David Brown, John Dearie, Scott Aaronson, Martina Simmonds
David Brown At 17, Brown enlisted in the U.S. Navy, completing rigorous training at the Naval Training Center in Illinois and Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) Class 115 in California. Following Army Airborne training at Fort Benning, he served with UDT-21 and SEAL Team 4, engaging in global operations. Transitioning from military service in 1987, Brown became a civilian special agent with NCIS, working across various locations, including South Carolina, Hawaii, and Washington, D.C. His federal law enforcement career expanded with the EPA Criminal Investigation Division in Missouri, where he rose to Assistant Special Agent in Charge. He later led operations as Special Agent in Charge at the Department of Interior in California, managing critical regions before retiring as the Associate Inspector General for Communication. John Dearie John Dearie is the founder and President of the Center for American Entrepreneurship, an organization dedicated to promoting entrepreneurship as a vital driver of economic growth and job creation. Previously, he served as Acting CEO and Executive Vice President for Policy at the Financial Services Forum, representing the CEOs of the largest financial institutions operating in the United States. During his 17-year tenure, Dearie shaped the Forum’s policy agenda, addressing critical issues such as financial supervision reform, capital market competitiveness, tax reform, and economic growth. Before joining the Forum, he spent nine years at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, where he contributed to Banking Studies, Foreign Exchange, and Policy & Analysis, and was appointed an Officer of the Bank in 1996. Scott Aaronson Scott Aaronson received his JD/MBA from University of Toledo in 2010. In addition to his law firm, he also owns Demeter Land Development, a company dedicated to assisting renewable energy developers with land acquisition and early stage development for DG solar facilities. In this role, he has worked with many of the major renewable energy developers in the United States. He has been a practicing attorney for 13 years licensed in Michigan and Illinois. Scott owns a real estate portfolio throughout the metro Detroit area including The Hamtramck Hostel, a youth hostel in Hamtramck MI. Martina Simmonds Martina Simmonds joined 21st Century Interactive Sports and Entertainment, a leading tech company, to champion the success of Underestimated Tech Founders by leveraging capital and connectivity. Her mission is to drive growth for these founders using well-crafted methodologies, data-driven strategies, business fundamentals, and by providing access to capital, cutting-edge technology, and a global network of influential investors, advisors, and partners. A passionate advocate for economic empowerment, Martina is deeply committed to supporting entrepreneurship and advancing opportunities for BIPOC, Latinx communities, women in STEM, and the broader technology sector.
