Public Policy Committee
Public Policy Awareness Committee members have a strong understanding of state and local public policy issues affecting economic development. Ideal committee members will have experience working with elected and appointed officials and a deep knowledge of how public policy impacts job creation and retention in Maryland.
Committee members serve a one-year term beginning in May after the MEDA Annual Conference.
The Public Policy Awareness Committee
Committee Co-Chairs:
With more than 20 years of government relations, management, and administration expertise, Andrea E. Mansfield brings her ability to successfully execute advocacy efforts and programs to Manis Canning. Her broad experience and involvement with the Maryland Legislature on policy, fiscal and budget matters; and her ability to work with diverse groups and build consensus on complex issues is an asset to the firm.
Andrea has extensive experience at the state and local level, having led and coordinated policy efforts for the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) and implemented the legislative agendas of state agencies. As MACo’s Legislative Director she advised, crafted, and implemented the common agendas and legislative goals of Maryland’s 23 counties and Baltimore City.
In state government, she worked within three Administrations in positions of increasing responsibility, serving as legislative liaison to the Legislature for the Department of Budget and Management, and the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (DLLR); and Special Assistant, Director of Financial Aid, and Assistant Secretary of Finance Policy with the Maryland Higher Education Commission.
Andrea serves on the Board of Leadership Maryland and was a member of the class of 2019, serves on the board of the Maryland Economic Development Association and co- chairs the Public Policy Awareness Committee, serves on the Anne Arundel County Personnel Board, and previously chaired the Anne Arundel Charter Revision Commission and Odenton Town Center Advisory Committee. She has a Master of Policy Sciences from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and a Bachelor of Arts in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland, College Park.
Lori C. Valentine is the Vice President of Policy and Public Relations for the Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation (EDC), leading the organization’s business marketing and communications arm as well as its legislative teams. She is an experienced policy and public relations professional with years of experience in the public sector on the state and local levels serving as legislative directors for several state agencies, including the Maryland Department of Commerce (formerly DBED) and Prince George’s County government under former County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III.
Prior to taking on her roles in Prince George’s County, Valentine gained valuable experience in legislative policy and negotiating after being tapped to serve as a legislative officer for Maryland Governor Robert Ehrlich. On a mission to support Prince George’s County’s efforts to attract, retain and support the existing business community, she is focused on improving local entrepreneurs’ access to County programs and resources. Her team continuously creates stimulating communications and marketing collaterals that increase the visibility of the EDC programs and services, taking businesses to the next level of growth.
Lori can also be credited with contributions towards the passage of numerous pieces of legislation that support the business community’s ability to develop and expand in Maryland and Prince George’s County, supporting the County’s efforts to rebrand with its Experience, Expand, Explore campaign, coordinating County Executive Angela Alsobrooks record-breaking inaugural State of the Economy address, and creating diverse, interactive and informative programming to support the County’s business community.
Valentine is a proud native of Chicago, Illinois, a Juris Doctorate graduate of the Howard University School of Law, a MEDA Board Member, and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.
Committee Members:
Laurie (Boyer) Babb is a Director of Economic Development on the Business Development team at the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC). She focuses on business retention/expansion projects, real estate/site selection and efforts to recruit corporate headquarters. She also manages the ACE Loan Fund program which provides loans to small, minority, and woman-owned businesses.
Ms. Babb previously served as the Economic Development Manager for the Business Advancement Team in the Office of the County Executive, Montgomery County Government where she was responsible for the management and oversight of the County’s economic development financial incentive programs and the administration of contracts with third party vendors providing economic development services on behalf of the County. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she developed policies and procedures and implemented over $40 million in emergency grant programs established to directly assist local businesses.
Previously, Laurie served as the Executive Director of Rockville Economic Development, Inc. (REDI), and as Executive Director for the Frederick County Office of Economic Development. In May 2006, she earned her professional Economic Development Certification (CEcD) from the International Economic Development Council. She has 20+ years of economic development experience.
Ms. Babb is a graduate of Leadership Montgomery Class of 2014 and Leadership Frederick County Class of 1997, currently serves as a Past President of the Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA) and is co-chair of the MEDA Professional Development Committee, on the Leadership Committee of NAIOP DC-MD, and on the Sponsorship Committee of CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women) MD Suburban.
Ms. Babb has a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and Spanish from Juniata College in Huntingdon, PA and a Master’s degree in Communication Studies from West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV.
Candace Dodson-Reed is an experienced executive with a 20 plus year successful career in the public, education, and nonprofit sectors. Skilled in media relations, grassroots organizing, government relations, crisis communications, inclusion and equity work, public policy and community/public affairs, Candace currently serves as the Chief of Staff and Executive Director of the Office of Equity and Inclusion at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC). Prior to her appointment in 2018, she was the AVP of Communications and Public Affairs at UMBC, a Vice President at the Greater Baltimore Committee and, for almost eight years, served as the Deputy Chief of Staff/ Director of Constituent and Community Affairs for Howard County Government.
Before working at Howard County Government, Candace worked in the corporate world and at the Columbia Association, Community Foundation of Howard County (known previously as the Columbia Foundation), and Anne Arundel Community College.
Candace’s consulting group, Nalim Consulting LLC, is a public and community affairs group specializing in community outreach, communications, strategy, diversity, equity, and inclusion work, and crisis management.
In 2012, Candace founded the African American Community Roundtable of Howard County, an umbrella group that connects members of the local black community. Prior to that she founded the twentyfivefortyfive Giving Circle while working at the Community Foundation of Howard County. Candace also co-hosts a podcast—Elevate Maryland.
Candace serves as an appointed commissioner on the US Commission on Civil Rights-Maryland State Advisory Committee, on the Maryland League of Conservation Voters Board of Directors, as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for the Downtown Columbia Arts and Culture Commission, and as a Board Member of Ohana HC.
Previously, Candace served as an appointed committee member on the University System of Maryland Workgroup on Free Speech and First Amendment Issues, appointed Chair of Howard County Executive Calvin Ball’s Administration Transition Committee, and appointed Chair for Howard County Executive Calvin Ball’s Office of Human Rights Review Committee. She is also a trained Howard County Public Schools Restorative Justice circle facilitator.
Candace graduated from UMBC with a BA in English and received her graduate degree from the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University. She also graduated from the Institute for Educational Management at The Harvard University Graduate School of Education and completed her Diversity and Inclusion certification from Cornell University.
In 2020, she was named a Maryland Top 100 Woman by The Daily Record. Candace is the very proud mother of a college student, an occasional jokester, and a really strong power walker, who loves live music, great podcasts, and good reads.
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.
Jennifer Jones is an industry thought leader with over 20 years of business and leadership experience in the private and public sectors. During her tenure in the public sector, Jones has been an integral part of the Howard County business ecosystem, directly assisting and forging valuable relationships with thousands of Howard County businesses. Over the course of her career, Jones has served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for the Howard County Government, where she helped thousands of businesses survive and thrive through the pandemic. She also served as the Vice President of Business Development at Live Nation, where she was responsible for business analysis and market expansion.
In her most recent role as Business Development Strategist for the County Executive’s Office, Jones advised on economic development, holding over a dozen business roundtables to understand and address challenges, and implemented entrepreneurship and small business initiatives. Jones is an active Howard County resident and public servant, serving as a board member of several community and business organizations, including the Howard County Tourism Board, Columbia Festival of the Arts, Howard County National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Downtown Columbia Partnership and the Howard County Center of African American Culture.
Jones holds a Juris Doctor from Pepperdine University School of Law, a Master of Business Administration from Pepperdine University School of Business, and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University.
Jen LaHatte is the Managing Director of Policy, Research and Government Affairs for the Maryland Department of Commerce, the State’s primary economic development agency. In this role she oversees a group of ten research and policy staff responsible for identifying and enhancing economic development policies and providing high quality research products and economic analyses leading to strategies that maximize the State’s economic growth. Jen has worked for the Maryland Department of Commerce in a variety of roles since 2012, including Director of Policy and Program Development as well as Business Policy Analyst, and has been managing her division since 2021. Prior to joining Maryland Commerce, Jen worked for a political fundraising consulting firm. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Peace Studies from the University of Notre Dame, and lives in Cockeysville with her husband, two young sons, and their rescue dog Griffey.
Mindy Lehman is the Chief Government Program Development, Affairs & Policy Officer at the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO). She brings over 20 years of experience leading government affairs and serving as representative at the state and federal levels.
In her role, she leads TEDCO’s Government Program Development, Affairs & Policy department, serving as TEDCO’s chief liaison with State, Federal and local elected officials, and government, including broad-based policy development, intra and inter-agency coordination, and guidance on program implementation and management to ensure compliance with statutory requirements. She advises TEDCO’s senior management on issues including State budget priorities, tech-led economic development, tech transfer and commercialization, entrepreneurial development, and venture capital investing. Mindy also oversees the development and implementation of TEDCO initiatives and programs resulting from legislation. Including the recent Equitech Growth Fund & Commission and Cyber Maryland Program.
The Equitech Growth Fund, a part of TEDCO’s Cultivate Maryland initiative, was established by the Maryland General Assembly to increase Maryland’s competitiveness as an innovation economy. This was in response to a recent study outlining the need for more diversity and inclusion in Maryland’s technology ecosystem. In a similar vein, the overall objective of the Cyber Maryland Program is to help build and accelerate a talent pipeline that materially reduces Maryland’s cybersecurity industry vacancies.
Prior to TEDCO, Mindy held executive leadership roles at Maryland Bankers Association (MBA). During her time at MBA, she led governmental affairs and served as an advocate for the industry. Mindy worked closely with MBA leadership on COVID-19 related initiatives, including: the Paycheck Protection Program, public and private partnerships, and industry efforts to assist customers during financial hardship. Additionally, she spearheaded MBA’s innovative Emerging Leader program, a flagship offering designed to help build diversity and inclusion while giving participants a unique opportunity to connect with Maryland and national industry leaders.
Prior to MBA, Mindy served eight years with the Maryland Independent College and University Association, as the director of governmental affairs. She also served as a legislative aide to Delegate Ronald A. Guns, chairman of the Environmental Matters Committee.
Mindy serves as a board member of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Maryland, and the American Red Cross of Central Maryland. She is a member of MEDA.
Mindy holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Delaware in political science and a master’s degree from UMBC in public administration.
Choptank Electric Cooperative Manager of Government Affairs and Economic Development,
Matthew Teffeau, is a lifelong Marylander and native of Preston, MD.
Teffeau has been involved with politics and advocacy for over 15 years. After graduating from
Salisbury University in 2010, he worked for Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) on Capitol Hill
as a Legislative Assistant, handling agriculture and natural resources issues.
Later, Teffeau worked at the Maryland Farm Bureau and the Maryland Department of
Agriculture in Government Relations roles.
Teffeau is a 2017 graduate from the LEAD Maryland program. Most recently, he collaborated
with the executive team at Choptank Electric and local officials during the 2020 Legislative
Session to advocate and pass HB 999, “The Rural Broadband for the Eastern Shore Act of 2020,
”which has enable the Co-op to pursue broadband services to their members on Maryland’s
Eastern Shore. His role has him advocating for 56,000 rural electric cooperative members on the
Eastern Shore at the federal, state and local levels.
Recently, Teffeau was a winner of the Daily Record’s 2020 VIP list. Teffeau enjoys volunteering
with the Maryland Farm to Table program through the Maryland Food Bank, playing golf, and
spending time with his 4-year-old daughter.
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.
With over 25 years of service in state and local economic development agencies, Larry has experience in economic development strategy, legislative policy, entrepreneurship, and community development.
Major areas of expertise include:
Economic development strategy
Business attraction and retention
Entrepreneurship
Small business financing
Business incentives
Disaster response and recovery
Legislative policy
Major accomplishments include facilitating strategic plans that led to the creation of over 30,000 new jobs, $2B in capital investment, and impacting over 12 million sq ft of industrial, office, and retail space. Other accomplishments include launching the Maryland Innovation Center (a 60,000 sq ft incubator, co-working, and collaboration space), leading the business recovery of Ellicott City after the 2016 and 2018 floods, and implementing a small business loan fund that has invested over $18M in over 100 businesses creating almost 900 new jobs.
He was awarded a Governor’s Citation for his role in the Ellicott City flood recovery and received two National Association of Counties (NACO) awards (2021, 2023) for innovative and effective business programs.
He currently leads an economic development practice focused on strategic planning and executive leadership and is a consultant to the U.S. Dept. of Commerce Economic Development Administration.
Larry is a Past President of the Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA) and currently serves on the Public Policy Committee and the Professional Development Committee.
He is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) and holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Loyola University – Maryland and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland.
