Industry Advisory Board

Lex is a technology entrepreneur recognized for his contributions to cybersecurity, advanced software solutions, and game innovation. He leads Vigilus, delivering custom solutions that fortify businesses against digital threats and elevate their operational efficiency, and Griffin Games, which unites communities through immersive party experiences. A proud graduate of LSU's Computer Science program, he combines technical expertise with entrepreneurial spirit to drive transformative digital ventures.

Chris M. Meaux is a seasoned entrepreneur, executive, and investor with a proven track record of founding and scaling high-growth companies. As the Chairman of the Board at MallardBay Outdoors, Inc., Chris brings a wealth of expertise earned from over two decades in technology and hospitality ventures. Most notably, Chris founded Waitr Holdings, Inc. and led it from inception to a valuation exceeding $1 billion, showcasing his skill in identifying market opportunities, steering viral growth, and driving consumer-focused innovation.

Before launching Waitr, Chris honed his entrepreneurial instincts through multiple ventures in the technology and restaurant industries, including both full-service and fast-casual restaurants. His deep understanding of consumer behavior, paired with his ability to “blitzscale” businesses, underlines his consistent success in leading companies from early-stage startups to market leadership. Earlier in his career, Chris served in various management positions with McAfee Software, Optical Coating Labs, and Hyundai Electronics America, gaining the operational and leadership experience that would later fuel his entrepreneurial achievements.

An active angel investor, Chris remains deeply engaged in the entrepreneurial ecosystem along the Gulf Coast, advising and investing in the next generation of disruptive companies. His contributions to business have earned him numerous accolades, including Ernst & Young’s Gulf Coast Entrepreneur of the Year, ACG Dealmaker of the Year in, and a place on the Silicon Bayou 100. Chris’s repeated success and recognition underscores his reputation as a visionary leader transforming ideas into thriving, large-scale enterprises.

Alaina Metz Smith has over three decades of distinguished experience in information technology, leadership, and organizational transformation. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a Master of Business Administration from Louisiana State University (LSU). While at LSU, she served as a graduate assistant in the College of Business and a tutor for the Academic Center for Athletes, fostering her early commitment to mentorship and excellence.

Alaina’s career spans over 35 years of leadership in information technology. She spent 18 years at Chevron, spearheaded numerous high-impact initiatives and led a global team of over 250 employees responsible for IT project delivery. Alaina was also responsible for delivering large-scale global systems implementations in petrotechnical and corporate functions. She served in various competency development and mentoring roles leaving a legacy of professional growth for IT teams upon her retirement in July 2024.

Prior to Chevron, Alaina spent eight years as a consultant with Computer Science Corporation honing her expertise in delivering complex IT solutions. She also spent a decade gaining critical experience in IT infrastructure, system support and delivery at Enron Corp.

In addition to her professional achievements, Alaina serves as a member of the LSU Foundation National Board and the Division of Computer Science & Engineering Board, where she leverages her extensive expertise to support the advancement of education and the use of technology to solve business problems.

Alaina is married to Gregory Smith, and they share a passion for philanthropy and community service. They have been long-time contributors to their alma maters, the Tiger Athletic Foundation, LSU Foundation, and the University of Maine, endowing multiple academic scholarships.

Craig A. Stevens was raised in Opelousas Louisiana and upon graduating from Opelousas High School and immediately left for Air Force Basic Training.  His first duty assignment in the Air Force was as a Fireman at Barksdale Air Force Base.  Craig continued to advance in his military career functioning as a Fireman, Executive Officer, Cyber Operations Officer, Command & Control Officer, and Flight Commander. He's had assignments across the US, Asia, and Europe. After 25 years of service, he retired as a Captain in the 93rd Bomb Squadron.

Craig also worked in Corporate America as Director of Operations for Circle K Convenience Stores whereas he was responsible for the Operations of 105 convenience stores in Louisiana and Mississippi.

Craig is currently President of Genesis 360 Maintenance, Construction, and IT. He started the business in 2011 by doing parking lot striping and has grown to a full blown one-stop shop for any type of construction, building maintenance, and ground maintenance and now IT services across the U.S for Commercial Clients as well as Federal Clients to include Army Corp of Engineers, NASA Space Center (Houston), Federal Aviation Administration, and the Naval Academy to name a few.

Craig’s company won 2022 Baton Rouge Business Report Small Company of the Year, 2022 SBA  8(a) firm of the year, 2022 SBA Business Person of the Year for Louisiana, INC. 5000 fastest growing companies in America.  In 2023 Craig has been selected as SBA Veteran Champion of the Year and again one of INC 5000 fastest growing companies in America.  Genesis 360 is also Baton Rouge’s Top 100 Private Companies for 2022 and 2023.

Craig is a very proud supporter of the local community as he served on the boards for Baton Rouge Food Bank, Boys & Girls Club, BREC, Home Builders Association, Better Business Bureau, Ascension Chamber, LABI, and Innovation Catalyst, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Foundation, and LSU Computer Science & Engineering Board.  He is also a graduate of Leadership Ascension, SBA’s Emerging Leaders Program, and BRACs Drive Minority Business Accelerator .  Craig is a Rotarian, C100 Member, and a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.

He is married to the lovely Felicia Stevens who is a 4th grade teacher at Bullion Elementary in Ascension Parish, and they have two older kids as well as 6-year-old boy/girl twins.

Mo Vij is a serial Entrepreneur, a business leader, an inventor, and a Real estate developer.

Mr. Vij was the Baton Rouge Business report’s ‘Your Business Person of the Year’ and a ‘Top 40 under 40’ honoree and Earnest and Young’s Entrepreneur of the year Finalist.

Mr. Vij studied Engineering in India and at LSU. He holds two Masters degrees: in Computer Science, and another in Industrial Engineering from LSU. Along with publishing papers in various Journals, he has been awarded four patents in public safety technology. He, along with his team built the first petabyte scale private Cloud in Louisiana in 2010 that ran the IT infrastructure of over 600 organizations.

After LSU, Mr. Vij, founded and grew the local Technology Company, General Informatics and served as its President & CEO for over 20 years. General Informatics, won BRBR’s “Company of the Year” for 2017. Microsoft awarded General Informatics solutions as ‘Best in Nation’ from a pool of 6000 IT companies. General Informatics has been featured four times in INC magazines’ list of fastest growing companies in America and has been on ‘LSU Top 100’ list of fastest growing companies five times. Today he sits on the board of the company that has clients & offices in seven states and continues to grow as one of the fastest growing IT companies in the south.

In 2020, Mr Vij founded 365Labs and as the CEO is today building technology to power public safety for the next 20 years. In 2022, his company, 365Labs was ranked by Inc Magazine as the twenty fastest growing software companies in America and in 2024 was the Baton Rouge ‘s “Company of the Year”. Today 365Labs products are being used by public safety agencies across US and in eighteen states.

As a champion of Louisiana who is vested in developing the tech eco-system in our state, Mr. Vij is now developing Phase 2 of the $90 Million Tech/Lifestyle Campus at the corner of Bluebonnet and Highland Rd in Baton Rouge. The @Highland campus is set to soon get Residences@Highland akin to technology campuses in Silicon Valley.

When he is not working on developing a new technology, he loves to travel the world with his wife Anjali (who is herself a distinguished engineer with a 17 year career at Texas Instruments and holds six patents) and their two daughters.