Highlighting Economic Development and Higher Education in Maryland

Thomas Sadowski is MEDCO’s fourth executive director, beginning his tenure in August 2021. Appointed by the MEDCO Board of Directors and approved by the Governor, Mr. Sadowski directs a staff composed of ten administrative, finance and development specialists whose responsibilities are to assist with financing, project development, accounting, and management of MEDCO’s projects. In his role as Executive Director, Tom is dedicated to furthering MEDCO’s important mission to help advance Maryland’s economic development interests and facilitate economic growth that benefits citizens and communities across Maryland. Tom brings to MEDCO a depth and breadth of experience, a passion for the economic well-being of Maryland, and enthusiasm for a vibrant economy that is sustainable and competitive.

Tom came to MEDCO with more than thirty years of economic development experience and has held leadership positions at local, regional, and state levels. He has worked across all industry sectors, including aerospace, autonomous systems, cybersecurity, quantum computing, robotics, bio-health, clean energy, advanced manufacturing, agriculture, and education-technology.

Prior to working at MEDCO, Tom spent 5 years as vice chancellor for economic development at the University System of Maryland (USM), a major player in the success of Maryland’s economy. As the USM’s first vice chancellor for economic development, Tom focused on leveraging the talent, resources, and programming at USM’s twelve institutions and three regional centers to support the state’s economic development efforts and help grow strategic industries. He served as the USM’s senior representative on university-industry-government collaborations statewide. Tom was the system’s primary liaison to the state in support of recruiting companies and retaining and growing existing companies. Within the USM, his role focused on venture creation, tech commercialization, industry and government research partnerships, and workforce development. He also launched the USM’s $10 million venture Maryland Momentum Fund.

Prior to joining USM, Tom served as president and CEO of the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore, where he focused on growing and attracting companies to the region and used federal and state grant dollars to create programs supporting innovation, commercialization, and entrepreneurship. He also served as director of the Harford County Office of Economic Development and as business development director for the Baltimore County Department of Economic Development.

Tom is very active in the community, serving as the chair of the board for Junior Achievement of Central Maryland, on the Board of Visitors for the University of Maryland Technology Institute (MTech), and on the boards of the Baltimore Metropolitan Council, Cyber Association of Maryland, Maryland Information Security Institute (MISI), Maryland Marketing Partnership, Maryland Technology Council, UMBC Training Centers, the University of Maryland Medical System/Upper Chesapeake Health Foundation, and the UMB Baltimore Fund Advisory Board.

He has received several honors, including the 2016 “Alumni of the Year, Distinguished Service” award from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and the 2014 “William Donald Schaefer Industrialist of the Year” award from the Baltimore Museum of Industry. He was also recognized by The Daily Record as a “Most Admired CEO” in 2015 and 2013 and an “Influential Marylander” in 2011.

A lifelong resident of Maryland, Sadowski earned his bachelor’s degree in political science, with a certificate in public administration and policy, from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) in 1989. He is married with five children.

Secretary Mike Gill is a business leader with four decades of experience as an entrepreneur, a technology executive, an investment banker, and a public servant.

​He was tapped by Governor Larry Hogan to lead the Maryland Department of Commerce (formerly the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development)​ in January 2015. Prior to his appointment, Mike Gill led Evergreen Advisors, an investment bank, as chairman and principal. Previously, Gill founded Hoyt Capital, an investment and advisory firm serving start​ups and growth companies. Mr. Gill was also a founder of First Page, which was acquired by Metrocall; served as chairman of Curtis Engine, a Baltimore power generator company; and was chairman of Bluefire Security Technologies, a mobile cybersecurity developer, from 2006 to 2008. In 1984, Gill founded AMERICOM, a Baltimore-based provider of cellular products and services to businesses in the area. Under Gill’s leadership, AMERICOM expanded nationwide with more than 1,200 team members. In 2000, it was acquired by Solectron. He started his career with IBM and held a number of positions in sales and marketing. He then became Director of Data Systems in the mid-Atlantic region for Ernst & Young.

Gill served on the University System of Maryland Board of Regents from 2004 to 2009, heading the audit committee and technology transfer and commercialization workgroup. His past and present board memberships also include the Calvert Hall Board of Trustees, Baltimore County
Economic Development Commission, St. Joseph’s Medical Center, Bay National Bank, and Towson University of Board of Visitors. He is also a member of the President’s Advisory Board at Clemson University.

Gill earned his B.S. in business administration from Towson University in 1974 after first attending Clemson University on a baseball scholarship. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree by Towson University in 1996.

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.

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.

Dr. Daraius Irani serves as Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Applied Research at Towson University. In this role, he fosters the development of partnerships between business, government, and education that contribute to the economic vitality of the greater Baltimore region.

For over twenty years, Irani has served in several senior leadership roles at Towson University. As vice president, Irani provides leadership and management to over 70 highly-skilled professionals who work on campus and in state agencies across the state. Collectively, his teams work to open the doors of the university to solve pressing problems, further community collaboration, expand learning opportunities, and generate economic development.

Irani is committed to Towson University and has set priorities that reflect that commitment. These include working to better integrate the Division into the University; advancing Towson University’s reputation as a leader in applied research, education, and EdTech; and making positive impacts through university-community partnerships.

Additionally, Irani serves as chief economist for the Regional Economic Studies Institute (RESI) at Towson University, a policy group providing economic, fiscal impact, and policy analysis to state agencies, nonprofit organizations, and private sector firms. During his tenure at RESI, Irani has managed and served as lead economist on well over 250 research and analysis projects. He also has produced over 100 economic and fiscal impact statements for a diverse portfolio of clients.

Irani is often called upon to provide economic presentations to organizations across Maryland. He has appeared on CNN, the Marc Steiner show, WYPR’s Midday, and Maryland Public Television’s Business Connection. He is often quoted in articles published by Maryland Daily Record, Baltimore Business Journal, The Baltimore Sun, and Washington Post.

EDUCATION
Dr. Irani holds a Ph.D. in economics from University of California, Santa Barbara; a M.A. in business economics from University of California, Santa Barbara; and a B.A. in economics from University of California, San Diego.

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.

Dr. Kim Schatzel began leading Towson University as its 14th president in January 2016. Her eight presidential priorities strategically build on TU’s momentum as Maryland’s second largest and fastest growing university, as well as the largest university—public or private—in Greater Baltimore.

During her tenure, TU has strengthened its commitment as an anchor institution for Greater Baltimore; established the Office of Inclusion and Institutional Equity and hired the university’s inaugural vice-president to lead its advancement; and embarked on a comprehensive communications strategy to retell the contemporary story of Towson University and its significant positive impact on Baltimore, Maryland, and the entire Mid-Atlantic Region.

President Schatzel is one of less than two percent of university presidents that have extensive business and private sector experience, spending more than 20 years as a corporate leader and serial entrepreneur in the technology and advanced manufacturing sectors.

President Schatzel began her academic career at the University of Michigan-Dearborn as an Assistant Professor of Marketing for the College of Business, where she went on to serve as Associate Dean and then Dean. Schatzel then served as the Provost and Executive Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs at Eastern Michigan University. She retained that role while guiding the university as its Interim President for six months.

President Schatzel serves on the Board of Directors for the University of Maryland St. Joseph’s Medical Center, the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities, CollegeBound Foundation and the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education. She also serves on the NCAA Division I Presidential Forum. She has been honored by the Associated Black Charities as the 2017 “Champion for More in the Middle” for her leadership in advancing diversity and inclusion at TU.