MEDA 2016 Fall Conference: Global Maryland

Aaron Brickman is a recognized expert on foreign direct investment (FDI) attraction, with 20 years of experience building and leading investment and trade programs in government and the private sector. As senior vice president for strategy & development, Aaron is responsible for efforts to forge new relationships with global companies, the diplomatic community and strategic partners around the world.

Prior to joining OFII, Aaron was the founder and deputy executive director of SelectUSA, a global program of the U.S. Department of Commerce established by executive order of President Obama, charged with promoting and facilitating FDI in the United States. During that tenure, Aaron helped secure SelectUSA’s first-ever congressional budget appropriation, led program strategy and operations – reporting to Commerce leadership and the White House, advised hundreds of cities and states on best practices, and acted as ombudsman for companies encountering federal policy or regulatory problems.

Aaron also created and led SelectUSA’s predecessor program in the Bush Administration, Invest in America. He worked on energy matters at the federal level, overall working in Commerce’s International Trade Administration from 2002-2015.

Before joining Commerce, Aaron worked in international economic consulting and strategy, dealing extensively with trade and investment policy. He advised in the planning and operations of national and sub-national investment and trade promotion efforts, including as a resident advisor to the Government of Mozambique. Mr. Brickman also worked as a senior consultant for a Chicago-based electronic commerce firm specializing in international logistics fulfillment.

His work has taken him to more than 60 countries. Mr. Brickman is frequently asked to comment on investment issues related to the United States; appearing in numerous print and broadcast media including Al-Jazeera, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, BBC Radio, CNBC, CCTV, Il Sole 24 Ore, Los Angeles Times, NHK, South China Morning Post, Süddeutsche Zeitung, USA Today, The Washington Post, and Yomiuri Shimbun. He is also an adjunct professor at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy, teaching a course on foreign direct investment in the United States.

Mr. Brickman holds a master’s degree in international relations from the University of Chicago and a bachelor’s degree from American University in Washington, DC. He also studied economic growth at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. He lives in Maryland with his wife and family.

David Campbell is Deputy Director of Investment Services at SelectUSA, the U.S. government’s federal program to promote global business investment (a.k.a. FDI) in the United States to strengthen communities across the nation. Prior to joining SelectUSA, David worked for the German steel and technology company ThyssenKrupp and the Representative of German Industry + Trade (BDI-DIHK liaison office). Prior to moving to Washington, DC in 2006, David worked at Arthur Andersen for six years. A licensed attorney and CPA, David studied German at Yale, accounting at the University of Hartford, and law at the Indiana University Maurer School of Law. David’s SelectUSA portfolio covers the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states, including the District of Columbia. David grew up in Manchester, CT and presently resides in Alexandria, VA. SelectUSA has facilitated $22.8 billion in client-verified investments.

Responsible for initiating and managing exporting activities for the State of Maryland for a portfolio of more than 60 health technology and biotechnology companies and for FDI attraction from Latin America, Canada and the Middle East. 
• Manage 4 foreign offices in the UAE, Mexico, Canada and Brazil. Direct all FDI strategy by gathering continuous intelligence on each country’s performance, competition, customer attitudes and opportunities for FDI wins in Maryland.

Jolanta Coffey is currently a Senior International Trade Specialist with the U.S. Department of Commerce – U.S. Commercial Service in Baltimore, MD. Her specific portfolio includes Environmental Technologies and the Travel and Tourism industries, and is responsible for promoting U.S. exports and protecting American business interests abroad. Jolanta also is a core member of the US Commercial Service’s Global Environmental, and Travel and Tourism teams. Prior to joining the U.S. Commercial Service, Jolanta worked in DOC, International Trade Administration, Office of Travel and Tourism Industries as a Program Analyst for the tourism industry. She was responsible for managing several statistical databases that tracked U.S. and foreign visitors travel, spending and tourism profiles into the US. Previously, she worked at the U.S. Census Bureau since 1999 when she entered U.S. Government service. She was a Survey Statistician for special projects in research and development that was guided under the National Science Foundation programs.

Jolanta Coffey was born in Poland, in a small town settled by her Lithuanian ancestors. She immigrated to the United States in 1987 and settled in Baltimore, Maryland. Mrs. Coffey received a B.A. in International Relations from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland in 1998. She majored in International Studies and minored in Spanish, Economics and Physics. She speaks several languages including Lithuanian, Polish and Spanish.

Patrick Fromal moved to Maryland in 1994 after graduating from Virginia Tech with a degree in Chemistry and started working for Shimadzu Scientific Instruments in Columbia, Maryland. During his 20+ year tenure at Shimadzu, Patrick has worked as a Product Specialist, Product Manager, Field Sales Engineer and Regional Manager. He now serves as the National Sales Manager. In addition to his time at Shimadzu, Patrick was a Sergeant in the Army National Guard for 8 years (’91-99) with the 29th Infantry Division including 4 years with the previous 115th regiment out of Greenbelt, MD. Patrick and his wife, Kimberley reside in Arnold, MD with their 12 year old son, Luke.

Bradley Gillenwater is East Asia Regional Manager and Investment Team Leader with the Office of International Investment and Trade of the Maryland Department of Commerce. In this capacity, Mr. Gillenwater leads the State government’s efforts in attracting foreign direct investment from and developing exports to East Asia, and providing leadership among the Office for the former activity, globally. His responsibilities include managing the Department’s relationship with three of its 11 foreign business development offices—those in the region: Shanghai, Taipei and Seoul. Other positions Mr. Gillenwater has held in the Department’s international business office include International Business Analyst. In 2014, he had been studied Mandarin Chinese on scholarship for two semesters at National Taiwan Normal University’s Mandarin Training Center, and also years prior he had lived in Taipei for a year-and-a-half, working for Taiwan’s largest private language training company. Mr. Gillenwater too has held a clerkship with the Office of the United States Attorney and an internship with The Heritage Foundation’s Asian Studies Center, as well as earned a Master’s Degree in International Political Economy at the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce of the University of Kentucky and a Bachelor’s Degree in Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs at Miami University of Ohio.

Fellow and Director of Strategic Partnerships and Global Initiatives, Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program

At the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program, Marek Gootman works to link “think tank” perspective and “real world” action, focused on the vitality of cities and metropolitan areas. Activities involve policy development, demonstration projects, peer learning networks, and external relations. Topics encompass regional economic development strategies, workforce, manufacturing, innovation, exports and foreign investment, infrastructure, and governance. He directs efforts to advance practical adoption of Brookings ideas by engaging a network of public and private sector leaders in more than 30 cities and 20 states, as well as national organizations and federal interests. He also manages the Global Cities Initiative, which helps U.S. and international metro areas strengthen their economic connections and competitiveness,

Before joining Brookings, Gootman led a law and lobbying practice at Patton Boggs LLP, where he primarily counseled large local governments and public agencies on federal issues, including seven of the ten biggest U.S. cities. Among other prior positions, he served in federal agencies as a senior advisor on various urban initiatives and program management reforms; and in a bi-state metropolitan planning organization coordinating public-private partnership projects and public affairs activities. His international experience includes policy work in the U.K., Europe, and New Zealand.

Gootman earned a law degree from Georgetown University; MGA at the Fels Center of Government, University of Pennsylvania; and BSE from the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania.

Allan H. Kittleman was elected Nov. 4, 2014 to serve as Howard County’s 9th County Executive. From 2004 to 2014, Kittleman had served in the Maryland General Assembly as the Senator representing District 9. From 1998 to 2004, Kittleman represented Council District 5 on the Howard County Council.

Kittleman was a partner with Herwig & Humphreys, LLP before serving as Of Counsel at Godwin, Erlandson, Vernon & Daney, where his practice concentrated on representing employers in worker’s compensation matters.

During his tenure in the Maryland General Assembly, Kittleman was known as a bipartisan, independent leader and tireless advocate for many legislative causes, including strengthening Maryland public schools, stimulating economic growth and increasing transparency in government. He demonstrated particular dedication to legislative matters involving civil rights, fairness and equity.

Mark is President of the Maritime Applied Physics Corporation which is located in the Fairfield area of Baltimore City. He has a BA in Physics from the University of Maine (1975) and is a licensed Professional Engineer. Mark formed Maritime Applied Physics Corporation in 1986 after working for the Navy as a civilian engineer and has overseen the company’s growth from a 1 person company to its current 60-person staff. MAPC has both R&D and manufacturing production work in Baltimore where the employee owners design and manufacture electro-mechanical systems ranging from submarine and surface ship components to unmanned surface vessels. MAPC has performed work for sponsors in South Korea, France, Scotland, Germany, the Netherlands, and in Italy. Mark has served on the Maryland District Export Council for 10 years where he provides pro bono consulting services to companies that are seeking to increase their export business. Mark is a past Chair of the National Advisory Board of the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership. Mark is engaged in several workforce development efforts within the City. Mark is also a past President of the Maryland Business Network for Offshore Wind which is organized to bring manufacturing job opportunities to the State of Maryland and its manufacturing companies.

Wayne L. Rogers is Chairman and CEO at The Northeast Maglev, LLC (TNEM). Mr. Rogers has extensive professional experience in infrastructure project development, engineering, construction and finance. As Chairman of the Synergics Group of companies, which owns and operates renewable energy power stations, he has led large teams of professionals in the finance, construction and operation of energy projects in ten states and thirteen foreign countries. He is a member of the Board of Directors for CareFirst, Blue Cross Blue Shield, the largest health care insurance provider by market share in Maryland, the District of Columbia and Northern Virginia. The firm also provides the health insurance services for the federal government and insurance for 45 percent of the people in the region.
Mr. Rogers received a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Naval Academy, a Masters in Business Administration from Southern Illinois University, and a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center. He is a Member of the Bar of Maryland, Hawaii and the District of Columbia. He is admitted to several federal courts and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Ms. Tillett is responsible for management and oversight of the City of Baltimore’s Technology and innovation center. In that role she provides the guidance, leadership and resources necessary for entrepreneurs to start, grow and succeed with their businesses. Prior to joining ETC, Ms. Tillett served as president and co-founder of Immersive 3D, LLC, a technology start-up in the Educational Technology space. From June 2009 to April 2010, Ms. Tillett was President and consultant for Kalypso Media USA, Inc., a subsidiary of a German-based computer game company, where she provided start-up guidance and strategic direction for its U.S. operation. Additionally, she ran her own business, Deborah Tillett Consulting, LLC, providing management, marketing, and media consulting for technology start-ups and growth-stage companies interested in global strategies. Ms. Tillett also worked as president and executive vice president from 2001-2008 for BreakAway Ltd., a gaming -technology software company, where she was responsible for the growth and oversight of its entertainment division. Ms. Tillett received a B.S. degree from Towson University in 1976 and a M.B.A. from Loyola Sellinger School in 2000. Ms. Tillett is currently on the Advisory Board for Morgan University’s EDAC, MICA University’s B/Can project, Advisory Board for Innovation Village and Keswick Community Health, as well as the Emeritus Chair, Board of Advisors for the College of Business and Economics at Towson University. Ms. Tillett was named the 2004, 2012 and 2016 Innovator of the Year by The Daily Record, received the 2005 and 2016 Brava Award, Smart Woman Magazine and was a 2006 Dean’s Recognition Award Distinguished Alumni, Towson University and was inducted into the Towson University Chapter of the Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society. Deborah was also named one of the 100 Most Influential Women in Computer Gaming in 2006.

Benjamin Wu currently serves as the Deputy Secretary of the Maryland Department of Commerce. Wu has worked on behalf of the State of Maryland at the highest levels of federal and state government, as well as in the U.S. Congress, on issues related to innovation, competition, technology commercialization, international trade and economic development. A former U.S. Department of Commerce and DBED executive, Wu has developed several strategic plans to promote Maryland’s innovation economy, including the state’s current roadmap for the life sciences and cybersecurity industries. He has a substantive record of forging successful public-private partnerships to drive scientific research and development in the state and has collaborated successfully with Maryland’s industry, academia and federal, state and local governments to accelerate technology-led economic development and solidify its high-tech preeminence.

Wu previously served as the Maryland Assistant Secretary of Business and Economic Development and Senior Technology Policy Advisor, as well as the U.S. Deputy Undersecretary of Commerce for Technology and the U.S. Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy. At the U.S. Department of Commerce, Wu served as the Chief Operating Officer for the more than 3,000 employee, $500 million bureau that included the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg. In addition, Wu was Counsel for former Maryland Congresswoman Connie Morella and the Technology Subcommittee of the House Science Committee.