpha, Ra gained extensive experience in embedded systems, software and system engineering, system integration, and deploying operational systems. He is committed to turning around challenging projects and overcoming mission impediments. Ra developed his focus on bridging the gap between operational capabilities and emerging technologies while serving in the U.S. Army Reserves. Ra graduated from the University of Maryland with an undergraduate degree in computer science.
Daniel Ra's Insight
“Leadership in the tech industry is about fostering innovation, embracing change, and empowering teams to reach their full potential. Throughout my journey as CEO of Red Alpha, I've learned that true success comes from building a culture of collaboration, continuous learning, and unwavering commitment to excellence. It's about seeing beyond the immediate challenges and envisioning the transformative impact our work can have on the next generation.”
16. Keith Heilveil
President, Advantage Industries
Keith Heilveil is the President of Advantage Industries, a full-service managed IT security and services firm with over 35 employees and 150 customers. Advantage’s focus is to protect its customers from today's advanced IT security threats, improve their operational efficiency, and provide senior leadership with the technical insights needed to strategically run their business.
An IT veteran with over 30 years of experience as a business owner across multiple industries, Heilveil has the expertise to advise business owners on effectively operating and protecting their businesses. Heilveil founded Advantage Industries in 1999 focusing primarily on supporting the IT needs of small business owners. Over the years, he has worked with state and federal government agencies and hundreds of organizations in numerous industries, ranging from small start-ups to top accounting firms.
17. Andy Monfried
CEO and Founder, Lotame
Andy Monfried is the CEO and Founder of Lotame, a technology company that enhances the intelligence, speed, and usability of data for digital marketers. Its end-to-end data collaboration platform, Spherical, enables thousands of marketers, agencies, and media owners to onboard, access, analyze, and activate the data necessary to understand and engage consumers effectively.
Since founding Lotame in 2006, Monfried has been focused on building the world’s leading data management technology. Monfried led Lotame's successful ad network for several years, targeting thousands of campaigns valued at millions of dollars, all delivered and executed through the Lotame platform. In 2011 he shuttered the ad network to focus the company on its original vision: a full featured, SaaS based DMP. Under Monfried’s leadership, Lotame has grown into a more than 100 person company with offices in the U.S., EU, and APAC.
Prior to founding Lotame, Monfried was an executive with Advertising.com from. Monfried graduated from the University of Bridgeport with an undergraduate degree in political science.
18. Mona Abutaleb
Chief Executive Officer, Med Tech Solutions
Mona Abutaleb is the Chief Executive Officer of Med Tech Solutions (MTS), a company developing technology systems tailored to the workflows of healthcare practices. Its practice-centered care services are provided by dedicated IT care teams, ensuring secure and reliable IT infrastructure, optimized clinical and business applications, and comprehensive end-user support. By alleviating IT-related challenges, MTS enables healthcare providers to focus on delivering quality patient care.
Abutaleb brings 40 years of experience to her current role. Before joining Med Tech Solutions, Abutaleb was an EVP and CEO at Ricoh Business Solutions and before that an EVP of Interactive Media and Network Services at the Discovery Channel. Earlier in her career she worked with MCI Communications as a traffic engineer. Abutaleb graduated from the University of Maryland with an undergraduate degree in electrical and electronics engineering.
19. Helen Sabzevari
CEO and President, Precigen
Dr. Helen Sabzevari is President and Chief Executive Officer of Precigen, a gene and cell therapy company, and member of the Precigen Board of Directors and Kinnate Board of Directors. Precigen is a discovery and clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on advancing next-generation gene and cell therapies. Utilizing precision technology, the company targets urgent and intractable diseases within its core therapeutic areas of immuno-oncology, autoimmune disorders, and infectious diseases. Dr. Sabzevari brings extensive expertise in research and development of immunotherapy-based therapeutics as well as experience translating novel treatments from pre-clinical stage into the clinic.
Previously, Dr. Sabzevari co-founded and served as Chief Scientific Officer of Compass Therapeutics. Before that, she served as Senior Vice President of Immuno-Oncology as well as Global Head of Immunotherapy, Oncology, Global Research, and Early Development at Merck KGaA/EMD Serono, Darmstadt, Germany. Before that, Dr. Sabzevari led the Molecular Immunology Group at the Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology at the U.S. National Cancer Institute, where she was focused on design, development and delivery of novel vaccines and immunotherapies for a range of human cancers.
Dr. Sabzevari received her doctorate degree in cell and molecular immunology and completed her postdoctoral work at the department of immunology at the Scripps Research Institute, working on various immunotherapeutic modalities in the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases.
20. Todd Marks
Founder, President and CEO, Mindgrub
Todd Marks is the Founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Mindgrub, an agency and consultancy that specializes in custom mobile and web development, enterprise application support, DevOps, digital marketing, visual and interactive design, user experience architecture, quality assurance testing, and emerging technologies. Marks founded Mindgrub in 2002 and has since overseen projects for clients such as Exelon, Wendy’s, DELL, Under Armour, Yamaha, Crayola, Geico, The Economist, University of Maryland, and NASA.
Marks began his professional career teaching math and computer science in Maryland. Mindgrub grew quickly after Apple’s introduction of the iPhone in 2007, and under his leadership, the company became one of the first mobile development agencies in the mid-Atlantic. Mindgrub has since grown to nearly 200 employees. In the beginning stages of the company, Marks was the first engineer, designer, and user experience expert. Marks graduated from Loyola University Maryland with an undergraduate degree in mathematics.
21. Nick Culbertson
CEO and Co-Founder, Protenus
Nick Culbertson is the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Protenus. Protenus harnesses the power of AI to provide healthcare organizations with scalable risk-reduction solutions that drive safe patient outcomes while protecting the reputation of the organizations.
Culbertson attended the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine where he and co-founder Robert Lord saw firsthand how electronic medical records are used to improve patient care and share data more efficiently. They also observed that the electronic medical record created a whole new slate of serious security and privacy concerns. In 2014, Culbertson and Robert developed the initial prototype and algorithms that launched Protenus, fulfilling a critical need to better protect patient data in electronic health records.
Prior to Protenus, Culbertson spent four years as a biomedical researcher at Johns Hopkins University, where he participated in a variety of studies including synthetic biology, cellular engineering, and clinical outcomes. Culbertson holds a bachelor’s degree from Johns Hopkins University in cellular biology and helps run The 6th Branch, a veteran-led community service organization in East Baltimore. He also served eight years in the U.S. Army and completed his service as a highly-decorated Special Forces operator (Green Beret).
22. Karin Humphrey
Chief Executive Officer, Expion Health
Karin Humphrey is the Chief Executive Officer of Expion Health. For over 30 years Expion Health has been evolving cost management and revenue optimization across healthcare, from large, national payors and Blues plans to PBMs and TPAs. Humphrey has spent her career in cost management, working with leading companies in the industry.
With experience across all facets of pharmacy benefits management, she applies this knowledge to support both clients and her team. As the leader of Expion Health, Karin oversees the company’s growth strategies and contributes to advancing healthcare cost management solutions.
Previously, Humphrey was a President at Maxor National Pharmacy Services and before that a COO at Gateway Health Partners. Earlier in her career she worked with Catalyst Rx as a fulfillment specialist and customer service representative. She graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with an MBA.
23. Brian Price
President and CEO, Kion
Brian Price is the President and CEO of Kion, a cloud enablement solution that helps organizations simplify management and governance to maximize the benefits of the cloud. Kion supports organizations at any stage of their cloud journey, helping them achieve greater efficiency and growth. Price is an IT professional with more than 12 years of experience across several technology areas including cybersecurity, cloud computing, project management, software engineering, and systems engineering.
Price brings 21 years of experience to his current role and first got his start in 2003 as a web development specialist at Salisbury University. From there, he went on to Northrop Grumman, before eventually rising to VP at Stratus Solutions, his most recent position prior to joining Kion. Price graduated from Salisbury University with an undergraduate degree in computer science.
24. Thomas Rivas
Founder and CEO, Vendoo
Thomas Rivas is the Founder and CEO of Vendoo, a software platform that helps sellers overcome daily challenges in the growing reselling industry. Vendoo aims to save sellers time and increase earnings by enabling faster crossposting across multiple marketplaces with a user-friendly interface. The platform supports listing on ten marketplaces, including eBay, Poshmark, Etsy, Mercari, Facebook Marketplace, and others.
Rivas graduated from the University of Maryland with an undergraduate degree in international business and marketing.
25. Patrick Lu
Founder, President and CEO, Sirnaomics
Patrick Lu is the Founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Sirnaomics, an RNA therapeutics biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery and development of drugs for indications with unmet medical needs and large market opportunities. Sirnaomics is the first clinical-stage RNA therapeutics company to have a strong presence in both Asia and the United States.
Lu has led Sirnaomics from an early discovery effort to an siRNA therapeutics product company, with multiple programs currently at clinical stage. Lu brings over 25 years of nucleic acid drug development experience in Novartis, Digene, and Intradigm, where he was Co-Founder. Lu has led the company in raising $58 million and in the development of STP705, a novel siRNA therapeutic for the treatment of cancer and fibrosis. He also serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Previously, Lu was an EVP at Intradigm. Earlier in his career he worked with Novartis Gene Therapy as a lab head. Lu earned a PhD in biostatistics, biology, and ecology, a master’s degree in population biology, and an undergraduate degree in botany from Sun Yat-sen University.