2021 Economic Development Day
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MEDA’s Annual Economic Development Day is going Virtual!
Each year MEDA and our partners conduct Economic Development Day in Annapolis during the legislative session. Since we can’t go to Annapolis, we will hear from our elected leadership via the virtual format.
While we plan to celebrate Economic Development all day, our format will provide a panel discussion with an address from Governor Hogan. We also plan to share information on The Awareness Report, a project under development by the Public Policy Awareness Committee.
So join us for an event designed to bring together all those who are making an effort to Transform Lives by creating opportunities, inspiring innovation, and enriching communities. Free to MEDA members and their guests.
When
Mon, Feb 22, 2021 @ 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Conference Speakers
The 2021 Economic Development Day Speakers
Governor Lawrence J. Hogan, Jr. was sworn in as the 62nd governor of the State of Maryland on January 21, 2015. In 2018, he was overwhelmingly re-elected to a second four-year term, receiving the most votes of any Maryland gubernatorial candidate and becoming only the second Republican governor to be re-elected in the 242-year history of the state.
In his first inaugural address, Governor Hogan reminded citizens of Maryland’s history as a state of middle temperament and pledged to advance the best ideas, regardless of which side of the political aisle they come from. He is recognized nationally as a strong, independent leader who consistently delivers real results and achieves common sense, bipartisan solutions.
After being elected by his fellow governors, Governor Hogan recently completed a successful term as chairman of the National Governors Association, and he consistently maintains one of the highest job approval ratings in the country.
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 since her confirmation in February 2015 and is also a former member of the Maryland House of Delegates.
At Labor, 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. The Department’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.
Senator Ferguson, was elected to the Maryland State Senate in 2010 to represent Maryland’s 46th Legislative District. He first served on the Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee before moving to the Budget and Taxation Committee, where he became Vice-Chair of the committee and Chair of the Education, Business, and Administration Subcommittee. In January 2020, his colleagues unanimously elected him to serve as President of the Maryland Senate, making him the second youngest Senate President in Maryland history. As Senate President, Bill ensures that he looks out for the needs of all Marylanders and the critical issues facing our state.
Bill is serving his third term as State Senator for Maryland’s 46th Legislative District. The 46th Legislative District is located entirely within Baltimore City, including neighborhoods in south Baltimore, downtown near and around the Inner Harbor, and southeast Baltimore.
A lifelong Maryland resident, Bill made Baltimore City his home when he joined Teach for America after graduating from Davidson College with a double major in political science and economics. From 2005 to 2007, Bill taught U.S. history and U.S. government to ninth and tenth graders in a breakout academy of one of Baltimore’s most challenged high schools. Bill earned his Master’s degree in Teaching from the Johns Hopkins School of Education in 2007.
The inequities of the public education system in Baltimore City led Bill to engage more deeply within the community outside of the schoolhouse. After teaching, Bill worked as a community liaison for the Baltimore City Council President’s Office; earned a law degree from the University of Maryland Carey School of Law; and served as the Special Assistant to Dr. Andres Alonso, former CEO of the Baltimore City Public Schools. Through these pursuits, Bill continually drew from his classroom experiences to find ways to bring new resources and greater attention to the city’s educational achievement gap.
Senator Ferguson is married to fellow Teach for America alum Lea Ferguson (Baltimore City, ’05). The Ferguson live in Patterson Park with their son, Caleb, and daughter, Cora.
Speaker Adrienne A. Jones shattered two glass ceilings when she was unanimously elected by the full House of Delegates to serve as the first African-American and the first woman Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates in history.
Prior to being Speaker, Speaker Jones also held the distinction of being the first African American woman to serve as Speaker Pro Tem in the Maryland House of Delegates, serving in that capacity under Speaker Mike Busch for 16 years. Speaker Jones served on the House Appropriations Committee, and was Chair of the Capital Budget and Education, and Economic Development Subcommittees. She has been a delegate since 1997.
Speaker Jones has long been known by her colleagues for her steadfast leadership and no-nonsense approach to legislating. She has focused on education policy and funding issues, most notably school construction, during her tenure in the legislature. She has also made significant advances in ensuring diversity and fair treatment of State employees.
In February, 2019, Speaker Jones received the Casper R. Taylor, Jr. Founder’s Award, the highest award given to a member of the House of Delegates, recognizing her steadfast service. She has three times been named to the “Top 100 Women in Maryland” by the Daily Record, and was inducted into the Circle of Excellence for Sustained Achievement. Most recently she was selected along with 25 female legislators for Governing Magazine’s Women in Government Leadership Program Class of 2016. As the first Executive Director of the Baltimore County Office of Fair Practices and Community Affairs, she faithfully served the citizens of the County for over 37 years. She served as Deputy Director of the Baltimore County Office of Human Resources until her retirement from service in Baltimore County Government on June 30, 2014. During her civil service career, she worked with diverse populations of the County with dedication and sensitivity, providing a listening “ear” to individual citizens, business owners, religious leaders, and elected officials. She is the Founder of the Annual Baltimore County African American Cultural Festival, now in its 21st year.
Speaker Jones was born in Cowdensville, Maryland, a historic African-American community located near Arbutus in Southwest Baltimore County. She attended Baltimore County Public Schools, graduating from Lansdowne High School and is a proud alumna of the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) where she received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology . She attended The National Security Seminar, U.S. Army War College in 2007. In 2008, she received an Honorary Doctor of Law Degree from Goucher College in Towson, Maryland. She is the mother of two adult sons and proud grandmother of two wonderful grandchildren, Jalen and Janelle Jones.
Delegate Kathy Szeliga graduated from Towson State University, B.A., Elementary Education, summa cum laude, in 1994. She was first elected in 2010 to the Maryland House of Delegates and serves on the Health and Government Operations Committee. She has also served on the Appropriations Committee and Environment and Transportation Committee. Since 2013, Delegate Szeliga has served as the House Minority Whip. Additionally, Delegate Szeliga has received prestigious awards, such as Maryland’s Top 100 Women, The Baltimore Sun’s Women to Watch, 2014 Legislator of the Year from MD Society of Anesthesiologists, and a Towson University Distinguished Alumni Award in 2017. Kathy has been married for more than 40 years to Mark, they have two married sons and two granddaughters. She and Mark started a construction general contracting business nearly 35 years ago where they work together today.
Tenure
First elected to the Senate in 2006. Member of the Senate since 2007.
Current Assignments
2020 Minority Leader
2011- Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee
2019 Chair, Alcohol Subcommittee of the Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee
2021 Rules Committee
2020 Legislative Policy Committee
2020 Joint Committee on Children, Youth, and Families
2020 Spending Affordability Committee
2011- Joint Committee on the Chesapeake and Atlantic Bays Critical Area
2007 Maryland Veterans Caucus
Past Senate Service
Health Subcommittee of the Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee, 2019; Environment Subcommittee of the Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee, 2015-2019; Health Occupations Subcommittee of the Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee, 2011-2015; Senate Special Committee on Ethics Reform, 2012-2014; Judicial Proceedings Committee, 2007-2010; Labor, Licensing, and Regulation Subcommittee of the Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee, 2011-2015.
Public Service
Maryland Cybersecurity Council, 2017-; Maryland Health and Human Services Referral Board, 2017-2018; Governor’s Family Violence Council, 2008-2017.
Memberships
Legislative Squadron, Civil Air Patrol, Maryland Wing, 2009; Taxpayers Protection Caucus, 2008-; Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, 2007-; Pasadena Kiwanis, 2007-; Board of Directors, North County Republican Club, 2005-2006; Upsilon Pi Epsilon (computer science honor society), 1993-; Chesapeake Bay Foundation; National Rifle Association.
Biographical Information
Born, Baltimore, Maryland, September 6, 1963; Bob Jones University, B.S., Computer Science, 1985; Loyola College, M.S., Engineering Science (Upsilon Pi Epsilon, Computer Science Honor Society), 2005; Computer Systems Engineer, Westinghouse, 1985-94; Senior Engineer, Northrop Grumman Corp., 1995- present; Founder, Heroes-at-Home, 2002-; Creator, Simonaire Santas for Abused Children; Married; seven children.
Heather Gramm joined the Maryland Department of Commerce as Senior Director of Strategic Industries and Entrepreneurship in June 2019. In this role, she oversees the development and implementation of the state’s efforts to grow the strategic industries of biohealth and life sciences, cybersecurity and aerospace, manufacturing, energy and agriculture. In addition, she oversees Commerce’s strategic initiatives for entrepreneurship, small business, and workforce development.
Prior to this role, she served as Deputy Director for the Frederick County Office of Economic Development overseeing the county’s business development efforts, including business attraction, retention and expansion, small and minority business development strategies, as well as industry-sector development in the county’s targeted sectors.
Heather has more than 17 years of experience in municipal, county and state economic development in a variety of roles including business development, community development and downtown revitalization. She earned a B.A. in Business Administration from Hood College and the Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) certification through IEDC. She serves as President of the Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA) Board of Directors.
With over 20 years of economic development experience, Laurie Boyer Babb, CEcD currently serves as the Director of Economic Development at Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation. She is responsible for the management and oversight of the County’s economic development financial incentive programs and the administration of contracts with third party vendors providing economic development services on behalf of the County. Over the past year, she developed the policies and procedures and implemented over $40 million in emergency grant programs established to assist businesses locally during the global health pandemic. She and her team provide support and guidance to companies interested in doing business in Montgomery County. Babb serves as a strategic and technical advisor to other senior managers, the County Executive and the County Council in evaluating new programs, policies and incentives for supporting new and existing businesses. She partners strategically with the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) and the Maryland Department of Commerce on business attraction and retention efforts.
Previously, Laurie served as the Executive Director of Rockville Economic Development, Inc. (REDI), and as Executive Director for the Frederick County Office of Economic Development.
In May 2006, she earned her professional Economic Development Certification (CEcD) from the International Economic Development Council.
Ms. Babb is a graduate of Leadership Montgomery Class of 2014 and Leadership Frederick County Class of 1997, serves as Secretary of the Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA) Foundation Board, and is on the MEDA Council of Past Presidents.
Ms. Babb has a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and Spanish from Juniata College in Huntingdon, PA and a Master’s degree in Communication Studies from West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV.
Dr. Memo Diriker is the founder and director of the Business Economic and Community Outreach Network (BEACON), an applied business and economic research unit of the Franklin P. Perdue School of Business at Salisbury University.
In addition to his work at BEACON, Dr. Diriker currently serves on the boards of Leadership Maryland, Inc. (immediate past-chair), Maryland Chamber of Commerce Foundation (immediate-past chair), Network of International Business Schools (vice-president), Tidal Health-Peninsula Regional (chair), Tidal Health System, Peninsula Ventures, Inc., United Way, and Shore Hatchery. His previous board memberships include PAC-14, and Diakonia, Inc. Dr. Diriker is a past president of the Salisbury Sunrise Rotary Club and of the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce. He has also served as the president of the American Marketing Association (AMA) in Boston.
Memo is the recipient of many honors and awards, including an Influential Marylander Award, a Distinguished Faculty Member Award, a Diversity Award, a Visionary Award, the Jim Barrett Community Leadership Award, an Outstanding Public Health Leader Award, a Heart of United Way Award, and a University System of Maryland Board of Regents Award for Outstanding Public Service. During his 30 + years at BEACON, he has served as the principal investigator for over 500 applied business and economic research projects, totaling over $16 Million in external funding. In addition to a book he co-authored, Dr. Diriker has authored or co-authored many articles in academic and practitioner publications and is a popular speaker at many regional, national and international events.
