2021 MEDA Rural Economic Development Session – Mid and Lower Shore

As Deputy Secretary at Maryland Department of Commerce, Signe Pringle works closely with the Secretary and leads a team of economic development professionals focusing on carrying out Department’s mission of attracting companies to the State, working with in-state companies to help them expand and add jobs, and connecting companies with resources and partners both locally and abroad. Ms. Pringle oversees the functions of the Division of Business and Industry Sector Development as well as the Division of Administration and Technology.

Ms. Pringle brings with her more than 20 years of knowledge and experience of business development and management, and her most recent role with the Department was as the Assistant Secretary overseeing the offices of business development, finance programs, international investment and trade, and military and federal affairs.

Ms. Pringle previously served as Managing Director of the Office of International Investment and Trade responsible for the State’s global operations, including foreign direct investment attraction and export promotion. Prior to that, Ms. Pringle served as a Regional Manager for Europe, assisting Maryland companies with developing export markets for their products and services, and attracting investment from Europe. Prior to joining state government, Ms. Pringle worked as a global supply chain manager at an international marketing and distribution company in Estonia.

Ms. Pringle holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from University of Baltimore, and a Bachelor’s Degree in International Business, Banking and Accounting, from Estonian Business School and a certificate from the Copenhagen Business School in Denmark. She currently serves as president of State International Development Organizations (SIDO), the leading U.S. organization dedicated to supporting state international trade agencies, and serves on the U.S Department of Commerce’s Investment Advisory Council and the Center for Global Business at Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland.

Debbie Bowden is Director of Economic Development for Caroline County. Prior to taking on the leadership role for business and workforce development in the County, she represented the Maryland Department of Commerce in the Mid Shore region. Her time with Commerce was the culmination of 12 years of State service. Debbie joined the public sector after 20 years in the private sector owning and operating small businesses. Debbie is a Delmarva native. As such, she is a staunch advocate for the Eastern Shore and strives to do her part for prosperity and economic viability for the place she calls home.

John N. Hickman – Director of BEACON (Business Economic and Community Outreach
Network) at the Perdue School of Business, Salisbury University. He leads a team of
professionals and students providing private, public, and nonprofit sector decision makers
with the business & economic development data, information, and impact reviews they
need to make better decisions.
Prior to BEACON, Mr. Hickman served as the Regional Director of the SBDC at
Salisbury University. He was the Maryland SBDC State Star in 2003. He has worked
with other government agencies and private businesses to develop and expand businesses
on the Eastern Shore.
In addition to his work as BEACON Director, John is an adjunct professor at the Perdue
School where he teaches Small Business Consulting and Applied Business Learning. He
is a board member or past board member of many local nonprofits and economic and
community development entities and serves as an advisor to several community loan
funds.
Before joining the SBDC, Mr. Hickman held a number of positions in banking, marketing
of both recreation services and agricultural products, and management that have allowed
him to put to practical use the knowledge he acquired while earning his degrees. These
skills have allowed him to provide a range of solutions and evaluations for businesses,
nonprofits and governmental entities.
John N. Hickman holds a Bachelors of Science in Agricultural Economics from North
Carolina State University and a Masters of Business Administration from the College of
William and Mary.

David Ryan is a veteran economic development professional and the Executive Director of the
Salisbury-Wicomico Economic Development Corporation, a public – private partnership charged
with strengthening the economy of Salisbury, Wicomico County and region.
Ryan shares a passion for promoting his hometown of Salisbury as he implements meaningful
programs and initiatives to succeed in the economy of today and tomorrow. During his tenure,
he has helped create a cluster of telecommunications manufacturers and a growing life science
sector, assisted in the formation and operation of a regional revolving loan fund, established the
county’s first small business incubator, planned with the private sector a new industrial park and
formed the county’s first business expansion fund for startup, existing and new businesses. He's
brokered more than $35 million in direct lending accounting for more than 6,000 jobs and more than
$150 million in capital investment.
Ryan consistently serves on statewide task forces and committees, is a Past President of the
Maryland Economic Development Association and is active on local advisory boards associated
with Salisbury University, Wor-Wic Community College, and the University of Maryland Eastern
Shore. In addition, he is a member of the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce Board of
Directors, the Greater Salisbury Committee, the Delmarva Water Transport Committee and the
Wicomico County Airport Commission.
From a community perspective, Ryan is active in Asbury United Methodist Church, serving as a past
Treasurer and as an Executive Committee member to the Asbury Child Development Center, a pre-
school ministry of the Church. He is a past board member of the United Way of the Lower Eastern
Shore, the Salisbury YMCA and a Past President of Lower Shore Enterprises, a non-profit corporation
connecting people with disabilities to job opportunities.
Ryan received his Bachelors of Science Degree in Marketing and Economics from Old Dominion
University and his MBA from Salisbury University. He is a former tennis professional, the longest
actively serving Economic Development Director for a major jurisdiction in the State of Maryland
and is a member of the Maryland Economic Development Association Hall of Fame.

Stephen manages TEDCO’s funding programs and is also responsible for stewarding other TEDCO programs that foster the transfer of technologies from universities and federal laboratories into the commercial sector.

From 2008-2010, Stephen served as the assistant vice president for research at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) where he assisted UMBC’s vice president for research in building and supporting the university’s research enterprise. He was also responsible for supporting UMBC’s economic development mission as it relates to research, technology transfer, and new venture creation.

Stephen was one of the architects of UMBC’s ACTiVATE® and INNoVATE™ programs and served as a co-principal investigator on the National Science Foundation grants that supported these programs. He also served as the director of UMBC’s Office of Technology Development (OTD) for eight years. During his tenure, he oversaw significant growth in OTD’s active license agreements, intellectual property portfolio, and licensing revenues. He actively promoted UMBC’s research capabilities and helped to build ties with Maryland companies.

Previous to UMBC, Stephen worked as an assistant director in the Office of Technology Licensing at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine where he evaluated inventions and negotiated license agreements for a variety of technologies. He successfully negotiated dozens of license agreements including many agreements involving equity and faculty initiated start-up companies. Prior to working at Johns Hopkins, he worked for two small medical device companies where he had a variety of responsibilities ranging from rebuilding medical devices under GMP to setting up and networking computerized accounting systems. He began his career as a laboratory technician studying ion channels in membranes.

Stephen graduated with a BS in Biology and Engineering Science from Loyola College in Maryland, and earned an MBA from the University of Baltimore and an MS in Biotechnology from the Johns Hopkins University.

Imani is an African American oyster farmer building a career in the rapidly growing aquaculture
industry. She was born and raised on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and her love for
conservation and restoration on the Chesapeake Bay started at a young age. Imani comes from a
long family history of watermen from Rock Hall, Crisfield and Cambridge, MD that dates back
over 200 years.
Imani attended Old Dominion University and graduated with a Marine Biology degree and was a
Division 1 student athlete in lacrosse.
During college, Imani interned for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s VA Oyster Restoration
Team which started her journey into oyster restoration and shellfish aquaculture. Following
graduation, Imani was selected to participate in the VIMS’Aquaculture Genetics & Breeding
Technology Center’s (ABC), Oyster Aquaculture Training (OAT) program which targets those
pursuing careers in all aspects of oyster aquaculture, from hatchery operations to grow-out and
processing.
Imani continued to work for oyster companies in VA and MD. For the last 2 years, Imani has
served at the first privately-owned hatchery in Maryland as a lead Hatchery Technician and
Assistant Manager. Imani’s passion for the aquaculture industry lead her to launch “Minorities In
Aquaculture” (MIA). Through MIA, Imani seeks to promote the benefits and sustainability of
aquaculture, both in the Chesapeake Bay and worldwide. By sharing her experiences, she works
to educate and encourage minorities to pursue a career in all aspects of aquaculture.
Currently, Imani continues to grow her nonprofit to a global platform while working on her
Master’s degree at the University of Maryland’s Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) at
Horn Point Laboratory.

Ramsey L. Harris is Vice President and Greater Maryland Market Manager for Community
Development Banking at PNC. Harris provides strategic leadership and financial solutions for
social challenges that focus on affordable housing, economic development, community
development lending and investing, financial education and revitalization/stabilization of
neighborhoods or communities in distress.
As a native Baltimorean, Harris is very active in the Eastside and Westside communities of
Baltimore and is passionately committed to empowering and advocating for the Small Business
Community. He is also dedicated to promoting neighborhood revitalization, economic
development, and financial literacy in Baltimore City. He has cultivated effective partnerships
with organizations, corporations, and institutions such as: The Reginald F. Lewis Museum of
Maryland African-American History & Culture; The National and Greater Baltimore Urban
League; The National and Baltimore Branch of the NAACP; The Baltimore Times, Inc.; The
AFRO American Newspapers; Baltimore City Mayor’s Office of Minority/Women Owned
Business Development, Small Business Resource Center; Baltimore Development Corporation
(Main Streets); The President’s Roundtable, Inc.; Maryland Washington Minority Companies
Association, LLC; The Village Learning Place, Inc.; W.E.B. of Baltimore; Baltimore Child
Abuse Center; At Jacob’s Well, Inc.; Central Scholarship Bureau; Child First Authority, Inc.;
Maryland Family Network; Financial Empowerment Movement, Inc; WETATi, Inc; Morgan
State University’s Earl Graves School of Business and WEAA Radio; Coppin State University’s
School of Business; Philanthropik; and the Community Collaboration Division of the Baltimore
Police Department, to name a few.
Harris currently serves on the following boards: Morgan State University/Earl G. Graves School
of Business and Management’s Entrepreneurial Development and Assistance Center (EDAC)
Advisory Board; The Family League of Baltimore; Year Up Baltimore; Light, Health, and
Wellness Comprehensive Services, Inc.; the Achievement Academy’s Community Advisory
Board. He previously served on the boards of: Pimlico Community Development Authority
(PCDA) commissioned by the Mayor of Baltimore City; New Pathways, Inc./Pressley Ridge;
Urban Financial Services Coalition; Sankofa Children’s Museum of African Cultures, Inc.’s
Community Advisory Board. He has also served as a mentor/facilitator for the “Stocks in the
Future” Program in conjunction with Johns Hopkins University’s School of Education. He is a
proud member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Harris has received multiple awards and
accolades for his contributions to the community.
Previous to his role as a Community Development Market Manager, Harris served as East
Territory LMI/CRA Business Advisor in the Retail Lending Distribution Management division
at PNC. Harris was responsible for overseeing and executing strategic plans that enable the bank

to achieve specific Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) focused goals and measures of lending
to businesses located within designated, inner-city/Low-to-Moderate Income (LMI) geographies
throughout the following East Coast markets: New York/Northern New Jersey, Central New
Jersey, Pennsylvania/Delaware/South Jersey, Greater Maryland, Greater Washington/(D.C.),
North and South Carolina, Georgia/Alabama, and Florida.
Prior to his role as East Territory LMI/CRA Business Advisor, Harris served as LMI/CRA
Market Leader in Greater Maryland’s Business Banking division at PNC as well Business
Banker covering branches located in both East and West Baltimore. As Business Banker, he was
responsible for a wide range of non-profit and for-profit companies including some of
Baltimore’s top medical, legal, accounting, architectural, and retail professionals. He advised
business clients with annual revenues up to $10 million, prospected and created new PNC
customer relationships, and retained and grew existing relationships through implementation of
PNC’s brand of integrated Cash Flow Optimized solutions. Previous to his roles in Business
Banking, Harris was the Branch Manager at PNC’s Uptown Banking Center in the historic Mt.
Vernon neighborhood of Baltimore City. He was responsible for leading a diverse team of
branch personnel, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the branch as well as providing
complete financial services, including: a wide range of deposit accounts, loans, mortgages,
investment services, insurance, and small business solutions.
Harris has over 15 years of sales management and consultation, small business lending and
business banking, community/economic development, and financial services experience. Prior
to joining PNC, he started his banking career as a Sales Consultant at Bank of America. Harris
holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English with a concentration in Business & Technical
Writing and a minor in Religious Studies from the University of Delaware.

Susan Banks is the Director of Dorchester County Economic Development’s Office. She oversees the county’s Economic Development office and the day to day operations of the Eastern Shore Innovation Center Business Incubator.

Prior to this role she served as the Business Development Manager for Dorchester County for 5 years. She focused on attraction and retention strategies. Combining her experience in customer service, technology and procurement for both a global manufacturer and international relief agency, she works with community stakeholders and economic development officials to maximize resources and results for the county.

Currently, she sits on the Board of Directors for The Business Finance Group, the Dorchester County Public Schools Educational Equity Task Force, and several community-based groups including her local church board. Susan has an B.A. in Political Science from Salisbury University and a master’s degree in Environmental Policy and Management with a concentration in Environmental Planning from American Public University.

Dr. Heidi M. Anderson joined the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) as the
sixteenth president on September 1, 2018. 
A first-generation college graduate, Dr. Anderson continues on the path of mentors that
she admires, dedicating her lifework to making educational opportunities accessible. 
At UMES, Dr. Anderson immediately established her team, and they are developing
strategies that will grow enrollment and improve retention; they have added a physician
assistant master’s degree program, a bachelors in sports management and bachelors in
digital media studies.  Construction of a $95 million academic building for UMES’
School of Pharmacy and Health Professions is underway, having received authorization
from the 2019 Maryland General Assembly. 
Dr. Anderson has nearly two decades of leadership experience in higher education, and
many productive initiatives under her belt that help students gain access to college –
and enable them to thrive when they get there.  Prior to coming to UMES, she was the
Provost at Texas A&M University-Kingsville (2015-2017) and Provost at the University
of the Sciences in Philadelphia (2013-2015).  Between 2006 and 2013, she held several
positions at the University of Kentucky. She managed multi-million dollar budgets,
raised money for academic facilities and negotiated collaborative agreements with
external partners. She was the first African American to serve as president the
Accreditation Council on Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE), the national accrediting
body for pharmacy programs nationwide, a role she held twice. 
Recently, in 2019 she completed Leadership Maryland.  In 2020, she received the
Influential Marylander’s Award and Maryland’s Top 100 Women both by the Daily
Record. 
Dr. Anderson a native of Gary, Indiana, earned three degrees from Purdue University:
Ph.D. in pharmacy administration, M.S. in education and B.S. in pharmacy.

The owner of Ruby’s Cakes Shoppe & Pastries in Easton, Ruby Vanags is a self-taught baker. Originally from the Philippines, she emigrated to the U.S. in 2005 from Hong Kong and became a proud U.S. citizen in 2010. Her culinary creations are made from scratch with no artificial ingredients, including the mango cakes and strawberry cakes that are her specialty. During the pandemic, Ruby donated cakes to the hospital, fire and police departments, and other frontline workers. Prior to starting her own business, Ruby worked at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay and was a nanny. She is married to Peteris Vanags.

In April 2020, The Worcester County Commissioners named Melanie Pursel as the new Tourism director. Pursel, respected for her contributions to the business community,
marketing, and tourism, as well as workforce and economic development was swiftly promoted to the Director of the newly formed Office of Tourism & Economic
Development in November of 2020.
Pursel brings 21 years of proven leadership to Worcester County Government. She
served as the president and chief executive officer for the Greater Ocean City Chamber
of Commerce from 2007 to 2020, where her strong marketing, leadership, and
communication skills allow her to play key roles in the sales, promotion, and marketing
of Worcester County. She established the chamber as the premier business
organization in the region, headed strategic planning for the organization, and
spearheaded numerous other business, advocacy and tourism initiatives. She works
cooperatively with other local, regional, and state tourism and economic development
partners to grow business and tourism on the Eastern Shore.
Melanie was also the director of undergraduate programs at Salisbury University and
facilitated the applied business learning experience program as well as served as
adjunct faculty in the Management department. Her career began on the shore in 2001
in workforce development as the assistant director for Lower Shore Workforce Alliance,
ultimately serving as director.
In her short tenure with Worcester County, she helped lead a comprehensive re-
branding effort for Maryland’s’ Coast in an effort to illustrate Worcester county’s assets
as a premier destination as well as an ideal region to start a business.
In 1997 she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, with a minor in Business
Administration and Marketing from Salisbury University. She then went on to earn a
Master of Science in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from the University of
Baltimore, with a focus on management, statistical analysis, leadership, and
organizational and community development. 
Pursel resides in Berlin with her husband, Bruce, and two teenage sons. She is actively
engaged in the community, serving on the Perdue School’s Executive Advisory Council,
Maryland Tourism Coalitions Legislative Committee, AGH Foundation Board, Beach to
Bay Heritage Area Board, Delmarva Discovery Museum Board, and Ocean City
Tourism Commission.

Dr. Michael Scott is the Dean of the Henson School of Science and Technology, a professor in the Department of Geography and Geosciences, and the Director of the Eastern Shore Regional GIS Cooperative (ESRGC) at Salisbury University. He has led the School of Science since 2017, with a focus on improving student success in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics programs. He has nearly 25 years of experience in consulting, managing, and educating young people about geographic information systems (GIS), local government applications of GIS, environmental hazards, and cartographic visualization. He launched the ESRGC in 2004 to combine and leverage the collective funding of local governments, the commitment of Salisbury University to serve the citizens of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, and the technical skills of SU’s students and faculty in order to make state-of-the-art GIS technology and services to the surrounding local governments.

Maurice Ames is the Executive Director at Maryland Capital Enterprises, Inc. (MCE). Maurice has more than 30 years of diversified business experience with a particular emphasis on small and minority business development.

Throughout Maurice’s career, he has maintained an affinity for developing business through economic development of underserved populations. The Small Business Administration (SBA) awarded Maurice the “Financial Champion of the Year Award.” With Maurice in the driving seat, MCE’s portfolio increased by 25% the year he was promoted to Executive Director. Prior to joining MCE, Maurice worked as an agent with B&B Bail Bonds as well as received his law enforcement certification later reaching the level of Chief of Police. Maurice also has over 20 years of experience as a business owner/entrepreneur. Maurice was the CEO/Founder of Delmarva Home Mortgage and currently owns M L Ames Construction LLC, which has been in operation since 1999. With over twenty years of loan processing experience, Maurice has been able to contribute his knowledge and wisdom to MCE and our entrepreneurial community. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.

Maurice prides himself in utilizing his skills and expertise as a successful entrepreneur to assist others with making their goals of being a successful entrepreneur a reality. “Dedication, integrity, honest communication, and mutual respect equate valuable relationships” is Maurice’s motto for business success. Maurice is eager to participate in the business growth and development of the Eastern Shore and throughout Maryland.

Michelle Anders is a seasoned HR leader and consultant that has been recognized for her expertise in building highly engaged and productive workplace cultures. She currently leads the people function at Dart Container Corporation’s Federalsburg plant, responsible for attracting, developing, and retaining employees. Prior to joining Dart, she worked for a large print manufacturer and content services provider for over twenty years.

Having worked mostly in the area of HR for manufacturing organizations, she is very familiar with talent acquisition, learning and development, legal and regulatory compliance, and systems development and implementation. She is particularly experienced in the areas of mergers and acquisition and cultural transformations.

Michelle has served as the primary liaison and spokesperson in community outreach efforts, and built bridges with Goodwill Career Services and various Christian ministries to enhance awareness of company initiatives and to help level the playing field for underrepresented groups, including people with barriers.

Michelle lives in Easton, MD with her husband and their son (and Shih Tzu). When Michelle is not working, she likes to travel with her family, spend time at the beach, read, and run. Michelle can be reached at michelle.anders@dart.biz (email) or 941-350-5515 (business cell phone).

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Executive Director, Tri-County Council for the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland
Jan 2019 – Present
Attorney and Export Assistance Consultant – In-House and Private Practice Settings
Jan 2000 – Present
United States, Dubai and GCC, Russia and CIS, Afghanistan
Evaluation of export process ranging from corporate resource management to development of broker and distributor networks. Hands-on knowledge of international sales, marketing and business development.
Sales Agreements ● Licensing and Distribution ● Breach of Contract ● Contract Manufacturing ● Government Contracts – FAR/DFARS Compliance ● Foreign Corrupt Practices Act ● False Claims Act ● Arbitration and Litigation of Commercial Disputes ● Cross-border Transactions ● Logistics and Supply Chain Analysis and Disputes ● Security Interests ● Documentary Credits ● Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) Projects
Deputy Director Business Development Russia / CIS – Tyson Foods, Inc.
Apr 1996 – Dec 1999
Based in Moscow, Russia and Almaty, Kazakhstan
Core functions included multi-discipline business analysis and evaluation of new business opportunities in Russia and CIS, primarily foreign joint venture investment projects for the fully-integrated manufacture of poultry products. One of two points of corporate contact for large commodity importers and distributors in Russia and CIS.
In-house liaison with Tyson Foods, Inc. U.S. corporate legal counsel and in-country outside counsel regarding land use, privatization, leasing, licensing and consumer protection laws as same pertained to foreign investment in Russia and CIS. Represented Tyson Foods, Inc. in evaluation of Russian fully-integrated poultry producers for USDA backed U.S./Russia Joint Venture Broiler Project.
Point of contact for negotiating transfer of collateral and debt work out with overseas distributors during corporate merger of Hudson Foods, Inc. and Tyson Foods, Inc. Assisted in managing the process of conducting large physical inventories of frozen food products in multiple locations throughout Russia and Kazakhstan using the services of Coopers & Lybrand (PwC).
Represented Tyson Foods, Inc. in trade organizations, including USAPEEC (Middle East Market Development Committee). Extensive international travel.
Associate Attorney, Moscow Russia Office – Catlett & Stubblefield LPA
Oct 1991 – May 1995
Based in Moscow, Russia
Practice included working with Russian attorneys to provide due diligence on a wide range of projects to American investors in Russia, including Tyson Foods, Inc., Deep Sea Fisheries, Inc. and the petroleum marketing company Truman Arnold Companies. Primary practice areas were foreign investment, negotiable instruments, sales, leasing, licensing, privatization, taxation, tariffs and import. Provided export assistance consulting to a number of U.S. and European companies, including Anheiser Busch and Unilever.
Represented U.S. investors during first wave of Russian privatization and on board of directors post-privatization of mid-sized state-owned Russian enterprise.
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts – History – University of Arkansas
Activities and Societies: Russian Club, Competitive Cycling (USAC)
Juris Doctor – University of Arkansas School of Law, Fayetteville
Activities and Societies: University Sponsored Trade Seminars, Foreign Delegations
LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS
Member of Bar United States District Court-District of Maryland
Member of Maryland Bar
Member of Arkansas Bar
LANGUAGES
Russian, English
PUBLICATIONS – A Survey of Russian Business Legislation; The Arkansas Lawyer (Spring 1994, Summer 1994)