About the Tour
For the second consecutive year, University System of Maryland (USM) Chancellor Robert L. Caret will be touring
the state to meet with businesspeople, civic leaders, and other regional groups to discuss ways USM can work with
them to help grow Maryland�s economy. Unlike the 2015 tour, which took place over the course of a single week, this
year�s tour will be spread out throughout the year, consisting of day-long visits to different regions of the state.
Tour Stops
- December 7, 2016
- December 15, 2016
- Smartronix (Hollywood)
Met with: the executive team at Smartronix, including CEO John Parris
Discussed: economic and workforce development in Southern Maryland and opportunities to partner more with industry
- Elements-Eatery & Mixology (Lexington)
Met with: St. Mary�s County Commissioner Todd Morgan and area community/business leaders
Discussed: USM's role in economic and workforce development in Southern Maryland and ways to better partner with industry
- CTSI (Lexington)
Met with: CTSI team members, including Managing Director Tom Sanders
Discussed: better leveraging USM resources to advance economic and workforce development
- January 30, 2017
- GlycoMimetics, Inc.
Met with: GlycoMetrics CEO Rachel King, Vice President John Magnani, and other members of the leadership team
Discussed: Workforce needs
- Emergent BioSolutions
Met with: President & CEO Dan Abdun Nabi, Senior Vice President/Chief Human Resources Officer Katy Strei, and Vice President Talent Management Carole Tilmont
Discussed: Opportunities for collaboration; workforce needs; ensuring that graduates know how to apply what they�ve learned in the workplace; need for
curricula that �collide� business and science
- Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation
Met with: President & CEO David Petr, Board Chair Bob Buchanan, and other board members
Discussed: Need for more collaboration between USM economic development and workforce resources and Montgomery County businesses; helping businesses that need
help beyond the start-up phase; positioning and branding the region as the cybersecurity training epicenter
- Astra Zeneca/MedImmune
Met with: Senior Director, North America Talent Acquisition Susan Slater and Jarrod Borkat, Head, External Collaborations
Discussed: Workforce needs; helping �academics� transition into positions with private industry
- February 21, 2017
- Prince George�s County Economic Development Corporation
Met with: Jim Coleman, president/CEO; Orlan Johnson, chair; Marva Jo Camp, vice chair; and Raymond D. Lambert, treasurer
Discussed: Developing partnerships to advance Prince George�s County's workforce and opportunities for small businesses
- MGM National Harbor
Met with: Ron Eisenberg, senior vice president, Whiting-Turner
Discussed: Internship opportunities
- TEDCO
Met with: John Wasilisin, president/COO, TEDCO; Larry Twele, CEO, Howard County Economic Development Authority; Leonardo McClarty, president, Howard County Chamber of Commerce; members of TEDCO
Discussed: Partnerships, venture capital, workforce needs, curricula, and related topics
- March 27, 2017
- Cecil County Administration
Met with: Chris Moyer, executive director, Cecil County Office of Economic Development; representatives from Cecil County business community
Discussed: strategies to help Cecil County transform its economy from distribution to advanced manufacturing; recruit and retain more teachers and healthcare professionals; provide more support for small businesses; and provide more opportunities for rehabilitated veterans
- Kent County Economic Development Office
Met with: Jamie Williams, Kent County Economic Development Coordinator; Kent County economic development leaders
Discussed: business and workforce training and development needs and how USM resources and expertise might help meet those needs
- Aberdeen Proving Ground
Met with: Rick Decker, executive director, Joan Michel, and Mike Parker of RAMP MD; Dr. Paul Tanenbaum, director of program integration, and Mark Schlein, Edgewood Chemical Biological Center; Dr. Jeff Zabinski, Dr. Adam Rawlett, and Rob Carter, Army Research Lab; John Desmone, Towson University Northeastern Maryland; Karen Holt, director of economic development, Harford County
Discussed: partnerships between government, academia, and industry to help grow Maryland’s economy
- June 14, 2017
- Frostburg State University
Met with: Western Maryland business and community leaders
Discussed: Western Maryland�s business and economic development needs; ways USM can better assist in meeting those needs
- Cumberland Times-News
Met with: John Smith, editor; Greg Larry, education/city government reporter
Discussed: assorted topics, such as USM�s role in economic development and partnerships with community colleges
- Volvo Group Trucks� Hagerstown Plant
Met with: Pierre Jenny, Vice President, Powertrain Production & Plant Manager; Joshua Martin, Director Business Control (Finance); Dori Dunkle, Human Resources Business Partner; Belinda Vinson, Manager Communications
Discussed: Business and workforce development needs
