Justin Kitch, is CEO and Co-Founder of  Homestead.com which he started in October 1997, to provide consumers with the easiest and most powerful way to create a presence on the Web. Homestead evolved from Justin's first company, KartoffelSoft, which he co-founded in 1994 to develop FUNdaMENTAL, a children's programming language based on his honors thesis project at Stanford University.

Justin's previous roles include: program manager for new product creation in the Kid's Software Group at Microsoft Corp, software designer at Trilogy Development Group in Austin, Texas, and graduate teaching assistant in Computer Science at Stanford. Justin also serves on the Board of Directors of Virtual Village Inc.

He maintains an active interest in philanthropy and has been an enthusiastic participant in the Friends for Youth mentoring program, Habitat for Humanity and Creative Adventures Learning Center, and serves on the board of Family PC's 100 Wired Schools. Justin holds a B.S. degree in Science, Technology and Society from Stanford University

Gregory S. Levine, Sr. Director of Product Marketing/Business Development, Symantec Corporation

Mr. Levine joined Symantec in July of 2003 as part of the Nexland, Inc. acquisition, where he was Chairman, CEO and President.  In addition to his executive duties at Nexland, Mr. Levine developed and cultivated customer relationships with numerous global enterprises such as Symantec, Motorola, Fidelity Investments, Bell Canada, Perot Systems and Alaska Communications Company. 

As a Sr. director of Product Marketing at Symantec, Mr. Levine’s duties include coordinating the global go-to-market strategy for comprehensive threat management, gateway and network solutions, the delivery of customer and partner presentations and other strategic business-development initiatives.

A veteran of the IT industry since 1991, Mr. Levine earned his Bachelors degree in English Literature and Speech Communication from the University of Florida in 1989.  He also attended Capital University Law School from 1989-1991.

Regina M. Lian , a QuickBooks ProAdvisor, is a former senior finance administrator who now brings the keys of corporate success to growing businesses. She offers twenty-five years of finance and management expertise gained with corporate giants including Avon Products, Fox Video and Starbucks Coffee. She has consulted for CNN News, New Line Cinema, and Republic National Bank.

In 1997, Ms. Lian founded Financial Comfort Inc. The firm provides business services including outsourced bookkeeping, cash management and financial management. In its efforts to promote financial literacy through learning programs, Financial Comfort expanded by creating a state-of-the-art finance and technology learning center in New York City.

Ms. Lian is a world-traveled, proactive leader and decision-maker, adept at assessing and interpreting data and trends, targeting objectives and positioning operations for long-term profitability by implementing innovative systems, processes and controls. This former senior finance administrator is an expert in cash management and cash flow modeling as well as profit and cash forecasting.

Ms. Lian received her M.B.A. in finance from Fordham University and her B.B.A. in accounting from Pace University. She has been active as a member of the Financial Women’s Association (FWA) of New York. Ms. Lian is a faculty member with New York University’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies Management Institute and has also taught at Baruch College (CUNY), Fashion Institute of Technology (SUNY) and American Women’s Economic Development Corp. (AWED)

Franklin Madison, Jr., TechNYC Program Director, joined ITAC in 1999. He is responsible for the strategic development and implementation of new programs to assist high-technology firms in NYC and managing the FastTrac Programs.  He is also the SBIR (Small Business Innovative Research Program) Regional Specialist for NYC, Long Island and the Mid-Hudson Regions and Program Manager for the NASA’s SATOP Program (Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program.  Franklin works one-on-one with CEOs of high tech companies, providing technical assistance in the areas of business plan development, access to capital from private and public sources, R&D assistance, technology transfer opportunities and strategic partnerships.

Mr. Madison is certified by the Kauffman Foundation for Entrepreneurial Studies as a FastTrac Facilitator and Administrator; he also works with the NIST/MEP SBIR Community of Practice; and he has received MEP training in Strategic Planning, Change Management and EDGe Assessments, and he is a member of the NIST MEP SBIR/STTR Community of Practice in developing the SBIR training curriculum for NIST.

Maitland Muse, Director of Wireless Data Solutions, NY Metro Region, Verizon Wireless,

Mr. Muse joined Verizon Wireless in September 2005 to assist in the growth and penetration of Verizon Wireless’ Advanced Data initiatives. His organization is responsible for providing wireless data solutions and technical support for more than 600 points of distribution throughout the NY Metro region. Prior to Verizon Wireless, Maitland spent 7 plus years with Global Crossing, holding several positions within the sales organization, most recently as the Area Vice President for NJ. In this role, Maitland was responsible for growing Global Crossing’s market position within the enterprise space selling Global Network Solutions. A veteran of the Telecommunications industry since 1988, Mr. Muse earned his Bachelors degree in Economics with a Finance Minor from Rutgers University in 1990. Maitland is married with 5 children residing in New Jersey.

Nancy Ploeger, President, has been with the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce since Jan. 1994 to present. She has spearheaded the growth of the organization from 250 to almost 1500 members and instituting many seminars, international outreach, events, active website and benefits for members.  In addition, Ms. Ploeger developed and oversees the MCC Community Benefit Fund (CBF) and the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce Foundation; both 501c(3) affiliates of MCC. 

Ms. Ploeger was honored by Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney in 2004 on her 10-year anniversary with MCC and noted in the US Congressional Record.

Louisa Plotnick is an Associate Project Manager at the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA). She works for the Technical Assistance and Industry unit, in the Energy Efficiency Services division of NYSERDA, which provides financial and technical assistance to customers looking to implement energy efficiency measures.

She manages Flexible Technical Assistance projects as well as Outreach Initiatives in Con Edison territory. Louisa joined NYSERDA last year in the New York City office. She has a Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering and extensive experience in the energy industry.

Ramon Ray is the editor of Smallbiztechnology.com and author of Technology Solutions for Growing Businesses (Amacom). He has written thousands of technology articles and news items for Smallbiztechnology.com. He is a contributing editor to the New York Enterprise Report and has written business small business technology articles for Inc Magazine, Black Enterprise Magazine, CNet, Var Business, TechTarget, Entreprenuer.com, Small Business Resources and other media.

Ramon has also written for technology vendors including Microsoft, FileMaker, Everest and others. He is often quoted in the media, including the New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Entrepreneur Magazine, Inc Magazine, WCBS Radio, Crains New York, National Federal of Independent Business, Small Business Advocate Radio Show, Wells Fargo Small Business Roundup and more.

Not "just" a technology writer, but as a former small business technology consultant, Ramon has years of hands on experience in building networks, installing software, upgrading computers and supporting the technology small businesses use on a daily basis.

Arman Rousta, as Co-Founder and Principal of Blueliner, Arman is responsible for strategic planning and overall project management. He is also the President and Founder of 401kid Inc. and has over ten years of entrepreneurial experience in technology companies.

Arman’s broad business and marketing background, primarily with start-ups, has led to noteworthy press in Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Time Magazine, Popular Science, Barron’s, Inc Magazine, American Banker, and American Baby.

Prior to founding 401kid, Arman spent five years as Co-Founder and COO of Exeter Technologies, a New York-based automotive electronics firm. Arman was a contributing inventor to several Exeter products and guided the launch of the popular Park-Zone® in 1998, by devising the marketing strategy, training an international sales force, and managing product distribution. Arman's sales force was responsible for $7.5 million in sales over a two-year period.

Arman holds degrees in Economics- Political Science and Psychology from Columbia University

Martha Soffer has proudly served the business community for six years as an Economic Development Specialist for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). She specializes in building win-win strategic alliances with community-based economic development organizations in Manhattan and the Bronx. She helps small business owners obtain: SBA guaranteed loans to start or grow a business, free technical assistance including business plan development, free business counseling, surety bonds and certification for government contracting business development programs.

Prior to joining the federal government, Ms. Soffer directed several Fortune 100 corporate marketing research departments. Born and bred in NYC, Ms. Soffer has earned an M.B.A. degree in marketing from Baruch College and a M.A. degree in Oriental Art History from CUNY.