Speaker

Maria G. Gotsch, MBA 1989

President and CEO, Partnership Fund for New York City

Maria G. Gotsch is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Partnership Fund for New York City, the $180 million investment arm of the Partnership for New York City, New York’s leading business organization. The Fund has built a network of top venture capital and corporate experts to identify and support the city’s most promising entrepreneurs to create jobs, spur new business and expand opportunities for New Yorkers.

In addition to leading the Fund’s investments and operations, Maria has spearheaded the creation of the Fund’s strategic initiatives, helping grow the city’s innovation sectors, including fintech and commercial life sciences. Maria has been featured in Crain’s “Most Powerful Women in New York,” “Notable Women in Tech,” and “Notable Women on Wall Street”; City & State’s “The Life Sciences Power 50”; and Institutional Investor’s The FinTech Finance 40. Maria has an MBA from Harvard Business School and a B.A. from Wellesley College, and was a Fulbright Scholar.

Speaker

David Gilford, Yale School of Management '07

Head of Policy, Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners

David leads policy and strategic partnerships for Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners (SIP). Backed by Alphabet, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, and StepStone, SIP applies innovative technology to urban infrastructure systems.

Over two decades at the intersection of the public and private sectors, David has built cross-sector programs to support innovation. As a Principal at HR&A Advisors and co-founder of the Broadband Equity Partnership, David designed digital and social infrastructure to close the digital divide. Previously, he co-founded the Connected Communities practice at Intersection, developing technology strategies for neighborhood-scale real estate developments.

David previously held multiple leadership positions with the City of New York, including Vice President for Urban Innovation & Sustainability at the New York City Economic Development Corporation. David holds a BA in Economics from Williams College and an MBA from the Yale School of Management.

Speaker

Peter D. Cummings OPM 13, 1988

Executive Chairman and CEO, The Platform

Peter Cummings has been active in real estate development and management in Florida, Michigan, Texas and North Carolina since 1975.

In 1978 he founded RAM, a leader in real estate investment, management and development, based in Palm Beach County and active throughout the Southeast. In 2016, and recently retired, Peter created The Platform. A new Detroit-based venture dedicated to helping rebuild the city creating quality housing, commercial and mixed-use developments.

Mr. Cummings was educated at Yale University (B.A. 1968) and the University of Toronto, (M.A. in English Literature -1969), and Harvard Business School, Owner & President Management Program – 1988.

He currently serves on the Boards of Henry Ford Health System Foundation, Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, Downtown Detroit Partnership, and is Chairman Emeritus of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

Moderator

Michele Lutz, MBA 2000

Senior Public Relations and Communications Specialist, Caron Treatment Centers

Michele is a marketing communications strategist with Caron Treatment Centers, and supports the PA-based firm’s expansion in South Florida. She began her career in advertising agency account management, working for New York-based firms Saatchi & Saatchi and Young and Rubicam. She focused on building brands for clients including Johnson & Johnson, Procter & Gamble, Kraft Foods, PepsiCo, Citigroup, and Northwest Airlines. She developed broad experience in marketing strategy, branding, and digital marketing through business development positions with _The Wall Street Journal._

Michele has served as Treasurer of the Harvard Business School of NYC, and on the Board of Directors of the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in the organization’s Ordway Circle of Stars – a unique division that specializes in arts education. An avid writer, Michele’s work has been published in _The New York Times Book Review_ and by Harvard Business School Publishing. Michele received her BA from Rutgers University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.