2019 Primer for Economic Development in Maryland
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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!
When
Fri, Mar 22, 2019 @ 8:30 am - 3:00 pm
Where
Loyola University Maryland – Columbia Campus, Program 230
8890 McGaw Rd
Columbia , 21045
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Conference Speakers
The 2019 Primer for Economic Development in Maryland Speakers
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.
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.
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.
Ms. Vaughn is responsible for managing the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) Office of Community Outreach. In that role, she develops and facilitates the implementation of the department’s community relations outreach activities. She also serves as the agency’s advocate in its service to communities, including providing close coordination and communication with key industry stakeholders. Through her work with representatives of various communities, organizations, and neighborhoods, Ms. Vaughn strengthens and forges new and existing relationships to maximize the department’s partnership opportunities and awareness building efforts statewide.
Previously, she worked at Fannie Mae, where she was responsible for managing the development and implementation of new business strategies that expanded Fannie Mae’s minority low and moderate-income book of business, with a focus on national partnerships serving these communities.
Ms. Vaughn has been in the finance and mortgage banking industry for over thirty years. She attended the College of San Mateo, in Northern, CA and Howard University, in Washington, DC. She is an alumnus of Leadership Prince George’s and has received several awards and recognition for her work in the housing industry.
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.
James E. Rzepkowski is the Assistant Secretary for the Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning at the Maryland Department of Labor. Within the Division are five Offices that implement the mission of the Division: Workforce Development, Adult Education & Literacy Services, Correctional Education, Fiscal Administration, and Workforce Information & Performance. From January 2019 to August 2019, he served as Acting Secretary of the Maryland Department of Labor.
Prior to his appointment by the Hogan-Rutherford Administration in February 2015, he served 8 years as the Corporate Director of Workforce Development at Constellation Energy Nuclear Group, LLC (CENG), headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland. He developed and implemented the company’s mission critical workforce development initiative leveraging strategic partnerships with educational institutions in multiple states to provide a pipeline of skilled and qualified workers to meet the growing needs of the energy industry. Mr. Rzepkowski represented CENG on numerous national industry association boards focused on adult learning and technical training as well as state and local workforce development organizations.
Concurrent to his employment at CENG, Mr. Rzepkowski was appointed to the Anne Arundel County Board of Appeals in January 2007 to a four-year term by unanimous vote of the Anne Arundel County Council. The quasi-judicial Board that renders final decisions on appeals related to zoning, variances, licenses, permits, personnel, and executive, administrative, and judicatory orders in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.
Prior to joining CENG in February of 2007, he served 12 years in Maryland State Government in both Executive and Legislative capacities – three years as an Assistant Secretary within Maryland’s Department of Business and Economic Development and nine years as an elected member of the Maryland House of Delegates representing the 32nd Legislative District in Anne Arundel County.
He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Government and Politics, with Phi Beta Kappa Honors, from the University of Maryland – College Park.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Thomas Sadowski is MEDCO’s fourth executive director, beginning his tenure in August 2021. Appointed by the MEDCO Board of Directors and approved by the Governor, Mr. Sadowski directs a staff composed of ten administrative, finance and development specialists whose responsibilities are to assist with financing, project development, accounting, and management of MEDCO’s projects. In his role as Executive Director, Tom is dedicated to furthering MEDCO’s important mission to help advance Maryland’s economic development interests and facilitate economic growth that benefits citizens and communities across Maryland. Tom brings to MEDCO a depth and breadth of experience, a passion for the economic well-being of Maryland, and enthusiasm for a vibrant economy that is sustainable and competitive.
Tom came to MEDCO with more than thirty years of economic development experience and has held leadership positions at local, regional, and state levels. He has worked across all industry sectors, including aerospace, autonomous systems, cybersecurity, quantum computing, robotics, bio-health, clean energy, advanced manufacturing, agriculture, and education-technology.
Prior to working at MEDCO, Tom spent 5 years as vice chancellor for economic development at the University System of Maryland (USM), a major player in the success of Maryland’s economy. As the USM’s first vice chancellor for economic development, Tom focused on leveraging the talent, resources, and programming at USM’s twelve institutions and three regional centers to support the state’s economic development efforts and help grow strategic industries. He served as the USM’s senior representative on university-industry-government collaborations statewide. Tom was the system’s primary liaison to the state in support of recruiting companies and retaining and growing existing companies. Within the USM, his role focused on venture creation, tech commercialization, industry and government research partnerships, and workforce development. He also launched the USM’s $10 million venture Maryland Momentum Fund.
Prior to joining USM, Tom served as president and CEO of the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore, where he focused on growing and attracting companies to the region and used federal and state grant dollars to create programs supporting innovation, commercialization, and entrepreneurship. He also served as director of the Harford County Office of Economic Development and as business development director for the Baltimore County Department of Economic Development.
Tom is very active in the community, serving as the chair of the board for Junior Achievement of Central Maryland, on the Board of Visitors for the University of Maryland Technology Institute (MTech), and on the boards of the Baltimore Metropolitan Council, Cyber Association of Maryland, Maryland Information Security Institute (MISI), Maryland Marketing Partnership, Maryland Technology Council, UMBC Training Centers, the University of Maryland Medical System/Upper Chesapeake Health Foundation, and the UMB Baltimore Fund Advisory Board.
He has received several honors, including the 2016 “Alumni of the Year, Distinguished Service” award from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and the 2014 “William Donald Schaefer Industrialist of the Year” award from the Baltimore Museum of Industry. He was also recognized by The Daily Record as a “Most Admired CEO” in 2015 and 2013 and an “Influential Marylander” in 2011.
A lifelong resident of Maryland, Sadowski earned his bachelor’s degree in political science, with a certificate in public administration and policy, from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) in 1989. He is married with five children.
Stephen McHenry has served as MARBIDCO’s Executive Director since December 2006. The majority of his career has been devoted in one way or another to serving the rural citizens of Maryland. He previously served as Executive Director of the Rural Maryland Council and Director of Government Affairs for the Maryland Municipal League.
As MARBIDCO’s Executive Director, Steve has overall management responsibility for the staff, budget, and day-to-day operations. Steve supports MARBIDCO’s Board of Directors, providing strategic visioning and implementation of policy while reporting on the performance of the organization. He develops and maintains relationships with key stakeholders, such as federal and State agencies, commercial banking institutions, farm and rural industry groups, agricultural land preservation organizations, and regional and local economic development agencies.
Steve also develops relationships with other providers of capital and credit, advises rural business owners on financing options, and ensures that MARBIDCO’s financing programs are meeting established credit underwriting and programmatic objectives.
Steve is a founding member and past chair of the Microenterprise Council of Maryland and Partners of Rural America. He serves on the boards of LEAD Maryland Foundation, the Maryland Forests Association, and the Keystone (Cooperative) Development Center. He also served for six years on the administrative council of the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (NESARE). Steve has also served in the past as chair of the Maryland Working Waterfront Commission and as a member of the Governor’s Intergovernmental Commission for Agriculture. Earlier in his career, Steve served on the Maryland Rural Broadband Coordination Board and as chair for both the Agricultural Education and Rural Development Assistance Fun Board (RMC). He also served on the advisory boards of the Maryland Rural Enterprise Development Center (UME), Institute for Governmental Services (UMCP), and the Northeast Regional Centerfor Rural Development.
Steve earned a bachelor of arts degree in social science (political science) from St. Mary’s College of Maryland and a master of general administration degree from the University of Maryland’s Graduate School of management and Technology. He is a member of several trade and professional organizations, including the Maryland Farm Bureau and the Maryland Economic Development Association. Steve was a member of the 2000 Class of LEAD Maryland and the 2002 Class of Leadership Maryland. A lifelong Maryland resident, Steve and his wife reside in Anne Arundel County. They have three daughters.
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.
John Genakos, Director of Development, Maryland Economic Development Corp (MEDCO)
Since its reorganization in 2015, Ms. Woepke has served as the Executive Director of the 25 voting and four (4) non-voting member Maryland Economic Development Commission. The Commission establishes economic development policy in the State and oversees the Department of Commerce’s efforts to support the creation, attraction and retention of businesses and jobs. Ms. Woepke coordinated the development of a Strategic Plan and works with the Department to oversee implementation, performance evaluation and tracking of the plan. She also coordinates the work of Subcommittees.
From its inception in 2015, Ms. Woepke has coordinated the Commerce Subcabinet, an 11 member State Agency Subcabinet with six (6) Workgroups – Customer Service; Job Creators; Small Business; Workforce Development; Regional Resources; and Sustainable Materials Management Maryland (SM3). The Subcabinet advises the Governor on proposals to enhance the State’s business climate, gathers information necessary to promotes its goals, collaborates to facilitate and expedite critical economic development projects; and provides additional assistance that may further the goals of the state and enhance business climate.
As part of senior leadership within the Department, she coordinates all Boards, Commissions, Councils and Authorities.
Prior to 2015, Ms. Woepke served as an Assistant Director in the Office of Military and Federal Affairs serving as the liaison to Fort George G. Meade, Walter Reed Military Medical Center, Joint Base Andrews, Naval Support Activity Annapolis and Army Research Lab Adelphia. Ms. Woepke was instrumental in the successful execution of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) decision, which resulted in over 19,000 direct jobs and nearly 20,000 indirect and induced jobs to the State.
Ms. Woepke also served in the Department as a Business Development Representative in the Capital Region assisting businesses of all industry sectors and size – from start-ups to large corporations.
Prior to joining the State of Maryland, Julie held Economic Development positions for El Cerrito, CA, Belmont, CA, Bowie, MD, Cape Coral, FL and Deerfield, IL.
Native of Chicago, Julie and her husband live in Annapolis and have two adult children.
Al Delia, Vice President of Regional Development & Engagement, Frostburg State University
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 as he implements meaningful programs and initiatives to succeed in the economy of today and tomorrow. During his tenure, he has helped create a cluster of telecommunications manufacturers and a growing life science sector, assisted in the formation and operation of a regional revolving loan fund, established the county’s first small business incubator, planned with the private sector a new industrial park and formed the county’s first business expansion fund for startup, existing and new businesses. He’s brokered more than $35 million in direct lending accounting for more than 6,000 jobs and more than $150 million in capital investment.
Ryan consistently serves on statewide task forces and committees, is a Past President of the Maryland Economic Development Association and is active on local advisory boards associated with Salisbury University, Wor-Wic Community College, and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. In addition, he is a member of the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Greater Salisbury Committee, the Delmarva Water Transport Committee and the Wicomico County Airport Commission.
From a community perspective, Ryan is active in Asbury United Methodist Church, serving as a past Treasurer and as an Executive Committee member to the Asbury Child Development Center, a pre-school ministry of the Church. He is a past board member of the United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore, the Salisbury YMCA and a Past President of Lower Shore Enterprises, a non-profit corporation connecting people with disabilities to job opportunities.
Ryan received his Bachelors of Science Degree in Marketing and Economics from Old Dominion University and his MBA from Salisbury University. He is a former tennis professional, the longest actively serving Economic Development Director for a major jurisdiction in the State of Maryland and is a member of the Maryland Economic Development Association Hall of Fame.
Heather Gramm joined the Maryland Department of Commerce in 2013 as Director of Regional Growth and Retention. In this role, she is responsible for the management, oversight and development of the Office of Business Development’s 12 regional business development representatives. Heather and her team work to enhance the economic vitality of the state through retention and expansion of business and industry across Maryland to facilitate the creation and retention of jobs and stimulate capital investment across the state.
Prior to joining Commerce, Heather spent 11 years in municipal economic development in a variety of roles, including work in neighborhood 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 on the board of directors for MEDA, the Frederick Innovative Technology Center and Rockville Economic Development.
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.
Kiesha Haughton is currently the Managing Director of the Maryland Women’s Business Center (MWBC) an SBA certified women’s business center that provides business training and counseling services to women-owned enterprises, enabling them to start, sustain, and achieve scalable growth. Prior to heading up the MWBC, Kiesha gained over 15 years of non-profit and entrepreneurship experience in providing economic development solutions to small businesses, NGOs, and government agencies. She is also the business owner of Abeja International, LLC which focuses on providing management consulting and training services that assist in improving economic development opportunities for small businesses overseas. As the Director for the Central Region of the Maryland Small Business & Technology Development Center (SBTDC) Network, she was responsible for the business management and training services provided to small- and medium-sized companies in Baltimore City and Baltimore, Howard, and Anne Arundel Counties. Under her leadership, the Central Region succeeded in becoming one of the top performing regions in the State, which has led to national recognition and a number of awards.
Prior to her accepting the role of Regional Director, Kiesha’s range of services spanned every aspect of starting, operating, and expanding the companies of small business owners. She has traveled extensively throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean and has done international development work with CARE Corps Peru.
Her educational background includes various business training certifications, an MBA from the University of Maryland with a concentration in international business, an MA in Global Finance, Trade and Economic Integration from the University of Denver, and a BA in Government & Politics and German from the University of Maryland. A Certified Global Business Professional (CGBP) through the NASBITE International Certification Program and an active member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Kiesha is a member of a number of boards and currently lives in Montgomery County.
Tammi Thomas serves as Chief Marketing & Communications Officer at the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO). In this role, she is responsible for the development of TEDCO’s marketing, public relations and communications strategy and will contribute to TEDCO’s organizational strategic operations.
Ms. Thomas, a seasoned administrator, has extensive managerial experience in the higher education sector and possesses a record of success in jump-starting initiatives and helping them flourish. With more than 25 years of experience in the marketing and public relations fields, she has served as advisor and consultant to senior-level executives in industry, government and academia; developed and executed comprehensive strategic, marketing and communications plans; coordinated and managed internal and external partnerships and initiatives; and facilitated large scale panels, workshops, and discussions involving a variety of executive and managerial-level individuals in the technology, government, and higher education communities.
Previously, Ms. Thomas served as chief of staff to the president at Bowie State University. She provided strategic leadership and support for the president’s initiatives and priorities. Prior to this position, she served as vice president of strategic management for Data Solutions & Technology Incorporated (DST). The company, headquartered in Lanham, Md., provides a full spectrum of professional services in information technology, logistics and operations, management, and scientific and technology support. Before DST, Ms. Thomas served as the director of University Relations and Marketing at Bowie State University for more than three years. She was also director of Business Development and Marketing at the University of Maryland Baltimore County’s Research Park and Business Incubator, where she served for eight years. She has taught marketing and communications courses at Bowie State and the University of Baltimore as an adjunct professor.
Ms. Thomas earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Alabama State University and a Master of Business Administration degree in International Marketing from the University of Baltimore. She is a contributor to A Practical Guide to Business Incubator Marketing (NBIA Publications, 2007) and a guest editor of Bowie State University’s Undergraduate Journal of Research and Writing Across the Curriculum (Bowie State University, 2013).
