Rashid Mayes is the founder of Astrient Labs, a software technologist company that specializes in Mobile and Web 2.0 software development. With more than 10 years of development experience, Rashid has contributed to and led many software engineering projects.

Rashid began his career as a software engineer and team lead for Verizon (formerly Bell Atlantic) in 1997. In 1999, Rashid moved to Silicon Valley to join FusionOne as a Senior Software Engineer and lead the development of FusionOne Mobile. Joining Verdisoft in 2002, he remained on the forefront of internet software technology.

Rashid formed Astrient Laboratories ("Astrient Labs") in the spring of 2004. By 2006, Rashid transformed Astrient Labs from a consulting services company to a developer of innovative software products including two flagship applications, CliqCafe.com and HostJ2ME.com.

CliqCafe.com provides a powerful social networking platform to its 3000 members and HostJ2ME.com utilities are used by more than 900 mobile application developers world-wide including many based in developing markets.

A Hampton University Presidential Scholar, Rashid received his Bachelors of Science in 1997. He enjoys traveling, blogging, and photography. His software components have been downloaded hundreds of times and are referenced in several languages.

Karlyn Hunter has an extensive career in public service. For nearly 10 years she has demonstrated her commitment to serving the public. An accomplished federal prosecutor, Karlyn has successfully led numerous investigations which resulted in the convictions of child predators, violent offenders, drug traffickers and perpetrators of economic crimes.

As a result of Karlyn's successful track-record prosecuting child exploitation cases, Karlyn was selected to serve as the first United States Department of Justice Intermittent Legal Advisor to the United States Embassy in Accra, Ghana. From November 2007 through June 2008, while stationed in Accra, Karlyn developed training programs and provided technical assistance and investigatory advice to Ghanaian law enforcement officers, prosecutors, judges, members of the media, NGOs, and social service agencies regarding the issue of human trafficking.

Karlyn is currently an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. Prior to joining the United States Attorney's Office, she was an Honors Program Trial Attorney with the United States Department of Justice's Asset Forfeiture & Money Laundering Section, International Programs Unit where she traveled extensively throughout South America, as well as to Africa, providing technical training on U.S. international asset forfeiture and representing the Department of Justice on international anti-money laundering organizations.

Karlyn receive her Juris Doctorate from Columbia Law School as a Tony Patino Fellow. She graduated summa cum laude from Hampton University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. While at Hampton University, Karlyn was a Presidential Scholar and was the recipient of the coveted President's Award. Karlyn is a member of the Junior League of Miami. She is also licensed to practice law in the District of Columbia, Maryland and is authorized to practice before the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Hemant Sharma has demonstrated a commitment to the public interest in his legal career. Currently, Hemant works as the Assistant General Counsel at the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC), a federally chartered not-for-profit institution. The organization promotes the efficiency of capital markets by endeavoring to restore funds to investors with assets in the hands of bankrupt and otherwise financially troubled brokerage firms. In addition to managing broker liquidations and seeking recovery for harmed customers of failed brokerages, Hemant oversees outside counsel, reviews complex customer claims and disputes, makes presentations to brokers, and assists in various corporate aspects of the institution.

Prior to joining SIPC, Hemant was an Honors Program Trial Attorney with the United States Department of Justice, Tax Division. He acted as lead counsel in complex and diverse civil matters in U.S. District Courts and Bankruptcy Courts and was responsible for all phases of litigation.

Hemant obtained his law degree from Columbia Law School, where we was a Harlan Fiske Stone scholar. He graduated with honors from the University Honors Program at Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. Hemant is a member of the bars of New York and California.

Samuel received a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems from Ashesi University in May 2008 and a Senior Secondary School Certificate from Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School – Legon in Accra, Ghana in 2003.

While at Ashesi University, he co-founded the Ashesi Investment Society and the MoneyMine Investment Club with his classmates in an effort to practice the investment concepts gleaned from their university studies.

Samuel has worked in various capacities in Fidelity Bank Ltd, DreamOval Ltd, Star Avenue School and the Admissions office of Ashesi University. During Samuel’s Fellowship with Astrient, his has been a member of the business management team. In this capacity Samuel has been delving into areas of software project management, organizational development and business management.