2016 MEDA Annual Conference

Joseph Bartenfelder was named by Governor Larry Hogan to serve as Secretary of Agriculture on December 23, 2014. He was approved by the Senate and sworn in to office in March 2015.
Mr. Bartenfelder grew up on a farm and for more than 35 years has been a full-time farmer and small businessman. His family lives on the home farm in Caroline County, and also owns and operates two other farms in Dorchester County. The Bartenfelder family sells produce at the Baltimore City Farmers’ Market and wholesale, raises poultry, and grows wheat, beans, and corn. (The Bartenfelder family has been farming its original Baltimore County farmstead since 1903.)
From December 1994 to December 2010, he served as a member of the Baltimore County Council, representing District 6, (chair, 1997, 2000, 2005, 2009). He also chaired the Baltimore County Spending Affordability Committee.
Mr. Bartenfelder also served as a member of the House of Delegates from 1983-94, representing District 8 (Baltimore County).

Melanie Miller is a Business Development Manager at Comcast Business, where she manages Community Outreach, Business Referral Programs and Business Marketing since 2005. Following 1990 graduation from Salisbury University, Melanie worked In the family Business, BK Millers, working in general management, marketing and purchasing. In 2000, Melanie moved into Public Relations with a State job at BWI Airport serving as the Spokesman for 4 years during the critical period of change following Sept. 11. A career in Public Relations and Business Development spanning 20 years is equally balanced with a passion and participation in the MD Democratic Party serving as an Elected Central Committee representative and active volunteer. Melanie resides in Annapolis, MD and enjoys all that life in Maryland brings!

HERBERT JORDAN, III

Deputy Special Secretary
Governor’s Office of Minority Affairs (GOMA)

Herb Jordan was appointed by Maryland’s Governor Larry Hogan as Deputy Special Secretary of the Governor’s Office of Minority Affairs. GOMA is the principal advocate for small business and the more than 200,000 women and minority owned businesses in Maryland.

Throughout Mr. Jordan’s prior management and information technology (IT) career, he has leveraged emerging technologies to provide solutions to tough problems for clients ranging from individual contributors to CEOs. Beyond technology, Herb has solid track record as a startup-specialist with skills in planning, business development, culture change, and management.

Mr. Jordan has over 20+ years of experience in management, information technology and business process improvement. He has previously worked for General Electric (GE), Maryland National Bank, Aon Consulting, MYCOM.com and USF&G Insurance. He has served the Maryland community thorough his work on the boards of the Minority Supplier Development Council, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s Hawk Corporation, Baltimore City College PTSA and the Boy’s Hope Girl’s Hope of Baltimore City. He is also a graduate of the Leadership Maryland class of 2005.

Mr. Jordan was born and raised in Maryland. Mr. Jordan earned a B.S. degree in Information Systems Management from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. He is married and has two daughters.

Senator Addie Eckardt
District 37 – Caroline, Dorchester, Talbot, and Wicomico Counties
410-221-6561/410-841-3590
adelaide.eckardt@senate.state.md.us
Committee/Senate Appointments
• Budget and Taxation Committee
• Health and Human Services Subcommittee of the Budget and Taxation Committee
• Pensions Subcommittee of the Budget and Taxation Committee
• Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review
• Joint Audit Committee
• Joint Committee on Children, Youth, and Families
• Joint Committee on Fair Practices and State Personnel Oversight
• Joint Committee on Pensions
• Women Legislators of Maryland Executive Committee
• Maryland Environmental Trust
• Governor’s Commission on Suicide
• Maryland Behavioral Health Advisory Committee
• Harry R. Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology, Inc., Board of Directors
• Task Force to Study Tax Sales in Maryland
• Task Force on Rural Internet, Broadband, Wireless, and Cellular Service
• Maryland Commission on Suicide Prevention
• Maryland Environmental Trust
• Two Generation Family Economic Security Commission
Recent Local Public Service
• Sailwinds Board
• Talbot County Drug & Alcohol Abuse Council
• Dorchester County Drug & Alcohol Abuse Council
• Mid-Shore Regional Council
• Dorchester County Critical Incident Stress Management
• Eastern Shore Area Health Education Center Board
• Dorchester County Healthy Families Advisory Board
• Talbot Hospice Patient Care and Quality Committee
• Channel Marker Foundation Board
• Alzheimer’s Association Support Group
• Wye River Upper School Board

Lily Qi is Assistant Chief Administrative Officer for economic and workforce strategies and partnerships in Montgomery County. She has served County Executive Ike Leggett for the past eight years in various capacities and led strategic initiatives including privatizing economic development, establishing BioHealth Innovation, Inc. to commercialize biomedical research, developing global partnerships, improving nighttime economy, and developing the Comprehensive Economic Strategy.

Lily joined Montgomery County after serving as Vice President of Business Development and Marketing for the Washington, DC Economic Partnership and spokesperson for the DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking.

A native of Shanghai, China, Lily is also a writer and speaker on cultural competency, immigrant integration, and political engagement. She was featured in the Washington Business Journal, Bethesda Magazine, China Daily, and Asian Fortune for her professional accomplishments and community leadership, which includes serving as trustee of the Suburban Hospital of Johns Hopkins Medicine and board member of VisArts and immediate past chair of the Maryland Governor’s Commission on Asian American Affairs.

J. Randall “Randy” Thompson
President & CEO
ThompsonGas & Big Cork Vineyards

Biography
April 2016

As President and Chief Executive Officer of ThompsonGas, LLC., and its various subsidiaries and affiliates, J. Randall Thompson is leading the company his grandfather and his father grew to deliver exceptional propane energy and comfort products in the United States market.

Mr. Thompson joined the company in 1987 as an installer while attending college. After a tour with the United States Marine Corps, where he served as a logistics non- commissioned officer during Operation Desert Shield and Storm, Mr. Thompson completed his BS degree at Shepherd University and has been working towards an MBA at Frostburg. In 1992, Mr. Thompson became Vice President of the company focusing on marketing and logistical improvements in the company.

In 1998, Mr. Thompson became President & CEO of the company. At that point in time the company operated from one location with 8 employees doing less than $4 million in annual revenues. Through 30+ acquisitions the company now has 65 locations, 400 employees and is operating at approximately $200 million in annualized revenues. The company is currently actively engaged in five (5) acquisitions which should close by the end of 2016. In 2011, Mr. Thompson planted 35 acres of grapes on his family farm in southern Washington County MD. A 10,000 square foot winery and tasting venue opened in 2015. The facility and vineyard has been heralded as the Napa of the east coast.

Mr. Thompson is active in many charitable areas including the Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation and the USO. His family has established a donor advised fund at the Community Foundation of Washington County to further many philanthropic endeavors.

Mr. Thompson was born in Hagerstown, Maryland, is an avid golfer and is an accomplished pianist and vocalist.

1994 – Present: CEO/Co-Owner, Flying Dog Brewery

1995-1999: President/Co-Owner Wynkoop Brewing Company

1989-1995: President VICORP Restaurants, Inc. (publicly traded company)

BA Economics, University of Missouri
MA Economics, University of Missouri
Associate Degree, Brewing, World Brewing Academy/Siebel
Licensed Master Practitioner and International Trainer, NLP

Recent Awards:

Entrepreneur of the Year, Frederick County 2013
Maryland’s Most Admired CEO Award, 2014
Alumni of the Year, University of Missouri, College of Arts and Sciences 2016

Julie Verratti is a co-founder of Denizens Brewing Co. in Silver Spring, which is the first large scale production brewery in Montgomery County and the only majority female-owned and operated brewery in Maryland. Julie grew up in Silver Spring, MD and earned her Bachelor’s degree from Brandeis University where she played varsity soccer. Right after college she directed and advised on political campaigns in various states, and eventually earned her law degree from the George Washington University Law School. Right before founding Denizens she was a Senior Policy Advisor at the U.S. Small Business Administration where she focused on the Affordable Care Act, Veterans Entrepreneurship, and local economic development policies. Julie sits on the Board of Directors for the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce and the Montgomery County Food Council where she is the co-chair of the Food Economy Working group. She is also an active member of Women Chefs and Restaurateurs. Julie directs all business development and distribution sales for Denizens Brewing Co.

Since 2014, Ammanuel Moore has served as BGE’s Economic Development Manager. Through the promotion and use of BGE programs and services, and often serving as a liaison between BGE operations and the business community, he is responsible for supporting state and local economic and business development agencies in their efforts to increase business attraction, development, retention and growth in central Maryland.
Prior to his current role, Ammanuel spent six years in BGE’s Corporate Communications department serving in various writing positions. His last assignment as senior eChannels Program Manager involved him developing and leading the company’s efforts in digital and social media communications for BGE’s more than 1.2 million electric and 655,000 customers.
Ammanuel is an active member in several professional organizations including the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore, Maryland Economic Development Association, the Utility Economic Development Association and Wide Angle Youth Media . He was recently appointed by the governor as a board member of the Maryland Public-Private-Partnership Marketing Corporation, where he will be responsible for helping the state expand its efforts to market itself as truly being open for business.
Ammanuel is engaged in his community, serving as an Edreco little league softball coach for the past seven years. He is a graduate of Morgan State University with a BS degree in Communications and a graduate of Johns Hopkins University with an MA in Communications.

Ellington E. Churchill, Jr.
Deputy Secretary
Department of Housing and Community Development

Ellington E. Churchill, Jr. was appointed by the Secretary with the approval of the Governor as Deputy Secretary of the Department effective September 2, 2015. He previously served as the Director of Business Development for a family-owned mid-Atlantic commercial general contractor and construction management firm where Mr. Churchill was responsible for leading construction management, general contracting and design build project opportunities. Prior to leading business development, Mr. Churchill sourced and developed new industrial and office parks for the Maryland office of a national real estate company. Mr. Churchill holds a Bachelor of Architecture and a Master of Science in Construction Management from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Mike has been the Director of Business Lending with the MD DHCD since July 2012. Prior to his current position, Mike had a twenty eight (28) year banking career that began in 1981 with the Savings Bank of Baltimore and included First Union now Wells Fargo, SunTrust, Citizens National and PNC. Positions included branch management, sales leader, business banker and commercial lender. Mike holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Maryland Baltimore County.

Eric Olson is Executive Director of the College Park City-University Partnership (CPCUP), the community development corporation supported jointly by the University of Maryland and the City of College Park. CPCUP is focused on implementing the “2020 University District Vision,” which includes goals to create an even stronger, more dynamic College Park by the year 2020.

From 2006 to 2014, Eric represented College Park and surrounding communities as a member of the Prince George’s County Council, serving two years as County Council Vice Chair (2011 & 2012). As a Council Member, Eric focused on redevelopment, neighborhood quality of life & safety, walkability, and increasing transportation choices. This work and collaboration resulted in more than $450 million in new redevelopment projects, a new bus service (the “Route 1 Ride”), four new playgrounds and a recreation building, and new bike trails. He authored legislation to incentivize transit oriented development, increase recycling, ensure complete and green streets and sidewalks, address nuisance abatement, curtail the proliferation of pawn shops and adult entertainment near neighborhoods, increase security at all-night businesses, and address youth and gang violence.

As a County Council Member, Eric was a member of Smart Growth America’s Local Leaders Council, and served on several committees of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, including the Transportation Planning Board, and the Region Forward Coalition (serving as Chair from 2011-2013), which set goals for the metropolitan region to grow economically resilient and sustainably through 2050.

Prior to his two terms on the Prince George’s County Council, Eric served for 9 years as a member of the College Park City Council (1997-2006). Professionally, Eric directed the national Sierra Club’s “Healthy Communities Campaign” from 2003-2006. There, his work focused on national transportation policy, increasing transportation choices like transit and bike/ped improvements, promoting policies to reinvest in existing infrastructure, and encouraging smart growth redevelopment. He authored numerous reports for the Sierra Club.

Eric also served as Deputy Director of FairVote, a national organization dedicated to election reform (1999-2002), and worked on Capitol Hill for then-Congressman (now U.S. Senator) Bernie Sanders (I-VT) from 1995-1999.

Eric is both a City of College Park resident and a graduate of the University of Maryland (M.A., American Studies, ’95). He has a B.A. in History from Elmira College, ’92. Eric is married to Sarah Treado and they have two daughters who attend University Park Elementary School.

COLIN GREENE: Director of Urban Design & Team Lead, Planning: Streetsense
In July 2015 Colin joined Streetsense, a strategy and design collective dedicated to creating memorable places, distinctive brands, and meaningful experiences, to help lead the Urban Design + Planning Group, bringing nearly 25 years of experience in sustainable development, smart growth, and traditional urbanism. In his role, Colin is helping to expand Streetsense’s comprehensive design and planning services to its diverse clientele, including international real estate, public sector, and hospitality clients. Colin‘s role at Streetsense is to design and plan mixed-use and multi-family projects.
A former principal at HOK and leader of its DC Planning Studio, Colin provided design direction for urban design, and landscape architecture projects including the Kentlands Commercial District Master Plan, the Downtown Portsmouth Master Plan and Waterfront Strategy, the H Street NE Revitalization Plan, the Van Ness Vision Framework, and new communities for several private developers.

Sean Davis is a Principal with Morris & Ritchie Associates, Inc., a multi-disciplinary planning, architecture, civil engineering and landscape architectural company based in Maryland. Mr. Davis has spent 30 years assisting private sector land developers and home builders throughout the United States in planning, designing, and implementing a variety of development proposals – from small scale residential neighborhoods, to urban mixed use centers, to large scale master planned communities. A reflection of Sean’s success is the number of communities that he has seen from concept through complete implementation, providing valuable “lessons learned”, and his long standing client relationships that often span decades. Mr. Davis is currently the Chair of the Urban Land Institute Baltimore District Council, a member of a National Urban Land Institute Product Council that focuses on Community Development, a member of the Maryland Sustainable Growth Commission – Concentrated Growth Workgroup, and on the State and Baltimore City Chapter Boards for the Homebuilders Association of Maryland. Sean is a registered Landscape Architect in Maryland Delaware, and New Jersey and received a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from Texas Tech University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Baltimore Law School.

MARSHALL SNIVELY
Executive VP & COO
Executive Director, Lancaster Downtown Investment District
mwsnively@TeamLanc.org

Marshall Snively serves a dual role as Executive VP & COO of LCA as well as the Executive Director of the Lancaster Downtown Investment District. His areas of focus include leading economic development and marketing programs, as well as coordinating business retention, expansion and recruitment initiatives for Lancaster City.

Marshall was the Vice President and Interim President of the James Street Improvement District in Lancaster. Prior to moving to Lancaster, Marshall spent over 10 years in economic development, serving as Vice President of Economic Development & Planning, Downtown Partnership of Baltimore. He also served as the Special Projects Director for a Baltimore real estate development company, concentrating on restoring and strengthening existing urban communities through the redevelopment of historic properties and new construction. Marshall holds a B.S. degree in Architecture from the University of Maryland.

“My life’s work revolves around strengthening urban communities. I live, work and play in Lancaster City and am committed to Lancaster’s vision to be a model city for urban economic development.”

Marshall serves as Vice-Chair of the Planning Commission for Lancaster City and Vice-Chair of the Lancaster Office of Promotion. He is also serving on the boards of the Lancaster Family YMCA Association, Central Market Trust, and Community Basics, Inc.

LISA CHALLENGER, Tourism Director: Worcester County

Lisa Challenger has been the Tourism Director for Worcester County for 26 years. Her accomplishments include; spear-heading the Coolest Small Town in America effort, coordination of the County’s 250th anniversary; participation in a Countryside Stewardship Exchange Program with the Isle of Wight, England where she helped to address tourism issues and concerns similar to those on the lower shore, founding member of the Lower Eastern Shore Heritage Council; promotion of the county and its towns in regional and national publications through advertising and outreach to travel writers.

Lisa also does extensive work with regional partnerships to promote the shore including the award-winning Host our Coast program, Tourism Arts and Downtown Development initiative promoting Eat Drink Buy Art on Delmarva, Mid Atlantic Amateur Sports Alliance and Toast our Coast Wine and Ale Trail of Delmarva.

Lisa currently serves on the boards of the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority, Maryland Association of Destination Marketing Officers and the Delmarva Discovery Center,

She resides in Berlin and has 3 terrific daughters.

KATIE PARKS, Center for Towns Director: Eastern Shore Land Conservancy
Katie joined Eastern Shore Land Conservancy with more than 11 years of real estate experience in the private and public sectors, most recently serving at the Maryland Department of Transportation. She received her bachelor’s degree in business administration and her master’s degree in business administration from the University of Baltimore. Outside of work, Katie enjoys paddleboarding the beautiful waterways of the Eastern Shore. The Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) helps save land and promotes sound land use planning from the C&D Canal in Cecil County all the way to the Nanticoke River in Dorchester County. ESLC works in Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne’s Caroline, Talbot and Dorchester Counties.

Shannon Landwehr is the acting President & CEO of the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore, a regional economic development marketing organization. Shannon was previously the Executive Vice President and led the EAGB’s location strategy efforts, the primary focus of which is corporate and small-to-medium business education in the Baltimore region, particularly as it pertains to location and workforce strategy decisions. Shannon also focuses on regional talent, workforce recruitment, understanding the needs of Baltimore’s regional businesses, and working with them in partnership to identify areas of opportunity. She is also Executive Director of the EAGB Foundation.

Prior to joining the Economic Alliance Shannon was an Executive Director at Morgan Stanley and served as the Baltimore General Manager, and a Global Client Relationship Manager in Morgan Stanley’s Workforce Strategy Division. As General Manager, she advanced the Firm’s workforce and outsourcing strategy, and led the operational infrastructure of the office for 1,200 employees in Operations, Finance, Legal & Compliance, Human Resources, Corporate Services and Technology & Data.
As a Client Relationship Manager, Shannon was responsible for providing advisory services to internal business units regarding their global workforce strategy and outsourcing regulatory requirements, and overseeing the execution of their transition plans. She managed several clients, including Research, Sales & Trading, Bank Resource Management and Legal & Compliance. In her tenure at Morgan Stanley Shannon also served as the Baltimore Chief Operating Officer.
Shannon has over 15 years of experience in finance, non-profits, marketing and consulting. Before joining Morgan Stanley, Shannon was the Chief Operating Officer at the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore, where she also served as the Director of Marketing and Research. She has held other positions with TischlerBise, Mercer (Marsh & McLennan) Consulting, WorldCom and Commercial Real Estate firms.
Shannon earned her Master of Arts degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and Finance from the University of Arizona, Eller College of Management.
Shannon is also actively involved in various community initiatives throughout the Greater Baltimore and Mid-Atlantic regions with a focus on programs impacting children and animals. She currently resides in Baltimore City, Maryland.

Secretary, Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing & Regulation

Secretary, Maryland Department of Planning

Ben Grumbles is Maryland’s Secretary of the Environment. He was appointed by
Governor Larry Hogan and confirmed by the Maryland Senate in 2015. His duties also
include serving as Chair of the Governor’s Chesapeake Bay Cabinet and the Maryland
Climate Change Commission and Vice-Chair of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
Ben has served previously as President of the U.S. Water Alliance, EPA Assistant
Administrator for Water, Director of Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, and
senior staffer and counsel for the Transportation and Infrastructure and Science
Committees in the U.S Congress.

Secretary, Maryland Department of Housing & Community Development Kenneth C. Holt was appointed by Governor Larry Hogan as Secretary of the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development on March 11, 2015. Mr. Holt’s distinguished career makes him well-qualified to direct one of the most successful and innovative state housing finance agencies in the country.

As a past member of the Baltimore County Master Plan Advisory Committee and a past president of his neighborhood civic association, he gained on-the-ground experience with neighborhood revitalization, development and housing issues. His experience as a past member of the Baltimore County Human Relations Commission gives him a strong foundation in issues of fairness and housing equity. And his 25 years high level experience in the financial market gives him a thorough understanding of bond markets and how they work.

Mr. Holt comes to DHCD after serving as chairman and chief financial officer of Traitify, a software development firm that was recognized by Maryland’s Technology Development Corp. as the “most innovative” start-up company of 2013. Before that, he enjoyed a 25-year career at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney in Baltimore, where he has served as Branch Manager, Senior Portfolio Manager and Senior Vice President.

As a member of the Maryland General Assembly (1995-1999), Mr. Holt served on the House Appropriations Committee and on the subcommittee on education and economic development.

Mr. Holt received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland College Park. He and his wife Mary E. Holt operate a family farm in Kingsville, Md. The couple have two children.

Special Secretary, Governor’s Office of Minority Affairs

Marc C. Weller
President and Partner of Sagamore Development Company

Mr. Weller is a senior real estate professional with over twenty years of experience in the residential, commercial, and mixed-use real estate market. He has previously owned, directed, and managed many aspects of real estate enterprises, including development and construction companies. Mr. Weller is an experienced business manager with a consistent track record of successfully employing best business practices to reduce operating costs, increase production, and bring development projects to successful completion.

Mr. Weller founded and established Sagamore Development with Under Armour Founder and CEO, Kevin Plank, to redefine Baltimore through the acquisition, development, and programming of land in Port Covington. He organized and staffed the business enterprise and acquired over 250 acres of waterfront properties through multiple large-scale transactions. Since its inception, Sagamore Development has evolved into a full service real estate company with a full offering of services and expertise including acquisition, development, construction management, and property management.

Sagamore Development’s current projects include the master planning and execution of Port Covington, a luxury hotel at Recreation Pier, the Sagamore Spirit whiskey distillery and restaurant, high-end retail in Georgetown, and a Light Manufacturing and Innovation Center at City Garage.

Peter Kageyama is the author of For the Love of Cities: The Love Affair Between People and Their Places and the follow up, Love Where You Live: Creating Emotionally Engaging Places. He is the former President of Creative Tampa Bay, a grassroots community change organization and the co-founder of the Creative Cities Summit, an interdisciplinary conference that brings citizens and practitioners together around the big idea of ‘the city.’

Peter is a Senior Fellow with the Alliance for Innovation, a national network of city leaders and a special advisor to America In Bloom. He is an internationally sought-after community development consultant and grassroots engagement strategist who speaks all over the world about bottom-up community development and the amazing people who are making change happen.

In September 2013, Anthony Rodgers co-founded the private equity buyout group, Antson Capital Partners. Antson focuses on acquiring small to middle market companies and their associated real estate in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Prior to co-founding Antson, Anthony spent nearly 20 years in a variety of executive leadership positions for A&R Companies. A&R is a private, family owned, diversified real estate development firm focused on the Baltimore-Washington market. A&R’s portfolio includes residential, commercial, and mixed-used development ranging in value from $1 million to $152 million. The company has led the development of real estate with an aggregate value of more than $900 million. As Executive Vice President, he oversaw the real estate development and construction division, as well as its financing and investment structures.

On behalf of A&R, Anthony brought many well-known Baltimore- Washington area real estate developments to life, including Lockwood Place, The Redwood Apartments, and Fairfield Inn in Baltimore, MD and the Fayette Square Tower Apartments at the University of Maryland. He also managed the partnership on Capital Gateway Marketplace in Washington, DC and the Horseshoe Casino in Baltimore, which are currently under construction. Anthony maintains equity and ownership in these various projects.

In the community, Anthony serves as Board Chairman of the Parks and People Foundation and on the Executive Committee of the Kennedy Krieger Institute. He is also the immediate past President of the Baltimore Freedom Academy Foundation, Inc., has previously served on the Executive Committee of Live Baltimore and is a trustee for the Adams Foundation. Anthony’s other previous non-profit service includes the Harford Road Redevelopment, McDonogh’s Young Alumni Board, GBC Leadership Executive Committee and several advisory boards.

Anthony has been a regular guest lecturer at the Johns Hopkins School of Real Estate, the University of Maryland School of Law, and various programs at the University of Baltimore.

Jody Clark is Chief Operating Officer at Beatty Development Group where she oversees operations, asset management, leasing and development for the firm. Jody has an extensive background in both the landlord and tenant side of commercial real estate. Jody spent 20 years with The Rouse Company where she held senior executive positions in leasing, operations, acquisitions, dispositions and development. She later joined Legg Mason as the Director of Global Real Estate, reprogramming their entire global corporate real estate portfolio including the Legg Mason Tower in Harbor East. More recently, Jody worked with Hannon Armstrong, an energy finance company where she oversaw commercial origination efforts. Armed with an extensive background in multiple commercial property types, Jody brings a fresh approach to the BDG team. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling and boating.

Matt Carmichael is a seasoned journalist, author and speaker who specializes in demographics, consumer trends, and urban issues. He is a vice-President of Journal Communications Inc., and the editor of Livability.com which focuses on what makes small and mid-sized cities great places to live and work. Previously he was Senior director of research and data at Crain’s Chicago Business and Director of data strategy at Advertising Age. The American Consumer Project he created for Ad Age became the foundation for first book, “Buyographics: How demographic and economic changes will reinvent the way marketers reach consumers.”
He has been awarded top honors in journalism competitions for content, design and innovative uses of technology. His research has been cited by global media outlets including the Wall Street Journal, and the Atlantic. A prolific writer and photographer, his work has appeared in more than 100 media outlets globally.

Jake Day is the newly-elected Mayor of Salisbury. Born and raised in Salisbury, he was elected to the City Council at the age of 30 and unanimously elected President on a platform of placemaking, positivity, and high quality revitalization. Since Jake’s election, Downtown Salisbury has been experiencing a renaissance and the City has made major new investments in bike infrastructure, streetscape, design processes and economic development. Meanwhile, communication, collaboration and community spirit have reemerged as norms in the Capital of the Eastern Shore.

Jake served as founding Director of the Center for Towns – a community design and engagement program serving the towns of the Eastern Shore. Jake has served as national President of the American Institute of Architecture Students and Editor-in-Chief of CRIT, a journal of architecture. A Richard Upjohn Fellow, he served on the American Institute of Architects national Board of Directors.

Jake earned a bachelors degree in Architecture from the University of Maryland and masters degrees in Urban Design and Environmental Policy from Carnegie Mellon University and Oxford University. In Salisbury, Jake has served as a Planning Commissioner, member of the Board of Housing Appeals and the Natural Resources Conservation Advisory Committee.

Jake holds the rank of First Lieutenant in the Army, currently serving as a TAC Officer at the Officer Candidate School. He is a graduate of Maneuver Captain’s Career Course, Armor Basic Officer Leaders Course and Pre-Ranger program, Tactics Certification Course, Officer Candidate School and Basic Combat Training at Fort Benning, GA. Jake is a Cavalry officer, having served as a Platoon Leader and Executive Officer in the 158th Cavalry Regiment and as Aide-de-Camp to the Commander of the Maryland Army National Guard.

Jake is a member of the Next American Vanguard – ‘America’s best and brightest young urban leaders’ and the Smart Growth America Local Leaders Council Advisory Board. Jake’s work has been honored with the 2012 Maryland Sustainable Growth Award for Leadership & Service, Strong Communities Competition national semi-finalist, Heart of the Chesapeake Outstanding Project award, Urban Land Institute Urban Design Competition Honorable Mention and has been featured at the International Society of City and Regional Planners’ Conference in Belgium. He was also featured in the 2007 book – ‘Becoming an Architect’.

He and his wife Liz recently welcomed their daughter, Lilly, into the world.

Sean Looney is Vice President, State Government Affairs for Comcast NBC Universal. He represents the nation’s leading provider of cable, entertainment and communications products and services before the General Assembly, Governor’s Office and state agencies in Maryland and Delaware. Sean joined Comcast in December, 2003 after retiring from a 19-year career at Verizon, Bell Atlantic and New Jersey Bell. He is also the Treasurer of the Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA), Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Maryland Leadership Workshops (MLW), and on the Board of Directors and Legislative Committee of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce. Sean has been the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, where he also was Chair of Maryland Hall’s Arts Alive Gala for several years He has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Leadership Maryland (LMD), and graduated from LMD’s Class of 1996. He has also served as President of the Maryland Government Relations Association (MGRA), on the Advisory Committee for Maryland Business for Responsive Government (MBRG), President of the Board of Directors for the Maryland Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), President of the Smithsonian Institution’s Young Benefactors, and on the Catholic Charities of Baltimore Development Committee. He has done volunteer work for various organizations in the area since moving to MD in 1990, including the Annapolis Lighthouse Shelter and St. Anne’s Infant and Maternity Home in Washington, DC. Sean was honored with the 2008 CASA Light for Children Award and was Leadership Maryland’s State Leader of the Year in 2003. He lives with his wife and two children in Annapolis. Sean received a Masters of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Commerce from Rider University in Lawrenceville, NJ.

Larry Twele is CEO of the HCEDA. Before joining the HCEDA, he was the Director of the Carroll County Department of Economic Development, where he spent over six years guiding business development, business retention, workforce development and tourism. Before that, Larry spent almost seven years with the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, where he held several positions including managing the statewide regional office system.

Major accomplishments include launching a regional business retention program and playing a key role in coordinating and facilitating major expansion projects in the Baltimore Region. Larry also spent seven years in management in a Fortune Global 500 manufacturing firm and three years as a manager of a small business.

Larry holds a Master’s Degree of Business Administration from Loyola University, Maryland and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management from the University of Maryland. He earned Certified Economic Developer credentials in March 2009.

Secretary, Maryland Higher Education Commission

Mr. Griffin has served as Director of Economic Development for the City of Frederick, Maryland since 2002. An urban planner and economic developer with 25 years of experience, Richard has worked at the city, county, and regional level in Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina and Washington.

During his tenure in Frederick he has overseen several million in public and private revitalization including the design and development of award-winning Carroll Creek Park and million’s in renovations and new infill development delivering jobs tax base in downtown.

His previous assignments include serving as the executive director of the Downtown Frederick Partnership, Program Manager of Comprehensive Planning for Loudoun County, Virginia and Senior Regional Planner for the Appalachian Council of Governments , and on the district staff of US Representative James McClure Clarke (11th NC)..

Mr. Griffin holds degrees from Western Carolina University and Clemson University. He serves on the Board for the Downtown Frederick Partnership, the Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc. and others.

Ranak K. Jasani

Ranak K. Jasani is a Principal in Miles & Stockbridge’s Baltimore office. She represents businesses in a wide variety of commercial matters in state and federal courts, at both trial and appellate levels. Her litigation experience includes cases involving trade regulation and antitrust matters, intellectual property, director and officer liability, fraud, commercial landlord/tenant actions, and general business and tort disputes. While Ranak’s practice extends to a variety of commercial and business litigation, the primary focus of her practice is antitrust counseling and litigation. She has counseled a variety of manufacturers, distributors, trade associations and technology companies on a wide range of antitrust and trade regulation issues in the context of corporate transactions, litigation and administrative enforcement. She also provides proactive antitrust advice directed toward finding solutions that support the client’s strategic business objectives and competitive goals, while fully meeting applicable federal and state antitrust requirements. She is involved in a variety of professional organizations including the Regional Management Institute (RMI) for Maryland and the World Trade Center Institute. In addition, she has presented a CLE Seminar for Practicing Legal Ethics in Maryland.

Ranak graduated from the University Of Maryland School Of Law, with honors, and was Editor-in-Chief of the Maryland Law Review. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and psychology from the University of Rochester.

Atticks is the founder & CEO of Grow & Fortify, a new firm that supports value-added agricultural businesses and strengthens the organizations that support them. Clients include the Maryland Wineries Association, Brewers Association of Maryland and newly formed Maryland Distillers Guild. Atticks has held the position as director of the Maryland Wineries Association since 2003. He authored the “Discovering Wineries” series of books, is the current chairman of the Maryland Tourism Coalition (MTC), and past chair of the and WineAmerica State & Regional Associations Advisory Council, and past president of the Maryland Agriculture Resource Council (MARC).

Atticks holds a master’s in environmental journalism from University of Colorado–Boulder and a doctorate in communications design from the University of Baltimore. Kevin Atticks is an affiliate professor of communication at Loyola University Maryland where he is the director at Apprentice House Press, the nation’s only campus-based, student-managed book publishing organization.