University of Maryland Business School Appoints Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship Director of Investments

College Park, Md. – June 1, 2009 — The Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business today announced Craig Dye has joined the center as director of investments. In his new position, Dye will be leading the continued growth of the Dingman Center’s Capital Access Network, a successful angel investment group focused on funding early-stage deals up to $1.5 million. He will lead the network’s growth and support the Dingman Center’s continued efforts to fuel economic development and job creation throughout state and region.

“Craig will help us continue the center’s role in supporting economic development and innovation throughout Maryland,” said Asher Epstein, managing director of the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship. “His investment and entrepreneurial experience brings a valued set of skills to lead the Capital Access Network’s growth.”

The Capital Access Network – in partnership with regional tech councils, incubators and state-funded institutions – is one of the Mid-Atlantic’s largest angel investment networks linking entrepreneurs with potential investors. Dye’s management role also will support efforts to expand the Dingman Center’s regional presence and outreach across the university’s campus.

Dye brings more than 20 years of investing experience, information technology expertise and operational management to the Dingman Center. Previously, Dye served as an advisor to the Affinity Lab, an incubator for corporate and social entrepreneurs that has helped launch and sustain numerous successful companies and nonprofits in the mid-Atlantic region.

Prior to joining Affinity Lab, Craig was the chief operating officer of Articulated Impact, a software development and Web strategy company that provides solutions to the challenges of top-tier companies, hedge funds and nonprofits. Before that, Dye was the founder and CEO of Wheelhouse Networks, delivering enterprise-class computing and telecommunication platforms as a managed service to corporations and professional services firms.

He began his career with Informatics General (since acquired by CA Inc.), one of the first technology services companies in the nation, and subsequently served as the chief information officer for Hogan & Hartson, supporting its growth into a $1 billion legal services leader and more than doubling in size during his tenure.

Dye serves on the board of directors of a number of companies and advises startups and nonprofits in the metropolitan area. He received his bachelor of arts in political science from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

About the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship
The Dingman Center has been a hub of campus and regional entrepreneurial activity for more than 20 years. Among the Dingman Center's resources are its Capital Access Network (CAN), a pipeline that connects startups from regional tech councils, incubators and state-funded institutions with a network of more than 32 active, accredited angel investors and venture
capitalists for early-stage capital. The Center also helps lead the University of Maryland's Technology transfer programs and provides MBA and undergraduate students at the Smith School with practical experiences and opportunities to pitch their business ideas, obtain feedback from experienced entrepreneurs-in-residence and access funding. 

About the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business
The Robert H. Smith School of Business is an internationally recognized leader in management education and research. One of 13 colleges and schools at the University of Maryland, College Park, the Smith School offers undergraduate, full-time and part-time MBA, executive MBA, MS in business, PhD and executive education programs, as well as outreach services to the corporate community. The school offers its degree, custom and certification programs in learning locations on three continents — North America, Europe and Asia.