Valerie S. Gaydos - President, Fifty-First Associates, LLC,  Executive Director, Private Investors Forum Valerie Gaydos has been involved with many start-up companies in the areas of operational development and strategic planning. She is an investor and advisory board member gathering vital business information and locating experts, financing and key resources, which allow entrepreneurs to implement their ideas and grow their business.

Valerie’s company, Fifty-First Associates, LLC, specializes in business and organizational development and association management. Valerie serves as Executive Director of the Private Investors Forum (Philadelphia), a non-profit organization of accredited investors in the Mid-Atlantic, which produces the Annual Angel Venture Fair. From 2004-2008 she served as President of the Pennsylvania Angel Network, a statewide angel investor network designed to assist in the creation and support of Pennsylvania angel investor groups.

Prior to Fifty-First Associates, LLC, and launching Capital Growth, Inc., a venture capital publishing and business development company, Valerie was Assistant Director of the Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC) Technology Council.  In that capacity she was instrumental in connecting emerging technology companies with sources of financing.  She drafted and successfully lobbied passage of key technology business legislation in Maryland and established the Tech Council’s first newsletter and journal called “tech@work.”

Valerie earned a BA in Economics and Russian Language from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Robert Franklin – Founder Georgia Angel Investment Network.  Bob Franklin is a career investment banker, who has served on numerous corporate and not-for-profit boards of directors. In July of 2009, Bob founded the Georgia Angel Investor Network (GAIN), to be operated by Georgia Angel Capital, Inc. (www.georgiaangelcapital.com), of which Bob is president.

In July of 2005, Bob and others founded the Ariel Savannah Angel Partners, whose members are from eight Low Country Georgia and South Carolina communities. The founders elected Bob as chairman and CEO of the managing member. During 2007 to 2009, ASAP has made $3 million of investments in eleven companies. In January of 2009, Bob was elected chairman emeritus, and continues as a board member and a member of ASAP.

In January 2007, Bob was elected an independent director of Global Energy Holdings Group, Inc. (AMEX:GNH). Global aspires to be a leader in developing and financing renewable energy projects. On the Global board, Bob is a member of the Executive Committee, the Audit Committee, and Chairman of the Science and Technology Investment Committee.

In July 2003, Bob was appointed by Massachusetts Governor Romney as a member of the Massachusetts Public Education Nominating Council, on which he served until February 2005. In 2004 he was chairman of the Council.

Bob received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Boston University in 1959, and served as a Regular Army officer until 1962. He is an instrument-rated private pilot. He is a Life Member of the Union League Club of New York, and a member of the Chatham Club of Savannah, Georgia.

Richard D. Crawford - Managing Partner/Co-Founder, Virginia Active Angel network, LLC, CEO, Virginia Investment Capital Group.  Mr. Crawford’s experience includes management positions with major financial service firms, including Citigroup and Dean Witter, and the founding of an internet-based online venture fair service. Mr. Crawford was an Echols Scholar and earned all of his degrees at the University of Virginia; he earned a B.A. in Economics from the McIntire School of Commerce, an MBA from the Darden School of Business, and a law degree. He is a Visiting Lecturer at the Darden School of Business and an Adjunct Professor at the Law School, both at the University of Virginia.

Between 1986 and 2004 Mr. Crawford authored 14 technical articles and over 40 copyrighted Darden Graduate Business School Case Studies and Technical Notes. He is a noted author and co-author of several books on finance, lending and management. Mr. Crawford continues to teach programs for Darden and author case studies. Mr. Crawford is on the Volunteer Board of the UVA Art Museum and heads the new Development Committee for the Art Museum.