Judges
The Alabama Launchpad Competition recruits the state's most respected leaders in business and technology to review and judge the plans submitted by the participating teams. If you are interested in being a judge in the competition, please contact Glenn Kinstler for more information.
Phase I Reviewers:
- Doug Ayers - University of Alabama at Birmingham
Lakami Baker - Auburn University - David Berkowitz - University of Alabama in Huntsville
- Dale Callahan - University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Brian Connelly - Auburn University
- David Ford - The University of Alabama
- Morris "Mickey" Gee - University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Larry McDaniel - Alabama A&M University
- Brent Wren - University of Alabama in Huntsville
Phase II Judges:
- Matthew Barnes - Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz
- Cecil Bostany - Warren, Averett, Kimbrough & Marino
- Dan Bourbon - Retired, EST Testing Solutions and General Motors
- Denise Browning - Browning, Mecke & O'Neal
- Brian Carney - Harbert Venture Partners
- James Childs and Jim Stewart - Bradley, Arant, Boult & Cummings
- Tom Counts - 3-GIS
- Brandon Browning and Greg Curran - Maynard, Cooper & Gale
- Roger Graben - Kowa Pharmaceuticals
- Donna Lamb and Jim Pruitt - BizTech & The Business Coach Group
- Devon Laney - Innovation Depot
- Susan Matlock - Innovation Depot
- Monty O'Neal - Browning, Mecke & O'Neal
- Larry Pirkle - Warren, Averett, Kimbrough & Marino
- Gene Price - Burr & Forman
- Michael Tucker - Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz
- Bryan Wetta - New Capital Partners
General guidelines to be a Phase I or Phase II Judge
- Entrepreneur
- Accountant
- Attorney
- Venture capitalist
- Corporate executive or manager
General guidelines to be a Phase III or Finalist Judge
- Industry thought leader (highly published or sought as speaker)
- Successful entrepreneur (launched one or more successful high-growth companies)
- Scientific or technological expert (served on scientific or technical advisory board to a high-growth company)
- Successful venture capitalist
- Prior experience as a judge of a nationally recognized business plan competition
