MEDA Course
2018 Primer for Economic Development in Maryland
- This event has passed.
Join MEDA for a one-day training that has been created to provide participants an introduction and overview of how Maryland practices economic development. Course attendees will quickly develop a network of resources and link people and faces, all while building camaraderie among participants to further Maryland’s economic development team.
This course is designed for those who are new to economic development in Maryland, in addition to strategic partners in collaborative industries.
Find out how economic development transforms lives by creating opportunities, inspiring innovation, and enriching communities. Together we can work to make a brighter, more prosperous future for the state of Maryland!
Click here to view the agenda (UPDATED).
Click here to view a map of the campus. We will be in Room 101 of the Thomas P. Florestano Building (FLRS 101)
Click here for a list of hotels in the area.
Visit MEDA on SlideShare to view the speaker PowerPoint presentations from this session.
THIS COURSE IS SOLD OUT!
Photo Credit: highlimitzz. Licensed under CC BY 2.0.
When
Fri, Mar 9, 2018 @ 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Where
Anne Arundel Community College / Arnold Campus
101 College Pkwy
Arnold , MD 21012
Conference Speakers
The 2018 Primer for Economic Development in Maryland Speakers
President and CEO of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), Jeff Finkle is a recognized leader and authority on economic development. With the formation of IEDC in 2001 following the merger of the Council for Urban Economic Development (CUED) – where he was president for 15 years – and the American Economic Development Council (AEDC), Jeff set the course for a more effective and influential organization. Today IEDC is the world’s largest economic development membership organization and is a $5 million annual operation that is renowned for its leadership in professionalizing and diversifying the field of economic development.
Jeff previously served as Deputy Assistant Secretary in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and has received numerous awards over the years for his commitment to making sustainable economic development a priority in communities of all sizes. Significantly, in 2011 he was lauded by the U.S. Department of Commerce for his 25 years of stewardship over CUED and IEDC. Moreover, as a longtime leader in community service and philanthropy, in 2005 Jeff organized 250 economic development volunteers to work in Gulf Coast communities endeavoring to recover from Hurricane Katrina. In 1989 he also founded the Bollinger Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides financial assistance to children who have lost a parent who worked in the field of economic development.
A frequent lecturer and author of numerous articles, Jeff has appeared on CBS Sunday Morning, Fox television and the Journal Report on PBS. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in communications in 1976 from Ohio University in Athens and pursued graduate studies in business administration at Ohio State University. He maintains a strong connection with Ohio University’s Voinovich School for Leadership and Public Affairs.
Kim Clark is the Executive Vice President of the City of Baltimore Development Corporation (BDC). In her capacity as EVP she oversees neighborhood development, business development, capital budgeting, Small Business Resource Center, Emerging Technology Centers, Baltimore Main Streets program, marketing and research and analytics.
Among her achievements at BDC, Kim helped structure public private partnership financing for several major redevelopment projects, including several Tax Increment Financing (TIF) projects; the redevelopment of Belvedere Square, all parcels at Inner Harbor East, Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOTS) for several major developments, including the Westside and the several grocery store projects. She was instrumental in retaining several businesses of all sizes and assisted smaller businesses with expansions and in the development of the Horseshoe Casino Baltimore.
Kim is the Vice President of the Maryland Economic Development Association, Chair for Mission Advancement of the Urban Land Institute Baltimore Council, Second Vice President and Committee Chair of the Star Spangled Flag House, Board member of the Emerging Technology Centers, Leadership Maryland and the Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts and is a member of the International Economic Development Council. Kim graduated Leadership MD in 2009 and is a Greater Baltimore Committee Leadership Class of 2007 graduate.
Kim Clark is the Executive Vice President of the City of Baltimore Development Corporation (BDC). In her capacity as EVP she oversees neighborhood development, downtown development, capital budgeting, commercial revitalization, and urban design and planning.
Among her achievements at BDC, Kim helped structure public private partnership financing for several major redevelopment projects, including several Tax Increment Financing (TIF) projects; the redevelopment of Belvedere Square, all parcels at Inner Harbor East, Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOTS) for several major developments, including the Westside and the several grocery store projects. She was instrumental in retaining several businesses of all sizes and assisted smaller businesses with expansions and in the development of the Horseshoe Casino Baltimore.
Kim is the Secretary of the Maryland Economic Development Association, Treasurer of the Urban Land Institute Baltimore Council, Board member and Committee Chair of the Star Spangled Flag House, Board member of the Emerging Technology Centers, Leadership Maryland and the Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts and is a member of the International Economic Development Council. Kim graduated Leadership MD in 2009 and is a Greater Baltimore Committee Leadership Class of 2007 graduate.
Lawrence (Larry) Twele is CEO of the Howard County Economic Development Authority (HCEDA).
Before joining the Authority, 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. From 2013 to 2015, Larry served as the President of Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA). Currently he serves on the MEDA Board of Directors and is President of the MEDA Foundation.
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 2009.
Laurie Boyer is the Economic Development Manager in the Division of Fiscal Management for the Montgomery County Government Finance Department. She is responsible for overseeing the County’s economic development incentive programs and for managing contracts with third-party vendors who provide economic development-related services on behalf of the County.
Previously, Laurie served as the Executive Director of Rockville Economic Development, Inc. (REDI), a public-private economic development partnership in the City of Rockville, and as Executive Director for the Frederick County Office of Economic Development.
In May 2006, Boyer earned her professional Economic Development Certification (CEcD) from the International Economic Development Council. She has nearly 18 years of economic development experience.
Ms. Boyer is a graduate of Leadership Montgomery Class of 2014 and Leadership Frederick County Class of 1997, serves as Secretary of the Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA) Foundation Board, and is on the MEDA Council of Past Presidents. In 2012, she was named one of “Maryland’s Top 100 Women” by The Daily Record.
Ms. Boyer has a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and Spanish from Juniata College in Huntingdon, PA and a Master’s degree in Communication Studies from West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV.
Darrell Brown is the director of the Charles County Economic Development Department and is responsible for leading activities involving economic development in Charles County, including representing the county to new and expanding businesses and cultivating relationships between the county and the business community, economic development agencies, and state and regional agencies.
Mr. Brown brings to the county strong economic development and government experience at many levels, and has demonstrated exemplary performance in public service and education through interfacing directly with major governmental figures and negotiating with senior executives, investors, and small business owners. From 2011-2015, Mr. Brown served as executive director for the District of Columbia Small Business Development Center at Howard University. Prior to that, he was counsel to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee; director of State and Local Relations for Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island; director of Economic Development for the City of Cranston, Rhode Island; policy advisor for business and economic development for the governor of Rhode Island; chief of staff for the Office of the Attorney General of Rhode Island; and director of Urban Policy and Development for Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation. He began his legal career as a legislative aide in Washington DC and served a year as assistant attorney general in the Virgin Islands.
Mr. Brown holds a Juris Doctor degree from Howard University School of Law, a Bachelor of Arts degree from The American University, and is a graduate of St. John’s College High School in the District of Columbia.
In his free time, Mr. Brown enjoys being with family and friends. He is a fan of jazz music and enjoys the game of chess.
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.
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 and he continues to implement innovative programs to succeed in the economy of today and tomorrow. During his tenure, he has created a cluster of wireless component manufacturers, promoted a growing life science sector, facilitated 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 $26 million accounting for more than 5,000 jobs and more than $90 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, 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 its current 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, is the longest actively serving Economic Development Director for a major jurisdiction in the State of Maryland and hails from Salisbury, Maryland.
Amy Seitz has nearly twenty years of professional experience in both private and public sector enterprises. She was formerly the Director of Community Access & Partnership for the Division of Neighborhood Revitalization within the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). Ms. Seitz was responsible for maintaining and cultivating relationships statewide with key stakeholders in community and economic development. In her role, she was responsible for strengthening and expanding the marketplace for the Division’s programmatic services and technical assistance including oversight of tax credit and grant programs totaling $5 million. Additionally, Ms. Seitz also served as the Statewide Coordinator for the Main Street Maryland program and State Leader for Keep Maryland Beautiful.
Prior to joining DHCD, Ms. Seitz worked as the Director of Development and Communications for Preservation Maryland and worked as the Executive Director for Hampden Village Main Street in Baltimore City. Ms. Seitz’s wide-ranging knowledge in strategic planning, public relations, marketing and economic development also includes work at the Howard County Economic Development Authority.
Ms. Seitz received her Bachelor’s degree in Historic Preservation from the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, VA. Her professional development includes the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Preservation Leadership certification and the Maryland Association of Nonprofits Standards of Excellence certification for nonprofit management.
Anirban Basu is Chairman & CEO of Sage Policy Group, Inc., an economic and policy consulting firm headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland with an office in Indonesia. The firm provides strategic analytical services to energy suppliers, law firms, medical systems, government agencies, and real estate developers among others.
In 2014, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan appointed him Chair of the Maryland Economic Development Commission (2014-2021). He also serves as chairman of the Baltimore County Economic Advisory Committee. He is also the Chief Economist to Associated Builders and Contractors and Chief Economic Advisor to the Construction Financial Management Association. He serves or has served similar functions for Visit Baltimore, Maryland Realtors, and Marcum, LLP.
He has lectured at Johns Hopkins University, most recently in Global Strategy, and has also taught international economics, urban economics, micro- and macroeconomics at Hopkins. His radio show can be heard weekdays on 88.1FM, WYPR, Baltimore.
In both 2007 and 2016, the Daily Record newspaper selected Mr. Basu as one of Maryland’s 50 most influential people. The Baltimore Business Journal named him one of the region’s 20 most powerful business leaders in 2010.
Mr. Basu has been on many boards over time, including First Mariner Bank, the Baltimore City Public School System, Port Discovery, the Baltimore School for the Arts, and Union Memorial Hospital. He is currently on the boards of the University of Maryland School of Law, St. Mary’s College, the University System of Maryland Foundation, the Center for Emerging Media, the Lyric Opera House and the Archdiocese of Baltimore School System.
Mr. Basu earned his B.S. in Foreign Service at Georgetown University in 1990. He earned his Master’s in Public Policy from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, and his Master’s in Economics from the University of Maryland, College Park. His Juris Doctor was earned at the University of Maryland School of Law. His doctoral work was completed at UMBC with a concentration in health economics.
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.
Kelly M. Schulz brings a wealth of knowledge to the Maryland Department of Commerce from her years of experience working in the government, in the private sector and as a small business owner. She had previously served as the Secretary of the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (DLLR) since her confirmation in February 2015 and is also a former member of the Maryland House of Delegates.
At DLLR, she was responsible for managing an agency with nearly 2,000 employees and an operating budget of more than $375 million. Under her leadership, Maryland’s apprenticeship program grew to its highest level since 2008, with more than 10,000 apprentices statewide. DLLR’s Employment Advancement Right Now (EARN) Maryland program received national recognition for both innovation and effectiveness and was named one of the Top 25 programs in the 2018 Innovations in American Government Award competition.
A former member of the Maryland House of Delegates representing Frederick County, she served on the Economic Matters Committee from 2011- 2015. In addition to local issues, then Delegate Schulz took special interest in legislation relating to banks and other financial institutions, business, occupations and professions, economic development, labor and employment, unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation.
Prior to embarking on a career of public service, Secretary Schulz sold real estate, worked as a program manager for a defense contractor and was a part-owner of a cyber security firm. She has received several awards including the Outstanding Recent Alumna Award from Hood College in 2011, and is proud to participate as a member in many local community organizations including the Libertytown-Unionville Lions Club and the Walkersville Volunteer Fire Company. Kelly is also a past Board member of the Frederick County Habitat for Humanity.
Secretary Schulz obtained her Associates degree from Monroe Community College in Rochester, New York and later obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Hood College in Frederick, Maryland.
A native of Warren, Michigan, Kelly currently lives in Frederick County, Maryland with her husband John Nowell and has two sons, Brandon and Bradley.
Zach Jones
Senior Director, Market Research
Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore
Zach joined the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore in September 2016, where he leads the research efforts of the organization. In his time with EAGB, he has provided research consulting services for partners like Baltimore Gas and Electric, Betamore, and numerous economic development organizations within the region. In partnership with the Maryland Department of Commerce, Zach has developed the Maryland Cybersecurity Asset Map, which catalogues the State’s world-class cyber ecosystem. His research focuses on benchmarking Greater Baltimore industry and labor markets against peer metropolitan areas to identify strengths and opportunities in the region.
He is also responsible for the content, design, and production of content marketing materials like the EAGB Industry Profile series and Annual Report. As the Baltimore Research Lead for the Brookings Institution Global Cities Initiative, he has worked with economic developers from across the nation along with local stakeholders to develop insights and identify opportunities for foreign direct investment in the region.
Zach graduated from Towson University, where he spent three years of his undergraduate career conducting economic research with the Regional Economic Studies Institute. Zach continued to conduct economic and policy research at Towson University, while concurrently building an extracurricular student entrepreneurship experience at the university.
Julie Lenzer
Associate Vice President, Innovation and Economic Development
Co-Director, UM Ventures
As Associate Vice President of Innovation and Economic Development and Co-Director of UM Ventures, Julie Lenzer is charged with fostering and deploying innovation to drive greater economic and social impact from the University. To accomplish this, she promotes and facilitates a culture of innovation and collaboration, working to connect and promote innovation assets across the university and with the external ecosystem including expanding industry partnerships and supporting the Greater College Park Initiative and Discovery District. She is also charged with maximizing synergies between UMD and the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB).
Prior to joining the University, Julie was appointed to lead the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OIE) within the U.S. Department of Commerce. In her capacity as Director of the OIE, she drove programs and policies that support innovative economic development such as innovation-based entrepreneurship and regional innovation clusters, deploying $40M in grants across the U.S. over her 2 ½ year tenure. As a Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Commerce, she was also tapped to represent the U.S. as the innovation lead at the G20 in China.
Prior to her political appointment, Julie was the Executive Director of the Maryland Center for Entrepreneurship (MCE), an initiative of the Howard County Economic Development Authority focused on igniting the entrepreneurial culture and bringing together the entrepreneurial ecosystem across the state. During her tenure, the MCE quadrupled its client base and saw the creation of new programs such as 3D Maryland, a leadership initiative connecting resources in additive manufacturing; the Conscious Venture Lab, an accelerator focused on Conscious Capitalism; and a technology transfer accelerator in partnership with Johns Hopkins Advanced Physics Lab and other leading research institutions. Ms. Lenzer was also the co-chair of Startup Maryland as well as co-founder and former CEO of the Path Forward Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, a nonprofit that helped women expand economic opportunity by starting and building growth-oriented businesses using technology transfer.
An award winning serial entrepreneur, Julie founded her first company, Applied Creative Technologies, Inc. (ACT), in 1995 as an IT solutions firm focusing on manufacturing operations and inventory control. With Fortune 500 clients, she grew the company to multi-millions in revenues, winning several national awards for workplace excellence. Through her 10-year leadership, ACT developed and commercialized ACTrax , a leading-edge production and warehouse management system, for which she negotiated the sale in 2005.
A sought-after speaker on topics such as leadership, innovation, and entrepreneurship, Julie has delivered keynotes and workshops across 4 continents. She has been quoted as an expert in media brands such as Entrepreneur, Inc, Fast Company and Forbes as well as the NY Times, Chicago Tribune, Baltimore Sun, The Guardian and the Boston Globe.
Julie was recognized as a 2014 Influential Marylander, 2013 Trailblazer in Technology, and as AT&T’s Innovator of the Year in 2011. She received designation for Excellence in Leadership in 2017 by Prince George’s County, a SmartCEO’s BRAVA award winner in 2014, and was the 2004 Athena winner. She was also named to Maryland’s Top 100 Women 2005, 2008 and 2014 at which time she joined the Circle of Excellence for sustained service to the community.
Benjamin Wu currently serves as the Deputy Secretary of the Maryland Department of Commerce. Wu has worked on behalf of the State of Maryland at the highest levels of federal and state government, as well as in the U.S. Congress, on issues related to innovation, competition, technology commercialization, international trade and economic development. A former U.S. Department of Commerce and DBED executive, Wu has developed several strategic plans to promote Maryland’s innovation economy, including the state’s current roadmap for the life sciences and cybersecurity industries. He has a substantive record of forging successful public-private partnerships to drive scientific research and development in the state and has collaborated successfully with Maryland’s industry, academia and federal, state and local governments to accelerate technology-led economic development and solidify its high-tech preeminence.
Wu previously served as the Maryland Assistant Secretary of Business and Economic Development and Senior Technology Policy Advisor, as well as the U.S. Deputy Undersecretary of Commerce for Technology and the U.S. Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy. At the U.S. Department of Commerce, Wu served as the Chief Operating Officer for the more than 3,000 employee, $500 million bureau that included the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg. In addition, Wu was Counsel for former Maryland Congresswoman Connie Morella and the Technology Subcommittee of the House Science Committee.
Martha Schoonmaker, CEcD is the Executive Director for the PIC MC Foundation, the entity that develops, manages and markets the Germantown campus on behalf of Montgomery College. PIC MC is an integrated academic, business and research campus and is the only community college with a hospital, Holy Cross Germantown Hospital, located as the anchor resident partner. Ms. Schoonmaker’s career in economic development includes positions in Virginia and Georgia prior to Maryland. During her tenure in Georgia, she worked in economic development positions for the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and Oglethorpe Power Corporation; as a consultant with Arthur Andersen; and while at Georgia Tech, as the manager of marketing and the Course Director for the Basic Economic Development Course. Ms. Schoonmaker worked as the Director of Business Development and Investment for Prince William County’s Department of Economic Development in Virginia. She participated in the department’s efforts to expand local economic initiatives creating over 3600 jobs during her tenure, and established BioTech Bonanza, a career day for high school students highlighting job and educational opportunities in the STEM field. She also developed the Prince William County Science Accelerator, a public/private investment of a 9,000 square foot wet lab and signing its first tenant prior to opening. Ms. Schoonmaker manages contracts, leases and partnerships with existing resident partners, including Holy Cross Germantown Hospital and is responsible for the development of corporate and trade association partnerships that expand internship, learning and career opportunities for students within PIC MC. She is past president of the Georgia Economic Developers Association, past board member of the Virginia Economic Developers Association, current committee member of the Maryland Economic Developers Association Professional Development Committee and an IEDC member.
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.
Pamela J. Ruff has served as Executive Director of the Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA) since 2000. MEDA is a statewide membership organization of nearly 500 public and private professionals dedicated to job growth and retention in Maryland. As Executive Director, Ms. Ruff is responsible for all aspects of management at MEDA and for their 501c3 entity, The MEDA Foundation, Inc.
Ms. Ruff has an extensive background in economic development marketing that began in 1981 when she joined the Baltimore Briefing Center (BBC) where she served in a number of capacities. The BBC expanded from a regional to a statewide focus and became the Maryland Communications Center (MCC) where Ms. Ruff served as Deputy Director. Both centers operated as the primary marketing support service for Maryland’s economic development professionals in both the public and private sectors.
As Executive Director of The Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA) Ms. Ruff has been responsible for the business operation of a statewide association providing programming, professional development and networking opportunities to nearly 500 public and private sector members throughout Maryland. She has built a portfolio of work that includes programs and partnerships bringing together regional, state, local, and private sector interests at all levels of economic development. Developing programs on topics as diverse as manufacturing, technology, community development, workforce development, environmental issues, and business development shows her proven understanding of the general and broad-based effort known as economic development. At MEDA, Ms. Ruff also oversees the delivery of economic development professional development courses that instruct knowledge and skills to the organization’s community of members.
Ms. Ruff is a Past President of Habitat for Humanity Susquehanna and a former director of the Havre de Grace Economic Development Advisory Board. She was a member of the Maryland Board, an advisory board to Maryland Life magazine. She Chairs the Membership Committee and serves on the Program Committee at Leadership Maryland.
Ms. Ruff earned her Bachelors of Science degree in Mass Communications from Towson State University and her Master of Liberal Arts from Johns Hopkins University. She is a 1998 graduate of Leadership Maryland and a 2006 graduate of the Harford Leadership Academy.
Ms. Ruff is a resident of Baltimore City.
Brad Gillis
Mr. Gillis is a Principal with Devreco Development Real Estate Company and a Senior Advisor for SVN–Miller Commercial Real Estate. Bradley specializes in the adding value to commercial real estate. Gillis has a history of sales and leases of Medical/Professional Office, Industrial and Investment Properties on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Delaware. Starting his commercial real estate career in 2004, Gillis has secured well over 300 transactions resulting in a career volume in excess of $300 million. Notable clients that Gillis has worked with include Peninsula Regional Medical Center, Nanticoke Memorial Hospital, University of Maryland Medical System, Walgreens, CVS, Zoetis and Safran. Active in his community, Gillis is Past President of the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce, and the youngest ever to serve as President. Gillis is a member of Salisbury Wicomico Economic Development, Greater Salisbury Committee, the Wicomico County Youth and Civic Center Commission, and in addition serves on the Career Advisory Board for Salisbury University. He holds the industry’s most prestigious designation, Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM). Bradley earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Hawaii Pacific University in Honolulu, HI. Mr. Gillis lives in Salisbury, MD with his wife Kim and sons Jackson and Beau.
Senior Vice President – Technology Transfer & Commercialization
Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO)
Stephen is currently Senior Vice President – Technology Transfer & Commercialization for the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO) where he oversees a number of programs that support entrepreneurial development and technology transfer at Maryland’s universities and federal laboratories. Before arriving at TEDCO, he spent ten years at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) in the roles of Assistant Vice President for Research and Director of the Office of Technology Development, and he worked for seven years in the Office of Technology Licensing at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Prior to working at Johns Hopkins, Stephen 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. Stephen graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Engineering Science from Loyola College in Maryland, and went on to earn a Master of Business Administration from the University of Baltimore and a Master of Science in Biotechnology from the Johns Hopkins University.
Conference Sponsors
The 2018 Primer for Economic Development in Maryland Sponsors
