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Mayor Gray Appoints Innovation and Technology Inclusion Council

Monday, October 27, 2014
Group will advise district officials on how to grow a more inclusive Council

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Mayor Vincent C. Gray today announced the appointment of the District of Columbia’s Innovation and Technology Inclusion Council. The 17-member council will advise District officials on ways to grow the city’s innovation and tech economy in an inclusive manner.

“One of the key goals of my administration is ensuring we are One City with equal access for all. By establishing this council, we have identified key stakeholders who can help guide us towards creating a more inclusive tech economy,” said Mayor Gray. “This council will be instrumental in guiding policy and identifying solutions that will allow more District residents to participate in our burgeoning tech community.”

Members of the Innovation and Technology Inclusion Council are:

  • Phillipe Chetrit, Senior Director of Growth of SocialRadar;
  • Travis Dougherty, CEO and Founder of DeafTV;
  • Ken Eisner, Director of Global Education Strategy Amazon Web Services;
  • Katherine Goodall, COO of S&R Foundation;
  • Corey Griffin, Associate Director of the Peace Corps;
  • Caesar Layton, Founder and CEO of Cultivate Ventures;
  • Carlos Martin del Campo, entrepreneur, community management and social media marketing and co-founder of Capital Hustle;
  • Yoshi Maisami, entrepreneur, investor and tech consultant and co-founder of Ideaspace, LLC and Intridea, Inc.;
  • M. Jeffrey Miller, Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development;
  • Reynard Ramsey, Director, Advisor and Investor, ICOM and MMGL Corp.;
  • Philip Reeves, Manager of Small Business Technology and Innovation for the Department of Small and Local Business Development;
  • Hannah Rho, co-founder of CollegeNode Inc.;
  • Thomas Sanchez, CEO and Founder of Social Driver;
  • Delano Squires, Director of Connect.DC with the Office of the Chief Technology Officer;
  • Robert Summers, Director of the Department of Small and Local Business Development;
  • Amber Wason, co-founder and COO of RIIDE; and
  • Dr. Chad Womack, Director of STEM and Innovation for the United Negro College Fund.

Mayor Gray will swear-in the Council with new and re-appointed members of 16 other District boards and commissions in a ceremony to be held at 6:30 p.m. this evening in the Mayor’s Press Briefing Room (G-9) at the John A. Wilson Building. 

The technology and innovation industries are critical components to creating jobs and growing and diversifying the District’s economy. Mayor Gray has sought innovative approaches to supporting the tech community including introducing legislation that promotes job creation through technology; investing in innovative companies; and launching the Digital DC Tech Fund. With the creation of the Innovation and Technology Inclusion Council, District officials will benefit from guidance and recommendations from entrepreneurs, educators, investors and public/private stakeholders with extensive backgrounds in innovation and technology.

Some of the Council’s duties include: Evaluating methods by which the District government can increase the diversity of high-technology business; provide recommendations on the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education and workforce training programs; and identify effective strategies to engage and support underrepresented groups in the District’s innovation and tech-economy.

The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development and the Department of Small and Local Business Development will provide technical and administrative support to the Council.

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