Economic Competitiveness and Opportunity Now Task Force

The duties and responsibilities of the Task Force are as follows: 

1. Identify and recommend policies, regulations, strategies, and actions that strengthen Howard County’s economic competitiveness and growth. 

2. Review policies and procedures by departments and agencies that impact businesses’ ability to thrive in Howard County.  

3. Develop a consolidated economic resiliency and competitiveness plan that incorporates short-term and long-term strategies and actions from executive departments and offices represented on the Task Force. 

4. Present recommendations to better assist and expedite local permitting and licensing requirements. 

The Task Force shall consist of a representative from following private business representing key industries and representatives from education and workforce entities who shall be voting members:

• Mickey Abrams, Founder and President, Abrams Development Group 

• Shafeeq Ahmed, President, Johns Hopkins, Howard County Medical Center 

• Chris Anthony, Founder and CEO, TeamWorx 

• Tom Ballentine, Vice President for Policy and Government Relations, NAIOP MD 

• William J. Barnes, Superintendent, Howard County Public School System 

• Cathy Bell, Owner, McDonald’s Franchises 

• Georgie Boarman, Board Member, Howard County Farm Bureau 

• Dr. Pascal Crosley, Owner, Quality First Urgent Care 

• Tisha Edwards, President and CEO, Maryland Bankers Association 

• Dr. Barbara Glenn, former CEO, National Association of States Departments of Agriculture (retired)  

• Tricia Hudson, Owner & Operator, Hudson Coastal Raw Bar & Grille 

• Dr. Daraius Irani, Vice President, Strategic Partnerships & Applied Research, Towson University 

• Phil Larson, Chief Government Relations Officer and Secretary of the Board, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory 

• Shawn MacInnes, President and CEO, Columbia Association 

• Dr. James Martin, President, Lincoln Tech 

• Sang Oh, Managing Partner, Talkin & Oh 

• Tom Pilon, Executive Vice President, Development, St. John Properties 

• William Rovito, Founder and CEO, HoCo Fence, LLC 

• Grant Shmelzer, CEO, IEC  

• Anuja Sonalker, CEO, Steer 

• Jack Terry, Vice President, Division Manager – SIGINT Solutions Division, Leidos 

• Aaron Tomarchio, Executive Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Tradepoint Atlantic  

• Dr. Daria Willis, President, Howard Community College 

The Task Force shall consist of the following Government representatives who shall also serve as non-voting members of the Task Force:

• Stephanie Adibe, Administrator, Office of Workforce Development 

• Lynda Eisenberg, Director, Department of Planning and Zoning 

• Robert J. Frances, P.E., Director, Department of Inspections, Licenses & Permits 

• Jennifer Jones, CEO, Economic Development Authority 

• Yosef Kebede, Director, Department of Public Works 

• David Leeds, Chief Information Security Officer, Department of Technology & Communication Services  

• Dr. Maura Rossman, Health Officer, Howard County Health Department  

The following County employee shall serve as chair and is non-voting: 

• Angela Cabellon, Chief of Staff

Task Force Meeting #1  

• Date: March 17, 2024 

• Time: 12:00 - 1:00PM

• Agenda is forthcoming

• Location:

  • George Howard Building, Columbia Ellicott Room – 3430 Courthouse Drive, Ellicott City, MD 21043