Tech419 Judging Panel
We are thrilled to introduce the exceptional judging panel for the highly-anticipated Tech419 Pitch Competition on Thursday, November 13, 2025. These distinguished professionals represent a diverse range of backgrounds, from entrepreneurship and education to technology and economic development. Their collective wisdom and industry insights will be instrumental in identifying the most promising startups in this year's competition.
As our finalists present their carefully honed 5-minute pitches, our judges will evaluate their potential for market success, innovative approach, and ability to articulate their vision. The panel's decision will determine the distribution of $20,000 in project funding and additional support services, providing a crucial boost to the winning entrepreneurs.
Dr. Barbara Ritter
Dean of the Neff College of Business and Innovation , The University of Toledo
Dr. Barbara Ritter is Dean of the Neff College of Business and Innovation at The University of Toledo. She earned her Ph.D. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from the University of Akron. With more than 100 presentations and publications in journals including the Journal of Applied Psychology, Human Relations, and the Journal of Business Ethics, her research has advanced understanding in leadership, management, and organizational behavior. Dr. Ritter serves on the AACSB Board of Directors as Co-Chair of the Eligibility Committee and has held leadership positions with Beta Gamma Sigma, Beta Alpha Psi, and the Academy of Management. She has been recognized with numerous national awards for her contributions to management education, mentorship, and service.
Christine Michaels
President and CEO, ConnecToledo
Christine Michaels began her role as President and CEO of ConnecToledo in late April 2025. Most recently she had served as President and CEO of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, and was lead economic developer for the City of Oak Ridge, TN. She previously served as head of the Greater Fayetteville Chamber in North Carolina. She has 20-plus years’ experience in association management, also having run chambers, tourism, small business and economic development offices in New York, Florida and Virginia. Her passions are estate sales and animal rescue.
Evan Marsh
Managing Partner, Innovation & Commercialization, WynHouse
Evan Marsh is the Managing Partner of WynHouse, a Toledo-based innovation and software firm that delivers market-ready digital products for enterprises and startups. With a background in process innovation and intrapreneurship, he partners with executive teams to shape strategy, validate customer needs, and lead the design-and-build work that scales critical business functions. Evan is an active angel investor across healthcare and enterprise software and a hands-on mentor to founders through regional accelerators and university programs. A proud University of Toledo alum, he’s deeply involved in Northwest Ohio’s tech community and frequently speaks on product strategy, commercialization, and venture building.
Dr. Sridhar Viamajala
Founder, Plastinuva & 2024 Tech419 Grand Prize Winner
Dr. Sridhar Viamajala is the Founder of Plastinuva, an Ohio-based company focused on advancing sustainable technologies for recycling polypropylene waste into high-value, pure materials. A professor at the University of Toledo, Dr. Viamajala leads a nationally funded, internationally recognized R&D program with over $14 million in support from agencies such as the U.S. Department of Energy, NSF, and Ohio Third Frontier. His expertise spans biomass conversion, environmental remediation, and bioprocessing—including pioneering work in algae-based fuels. At Plastinuva, he is guiding the development and scale-up of innovative recycling technologies aimed at reducing environmental impact and promoting a circular economy by diverting polypropylene from landfills and setting new standards in resource efficiency.
Tom Bush
Chief Operations Officer, Actual Reality Technologies
Tom Bush is the CEO and Innovator at Actual Reality Technologies, an Industry 5.0
and AI/ML consulting firm in Toledo, OH, leading transformative AI-driven projects
in manufacturing. Previously, he built advanced avionics at GE Aviation, is a Master
Black Belt in Lean Six Sigma, and was Amazon’s large enterprise cloud migration and
autonomous AI expert. Tom works with leading manufacturers to apply AI in reducing
defects, optimizing operations, and driving product innovation. In addition, he is
the founder of EmpoweredAI, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering underemployed individuals
to grow their careers in tech with the help of augmented intelligence.
These accomplished individuals bring a wealth of experience and expertise to evaluate the innovative ideas presented by our finalists. Join us at the Nitschke Technology Commercialization Complex at The University of Toledo to witness this exciting confluence of ideas, expertise, and opportunity. Don't miss your chance to be part of shaping the future of Northwest Ohio's tech ecosystem!