Founder, Sisters Code

Marlin Page is a globetrotting speaker, panelist, and media contributor empowering girls and women in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), a thought leader on bridging the gender and racial gap in technology, Technology Strategist and Online Safety Evangelist. Marlin has had a successful career as a coder, Deputy Chief Information Officer, global diversity executive, and technology entrepreneur.

After college, Marlin was an aspiring mortician working at a funeral home until she heard about a technology corporation’s boot camp. Participants learned to program in seven different languages in 13 weeks. At the age of 25 Marlin took the challenge, joined the company and survived the boot camp. In less than a year she emerged as a mainframe programmer developing and maintaining code for the automotive and banking industry, along with other exciting projects.

Marlin ultimately became the company's first Diversity and Strategic Business Executive, including implementing a successful strategy to bridge the racial, gender, and socio-economic gap in the field of technology. Marlin transitioned from the private sector to the public sector and became Deputy Chief Information Officer for the City of Detroit. Marlin and her team successfully developed the City’s first e-government initiative. She also led collaboration across ten unique agencies to support the technology and infrastructure required for Super Bowl XL. Marlin later founded a nationally recognized technology staffing, recruiting and strategic business consulting organization.

Marlin wanted other women to experience the awesomeness that a career in technology had afforded her. She was living proof that technology could transform your life and open the door to endless opportunities. Marlin founded Sisters Code with a simple goal: to awaken the mature geek. Sisters Code’s mission is to educate, empower, and entice women ages 25 – 85 to explore the world of coding and technology. Simply put, Sisters Code is working to bridge the gender gap by helping women re-career into the field of technology.

Marlin travels the world serving as a STEM Advocate inspiring girls and women to believe that they can learn, work, and flourish in the field of technology. Most recently Marlin was selected to serve as a contributor and speaker for Microsoft’s Global DigiGirlz programs and camps, SXSW, Techonomy, Meeting of the Minds, and the U.S. State Department International Delegation, Multi Regional Project, amongst others. Utilizing her expertise as a technology strategist, Marlin partners with organizations to develop, manage, and support their internal and external technology outreach initiatives around STEM, diversity, and empowerment for women and girls.

Marlin’s book, workbook, and music CD, “Always Believe” came about when her daughter began having some of the same self-esteem issues Marlin experienced when she was younger. Always Believe motivates young girls to love themselves, believe in themselves and celebrate their uniqueness.

Vice President, Detroit Economic Growth Corporation

Olga Stella is the Vice President of Business Development at the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC). DEGC is a nonprofit economic development agency that is a close partner of the City of Detroit and staffs several of its public redevelopment authorities. In her role, Olga helps lead economic development strategies focused on creating jobs and economic opportunities within the city. One of those strategies is supporting the development of a strong creative cluster in Detroit.

President, College for Creative Studies

Richard L. Rogers has been president of the College for Creative Studies (CCS) since July 1, 1994. During Rogers’ tenure the College has more than doubled its enrollment and physical space, established seven new undergraduate departments, launched its first graduate programs, expanded to two campuses, and developed community outreach programs reaching 4,000 inner-city youth annually. LinkedIn recently ranked it the number 3 design school in the U.S. based on alumni success.

Rogers is chairman and president of Creative Urban Education, Inc., the governing board of Henry Ford Academy: School for Creative Studies, a charter middle and high school of art and design founded in 2009 and operated jointly by CCS and the Henry Ford Learning Institute on the CCS campus. He also co-supervises the Detroit Creative Corridor Center, a collaboration of CCS and Business Leaders for Michigan, whose mission is to build a more robust creative economy in Southeast Michigan and attract more creative professionals and businesses to Detroit.

Rogers is a past chairman and executive committee member and a current director of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Michigan. He is past treasurer and a director of the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design. He serves as a Trustee of the McGregor Fund. Prior to his appointment to the CCS presidency, Rogers was Vice President and Secretary at the New School for Social Research (now The New School). He received a Master of Science in Education from Bank Street College of Education, a Master of Arts from the Yale Divinity School and a Bachelor of Arts from Yale College.

CEO, LOVELAND Technologies

Jerry loves developing new ways for the super powers of the web to impact the realities of the world. The challenges of Detroit have become an endless inspiration. He has deep experience in the world of social technology startups, art and media, and a Masters of Science in Studies of the Future from the University of Houston-Clear Lake.

Managing Partner, Revolution Ventures

Tige Savage co-founded Revolution LLC and co-leads Revolution Ventures, which invests in and helps build innovative and impactful companies. Tige has over two decades of industry experience and has been named Washington, D.C.’s “Financier of the Year” and one of the area's ""Tech Titans.""

He serves or has served on the boards of many Revolution portfolio companies including current Revolution Ventures companies Booker, Homesnap, and OrderUp and previously-exited companies including Flexcar (Zipcar – acquired by Avis), HelloWallet (acquired by MorningStar), LivingSocial (partial exit), and Revolution Money (acquired by American Express).

Prior to Revolution, Tige was vice president of Time Warner Ventures, where he led a team focused on investments in technology and next-generation media companies for AOL, HBO, Time, Inc., Time Warner Cable, Turner, and Warner Bros. Previously, Tige was part of the founding team of Riggs Capital Partners, targeting equity investments in technology and media companies, and was an executive at Riggs National Bank, ultimately serving as chief of staff to the Chairman and CEO, Joe Allbritton.

Tige received his MBA with highest distinction from the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business and his BBA from James Madison University."

Lauren Love-Wright is president of the Michigan/Indiana/Kentucky Region for Verizon Wireless, the largest wireless company in the United States, with responsibility for all sales, marketing, operations, financial performance and customer service in three states. A premier technology company, Verizon Wireless operates the nation's largest and most reliable 4G LTE network.

Her career with the company spans more than 11 years and includes positions of increasing responsibility in sales, consumer electronics, business and retail services. Prior to becoming region president in 2014, Love-Wright served as retail director for the Illinois/Wisconsin Region of Verizon Wireless. Before that, she joined Verizon Wireless’ Headquarters team as Director of Connected Consumer Electronics and Personal Computing Devices, responsible for driving strategy to ensure that Verizon Wireless service was embedded in the leading consumer electronics and portable personal computing devices sold in the U.S.

Love-Wright has a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering from Spelman College and Georgia Institute of Technology; her Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology; and her MBA from Harvard Business School.

Before joining the Lions, he spent seven years as the managing director at Modell Ventures.Perez comes to Detroit with 12-plus years of financial related experience in the sports industry. He has served as the chief financial officer for the Baltimore Ravens (1998-2004) as well as controller for the New York Knicks and the New York Rangers (1997-98). Prior to joining the Knicks and Rangers, Perez was controller for the Philadelphia Phillies (1992-97). He began his career as a member of the international accounting firm of KPMG (1986-92), becoming a CPA in 1990.In 1986, Perez graduated from the College of New Jersey with a B.S. in accounting. While at the College of New Jersey, he was a captain of the baseball team and was an Academic All-America nominee after his junior and senior years.Perez has sat on the board for The SEED Foundation since 2007. SEED (www.seedfoundation.com) partners with urban communities to provide innovative educational opportunities that prepare underserved students for success in college and beyond.Born in Las Villas, Cuba, Luis moved to the United States at the age of four. He and his wife, Joanne, have three daughters: Kelly, Allison and Christina.

Daniel Duggan is the Managing Editor – Custom & Special Projects of Crain’s Detroit Business.

He helps manage content across all of the Crain’s Detroit Business platforms, in particular, overseeing special publications and print supplements, such as editions focused on investing in Michigan, the health care industry and the business of music. He is a member of the paper’s management team and oversees the content of the in-person events and webinars hosted by Crain’s.

Daniel also leads the custom content division of Crain’s, offering content marketing services to the clients of Crain’s.

He is the winner of multiple business-writing awards, from groups including the Society of American Business Editors and Writers, the National Association of Real Estate Editors, the Association of Area Business Publications and the Society of Professional Journalists.

Daniel is a Michigan State University graduate and a Troy resident.

Tom Zimmerman is the Regional Director of Data Solutions for the MI/IN/KY Region of Verizon Wireless. In this capacity, Tom is responsible for leading his region’s complex data and internet-of-things (IoT) solutions sales and support teams for both enterprise and government customers. Tom’s team partners with organizations to identify how emerging IoT solutions can best meet the needs of their business or agency. Tom is also the region lead for management of our Verizon resale partners who resell IoT solutions.

Tom has 20 years experience with Verizon Wireless and has served in a variety of sales and operations leadership roles in multiple Verizon markets across the country. Tom has a degree in Business Administration from Saint Leo University in Saint Leo, Florida.