2019 MEDA Fall Conference

Denise Lovelady was appointed as the State Director for USDA Rural Development serving Delaware and Maryland. Lovelady began her new role on November 13, 2017.
Lovelady brings over 20 years of executive and management experience in both the public and private sectors. Most recently, she served as District Liaison for Congressman Andy Harris (MD1), covering the rural areas of Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Her broad experiences, specifically in the areas of government, legislative affairs, public relations, economic development, agriculture, natural resources, real estate, and community outreach, provide an impressive foundation to be State Director for Rural Development. Her focus for the past several years has been understanding the issues that rural communities struggle with and working with all levels of government to find solutions that bring about economic opportunities while preserving the quality of family life in rural areas. A lifelong Maryland resident, she resides on Maryland’s Eastern Shore near Easton.
As State Director, Lovelady will use her leadership experience to oversee Rural Development programs in a customer-focused manner to restore prosperity in rural Delaware and Maryland.

Amy Menzer is Executive Director of Dundalk Renaissance Corporation (DRC), a community development corporation that mobilizes stakeholders to invest in greater Dundalk’s neighborhoods, economy, and quality of life. Since joining DRC in 2006, she has raised more than $11 million in grants and private financing to support the development and implementation of DRC’s revitalization strategy including a housing renovation partnership with private developers, home owner renovation loans and façade grants, marketing to attract the next generation, and main street business incubation. She is also the Past President of both the Community Development Network of Maryland, a statewide organization that focuses on policy issues affecting community development, building the capacity of its members, and promoting the value of community development, and of NeighborSpace Baltimore County, a community land trust. She holds a Ph.D from Johns Hopkins University in Geography and Environmental Engineering, where her dissertation focused on the revitalization of older suburbs.

Steven Skerritt-Davis is the Deputy Director of the Maryland State Arts Council where he oversees
statewide initiatives, including, the Individual Artist Awards, Community Arts Development, and Arts and
Entertainment Districts programs. Before joining MSAC, Steven was Director of External Relations at
Lumberyard Contemporary Performing Arts where he helped elevate the organization to national
prominence by securing grants and partnerships to build and expand its programs, implementing a
national scholarship program to increase diversity in dance education, and building a new residency
facility that is transforming a rural town in upstate New York into an arts destination. He is a graduate of
Brown University, having earned a BA magna cum laude after retiring from a ten-year career as a
professional ballet dancer. Steven has also worked as Program Coordinator for the National Dance
Project at the New England Foundation for the Arts, has served on grant panels for The Boston
Foundation, the Arkansas Arts Council, the New England Foundation for the Arts, and the Maryland
State Arts Council, among others, and has spoken about the impact of his work to a variety of audiences,
including the National Governors Association, the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, and the
Maryland Chapter of the American Planning Association.

Laurie has dedicated her career to helping make Baltimore an even better place to live and work. In the early 1980s, Laurie helped the city and area businesses start Downtown Partnership. She then served as its first President for over fifteen years. Following a stint at City Hall with Mayor O’Malley, Laurie worked as an independent consultant for nine years. During this time, she helped Waterfront property owners, Waterfront area attractions, and the City of Baltimore start Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore, Inc. In 2010, Laurie agreed to join the organization full-time as its Executive Director. In her spare time, Laurie paints and shows her artwork. She is also an avid swimmer, and is training for her first harbor swim from Fells Point to Tidepoint.

Benjamin H. Wu, an internationally recognized technology policy expert with more than 25 years of experience and management leadership, serves as DBED’s Deputy Secretary and Chief Operating Officer.

Danny graduated from Crisfield High School, received an Associate Degree in Accounting from Wor-Wic Community College and Business Administration at Salisbury University.

Danny is the current Executive Director for the Somerset County Economic Development Commission for the past 13 years. His position entitles him to focus on the retention and expansion of existing employers and the recruitment of new businesses to assist in the economic growth of Somerset County. He was previously employed with the State of Maryland in the Department of Labor, Licensing, & Regulation Agency for 12 years and formerly worked at the Carvel Hall Plant in Crisfield as Human Resources Manager, Time & Motion Study Observer for 10 years until its closing. He also owned & operated the Circle Inn Restaurant in Crisfield for 10 years.

Danny serves as the Secretary on the Executive Board for the Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA) and on the Board of Directors for the Lower Shore Workforce Alliance. He was the Past-Chairman of the Crisfield Area Chamber of Commerce and was formerly a councilperson for 8 years with the City of Crisfield. He is also active as a High School Sports official in soccer & basketball.

Danny was raised in Fruitland, Maryland until 1975 then later moved to Crisfield, Maryland. He moved to the Princess Anne area in 2008. He is married to his wife, Cheryl who is a private music teacher, has a son Keith who graduated from University of Maryland College Park majoring in Electrical Engineering, and has two grandchildren Daniel Ryon, and Kaiden Nickolas. He enjoys all types of sports, cooking, playing trumpet in church, & spending time with his family.

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.

Dr. Memo Diriker is the founding director of the Business, Economic, and Community Outreach Network (BEACON). Celebrating its 30th year in AY 2018-2019, BEACON is a Regional Think Tank and an Applied Business and Economic Research unit of the Franklin P. Perdue School of Business at Salisbury University. Dr. Diriker serves as the Board Chair of Leadership Maryland; Vice-President of the Network of International Business Schools; Board Member and Chair of the Quality Oversight Council of the Peninsula Regional Medical Center, and Board Member of Peninsula Regional Health System, as well as Peninsula Health Ventures. He is the Immediate-Past Board Chair of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce Foundation and Past President of the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce; Salisbury Sunrise Rotary, and the American Marketing Association in Boston. Dr. Diriker is a frequent contributor to print and electronic media as well as a popular public speaker.

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.

Tom McGilloway joined Mahan Rykiel in the fall of 2001 after 17 years of working at LDR International, Inc. Tom leads a broad range of master planning projects that include downtown/neighborhood revitalization, park planning and design, and campus master planning. Tom’s emphasis on and fluidity in managing stakeholder engagement processes adds value to his projects; fostering multidisciplinary and cross sector collaboration that aid in implementation and execution.

In his time at Mahan Rykiel Tom has led the Downtown Baltimore Open Space Plan; Downtown State College (PA) Master Plan; downtown revitalization charrettes and master plans for over 40 communities throughout Maryland, South Carolina, Mississippi and Vermont; the Bland Air Regional Park master plan in Howard County, MD; and the Southwest Sector Plan for University of Maryland, College Park. He is currently leading the master plan for Baltimore’s iconic Patterson Park and just completed the Lancaster (PA) Economic Development Strategic Plan. In addition to his professional experience, Tom is a frequent speaker at park and revitalization conferences and is active in preservation and revitalization in his own community. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture from the Pennsylvania State University.

COREY W. PACK is serving his third elected term on the Talbot County Council, after having been appointed in 2007 to fill a vacancy. Mr. Pack currently serves as President of the Talbot County Council.

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Mr. Pack attended Dundalk High School where he was recognized as a Scholar Athlete in 1982 by the Greater Baltimore Chapter of the National Football Foundation. Mr. Pack attended the University of Delaware, graduating in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice.

Since 1994, Mr. Pack has been employed with the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, and has served as a Field Supervisor in the Mid-Shore area since 2002. In 2013 the Department of Public Safety recognized him as an Employee of the Year.

Mr. Pack was the organizer of the 2007 Easton National Night Out and has organized the Martin Luther King, Jr. Basketball Classic bringing together middle school students in the Tri-County area since 2005.

Mr. Pack has also served as a Character Counts Coach, is a former member of the Talbot County Blue Ribbon Commission on Substance Abuse, and the Talbot County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. In 2007, Mr. Pack served as president of Talbot Partnership. From 2004 to 2006, he served as a facilitator of the Dorchester County Young Fathers Group. He serves on the Neighborhood Service Center Board of Directors and is a member of the Talbot County Department of Social Services Board. Mr. Pack previously served as the chairperson of the Caroline County Drug and Alcohol Abuse Council.

In 2010, Mr. Pack was recognized by the Talbot Partnership for his Outstanding Community Contributions and was appointed by the Governor to the Criminal Justice Information Advisory Board. In 2012 he was recognized by the Talbot County Branch of the NAACP for his community activism. He is a 2015 graduate of the MACo Academy for Excellence in Local Governance.

Mr. Pack is married to the former Maria Jones, who also grew up in Baltimore. The Packs have three children: Corey, Jr., Candace, and Tori. Mr. Pack is also the former coordinator of the New Hope Jail Ministry and is an active member of Union Baptist Church in Easton.

Keasha Haythe has been an Economic Development Professional for 15 years and served most recently as Dorchester County’s Economic Development Director from 2008-2016. In her role as Director, she developed a track record of initiating sound policies and innovative strategies to foster economic growth. Partnering with private and public stakeholders, she championed education, entrepreneurship and expansion of existing businesses as key economic drivers. She unveiled a countywide brand marketing campaign entitled “water moves us.” Ms. Haythe spearheaded the development of Dorchester County’s Technology Park and developed the Eastern Shore Innovation Center, the first business incubator on the Eastern Shore, which opened on February 4, 2016. She has secured more than $10M in funding for economic development projects, business expansions and start-ups.
Ms. Haythe is now the President of Zoe Economic Development Group, LLC., an economic development consulting firm she launched in March 2016. She provides business consulting and advisory services to individuals, businesses and local governments. Additionally, she is the founding executive director of The Foundation of HOPE, Inc., a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization established to help women and young girls. The first program launched under the foundation will be the Economic Development and Empowerment Program for sixth grade girls attending Easton Middle School. The program will cover topics including: addressing low self-esteem, bullying, social media, workforce development, economic and community development, entrepreneurship and financial literacy. The program will teach them to be community leaders and viable contributors to the future workforce.
Ms. Haythe is a Certified Economic Developer, a national recognition of professional skill mastery that denotes the highest levels of professional attainment and a commitment to continued growth. She is a member of many professional organizations and serves on the Board of Directors for the Eastern Shore Entrepreneurship Center, the Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA) Foundation, and was appointed by Governor Hogan to serve on the Maryland Marketing Partnership Board under the Maryland Department of Commerce. Additionally, she also serves as President of the MEDA Board of Directors.
Awards Include:
2009-What’s Up Eastern Shore, Mover and Shaker under 40
2011-Delmarva African American Pride, Outstanding Achiever
2011-Dorchester NAACP, Day of Service Award
2012- Daily Record, Leading Women under 40
2014-Dorchester Ministers & Citizens for Change Honors Award
2015-Daily Record, Maryland’s Top 100 Women
2015-Talbot NAACP Harriet Tubman Medal
2016-Fireflies “100 Women of Elegance” Award
An Eastern Shore native, Ms. Haythe is a member of TriLife Christian Center in Easton where she serves on the finance committee, ministerial team as an Ordained Evangelist and oversees the usher’s ministry. She is married to Marcus L. Haythe Sr., and they have three children; Marcus Jr., Miniah and Isaiah.

Mike Thielke is the executive director of the Eastern Shore Entrepreneurship Center (ESEC) which serves the startup and entrepreneurial needs of eight counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. In his role, Thielke provides leadership in the advancement of innovation entrepreneurship, and commercialization throughout the region and contributes to ensuring that the Eastern Shore is part of the greater statewide startup ecosystem. ESEC initiatives underway include ShoreVenture, a 10-week entrepreneurship training program; a $3 million revolving loan fund; hotDesks, a network of coworking spaces; DT2i, a 30-hour tech transfer/commercialization course offered at four regional community colleges; a $25,000 Eastern Shore Business Competition; Startup Weekends, and planned for 2015 Accelerate Delmarva, a 13-week accelerator program.

Starting his first business at the age of 23 in 1977, Thielke has been a lifelong entrepreneur. Born and raised in the Chicago area, he graduated with a B.A. in Russian Area Studies and International Economics from Knox College in central Illinois in 1975. For over twenty years, Thielke had a successful career in the international transportation and logistics industry, holding a series of positions ranging from founder/owner of a number of distribution and defense contracting businesses to senior management within Fortune 500 firms. Selling his last business in 1995, Thielke retreated to his home on Maryland’s Eastern Shore and transitioned his entrepreneurial skills into the non-profit sector. His entry into nonprofit activity, and most rewarding life experience, began with the Schooner Sultana project in Chestertown, MD as the founding executive director responsible for creating the organization and capital campaign that constructed the factually-documented reproduction of the 1768 schooner now known as the Schoolship of the Chesapeake which provides experiential education on the Chesapeake Bay to school groups in colonial history and environmental science.

Kara has served as the Executive Director of Downtown Frederick Partnership since October 2002. The Partnership is a historic preservation based economic development nonprofit that works to enhance, promote and preserve the vitality and livability of Downtown Frederick. The organization implements the Main Street Program, a downtown development framework developed by the National Main Street Center that is creating success in over 1,000 cities across the US.

Prior to joining the Partnership, Kara spent 5 years in San Antonio working as a neighborhood planner and a special projects coordinator. Kara also has worked in North Carolina, Iowa and Missouri. She has a bachelors from Iowa State University and a masters in planning from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Kara has more than 25 years of experience in the planning field, working for nonprofits, government agencies and consultants.

Mary Burkholder is Vice President of BAE Urban Economics. Inc., a real estate economics consulting firm based in San Francisco, California. Ms. Burkholder heads up BAE’s Washington, DC office and leads the firm’s Mid-Atlantic practice. BAE’s services for public and private sector clients include financial feasibility studies, market analysis, economic development strategies, public-private transaction assistance, and development advisory services.

Prior to joining BAE, Ms. Burkholder was Senior Vice President at Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation (AAEDC). While with AAEDC, she also served as Interim President and CEO, Director of the Community Reinvestment Initiative, and Director of Business Development. During her eight year tenure, she oversaw dozens of successful business transactions, led successful outreach to small businesses, marshaled through Arundel Community Reinvestment Loans for improvements to businesses, and helped to prepare a successful fund manager application for the State’s new casino-funded small business assistance program.

Prior to joining AAEDC she served as Senior Vice President, Housing & Economic Development at the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), the nation’s largest non-profit Community Development Financing Intermediary (CDFI). From 2009-2013, after leaving LISC, she served as a Senior Consultant to the organization, advising on foreclosure response and neighborhood stabilization to cities and towns across the country.

From 2004-2006 Ms. Burkholder served as Assistant Secretary and Executive Director, Community Development Administration overseeing Maryland’s housing finance agency at the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. There she managed all affordable housing programs in the state including a bond finance program, initiated the nation’s first statewide employer assisted housing program, and prepared and participated in annual meetings with bond rating agencies for housing revenue bonds.

Ms. Burkholder was employed at ZHA as Senior Associate for Maryland-based consultancy specializing in urban real estate and economic development from 2000 – 2004. There she performed market analysis for major commercial / residential developments, prepared redevelopment plans and economic development strategies for U. S. cities and towns.
From 1999 – 2000 she worked at the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs as Deputy Director overseeing business recruitment and retention for the State of Illinois. And from 1996 – 1999 she served as Assistant Secretary of Marketing for the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (Currently known as the Maryland Department of Commerce).
Ms. Burkholder served in a variety of positions at the City of Annapolis from 1988-1996 where she became the City’s first Economic Development Director.

Educated at University of Maryland with a Master of Public Health (degree completion, 2019) and Master of City Planning. She also has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Her Post Graduate and Executive Education studies include Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government for State and Local Senior Executives Leadership Training and University of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business for Executive Management in Housing and Public Finance

Ms. Burkholder has received a number of Awards and recognitions for her work.

Inspired by generations of watermen – and motivated to help restore the Chesapeake Bay in his career – Jordan spent summers at the University of Maryland’s Horn Point Laboratory. Working side by side with scientists, he learned to spawn and raise oysters while earning a biology degree from Salisbury University. Prior to starting BOE, Jordan held a variety of positions including Nursery Manager and Oyster Production Manager for Hooper’s Island Oyster Company. As CEO, he oversees daily operations, including credit aggregation and grow out operations.

Sam’s career and passion has been rooted in making agriculture and aquaculture more sustainable. In 2017 he started Biotrophics, a company that was first working with insects as a sustainable protein for animal feeds. Fast forward to now, and Biotrophics has a proprietary platform that can design and express recombinant proteins in yeast and insects to combat diseases and pests in livestock rearing. Biotrophics’ oral treatments have a 6-18 month development time vs. the 5-10 year traditional vaccine development timeline. Biotrophics’ first products involve salmon protection in open ocean aquaculture.

Roxanne Wolf has owned retail and distribution businesses and was  in the biotech industry before coming to Shore Gourmet. The project she is presently working on  is to promote and sustain the food and agricultural value-added businesses located on Maryland’s Eastern Shore and Delaware by providing focused assistance to start, grow and diversify niche crops.  As the foundation of the Eastern Shore’s culture and business is based on agriculture and natural resources, her goal is to maintain the quality of life and rural heritage in the region by serving to maintain sustainable agricultural and resource-based industries.

Cassandra Vanhooser, Director of Talbot County Economic Development and Tourism

Debbie Bowden is Director of Economic Development for Caroline County. Prior to taking on the leadership role for business and workforce development in the County, she represented the Maryland Department of Commerce in the Mid Shore region. Her time with Commerce was the culmination of 12 years of State service. Debbie joined the public sector after 20 years in the private sector owning and operating small businesses.

Debbie is a Delmarva native, and currently resides in Barclay with her family. She is a staunch advocate for the Eastern Shore, and strives to do her part for prosperity and economic viability for the place she calls home.

Dr. Michael Scott is an Associate Dean at Salisbury University and is the program director for Salisbury University’s Master of Science in GIS Management. He is also director of the Eastern Shore Regional GIS Cooperative at Salisbury University. He holds a master’s and Ph.D. in Geography, specializing in geographic information science, from the University of South Carolina. To date, his research at Salisbury University has focused on the use of GIS technology to support local government applications such as public transit routing, tracking failing septic systems, and analyzing land use patterns. Visit his website to learn more.

Susan Banks is the Director of Dorchester County Economic Development and has worked as a local economic developer for over five years. Combining her experience in customer service and communications for a global manufacturer and a local non-profit dedicated to environmental stewardship, she forges collaborative relationships between business owners, stakeholders. She holds an undergraduate degree in Political Science and master’s degree in Environmental Policy and Management and a Concentration in Planning.

Chris Rockey began his career with PNC bank in 1999. Today, he serves as Senior Vice President,
Territory Executive, National Expansion Markets, Community Development Banking. He is is a twice
decorated US Navy Combat Veteran. A few other notable awards include: PNC Performance Award,
Circle of Excellence and Market All Star. He also received the Pa Statewide Community Action
Association Sargent Shriver Community Service Award and the national Racial Wealth Gap Economic
Inclusion Award by the National Minority Affordable Home Builders.
Chris has a life-long commitment of service to community and country and serves on the Board of
Directors for the Baltimore Community Lending, Baltimore Business Lending, Associated Black Charities
(Treasurer), Center For Urban Families, Neighborhood Housing Services and the Jobs Opportunity Task
Force. He also received a gubernatorial appointment to serve on the Pa Community Development Bank
(2008-2012). Additionally he serves as the Executive Sponsor for the GMD PREP EBRG.
Chris has been married for 30 years to his wife Christine. Chris and Christine have 3 children and twin
grandchildren. Christian and Collin (US Navy) both grown, and a daughter Cassidy (9 th grade).

Life-long resident of Talbot County. Attended schools in Easton and graduated from Easton High School in 1959. In April 1961, started work at then, Waverly Press and employed there for 41 years until retiring in March 2002. Primary responsibilities included book fulfillment, traffic, employee safety, environmental regulations, permits and setting up a worldwide distribution system. Waverly’s distribution systems became more cost efficient and reliable than the U.S. Post Service and were later copied by Waverly’s competitors.

Married the former Betsy Lee Thompson from Oxford on September 2, 1961 and raised three children. Immediate family is comprised of our children, a son-in-law, a daughter-in-law and four grandchildren and one new great granddaughter. Oldest son is deceased. Our other son is an Easton High School and Salisbury University graduate and is now a sales representative for International Paper. My daughter, also an Easton High School and Salisbury University graduate.

Numerous civic activities. Member of the Easton Volunteer Fire Department for 57 years serving as secretary, treasurer, trustee and fire fighter. Member of the Easton Elks Lodge for 54 years; past president Easton Kiwanis Club; past member of the Board of Directors of the Safety Council of Maryland and a life-long member of the First Baptist Church of Easton. Also coached Little League baseball and football for 14 years. President of the Eastern Shore Association of Municipalities, 2002; and has served on MML Legislative Committee for 13 years. Inducted into MD Municipal League Hall of Fame in 2012.

Served the Town of Easton as a council member for six years before becoming Council President for another six years. Elected in May 2003 as Mayor.

In connection with duties at Waverly Press, then Cadmus, satisfactorily completed several courses offered by Virginia Tech, University of Maryland, George Washington University, Chesapeake College and University of Baltimore.

Member of the Board of Directors, Maryland Municipal League 2007-2008 and 2017-2018. Vice-President of Eastern Shore Association of Municipalities 2007-2008, Past President ESAM. Member of Government Advisory Committee for the Chesapeake Bay Commission for 12 years, MML District 2 Vice President 2017, 2018.

Mayor Robert Willey received the Prestigious Paul Harris Fellow Award from the Easton Rotary Club, December 2014.

Sandra began her professional career as a land use planner for Cecil County Government, but eventually moved to the nonprofit sector as a land protection specialist with the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy. In 2013, Sandra returned to public service as the Town Manager for the Town of Chesapeake City and in 2018 she made her way back to Cecil County Government in her current role. Sandra is presently a board member of the Elkton Chamber & Alliance and serves on the North East Economic Development Commission. She also serves as the Zone Administrator for Cecil County’s Enterprise Zone.

Sandra is an alumni of Salisbury University and holds a Bachelor of Science in Geography.