Rural Economic Development Session – Southern Maryland Edition

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.

Ms. Robertson-Slagle was appointed Director of Economic Development for Calvert County, Maryland in July 2017. In this role, Ms. Robertson-Slagle directs all services and activities of the eleven person department including attracting increased capital investments and expanding and diversifying employment opportunities, tourism development and agriculture development and marketing.
Ms. Robertson-Slagle is a results-oriented and strategic leader with over 25 years of extensive experience in planning, organizing and implementing economic development functions from conception to completion, including working with new and expanding businesses and cultivating relationships between counties, local business community and economic development agencies at the state, regional and federal level.
She previously served as Calvert County’s business retention and business development specialist. Prior to joining the department, Ms. Robertson-Slagle served as director of the Maryland Small Business Development Center (SBDC) where she provided leadership in planning, coordinating and overseeing the development, delivery and reporting of all professional programs, activities and services for the Southern Maryland region. She also served as director of government/member relations with the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland and business development specialist with the Maryland Department of Business & Economic Development where she worked directly with local jurisdictions on business retention and expansion projects.
Ms. Robertson-Slagle currently serves as the Co–Chair of the Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA) Program Committee, is a founding board member of Southern Maryland Innovates initiative and is the current Chair of the new Southern Maryland Regional Innovation Collaborative. Her past board experience includes The Patuxent Partnership, Southern Maryland Workforce Investment Board and Leadership Southern Maryland.
Ms. Robertson-Slagle earned her Associate of Science Degree in Business Administration and Management Development from the College of Southern Maryland and Bachelors of Science Degree in Marketing from the Robert H. School of Business, University of Maryland, College Park. She is a 2018 graduate of Leadership Maryland and a 2010 graduate of Leadership Southern Maryland.
Ms. Robertson-Slagle is the proud mom of two. She and her husband Jeff reside in La Plata, Maryland.

Chick Hamm is a life-long community banker with strong ties to Harford and Cecil Counties. He was CEO and President of Mercantile County Bank until the time of its acquisition by PNC Bank in 2006. Today, Mr. Hamm is an Executive Vice President for PNC Bank with leadership responsibilities for commercial and institutional banking activity in rural markets including the Eastern Shore, Southern Delaware and Southern Maryland.

With 38 years of experience in the field, Mr. Hamm has held bank leadership positions with final levels of responsibility for financial performance, strategic plan development, operating and capital budgets, regulatory compliance, asset quality assurance and special project management.

Mr. Hamm completed undergraduate and graduate studies at Loyola College of Maryland, receiving a Masters Degree in Business Administration in 1983. As an active community volunteer he has served on numerous boards supporting the economic, health care and educational needs of the community. Currently, he is a board member for Habitat for Humanity Susquehanna, the Susquehanna Workforce Network, Cecil County Library Foundation, Union Hospital, Cecil College, and the Bainbridge Development Corporation. Mr. Hamm has also been elected to the board of the Maryland Bankers Association.

A native of Harford County, Mr. Hamm, age 55, and his wife, Anne, reside in the Elk Neck Area of Cecil County.

Chris Rockey began his career with PNC bank in 1999. Today, he serves as Senior Vice President,
Territory Executive, National Expansion Markets, Community Development Banking. He is is a twice
decorated US Navy Combat Veteran. A few other notable awards include: PNC Performance Award,
Circle of Excellence and Market All Star. He also received the Pa Statewide Community Action
Association Sargent Shriver Community Service Award and the national Racial Wealth Gap Economic
Inclusion Award by the National Minority Affordable Home Builders.
Chris has a life-long commitment of service to community and country and serves on the Board of
Directors for the Baltimore Community Lending, Baltimore Business Lending, Associated Black Charities
(Treasurer), Center For Urban Families, Neighborhood Housing Services and the Jobs Opportunity Task
Force. He also received a gubernatorial appointment to serve on the Pa Community Development Bank
(2008-2012). Additionally he serves as the Executive Sponsor for the GMD PREP EBRG.
Chris has been married for 30 years to his wife Christine. Chris and Christine have 3 children and twin
grandchildren. Christian and Collin (US Navy) both grown, and a daughter Cassidy (9 th grade).

Janyce Fadden is Director of Strategic Engagement at the University of North Alabama College of Business where she is instrumental in the implementation of the Shoals Shift Project, an award-winning innovation pipeline strategy. In addition to being highly experienced in lean management and leadership, Fadden is a co-author of the award-winning book Strategic Doing: Ten Skills for Agile Leadership and serves as a certified fellow of the Strategic Doing Institute. She has also served in various capacities as President, Vice President, and General Manager for major multinational corporations including Honeywell, General Signal, Applied Power, Pacific Scientific, and Danaher.

Ellen Flowers-Fields serves as Associate Vice President for Continuing Education and
Workforce Development at the College of Southern Maryland. She is responsible for the
oversight of all areas of the non-credit economic and community development programming in
Southern Maryland, including the Center for Trades and Energy Training, MCET, the Workforce
Center, the SBDC, the Non-Profit Institute, the Transportation Center and adult basic education
at all CSM campuses.

Ellen has over 25 years of progressive professional experience in the field of workforce
development and human capital management. Her diverse background includes the acquisition,
project management and implementation of various federal, state and local programs that
address community economic development needs. Throughout her career she has acquired
and managed nearly $100 million dollars in support of various economic and community
development initiatives. Funding acquisition from USDOL, USDA, US Dept of Commerce,
Veterans Administration, Federal Highway Administration, and numerous state and local
agencies, in NY, GA and MD.

Prior to serving in her current role, Ellen served Regional Director of the Small Business
Development Center at CSM. Ellen served as Acting Assistant Secretary, and Deputy Assistant
Secretary of the Division of Workforce Development & Adult Learning at the Maryland
Department of Labor, Licensing & Regulation from 2011 – 2014; Regional Director of Economic
Development at the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland from 2006 – 2011; and Executive
Director for Southern Maryland Works from 2000 – 2006. In this role, Ellen led the efforts to
establish the region’s first One Stop workforce service delivery system and Workforce
Investment Board under the Federal Workforce Investment Act.

Ellen holds a Bachelors of Business Administration from Pace University in New York;
Certification from the International Business Innovation Association in Business Incubation
Management; and is credentialed as a Global Career Development Facilitator from the Center
for Credentialing and Education. She is a 2009 graduate of the inaugural Class of Leadership
Southern Maryland, an entrepreneur, and a self-published author.

Affiliations include Executive Board member Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland;
Member of the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals and the Maryland
Economic Development Association; Past Board Member Maryland Broadband Coordination
Board; Past board chair, Bethel House Inc.; Immediate past Board chair, Community
Foundation of Southern Maryland; Alumni of the Inaugural class of Leadership Southern
Maryland 2009.
Recognitions include recipient of 2017 Excellence Award from the National League for
Innovation in Community Colleges; 2018 recipient of CEO award from the Southern Maryland
Minority Chamber of Commerce; Calvert County Commissioner’s Business owner appreciation
recognition 2008 & 2014; Recipient of 2008 Woman of the Year award from Calvert County
Concerned Black Women; Recipient of 2005 Charles County Minority Business of the Year;
Nominations for the 2006 Leadership Maryland class and 2006 Maryland’s Top 100 Women.

Wynne is a graduate of University of Maryland with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice, Minor in Business and Concentration in Business Law. Wynne has over 30 years of entrepreneurship and business ownership experience to include retail, professional services, technology and manufacturing. Since 2001, Wynne has successfully consulted and advised thousands of entrepreneurs, businesses and non-profit organizations. She is known for her creativity and innovation in the development of new businesses by offering in-depth experience and assisting them from concept to profitability to exit strategy. Wynne has a passion to work with Young Entrepreneurs. She enjoys coaching and mentoring youth towards years of success, while helping them realize business ownership and self-employment as a viable career option. Wynne is establishing a young entrepreneurship mentoring program and summer camp for youth to start and thrive as successful business owners.

The United States Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship requested Wynne testify in person on Capitol Hill on Thursday, March 12, 2020 at a hearing for “The Coronavirus and America’s Small Business Supply Chain.” Her testimony before the United States Senate was broadcasted live via C-SPAN as a Manufacturing Subject Matter Expert representing the Maryland Small Business Development Center. Her proposal solution was adapted into the 2020 CARES Act Legislation. Maryland Department of Commerce and MD Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MD MEP) utilized Wynne’s US Senate proposed solution to develop a Maryland Made Directory for manufactures/suppliers/buyers to provide a platform for maintaining a supply chain within the State of Maryland.

In July of 2020, Wynne was appointed Regional Director for the Maryland Small Business Development Center – Southern Maryland Region.
Since 2016 she has worked with the U.S. Small Business Administration, Maryland Small Business Development Center – Southern Maryland Regional Office as the Business, Management, Technology & Manufacturing Consultant and consults select industries Statewide. She also enjoys assisting the Retail and Resta urant industries as they often have the highest failure rates among business types and need additional support or guidance to ensure success. Wynne is an AASBC Certified Business Consultant and a Certified Technology Business Consultant from the Institute for Technology Commercialization at University of Houston. As the SBDC Technology Liaison for the Southern Maryland Region, she has assisted in taking technological concepts through the technical and intellectual commercialization process to mass market. As the Maryland SBDC Statewide Manufacturing Consultant, she has assisted startup entrepreneurs and Fortune 500 companies.

During the America’s Small Business Development National Center Conference in Long Beach, California – Wynne was awarded the top honor of Maryland State Star recognizing her as the top business consultant in Maryland for 2019.

The County Commissioners of St. Mary’s County presented Wynne with the 2019 Small Business Proclamation which acknowledges the contributions made by small businesses to the economic growth and quality of life locally, in the State of Maryland in the United States.

Wynne was presented the “Power of One” Award in 2018 from the NAACP St. Mary’s County Branch “For Excellence in Entrepreneurship, Small Business Ownership and Development” with St. Mary’s County and the surrounding region.

Wynne was awarded the 2017 Maryland Governor’s Citation in Recognizing Small, Minority and Women-Owned Businesses.
“Ms. Briscoe’s enthusiasm and drive for small business growth is infectious. Always ready to lend a hand and genuinely deserving of the St. Mary’s County Department of Economic Development’s nomination for the Governor’s Citation recognizing small, minority and women-owned businesses.” Robin Finnacom, Former Deputy Director, St. Mary’s County Department of Economic Development.

Wynne received the Southern Maryland Chapter of Top Ladies of Distinction “Igniting Innovative Inspirations” Award during their 2017 Women’s Empowerment Day event where she was a keynote speaker.

Wynne founded Forever Eden Organics in 2010 as Maryland’s second Certified Organic Bodycare Manufacture with a commercial production facility located in California, MD. Creating and overseeing the entire production process of over 55 exclusive organic products which are enjoyed by customers globally. She is also proficient in the health and wellness industry and has assisted many naturopathic and holistic entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses.

In 2007 Wynne became a Licensed Maryland Real Estate Agent with Century 21 New Millennium. She has assisted many first-time homebuyers by helping them realize their American Dream is possible and handholding them through the entire home ownership process. Wynne also enjoys commercial real estate and has helped many small businesses with architectural designs, site selection locations, commercial leases, purchases, construction build outs, layouts and merchandising.

Wynne is highly engaged in the Southern Maryland community and the Maryland Small Business Eco-System.
Professionally, she is the former Chairwoman of the St. Mary’s County Government Economic Development Commission (County Commissioners Appointed), Chairwoman of the St. Mary’s County NAACP Economic Development Committee, Southern Maryland Minority Chamber of Commerce Regional Vice President, St. Mary’s County Chamber of Commerce Ambassador, Official Brand Ambassador for the Potomac Jazz and Seafood Festival, Southern Maryland Liaison for the Maryland Million Women Mentor & STEM Initiative, Ambassador for the Dream Queen Association, Mentor for Gals Lead Teen Mentoring Progr am, Facilitator of Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University, College of Southern Maryland Business Course Instructor, Maryland Small Business Development Center Diversity and Inclusion Task Force Member, Member of the University of Maryland Alumni Association, Planning Team Member for the Southern Maryland Innovates, Workshop Facilitator and Mentor for the SOMD STEM-ING Teen Girl Program, Mentor and Program Facilitator for the St. Mary’s County Public Schools Future Business Leaders of America Program and College of Southern Maryland Technology Council Board Member.

Personally, her passion is growing her relationship with God, always willing to help others, and assisting the local homeless shelters and food banks. In addition to serving her local community, Wynne loves the beach, traveling, modeling, baseball, reading and spending time with her large family and loving friends!

As the Director of TechPort, the UAS business incubator of Southern Maryland, Tommy Luginbill works to connect entrepreneurs and their ideas with the resources to help turn their dreams into reality. Whether it is strategic advising or helping connect to expanded funding opportunities, Luginbill helps innovators focus on both the defense and commercial applications of their product. He also wants TechPort, located adjacent to the St. Mary’s County Airport and a key component of the St. Mary’s County Innovation District, to help larger corporations identify and link with the engaging new ideas of these creative small businesses and entrepreneurial thinkers. In his role as both facilitator and changemaker, Luginbill brings experience in business, military contracts, and winning funding through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) seed fund programs sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration, and higher education. He began his career as a solar contractor, partnered with the Navy for the licensing of Naval technology and worked as an assistant professor and director of the Entrepreneur & Innovation Institute at the College of Southern Maryland. He is chairman and co-founder of Grey Ops, a technology transfer firm that was born from the University of Maryland National Science Center I-Corps program.

A native of Rockville, Maryland, Luginbill received a bachelor’s degree in Corporate Finance from the Lerner School of Business at the University of Delaware, a Master of Business Administration from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland and is currently completing a doctorate in Business Administration at Florida Institute of Technology.

“We want TechPort to be at the forefront of UAV technologies. Pairing our most innovative thinkers with the University of Maryland, the St. Mary’s County Innovation District and the Naval Air Station Patuxent River, we have an outstanding opportunity to positively impact the future of our community, our region and our world,” Luginbill says.

He and his wife, Alison, live in Dunkirk, Maryland where they enjoy caring for geriatric horses.

Rick Tarr is the director of Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division’s (NAWCAD) Technology Transfer Office. Rick leads a team is responsible for commercializing the organization’s active patent portfolio, facilitating strategic partnerships with industry, and promoting the expertise and facilities of NAWCAD. He is dual-hatted at the director of the Southern Maryland Tech Bridge. In this role Rick connects non-traditional technology solution providers, academia, and established industry partners with challenging technology gaps in the naval aviation.

Chris Kaselemis, AICP, is the Director of Economic Development for St. Mary’s County, a position he has held since June 2015. Chris received his B.S. degree and his Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Arizona. He previously worked for the City of Tucson for 28 years, holding various positions including Assistant to the City Manager and Economic Initiatives Program Director. He has been certified by the American Planning Association’s American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). Since coming to St. Mary’s County, Chris has helped guide the completion of the County’s “Strategic Plan to Build an Innovation Economy,” has led the effort to stand up the County’s first business technology incubator, and has led a consultant review of the County’s development review process.

On a rainy spring day on the campus of West Virginia University, after a year of watching a commercial construction project rise from the ground, I realized I needed to build something. At the time, I couldn’t guess how the desire would translate into a career. After sixteen years of experience in economic development at the state and local government level, I am grateful to have mapped a course that has allowed me to share in the community growth that comes from a strong, engaged and diverse local economy. I bring the knowledge and perspective from my time at the Jefferson County Development Authority and the Loudoun County Department of Economic Development to my current role with the St. Mary’s County Department of Economic Development. I am thrilled to be a part of a professional, smart and fun team.

If you are looking for me outside of normal business hours, I’ll be on the St. Mary’s River, eating a stuffed ham eggroll at Chief’s or reading a book on the front porch.

Dr. John Short is an experienced engineer/entrepreneur/educator. President of SJS, Inc., a 25-year-old holding company with a variety of business interests, Dr. Short has significant product development and startup experience in both private-sector and DoD environments. He is in his tenth year as an engineering professor at College of Southern Maryland and, as CSM Professor of Entrepreneurship, has been the primary developer of CSM’s technology transfer education program. He is also a founding member of the Southern Maryland Regional Innovation Collaborative’s advisory board. As a certified Strategic Doing workshop leader, he is spearheading the RIC’s Strategic Doing community engagement efforts.

Lucretia Freeman-Buster serves as the Chief of Business Development at the Charles County Economic Development Department (EDD). She is responsible for managing the department’s business development and engagement programs which include working with businesses seeking to locate or relocate to Charles County, directing the business retention and expansion program, and coordinating the department’s business assistance services and team.

Ms. Freeman-Buster brings to the EDD more than 20 years of experience in business development, commercial lending, and financial management. Prior to joining the EDD, Ms. Freeman-Buster worked as the Associate State Director and later as Acting Executive Director for the District of Columbia Small Business Development Center (DC SBDC) Network, where she implemented and executed the organization’s strategy, provided oversight of service centers, and developed funding proposals, among other duties.

Ms. Freeman-Buster holds a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Maryland University College, a bachelor’s of science degree in management from Potomac College, a certificate in international business management from Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies, and other professional certifications.

Outside of work, Ms. Freeman-Buster works with a global enterprise where she volunteers her time to help people in need. She enjoys cooking, baking and spending time with her family. Ms. Freeman-Buster has been married to her husband for 30 years. They have three daughters and one granddaughter.

Darrell Brown is the director of the Charles County Economic Development Department and is responsible for leading activities involving economic development in Charles County, including representing the county to new and expanding businesses and cultivating relationships between the county and the business community, economic development agencies, and state and regional agencies.

Mr. Brown brings to the county strong economic development and government experience at many levels, and has demonstrated exemplary performance in public service and education through interfacing directly with major governmental figures and negotiating with senior executives, investors, and small business owners. From 2011-2015, Mr. Brown served as executive director for the District of Columbia Small Business Development Center at Howard University. Prior to that, he was counsel to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee; director of State and Local Relations for Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island; director of Economic Development for the City of Cranston, Rhode Island; policy advisor for business and economic development for the governor of Rhode Island; chief of staff for the Office of the Attorney General of Rhode Island; and director of Urban Policy and Development for Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation. He began his legal career as a legislative aide in Washington DC and served a year as assistant attorney general in the Virgin Islands.

Mr. Brown holds a Juris Doctor degree from Howard University School of Law, a Bachelor of Arts degree from The American University, and is a graduate of St. John’s College High School in the District of Columbia.

In his free time, Mr. Brown enjoys being with family and friends. He is a fan of jazz music and enjoys the game of chess.

Destiny Allen Mitchell is an Economic Development Specialist with St. Mary’s County who works with businesses and innovators to grow targeted industries, attract and retain young professionals, and create a nurturing environment for innovation and entrepreneurship within St. Mary’s County. As an Economic Development Specialist, she is responsible for business retention and expansion, data and research collection, social media and various other duties. Destiny also serves on the Southern Maryland Innovates planning team. An organization that seeks to serve as the connective hub between various groups that represent a casual and high impact opportunity to meet people interested in innovation, technology and entrepreneurship in Southern Maryland.

Destiny holds a master’s degree in Public Administration (MPA) from the University of Georgia and a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. She is also a recent graduate of Leadership Southern Maryland’s Emerging Leaders Program (LEAP ‘20). A native to Maryland, she is also very active in her community and spends much of her spare time outdoors, singing, volunteering, and spending time with her family.

Dr. Gary Evans currently serves as the Executive Director of the Maryland Defense Technology Commercialization Center (DefTech).

Dr. Evans’ career spans roles in a wide range of both public and private sector organizations and academic institutions. With a background in chemistry, physics, and software development he has led the commercialization of new technologies in the private sector, having been involved in the creation of more than fifteen companies, and has also served in economic development roles focused on innovation and the development and growth of knowledge-based industries.

He is CEO of Axcel Innovation LLC, a consulting and program management company focused on innovation and entrepreneurship, working with clients spanning Europe, the US, the GCC countries of the Middle East, and Africa. He has also been a Visiting Professor at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business and at the Robert Gordon University in Scotland, and serves as a mentor for several accelerators, and as an advisor to a number of early stage companies.

He also serves as President of a non-profit organization, The Center for Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship, that undertakes research into, and supports the implementation of effective methodologies for supporting entrepreneurs, and is a board member of The Launch Place – a non-profit organization that provides services to entrepreneurs and manages associated investment funds.

Hugh Burrell, of California, Maryland is the director of the CSM Velocity Center at Indian Head.

Mr. Burrell brings with him more than 30 years of government, military, and science and engineering industry experience. He has worked in the aerospace, biotech, pharmaceutical and genetic research fields. He was a co-patent holder in a clean conversion coating technology for aluminum and most recently oversaw several military science and engineering research programs and an innovation incubator as a U.S. Department of Defense contractor. He has also co-taught business management classes at CSM.

Mr. Burrell is working closely with area workforce centers, the military and students to ensure that the Velocity Centers brings together world-class innovators.

What I really want to do is be the chief convener. I want to bring people together to talk about problem-solving and bringing ideas to fruition. We can a focal point for our community and our CSM students to be exposed to the idea that innovation comes from within themselves.