2023 MEDA Primer for Economic Development in Maryland

Randy Baynes Sr. Economic Development Specialist Economic Development, BGE
Randy Baynes is a Sr. Economic Development Specialist in Governmental and External Affairs at BGE. He is responsible for ensuring a positive customer experience for our State and Local Economic Development Officials. Randy works closely with the administration of BGE’s Smart Energy Economic Development Incentive. The SEED incentive provides relief to construction and distribution expenses to qualifying new and expanding businesses in Central Maryland. Through this initiative Randy works with BGE’s New Business Design and Engineering teams to ensure a seamless customer experience. Additionally, Randy works with our state and local partners on the attraction, retention and expansion of businesses in BGE’s service territory. Randy is an active member of the Utility Economic Development Association (UEDA), a national organization of utility professionals that work to advance economic growth. Randy has been with BGE over 17 years and formerly held roles in Commercial and Industrial Engineering and Large Customer Services.
CIVIC INVOLVEMENT // For over ten years Randy was a coach and director of Loch Raven Recreational boys’ and girls’ soccer and lacrosse programs. Randy was formerly the Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach for the Institute of Notre Dame, an all-girls high school in downtown Baltimore. Randy is currently a member of the Board of Directors for the Archbishop Curley Alumni Association.
EDUCATION // Randy holds a bachelor’s degree (B.A.) in Geography from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and has taken additional coursework in Environmental Studies from Johns Hopkins University.
FAMILY // Randy is a lifelong Baltimorean, now resides in Baltimore County. He lives in Parkville with his wife Stephanie and three children, Jack 22, Ella 20 and Carter 17.

Ms. Brown is the Executive Director of the Maryland Small Business Development Center Network (SBDC). The SBDC is a partnership between the University of Maryland, College Park, and the U.S. Small Business Administration to facilitate management training and technical assistance to Maryland’s small businesses. As the Interim Executive Director, she provides leadership to this statewide program that is comprised of more than 22 locations. Ms. Brown joined the Maryland SBDC in 1998 as a program coordinator. She was later promoted to the Deputy Director position where she was responsible for providing oversight of the operations of the Network for 20 years. In this capacity, she developed and evaluated policies, procedures, and program initiatives for the Network.

During her tenure, Ms. Brown led the Maryland SBDC Network to prepare the ASBDC Accreditation self-study and implement organizational improvements, which resulted in accreditation without conditions. She developed a desk reference guide for the Maryland SBDC, which codified the organization’s procedures. In her role, Ms. Brown provides leadership to annual proposal preparation and submission for a $4+ million funding package. Ms. Brown coached a specialty consulting team through challenges in achieving results in Baltimore City after the unrest. She negotiated annual goals and objectives with agency officials in a climate of changing priorities. Ms. Brown is active on the America’s SBDC Accreditation Committee, where she and other State and Associate Directors conduct peer reviews of SBDC programs nationwide. The accreditation process, funded by the U S Small Business Administration and based on Baldrige standards of excellence, drives continuous improvement for SBDC programs across the country.

Before joining the SBDC, Ms. Brown practiced law at Community Legal Services in Philadelphia, PA, where she assisted low-income individuals with issues ranging from family law to Supplemental Security appeals and bankruptcy. While in business school, she began her pursuit of entrepreneurship development through the Urban Business Assistance Corporation by providing technical assistance to small businesses in New York City. Upon earning her M.B.A, Ms. Brown worked with Syndicated Communications, a venture capital firm that targets minority-owned media communications companies, and Media Communications Group, a specialty-lending group affiliated with Signet Bank. as an Investment Analyst

Ms. Brown received her B.A. in English, cum laude, from Howard University, J.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and M.B.A. in Finance from New York University.

Lora Brown joined Prince George’s Community College as an adjunct professor in the Business and Entrepreneurship Department at Prince George’s Community College in Fall 2021.

Lora Brown participates in various civic groups in Prince George’s County and the Washington DC area where she currently resides. Ms. Brown is a very active member of Metropolitan Baptist Church, where she serves on the Trustee Board, and she is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Jennifer Diercksen is a Senior Vice President at Davenport & Company LLC, serving as financial advisor to state and local governments throughout the mid-Atlantic region. Through her role at Davenport, she helps to provide various financial services to clients, including credit rating analysis and preparation, strategic financial planning and debt management, as well as transactional-related services. Prior to joining Davenport in November 2016, Ms. Diercksen was an Associate Vice President in the Public Finance Department of Moody’s Investors Service for six years, where she was responsible for rating various debt securities for local governments in the eastern region of the United States and acted as lead credit analyst for Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. Ms. Diercksen also spent three years at Deloitte where she provided financial management services to multiple government agencies, and two years at the U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Appropriations, where she audited various federal programs. Ms. Diercksen holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Maryland – College Park and an M.P.A. from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University.

Lara Fritts is a certified economic developer with over 25 years of experience in economic development, community development and management. Her experience spans city and regional levels in both public and private sectors assisting companies to execute their location strategies or development projects while helping communities achieve their goals. She has an expertise in building economic development organizations for elected officials having started six public-private partnerships/departments.

Lara has an extensive career, having held positions in Wisconsin, Maryland, Washington, DC, Virginia, and Utah. Currently, she serves as the Division Director of the Frederick County Maryland Division of Economic Opportunity which oversees economic development as well as the Frederick County Workforce Services. Prior to her role in Frederick County – Lara was the only women leading a publicly traded micro-cap real estate company trading on the OTC Markets. There she stabilized the company by securing over $12M of affordable housing assets, reducing debt and teeing up the next acquisitions which would bring additional cash-flow to the company.

Her economic development experience is expansive, and a career highlight was serving as the Director of Salt Lake City’s Department of Economic Development (SLC DED) she was the architect of developing an economic development department where she oversaw three divisions – Business Development, the Redevelopment Agency of Salt Lake City and the Salt Lake City Arts Council. In three years, she worked to bring more than 30 new companies to Salt Lake City including UPS, Amazon, Stadler Rail, and others totaling over 9,000 jobs and nearly a billion dollars in capital investment. With her team she helped to deploy over $44 million into an affordable housing strategy creating over 3500 units throughout the city.

Known as a community vitality champion she has strengths in economic recovery, affordable housing, strategic planning, tax credits and incentives, and organizational development. She is sought-after speaker and consultant on real estate, community revitalization, and economic development finance. Lara gives back to the economic development profession by volunteering, mentoring, and advocating economic development topics.

Lara holds a master’s degree in urban studies from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, and a bachelor’s degree in regional analysis from the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay. She is the recipient of Consultant Connect’s Top 50 Economic Developers in 2019 and was named a Fellow Member of the International Economic Development Council in 2020 which honors economic development professionals for attaining unusual stature in their field and closely related disciplines

Richard Griffin, AICP, CEcD is the Director of Economic Development for the City of Frederick.
In that role oversees four City Departments including the Department of Economic
Development, Downtown Parking Department, Frederick Municipal Airport, and Weinberg
Center for the Arts. Griffin is accredited economic developer and urban planner with over 30
years of experience.
During his 23-year tenure in Frederick he has overseen major City Projects including the design
and development of award-winning Carroll Creek Park, airport expansion, and parking garage
development along with coordinating complex development projects delivering jobs and tax
base in downtown and commercial corridors. He has worked with many businesses in Frederick
including AstraZeneca, Fort Detrick, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Stulz,
Wilcoxen, Precision For Medicine, and many small mom and pop shops, and minority and
women owned businesses.
Richard has experience working at the city, county, regional, and federal level in Maryland,
Virginia, North and South Carolina and Washington State. He served on the district staff of the
late US Representative James Clarke from the 11th District of NC. He is a US Army veteran
having served as a Cavalry border guard on the East German Border during the cold war and as
a commissioned Armor officer in the NC National Guard and Army Reserves.
Mr. Griffin holds degrees from Western Carolina University and Clemson University. He serves
on the Board of Directors for the Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA), Fort
Detrick Alliance, the Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc, and others. He is Rotary Paul
Harris Fellow and volunteers as a scout leader and youth mountain bike race team coach. His
wife Lynne is a FCPS teacher and they live, work, and play in Downtown Frederick.

Jayson Knott is Senior Director of the Office of Business Development at the Maryland Department of Commerce. He leads teams responsible for attracting new businesses to Maryland, growing existing Maryland businesses, and providing assistance to Maryland small businesses. Knott began his tenure with the Department in 1998, first working in publications and advertising, and then moving into business development in 2000. Prior to the Maryland Department of Commerce, he spent nine years coordinating publications for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Knott received his BFA from Rochester Institute of Technology in 1987, and has completed numerous continuing education courses with IEDC. A Westminster native, Knott lives in Towson with his wife and two sons.

Owen McEvoy serves as Deputy Secretary of the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).

Prior to his current role, McEvoy served as DHCD’s Director of Public Information where he managed a team of marketing, communications, outreach, business development and customer service professionals. During his tenure, he directed a series of business development and marketing campaigns that have enabled the Maryland Mortgage Program to achieve more than $1 billion in mortgage reservations.

Before his time in Maryland state government, he served as Director of Media Relations and Public Information Officer for former Anne Arundel County Executive Steve Schuh, where he worked extensively on land use and development issues. He also served previously as a Deputy Communications Director for Speechwriting for former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett, and as an aide to former Maryland Governor Bob Ehrlich.

A graduate of Villanova University School of Law and Georgetown University, he resides in Anne Arundel County with his wife.

Teresa Mena is the Regional Business Solutions Consultant with the Maryland Department of Labor.
She has worked with Labor since 2015 and currently serves employers in Howard, Frederick, and Carroll Counties for the Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning.

Teresa is a connector and enjoys making a difference for her employers by sharing business solutions that are relevant to their economic and workforce growth.

Since 2015, Tamar has served on the Regional Growth and Retention team of the Maryland Department of Commerce, the state’s economic development agency. Based in Frederick, Tamar works with businesses across industries and in all stages of the business life cycle to connect them with state and ecosystem resources, develop business opportunities, and address challenges. Prior to joining Commerce, she served as a local government affairs director for the Maryland Association of REALTORS® and led the federal public policy operations at the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Tamar holds the Certified Economic Developer designation from the International Economic Development Council. She earned her BA from Washington University in St. Louis and an MPA from The University of Texas at Austin, where she was a Lyndon Baines Johnson Scholar.

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.

J. Thomas Sadowski
Vice Chancellor for Economic Development
University System of Maryland (USM)
Columbus Center
701 East Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
410-688-0013
tsadowski@usmd.edu

Executive Profile:
With more than 25-years in the economic development profession, Tom’s work has focused on growing and attracting companies, talent recruitment, workforce development, public/private partnerships and creating programs supporting innovation, commercialization and entrepreneurship. He has worked with partners in industry, higher education and at every level of government. His career projects exceed $10 billion in value and 50,000 jobs; these include the 2005 BRAC win for Aberdeen Proving Ground and numerous HQ, R&D lab and industrial projects for major government and private sector clients.
Tom has held leadership positions at both the local and regional levels. Most recently he served as President & CEO of the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore where he led executive sales and investment missions to major markets such as Austin, Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Detroit, New York, New Jersey, San Diego, San Francisco and Silicon Valley. His work spans all industry sectors, to include aerospace, cyber, bio-health, energy, additive manufacturing, ed-tech, finance, global logistics and transportation. He is active on many boards related to business, public policy, education and health.
Organization Profile:
University System of Maryland is a $5 billion global institution with more than 164,000 students enrolled across 12 campuses, 2 regional higher-ed centers throughout the State of Maryland and more than 6,000 enrolled from outside MD and the United States. The System conducts nearly $1.3 billion in sponsored research annually for the federal government and with industry in areas like cyber, life sciences, bio-health, engineering, energy and environmental science and sustainability.

As TEDCO’s Chief Development & Marketing Officer, Tammi is primarily responsible for the overall strategic direction, leadership, execution and management of TEDCO’s marketing and fundraising strategies designed to broaden awareness of and resources for TEDCO and its various programs; this includes the development and implementation of the organization’s brand, marketing, and communications strategy.

Her leadership and knowledge are instrumental in forging relationships that will enable TEDCO to expand their reach and services, diversify resources and grow the innovation ecosystem as well as establishing TEDCO as the most recognized organization in Maryland for identifying, investing in, and growing technology-based businesses. Driven by this mission, she serves as TEDCO’s internal subject expert on media and public relations, social media, brand messaging, marketing, and special events.

Her resume includes C-suite positions as the Vice President of Strategic Management at Data Solutions & Technology Inc., a full-service technology solutions provider; and as the Director of Business Development and Marketing at the University of Maryland Baltimore County’s Research Park & Business Incubator. Additionally, Tammi’s professional expertise was sought after to teach the next generation of communicators as an adjunct professor at Bowie State University and the University of Baltimore. She frequently speaks and publishes on such topics as leadership, entrepreneurship, and business development.

Tammi has been recognized by her industry peers for excellence in communication and marketing. She has received the Maryland Economic Development Association’s Marketing award for TEDCO’s Entrepreneur Expo (2020), the Cybersecurity Association of Maryland’s 2017 Cybersecurity Industry Resource Award and most recently was named one of The Daily Record’s Top 100 Women in Maryland (2023). She graduated from Leadership Maryland’s Class of 2018, completing the eight-month hands-on learning program focused on the State’s most vital social, economic and environmental issues. She serves on several boards, to include WeAchieve and MEDA, where she is currently serving as Vice President of the organization. Tammi earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Alabama State University and an MBA from the University of Baltimore. She is active in her community and serves in volunteer roles and on boards and committees for various schools and organizations in the region.

Larry Twele has led the Howard County Economic Development Authority as CEO since 2013. Major accomplishments include leading the Ellicott City flood recovery efforts in 2016 and 2018, establishing the Maryland Innovation Center. Prior to his tenure at Howard County, Larry led the Carroll County Department of Economic Development and also served in the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development in several roles. Larry achieved his CEcD designation in 2009, and holds an MBA from Loyola University Maryland and a BS degree from University of Maryland.

Read BioMaria Angelica Vargas comes to HCEDA with extensive international business experience having uniquely worked in all three sectors at a leadership level– corporate, government, and civil society. She has worked at C-level as CFO of a government Ministry; Owner/Principal in business and as a Director in a major philanthropic foundation. She has successfully assisted companies to identify, negotiate and build long term international partnerships. She has also advised companies on their financial, marketing, and human capital development strategies. She has supported companies in improving their operational standards to obtain international certifications and secured US, EU and other international best practices accreditations in USA, India and Latin America.Maria Angelica has served for the last seven years, as the Director for Economic Development of The Nabha Foundation a leading Indian philanthropic foundation founded by a global business family. She successfully launched commercially viable sustainable and scalable models for the economic development of the region. Previously, she has worked for the Maryland Department of Commerce, Office of International Investment and Trade, with direct responsibilities to develop and implement policies and programs to increase commercial opportunities in the Latin America region, and supporting the teams in China, India, Japan, Taiwan and South Africa. In her native Paraguay, she has served as Chief Financial Officer in the National Secretariat of Tourism of Paraguay, and worked as Director for Import and Exports in three of the largest Paraguayan import/export corporations conducting business on five continents.Maria Angelica has been a regular participant at the World Economic Forum in Davos for Global Fortune 500 companies, and their meetings in New Delhi and Casablanca. Maria Angelica has a Master’s of Public Administration Degree.

Roger Venezia has been an economic developer for 40 years. He serves as Director of Operations & Special Projects for the Division of Business and Industry Sector Development at the Maryland Department of Commerce. In this capacity he serves as chief administrative officer of the agency’s largest division. He has been with Commerce since 2000.

Mr. Venezia has held marketing, research, and managerial positions for three different county economic development offices in Maryland. He served as Director of the Cecil County Office of Economic Development during which time he led the effort to develop the county’s first economic development strategic plan. He also served as Research Manager for PECO Energy Company of Philadelphia, one of the country’s largest electric utilities.

Mr. Venezia earned his Certified Economic Developer designation in 1988. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a second major in Economics from the University of Delaware.