Lower Eastern Shore Rural Economic Development Session

Bobby Audley is the Coordinator of the Entrepreneur Center in Downtown Salisbury and the Launch/SBY initiative. A graduate of Salisbury University, Bobby is the founder of Outside The Zone; a company that serves the higher education community with student engagement keynotes and student leadership development trainings. As an entrepreneur Bobby has benefitted from the local resources available here on the Lower Shore. He is excited to see the impact of the Entrepreneur Center and Launch/SBY on the local entrepreneur community.

Ruth Baker is Dean of Continuing Education and Workforce Development at Wor-Wic Community College, where she oversees a wide variety of vocational and enrichment courses, from Certified Nursing Assistant to truck driving to computers. Prior to joining Wor-Wic in 2006, she spent ten years at Salisbury University’s Business, Economic, and Community Outreach Network (BEACON), an outreach entity of the Perdue School of Business. At BEACON she worked on economic and community development projects, including implementation of the Shore Transit public transportation system. Prior to moving to Salisbury in 1994, Ruth worked in Washington DC as a senior consultant and manager for the Office of Government Services in the management consulting group of Price Waterhouse LLC. Ruth has a BA from Yale University with a major in history and a master in public policy from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Jerry Barbierri is the Director of Human Resources at Sysco Eastern Maryland located in Pocomoke City. Prior to managing the human resources department, Barbierri served as the Director of Risk Management. Before joining Sysco Eastern Maryland’s team, Barbierri was the Assistant Director of the Worcester County Department of Emergency Services. An active member of his community, Barbierri is a member of the planning commission for Worcester County, as well as a member of the economic development commission for Somerset County. Aside from fostering economic development initiatives, Barbierri is a longtime member of the Pocomoke City Volunteer Fire Company.

Shane has over 20 years utility experience with Chesapeake Utilities based out of Dover, Delaware. He began as an entry-level accountant in 1993 and progressed to accounting manager, and has held roles as Director of Consumer Services and Director of Operations and Director of Energy Services. In that role, Breakie has helped to expand Chesapeake Utilities service territory significantly into Eastern Sussex, Worcester County, and Cecil County, Maryland. He is active in his community, serving as the Vice Chair for the Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce overseeing Economic Development. Breakie continues to serve as the President of Chesapeake’s Sharing Program, a position that he has held for ten years.

Mindie Burgoyne is a Senior Business Development Representative for the Maryland Department of Commerce, and has been providing business and economic development assistance on the Eastern Shore for the last eleven years. Prior to moving to the Eastern Shore she spent twenty years as a small business owner on the Western Shore – first as the owner of Star Spangled Sales, a Tupperware franchise that operated as a warehouse and distribution facility in Prince Georges County (15 years) and later as the publisher and owner of The Pastoral Press, a religious publishing house based in Howard County ( 5 years). She is also a writer and author of five books focused on Eastern Shore travel destinations, and is part of the family-owned business – Chesapeake Ghost Walks – that offers heritage tours in ten Eastern Shore towns.

Greg Cole joined the Department in 1998 after 25 years of banking and commercial finance. He oversees the statewide activities of eight finance programs and twelve tax credits used to leverage private capital investment and stimulate economic development. Projects range from small business to the Fortune 100’s. In 2010, he became the state’s principal architect working with the U. S. Treasury to establish the State Small Business Credit Initiative, a first ever federal funding of $1.5 billion dollars directly to state’s economic development efforts. Maryland originated this concept and received a $23 million share.

He serves on numerous economic development boards including the Maryland Economic Development Corporation (MEDCO), the Maryland Agricultural and Resource Based Industry Development Corporation (MARBIDCO), and the Rural Maryland Council. Additionally, he is the state’s board member to the Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA), a national organization promoting economic development through creative finance.

He is a graduate of the University of Maryland and lifelong resident of Howard County.

Greg Cole joined the Department in 1998 after 25 years of banking and commercial finance. As the Director, he oversees the statewide activities of eight finance programs and twelve tax credits used to stimulate economic development and leverage private capital investment. Projects range from small business to the Fortune 100’s. Further, he serves on numerous economic development boards including the Maryland Economic Development Corporation (MEDCO), the Maryland Agricultural and Resource Based Industry Development Corporation (MARBIDCO), and the Rural Maryland Council.

Jake Day is the newly-elected Mayor of Salisbury. Born and raised in Salisbury, he was elected to the City Council at the age of 30 and unanimously elected President on a platform of placemaking, positivity, and high quality revitalization. Since Jake’s election, Downtown Salisbury has been experiencing a renaissance and the City has made major new investments in bike infrastructure, streetscape, design processes and economic development. Meanwhile, communication, collaboration and community spirit have reemerged as norms in the Capital of the Eastern Shore.

Jake served as founding Director of the Center for Towns – a community design and engagement program serving the towns of the Eastern Shore. Jake has served as national President of the American Institute of Architecture Students and Editor-in-Chief of CRIT, a journal of architecture. A Richard Upjohn Fellow, he served on the American Institute of Architects national Board of Directors.

Jake earned a bachelors degree in Architecture from the University of Maryland and masters degrees in Urban Design and Environmental Policy from Carnegie Mellon University and Oxford University. In Salisbury, Jake has served as a Planning Commissioner, member of the Board of Housing Appeals and the Natural Resources Conservation Advisory Committee.

Jake holds the rank of First Lieutenant in the Army, currently serving as a TAC Officer at the Officer Candidate School. He is a graduate of Maneuver Captain’s Career Course, Armor Basic Officer Leaders Course and Pre-Ranger program, Tactics Certification Course, Officer Candidate School and Basic Combat Training at Fort Benning, GA. Jake is a Cavalry officer, having served as a Platoon Leader and Executive Officer in the 158th Cavalry Regiment and as Aide-de-Camp to the Commander of the Maryland Army National Guard.

Jake is a member of the Next American Vanguard – ‘America’s best and brightest young urban leaders’ and the Smart Growth America Local Leaders Council Advisory Board. Jake’s work has been honored with the 2012 Maryland Sustainable Growth Award for Leadership & Service, Strong Communities Competition national semi-finalist, Heart of the Chesapeake Outstanding Project award, Urban Land Institute Urban Design Competition Honorable Mention and has been featured at the International Society of City and Regional Planners’ Conference in Belgium. He was also featured in the 2007 book – ‘Becoming an Architect’.

He and his wife Liz recently welcomed their daughter, Lilly, into the world.

Dr. Memo Diriker is the Founder and Director of the Business, Economic, and Community Outreach Network (BEACON) of the Franklin P. Perdue School of Business at Salisbury University. Dr. Diriker specializes in “Demographic, Business, and Economic Trend Forecasting.” Currently, his research focuses on the “Three Es: Effectiveness, Efficiency, and Evidence.” He is especially interested in exploring the successful deployment of the “Three Es” concept in State and Local Government Agencies.

Secretary Mike Gill is a business leader with four decades of experience as an entrepreneur, a veteran of large technology firms, and a public servant. He was tapped by Governor Larry Hogan to lead the Department of Business and Economic Development in January 2015. Prior to his appointment, Gill led Evergreen Advisors, an investment bank, as chairman and principal starting in 2008. Previously, Gill founded Hoyt Capital, an investment and advisory firm serving startups and growth companies. Gill also founded 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 1981, 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 employees and annual revenue topping $70 million in 2000, when it was acquired by Solectron. Gill remained with the electronics manufacturer as a business development executive until 2003. Earlier in his career, he spent time in sales and marketing at IBM, as Director of Data Systems in the mid-Atlantic region for Ernst & Young, and with American Teleservices, the majority shareholder of Cellular One.

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.​

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.

Keasha Haythe has been an Economic Development Professional for more than two decades and served as Economic Development Director from 2008-2016. In her role as Director, she developed a track record of initiating sound policies and innovative strategies to foster economic growth. Partnering with private and public stakeholders, she championed education, entrepreneurship and expansion of existing businesses as key economic drivers. She unveiled a countywide brand marketing campaign entitled “water moves us.” Ms. Haythe spearheaded the
development of a Technology Park and developed the Eastern Shore Innovation Center, the first business incubator on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. She secured more than $100M in funding for economic development projects, business expansions and start-ups.

Ms. Haythe joined the business development team for Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation in 2017. She recently developed the Inclusive Ventures Program for small minority and women owned businesses in Anne Arundel County. Additionally, she is the founder of the Foundation of HOPE, Inc., a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization established to help women and young girls. The first program launched under the foundation was the Economic Development and Empowerment Program for sixth-grade adolescent girls attending Easton Middle School. The program covers topics including: addressing low self-esteem, bullying, social media,
workforce development, economic and community development, entrepreneurship and financial literacy. The program teaches them to be community leaders and viable contributors to the future workforce.

Ms. Haythe holds an Associate of Arts degree in Business Administration from Chesapeake College and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Arizona State University, she is also a Certified Economic Developer, a national recognition of professional skill mastery that denotes the highest levels of professional attainment and a commitment to continued growth. She is a member of many professional organizations and serves on the Board of Directors for the Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA) Foundation. In 2016, she was appointed
by Governor Hogan to serve a four year term on the Maryland Marketing Partnership Board under the Maryland Department of Commerce, she also serves as Past President of the MEDA Board of Directors.

Ms. Haythe is an ordained minister and is a member of Spirit of Faith Christian Center in Brandywine, MD. She is married to Marcus L. Haythe Sr., and they have three children: Marcus Jr., Miniah and Isaiah.

Member of Senate since October 1, 2013. Minority Whip, 2015-. Member, Finance Committee, 2015- (health subcommittee, 2015-). Member, Joint Committee on Children, Youth, and Families, 2014-; Joint Committee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Biotechnology, 2014-; Legislative Policy Committee, 2015-; Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics, 2015-; Joint Committee on Unemployment Insurance Oversight, 2015-; Maryland Economic Development and Business Climate Commission, 2015-. Member, Judicial Proceedings Committee, 2013-15; Joint Committee on Access to Mental Health Services, 2014; Joint Information Technology and Biotechnology Committee, 2014. Chair, Kent County Delegation, 2013-; Queen Anne’s County Delegation, 2013-; Caroline County Delegation, 2015-.
Member of House of Delegates, representing District 36, Caroline, Cecil, Kent and Queen Anne’s Counties, January 12, 2011 to October 1, 2013. Deputy Minority Whip, 2013. Member, Economic Matters Committee, 2011-13 (banking, economic development, science & technology subcommittee, 2011-13; unemployment insurance subcommittee, 2011-13); Business Climate Work Group, 2013. House Chair, Queen Anne’s County Delegation, 2011-13. Member, Maryland Veterans Caucus, 2012-13.
Assistant Secretary of Planning, 2003-04. Assistant Secretary, Department of Natural Resources, 2004-06.
Member, Economic Development Commission, Queen Anne’s County, 2002-06; Bainbridge Development Advisory Board, 2011-; Mid-Shore Regional Council, 2011-; Tri-County Council for the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland, 2011-; Maryland Offshore Wind Business Development Advisory Committee, 2013-. Board of Directors, Upper Shore Regional Council, 2014- (council member, 2011-). Member, Governor-elect’s Transition Team, 2014-.

John N. Hickman – Director of the Maryland Small Business Development Center (SBDC)-Eastern Region at the Perdue School of Business, Salisbury University.

Mr. Hickman has served as the Regional Director of the SBDC for since 2002. Prior to being appointed as the Director, he served as a Business Consultant for the SBDC. He was the Maryland SBDC State Star in 2003 and chairs the state’s Professional Development strategic team. He has worked with other government agencies and private businesses to develop and expand businesses on the Eastern Shore. In addition to his work as SBDC Director, John is an adjunct professor at the Perdue School where he teaches Small Business Consulting and Applied Business Learning. He is a board member or past board member of many local nonprofits and economic and community development entities and serves as an advisor to several community loan funds.

Before joining the SBDC, Mr. Hickman held a number of positions in banking, marketing of both recreation services and agricultural products, and management that have allowed him to put to practical use the knowledge he acquired while earning his degrees. These skills have allowed him to increase sales, make recommendations for improvement, and prepare business plans and forecasts for expansion within the companies that use the SBDC services.

John N. Hickman holds a Bachelors of Science in Agricultural Economics from North Carolina State University and a Masters of Business Administration from the College of William and Mary.

Mr. Holt’s distinguished career makes him well-qualified to direct one of the most successful and innovative state housing finance agencies in the country.
As a past member of the Baltimore County Master Plan Advisory Committee and a past president of his neighborhood civic association, he gained on-the-ground experience with neighborhood revitalization, development and housing issues. His experience as a past member of the Baltimore County Human Relations Commission gives him a strong foundation in issues of fairness and housing equity. And his 25 years high level experience in the financial market gives him a thorough understanding of bond markets and how they work.
Mr. Holt comes to DHCD after serving as chairman and chief financial officer of Traitify, a software development firm that was recognized by Maryland’s Technology Development Corp. as the “most innovative” start-up company of 2013. Before that, he enjoyed a 25-year career at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney in Baltimore, where he has served as Branch Manager, Senior Portfolio Manager and Senior Vice President.
As a member of the Maryland General Assembly (1995-1999), Mr. Holt served on the House Appropriations Committee and on the subcommittee on education and economic development.
Mr. Holt received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland College Park. He and his wife Mary E. Holt operate a family farm in Kingsville, Md. The couple have two children.

Glenn Irwin, AICP, is the Executive Director of the Ocean City Development Corporation (OCDC), a non-profit organization charged with revitalizing downtown Ocean City. Among the OCDC projects he manages are: building renovation, business assistance programs, public art programs, employee housing management, land acquisition, marketing, design standards and special events. He holds a B.A. in Economics from Rowan University and a M.A. in Public Administration from Florida Atlantic University. Irwin lives in Ocean City and is active with several local and state nonprofit organizations. He also serves on the Board of Zoning Appeals with Worcester County.

Jayson Knott is Senior Director of the Office of Business Development at the Maryland Department of Commerce. He leads teams responsible for attracting new businesses to Maryland, growing existing Maryland businesses, and providing assistance to Maryland small businesses. Knott began his tenure with the Department in 1998, first working in publications and advertising, and then moving into business development in 2000. Prior to the Maryland Department of Commerce, he spent nine years coordinating publications for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Knott received his BFA from Rochester Institute of Technology in 1987, and has completed numerous continuing education courses with IEDC. A Westminster native, Knott lives in Towson with his wife and two sons.

Laura Kordzikowski started with the City of Salisbury two years ago in the newly created Business Development office. Originally from New York, she studied at Salisbury University and remained in the area post-graduation working for a local development company. In her current role, she works with the local business community on a number of projects and is also the official Main Street Manager for the downtown area of Salisbury and is involved in the ongoing Downtown renaissance.

Mr. Robert Maddox is the Program Manager for Northrop Grumman Technical Services, Target Operations in Princess Anne, MD. In this position, he has responsibility for production, test, and launch support to the NAVY and Missile Defense Agency for small to medium class missile target vehicles. Prior to this position, he was the Program Manager for the NASA Sounding Rocket Operations Contract (NSROC), Wallops Island, VA, responsible for technical and business operations for 25 sounding rocket missions per year.
Maddox has 35 years of engineering and management experience for sounding rocket and small target programs. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering and has supported the design, test, and launch operations as well as range infrastructure for over 300 rocket missions.

Allison Mayer joined the Maryland Department of Commerce in July 2015 as Managing Director, Marketing and Communications, bringing more than a decade of economic development experience. She leads the agency’s strategic communications and marketing activities to support Maryland’s business recruitment and expansion efforts. She previously served as Director of Marketing and Communications for the South Carolina Department of Commerce, where she also managed Palmetto Partners, the state’s public/private partnership for economic development and related “Just right” branding campaign. Before that, Mayer was the Public Relations Manager for the South Carolina Ports Authority and Port of Charleston. She has a degree from the University of South Carolina and is accredited in public relations.

Meredith Mears is director of Worcester County Economic Development, providing leadership for business attraction and retention efforts and executing job creation strategy in the County. In this role, Mears remains committed to a focus of building and sustaining strategic partnerships to establish and grow local industries and jobs. Prior to joining Worcester County Economic Development, Mears was the workforce division director for the Tri-County Council for the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland. Here she oversaw a $1 million budget for workforce development services in the tri-county region, and was responsible for development and implementation of regional Workforce Investment Act funded programs. As an active member of the Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA), Mears is engaged in statewide issues affecting infrastructure, jobs and industry. Mears holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration, with a concentration in marketing from Salisbury University.

Amanda H. Pollack, P.E. is the Deputy Director of Public Works for the City of Salisbury. Ms. Pollack has over 19 years of engineering experience. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Lehigh University. She grew up in Salisbury and attended Parkside High School. Amanda is a licensed professional engineer in Maryland and Delaware. Her specialties are water, wastewater and municipal engineering. She worked in the private sector for 16 years before starting with the City of Salisbury in July 2012. She is currently the Project Manager for the Salisbury Wastewater Treatment Plant BNR/ENR Upgrade.

Pamela J. Ruff has served as Executive Director of the Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA) since 2000. MEDA is a statewide membership organization of nearly 500 public and private professionals dedicated to job growth and retention in Maryland. As Executive Director, Ms. Ruff is responsible for all aspects of management at MEDA and for their 501c3 entity, The MEDA Foundation, Inc.

Ms. Ruff has an extensive background in economic development marketing that began in 1981 when she joined the Baltimore Briefing Center (BBC) where she served in a number of capacities. The BBC expanded from a regional to a statewide focus and became the Maryland Communications Center (MCC) where Ms. Ruff served as Deputy Director. Both centers operated as the primary marketing support service for Maryland’s economic development professionals in both the public and private sectors.

As Executive Director of The Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA) Ms. Ruff has been responsible for the business operation of a statewide association providing programming, professional development and networking opportunities to nearly 500 public and private sector members throughout Maryland. She has built a portfolio of work that includes programs and partnerships bringing together regional, state, local, and private sector interests at all levels of economic development. Developing programs on topics as diverse as manufacturing, technology, community development, workforce development, environmental issues, and business development shows her proven understanding of the general and broad-based effort known as economic development. At MEDA, Ms. Ruff also oversees the delivery of economic development professional development courses that instruct knowledge and skills to the organization’s community of members.

Ms. Ruff is a Past President of Habitat for Humanity Susquehanna and a former director of the Havre de Grace Economic Development Advisory Board. She was a member of the Maryland Board, an advisory board to Maryland Life magazine. She Chairs the Membership Committee and serves on the Program Committee at Leadership Maryland.

Ms. Ruff earned her Bachelors of Science degree in Mass Communications from Towson State University and her Master of Liberal Arts from Johns Hopkins University. She is a 1998 graduate of Leadership Maryland and a 2006 graduate of the Harford Leadership Academy.

Ms. Ruff is a resident of Baltimore City.

Mike Thielke is the executive director of the Eastern Shore Entrepreneurship Center (ESEC) which serves the startup and entrepreneurial needs of eight counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. In his role, Thielke provides leadership in the advancement of innovation entrepreneurship, and commercialization throughout the region and contributes to ensuring that the Eastern Shore is part of the greater statewide startup ecosystem. ESEC initiatives underway include ShoreVenture, a 10-week entrepreneurship training program; a $3 million revolving loan fund; hotDesks, a network of coworking spaces; DT2i, a 30-hour tech transfer/commercialization course offered at four regional community colleges; a $25,000 Eastern Shore Business Competition; Startup Weekends, and planned for 2015 Accelerate Delmarva, a 13-week accelerator program.

Starting his first business at the age of 23 in 1977, Thielke has been a lifelong entrepreneur. Born and raised in the Chicago area, he graduated with a B.A. in Russian Area Studies and International Economics from Knox College in central Illinois in 1975. For over twenty years, Thielke had a successful career in the international transportation and logistics industry, holding a series of positions ranging from founder/owner of a number of distribution and defense contracting businesses to senior management within Fortune 500 firms. Selling his last business in 1995, Thielke retreated to his home on Maryland’s Eastern Shore and transitioned his entrepreneurial skills into the non-profit sector. His entry into nonprofit activity, and most rewarding life experience, began with the Schooner Sultana project in Chestertown, MD as the founding executive director responsible for creating the organization and capital campaign that constructed the factually-documented reproduction of the 1768 schooner now known as the Schoolship of the Chesapeake which provides experiential education on the Chesapeake Bay to school groups in colonial history and environmental science.

Séson Taylor-Campbell is a Development Advisor for PNC Bank’s Greater Maryland Community
Development Banking Department. In this role, she is responsible for aggregating and
originating loans and investments for the Greater Maryland market which include Accomack and
Northampton Counties in Virginia. Before joining Greater Maryland’s Community Development
Banking Team in 2010, Taylor-Campbell has held a number of positions at PNC, which include an
Associate Business Advisor in PNC’s Commercial Segment and a Business Banker in PNC’s Retail
division. Taylor-Campbell has a long history of civic and philanthropic involvement. Currently,
she serves on the board of directors for Aids Interfaith Residential Services and Empires Homes,
Inc. and is a council member of Virginia Community Capital, Inc.’s Community Advocates
Council. In 2014, Taylor-Campbell and her sister Aisha Taylor established a scholarship fund
through NEED to benefit young ladies who are graduates of any inner-city, Pittsburgh Public high
school who endeavor to attend college. Taylor-Campbell is a certified Housing Development
Finance Professional and has earned a bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College.

Danny graduated from Crisfield High School, received an Associate Degree in Accounting from Wor-Wic Community College and Business Administration at Salisbury University.

Danny is the current Executive Director for the Somerset County Economic Development Commission for the past 12 years. His position entitles him to focus on the retention and expansion of existing employers and the recruitment of new businesses to assist in the economic growth of Somerset County. He was previously employed with the State of Maryland in the Department of Labor, Licensing, & Regulation Agency for 12 years and formerly worked at the Carvel Hall Plant in Crisfield as Human Resources Manager, Time & Motion Study Observer for 10 years until its closing. He also owned & operated the Circle Inn Restaurant in Crisfield for 10 years.

He was the Past-Chairman of the Crisfield Area Chamber of Commerce and Somerset County Economic Development Commission. Danny serves as a board member for the Maryland Economic Development Association, Lower Shore Workforce Alliance, and was formerly a councilperson for 8 years at the City of Crisfield. He is also active as a High School Sports official in soccer & basketball.

Danny was raised in Fruitland, Maryland until 1975 then later moved to Crisfield, Maryland. He moved to the Princess Anne area in 2008. He is married to his wife, Cheryl who is a private music teacher, has a son Keith who graduated from University of Maryland College Park majoring in Electrical Engineering, and has two grandchildren Daniel Ryon, and Kaiden Nickolas. He enjoys all types of sports, cooking, playing trumpet in church, & spending time with his family.

Tim’s employment background has always been closely tied to the economic development sector. He began his career in the electric utility industry and spent the majority of his time working in their Economic Development and Major Accounts departments. He then became Director of Business Development for a general contractor and developer that specialized in large commercial and industrial construction. Tim then transitioned to the public sector as the Assistant Director for the Hagerstown-Washington County Economic Development Commission, and later served as their Executive Director from 2002-2012. Currently, Tim is Senior Specialist, Customer Support for The Potomac Edison Company, part of FirstEnergy.

Tim is a graduate of Frostburg State University, in Frostburg, Maryland and holds B.S. degrees in both Business Administration and Economics. Tim obtained an MBA from Hood College in Frederick, MD and is also a graduate of the Economic Development Institute, based in Norman, Oklahoma. In 1999, Tim earned the professional designation of Certified Economic Developer from the International Economic Development Council.

Tim has served on the boards of agencies such as the Maryland Economic Development Association, Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce, PenMar Development Corporation, Tri-County Council for Western Maryland, University System of Maryland at Hagerstown and many others.

George Tunis is an industry visionary, an entrepreneur, and a passionate team leader. In 1998, Tunis formed his third company, Hardwire LLC, based in Pocomoke City, Maryland. At Hardwire, Tunis has led his team to become a world-class designer and producer of armor systems for the U.S. Army and Marine Corps, the U.S. State Department, U.S. law enforcement officers, and for critical domestic infrastructure protection. Tunis holds 24 patents and multiple trademarks for his composite technologies and innovations. He has won many awards, including Ernst & Young’s “Entrepreneur of the Year” for the State of Maryland in 2012.

Drew Van Dopp joined the Maryland Broadband Cooperative in 2009 and currently serves as Vice President of Strategic Partnerships. Among his several duties are identifying and expanding strategic relationships with members, vendors and infrastructure partners that create mutual benefit and advance the Cooperative Mission. Van Dopp provides focus for service deployments in the healthcare, cellular and wireless business sectors. Prior to joining Maryland Broadband, Van Dopp spent 15 years in the utility industry both in telecommunications and public power. He has a B.A. with Honors in History from the American University in Washington, D.C.

Bill Wrobel is the NASA Wallops Flight Facility Director. Worbel began his career in 1982 with McDonnell Douglas (MD) on the Delta Launch Vehicle Program. While at McDonnell Douglas, he worked various proprietary spacecraft programs. In 1990, he joined Orbital Sciences Corporation (OSC), working a variety of programs including TOS, Pegasus, X-34, APEX, and SeaStar. In 1999, Worbel was named the Program Director for the Taurus Launch Vehicle Program, OSC. Worbel also supported OSC’s Advanced Programs Group, providing satellite development support for DoD customers. In 2006, he joined NASA Headquarters, serving as the Assistant Associate Administrator for Launch Services. In this role, Worbel had responsibility for the administration, management, and direction for the acquisition and certification of expendable launch vehicles within NASA. In 2010, he became Director of NASA Goddard Space Flight Center’s Wallops Flight Facility, also serving as Director of Suborbital and Special Orbital Projects, responsible for Goddard Space Flight Center’s suborbital and low-cost orbital flight projects. He was the recipient of NASA’s Agency Honor Outstanding Leadership Medal in 2015, as well as various GSFC awards.