The Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO) announced today that Bill Bernard and Jack Schammel have joined the Rural Business Innovation Initiative (RBI2) team. Bernard is the RBI2 mentor for the Lower Eastern Shore Counties of Talbot, Caroline, Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester. Schammel is the RBI2 mentor for the Upper Shore Counties of Cecil, Harford, Kent and Queen Anne’s.
Business and technical assistance is provided to companies by a regional RBI2 mentor whose job is to evaluate potential clients and to provide resources, consulting services, and technical management-level assistance. To receive mentoring and project assistance, companies must:
- be involved in developing new technologies/products or utilizing technology to create new or expand their business,
- have fewer than 16 employees,
- have annual revenues of $1 million or less, and
- be in good standing with Maryland Department of Taxation and Assessments.
Bernard has enjoyed a career in the commercialization of technologies and specializes in the startup and management of businesses around the world. He will be mentoring entrepreneurs on the Lower Shore and is now meeting with qualified companies and holding office hours at the hotDesks shared work spaces in Easton, Cambridge, Salisbury, and Pocomoke City. He can be contacted at 443-786-4471 or bbernard@tedco.md.
Schammel is a seasoned operations executive turned coach and consultant. He has spent more than two decades helping to grow startups and has established companies throughout the region and as far away as Egypt.
Schammel hosts office hours at The GroundFloor at Harford incubator in Havre de Grace. He can be reach at 443-617-7614 or jschammel@tedco.md.
“TEDCO is here to help tech startups in Maryland grow and thrive,” said TEDCO CEO George Davis. “We are pleased to have Bernard and Schammel join a dynamic team that is committed to connecting innovative entrepreneurs to resources that help them to overcome business and technical hurdles and advance to the next growth level.”
The types of assistance provided by RBI2 include:
- Business model or strategy
- Market strategy/analysis and competitive analysis
- Funding opportunities and introductions
- Financial analysis
- Business plan and grant reviews
- Intellectual property
- Prototype development
- Manufacturing problem solving
“RBI2 is designed to provide technical and business assistance to small companies and early-stage technology-based companies in rural Maryland as defined by the Rural Maryland Council. Assistance to companies is provided by a regional RBI2 mentor,” stated Anne Balduzzi, TEDCO’s RBI2 program manager. “The South Central (Charles, Calvert, St. Mary’s Counties) RBI2 mentor is Tiffany Davis and the Western (Frederick, Washington, Allegany, Garrett, Carroll) RBI2 mentor is Chuck Ernst.”