Board of Directors

Richard Griffin, AICP, CEcD is the Director of Economic Development for the City of Frederick.
In that role oversees four City Departments including the Department of Economic
Development, Downtown Parking Department, Frederick Municipal Airport, and Weinberg
Center for the Arts. Griffin is accredited economic developer and urban planner with over 30
years of experience.
During his 23-year tenure in Frederick he has overseen major City Projects including the design
and development of award-winning Carroll Creek Park, airport expansion, and parking garage
development along with coordinating complex development projects delivering jobs and tax
base in downtown and commercial corridors. He has worked with many businesses in Frederick
including AstraZeneca, Fort Detrick, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Stulz,
Wilcoxen, Precision For Medicine, and many small mom and pop shops, and minority and
women owned businesses.
Richard has experience working at the city, county, regional, and federal level in Maryland,
Virginia, North and South Carolina and Washington State. He served on the district staff of the
late US Representative James Clarke from the 11th District of NC. He is a US Army veteran
having served as a Cavalry border guard on the East German Border during the cold war and as
a commissioned Armor officer in the NC National Guard and Army Reserves.
Mr. Griffin holds degrees from Western Carolina University and Clemson University. He serves
on the Board of Directors for the Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA), Fort
Detrick Alliance, the Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc, and others. He is Rotary Paul
Harris Fellow and volunteers as a scout leader and youth mountain bike race team coach. His
wife Lynne is a FCPS teacher and they live, work, and play in Downtown Frederick.

As TEDCO’s Chief Development & Marketing Officer, Tammi is primarily responsible for the overall strategic direction, leadership, execution and management of TEDCO’s marketing and fundraising strategies designed to broaden awareness of and resources for TEDCO and its various programs; this includes the development and implementation of the organization’s brand, marketing, and communications strategy.

Her leadership and knowledge are instrumental in forging relationships that will enable TEDCO to expand their reach and services, diversify resources and grow the innovation ecosystem as well as establishing TEDCO as the most recognized organization in Maryland for identifying, investing in, and growing technology-based businesses. Driven by this mission, she serves as TEDCO’s internal subject expert on media and public relations, social media, brand messaging, marketing, and special events.

Her resume includes C-suite positions as the Vice President of Strategic Management at Data Solutions & Technology Inc., a full-service technology solutions provider; and as the Director of Business Development and Marketing at the University of Maryland Baltimore County’s Research Park & Business Incubator. Additionally, Tammi’s professional expertise was sought after to teach the next generation of communicators as an adjunct professor at Bowie State University and the University of Baltimore. She frequently speaks and publishes on such topics as leadership, entrepreneurship, and business development.

Tammi has been recognized by her industry peers for excellence in communication and marketing. She has received the Maryland Economic Development Association’s Marketing award for TEDCO’s Entrepreneur Expo (2020), the Cybersecurity Association of Maryland’s 2017 Cybersecurity Industry Resource Award and most recently was named one of The Daily Record’s Top 100 Women in Maryland (2023). She graduated from Leadership Maryland’s Class of 2018, completing the eight-month hands-on learning program focused on the State’s most vital social, economic and environmental issues. She serves on several boards, to include WeAchieve and MEDA, where she is currently serving as Vice President of the organization. Tammi earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Alabama State University and an MBA from the University of Baltimore. She is active in her community and serves in volunteer roles and on boards and committees for various schools and organizations in the region.

Ms. Robertson-Slagle was appointed Director of Economic Development for Charles County, Maryland in Nov 2021. In this role, Ms. Robertson-Slagle directs all services and activities of the 10 person department including attracting increased capital investments and expanding and diversifying employment opportunities, agricultural development and marketing.

Ms. Robertson-Slagle is a results-oriented and strategic leader with over 25 years of extensive experience in planning, organizing and implementing economic development functions from conception to completion, including working with new and expanding businesses and cultivating relationships between the local business community, counties, and economic development agencies at the state, regional and federal level.

Prior to joining Charles County Government, Ms. Robertson-Slagle served fifteen years with the Calvert County, Maryland Department of Economic Development holding positions in both business retention and business development as well as serving as the Director of Economic Development from July 2017 – Oct 2021. Her previous economic development experience also includes serving as director of the Maryland Small Business Development Center (SBDC) where she provided leadership in planning, coordinating and overseeing the development, delivery and reporting of all professional programs, activities and services for the Southern Maryland region and business development specialist with the Maryland Department of Commerce where she worked directly with local jurisdictions on business retention and expansion projects.

Ms. Robertson-Slagle currently serves on the Board and is the Co–Chair of the Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA) Program Committee, is a founding board member of Southern Maryland Innovates initiative and is the current Chair of the Southern Maryland Regional Innovation Collaborative. She is Vice Chair of the Southern Maryland Economic Development Association (SMEDA) and is a board member of the Cedar Point Federal Credit Union Board of Directors and the University Systems of Maryland at Southern Maryland Board of Advisors.

Ms. Robertson-Slagle earned her Associate of Science Degree in Business Administration and Management Development from the College of Southern Maryland and Bachelors of Science Degree in Marketing from the Robert H. School of Business, University of Maryland, College Park. She is a 2018 graduate of Leadership Maryland and a 2010 graduate of Leadership Southern Maryland and a 2021 graduate of the National Association of Counties (NACO) High Performance Leadership Academy.

Ms. Robertson-Slagle is a lifelong resident of Charles County and the proud mom of two children. She and her husband Jeff reside in La Plata, Maryland.

Renée M. Winsky is the president and founder of Bay One Group, LLC. Formed in 2012, the firm assists clients with a variety of subject matters, including leadership development, economic development, entrepreneurship, government relations and advocacy, technology transfer and commercialization, university collaborations and partnering, and small business start-ups.

From September 2013 to March 2022, Ms. Winsky served as President and Chief Executive Officer for Leadership Maryland, a professional development program dedicated to building a better Maryland by harnessing the strength of the leaders throughout the state.

Prior to joining Leadership Maryland, Ms. Winsky served as the Executive Director of the Chesapeake Innovation Center, CEO of the Tech Council of Maryland, and as the President and Executive Director of the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO). She has held positions with the Information Technology Association of America (now TechAmerica), National League of Cities, National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors, Maryland Municipal League, and City of Greenbelt, Maryland.

Ms. Winsky is a member of the Maryland Venture Fund Authority, a Governor Larry Hogan appointment. She serves on the Maryland Innovation Initiative and Maryland E-Nnovation Initiative Funding Authorities as Senate President Emeritus Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr. appointments. She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Maryland Economic Development Association, where she is Treasurer, and The Maryland School for the Blind, where she is Secretary. She has served in volunteer, leadership and governance roles with the Maryland Chamber of Commerce Legislative Committee, Chesapeake Innovation Center, Maryland Association of CPAs, Maryland Business Incubation Association, Maryland Health Care Product Development Corporation, State Science and Technology Institute, UMBC Research Park Corporation, West County Chamber Government Contractor’s Guild, Technology Councils of North America (TECNA) and the Mid-Atlantic Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Ms. Winsky is a graduate of the University of Maryland and a graduate of the Leadership Maryland Class of 2005, where she is also a Lifetime Member.

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.

Dawn Medley is Senior Vice President Business Finance Programs/EDI Fund Manager at FSC First

Destiny Allen Mitchell is an Economic Development Specialist with St. Mary’s County who works with businesses and innovators to grow targeted industries, attract and retain young professionals, and create a nurturing environment for innovation and entrepreneurship within St. Mary’s County. As an Economic Development Specialist, she is responsible for business retention and expansion, data and research collection, social media and various other duties. Destiny also serves on the Southern Maryland Innovates planning team. An organization that seeks to serve as the connective hub between various groups that represent a casual and high impact opportunity to meet people interested in innovation, technology and entrepreneurship in Southern Maryland.

Destiny holds a master’s degree in Public Administration (MPA) from the University of Georgia and a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. She is also a recent graduate of Leadership Southern Maryland’s Emerging Leaders Program (LEAP ‘20). A native to Maryland, she is also very active in her community and spends much of her spare time outdoors, singing, volunteering, and spending time with her family.

Jerry T. Sanford is a seasoned professional with nearly three decades of experience in economic development, public policy, public private partnerships, real estate development, energy and corporate relations. Mr. Sanford currently serves Washington Gas a WGL Company as Economic Development Manager. WGL’s economic development initiative is focused on supporting regional growth and prosperity through the improvement of the region’s energy security, infrastructure, transportation, housing and economic resiliency. Jerry partners with the public and private sectors to develop effective techniques to achieve goals.
Prior to joining WGL, Jerry served the Maryland Department of Commerce as Director of Business Recruitment & Location Services. Mr. Sanford led a staff who marketed Maryland’s strategic advantages and provided confidential business location assistance. Innovative sales strategies were used to maximize the effectiveness. The location assistance provided included: Request for Proposal responses; site selection; resource identification; incentives coordination; economic data research and collaboration with government, utilities, businesses and academia. Mr. Sanford dealt with sensitive public policy issues such as taxes, transportation, infrastructure, MBE contracting, permitting/zoning and workforce.
Jerry also managed the Downtown Silver Spring Urban District in Montgomery County, Maryland. Jerry led this 360 acre special taxing district during a period of redevelopment and revitalization to become a vibrant center of the community. Jerry marketed the business district to real estate developers and businesses. Jerry managed the Optional Method Development (OMD) program that encouraged land assembly and mixed-use development. Under OMD, higher densities were allowed in exchange for significant public amenities and facilities to support the additional density. Mr. Sanford negotiated public-private-partnerships as part of the OMD program. Mr. Sanford was also responsible for intergovernmental affairs, Clean & Safe programs; public space management; business retention & expansion; community outreach; strategic planning; neighborhood revitalization and overseeing the daily downtown operations with a staff of 45.
While at the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), Jerry performed technical engineering work as an owner’s representative, overseeing complex multi-million dollar capital projects. Mr. Sanford also served the City of Takoma Park, Maryland (as Code Enforcement Director, Special Events Manager and Community Outreach Manager.
Mr. Sanford’s public service includes volunteering as a Firefighter-Emergency Medical Technician and First Aid/CPR Instructor in Montgomery County, Maryland since 1991. Jerry has received commendations for courage, valor and actions above the call of duty (1993, 1995, 2004 and 2005). Jerry also serves on the Dispute Resolving Board of the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC), College of Southern Maryland Foundation Board and the Southern Maryland Minority Chamber of Commerce Board. Previously Jerry served on the City of Bowie, Maryland Administrative Review Board and Board of Appeals.
Jerry is a graduate of the University of Maryland University College with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and a minor in Economics. Mr. Sanford is a Fellow of the Industrial Asset Management Council (IAMC). Mr. Sanford also has received further economic development education through Pennsylvania State University, Virginia Tech, Urban Land Institute (ULI) and the International Economic Development Council (IEDC).

John Stalfort is the managing principal of the firm’s Washington, D.C. office.

He serves as counsel to commercial and investment banks, political subdivisions, economic development agencies, for-profit and not-for-profit entities (including health care institutions, secondary schools and other 501(c)(3) organizations), corporate trustees and bond purchasers in all types of tax-exempt and taxable bond transactions. He has served as bond
counsel in connection with many of the most significant economic development projects in
the State of Maryland and the Greater Washington region for more than 40 years. Included in these projects are the public-private-partnership (P3) financing of the Seagirt Marine Terminal in Baltimore’s harbor, the Chesapeake Hyatt Resort development (a 400-room hotel, golf course, spa and resort in Cambridge, Maryland), the National Harbor project (a 7,000,000-square-foot, mixed-used community along the Potomac River), the National Aquarium in Baltimore, the Purple Line light rail project in Montgomery County and Prince George’s County, Maryland and the redevelopment of Washington’s Union Station.
A particular focus of his practice are land-based infrastructure transactions, including
special taxing districts, tax increment financing districts (TIF) and community development
authorities in the Mid-Atlantic Region as bond counsel, developer’s counsel and underwriter’s counsel. These transactions have included the first two special taxing district financings in the State of Delaware and the redevelopment of downtown Columbia, Maryland. Several
of these transactions have involved transit-oriented development projects (TOD’s).
John’s practice also involves equipment leasing and finance transactions in which
he represents operating lessors, corporate and municipal clients as lessees and financial institutions acting as a lender, lessor, buyer, seller or trustee. These
transactions have included single-investor structures, leveraged lease structures and
synthetic lease structures. He also serves as counsel to financial institutions in connection with asset-based lending and commercial finance transactions and secured real estate loans.
John is a former member of the Firm’s Board of Directors and former Chair of the Firm’s Business Department.
John lives in Washington, D.C. and Maryland with his wife, Anne, and has two children, Elizabeth and Doug.

Ms. Beaver has served as the Carroll County Deputy Director of Economic Development since 2001. Prior to that Ms. Beaver held several Carroll County workforce development roles serving Carroll County businesses and citizens for a total of 27 years.
Selected as a Leadership Maryland Class of 2021 member and elected MEDA secretary in April 2021, Ms. Beaver also currently represents Carroll County at the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore Advisory Board, the Baltimore Gas & Electric Carroll County Advisory Council, the Carroll Transit Advisory Council, and the Mid-Maryland Workforce Development Board. Previously, Ms. Beaver was a founding member, board member, and Secretary of the Carroll Technology Council (now Carroll Technology & Innovation Council) for 16 years.
Ms. Beaver holds degrees from Kutztown University and Towson University and resides in Westminster.

Ebony Stocks
Executive Vice President
Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation

Biography

Ebony Stocks is the Executive Vice President with the Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation, an organization that provides business services that help attract, retain, and expand businesses in the County. She previously administered the County’s premier $50 million economic development tool, the Economic Development Incentive Fund which leveraged over $1 billion in capital investment and created over 13,000 jobs. Ms. Stocks is a Certified Economic Development Finance professional who has managed several financing and incentive programs. Ms. Stocks has worked in commercial lending providing non-traditional financing to rapidly growing small businesses. Ms. Stocks has a Master’s degree in Real Estate Development and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics.

Trish Heidenreich has served as the Economic Development Director for the Town of Bel Air since 2006. Prior to joining the Town, Trish worked in real estate administration and held a 25-year career in the entertainment industry, specializing in concert production logistics, business development and marketing.

Trish sits on the Board of Directors for the Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA) and is Co-Chair of MEDA’s Professional Development Committee. Trish holds a Certification in Economic Development (CEcD) from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) in Washington and is a member of the Board of Directors. In addition to her certification, she holds a Master of Business Administration from Johns Hopkins University and a BA in Communications and Television Production from Concordia University in Montreal, Canada.

Economic and Tourism Development Director for Kent County, Maryland. Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a minor in Small Business Management and Entrepreneurship. Earned a Master Certificate from the National Association of Counties, Professional Development Academy, High-Performance Leadership in 2020. Shore Leadership Class of 2021. Member of the Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA) and a proud member of the Chestertown Rotary Club. Previous experience includes Assistant Plant Manager and Customer Service Manager for a Millwork Distributor and Office Manager for a land surveying business.

Lara Fritts is a certified economic developer with over 25 years of experience in economic development, community development and management. Her experience spans city and regional levels in both public and private sectors assisting companies to execute their location strategies or development projects while helping communities achieve their goals. She has an expertise in building economic development organizations for elected officials having started six public-private partnerships/departments.

Lara has an extensive career, having held positions in Wisconsin, Maryland, Washington, DC, Virginia, and Utah. Currently, she serves as the Division Director of the Frederick County Maryland Division of Economic Opportunity which oversees economic development as well as the Frederick County Workforce Services. Prior to her role in Frederick County – Lara was the only women leading a publicly traded micro-cap real estate company trading on the OTC Markets. There she stabilized the company by securing over $12M of affordable housing assets, reducing debt and teeing up the next acquisitions which would bring additional cash-flow to the company.

Her economic development experience is expansive, and a career highlight was serving as the Director of Salt Lake City’s Department of Economic Development (SLC DED) she was the architect of developing an economic development department where she oversaw three divisions – Business Development, the Redevelopment Agency of Salt Lake City and the Salt Lake City Arts Council. In three years, she worked to bring more than 30 new companies to Salt Lake City including UPS, Amazon, Stadler Rail, and others totaling over 9,000 jobs and nearly a billion dollars in capital investment. With her team she helped to deploy over $44 million into an affordable housing strategy creating over 3500 units throughout the city.

Known as a community vitality champion she has strengths in economic recovery, affordable housing, strategic planning, tax credits and incentives, and organizational development. She is sought-after speaker and consultant on real estate, community revitalization, and economic development finance. Lara gives back to the economic development profession by volunteering, mentoring, and advocating economic development topics.

Lara holds a master’s degree in urban studies from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, and a bachelor’s degree in regional analysis from the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay. She is the recipient of Consultant Connect’s Top 50 Economic Developers in 2019 and was named a Fellow Member of the International Economic Development Council in 2020 which honors economic development professionals for attaining unusual stature in their field and closely related disciplines

Andrea Mansfield joined Manis Canning & Associates, one the of the premier lobbying firms in Annapolis, as a lobbyist in December 2015. With more than 20 years of government relations, management, and administration expertise, Andrea successfully executes advocacy efforts and programs on behalf of multiple clients before state and local executives and elected officials. Her broad experience and involvement with the Maryland Legislature on policy, fiscal and budget matters; and her ability to work with diverse groups and build consensus on complex issues is an asset to the firm.

Andrea has extensive experience at the state and local level, having led and coordinated policy efforts for the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) and implemented the legislative agendas of state agencies. As MACo’s Legislative Director she advised, crafted, and implemented the common agendas and legislative goals of Maryland’s 23 counties and Baltimore City.

In state government, she worked within three Administrations in positions of increasing responsibility, serving as legislative liaison to the Legislature for the Department of Budget and Management, and the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (DLLR); and Special Assistant, Director of Financial Aid, and Assistant Secretary of Finance Policy with the Maryland Higher Education Commission.

Andrea is the current Chair of the Odenton Town Center Advisory Committee, serves on the board of directors for the Maryland Economic Development Association and as Co-Chair of the Public Policy Awareness Committee, and is a member of Leadership Maryland’s Class of 2019. She has a Master of Policy Sciences from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and a Bachelor of Arts in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Lori C. Valentine is the Vice President of Policy and Public Relations for the Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation (EDC), leading the organization’s business marketing and communications arm as well as its legislative teams. She is an experienced policy and public relations professional with years of experience in the public sector on the state and local levels serving as legislative directors for several state agencies, including the Maryland Department of Commerce (formerly DBED) and Prince George’s County government under former County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III.
Prior to taking on her roles in Prince George’s County, Valentine gained valuable experience in legislative policy and negotiating after being tapped to serve as a legislative officer for Maryland Governor Robert Ehrlich. On a mission to support Prince George’s County’s efforts to attract, retain and support the existing business community, she is focused on improving local entrepreneurs’ access to County programs and resources. Her team continuously creates stimulating communications and marketing collaterals that increase the visibility of the EDC programs and services, taking businesses to the next level of growth.
Lori can also be credited with contributions towards the passage of numerous pieces of legislation that support the business community’s ability to develop and expand in Maryland and Prince George’s County, supporting the County’s efforts to rebrand with its Experience, Expand, Explore campaign, coordinating County Executive Angela Alsobrooks record-breaking inaugural State of the Economy address, and creating diverse, interactive and informative programming to support the County’s business community.
Valentine is a proud native of Chicago, Illinois, a Juris Doctorate graduate of the Howard University School of Law, a MEDA Board Member, and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

Allison Akers is the Director of Marketing and Communications for Anne Arundel based systems integrator Vision Technologies. In this role, Allison is responsible for overseeing overall marketing direction, brand management, corporate communications, and strategic growth of the company.

Allison deeply believes in giving back. Allison serves on the MEDA Board of Directors and serves as the co-chair of the MEDA Young Leaders Group. Allison also serves as Past President of the Public Relations Society of America-Chesapeake Chapter Board, is the chair of Vision Technologies’ Charity Committee as well as a committee member of the Women’s Network Employee Resource Group, is a member of Fort Meade Alliance Rising Stars, and recently finished serving on the University of Maryland, Robert H. Smith School of Business Alumni Chapter Board.

Allison is passionate about economic development and celebrating successful business growth in Maryland, developed through her prior work as Marketing and Outreach Manager for Anne Arundel Economic Development. Prior work also includes Marketing and Communications Specialist for the Maryland State Judiciary, time in grassroots marketing and events management for the MD, DC, VA region for Road Runner Sports, and a brief stint in the music marketing industry. She graduated from West Virginia University in May 2022 with an M.S. in Integrated Marketing Communications and holds a B.S. in Marketing from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland. She is a proud Terp through and through.

Managing Director of Policy, Research & Government Affairs at Maryland Department of Commerce