2023 Rural Economic Development Session — Upper Shore Edition

My role is to help you identify ways to best optimize the cash
in your business to meet business needs. We’ll also work
together to help mitigate your exposure to fraud and the risks
inherent in operating a business.

EXPERIENCE
I joined PNC Business Banking in 2023. I have over 30 years of
experience in the financial services industry.
EDUCATION
I earned a Associate Degree in Business Management from
UNIV of PHOENIX.
PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION
During my work experience, I have received the following: Give
Fellowship Cert
COMMUNITY OR CHARITABLE ACTIVITY
Outside of work, I am engaged in the community. My
involvement includes Phil Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc..

Dr. Mary Way Bolt, the fifth President of Cecil College brings thirty years of practice in the field of higher education to her office. Her vast experience allows her to successfully implement the priorities identified in Cecil College’s Strategic Plan. Dr. Bolt demonstrates leadership and an institutional commitment to student success while supporting the needs of faculty, staff, and external stakeholders.
Dr. Bolt is known as a staunch advocate for higher education and economic development at the state, local and national level. She currently serves on the Maryland Association of Community Colleges legislative committee and executive committee. In this role, Dr. Bolt keeps a watchful eye on bills that could affect educational outcomes in the state and determines the best course of action to ensure that Maryland’s community colleges remain affordable and accessible for our students.

Dr. Bolt is a proud Cecil College graduate who earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Maryland Baltimore County. She subsequently was awarded a master’s degree in community health nursing from the University of Maryland at Baltimore and received a doctorate degree in higher education and leadership from Widener University. Dr. Bolt is also a graduate of the Harvard University Management Development Program, Aspen Institute, and the Cecil Leadership Institute.

Geoff currently lives in Harford County, Maryland and has worked in the financial industry for 17 years. For the past 7 years he as worked as an Agricultural Relationship Manager for Horizon Farm Credit, serving farmers in Baltimore, Harford, Cecil and surrounding counties.

In his position as Program Manager for TEDCO’s Entrepreneur & Ecosystem Empowerment team, Justin leads grant & Pre-Seed Fund management.

Justin is a versatile, industry agnostic strategist with a unique combination of creativity and sophistication. With a background rooted in data analytics, Justin has a keen eye for turning insights into innovative solutions. He has worked with a range of businesses and organizations, from Citibank and Bloomberg to the National Science Foundation Innovation Corps, where he helped UMD professors commercialize their research into new businesses and technologies.

With an MBA from the Robert H. Smith School of Business, a Bachelor’s in Communications from the University of Maryland, and a Master’s in Project Management from Georgetown University, Justin is energized when advising and supporting creatives, entrepreneurs, and academic research professionals in their business ventures. As a Business Innovation Consultant at TEDCO, Justin leverages his extensive background in Business Strategy, Entrepreneurship, and Consulting to mentor growing technology start ups throughout the state.

In his work with startups across numerous industries, Justin provides expertise in general strategy, product differentiation, and marketing. He is known for his ability to imagine and deliver creative solutions, and his collaborative approach to problem-solving. And when he’s not consulting, Justin spends his time inventing new products and investing in real estate.

Andy Fish was appointed as the Senior Director of Finance Programs at the Maryland Department of Commerce in July of 2017. At Commerce, Andy and his team are responsible for the delivery, management and compliance efforts of the State’s economic development toolbox of finance programs. Prior to joining Commerce, he served M&T Bank over a 30 year career, supporting corporate and institutional clients throughout the bank’s footprint in a variety of development and leadership capacities.
Andy is a graduate of the University of Richmond and Loyola University in Maryland. He served on the boards of the Riderwood Parent Teacher Association, Cylburn Arboretum Association and the Maryland Family Network. He has been a Maryland resident for over 40 years.

Lippmann is the President and CEO of Fluoron Inc., a leading manufacturer and supplier of high-quality Fluoropolymers, offering custom non-stick and anti-wear solutions for various industries. Fluoron’s range of products includes heat-shrinkable non-stick covers and jackets, custom-fabricated for various applications, and can be found in diverse settings, from food manufacturing processes and pulp and paper rollers, to Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), and even rockets destined for space.

Prior to his role at Fluoron, Lippmann held positions as Process Engineering Manager at HOVENSA L.L.C. and R+D Manager at Honeywell.

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

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

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

After spending 20 years in public education as a teacher and administrator, Christina Schindler has embarked on a business venture with her family as the CEO of the Modern Stone Age Kitchen, a restaurant in Chestertown, MD that optimizes nutrition in modern foods through ancestral techniques to create healthy food for the community. Christina also serves as President of the Eastern Shore Food Lab, a non-profit that is focused on creating a nourishing, ethical and sustainable food system through education, outreach and research. Most importantly, Christina is a mother of three busy young-adults and Dr. Bill Schindler’s high-tech other half.

Kari Snyder is the Director of Community & Economic Development Partnerships for the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development’s Neighborhood Revitalization division. Kari leads the team that implements Main Street Maryland, Project Restore, Community Health & Safety Works, Operating Assistance Grants, Community Investment Tax Credits and Endow Maryland Tax Credits.

Prior to joining DHCD, Kari was the executive director of the Southeast Community Development Corporation, a 48-year-old non-profit organization that promotes healthy, vibrant and diverse communities in southeast Baltimore City. Kari joined Southeast CDC from Baltimore’s Healthy Neighborhoods, Inc., which brings capital to neighborhoods and builds local community development capacity. Kari has almost two decades of experience designing and implementing comprehensive place-based revitalization strategies that have improved the vitality of neighborhoods and commercial areas.

Heather Tinelli has served as the Director of Economic & Tourism Development for Queen Anne’s County since 2019. Heather is a lifelong resident of Queen Anne’s County with 30 years of business and economic development experience. Her background includes several years in commercial lending, consulting for the Small Business Development Center, owner of a local accounting practice for over 15 years, managing a local Main Street program and working in other economic development agencies in the state of Maryland.

Mrs. Tinelli has a B.A. in Business Administration and Economics from Washington College and furthered her education in accounting, taxation and business law. She has served on numerous boards and committees including the Queen Anne’s County Chamber of Commerce, Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center and Queen Anne’s County Spending Affordability Committee.

Jennifer Vedrani moved to Maryland from Colorado in 2014 to support her husband’s work with the Department of Housing and Community Development. She found work at a locally owned business called Kenseal Construction Products, with a focus on weatherproofing and waterproofing commercial buildings. The company was sold and she was promoted to VP of Human Resources. In 2017 a second sale occurred and she managed the due diligence process and transition of roles to the parent company. At this time, Jennifer’s interest changed and she began writing and focusing on sustainability efforts while consulting for small government contractors. In 2019, Refill Goodness was born and Jennifer left HR to pursue the business full time. She runs the Stevensville location and handles all aspects of Finance and Operations. She is married to a fellow do-gooder, has 4 children, a dogs and 3 cats. In her down time, you will find her hiking in the mountains and boating with her family or enjoying live music with friends.

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