This episode of From the Ground Up with Marc Weller brings you an inside look at the life and career of Baltimore restauranteur, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Alex Smith. Owner of some of Baltimore’s trendiest and most well-known fine-dining restaurants, Smith has an impressive repertoire of lifetime achievements, lessons, and insights to pass on to those interested in the business of hospitality. Among the restaurants his company owns are Loch Bar, Bygone, Maximón, The Choptank, and Ouzo Bay. Smith discusses his experiences creating and maintaining a successful business in Baltimore, why to build a strong team, and how every aspect of a restaurant’s design is so crucial to its success. Smith takes us through his Rising Tide Moment: his quarterly city-wide clean-up with hundreds of Atlas Group members and employees to impact the city positively, and the programs he creates for hospitality students to experience working a summer at an Atlas Group restaurant.
Dan Mullen is a Detroit-based commercial real estate mogul whose innovative mind and creative expertise influenced Marc Weller and other real estate developers during a “meeting of the minds” that helped inspire Weller Development to bring Baltimore’s new Port Covington to fruition. Now the founder and CEO of Future & Main, a venture development group, Dan is adapting his company to the COVID-era workplace, expanding to new markets, and continuing his efforts to combine art, culture, and technology into public experiences. In this episode, Dan takes us through his extraordinary career journey, self growth, the impact he’s made in Detroit, and what drives his passion for creative development. His mission is to create experiences in cities that connect people to new opportunities, and describes his #RisingTide moment as always taking the initiative to help others and change lives through his work by creating access to jobs and seeing his employees thrive. ...
In this episode of From the Ground Up with Marc Weller, we’re back with hosts Marc Weller and Matt Rienzo kicking it off with entrepreneur, environmentalist, and philanthropist, Scott Plank. Plank takes us through the evolution of his influential career, from his beginnings at Freddie Mac, where he started out digging ditches and swinging hammers, to managing a $1.3 billion portfolio as an asset manager in five years. After graduating from business school in the late 90s, he transitioned to Under Armour, founded by brother Kevin Plank, and helped grow the company into the robust global retailer it is today. Now, he start-ups and invests in various companies that focus on strengthening communities. Plank discusses one of his current companies, MissionGo, and the unmanned aircraft technology it manufactures to improve supply chain issues, avoid environmental threats, increase safety and sustainability, and more. From developing commercial real estate and public service programs with War Horse Cities to his focus on some of Baltimore's most significant community enhancement projects, Plank’s remarkable work leaves an imprint on the world that will be utilized for generations. Tune in for some of his favorite projects in Baltimore and the insights he’s gained. ...
Adrian Fenty is currently a founding managing partner at MaC Venture Capital, a former advisor at Andreessen Horowitz, and served as the Mayor of Washington, D.C. from 2007-2011. During his tenure as Mayor, he took on special interests and teachers' unions, fought for accountability in government and greater opportunities for children while also overseeing a dramatic reduction in violent crime. His courage reshaped the direction of the city and is much needed in our nation today. Fenty provides his innovative approach regarding education and school systems as well as his thoughts on public housing and city revitalization. In this episode, you will truly feel Fenty's passion for politics and reform, and his #RisingTide moment is a national inspiration. ...
