2018 MEDA Winter Conference

Secretary Mike Gill is a business leader with four decades of experience as an entrepreneur, a technology executive, an investment banker, and a public servant.

​He was tapped by Governor Larry Hogan to lead the Maryland Department of Commerce (formerly the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development)​ in January 2015. Prior to his appointment, Mike Gill led Evergreen Advisors, an investment bank, as chairman and principal. Previously, Gill founded Hoyt Capital, an investment and advisory firm serving start​ups and growth companies. Mr. Gill was also a founder of First Page, which was acquired by Metrocall; served as chairman of Curtis Engine, a Baltimore power generator company; and was chairman of Bluefire Security Technologies, a mobile cybersecurity developer, from 2006 to 2008. In 1984, Gill founded AMERICOM, a Baltimore-based provider of cellular products and services to businesses in the area. Under Gill’s leadership, AMERICOM expanded nationwide with more than 1,200 team members. In 2000, it was acquired by Solectron. He started his career with IBM and held a number of positions in sales and marketing. He then became Director of Data Systems in the mid-Atlantic region for Ernst & Young.

Gill served on the University System of Maryland Board of Regents from 2004 to 2009, heading the audit committee and technology transfer and commercialization workgroup. His past and present board memberships also include the Calvert Hall Board of Trustees, Baltimore County
Economic Development Commission, St. Joseph’s Medical Center, Bay National Bank, and Towson University of Board of Visitors. He is also a member of the President’s Advisory Board at Clemson University.

Gill earned his B.S. in business administration from Towson University in 1974 after first attending Clemson University on a baseball scholarship. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree by Towson University in 1996.

Member of Senate since January 1975 (representing District 28, Prince George’s County, 1975-82; District 27, Prince George’s County, 1983-2002; District 27, Calvert & Prince George’s Counties, 2003-14; District 27, Calvert, Charles & Prince George’s Counties, since 2015).

Senate President since January 1987. Co-Chair, Legislative Policy Committee, 1987- (co-chair; management subcommittee, 1987-). Senate Chair, Investigation Committee, 1997-. Member, Rules Committee, 1983-; Executive Nominations Committee, 1991-98, 2001- Spending Affordability Committee, 1991-. Chair, Judicial Proceedings Committee, 1983-86. Deputy Majority Leader, 1983-86. Member, Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics, 1987-89. Board of Directors, State Legislative Leaders Foundation, 1987-. President, Southern States Senate Leaders Conference, 1988. President, Senate Presidents’ Forum, 1997-99. Chair, Southern Legislative Conference of Council of State Governments, 2001-02 (vice-chair, 1999-2000; executive committee, 2008-).

Member, Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland, 1975-1982, 1995-; Executive/Legislative Committee to Study the Feasibility of a Biennial Budget, 1985; Governor’s Oversight Committee on Liability Insurance, 1986; Chesapeake Bay Trust, 1987; Maryland Housing Policy Commission, 1987; Advisory Council on Lead Poisoning, 1987; Maryland Veterans Home Commission, 1987; State Commission on the Capital City, 1987-92; State House Trust, 1987-; Maryland 1992 Commission, 1989-94; Governor’s Task Force on Trees and Forests, 1990; Museum Assistance Review Panel, 1990-; Task Force on Affiliation Between Historic St. Mary’s City Commission and St. Mary’s College of Maryland, 1996; Hall of Records Commission, 1996-; Task Force to Study Retail Electric Competition and the Restructuring of the Electric Utility Industry, 1997-98. Presidential Elector, Maryland, 2000. Member, Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Committee, 2001-02; Maryland War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission, 2007-; Maryland Access to Justice Commission, 2008-14; Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Committee, 2011; Advisory Board on After-School and Summer Opportunity Programs, 2012-.

Member, House of Delegates, representing District 3, Prince George’s County, January 13, 1971 to January 8, 1975. Member, Judiciary Committee, 1971-75.

Resident of Calvert County. Born in Clinton, Maryland, December 3, 1942. Attended Prince George’s County public schools; Surrattsville High School; University of Maryland, B.S. (business administration), 1964; University of Maryland School of Law, LL.B., J.D., 1967. Admitted to Maryland Bar, 1967. Attorney. Member, American and Prince George’s County Bar Associations; Maryland State Bar Association (special committee on citizenship & law-related education, 2002-). Member, Calvert, Surratts, Brandywine, Nottingham, Fort Washington, and Upper Marlboro Democratic Clubs. Delegate, Democratic Party National Convention, 1992, 2000, 2004, 2012. Chair, Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee. Past officer or director of numerous boys and girls clubs; civic, fraternal, business, social and historical organizations. Board of Directors, Accokeek Foundation. Recipient of awards from Washington-area Boy Scouts, Prince George’s County Volunteer Fire Departments, Maryland Med-Chi, Maryland and Prince George’s County Police Departments, Sierra Club, and veterans groups. Outstanding Citizen, Prince George’s County Board of Trade. Outstanding Legislator, Maryland Municipal League. Public Service Award, AFL-CIO, Local 400. Outstanding Knight of Columbus. William P. Coliton Community Service Award, The Johns Hopkins University, 1986. Distinguished Alumnus of the Year, University of Maryland, 1988. Recognition Award, Maryland Association of Counties, 1993, 2004. William M. Bulger Excellence in State Legislative Leadership Award, State Legislative Leaders Foundation, 1997. Tyser Medallion, University of Maryland Alumni Association, 1999. Louis Goldstein Award for Public Service, Maryland AHEAD, 1999. Achievement Award, Surrattsville High School Foundation, 2000. John R. Hargreaves Distinguished Legislative Fellow Award, Institute for Public Affairs and Civic Engagement, Salisbury University, 2002. Alumni Hall of Fame, University of Maryland, 2005. Citation, Maryland Healthy Air Act Coalition, 2006. Marylander of the Year, Maryland Historical Society, 2007. National Conservation Leadership Award, Accokeek Foundation, 2009. Outstanding Service Award, University of Maryland College Park Foundation, 2010. Distinguished Service Award, Maryland Council for Social Studies, 2011. Distinguished Legislator Award, Maryland Municipal League, 2014. Married; five children; thirteen grandchildren.

Member of House of Delegates since January 14, 1987 (representing District 30, 1987-2015; District 30A since January 14, 2015). House Speaker since January 8, 2003. Co-Chair, Legislative Policy Committee, 2003- (member, 1994-). Member, Rules and Executive Nominations Committee, 1994-; Spending Affordability Committee, 2003-. Member, Judiciary Committee, 1987-91. Deputy Majority Whip, 1993. Chair, Economic Matters Committee, 1994-2003 (member, 1991-2003; home inspection industry subcommittee, 1991). Co-Chair, Joint Committee on State Economic Development Initiatives, 1995-96. House Chair, Joint Committee on Health Care Delivery and Financing, 1995-98. Member, Special Joint Committee on Competitive Taxation and Economic Development, 1996-97. House Chair, Joint Committee on the Port of Baltimore, 2000-03. Chair, Speaker’s Advisory Committee on Legislative Redistricting, 2001-02. Member, Joint Committee on the Selection of the State Treasurer, 2002. Chair, Anne Arundel County Delegation, 1992-93 (member, capital projects subcommittee, 2005).

Chair, State Commission on Physical Fitness, 1989-94. Member, Governor’s Commission on Baltimore City Automobile-Insurance Rate Reduction, 1995. Board of Trustees, Maryland Historical Trust, 1995-. Member, Advisory Committee to Study Funding Mechanisms for the Maryland Insurance Administration, 1997-98. Co-Chair, Study Panel to Review Economic Development Financing Programs, 1999. Member, State Commission on the Capital City, 1999-; Governor’s Task Force to Study the Injured Workers’ Insurance Fund, 1999-2000; Task Force on Regulatory Reform, 1999-2001; Government House Trust, 2003-; State House Trust, 2003-. Interim Chair, Board of Directors, University of Maryland Medical System Corporation, 2008 (member, 2004-). Member, Maryland War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission, 2007-; Maryland Access to Justice Commission, 2008-; Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Committee, 2011; Advisory Board on After-School and Summer Opportunity Programs, 2012-.

Resident of Annapolis. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, January 4, 1947. Graduated from St. Mary’s High School, Annapolis; Temple University, B.S. (education), 1970. Teacher and coach, St. Mary’s High School, 1973-79. Administrator for youth athletics, Department of Recreation and Parks, Anne Arundel County, 1979-. Delegate, Democratic Party National Convention, 2012. Served on a number of local boards, including those for Charles Carroll House, Inc.; Banneker-Douglass Foundation; Annapolis Touchdown Club. Coach of the Year (football), 1978; Man of the Year, Anne Arundel County Lacrosse Association, 1982. Anne Arundel County Sports Hall of Fame, 2004. Legislator of the Year, Annapolis & Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce, 2005. Citation, Maryland Healthy Air Act Coalition, 2006. Honorary Park Ranger, Maryland Park Service, 2008. Distinguished Legislator Award, Maryland Municipal League, 2008, 2011 (certificate of appreciation, 2007; municipal super star, 2009). John R. Hargreaves Distinguished Legislative Fellow Award, Institute for Public Affairs and Civic Engagement, Salisbury University, 2008. Legislator of the Year, Maryland State Medical Society (MedChi), 2009. Champion for Children, Department of Human Resources and Maryland State Bar Association, 2010. John V. Kabler Memorial Award, Maryland League of Conservation Voters, 2010. Distinguished Legislator Award, Maryland Municipal League, 2011. First Citizen Award, Maryland Senate, 2012. Public Education Advocate Award, Public School Superintentendents’ Association of Maryland, 2012. Sara Carter Award, Anne Arundel County Democratic Central Committee, 2012. Outstanding Service Award, University of Maryland College Park Foundation, 2012. Married; two children.

Senator J.B. Jennings represents the 7th District of Baltimore and Harford Counties.

He is a life-long Marylander; attended and graduated from Baltimore County Public Schools and went on to receive his degree from the University of Baltimore.

He currently serves as the Minority Leader of the Maryland State Senate. In this capacity, as the highest ranking Republican in the Senate, he works directly with Governor Hogan and leads the Republican Caucus.

J.B. serves on the Senate Finance Committee, as well as the Executive Nominations Committee, and the Senate Rules Committee.

He has been the lead sponsor of numerous pieces of legislation that have now become law; many of which benefit military veterans, improve education and protect second amendment rights.

For almost 20 years, he has owned and operated a small business in northern Baltimore County. Additionally, J.B. is a proud member of the Maryland Air National Guard where he still serves to this day.

J.B. and his wife, Michelle, and their two children, J.W. and Kate, live on a farm in Harford County where they board horses and raise cattle and poultry.

Member of House of Delegates since January 10, 2007 (representing District 31, 2007-15; District 31B since January 14, 2015). Minority Leader, 2013-. Member, Health and Government Operations Committee, 2007- (insurance subcommittee, 2007-; minority health disparities subcommittee, 2007-11; government operations subcommittee, 2011-14; ranking minority member designated by republican caucus, 2009-11; estates & trusts subcommittee, 2015-); Legislative Policy Committee, 2013-; Spending Affordability Committee, 2013-; Rules and Executive Nominations Committee, 2014-; Consent Calendars Committee, 2015-. Member, Joint Committee on Federal Relations, 2010-14; Joint Committee on Base Realignment and Closure, 2011; Joint Committee on the Selection of the State Treasurer, 2015. House Chair, Anne Arundel County Delegation, 2013 (chair, work group on correctional facilities residential drug treatment, 2008-09; member, work group on clean & healthy waterways, 2009-10). Member, Maryland Veterans Caucus, 2013-.

Community liaison for County Council member Ronald C. Dillon, District 3, Anne Arundel County, 2002-06. Member, Drug and Alcohol Abuse Council, Anne Arundel County, 2005-07. Member, Statewide Empowerment Zones for Seniors Commission, 2008-09; Maryland Council for New Americans, 2009-10; Maryland Communities for a Lifetime Commission, 2010-11; Maryland Health Care Reform Coordinating Council, 2011-.

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, January 26, 1979. Attended Chesapeake High School, Pasadena, Maryland; Anne Arundel Community College. Manufacturer Representative, REPS & Associates, Inc., 2000-. Restaurant Manager, FriendCo Restaurants, 1995-2000. Autism Awareness Advocate, 2003-12. Vice-Chair, Maryland Interfaith Recover Coalition, 2005-06. Volunteer, Habitat for Humanity, 2005-08. Delegate, Republican Party National Convention, 2012. Member, Chesapeake Bay Foundation; Coastal Conservation Association; Maryland Farm Bureau; Boulevard Park Improvement Association; North County Republican Club; National Rifle Association. Chair, Church Council, Our Lady of the Chesapeake Catholic Church, Pasadena, Maryland, 2001-02. Married; one child.

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.

Sean Looney is Vice President, State Government Affairs for Comcast NBCUniversal. 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 has served as 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 Travis Manion Foundation, 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, MD and Avon-by-the-Sea, NJ. Sean received a Masters of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Commerce from Rider University in Lawrenceville, NJ.

Donald C. Fry has been the president and CEO of the Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC), the central Maryland region’s most prominent organization of business and civic leaders, since November 2002.

The GBC serves as a knowledgeable and highly credible business voice in the Baltimore region, Annapolis and Washington, D.C., on policy issues and competitive challenges facing Maryland. Its mission is to apply private-sector leadership to strengthening the business climate and quality of life in the region and state.

Fry served as GBC executive vice president from 1999 to 2002. From 1980 to 1999 Fry was engaged in a private law practice in Harford County. During this time he also served in the Maryland General Assembly. He is one of only a handful of legislators to have served on each of the major budget committees of the General Assembly.

Serving in the Senate of Maryland from 1997 to 1998, Fry was a member of the Budget and Taxation Committee. As a member of the House of Delegates from 1991 to 1997 Fry served on the Ways and Means Committee and on the Appropriations Committee.

Fry is a 1979 graduate of the University of Baltimore School of Law. He earned a B.S. in political science from Frostburg State College.

Tami Howie, CEO, Maryland Tech Council

Over the past 20 years Tami has helped technology companies grow in the Mid-Atlantic region and nationwide from start up to public companies and beyond. Tami has been involved with the successful exits of over 150 companies and has represented technology companies, investors, SBICs and underwriters such as JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley. Tami spent 13 years as a partner in distinguished law firms such as DLA Piper and Cooley and most recently was with a $75 Million technology government contractor where she served for 5 years as the General Counsel and most recently President.

Tami has served on several organizational boards including most recently the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Maryland and as counsel in her early career for the Mid-Atlantic Venture Association. In addition, she has served the tech community by participating as a speaker, committee chair or legal advisor for both the DC Tech Council and Tech Counsel of Maryland. Tami has been named one of America’s Top Lawyers and has received the Young Gun Award from the Washington Business Journal.

Tami is active in the arts community in Annapolis both as an advisor and performer where she performs in bands and theater with her husband.

Christine A. Ross joined the Maryland Chamber of Commerce as President/CEO in July 2016. Ms. Ross previously served as CEO of the Greater Bonita Springs Chamber transforming the 1,000-member organization through difficult times and winning the coveted five-star accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for effectiveness and impact. She advocated for regulatory changes to improve the region’s competitive business climate, and worked to ensure quality workforce and education reform, progressive infrastructure planning for transportation, and technology.
Ross also led a wide range of economic development activities such as long range broadband planning for a five county area of 1.2 million residents as well as a a state-wide strategic update for the Enterprise Florida 2014-17 economic development plan.
She was voted Chamber Executive of the Year by the Florida Association of Chambers of Commerce Executives and her Chamber was recognized as Florida’s Chamber of the Year in 2014. That same year she earned her Certified Chamber Executive (CCE) status, only 500 chamber executives in the US have earned this designation.
Prior to her service at the Bonita Springs Area Chamber, Ross served in similar positions at the Falmouth, MA and Williamstown, MA chambers for a total of nine years. She also worked as the Program Director of the Berkshire Visitors Bureau and as Marketing Director at the Pittsfield, MA Tourism Council prior to her Chamber experience.
Ross has several Maryland connections including earning an MBA and a Master’s in Marketing from the University of Maryland University College. She earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va. Ross is married and has three grown children, two of whom are in graduate school in the Washington, D.C. area.

Born on February 8, 1963 in Boksburg, South Africa, Gavin was raised in Perth, Australia by his single mother, Pauline. He attended Belmont City College located in Australia’s southwest coastal area near the Indian Ocean. Gavin worked his way across the world after departing Perth in 1984 after he dropped anchor in Spa Creek in 1992 with only $200 in his pocket, fell in love with Annapolis for its unique blend of history, maritime culture, and small-town friendliness, and fell in love again when he met future wife, Annapolis local Julie Williams. They married in 1997 and together they are now raising two children, Dash & Miles.

From his first job as a server at Middleton Tavern, Gavin showed the vision and entrepreneurial spirit for which he is so well known. He quickly learned the basics of business, raised capital, and navigated bureaucracy to open Annapolis’ first coffee shop, The Moon, in 1993.

In time, Gavin began to see potential in West Street – then considered the “wrong part of town,” where drug deals and prostitution were common. He opened pan-Asian restaurant, Tsunami, in 2000. A diverse group of residents, passionate about their community, responded to his vision and Tsunami soon became “the place” to be. Tsunami’s success encouraged Gavin to establish new restaurants, including Lemongrass and Metropolitan in 2005 and Sailor Oyster Bar in 2016. All of his business ventures are located on West Street in Annapolis.

But becoming a successful businessman was just the beginning for Gavin. His dedication to West Street and its communities inspired Gavin to help create the Sunday Arts Festivals, followed by the Annapolis Fringe Festival, the Chocolate Binge Festival, the Annapolis Color Run, West Street Holiday Light Canopy, and the wildly popular Dining Under the Stars.

Gavin is committed to preserving the historic character of Annapolis with leadership and vision to ensure it remains a dynamic, living city. This is why he challenged and defeated the City’s plan to demolish 100-year-old homes on West Street to make way for an 800-car garage. This area is now the West Village Precinct – a flourishing hub for local businesses, residents, and visitors.

Gavin knows that community connections are at the heart of West Street’s transformation. He has served on the boards of Friends of St. Johns College, Visit Annapolis and Anne Arundel County’s Citizens Advisory Board, and the West Street Business Association. Gavin also is a member of the Anne Arundel County Chapter of the NAACP and a founder of the Annapolis Arts District. He is longtime champion of public art and supporter of local musicians.

Elected Mayor of Annapolis in November 2017, Gavin is committed to bringing together business owners, community leaders, and residents to develop innovative ideas and economic opportunities for Main Street, Maryland Ave, West Annapolis and all parts of the city. These include 21st century transit solutions, a more transparent development process, strong community policing, and greater focus on the needs of the local community.

Gavin imagines an inclusive city, full of opportunities for all citizens as part of his One Annapolis vision. He is committed to our shared community and our shared future. His vision is for a vibrant, sustainable, and inclusive Annapolis with infrastructure, services, and events that make it a wonderful place to work and live for all.

JULIE A. MUSSOG, President and CEO of Anne Arundel County Economic Development Corporation, was appointed on November 1, 2016. Prior to her appointment, she served as Controller of Anne Arundel County and as Special Assistant to the County Executive for Anne Arundel County. Prior to working at the County, she worked at the State of Maryland as a Legislative Aide. Prior to her time at the State of Maryland she worked at various finance and accounting roles in the private sector including PricewaterhouseCoopers, Pulte Homes and Dell, Inc. She has 20 years of experience in the private and public sector.

Ms. Mussog holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, Ann Arbor and a Masters of Business Administration degree from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, Ann Arbor. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a member of the Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants and the Government Finance Officers Association.

Heather Gramm joined the Maryland Department of Commerce as Senior Director of Strategic Industries and Entrepreneurship in June 2019. In this role, she oversees the development and implementation of the state’s efforts to grow the strategic industries of biohealth and life sciences, cybersecurity and aerospace, manufacturing, energy and agriculture. In addition, she oversees Commerce’s strategic initiatives for entrepreneurship, small business, and workforce development.

Prior to this role, she served as Deputy Director for the Frederick County Office of Economic Development overseeing the county’s business development efforts, including business attraction, retention and expansion, small and minority business development strategies, as well as industry-sector development in the county’s targeted sectors.

Heather has more than 17 years of experience in municipal, county and state economic development in a variety of roles including business development, community development and downtown revitalization. She earned a B.A. in Business Administration from Hood College and the Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) certification through IEDC. She serves as President of the Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA) Board of Directors.