Dana Goldsmith spent more than 20 years in business, focusing the majority of her career on hi-tech. She spent 11 years in Silicon Valley as part of 6 venture-backed startups. Those companies ranged in focus from enterprise ecommerce platform providers to SaaS personalization and digital marketing providers. She was Director of Business Development for the original Amazon Web Services team in Seattle. Dana’s range of expertise includes business development, enterprise sales, business strategy, strategic partnerships, online marketing, and executive management.
Prior to her hi-tech career, Dana managed the Los Angeles and Chicago sales offices for Quad/Graphics, a multibillion dollar commercial printing company.
More recently, Dana has been focusing on entrepreneurial ventures and angel investing, non-profit work, and teaching. She has been Chairman of the Board of Community Investment Collaborative (CIC). CIC provides micro-lending, education, networking and mentoring for under-resourced entrepreneurs in central Virginia. Dana is an Entrepreneur in Residence at the University of Virginia’s iLab. She enjoys mentoring and teaching young entrepreneurs about hi-tech startups and lecturing at The Darden School of Business on the subjects of digital marketing and ecommerce. Dana serves as an Advisory Board member for the Ron Brown Scholar Fund, and she mentors Scholars in the fields of technology and business. Dana is an angel investor in the medical technology and device space.
Dana earned her BA from the University of Minnesota/Twin Cities where she was a Division I scholarship tennis player and Big Ten Athlete Scholar. Dana resides in central Virginia with her husband and twin boys.
It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of Cal LaRoche, a brilliant and dedicated advisor and champion of the Ron Brown Scholar Program, who left us on Wednesday, April 9th, 2025.
Born in New York in January 1946, Cal graduated from Central State University in Ohio, where he joined the Eta Gamma Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. His career spanned decades of leadership and innovation, beginning at the National Security Agency and continuing through key roles at IBM, SkyTel Communications, and The Orkand Corporation.
A visionary entrepreneur, Cal later co-founded DC Ventures and Associates.
His commitment to service was unwavering. Cal chaired the Boards of Trustees at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda and Norwood School and served with distinction for 15 years on the Advisory Board of the Ron Brown Scholar Program. His leadership extended to the Beta Mu, Boulé Foundation Board, where he served as Chair, and to Patients For Affordable Drugs, where he was a founding board member and Treasurer.
An avid golfer and advocate for equity in the sport, Cal co-founded the Pro-Duffer/Carter Foundation Scholarship to promote diversity in golf. A long-time member of TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm, he was as passionate about creating opportunity as he was about the game itself.
Cal’s legacy is carried on by his beloved family: his mother, Lucille “Gloria” David; his wife, Esperanza, and their sons, CJ and Ethan; his former wife, Cheryl LaRoche; their daughters, Gina LaRoche, Renee LaRoche-Morris, and Danielle LaRoche; six grandchildren; and his siblings. His wisdom, warmth, and unwavering belief in the potential of young people will remain an enduring part of the Ron Brown Scholar community.
We are forever grateful for Cal’s enduring support, leadership, and love. He leaves behind a legacy of excellence, generosity, and deep humanity. He will be deeply missed.
