From local universities to the private sector, Maryland’s largest city and its surrounding counties have seen some major leadership changes in the last month.
The biggest news impacting this world is undoubtedly the Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) Tech Hub Program’s decision to not award Phase 2 funding to Baltimore’s bid, but that hasn’t stopped the personnel moves. Read on to learn more about these powerful moves.
First, check out the chart below to see what skills are most in demand among local companies and how those job openings have changed since last month.
Meet bwtech@UMBC’s newest entrepreneurs in residence
The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) Research and Innovation Park last month announced the addition of five entrepreneurs to its leadership team, coming from a variety of industries and functions including life sciences, sales, product strategy and operations.
Entrepreneurs in Residence (EIRs) typically help universities and affiliated centers and hubs commercialize faculty and student technologies. Because UMBC is a well-known state institution, these advisors also work with in-state founders. For example, new Entrepreneur in Residence Chris Haug recently co-developed an accelerator program between bwtech@UMBC and Startup Grind Maryland, which he leads.
“Our expanded EIR program demonstrates bwtech’s dedication to turning innovative ideas into successful businesses,” Aaron Miscenich, executive director of bwtech@UMBC, said in an emailed statement. “This team will help further develop our community of collaborators and drive economic growth in Maryland.”
The new additions join existing entrepreneurs in residence Richard Chipkin of Chipkin Pharmaceutical Consulting, David Fink of Cell Targeting, and Hillel Glazer, Principal at Entinex.
- Chris Haug, Founder and CEO of 360° Venture Management Group
- Chris White, co-founder of PreSquared
- Fahmida Kapadia, President, Kapamed Consulting
- Flexicharge CEO Chris Ewing
- Christina Holt, President, ExecuSense
Pava Center promotes deputy director and assistant director
The Pava Marie Laperre Entrepreneurship Center has hired Paul Davidson and Sephora Saint-Armand as deputy director and assistant director, respectively, according to center director Josh Ambrose.
Davidson takes on the role after serving as assistant director at the center twice, once focusing on student ventures and once on life design. Saint-Armand takes on his new role after serving as manager of student programs at the center. Both leaders’ tenures at the Johns Hopkins-affiliated innovation hub date back at least two years, when it was called FastFowardU. (The Remington Building was later rededicated in honor of the late Laperre of EcoMap Technologies, who helped found the university’s current student entrepreneurship organization.)
Pava Center. (Sameer Rao/Technical.ly)
The movement of local power will continue
- MindGrab, a major Baltimore technology company based in Locust Point, has appointed Brandi Spence and Kevin Gifhorn as its new directors of marketing and education engagement, respectively.
- Big Four accounting firm EY has named several Baltimore-area founders, including Apkud’s Josh Matthews, Huntress’ Kyle Hanslovan, Impact Analytics’ Prashant Agrawal and SIMPLi’s Salera Helada, as Mid-Atlantic Entrepreneur of the Year recipients for 2024. EY also named Mary Kate Federico as the new leader of its Baltimore office.
- KCI Technologies, one of the region’s largest engineering companies, has hired Christopher Griffiths as its new CEO.
- TEDCO, a state-related early-stage investor, has named members to its board of directors for fiscal year 2025, including University of Southern Maryland Vice President Ellen Flowers-Fields as new chair. TEDCO also named Abhishek Kulshreshtha as the new executive director of the Maryland Innovation Initiative.
- Inner Harbor-based Fearless has bolstered its recent hires with the launch of a new advisory board that includes a mix of veteran leaders in investment, consulting, federal IT and university partnerships.
- Douglas Kelly Jr. has joined RELI Group, a government contractor with offices in Windsor Mill and Catonsville, as its new chief strategy officer.
This article mentions Technical.ly clients Fearless and TEDCO. These relationships had no influence on this reporting.
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