Executive Officers announced along with the addition of five innovative thought leaders to the diverse and influential Board
COLUMBIA, Md., (July 1, 2024) — TEDCO, Maryland’s economic engine for technology companies, announced that the board of directors elected new executive officers and welcomed new members. The newly appointed chair of the board is College of Southern Maryland’s Ellen Flowers-Fields, succeeding Omar Muhammad, director and EN-TRE-PRE-NEUR for the Entrepreneurial Development and Assistance Center at Morgan State University (MSU).
“As a member of the TEDCO board of directors, I have been able to positively impact the growth of Maryland’s ecosystem and support various innovators,” said newly appointed chair, Flowers-Fields. “I am honored to be serving as the new board chair. I know my unique perspectives and guidance will support the creation of a diverse, sustainable and innovative entrepreneurial ecosystem.”
Organizations like TEDCO thrive through the diversity and collaboration. With the new slate of executive officers, coupled with the addition of four new members to the board of directors, the fiscal year 2025 (“FY25”) board is perfectly situated to support the entirety of Maryland. Complete with members hailing from across the state – from rural Western Maryland to Baltimore City to the Eastern Shore – and an array of backgrounds, industries and expertise, TEDCO looks forward to another year of growth and development for the State’s entrepreneurial innovation ecosystem.
“Ellen brings years of experience that will not only allow for the continued growth of TEDCO’s efforts but promote the improvement of Maryland’s technology and life science ecosystems,” said Muhammad. “I step down knowing that the TEDCO board remains in good hands; I look forward to seeing Maryland’s continued growth under her leadership.”
TEDCO’s full slate of executive officers include:
- Chair – Ellen Flowers-Fields, College of Southern Maryland
- Vice Chair – Kathie Callahan Brady, Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc. (FITCI)
- Secretary – Thomas Bundy, Lawrence & Bundy
- Treasurer – Jeffrey Rhoda, Retired
- Assistant Treasurer – Eben Smith, Three|E Consulting Group
Immediate Past Chair – Omar Muhammad, MSU
“I would like to express my gratitude for Omar’s support and encouragement over the past few years while he served as the Board chair,” said Troy LeMaile-Stovall, TEDCO CEO. “I’m excited for Ellen’s leadership and guidance as the newly appointed chair. I know she will bring not only her passion and creativity to her position, but her unique perspectives and extensive experience to her role.”
In addition to this recent election, the board announces several new additions, including:
- Linda Cureton, Muse Technologies, Inc.
- William Roberts, Significance, Inc.
- Andrew Serafini, Wealth Enhancement Group
- Phillip Singerman, Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC)
- Nona Minnifield Cheeks, Innovatyr, LLC
“In addition to the newly elected executive officers, we want to welcome the new appointees to the board of directors. These individuals encompass the diversity, inclusivity and innovative spirit that drives TEDCO’s mission,” said LeMaile-Stovall.
TEDCO is managed by a 19-member board of directors, 14 of whom are appointed by the Governor, two appointed by the President of the Maryland Senate; and two appointed by the speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates - each to staggered four-year terms. The 19th member is the Maryland Secretary of Commerce, who serves ex officio. Each member appointed by the Governor is confirmed by the Senate.
TEDCO’s full board of directors includes: Chair, Ellen Flowers-Fields, College of Southern Maryland; Vice Chair, Kathie Callahan Brady, FITCI; Secretary, Thomas Bundy III, Lawrence & Bundy; Treasurer, Jeffrey Rhoda; Assistant Treasurer, Eben Smith, Three|E Consulting Group; Rondall Allen, University of Maryland Eastern Shore; Kevin Anderson, Maryland Department of Commerce; John Bohanan, Cornerstone Government Affairs; Nona Minnifield Cheeks, Innovatyr, LLC; Clifford Coppersmith, Chesapeake College; Linda Cureton, Muse Technologies, Inc.; Omar S. Muhammad, MSU; William Roberts, Significance, Inc.; Andrew Serafini, Wealth Enhancement Group; Amita Shukla, Vitamita; Chung Hei Sing, Applied Derivative Research; Phillip Singerman, MCEDC; David Tohn, BTS Software Solutions; and Robert Wells, Baker Donelson.
Ellen Flowers-Fields has more than 25 years of experience in workforce development and human capital management and is currently serving as vice president for Continuing Education and Workforce Development at the College of Southern Maryland. In this position, she is responsible for overseeing all areas of the non-credit economic and community development programming leading to industry recognized certifications and credentials in high demand occupations.
Kathie Callahan Brady has been president and CEO of FITCI since 2016. Prior to this position, Callahan Brady founded four successful companies in various industries; she has over 30 years’ executive-level experience in IT, real estate and business development, which she draws upon to help others achieve success.
Thomas Bundy III is a partner at Lawrence & Bundy, where he regularly represents Fortune 500 companies across the country in numerous trials, arbitrations and alternative forms of dispute resolution. While his practice is commercial in nature, Bundy focuses on traditional employment issues such as: civil rights litigation, including discrimination and harassment; wage and hour disputes; whistleblower claims; trade secret protections; Employee Retirement Income Security Act litigation; Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, Dodd-Frank compliance; and employment due diligence and audits.
Jeffrey Rhoda has spent more than 40 years in the technology industry with IBM in areas including sales, marketing, channels and ibm.com. Prior to retiring in June 2019, Rhoda was the general manager, of the Greater China Group located in Beijing and responsible for IBM’s business in China. He has extensive global experience having lived in Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, Seoul and Beijing in addition to his native country, the United States of America.
Eben Smith is president of Three|E Consulting Group with two decades of business management experience in both the public and private sector with key emphasis in supplier diversity, strategic sourcing, economic development, community engagement and contracting and procurement. Over the last 20 years he has worked closely with other regional, state and local leaders to create jobs, grow the economy and create capacity in the minority business community.
Rondall Allen, Pharm.D., is the chief academic policymaker at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Allen has over 30 years of experience in the profession of pharmacy and has practiced in a variety of settings to include community pharmacy, acute care, ambulatory care, and the pharmaceutical industry. As a clinician, he developed and implemented two outpatient anticoagulation clinics in which he managed patients with deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary emboli, atrial fibrillation and other clotting disorders.
Commerce Secretary Kevin Anderson is founder and CEO of Cardinal Atlantic Holdings (CAH), an economic and community development firm targeting scaled social impact and investment in urban centers. With specializations in real estate and education technology, CAH advises funds, corporations and governments on economic and community development strategies and projects.
Former Delegate John L. Bohanan, Jr. joined Cornerstone Government Affairs in October 2015. He served on the staff of United States House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer for 22 years and as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates for St. Mary’s County from 1999 until 2015. For 21 years, John was principally responsible for interfacing with the Congressional District’s two largest military installations – Patuxent River Naval Air Station and Indian Head Naval Surface Warfare Center.
Nona Minnifield Cheeks is the founder and CEO of Innovatyr, LLC an applied science and technology consulting firm. She is the former chief of the Strategic Partnerships Office at NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center where she oversaw the Technology Transfer and SBIR/STTR programs and global partnerships. She currently consults with tech start-up firms, future tech-designers, and entrepreneurs regarding their products, intellectual property, and entrepreneurial prospects. Nona also serves as a delegate to the International Astronautical Congress where she oversees an international symposium on technology transfer resulting from worldwide space organizations’ exploration initiatives.
Clifford Coppersmith, PhD, a military veteran and former intelligence officer with the Central Intelligence Agency, is now in his fifth year as the president of Chesapeake College where he focuses on the mission to provide liberal arts transfer and workforce training programs for the region.
Linda Cureton, PhD, is the founder and CEO of Muse Technologies, Inc. A thought leader and known strategic innovator, her forty-plus years of public service ensure Muse delivers responsive solutions in leadership, program management & organizational development. Cureton has proven success in cloud computing, mobility, and program management and is a leader in the industry. Previously, Cureton served in the United States’ federal government as a cabinet level chief information officer (CIO) at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Omar S. Muhammad serves as the director and EN-TRE-PRE-NEUR for the EDAC at MSU and has been actively involved in entrepreneurship since the age of 12, served as a vice president for a non-profit organization where he operated a $4 million small business loan fund within Baltimore’s Empowerment Zone, provided small business counseling and entrepreneurial training for women and other budding and existing entrepreneurs. He serves as immediate past chair on TEDCO’s board.
William Roberts, has more than 30 years of experience in the government financial management and audit industry and currently serves as a senior executive leading the strategic growth division at Significance, Inc., a consulting firm that specializes in helping federal agencies improve their financial management and accountability. As a former member of the Senior Executive Service Corp., he has held various leadership positions in the Department of the Army, the Army National Guard, and the United States Marine Corps, where he managed complex budgets, implemented internal controls, and oversaw audit readiness.
Former Delegate/Senator Andrew Serafini became the senior vice president, financial advisor of Wealth Enhancement Group through the Serafini Financial Group acquisition. Through extensive training and hands-on experience in the investment banking and brokerage industry, he gained a fundamental understanding of the financial world and an in-depth knowledge of investments.
Amita Shukla is the founder and CEO of Vitamita, which focuses on developing transformative ideas for human well-being, and the author of Enduring Edge: Transforming How We Think, Create and Change. Prior to Vitamita, she spent close to nine years at the venture capital firm New Enterprise Associates (NEA) where she evaluated and invested in healthcare innovations. Before NEA, she helped found and lead several startups. Shukla was first appointed to the TEDCO board in 2010 and is currently its longest-serving member.
Chung Hei Sing is the CEO of Applied Derivative Research, an impact-oriented research platform leveraging technology to preserve and grow wealth in a way that positively impacts society. Passionate about impact, he is an advisor to AARP, an aging-focused nonprofit, and board member to Corporate Esports Association, an esports for charity and human resources-solutions focused organization.
Phillip Singerman is a recognized national innovator in public/private partnerships to promote economic development, job creation, and nation security through technology development, transfer and deployment. His five-decade career includes senior executive positions in the private and public sectors at the local, state and federal levels.
David Tohn is a retired Army colonel with over 24 years’ leadership experience in tactical and strategic intelligence, command, operations, strategic planning and, as a plank-holder in Army full-spectrum cyber operations, policy, planning and capabilities development; currently, Tohn serves as the CEO of BTS Software Solutions.
Robert Wells is a shareholder in Baker Donelson's Baltimore office where he represents clients in health care regulatory and corporate matters. He handles complex legal and operational matters such as the development and implementation of corporate compliance programs that involve the integration of corporate governance, business operations, risk management and compliance; and the challenging regulatory issues governing pharmaceutical and medical device companies.