2025 MEDA Fall Conference

Candace Dodson-Reed is an experienced executive with a 20 plus year successful career in the public, education, and nonprofit sectors. Skilled in media relations, grassroots organizing, government relations, crisis communications, inclusion and equity work, public policy and community/public affairs, Candace currently serves as the Chief of Staff and Executive Director of the Office of Equity and Inclusion at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC). Prior to her appointment in 2018, she was the AVP of Communications and Public Affairs at UMBC, a Vice President at the Greater Baltimore Committee and, for almost eight years, served as the Deputy Chief of Staff/ Director of Constituent and Community Affairs for Howard County Government.

Before working at Howard County Government, Candace worked in the corporate world and at the Columbia Association, Community Foundation of Howard County (known previously as the Columbia Foundation), and Anne Arundel Community College.
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Candace’s consulting group, Nalim Consulting LLC, is a public and community affairs group specializing in community outreach, communications, strategy, diversity, equity, and inclusion work, and crisis management.

In 2012, Candace founded the African American Community Roundtable of Howard County, an umbrella group that connects members of the local black community. Prior to that she founded the twentyfivefortyfive Giving Circle while working at the Community Foundation of Howard County. Candace also co-hosts a podcast—Elevate Maryland.
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Candace serves as an appointed commissioner on the US Commission on Civil Rights-Maryland State Advisory Committee, on the Maryland League of Conservation Voters Board of Directors, as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for the Downtown Columbia Arts and Culture Commission, and as a Board Member of Ohana HC.

Previously, Candace served as an appointed committee member on the University System of Maryland Workgroup on Free Speech and First Amendment Issues, appointed Chair of Howard County Executive Calvin Ball’s Administration Transition Committee, and appointed Chair for Howard County Executive Calvin Ball’s Office of Human Rights Review Committee. She is also a trained Howard County Public Schools Restorative Justice circle facilitator.
Candace graduated from UMBC with a BA in English and received her graduate degree from the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University. She also graduated from the Institute for Educational Management at The Harvard University Graduate School of Education and completed her Diversity and Inclusion certification from Cornell University.

In 2020, she was named a Maryland Top 100 Woman by The Daily Record. Candace is the very proud mother of a college student, an occasional jokester, and a really strong power walker, who loves live music, great podcasts, and good reads.

County Commissioner Earl “Buddy” Hance took office in December 2018 as an at-large representative on the Calvert County, Maryland, Board of County Commissioners. He is serving his second term, which began in December 2022.

Hance served as secretary of the Maryland Department of Agriculture in the cabinet of Gov. Martin O’Malley from May 2009 to January 2015, after serving as deputy secretary of the department since February 2007.

Hance was born in Prince Frederick. Following graduation from Calvert High School in 1973, he joined the Prince Frederick Volunteer Fire Department. Prior to his appointment to the state post, he served as a member of several civic and agricultural organizations including the board of directors of the American Farm Bureau Federation from 2004-2007 and as president of the Maryland Farm Bureau from 2003-2007.

Hance is a fourth-generation family farmer and owns a 600-acre working farm in Port Republic, where he resides with his family.

Sloan Herrick has worked at the intersection of immigrant-inclusive economic development and community development since 2011. As the former Chief Operating Officer of Global Detroit, Sloan helped build the organization into a national leader in immigrant-inclusive growth strategies. Today, Sloan serves as a strategic consultant to E Pluribus, a national initiative led by Global Detroit that is broadening and deepening the state and local field of immigrant-inclusive economic development.

Through her firm, New Solutions Group, Sloan partners with community-based organizations and national networks to design programs, lead strategic planning efforts, and build organizational structures that drive meaningful, lasting impact. With more than a decade of experience in nonprofit management, program design, and systems change, Sloan brings a pragmatic yet visionary approach to helping teams identify how to achieve significant results.

With over four decades of hands-on experience in the hospitality and entertainment industries, Mary serves as Chief Executive Officer of Rod ‘N’ Reel Resort—a family-owned, woman-led destination nestled in the heart of Chesapeake Beach, Maryland. In addition to her role as CEO, she is President of Chesapeake Amusements and Vice President of Rod ‘N’ Reel, Inc. Mary is deeply engaged in regional economic development, serving on the Calvert County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Calvert County Economic Development Advisory Committee, the Business Advisory Council for the College of Southern Maryland and as the Secretary for St. Anthony’s Finance Advisory Council.

Born and raised in Chesapeake Beach, Mary is rooted in the local community and takes immense pride in her hometown heritage. A graduate of the College of Southern Maryland and the University of Maryland, she has combined her formal education with lifelong operational experience to lead with purpose, compassion, and drive.

Hospitality is not just a career – it’s a calling. Passionate about people and devoted to service, Mary brings heart and vision to everything she does. Whether developing her team, enhancing guest experiences, or expanding the resort’s legacy, her leadership is defined by a personal commitment to excellence, community, and connection. She believes in the power of strong relationships—within her team and throughout the broader community—to create lasting impact.

Julie Oberg, director, holds a B.A. degree in journalism from the University of Maryland. She was appointed director in January 2022. In this role, she directs all services and activities of the 11-person department including attracting increased capital investments, expanding and diversifying employment opportunities, marketing, tourism development and agriculture development. Oberg has more than 25 years of experience in planning, organizing and implementing communications and economic development functions in the government, private and non-profit sectors. She currently serves on boards of directors for the University System of Maryland Board of Regents, University System of Maryland at Southern Maryland Board of Advisors, Southern Maryland Economic Development Association and Southern Maryland Regional Innovation Collaborative. She is a member of the Leadership Southern Maryland Class of 2023 and the Maryland Economic Development Association.

An expert in acquisitions, land use, development, and leasing, Mr. Ross has over 45 years experience in the commercial real estate business and has been responsible for the development of approximately fifteen million square feet of mixed-use commercial, industrial, residential and retail property throughout the Washington, DC/Baltimore, MD metropolitan areas and the Mid-Atlantic Region. In addition to his founding role in Atlantic Realty, he maintains a very active presence in the community as well as local and regional organizations.

Mr. Ross currently serves as an Emeritus Member on the Board of Directors of Easter Seals Greater Baltimore-Washington Region. For more than 25 years Mr. Ross has Co-Chaired the Easter Seals Bright Stars and VIP Campaigns. Mr. Ross was honored with The Clarence Donohoe Award presented annually to an Easter Seals Board Member who exemplifies excellence in leadership and volunteerism. Mr. Ross also serves on the Board of Trustees of Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, PA and sits on the Executive Committee of the Board and chairs their Property, Building & Grounds Committee. He serves as President of the Board of Directors for the Virginia Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (VHBPA). He is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and the Northern Virginia chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office Parks (NAIOP), and the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce (GRCC).

Mr. Ross has served as Chairman of the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce and the National Capitol Region of the Easter Seals Society, Chairman of the Steering Committee for Reston Interfaith, and was selected as Reston’s Citizen of the Year by the Times Community Newspapers. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce, Celebrate Fairfax, the Child Development Center of Northern Virginia, the Reston Teen Center, the Reston Community Center, The Committee for Dulles, the Fairfax County Health Care Advisory Board, Fairfax County Long Term Care Council, and the Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance.

Mr. Ross holds a B.A. degree in political science from Washington and Jefferson College and a masters degree in city planning (MCP) from the University of Pennsylvania and Wharton Business School. Mr. Ross and his family reside in McLean, Virginia.

Cindy Rozón is the Senior Director of Resident Services at Affordable Homes & Communities (AHC), where she leads a dynamic team dedicated to advancing resident-centered, trauma-informed programs across more than 50 affordable housing communities in the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia region. With a deep commitment to equity, collaboration, and impact, Cindy drives initiatives that strengthen families, foster community well-being, and ensure residents have a voice in shaping the places they call home. She lives in Bowie, Maryland, with her husband and son, and in her free time enjoys family adventures and cheering on her son’s sports.

Kari Snyder is Director of Community and Economic Development Partnerships with the Neighborhood Revitalization Division of the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. She brings more than 15 years of experience leading neighborhood revitalization, housing, and place-based economic development initiatives, primarily in Baltimore City. At Maryland DHCD, she leads the team implementing Main Street Maryland, Community Health and Safety Works, Operating Assistance Grants, and Reinvest Baltimore, a coordinated city–state effort to eliminate vacant properties and rebuild neighborhood housing markets.

Before joining DHCD, Kari spent over a decade at the Southeast Community Development Corporation in Baltimore City, including four years as Executive Director. Under Kari’s leadership, Southeast CDC created new green spaces, led the organization’s first Placemaking initiative, started five Community School partnerships, created the first youth summer jobs program, expanded Main Street and Arts District programming, began the first eviction prevention program, and launched an ambitious plan to redevelop vacant homes for affordable homeownership.

Ms. Susan Slingluff Hartmann is the Executive Director of the College Park City-University Partnership. She is a cross-sector specialist with 20 years of experience in planning, local economic development, multi-agency partnerships, public engagement, and neighborhood revitalization. She has developed technical expertise in strategic and long-range planning, commercial revitalization, public sector consulting, facilitation, and program management. Ms. Hartmann has led initiatives to strengthen cross-sector collaborations to achieve equitable outcomes in education, housing, and neighborhood revitalization across the United States. She has an extensive background in technical assistance to cities and towns addressing challenges related to economic and community development. The College Park City-University Partnership sponsors the Live+Work College Park downpayment assistance program, placemaking and public art initiatives, K-12 education partnerships, bicycle/pedestrian improvements, and the Community Preservation Trust, a certified Maryland affordable housing land trust.

As TEDCO’s Chief Development & Marketing Officer, Tammi Thomas is responsible for the overall strategic direction, execution and management of TEDCO’s marketing and fundraising strategies. Her leadership is instrumental towards the organization’s success in identifying, investing in, and growing Maryland-based technology and life science-based start-ups. Tammi is an award-winning communicator with more than 30 years of experience in marketing, technology, economic development, higher education, and entrepreneurship. Among other awards, she recently received the Distinguished Women Award from the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland (2024) and was named one of I-95 Business’ Influential Women (2025).

She serves on the World Trade Center Institute’s CEO Council, Maryland Momentum Fund Advisory Board and President of MEDA’s Board of Directors.

Tammi earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Alabama State University and an MBA from the University of Baltimore. She takes great pride in her daughter, Sydney, who’s a nuclear engineer serving on a guided missile submarine. Go Navy!

Ryan Trout serves as the Director of Housing and Community Development for the City of Rockville where he oversees affordable housing initiatives and community services. Prior to his current role, he was the Chief Housing Officer for a non-profit affordable housing and community development membership organization. In this role, Ryan developed and advanced affordable housing and homelessness prevention policies. He collaborated with the executive and legislative bodies in DC and led the Housing Committee and various Working Groups to establish policy and advocacy positions, coordinated the DC Preservation Network, and facilitated numerous task forces on housing-related topics. Ryan also led a group of researchers to publish the first Tenant Opportunity to Purchase outcome analysis in the 40-year law’s history. Previously, he managed an emergency rental assistance (ERA) program during the COVID-19 pandemic, oversaw first-time homebuyer assistance, low-income rehabilitation loans, senior grants, homelessness grants, and assisted LIHTC developers with local incentives.

Ryan led a two-year review of a local inclusionary zoning ordinance, initiated a landlord-tenant mediation pilot program, participated in the Maryland Access to Counsel in Evictions Task Force, and developed a rental registration, inspection, and rehabilitation program.

He previously worked at a small housing authority, coordinating a Family Self-Sufficiency program and creating tenant-focused programs for health, employment, and asset development. He helped establish a financial literacy and career training center through a partnership with the local United Way.

Ryan also teaches undergraduate courses in Housing & Homelessness Policy and State & Local Government at Mount St. Mary’s University, co-led the Frederick County Executive’s Housing & Quality of Life Transition Team, and was a founding member of YIMBY Maryland.

Ryan holds an MBA and a master’s in public policy from the University of Maryland. He lives in Maryland with his wife and family.

Dr. Danny Twilley is the Assistant Vice President of Economic and Community Development at West Virginia University, serving out of the Provost’s Office. In this role he and the team utilize asset based economic development by investing in people and place to support talent attraction and retention programs including the remote worker initiative, community and economic development, asset development and enhancement, business and workforce programs, and research all to make West Virginia the premier place to live, work, play, go to school, and do business. He approaches this work by developing effective collaborations and partnerships across the University, state and local governments, non-profits, industry, and related groups to stand-up and advance initiatives.

Through his and the team’s work he has helped secured over $50 million in external funding through federal, state, and philanthropic partnerships. Additionally, he has supported partnering organizations in applying, receiving, and executing $20+ million in funding. In his academic role he has published numerous journal articles, book chapters, technical reports with a research interest centering on community evaluation, population trends, factors to talent retention and attraction, how recreation transforms people and place which includes the psychological outcomes of leisure engagement, recreation’s role is community development, and the socio- economic impact of recreation-based development.