CONNECTpreneur Team

Mr. Tien Wong is a tech investor, entrepreneur, and CEO. He is Chairman & CEO of Opus8, Inc., a private investment and advisory firm investing in exceptional life science and tech enabled services companies, as well as specializing in raising capital for promising tech companies and alternative investment fund managers. He is Founder of CONNECTpreneur, a global community of 25,000+ founders, investors, CEOs, and business leaders. CONNECTpreneur organizes the world’s largest monthly virtual investor pitch events as well as in-person Forums with upwards of 500 attendees, featuring VIP guests, speakers, exciting presenting companies, and the best CXO to CXO networking on the East Coast. Since 2012, over 1200 companies have presented, half of whom have received funding from investors from the CONNECTpreneur investor network. Mr. Wong is also a Venture Partner in IronGate Capital Advisors, a VC and Fund of Funds manager investing in dual use technologies; Investment Advisory Board member of Virginia Venture Partners; and Chairman of Lumious, an ed tech company which provides learning & development services to Fortune 500 customers. Mr. Wong was appointed by Governor Martin O'Malley to the 9-person Maryland Venture Fund Authority which oversees $84 million in VC allocations; he serves on the Boards of Directors of the Austin Venture Association, Association for Enterprise Growth (Chair), Frederick Innovative Technology Corp., Inc. (FITCI), and Junior Achievement, as well as on the Council of Advisors for the Washington Institute for Business, Government, & Society and the Entrepreneurship Advisory Council of The Universities at Shady Grove. He is a Mentor at the Mach37 Cybersecurity Accelerator and Conscious Venture Labs. Mr. Wong received the 2001 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award for Greater Washington and the 2003 EY Performance Excellence Award. He was inducted into the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Hall of Fame and the Montgomery County Business Hall of Fame. He has been named by Washingtonian magazine as a “Tech Titan” for the last 7 years (’17 – ‘23), a 2-time Washington Business Journal "Power 100" selection as one of the region's most influential leaders (‘12 and ‘13), a 3-time SmartCEO Magazine selection as a "Smart100" CEO ('09, '10 and '11), a 2013 InTheCapital "Fifty on Fire" awardee, community service honoree as a member of Greater DC Cares 2009 "Class of Change" and The Gazette of Politics and Business selection in 2010 as one of "25 CEOs You Need to Know." He is a frequent guest lecturer on entrepreneurship, leadership, venture capital, and private equity at the University of Maryland and Georgetown University where he is an Entrepreneur in Residence. In 1991, Mr. Wong co-founded and served as Chairman & CEO of CyberRep, Inc. until its acquisition in 2003 by Affiliated Computer Services, a Fortune 500 company. CyberRep was one of the world’s largest privately held CRM outsourcing companies, operating 9 customer interaction centers throughout the USA with over 2,300 employees and $80 million in revenue. Today, the CyberRep/ACS business generates $3 billion in revenue as divisions of Conduent (NYSE: CNDT), Continuum, and Xerox. CyberRep garnered prestigious awards including Customer Inter@ction Solutions magazine's MVP Quality Award, Customer Interface magazine's ACCE (Award for Call Center Excellence), as well as INC. magazine's "Inc. 500" recognition (2017-2000) as the 51st, 53rd, 72nd and 408th fastest growing private company in the USA, respectively. CyberRep was profitable for 11 straight years and was backed by Allied Capital, a $5 billion investment company. A recognized international expert in CRM, direct marketing, and BPO, Mr. Wong has presented at dozens of conferences around the world. He has also provided industry commentary on the ABC, Fox, NBC, CNBC, Maryland Public Television, and China’s CCTV networks, as well as for Time Magazine, The Washington Post, Inc. Magazine, and Success Magazine. In the past, he has served as Treasurer and National Board Member of the Professional Association for Customer Engagement; Chairman of the Executive Leadership Committee for the Network For Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE); Trustee of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and on the Boards of the Maryland Tech Council, Association for Corporate Growth, Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce, Montgomery County (MD) Economic Development Corp., Monte Jade Science and Technology Association, Digital DC Tech Fund, TradeUp Capital Fund, Potomac Officers Club, FounderCorps, and Startup Maryland. He is a graduate of Dartmouth College.

Skylar Rallison is a dynamic professional who wears multiple hats as the Community Manager for CONNECTpreneur and Business Analyst for Opus8. She graduated from The Marriott School of Business at Brigham Young University with a degree in Entrepreneurial Management. She has many years of experience in Business Management, Social Media Marketing/Management, Data Analytics, Business Leadership, and Project Management. With a diverse skill set and a passion for facilitating connections and driving business growth, Skylar thrives in the intersection of Community Management and Strategic Analysis. Skylar enjoys her current role at CONNECTpreneur, which hosts the world’s largest monthly investor pitch events as well as 1/2-day Forums with upwards of 900 RSVPs, featuring VIP guests, speakers, exciting presenting companies, and the best CXO to CXO networking on the East Coast. Skylar is pivotal in fostering engagement and building relationships within the investor and entrepreneur community. She creates inclusive digital spaces where members can share insights, collaborate on opportunities, and build a supportive network. Her role includes but is not limited to, team management, event coordination, project management, and marketing. She also enjoys her current role as a business analyst at Opus8. Opus8 assists companies and fund managers (private equity, VC, and hedge funds) raise private capital from family offices, UHNW individuals, and institutions. Skylar leverages her analytical mindset and attention to detail to provide valuable insights for Opus8. Through her meticulous analysis of investment opportunities and industry research, Skylar helps drive informed decision-making, enabling Opus8 to curate high-quality events that bring together investors and promising ventures.

Avery North is a multi-talented individual who recently graduated from Michigan State University with a major in Hospitality Business and a coding certificate. With a passion for community engagement and entrepreneurship, Avery has found her niche as the Assistant Community Manager for CONNECTpreneur, a prominent networking organization for startup founders and investors. In her role, Avery is responsible for helping coordinate and execute events, marketing initiatives, and fostering relationships with members and partners. She is known for her perseverance and her ability to connect with people from all walks of life. Throughout her college career, Avery was actively involved in various internships, including working for Hyatt, Hilton, and Cedar Fair Amusement. She also pursued her interest in technology by completing a coding certificate program through Michigan State University. In her free time, Avery enjoys staying active through fitness activities such as weightlifting and yoga. She is also a fan of horror movies and enjoys watching them in her downtime. Avery is excited to continue growing her career in the entrepreneurial community and making a positive impact on those around her.

Emily Fenush is an ambitious and driven University of Delaware graduate with a passion for small business. During her time at UD, she earned a double major in Marketing and Management and worked as a Social Media Intern for both CONNECTpreneur and a local cafe in Dover, Delaware. After graduation, she joined the CONNECTpreneur and Opus8 team full-time and is excited to fill the roles of Marketing Coordinator, and Business Development Assistant respectively. At CONNECTpreneur, Emily is responsible for carrying out marketing initiatives through social media and email campaigns, driving traffic to CONNECTpreneur events. She provides support to the Community via event promotions and shoutouts. Emily has also designed and published websites for various businesses, the most recent being Opus8. In her free time, Emily enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, and spending time in her local coffee shop.