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Power Moves: The latest promotions at Galen Robotics, Mind Over Machines, Downtown Partnership

In the latest edition of our hires and promotions column, check out how leadership teams are expanding to start 2021.

Tim Kulp, chief innovation officer at Mind Over Machines. (Courtesy photo)

Power Moves is a column where we chart the comings and goings of talent across the region. Got a new hire, new gig or promotion? Tell us: baltimore@technical.ly.


Owings Mills-based data and software consultancy Mind Over Machines made a pair of C-level promotions amid a reorganization.

Tim Kulp was promoted to chief innovation officer, and will seek to enhance Mind Over Machines’ innovation and product development services. A familiar face in the local tech community, he previously served as VP for innovation and strategy.

Steve Navarro was promoted to chief revenue officer and general manager. In the role, he will be responsible for bringing new concepts to market, and oversee teams including innovation, delivery, sales and marketing.

The company is undergoing the reorganization as it expands in its fourth decade, CEO Tom Loveland said in a statement.

“As companies navigate through the disruptions of 2020, many are focused on digital transformation, automation, and their impact on the workforce,” Loveland said. “These promotions represent a major step in positioning Mind Over Machines to further advance its focus on helping our clients and partners work smarter, avoid disruption, and navigate both traditional and emerging technologies.”

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David Levi was in the first class of interns from Johns Hopkins at Galen Robotics. Now, he is the head of hardware development at the Pigtown-based surgical robotics company.

David Levi. (Courtesy photo)

The company shared news this month that Levi was promoted to the leadership role. He is heading a key team in the company’s work to bring robotics into surgical procedures that require a microscope.

Levi was a hardware intern at Galen while he completed a master’s degree in mechanical engineering at Johns Hopkins’ Laboratory for Computational Sensing and Robotics (LCSR), which is led by surgical robotics pioneer Dr. Russell Taylor. After completing his degree, Levi joined Galen Robotics full time, and progressed from mechanical engineer to lead mechanical engineer.

“We are very proud to have David be a part of our management team. After graduating from Dr. Taylor’s LCSR program, he’s been an integral part of the development of the Galen Surgical Robot and his promotion is well deserved,” Galen CEO Bruce Lichorowic said in statement.

Building on technology invented at JHU, the company moved to Baltimore city from Silicon Valley. When Galen received investment in 2019, leaders talked about it would seek to hire talent from local universities. It is based out of the growing business hub at 1100 Wicomico.

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Downtown Partnership of Baltimore (DPOB) is also adding executive positions in 2021.

The downtown-focused nonprofit on Tuesday named Thomas R. Akras as its chief of operations management. Akras started this month, and among his first initiatives is implementing a data and tech-based approach that is designed to enable the partnership’s street team members to track service requests and business checks. An attorney, Akras was previously deputy executive secretary of the Baltimore City Board of Liquor License Commissioners, and also has prior experience as assistant city solicitor for the Baltimore Housing Department and an analyst for Baltimore’s CitiStat.

It also promoted Lauren Hamilton to chief marketing officer. A longtime leader at DPOB, Hamilton runs Baltimore Restaurant Week for DPOB as well as the org’s IKE Smart City kiosks, and transitioned programs online during the pandemic. With the promotion, her portfolio spans marketing, membership, events, strategic planning and economic development.

The moves come about six months after Shelonda Stokes became permanent president of DPOB after a period as an interim leader, and a reorganization of the board over the summer.

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The American Advertising Federation of Baltimore (AAFB) named a new board of directors for 2021-2022. Courtney Black, a senior account executive at GKB, will serve as president.

AAFB also created a new Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee, which will be co-chaired by board members Stephanie Bronfein and Lia James. This committee “will introduce the Board and its members to more inclusive practices, creating a space for more seats at the table and voices reflective of the Baltimore community that the AAFB Board represents and serves,” the federation said in a statement.

Here’s the full list of 2021-2022 board members:

  • Courtney Black, senior account executive at GKV (President)
  • Kathe Flynn, design director at Havas Helia (First VP)
  • Liz Norton, agency producer at Planit (Second VP)
  • Jeremy Martin, creative director at Novak Birch, Inc. (Treasurer)
  • Cynthia Sanders, counsel at Baker Donelson (Secretary)
  • Ebenezer Ariori, CEO at Magic Stone Marketing
  • Rachel Claire, accounts director at Novak Birch
  • Krystal Cotriss, visual designer at Barcoding
  • Geoffrey Gill, lead UX UI product design architect at Leap
  • Bob Gillespie, owner at Propr Design
  • Rahbia Lighty, AAF Student Chapter secretary at Morgan State University
  • JoAnne Meredith, director of annual giving at University of Maryland
  • Tayler Person, AAF Student Chapter president at Towson University
  • Brian Schneider, cofounder and CEO at Unconquered
  • Ahmed Tarik, senior account executive at idfive
  • Amara Waters, senior copywriter at R2integrated
Companies: American Advertising Federation of Baltimore / Downtown Partnership of Baltimore / Mind Over Machines
Series: Power Moves
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