Key Smiths

There is no Mr. or Ms. Smith

John Patrick Starling, Managing Partner

John Patrick Starling is a graduate of the University of Baltimore, where he studied professional writing and publications on the G.I. Bill. Prior to co-founding Smith, he served as vice president of marketing and Internet business for a major player in the asset-backed securities market. John has published in several genres, winning awards for his writing, and has taught concept development, business marketing and creative writing. He is a lifelong martial artist who holds a Black Belt in Muay Thai (Thai boxing). His relationship to the martial arts has created a certain ethic, a value system and determination that he applies to his business practices.

John has served on the Board of Directors for the Hoffberger Center for Professional Ethics and the Board of Governors for the University of Baltimore Alumni Association and he is on the selection committee of the Baltimore Incentive Awards Program. John also serves as an advisor to the nationally renowned University of Baltimore School of Communications and Design and The Partnership for Learning. He currently teaches “Concept, Content and Design” as an adjunct faculty member at MICA (Maryland Institute College of Art).

John is an idea machine. He works with clients to help them identify and articulate their strategy and implement the changes they need, so that they can bring their growth goals to fruition.

John’s public speaking engagements have included audiences both locally and nationally, including the AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Artists), PRSA (Public Relations Society of America), AMA (American Marketing Association), The Governor’s Conference on Tourism and many more.

To secure John as a speaker, please take a moment to learn how to engage us.

David Barr, Partner

David Gordon Barr earned a BA in English and Political Science form the University of Michigan, and an MA in Creative Writing from Eastern Michigan University. After several years teaching academic, business, and creative writing at a variety of colleges and universities, David held corporate positions including product manager, developmental editor, and director and VP of business development. Complementing his 17 years of experience as a marketer, David is a certified facilitator of structured innovation methodologies, including TRIZ and Facilitated Innovation™. He has applied these processes with remarkable results in major healthcare and manufacturing environments. Prior to joining Smith, he spent several years as president of a marketing and business development consultancy, helping small and middle-market clients grow through communication and innovation.

Brian Wojcik, Partner

Brian Keith Wojcik is a graduate of Clarkson University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Manufacturing Management, with a minor in Technical Communications. Prior to joining Smith Growth Partners, he earned his stripes in various roles in the industrial and heavy manufacturing fields. Brian most recently served as Vice President of North American Service Operations for the #1 solid-liquid separation company in the world. He was selected for that role to turn around years of declining sales, and to decrease customer and employee dissatisfaction. In three years, sales grew 300%, and costs were reduced to record levels. The paradigm Brian created was so successful it was adopted globally. Brian has held roles in construction management, department management, and project engineering for James Hardie Building Products and General Electric. Brian is a lifelong outdoorsman who enjoys backpacking, whitewater kayaking, rock climbing, cycling, running, and in the winter months, bow-hunting. Brian is driven by results and inevitably identifies ways to develop and improve even the most well-oiled machine: you can expect nothing less when he’s working on your project.

Emmanuel (Manny) Skevofilax, Virtual Chief Financial Officer

A Baltimore, Maryland native, Manny holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and a Master’s Degree in Finance from The University of Baltimore.  His background consists of over 12 years of diverse financial services experience and includes formal bank credit training and service as a Vice President with a Top 20 U.S. financial institution. He has corporate lending experience in the southwest and western U.S. markets, with specialties in commercial business finance, real estate finance, and large corporate syndicated lending.

Manny lends his considerable financial management expertise to the Principals of Smith Growth Partners in his capacity as virtual CFO, and he is the Principal of PORTAL Finance Group.

Dawn Evans, Controller

Since 2001, Dawn Evans has served as controller for Smith Growth Partners, bringing loyalty, honesty and integrity to her professional role. Dawn graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, with a degree in Information Systems Management. With her personal philosophy, “Do it right the first time,” Dawn offers a high level of accountability and accuracy that is critical to Smith Growth Partners.