2022 Rural Economic Development Session

Steve McGee grew up in western Pennsylvania and graduated from the US Coast Guard Academy with a Bachelor’s Degree in Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering. After 21 years as a commissioned officer, he retired as a Commander. His time in the service was primarily focused on the design, inspection, and salvage of commercial vessels. Prior to joining Chesapeake Shipbuilding Corp. as the Director of Design and Engineering in 2015, he ran his own naval architecture consulting company and was employed by a major international salvage company recovering shipwrecks in the US, Mexico and Chile. In early 2018, he was promoted to President of the shipyard and also hired as the Vice President of Engineering for American Cruise Lines and continues to hold both positions today.

McGee is a Registered Professional Engineer and has two Masters Degrees from the University of Michigan, one in Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering and the other in Aerospace Engineering. He and his wife Jennifer have a combined 6 children spread around the US and Japan and reside on a farm along the bank of the Pocomoke River in Snow Hill.

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 12 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.

He was the Past-Chairman of the Crisfield Area Chamber of Commerce and Somerset County Economic Development Commission. Danny serves as a board member for the Maryland Economic Development Association, Lower Shore Workforce Alliance, and was formerly a councilperson for 8 years at 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.

Melanie A. Pursel, M.S
Director, Worcester County Office of Tourism & Economic Development
In April 2020, The Worcester County Commissioners named Melanie Pursel as the new
Tourism director. Pursel, respected for her contributions to the business community,
marketing, and tourism, as well as workforce and economic development was swiftly
promoted to the Director of the newly formed Office of Tourism & Economic
Development in November of 2020.
With 23 years of experience, she also served as the president and chief executive
officer for the Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce from 2007 to 2020, where her
strong marketing, leadership, and communication skills allow her to play key roles in the
sales, promotion, and marketing of Worcester County and Ocean City. She established
the chamber as the premier business organization in the region, headed strategic
planning for the organization, and spearheaded numerous other business, advocacy
and tourism initiatives. She works cooperatively with other local, regional, and state
tourism and economic development partners to grow business and tourism on the
Eastern Shore.
In her tenure with Worcester County, she helped lead a comprehensive re-branding
effort for Maryland’s’ Coast in an effort to illustrate Worcester county’s assets as a
premier destination as well as an ideal region to start a business. She places all
advertising and marketing for Worcester county as a destination to drive visitation and
commerce and also works with the recruitment, attraction and retention of new
businesses. Previous positions include leadership roles at the Perdue School of
Business at Salisbury University and the Lower Shore Workforce Alliance.
In 1997 she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, with a minor in Business
Administration and Marketing from Salisbury University. She then went on to earn a
Master of Science in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from the University of
Baltimore, with a focus on management, statistical analysis, leadership, and
organizational and community development. 
Pursel resides in West Ocean City with her husband, Bruce, and two teenage sons, one
a senior at Stephen Decatur and the other a Sophomore at SU. She is actively engaged
in the community, serving on the Perdue School’s Executive Advisory Council, Maryland
Tourism Coalitions Legislative Committee, AGH Foundation Board, Beach to Bay
Heritage Area Board, Delmarva Discovery Museum Board, and Ocean City Tourism
Commission.

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 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.

Franklin N. McNeil, Jr., a Community Consultant with PNC Bank’s Greater Maryland, Community Development Banking team, is a 1983 graduate of the U. S. Naval Academy. Originally from Memphis, TN, upon graduation from the academy he served in the Marine Corps for 8 years as an artillery officer until 1991. He had many wonderful experiences in the Corps, including the honor of being chosen to be a White House Social Aide during the George H. W. Bush administration.

He then worked for the Baltimore Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond for 16 years where the majority of his career was spent in the Community Affairs Department working in the community economic development arena throughout Maryland, West Virginia and the metropolitan DC areas. In February of 2008, Frank became a charter member of PNC’s Greater Maryland Community Development Banking team where his job includes outreach to the community; writing and presenting grants and sponsorships; providing and teaching financial education materials to the community; partnering with non-profit organizations, local municipalities and neighborhood associations to find creative financial solutions to community needs through services and resources; identifying lending and investing opportunities; and participating in strategic development and support of PNC’s low- and moderate-income (LMI) branches.

Frank is also very active in his community and either currently serves or has served in board leadership roles with several non-profit organizations that provide health and human services or other related services to the LMI population including the Maryland Philanthropy Network, Chase-Brexton Health Services, Community Law Center, Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts, Baltimore Station, Iron Crow Theater, The Maryland LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce Foundation, USNA Out and he co-chairs the LGBTQ+ Fund at the Baltimore Community Foundation. In 2019, he was selected to be a member of the Governor’s Financial Education and Capability Commission. He is also very active in his faith community at First and Franklin Presbyterian Church here in Baltimore where he met his husband, Paul Fowler in 1995.

Dr. Heidi M. Anderson joined the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) as the
sixteenth president on September 1, 2018. 
A first-generation college graduate, Dr. Anderson continues on the path of mentors that
she admires, dedicating her lifework to making educational opportunities accessible. 
At UMES, Dr. Anderson immediately established her team, and they are developing
strategies that will grow enrollment and improve retention; they have added a physician
assistant master’s degree program, a bachelors in sports management and bachelors in
digital media studies.  Construction of a $95 million academic building for UMES’
School of Pharmacy and Health Professions is underway, having received authorization
from the 2019 Maryland General Assembly. 
Dr. Anderson has nearly two decades of leadership experience in higher education, and
many productive initiatives under her belt that help students gain access to college –
and enable them to thrive when they get there.  Prior to coming to UMES, she was the
Provost at Texas A&M University-Kingsville (2015-2017) and Provost at the University
of the Sciences in Philadelphia (2013-2015).  Between 2006 and 2013, she held several
positions at the University of Kentucky. She managed multi-million dollar budgets,
raised money for academic facilities and negotiated collaborative agreements with
external partners. She was the first African American to serve as president the
Accreditation Council on Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE), the national accrediting
body for pharmacy programs nationwide, a role she held twice. 
Recently, in 2019 she completed Leadership Maryland.  In 2020, she received the
Influential Marylander’s Award and Maryland’s Top 100 Women both by the Daily
Record. 
Dr. Anderson a native of Gary, Indiana, earned three degrees from Purdue University:
Ph.D. in pharmacy administration, M.S. in education and B.S. in pharmacy.

Theresa V. Queenan, Ph.D., is the Director of Career and Professional Development Center at the
University of Maryland Eastern Shore located in Princess Anne, Maryland. She has a strong commitment
to academic integrity and ethical standards within higher education. Dr. Queenan, has spent many years
in higher education and serves as a mentor, educator, and advocate for students. She is a certified
Mediator, Career Development Coach, Job/Career Transition Coach, and also received certification from
the University of Richmond Leadership Institute.
She has developed and implemented programs to educate students about careers, how to transition into a
global workforce, while also developing employer contacts and job search resources for students. Her
mission is to prepare students by providing services and career related programs that will help them
become competitive in today’s global workforce, while also meeting the rapidly changing career needs of
the job market.
Prior to working at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Dr. Theresa V. Queenan, worked for the
United States Peace Corps, where she was responsible for the overall planning, management
implementation of educational enhancement, and training programs for various countries in Francophone
West Africa. She conducted cross-cultural training for new volunteers and served as the liaison for
overseas staff and U.S. Peace Corps Headquarters. She was instrumental in host government negotiations
to open Peace Corps programs in Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde. Dr. Queenan analyzed, evaluated and
monitored the effectiveness of all in-country programs and administered overseas staff operation budgets,
logistical and volunteer/trainee activities. She has traveled to Portugal, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, Togo,
Senegal and Benin.
Dr. Queenan, holds a Ph.D., in Organizational Leadership from University of Maryland Eastern Shore, an
M.Ed., in Counseling from Howard University and a B.S., in Psychology from Millersville University.
She is a member of the College Placement Council, Mid Atlantic Primary Association Cooperative
Education Innovation of Maryland, The National Career Development Association, Career Resource
Manger Association. National Association of Colleges and Employers and Delta Sigma Theta, Sorority
Incorporated. Dr. Queenan, has received various awards and has served on numerous committees such as;
University of Maryland Eastern Shore Accreditation Team, University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Student Affairs Strategic Plan Committee, Student Life and Enrollment Management Retention
Committee. As the Director of the Career & Professional Development Center contributions and
accomplishments have been the positive impact and success achieved by students. The true rewards have
been from students’ success and tenacity. I consider these to be real world educational contributions.

Kirkland J. Murray
Advisory Committee Member, AIB Pillar 3 – College & Career Readiness
President & CEO, Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corporation
Kirkland J. Murray is the President and CEO of Anne Arundel Workforce Development
Corporation (AAWDC), the workforce service provider for Anne Arundel County,
Maryland. He also proudly serves as a member of the AIB Advisory Committee for Pillar
3, College and Career Readiness. With a background rooted in Economic Development,
Kirkland has transformed AAWDC into an intelligence-driven organization.  Through this
work, AAWDC has become nationally recognized for its industry sector training model,
addressing the essential “soft skills” gap, and developing innovative work and learn
opportunities.  Kirkland is now shifting focus to get more candidates off the sidelines
and into successful careers through targeted strategies aimed at upskilling youth and
individuals in poverty. This includes successful implementation of Blueprint for
Maryland’s Future focusing on delivering quality career counseling and working with
partners to expand youth apprenticeships.