2019 MEDA Annual Conference

Dr. Tiffany Jana is the CEO of the TMI Portfolio of companies, a network of socially responsible, interconnected companies that cultivate organizational inclusion worldwide. TMI was the world’s first diversity and equity focused Certified Benefit (B) Corporation. Dr. Jana’s military upbringing, and subsequent predilection towards travel, exposed them to dozens of countries and cultures that made them question whether all of the focus of difference and discrimination was the best use of human energy. As a multiple minority (including race, gender identity, and invisible disability), Dr. Jana has always believed that if they could only help people see the vast depth, complexity, and beauty of the human experience, perhaps people would be kinder to each other. Dr. Jana’s speaking style is inspiring, engaging, high-energy, and relatable.

Dr. Jana has been featured in numerous publications and media including Fast Company, Huffington Post, Forbes, and Psychology Today. Dr. Jana’s favorite awards and recognition include 2017 Enterprising Women of the Year from Enterprising Women Magazine and 2018’s Top 100 Leadership Speakers from Inc.com.

Dr. Jana has co-authored several books including Overcoming Bias: Building Authentic Relationships Across Differences, Erasing Institutional Bias: How to Create Systemic Change for Organizational Inclusion, and the second edition of The B Corp Handbook. Dr. Jana is an acclaimed international speaker with credits including TEDx, SXSW, AdWeek, Watermark
Conference, Hong Kong Social Enterprise Summit, Dialogues for Change (Germany), and many
more. Dr. Jana’s preferred pronouns are ‘they/them’ but ‘she/her’ is not offensive to them.

Marcus Bullock, Founder and CEO, Flikshop

Profile
Calvin G. Butler Jr. is the chief executive officer of Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE), the nation’s first gas utility. Butler is responsible for ensuring BGE’s successful execution of the following key areas: safety, reliability, customer service, and diversity and inclusion. He is a member of BGE’s Board of Directors and the executive committee of BGE’s parent company, Exelon.
Butler serves as board chair of the Gridwise Alliance, an advocacy organization promoting modernization and innovation for the nation’s electrical grid, as an Independent Trustee of the PNC Funds Board, and on the Board of Directors for RLI Corp serving as a member of its audit and nominations/governance committees.
Professional History
Prior to becoming CEO in March 2014, Butler was BGE’s senior vice president, regulatory and external affairs. Butler also served as Exelon’s senior vice president of corporate affairs and held other leadership positions at Exelon and BGE’s sister utility, ComEd (Chicago).
Before joining Exelon in 2008, Butler held senior leadership roles in external affairs as well as manufacturing with the print, digital and supply chain solutions company RR Donnelley. He spent his early career with CILCORP (Central Illinois Light Co.), where he held positions in government affairs, legal and strategy.
Civic Involvement
Butler serves on the boards of several prominent Baltimore-based organizations including the Baltimore Community Foundation, University of Maryland Medical Center, Greater Baltimore Committee, Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation, the Center Club and Caves Valley Golf Club. He also serves on the board of his alma mater, Bradley University, where he is currently Chairman of the Board of Trustees. In addition, Butler serves on the board of the Institute of International Education, a not-for-profit organization focused on advancing scholarship, promoting access to education, and building economies; and the Library of Congress’ James Madison Council.
He has been recognized by several organizations for his leadership and community commitment. In 2017, he was named among Black Enterprise Magazine’s “300 Most Powerful Executives in Corporate America,” and “Industrialist of the Year” by the Baltimore Museum of Industry. The Daily Record named Butler one of Maryland’s “Most Admired CEOs” and one of its top 35 Influential Marylanders, while Baltimore Magazine named him as one of its “Top Ten Baltimoreans.”
Education
Butler earned a bachelor’s degree from Bradley University in Peoria, Ill., and a Juris Doctor degree from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, Mo. He received an honorary doctorate of Humane Letters from Morgan State University in 2014.
Family
Butler and his wife, Sharon, have two children, Blake Calvin and Raini Alexis.

Jennifer S. Vey
Senior Fellow and Director
Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Center for Transformative Placemaking
Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program
jvey@brookings.edu
@jvey1

Jennifer S. Vey is a senior fellow and the Director of the Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Center for Transformative Placemaking at the Brookings Institution. Jennifer’s work primarily focuses on the connection between placemaking and inclusive economic development in the digital economy. She is the author or co-author of numerous Brookings publications, including “Why we need to invest in transformative placemaking,” “Assessing your innovation district: A how-to guide,” and “Building from strength: Creating opportunity in Greater Baltimore’s next economy.” She also co-edited Retooling for Growth: Building a 21st Century Economy in America’s Older Industrial Areas, published by the American Assembly and Brookings Institution Press.

Prior to joining Brookings in June, 2001, Jennifer was a Community Planning and Development Specialist at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. She earned a Master of Planning degree from the University of Virginia, and holds a B.A. in Geography from Bucknell University. She lives with her family in Baltimore.

Josh serves as the Economic Opportunity Strategist at Fourth Economy. He leverages his strengths in economic development, marketing and strategic planning to help regions strengthen their economic competitiveness. Through research, project management and client engagement support, Josh provides clients with the tools to plan for economic growth and discover new and innovative ways to connect opportunity to their area’s most vulnerable.

Prior to joining Fourth Economy, Josh served in small business development and marketing capacities at a regional (10-county) economic development organization based in Pittsburgh. His work included managing outreach to small businesses and entrepreneurs, connecting them to economic development resources for growth; implementing events and digital campaigns to support regional business investment and talent attraction goals; and supporting the organization’s community investment program and diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Josh is also passionate about community and civic engagement. He is a board member of the Pittsburgh Promise, working to secure post-secondary scholarships for urban youth, and leads his local church’s community-centered youth ministry. He previously served on Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership’s Young Leaders Committee.

Josh is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Urban Planning from the University of Southern California’s Sol Price School of Public Policy. He has completed economic development coursework via University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute and holds a B.S. in Community, Environment and Development, with a focus on sustainability and economic development, from the Pennsylvania State University.

Senator Addie Eckardt
District 37 – Caroline, Dorchester, Talbot, and Wicomico Counties
410-221-6561/410-841-3590
adelaide.eckardt@senate.state.md.us
Committee/Senate Appointments
• Budget and Taxation Committee
• Health and Human Services Subcommittee of the Budget and Taxation Committee
• Pensions Subcommittee of the Budget and Taxation Committee
• Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review
• Joint Audit Committee
• Joint Committee on Children, Youth, and Families
• Joint Committee on Fair Practices and State Personnel Oversight
• Joint Committee on Pensions
• Women Legislators of Maryland Executive Committee
• Maryland Environmental Trust
• Governor’s Commission on Suicide
• Maryland Behavioral Health Advisory Committee
• Harry R. Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology, Inc., Board of Directors
• Task Force to Study Tax Sales in Maryland
• Task Force on Rural Internet, Broadband, Wireless, and Cellular Service
• Maryland Commission on Suicide Prevention
• Maryland Environmental Trust
• Two Generation Family Economic Security Commission
Recent Local Public Service
• Sailwinds Board
• Talbot County Drug & Alcohol Abuse Council
• Dorchester County Drug & Alcohol Abuse Council
• Mid-Shore Regional Council
• Dorchester County Critical Incident Stress Management
• Eastern Shore Area Health Education Center Board
• Dorchester County Healthy Families Advisory Board
• Talbot Hospice Patient Care and Quality Committee
• Channel Marker Foundation Board
• Alzheimer’s Association Support Group
• Wye River Upper School Board

Sean Looney is Vice President, State Government Affairs for Comcast NBCUniversal. He represents the nation’s leading provider of cable, entertainment and communications products and services before the General Assembly, Governor’s Office and state agencies in Maryland and Delaware. Sean joined Comcast in December, 2003 after retiring from a 19-year career at Verizon, Bell Atlantic and New Jersey Bell. He has served as the Treasurer of the Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA), Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Maryland Leadership Workshops (MLW), and on the Board of Directors and Legislative Committee of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce. Sean has been the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, where he also was Chair of Maryland Hall’s Arts Alive Gala for several years He has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Leadership Maryland (LMD), and graduated from LMD’s Class of 1996. He has also served as President of the Maryland Government Relations Association (MGRA), on the Advisory Committee for Maryland Business for Responsive Government (MBRG), President of the Board of Directors for the Maryland Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), President of the Smithsonian Institution’s Young Benefactors, and on the Catholic Charities of Baltimore Development Committee. He has done volunteer work for various organizations in the area since moving to MD in 1990, including the Travis Manion Foundation, Annapolis Lighthouse Shelter and St. Anne’s Infant and Maternity Home in Washington, DC. Sean was honored with the 2008 CASA Light for Children Award and was Leadership Maryland’s State Leader of the Year in 2003. He lives with his wife and two children in Annapolis, MD and Avon-by-the-Sea, NJ. Sean received a Masters of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Commerce from Rider University in Lawrenceville, NJ.

Keasha Haythe has been an Economic Development Professional for more than two decades and served as 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 a Technology Park and developed the Eastern Shore Innovation Center, the first business incubator on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. She secured more than $100M in funding for economic development projects, business expansions and start-ups.

Ms. Haythe joined the business development team for Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation in 2017. She recently developed the Inclusive Ventures Program for small minority and women owned businesses in Anne Arundel County. Additionally, she is the founder 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 was the Economic Development and Empowerment Program for sixth-grade adolescent girls attending Easton Middle School. The program covers topics including: addressing low self-esteem, bullying, social media,
workforce development, economic and community development, entrepreneurship and financial literacy. The program teaches them to be community leaders and viable contributors to the future workforce.

Ms. Haythe holds an Associate of Arts degree in Business Administration from Chesapeake College and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Arizona State University, she is also 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 Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA) Foundation. In 2016, she was appointed
by Governor Hogan to serve a four year term on the Maryland Marketing Partnership Board under the Maryland Department of Commerce, she also serves as Past President of the MEDA Board of Directors.

Ms. Haythe is an ordained minister and is a member of Spirit of Faith Christian Center in Brandywine, MD. She is married to Marcus L. Haythe Sr., and they have three children: Marcus Jr., Miniah and Isaiah.

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.

Anirban Basu is Chairman & CEO of Sage Policy Group, Inc., an economic and policy consulting firm headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland with an office in Indonesia. The firm provides strategic analytical services to energy suppliers, law firms, medical systems, government agencies, and real estate developers among others.

In 2014, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan appointed him Chair of the Maryland Economic Development Commission (2014-2021). He also serves as chairman of the Baltimore County Economic Advisory Committee. He is also the Chief Economist to Associated Builders and Contractors and Chief Economic Advisor to the Construction Financial Management Association. He serves or has served similar functions for Visit Baltimore, Maryland Realtors, and Marcum, LLP.

He has lectured at Johns Hopkins University, most recently in Global Strategy, and has also taught international economics, urban economics, micro- and macroeconomics at Hopkins. His radio show can be heard weekdays on 88.1FM, WYPR, Baltimore.

In both 2007 and 2016, the Daily Record newspaper selected Mr. Basu as one of Maryland’s 50 most influential people. The Baltimore Business Journal named him one of the region’s 20 most powerful business leaders in 2010.

Mr. Basu has been on many boards over time, including First Mariner Bank, the Baltimore City Public School System, Port Discovery, the Baltimore School for the Arts, and Union Memorial Hospital. He is currently on the boards of the University of Maryland School of Law, St. Mary’s College, the University System of Maryland Foundation, the Center for Emerging Media, the Lyric Opera House and the Archdiocese of Baltimore School System.

Mr. Basu earned his B.S. in Foreign Service at Georgetown University in 1990. He earned his Master’s in Public Policy from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, and his Master’s in Economics from the University of Maryland, College Park. His Juris Doctor was earned at the University of Maryland School of Law. His doctoral work was completed at UMBC with a concentration in health economics.

Chick Hamm is a life-long community banker with strong ties to Harford and Cecil Counties. He was CEO and President of Mercantile County Bank until the time of its acquisition by PNC Bank in 2006. Today, Mr. Hamm is an Executive Vice President for PNC Bank with leadership responsibilities for commercial and institutional banking activity throughout the Greater Maryland Market.

With 40 years of experience in the field, Mr. Hamm has held bank leadership positions with final levels of responsibility for financial performance, strategic plan development, operating and capital budgets, regulatory compliance, asset quality assurance and special project management.

Mr. Hamm completed undergraduate and graduate studies at Loyola College of Maryland, receiving a Masters Degree in Business Administration in 1983. As an active community volunteer he has served on numerous boards supporting the economic, health care and educational needs of the community. Currently, Mr. Hamm is a board member of the Susquehanna Workforce Network, the Bainbridge Development Corporation and he serves as a Trustee for Cecil College. He is also the Chairman of Affinity Health Alliance/Union Hospital and has been elected to the board of the Maryland Bankers Association.

A native of Harford County, Mr. Hamm, age 57, and his wife, Anne, reside in the Elk Neck Area of Cecil County.

Chris Rockey began his career with PNC bank in 1999. Today, he serves as Senior Vice President, Greater Maryland Market Manager, Community Development Banking for PNC Bank. Community Development Banking is committed to changing lives and transforming communities through economic development, affordable housing, community services and revitalization. He is responsible for leading a team that provides lending, investing, tax credits, technical assistance and financial literacy outreach for low to moderate income individuals and/or projects serving this demographic. In addition, Chris has educated thousands of people as well as facilitated train the trainer workshops through PNC Bank’s financial literacy curriculum.

Chris is committed to giving back to the community and has served(s) on the Board of Directors for the Baltimore Community Lending, Volunteers of America Chesapeake, Associated Black Charities (Treasurer), Center For Urban Families, Neighborhood Housing Services, Baltimore Business Lending, Baltimore Arts Realty Corporation, Tri-County Housing Development Corporation (Past President), Tri County Community Action Commission (Past President), PA Downtown Center (Past Chairman of the Board), PA Community Development Bank (2008-2012 Gubernatorial appointment) , Community First Fund (Past Board & Senior Loan Committee 2008-2012), PA State Volunteers of America (Past), United Way of Pennsylvania (Past), Eureka Masonic Lodge (32nd Degree Master Mason), Lodge Council, Chapter, Consistory, Valley of Harrisburg and the Zembo Shriners of Harrisburg.
He is a twice decorated US Navy Combat Veteran and has been married for 29 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 (8th grade).

N. Gordon Knox is a principal and co-chair of Miles & Stockbridge, P.C.’s Real Estate and Transaction Finance practice group, with more than 50 lawyers. He is an experienced lawyer, focusing on public finance, commercial and real estate transactions in the firm’s Baltimore and Washington, D.C., offices. He handles all aspects of tax-exempt financings, commercial financings and affordable housing development financings. In the public finance area, he has extensive experience serving as bond counsel and counsel to issuers, borrowers, bond purchasers and trustees. Mr. Knox represents national, regional and community banks, and other financial institutions in structuring, negotiating and documenting transactions involving New Markets Tax Credits, construction loans, letters of credit, equipment leases and commercial loans secured by real estate and/or personal property. Mr. Knox advises lenders in connection with troubled credits and has extensive experience in documenting and negotiating forbearance agreements and restructuring credit facilities. He also serves as outside general counsel to business owners and real estate developers.

Sam Shoge serves as the Economic Development Coordinator for Talbot County, Maryland. In this role, Shoge coordinates outreach and communications to the local business community. Since starting with Talbot County, Shoge has overseen the development and launch of a new brand, website, and communication tools—all in an effort to better communicate Talbot’s economic development success stories with the county’s residents and workers. With this goal in mind, Shoge created a comprehensive communications plan to identify stories that capture what makes doing business in Talbot County so special and articulated how those stories would be communicated to the public. This process includes leveraging both traditional and contemporary communication platforms and launching new programs. This led to Shoge launching Talbot County’s first drone program to leverage drone technology to assist in Talbot County’s story telling efforts.

Prior to working with Talbot County Government, Shoge served as Assistant Director of Admissions at Washington College where he recruited graduating high school seniors from the D.C. metro area. Shoge recently completed a 4-year term on the Chestertown Town Council.

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.

Charlie Fairchild is a real estate developer with projects in DC, Maryland and VA, and is a licensed real estate broker in Virginia. He has lived in Alexandria, VA all his life. Charlie graduated from St. Stephen’s High School in Alexandria, and attended Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. He has been involved in every aspect of developing and managing commercial properties through all kinds of economic cycles, for over 35 years; with current projects in Washington, DC, Cambridge and Edgewater, MD, and Harrisonburg, VA. With his extensive real estate knowledge, gained from years of experience in the industry, he is able to envision the wondrous possibilities of underutilized properties. He works as a team with city planners, county and state officials and local residents, along with architects, engineers, landscape designers, builders and tenants to create properties that aesthetically enhance areas and improve the lives of those who live and work in them.

34 years ago, Charlie married his college sweetheart Sue. They work alongside each other as Fairchild Properties. They have 3 sons, 2 daughters-in-law, and 4 grandchildren. Charlie coached his sons in wrestling and lacrosse and was, and remains active in and supportive of their places of education. He enjoys snow skiing, waterskiing, paddle boarding, hunting, fishing, boating and long walks in the woods. He treasures his times with family and friends.

Charlie is currently developing 2 projects in Cambridge: Cambridge Marketplace and Dorchester Marketplace, both on Route 50. He’s excited to see the positive impact these centers will make.

Cindy Plavier Truitt is a social entrepreneur committed to creating inclusive economic
ecosystems. Cindy serves as the Chief Business Officer of Humanim where she has enjoyed a 30
year dynamic tenure. Along with the other officers, she leads a team of over 500 staff serving 4500 individuals a year with barriers to employment. Over the past 6 years, Cindy has developed a team of social entrepreneurs creating and growing a division of social impact businesses within the deconstruction, reuse, culinary and technology industries.
Cindy received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Goucher College as well as a
Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study from Johns Hopkins University. She has previously served on the board of Leadership Howard County, Leadership U, Suited to Succeed and the
Neighborhood Design Center. She held the position of Chair of the Social Enterprise Alliance,
Maryland Chapter and currently serves on the advisory board of Baltimore Racial Justice Action, the board of the Business Network for Offshore Wind and on the advisory board for CORE
Staffing, a local employee owned staffing cooperative. She was recently appointed by Mayor Catherine Pugh to serve on the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Commission for Baltimore City.
Cindy is a graduate of both Leadership Maryland, Leadership Howard County and most recently
a three time winner of Maryland’s Top 100 Women. She has been nationally recognized for her work on the American Brewery Project, a $25 million historic adaptive building-reuse project in
one of Baltimore’s most disinvested communities: Innovator of the Year (The Daily Record);
Wave Maker Award (Urban Land Institute); Heavy Hitters in Commercial Real Estate (Baltimore
Business Journal); Good Business = Good Design (Baltimore AIA); Excellence Award Associated
Builders and Contractors; Baltimore Heritage Best Adaptive Re-use Award; Presidents Award
American Institute of Architects (Baltimore Chapter); Maryland Preservation Phoenix Award.

Secretary of the Environment since January 21, 2015. Member, Governor’s Executive Council, 2015-; BayStat Subcabinet, 2015-; Governor’s Council on the Chesapeake Bay (Governor’s Chesapeake Bay Cabinet), 2015 Governor’s Subcabinet for International Affairs, 2015-; Smart Growth Subcabinet, 2015-. Chair, Asbestos Oversight Committee, 2015-. Vice-Chair, State Children’s Environmental Health and Protection Advisory Council, 2015-. Member, Governor’s Intergovernmental Commission for Agriculture, 2015-; Animal Waste Technology Fund Advisory Committee, 2015-; Appalachian States Low-Level Radioactive Waste Commission, 2015-; Baltimore Regional Transportation Board, 2015-; Bay Restoration Fund Advisory Committee, 2015-; Climate Change Commission, 2015-; Chesapeake Bay Trust, 2015-; Climate, Energy and Environment Policy Committee, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, 2015-; Coast Smart Council, 2015-; Critical Area Commission for the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays, 2015-; Executive Committee for Dredged Material Management Plans, 2015-; Maryland Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Council, 2015-; Commission on Environmental Justice and Sustainable Communities, 2015-; Maryland Green Building Council, 2015-; Maryland Green Purchasing Committee, 2015-; Maryland Advisory Commission on Manufacturing Competitiveness, 2015-; Maryland Integrated Map Executive Committee, 2015-; Maryland Military Installation Council, 2015-; Interdepartmental Advisory Committee for Minority Affairs, 2015-; Task Force to Study the Impact of Ocean Acidification on State Waters, 2015-; Council on Open Data, 2015-; Ozone Transport Commission, 2015-; Pesticide Advisory Committee, 2015-; Maryland Pesticide Reporting and Information Work Group, 2015-; Renewable Fuels Incentive Board, 2015-; Scenic and Wild Rivers Review Board, 2015-; State Soil Conservation Committee, 2015-; Susquehanna River Basin Commission, 2015-; Maryland Sustainable Growth Commission, 2015-; Invasive Plants Advisory Committee, 2015-. Counsel, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, U.S. House of Representatives, 2000-02 (environmental counsel & staff director to committees of U.S. House of Representatives, including science committee, 1985-2000). Assistant Administrator for Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2004-08 (deputy assistant administrator, 2002-04). Director, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, 2009-10. Born in Kentucky. Wake Forest University, B.A. (english); Emory University Law School, J.D.; George Washington University School of Law, LL.M. (environmental law). President, U.S. Water Alliance, 2010-15.

Kelly M. Schulz brings a wealth of knowledge to the Maryland Department of Commerce from her years of experience working in the government, in the private sector and as a small business owner. She had previously served as the Secretary of the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (DLLR) since her confirmation in February 2015 and is also a former member of the Maryland House of Delegates.

At DLLR, she was responsible for managing an agency with nearly 2,000 employees and an operating budget of more than $375 million. Under her leadership, Maryland’s apprenticeship program grew to its highest level since 2008, with more than 10,000 apprentices statewide. DLLR’s Employment Advancement Right Now (EARN) Maryland program received national recognition for both innovation and effectiveness and was named one of the Top 25 programs in the 2018 Innovations in American Government Award competition.

A former member of the Maryland House of Delegates representing Frederick County, she served on the Economic Matters Committee from 2011- 2015. In addition to local issues, then Delegate Schulz took special interest in legislation relating to banks and other financial institutions, business, occupations and professions, economic development, labor and employment, unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation.

Prior to embarking on a career of public service, Secretary Schulz sold real estate, worked as a program manager for a defense contractor and was a part-owner of a cyber security firm. She has received several awards including the Outstanding Recent Alumna Award from Hood College in 2011, and is proud to participate as a member in many local community organizations including the Libertytown-Unionville Lions Club and the Walkersville Volunteer Fire Company. Kelly is also a past Board member of the Frederick County Habitat for Humanity.

Secretary Schulz obtained her Associates degree from Monroe Community College in Rochester, New York and later obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Hood College in Frederick, Maryland.

A native of Warren, Michigan, Kelly currently lives in Frederick County, Maryland with her husband John Nowell and has two sons, Brandon and Bradley.

Mr. Holt’s distinguished career makes him well-qualified to direct one of the most successful and innovative state housing finance agencies in the country.
As a past member of the Baltimore County Master Plan Advisory Committee and a past president of his neighborhood civic association, he gained on-the-ground experience with neighborhood revitalization, development and housing issues. His experience as a past member of the Baltimore County Human Relations Commission gives him a strong foundation in issues of fairness and housing equity. And his 25 years high level experience in the financial market gives him a thorough understanding of bond markets and how they work.
Mr. Holt comes to DHCD after serving as chairman and chief financial officer of Traitify, a software development firm that was recognized by Maryland’s Technology Development Corp. as the “most innovative” start-up company of 2013. Before that, he enjoyed a 25-year career at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney in Baltimore, where he has served as Branch Manager, Senior Portfolio Manager and Senior Vice President.
As a member of the Maryland General Assembly (1995-1999), Mr. Holt served on the House Appropriations Committee and on the subcommittee on education and economic development.
Mr. Holt received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland College Park. He and his wife Mary E. Holt operate a family farm in Kingsville, Md. The couple have two children.

Robert S. McCord has been Secretary of Planning since September 21, 2017. Deputy Secretary of Planning since September 21, 2017. Assistant Secretary of Operations, 2015-17.

Born in Baltimore, Maryland. Loyola College, B.A. (business administration & philosophy), 1983, M.B.A. (marketing), 1985; University of Baltimore School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 1989 (heuisler honor society, law review, international law moot court team). Law clerk to Judge Cypert O. Whitfill, Harford County Circuit Court, 1989-90. Admitted to Maryland Bar, 1989; U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, 1990; U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit, 1998; U.S. Supreme Court, 2000. Attorney, Leaf & Mahoney, P.A., 1990-98. Adjunct professor, University of Baltimore School of Law, 1990-. Member, American Bar Association, Maryland State Bar Association; Harford County Bar Association. Member, International Municipal Lawyers Association; Maryland Association of County Civil Attorneys (president, 2008-14). Married; two children.

Jimmy Rhee was appointed Special Secretary of Governor’s Office of Small, Minority, and Women’s Business Affairs by Governor Larry Hogan and began service to the State of Maryland in January, 2015. He is responsible for policy and oversight of the State’s Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and Small Business Reserve (SBR) programs.

Mr. Rhee coordinates compliance activities with 70 participating procurement agencies while simultaneously working with Maryland’s business community to expand opportunities for small, minority- and women-owned firms seeking to perform as prime contractors and/or subcontractors on state-funded procurements.
In 2014, Mr. Rhee was a Strategic Advisor with The Livingston Group and a Partner with EIGC Holdings.

From 2010 through 2014 he served as the Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Trade for the Commonwealth of Virginia where he presided over international trade and investment activities with direct nexus to job creation. In that role he facilitated Virginia’s “Year of the Entrepreneur” program (in conjunction with the White House initiative Startup America) enabling small businesses to gain access to capital, information and technology. In addition, he advocated for minority business participation on various state procurement offerings and infrastructure projects such as the I95 express. He also worked with various governor-appointed advisory boards to recognize the importance of contributions from minority communities. He was the COO/CEO of Global Technology Systems Consortium, Inc. from 2003 through 2009.

With over 20 years of entrepreneurial experience in enterprise creation, growth and change management, Mr. Rhee has an extensive record of directing turn-around situations ranging from manufacturing to software companies. He has mentored various small business entities, helping them secure capital and illuminate their competitive edge.

Active in the community, Mr. Rhee serves as a board member for various organizations including Asians in Energy, Environment and Commerce, the George Mason University Diversity Advisory Committee and the Asian Information Technology Business CEO Organization.

Mr. Rhee is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University where he earned a Master’s in Science and a Master’s in Business Administration. He earned a Bachelor’s in Science from the University of Maryland and holds a Professional Certificate in Sustainable Energy Conversion & Storage from the Stanford University Professional Development Center and an Electronic Systems Design Certificate from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He is also a member and certified performance coach with the International Coach Federation. He lives in Clarksville, Maryland with his wife.

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.

James F. Ports, Jr., was named Secretary of the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) in January 2022, the culmination of a career in public service spanning more than 30 years, including transportation posts at the local, state and federal levels and service as an elected representative in the Maryland General Assembly.

As Secretary, Mr. Ports oversees MDOT’s six transportation agencies – the State Highway Administration, Maryland Transit Administration, Motor Vehicle Administration, Maryland Aviation Administration, Maryland Port Administration and the Maryland Transportation Authority – and leads operations and maintenance of state highways and bridges, tollways, transit systems, motor vehicle licensing, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore. Secretary Ports also serves as Chair of the Maryland Transportation Authority Board, the Maryland Port Commission and the Maryland Aviation Commission, and is a member of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Board of Directors.

Secretary Ports previously served as Executive Director of the Maryland Transportation Authority, responsible for constructing, managing, operating and improving the state’s toll facilities, as well as financing new revenue producing transportation projects. The agency operates two turnpikes, two tunnels and four bridges, and is funded through tolls paid by the customers. Mr. Ports’ tenure at the MDTA was highlighted by advancement of critical infrastructure and completion of projects on budget and often ahead of schedule. Projects completed early include the new Interstate-895 bridge in Baltimore, statewide conversion to All-Electronic Tolling and replacement of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge westbound right lane deck, which was accomplished in one construction season instead of two seasons as initially projected. Under Mr. Ports’ leadership, the MDTA completed planning and began construction of the I-95 Express Toll Lane Extension in Harford County, launched construction of the new Governor Harry W. Nice Memorial/Senator Thomas “Mac” Middleton Bridge in Charles County, began a project to install a new gating system on the Bay Bridge to improve safety and traffic flow and advanced the Bay Crossing Study in its Tier 1 National Environmental Policy Act review.

Prior to the MDTA, Mr. Ports served as MDOT Deputy Secretary of Operations, working closely with all six department agencies. It was his second stint as a Deputy Secretary, having served in that capacity from 2004 to 2007 during the administration of Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr.

Mr. Ports’ extensive experience in multi-modal transportation and highway safety includes service as administrator and chief executive officer for Harford County Transit from mid-2009 to 2015. In this capacity, he was responsible for safe, effective and efficient operation and regulatory oversight of Harford County’s transit service including fixed bus routes and demand response service for the elderly and persons with special needs.

Prior to Harford County Transit, Mr. Ports served the U.S. Department of Transportation as deputy administrator (chief operating officer) for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 2007 to 2009. He was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation with confirmation by President George W. Bush. As deputy administrator, he managed the day-to-day operations of the agency and oversaw its 10 Regional Offices across the nation. As the second highest ranking highway safety official in the nation, he was recognized as a national and international leader in vehicle, behavioral and roadway safety.

From 1991 to 2002, Mr. Ports served in the Maryland General Assembly as a member of the House of Delegates. He was ranking member of the House Ways and Means Committee and served on numerous House-Senate joint committees and subcommittees, including the House Subcommittees on Transportation, Education and Taxes. He was elected by his peers to serve as the Minority Whip.

While in the House of Delegates and prior to his first appointment to MDOT, Mr. Ports was employed by the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company. During his 21-year career, he rose through the ranks and held various positions including supervisor of the Industrial and Commercial Gas Field Operations.

Mr. Ports grew up in Baltimore County, graduated from Perry Hall Senior High School and earned an Associate of Arts in Business Management and Administration from Essex Community College. He also attended the Program for Emerging Political and Business Leaders at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business in 1993, as well as a program at the Flemming Fellows Leadership Institute in 1997 and Executive Leadership Training at the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government in 2006.

Mr. Ports served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a Sergeant (E5) and was a Crew Chief on a CH-46 Helicopter. He is a life member of the VFW and the Marine Corps League and is a Disabled American Veteran. Throughout his life, he has served in many capacities for the benefit of his nation, state and community. Mr. Ports is an avid soccer fan. He and his wife Linda have enjoyed coaching and watching their three children, Chris, Jon and Kelsey, play various sports.

Roy McGrath was appointed by Governor Larry Hogan in December 2016 to lead the Maryland Environmental Service – an independent, self-supporting state agency that protects and enhances Maryland’s environment by providing innovative operational and technical services. Mr. McGrath was confirmed to the position unanimously by the Maryland Senate in February 2017. He serves as Director and Chief Executive Officer of the 850 employee, $160M agency, and as Chairman of the nine-member Board of Directors. MES is a unique, not-for-profit public corporation that combines the public sector’s commitment to environmental protection with the private sector’s flexibility and responsiveness.

Previously, Mr. McGrath was a member of Governor-elect Hogan’s Transition Team and then served as the Governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff from 2014-2016, focusing on state business and economic issues. Prior to this role, he spent 18 years with the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, a leading retail trade group, most recently as Vice President of Business Development. He also worked for the U.S. Government, including on the staff of former Maryland Congressman Wayne T. Gilchrest.

Mr. McGrath serves in the Governor’s Cabinet, is an ex-officio member of the Chesapeake Bay Cabinet, the Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority, is a member of the State’s Housing Finance Review Committee, and is an incoming member of the University of Maryland, College Park, School of Behavioral and Social Sciences Board of Visitors. He is a graduate of the University with a B.A. in Government & Politics and Economics, and is a lifelong Marylander.

Ms. Miller has 15 years of experience working in with the public sector through the K-12 education system, post-secondary education stakeholders and regional, statewide and community initiatives. Joining CAEL in 2009, Sarah has worked with both the public and private sector to assist in workforce and economic strategy development, analysis and recommendations as well as program planning. She has led key initiatives with CAEL through regional education and workforce alignment strategies; employer, workforce organization and economic development engagement; development and delivery of training modules; and capacity building for various sector strategies, non-profit organizations and consortia of college partners.

Prior to joining CAEL Sarah was a high school teacher of social studies in Toledo, Ohio and spent several years as a Business Consultant in the Private Sector where she worked directly with independent school districts, school district cooperatives and statewide initiatives to streamline special education planning and Medicaid programming per local and Federal guidelines. During this time Sarah worked with clients around the country to incorporate special education best practice models into administrative plans. Sarah earned her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Secondary Education from Bowling Green State University.

Tracy Gosson is President of Baltimore-based Sagesse, Inc., a full-service branding and marketing firm founded in 2007 that offers high-impact business and economic development marketing expertise for corporations, government agencies and non-profit organizations.
Tracy is the founding executive director of Live Baltimore Home Center, the entity solely responsible for attracting and retaining residents to the city. She developed an internationally recognized organization that has been replicated by many other communities and is still today considered to be one of the most successful urban marketing efforts in the country.
Prior to Live Baltimore, she spent ten years working “behind the camera” in television and film in various U.S. media markets. Tracy is a national speaker and expert on branding and marketing communities.

Walter Simmons is the President & CEO of Employ Prince George’s Incorporated and the Executive Director of the Prince George’s County Local Workforce Development Board. He has been a workforce professional for 10 years, holding various positions in South Carolina, the District of Columbia, and Maryland. Through his career, Walter has had success in building the service capacity of small nonprofits, rural job centers/programs and government entities by leveraging local resources. Walter is a frequent contributor and speaker at workforce development conferences across the Country, and an organizer of the State of Maryland’s Workforce Development Conference, Raising the Bar.
Walter joined Prince George’s County in 2016 as the Assistant Director of Workforce Operations for the Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation-Workforce Services Division. In June of 2018 Walter led the Workforce Services Division in its efforts to become Employ Prince George’s Incorporated, a 501c3 nonprofit organization based in Largo, Maryland. Employ Prince George’s is now the principal workforce entity in Prince George’s County. In his current roles, Walter leads the Prince George’s County Public Workforce System, staff’s the Prince George’s County Workforce Development Board, and manages a staff of 80 people at Employ Prince George’s. The Prince George’s County Public Workforce System is one of the largest workforce systems in the State of Maryland, serving over 35,000 job seekers and 4,000 businesses annually.
Walter has a had a career that has traversed multiple states and various opportunities. In 2014 Walter was identified by the White House as a national leader in Family Financial Stability and selected to attend the White House Summit on Working Families. Walter has also been recognized by the United States Department of Labor as a leader in workforce development. He has participated on panels, conferences and webinars with the Secretary of Labor, US Senators and workforce leaders from across the Country. Additionally, Mr. Simmons serves on the Board of Directors of the Maryland Workforce Association and the Advisory Board of the Greater Washington Community Foundation’s Prince George’s County Office.

Racial justice, environmental responsibility, and making money. Turning urban blight into a sustainable employment pathway for returning citizens.

Jeff Carroll is a Vice President at Humanim, a workforce development nonprofit serving Maryland for nearly 50 years. Initially focused on creating a pathway to independence for individuals with developmental disabilities, Humanim now serves populations which include individuals with physical disabilities, brain injury, the deaf, and those will social hurdles such as previous incarceration, chronic poverty and community disenfranchisement. In an effort to address the employment needs of this latter population, Humanim has developed a workforce development strategy around the creation of enterprises which are designed as employment vehicles. These enterprises do business in the food, IT, and construction industry sectors.
Jeff Carroll oversees the construction related social enterprises. Specifically he is the creator of Details Deconstruction a Social Enterprise of Humanim, and oversees it and its sister enterprise Brick and Board. With low barriers to entry and the opportunity to gain many transferable skills, the deconstruction industry became a good choice in which to create enterprises designed to employ individuals with social barriers to employment. In the urban community, especially post-industrial cities like Baltimore, steady, quality, living wage employment with benefits is critical as an initial step to improving challenged neighborhoods held down by generations of oppression and injustice.
Jeff has worked with the Humanim team and its many partners (Baltimore City Housing, Maryland Housing, the U.S. Forest Service, and several for-profit partners) to grow these enterprises from start-up to a collective $4,000,000 operation which has employed since inception 185 people from Baltimore’s toughest neighborhoods. Details Deconstruction and Brick and Board have been recognized locally and nationally for innovation, social impact, and community partnership. Jeff lives in Baltimore with his wife Heather, holds an MBA from Johns Hopkins Carey Business School and is a Legacy LEED AP. He serves on the board of the MD Works and regularly serves as a speaker and panelist.

Angela is a former business mentor to technology startups through TEDCO’s Rural Business Innovation Initiative, a former investor on TEDCO’s Seed Team and now co-manages TEDCO’s new Builder Fund. The Builder Fund is a new approach to inclusivity that assembles executive management support in addition to funding to help founders operate their companies in high functioning teams in hopes that relationship-building directly tied to operational performance will lead to more conclusive steps forward toward access to smart capital. Prior to joining TEDCO, Angela invented, patented and commercialized a footwear technology. TEDCO was her first institutional investor. The company was acquired by its largest investor, a Korean conglomerate, in 2012. Angela’s background also includes brand management on the MaxFactor and CoverGirl brands at consumer products giant Procter & Gamble and structuring fixed income derivative instruments on Wall Street at Sanford C. Bernstein. Angela holds a B.S. from U.M.B.C., a B.S. from Cornell and a M.B.A. from Yale.

MIKE GRELLA HAS 24 YEARS OF DOMAIN EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SITE SELECTION AND PUBLIC POLICY. MIKE SPENT THE FIRST 17 YEARS OF HIS CAREER ADVISING CLIENTS AT SEVERAL GLOBAL ACCOUNTING FIRMS. IN MARCH 2012, MIKE WAS RECRUITED BY AMAZON TO BUILD AND LEAD ITS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM FROM THE GROUND UP IN SEATTLE. THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM FORGES PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS REPRESENTING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF CAPITAL INVESTMENT AND TENS OF THOUSANDS OF NEW JOBS EACH YEAR. IN 2016, MIKE CREATED THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUNCTION FOR AMAZON WEB SERVICES, AMAZON’S RAPIDLY GROWING, CLOUD COMPUTING / HYPERSCALE GLOBAL DATA CENTER BUSINESS SEGMENT.

IN MARCH 2019 MIKE FORMED HIS OWN VENTURE DELIVERING VALUE TO PUBLIC & PRIVATE SECTOR ORGANIZATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS THROUGH SMART GROWTH STRATEGIES, SUSTAINABILITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSIVE PROSPERITY, ADOPTION OF DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, AND TENETS OF ENVIRONMENTAL & SOCIAL GOVERNANCE.

MIKE RECEIVED HIS UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE FROM VILLANOVA SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND HIS JURIS DOCTOR FROM HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW.

Catherine Buell is the new Vice President for Policy & Programs at the Greater Washington Partnership. The Greater Washington Partnership is a first-of-its-kind civic alliance of CEOs in the Washington D.C. region, drawing from the leading employers and entrepreneurs committed to making the Capital Region—from Baltimore to Richmond—one of the world’s best places to live, work and build a business.

Prior to her role with the Partnership, Ms. Buell served as the President and CEO of the Atlanta Housing Authority (d/b/a “Atlanta Housing” or “AH”). There she led strategic, financial and operational efforts by providing housing to more than 23,000 of Atlanta’s low-and extremely low-income households. Buell’s visionary approach focused on Atlanta Housing’s new strategic plan “Vision 2022” (Live, Work, Thrive), which outlines a targeted 3-point thrust (live, work, thrive) aimed at housing human development and fiscal responsibility.

Ms. Buell previously served as the executive director of St. Elizabeth’s East, the District of Columbia’s largest mixed-use redevelopment project. St. Elizabeths East is home to the District’s Entertainment and Sports Arena which hosts the Washington Mystic’s and Wizards practice facility, the R.I.S.E. Demonstration Center, Gateway D.C. and is the future home of the Residences at St. Elizabeths. Ms. Buell also served as the Chair of the Washington D.C. Historic Preservation Review Board and earned a number of awards for her revitalization efforts – the Built by Women DC Award and Historic Preservation Review Board Chair’s Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation among them.

Ms. Buell started her career as an attorney with Patton Boggs LLP where she counseled institutional investors on real estate assets and private equity funds in the United States, South America, and Europe. She is a cum laude graduate of Spelman College and the Georgetown University Law Center.

Allison Akers is a marketing and communications specialist enthusiastic about all things Anne Arundel County. Allison is the Marketing and Outreach Manager for Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation (AAEDC). In this role, Allison is responsible for the strategic messaging and marketing promotions of all AAEDC programs, with a strong focus on digital engagement throughout multiple platforms to highlight Anne Arundel’s assets, innovative ecosystem & great quality of life. Since starting at AAEDC in 2016, Allison has worked closely with the marketing team to facilitate the launch of a new website, year-over-year increase in social media metrics and website engagement, and management of the “New Tech Hub on the Bay” video marketing campaign that led to the 2018 MEDA Economic Development Marketing Award for AAEDC.
Allison serves as the co-chair of the newly formed MEDA Young Leaders Group, helping to establish the group proposal foundation and coordinate events. Allison also serves on the University of Maryland, Robert H. Smith School of Business Alumni Chapter Board and the Public Relations Society of America-Chesapeake Chapter Board.
Prior to working with AAEDC, Allison spent three years working as the Marketing and Communications Specialist for the Maryland State Judiciary where she created the social media program and policy for the Maryland Judiciary and acted as a court liaison to many recent notable high profile trials with national and international news media. Past work also includes grassroots marketing and events management for the MD, DC, VA region with a private retail sports company and a brief stint in the music marketing industry. She graduated from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland with a B.S. in Marketing and is a proud Terp alum.

Mr. Johns is the Founder of Future Economies LLC, a Global Economics Practice focused on transformational economic development in communities across the world. In this capacity he advises visionary leaders on customizing implementation of award winning economic strategies, gaining access to global capital infrastructure investments, areas of innovation, cultural diversity as an economic strength and poverty elimination. Highlights include: $15 billion in new capital investment, 8000 new jobs, 2 multi billion urban redevelopments, 22 innovation companies incentivized (Apple, Facebook, Visa, Merck, Samsung, Athena Health, EBay…..), launch of the Einstein Project to break the cycle of children in poverty, a Global Science City network , internationally recognized small and creative business expansions, and design of performance based ROI software to increase tax revenues without cutting services or raising taxes.

Kevin is the former Director of Economic Development for Austin, Texas, top new economy in America in 2017. In this capacity, he led an internationally recognized team of 77, transforming Austin’s Economy into a global innovation, creative and economic powerhouse. His successes are well noted in Small Business expansion (Harvard Ash Government Award), Strategic Economic Planning (IEDC Best Strategy to Address Globalization), Public Engagement (Emmy Award), ROI software (LOCI, Envision Tomorrow), Performance based incentives (Rated #1 by Good Jobs First for Transparency), and, Urban Regeneration (IEDC Best Public Private Partnership globally, 2015 APA Secretary of HUD Economic Award and 2017 US Green Energy Council Awards). His accomplishments include over 230 successful public private partnerships in communities across America. His most recent initiative, the Einstein Challenge, was featured in the National League of Cities blog “Austin has what it takes in Equitable Development.”

Mr. Johns Vision is to use cultural diversity as an economic strength, locally and internationally. Kevin’s global trade strategy, the “Science City Network” capitalized on Hispanic, Black and Asian Chambers of Commerce business diaspora, linking Austin’s tech community to 125,000 innovation firms worldwide. Mr. Johns was previously Director of Planning for the Atlanta U.S. Regional Office of the Parsons Corporation, Director of Palm Beach County, Florida., and Director of two of the nation’s fastest growing suburbs, both in metro Atlanta. His work and successes have been noted in the Brookings Report on Economic Incentives (2018), the Wall Street Journal, National Public Radio, National League of Cities book “Economic Successes in Small Cities,” NBC – Atlanta’s, “In Depth TV Show”, Urban Land Institute’s Land Development Magazine, Southern Living, Los Angeles Times and the Christian Science Monitor.

Mr. Johns has a Masters Degree in City Planning from Georgia Tech, and a BA from Case Western Reserve University.

In February 2012, Stacy Spann joined the Housing Opportunities Commission as the Executive Director.
Prior to joining HOC, Mr. Spann was the Executive Director and Director of Howard County Housing (which
included the housing commission and the county’s Department of Housing and Community Development)
and Assistant Commissioner for Development Finance at Baltimore Housing. Mr. Spann has been
responsible for the development and rehabilitation of thousands of affordable housing units across the
Baltimore and DC Metropolitan areas in Baltimore, Howard County and Montgomery County, Maryland.
Mr. Spann was named Affordable Housing Finance magazine’s “Young Leader” award recipient in 2010
and received the Colvin Institute’s “Maryland Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Real Estate” award in
2016, which recognizes expertise in creative affordable housing solutions, imaginative planning, inventive
design and the advancement of progressive, sustainable development.
Mr. Spann is currently an adjunct professor of the Capstone Course Masters Program in Real Estate at the
University of Maryland at College Park in the School of Architecture, Planning & Preservation. He is also a
member of the Professional Development Faculty at the National Association of Housing &
Redevelopment Organizations (NAHRO), where he teaches “Introduction to Mixed Finance for Public
Housing Authorities,” a course he designed for housing authorities, non-profits and local and federal
governmental entities throughout the U.S.
An Annie E. Casey Children & Family Class 10 Fellow, Mr. Spann holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business
Administration from Morehouse College and a Masters of Public Administration in Advanced
Management and Finance from Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs.

Brian joined the HCEDA in September 2012 and has held various positions in the organization, but most recently as the Director of Communications and Marketing.

Brian oversees the brand management of the the HCEDA, Maryland Center for Entrepreneurship, Howard Tech Council, and the Howard County Innovation Center. He and the rest of the Marketing Department are responsible for the production and promotion of over 100 events a year, including Howard County Business Appreciation Week. He commonly works with CEO’s from the community to tell Howard County’s story and engages regularly with the area’s elected representatives.

Brian was nominated by the Ellicott City community after the 2016 flood receiving recognition for acts of excellence from Governor Larry Hogan and then Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman ultimately for the role he played in the response. He is a 2018 Leadership Howard County Essentials graduate and is currently serving on the Ellicott City Partnership’s Board of Advisors.

Brian is a Howard County resident and a graduate of Towson University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mass Communications with dual tracks in Advertising and Public Relations.

N. Gordon Knox is a principal and co-chair of Miles & Stockbridge, P.C.’s Real Estate and Transaction Finance practice group, with more than 50 lawyers. He is an experienced lawyer, focusing on public finance, commercial and real estate transactions in the firm’s Baltimore and Washington, D.C., offices. He handles all aspects of tax-exempt financings, commercial financings and affordable housing development financings. In the public finance area, he has extensive experience serving as bond counsel and counsel to issuers, borrowers, bond purchasers and trustees. Mr. Knox represents national, regional and community banks, and other financial institutions in structuring, negotiating and documenting transactions involving New Markets Tax Credits, construction loans, letters of credit, equipment leases and commercial loans secured by real estate and/or personal property. Mr. Knox advises lenders in connection with troubled credits and has extensive experience in documenting and negotiating forbearance agreements and restructuring credit facilities. He also serves as outside general counsel to business owners and real estate developers.

Mike Knapp is CEO and Co-Founder of SkillSmart and has spent more than 25 years identifying opportunities to use technology to improve people’s lives and create economic opportunity. SkillSmart develops SaaS products to make stronger communities by improving outcomes for economic projects through improved tracking and reporting workforce compliance, using skills-based applications to overcome the skills gap, improve hiring outcomes and develop career pathways increasing transparency between employers, employees, and education resources. He served two terms on the County Council of Montgomery County, MD, and was elected Council President, giving him first-hand insight into how growing a pipeline of skilled workers matched to the needs of local and regional employers can stimulate the economy. He currently chairs the Board of Trustees at Montgomery College, and the Board of Advisors at the Universities at Shady Grove, co-chair of Montgomery Moving Forward and is a board member of the Healthcare Initiative Foundation and Identity, Inc.

Senator-Elect Addie C. Eckardt
April 2015
First elected to Maryland Legislature in 1994, Senator Eckardt currently serves in the Senate of Maryland representing District 37, Dorchester, Caroline, Talbot and Wicomico Counties. Senator Eckardt is a member of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, on the Health and Human Resources subcommittee, a member of the Joint Committees on AELR, Audit, Pensions, and Fair Practices and Personnel Oversight. While in the House of Delegates she was a member of the House Appropriations Committee, Health and Human Resources, Capital Budget, and Pension Oversight. She has also served as a member of the following Joint Committees; Welfare Reform; Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review; Joint Committee on Access to Mental Health Services; Committee of Children, Youth and Families, the House Special Task Force on Drug and Alcohol Abuse, and Spending Affordability. She is past Chair of the Eastern Shore Delegation, the House Republican Caucus and past President of the Women’s Caucus.
Senator Eckardt retired in 2003 as a full-time Psychiatric-Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist employed at the Eastern Shore Hospital Center since 1973. Past employment has included part-time psychiatric nursing clinical instructor for Salisbury University. She currently works part-time with the Dorchester County Health Department as a school health nurse. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland-School of Nursing with a Masters of Science degree and maintains certification as a Psychiatric Nurse Clinical Specialist by the American Nurses Association.
In the Community Senator Eckardt serves as a Board Member of the following organizations: Mid Shore Regional Council; Channel Markers Foundation, Inc.; Eastern Shore Area Health Education Center; Sailwinds, Inc., Talbot Hospice Foundation and Adventist Behavioral Health Board. Senator Eckardt also retains membership in the Maryland Nurses Association District IV. She is past President of the Maryland Nurses Association and Chesapeake Health Planning System, Inc.
Other accomplishments include: Graduate of Flemming Fellows Institute, Shore Leadership Inaugural Class and Leadership Maryland – 2001. She serves on the Health Committee for both the National Conference of State Legislatures, American Legislative Exchange Council, and is on the Board of Women’s Legislative Network. In 2003, 2005, and 2007 she was named one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women and as a three time winner, was inducted into the Circle of Excellence. She has received numerous recognitions and awards for her legislative activities.
She is married to Dick Eckardt of Cambridge and they have three married sons and nine grandchildren: The Eckardt’s are active members of Christ Episcopal Church in Cambridge.

Jane Shaab serves as Associate Vice President for Economic Development at University of Maryland, Baltimore and Executive Director of the University of Maryland BioPark.

As Executive Director, Jane is charged with the development and management of the UM BioPark, a 14-acre world-class biomedical research center immediately adjacent to the UMB campus in the West Baltimore. Today over 40 companies and translational research institutes as well as the Maryland Proton Treatment Center and Maryland Forensic Medical Center are located in the UM BioPark, employing over 1,000 people.

Prior to joining UMB, Jane served as Executive Director of The Greater Baltimore Technology Council; Director of Economic Development for the Maryland Chamber of Commerce; Director of National Marketing for Maryland Economic Growth Associates, Inc. (MEGA); and as a marketing consultant to The Greater Baltimore Committee.

Jane serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Central Maryland Transportation Alliance; the Southwest Partnership Board of Directors; the B & O Railroad Museum Board of Directors; and as a founding member of the Poe Baltimore Board of Trustees. She is a member of the Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC) Life Sciences Committee; serves as a member of the Innovation Park @ Rutgers External Advisory Board; and is a former member of the Association of University Research Parks (AURP) Board of Directors.

Jane is a graduate of Rosemont College, Rosemont, Pennsylvania, and the Goucher College Business Management Institute.

She is a graduate of Leadership Maryland and has been honored as one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women in 1997, 1999, and 2001 and is a permanent member of Maryland’s Top 100 Women Circle of Excellence.

John M. Wasilisin has compiled an outstanding career in spanning business/government service over the last 44 years, 34 of which have been in the economic/workforce development field. This experience has included progressive positions at the state and local levels of government and has involved significant partnerships with the business community.

Mr. Wasilisin retired in the fall of 2021 as CEO/Executive Director of Maryland$aves, where he developed a savings program for employees that do not have access to a retirement plan at their place of employment.

Mr. Wasilisin previously served as President/Chief Operating Officer of the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO). In this capacity, John was responsible for assisting in the development of policy and directing programs to further advance the mission/role of the Corporation. TEDCO’s mission is to facilitate the creation of businesses and foster their growth in all regions of the State through the commercialization of technology, and to be Maryland’s leading source of funding for technology transfer and development programs and entrepreneurial business assistance.

Mr. Wasilisin previously served as Deputy Secretary of the Maryland Department of Budget and Management. In this capacity, he oversaw the day-to-day administration of the department, which includes operating budget analysis, personnel services and benefits, information technology, procurement and capital budgeting.

Prior to this position, Mr. Wasilisin served as Deputy Secretary of the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. In this capacity, he oversaw the day-to-day administration of the department, which included workforce development, unemployment insurance, financial regulation, labor and industry, safety inspection programs, apprenticeship and training, occupational licensing, and Maryland’s horse racing industry.

Prior to returning to state government in 2003, Mr. Wasilisin served as the Chief Administrative Officer to the Baltimore County Executive, the highest appointed official in Baltimore County Government. He served in this position from January 1999 to February 2003. As Chief Administrative Officer, John was responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of County government, coordinating the efficient and effective delivery of County services to over 750,000 residents by supervising each of the department and agency heads in their charge to carry out and implement the policies and initiatives of the County Executive and the County Council. Under his administration as Chief Administrative Officer, Baltimore County government was recognized by Governing magazine as one of the four best-managed large counties in the United States. For fiscal year 2003, Baltimore County had a total budget of approximately $1.9 billion and over 8,000 employees.

Prior to his appointment as the County Administrative Officer, Mr. Wasilisin was the Director of the Baltimore County Office of Employment and Training, the agency responsible for administering the federal and state workforce development programs in Baltimore County. Under his leadership, the Office of Employment and Training received two Presidential Awards for outstanding employment and training programs. The Presidential Awards are the most prestigious in this field and have given the Office of Employment and Training a national reputation. In August of 1994, the agency opened the Baltimore County Reemployment Assistance Center, the first of its kind in Maryland. This center assists laid-off individuals in their search for new employment opportunities.

Mr. Wasilisin has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Administration from the University of Baltimore’s Merrick School of Business. He sits on the boards of the Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA), Leadership Maryland and the Presidential Scholar Business Advisory Council at Towson University. Mr. Wasilisin is also a graduate of the 1999 GBC Leadership program and the 2005 Leadership Maryland program.

Brian P. Darmody, JD, Chief Executive Officer, Association of University Research Parks (AURP)
Brian will lead AURP into new initiatives including expanding membership, international partnerships and building additional member benefits.

Previously he was Associate Vice President (AVP) of Corporate Engagement at the University of Maryland (UMD), AVP for Research and Economic Development, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Technology Development, University System of Maryland, and Director of State and Federal Relations in the President’s Office and has served in the university’s legal counsel office.

He has also served as a staff member in the U.S, House of Representatives, the Maryland General Assembly and Office of Attorney-Advisor, U.S. Health Care Financing Agency.

He serves on boards of Fraunhofer USA, Maryland Economic Development Association, City-University Partnership and Maryland Tech Council. 

Delegate Johnny Mautz attended elementary, middle and high school in St. Michaels and Easton before graduating from Brewster Academy in 1989. He received a Bachelors degree from the University of Dayton in 1994 and a Juris Doctorate degree from Ohio Northern University in 1997.

When he was a child, his parents purchased Carpenter Street Saloon in St. Michaels. Since that time, Mautz has worked in or around the saloon in almost every capacity – truth be told he is not a very good cook. In addition to working in the saloon, he has also worked on a variety of construction sites and commercial clamming and crabbing boats.

Mautz is an avid outdoorsman, and has played in various sports leagues in the area, including the 1982 Easton Little League team, which made it all the way to the Little League World Series.

After being admitted to the Maryland Bar, he worked as a legislative lawyer for the House Judiciary committee and as an advisor to Gov. Ehrlich in Annapolis.

He married his loving wife Rebecca in 2005. They reside in St. Michaels and are the proud parents of two wonderful children, Johnny, aged 6, and Evelyn, 3. The final member of their family is a trusted yellow Labrador retriever, Roxy.

Mautz is the son of Easton dentist Dr. John Mautz and community leader Diana Mautz. His brother is Dan Mautz, a volunteer firefighter and Red Cross emergency responder.

Currently, Mautz operates his family’s restaurant in St. Michaels while also representing Legislative District 37B in the Maryland House of Delegates.

Kimberly A. “Kim” Clark

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.

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.

For the past 32 years, Lisa Coblentz has been a leader in the staffing industry and has provided area businesses with innovative workforce solutions to help them be successful in today’s changing world of work. She started her career with Manpower’s franchise organization in 1987 where she quickly moved to various levels of responsibility. She has held positions as Branch Manager, Area Manager, and Regional Director. Lisa is currently President and Co-Owner of the Hagerstown, Maryland Manpower Franchise. For most of her career, she has been based in Frederick, Maryland; however, her territory includes counties in the four states of Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Virginia.

Lisa has become known for her leadership skills and knowledge of workforce issues locally, nationally and globally. She served for eight years on the Frederick County Workforce Development Board and is a past Chairperson of the Chamber of Commerce of Frederick County Board of Directors. Her career has also included countless volunteer hours for area non-profit organizations. She has served on local boards for Habitat for Humanity, Frederick County Builders Association, and the Community Foundation of Frederick County where she served for six years as their HR Committee Chairperson. Lisa founded the Boys & Girls Club of Frederick County Board in 2002, served as its Board Chairperson for seven years and remains active with them today. Lisa has served on the national Board of Directors for the Association of Manpower Franchise Owners and recently served on the Board of Associates for Hood College. She is a current member of the Board of Directors of Homewood at Crumland Farms. Due to her extensive work and experience with the non-profit community, Lisa has become a go-to person for area 501(C)3 organizations. Lisa is frequently called upon when local non-profits are seeking HR advice where she has put in many pro-bono hours. She has successfully completed many executive-level searches for Chief Professional Officers and other executives.

In addition to her for-profit endeavors with Manpower, Lisa started a program in conjunction with the Frederick County Department of Social Services in 1996. She developed a welfare-to-work job training program named BRIDGES. For more than 17 years, the BRIDGES Program helped thousands of individuals successfully transition from the welfare rolls to the world of work. In 2006, from her workforce development work, Lisa started a certified minority business enterprise (MBE) in the State of Maryland called BRIDGES Plus, LLC and she serves as its President and Owner today.

Michael DuVall Jr- HR & Benefit Advisor has 18 years of experience in group employee benefits brokerage, advisory services and consulting. He has extensive knowledge of the principles and practices of benefits management and administration, including regulatory compliance (ACA, COBRA, ERISA and HIPAA) that gives him the cutting edge to guide his clients to offer the best employee benefit solutions possible. Michaels clients are mainly comprised of Growing Technology and Government Contractor employers. This competitive hiring marketplace drives Michael to continually learn about new products, and platforms that keep his clients ahead of the curve of benefit offerings. His passion for educating employers and their employees about the their benefit offerings through multifaceted approach makes him a difference maker.

Michael has been a Licensed Resident Producer for Health and Life Insurance since 2001. In addition to his extensive employee benefits background he has been the “go-to” boker for BenAdmin Solutions, and Technology that bridges the gap from paper to online platforms. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from University of Maryland, College Park in Economics, is an all-around family guys with four children under the age of 8 (including identical twin boys) that keep him busy most nights and weekends. He continues to participate in local Basketball Leagues ,frequents local Ski Resorts, and par 3’s with the kids. Volunteer efforts include Anne Arundel Medical Center, Cystic Fibrosis, Annapolis Boys and Girls Club, and kids coaching.

Renée M. Winsky is the 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’s local businesses and communities. Each year, Leadership Maryland brings together a class of 52 local leaders selected from all sectors, industries, and geographic regions of Maryland to engage on the vital issues affecting the state and work to build solutions for real, actionable change. In this role she manages the day-to-day operations of the organization and facilitates the work of the Board of Directors. In accordance with the Corporation’s mission she plans and administers programs to develop leadership 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 also the president and founder of Bay One Group, LLC, a consulting firm that assists clients with a variety of subject matters, including economic development, entrepreneurship, government relations and advocacy, technology transfer and commercialization, university collaborations and partnering, and small business start-ups. Ms. Winsky is a member of the Maryland Commission on Service and Volunteerism, a Governor Larry Hogan appointment. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Maryland Economic Development Association and the Maryland Chamber of Commerce Legislative Committee. She has served the 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.

Dr. James D. Fielder, Jr. is a highly regarded executive and public servant with a passion for leading change, focused on improving the economic well-being of Marylanders through educational and business opportunity.

He has served four Maryland governors, lending his talents and expertise in numerous leadership capacities. Some of these include his current position as: Secretary of Higher Education; Secretary of Appointments for Governor Hogan; Secretary of Labor, Licensing, and Regulations; Acting Secretary for Business and Economic Development; Member of Governor-elect Hogan’s Transition Team.

He also served as Towson University’s Vice President of Finance and Administration.

Secretary Fielder received his Ph.D. at Michigan State University in Higher Education, and his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Maryland, College Park.