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Ovetta Moore
Managing Director, Division of Administration & Technology
Ovetta brings almost 30 years experience to DBED, where she manages the Division of Administration and Technology. This centralized office coordinates a host of crucial operating units within DBED, including information technology, facilities and fleet management, budget and finance, procurement and human resources. Ovetta began her career in state service in 1980 with Coppin State College (Urban Economic Development Center) as a Business Development Counselor. While in that position, she was responsible for writing business plans for startup companies still in existence today. In 1983, she joined the Department of General Services where she created information technology tools, designed statistical management reports, and produced annual reports and presentations for the Secretary. In 1998, Ovetta was selected to direct DGS' Information Services division, where she oversaw network administration, database management, the agency's Web site and Y2K compliance.
In February 2000, Ovetta was recruited by DBED to plan and launch the first edition of the department's award-winning Web site, choosemaryland.org. She was tapped again in 2003 to become the department's Chief Information Officer and served in that capacity until January 2007, when she was promoted to lead the Division of Administration and Technology. In 2006, Ovetta won the National Women of Color technology award for Technical Innovation in Government. She serves on several boards including UMBC's Center for Women in Information Technology, the Douglas-Meyers Maritime Park, and the College Savings Plans of Maryland. Moore holds a bachelor's degree from Morgan State University, a master's degree from the University of Maryland, University College and is a graduate of Leadership Maryland.
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Governor O'Malley names Sports Marketing Director
Please join me in welcoming Terry Hasseltine, who was recently named Director of the Maryland Office of Sports Marketing, a joint initiative of DBED and the Maryland Stadium Authority. Supporting Governor O'Malley's vision for an integrated, statewide sports marketing initiative, as referenced in DBED's Transition Report, Terry will be responsible for evaluating Maryland's sports assets, identifying opportunities and developing a strategic plan to increase the number of professional, amateur, scholastic, youth and recreational sports events held in the state. Terry began his new post on Monday, August 11.
As Director of Sports Marketing, Terry will serve as the State's principal liaison to multi-agency and multi-jurisdictional cooperative marketing efforts to increase the economic impact and use of Maryland's abundant sports facilities and natural assets. The MSA and DBED worked with private sector partners to conduct a national search for the position and Terry was unanimously selected by a committee of partner affiliates and industry leaders.
Welcome aboard, Terry!
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Milken Report shows great forecast for Maryland's tech sector
I'd like to share with you some exciting news about the future of Maryland's technology economy. As you may know, Governor Martin O'Malley and I joined the Milken Institute for the release of their 2008 Milken Institute State Technology and Science Index, which is considered one of the most comprehensive examinations of state technology and science assets ever undertaken.
We are thrilled that Maryland now ranks 2nd in the nation, up from 4th in 2004. This is exciting news, but when we looked more closely at the entire report, we found that Maryland really has much more to celebrate.
One of the key factors the Index looks at is a state's ability to foster and sustain a technology sector, which the Institute's research has shown is a crucial factor for a region's future economic success. According to the report, Maryland was able to jump ahead of competitors like California, Colorado and Virginia because of our increased focus on attracting businesses and generating new projects that link research institutions with industry to produce the most advanced products.
In the coming weeks, look for more great news from the Milken report on Maryland's technology economy, including the role our highly educated workforce and exceptional university system played in boosting our national ranking. |
TEDCO ranks first again on VC 100 list
Speaking of rankings, Maryland has another ranking of which to be proud. Congratulations are in order to Renee Winsky, Maryland Technology Development Corporation's (TEDCO) president and executive director, and everyone over at TEDCO for being named the most active early-stage investor in the nation for the fifth consecutive year. According to Entrepreneur Magazine, TEDCO's 19 seed/early-stage deals were tops on their "VC 100" list in 2007.
 I know many an entrepreneur and small business alike has been helped over the years by TEDCO, which plays a big role in finding and supporting Maryland start-up companies that are on the cutting edge of technology. To date, 108 companies have received funding from TEDCO's Maryland Technology Transfer Fund and completed their projects. With a TEDCO investment of a little more than $6.2 million, these companies have gone on to receive downstream funding from angel and venture investors, federal awards and other resources totaling nearly $200 million. This is a leverage of the state's investment through TEDCO of more than $31.79 to $1.
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Governor O'Malley announces state investment in Delmarva Discovery Center
I had the opportunity to join Governor O'Malley today on a tour of Pocomoke City. As part of Capital for a Day, Governor Martin O'Malley presented Worcester County with a check for $500,000 to assist in the construction of a  restaurant at the Delmarva Discovery Center Rehabilitation Project.
The restaurant, which will overlook the Pocomoke River and seat up to 100 patrons, will initially generate 35 jobs and serve as an important addition to the City's downtown area. When fully completed, the Delmarva Discovery Center will focus on river ecology, the history of the Pocomoke River, including shipbuilding, trading, fishing, and local Native American historical culture. |
Governor announces Paul Reed Smith to add new jobs on shore
I'm pleased to report that more jobs will soon be on their way to the Eastern Shore. Governor Martin O'Malley announced yesterday that Maryland has issued a $10 million private activity bond to assist Paul Reed Smith Guitars, Limited Partnership (PRS), the Queen Anne's County legendary electric guitar maker, with a massive company expansion that began in 2006. The 84,000 square-foot addition is expected to create 60 new jobs, bringing the company's total employment to more than 250 employees. When completed, the new building  will house a much larger state-of-the-art factory floor.
The bond, issued through the DBED's Maryland Industrial Development Financing Authority, is being used by the company to help fund the expansion in the Chesapeake Bay Business Park in Stevensville. To assist with the initial costs of the expansion, DBED approved a $1.5 million loan in 2005. As Governor O'Malley has noted, homegrown PRS is one of the true rock stars of the Maryland business community and we're happy to play a role in their continued growth and success.
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MD's first South Korean trade office opens its doors
Governor Martin O'Malley announced a couple of weeks ago that Maryland is opening an office in Seoul, South Korea, making it Maryland's sixth foreign office. Slated to open in the fall, the office will be run by Ellicott-City based IDI Corporation, which is owned and operated by John Jongun Chang and Lawrence Chang, who have extensive ties in the South Korean business community.
This will be Maryland's first foreign office to operate entirely on a contingency basis, and any funding that would come from the state would be based solely on IDI Corp.'s ability to attract South Korean companies and jobs to Maryland. |
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UM lab awarded more than $3.5 million in federal grants
The U.S. Department of Commerce recently announced two grants totaling more than $3.5 million to Maryland's Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory for technology development projects.
Administered by the National Institute of Standards & Technology, the first grant awarded $3.4 million for spectroscopy and scattering using cold neutrons for applications in materials science and engineering.
The second grant of $122,212 will apply to the development of computational tools for interface tracking for applications to crystal growth, cell motility and metal deposition.
Congratulations to UM's Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory for expanding the frontiers of science in Maryland.
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County Corner
Queen Anne's County
"Our department is committed to providing outstanding service to our existing businesses and to attracting companies to our county that provide quality jobs for our citizens," said Queen Anne's County Department of Economic Development, Agriculture and Tourism Director Faith Elliott-Rossing, AICP.
 The department works closely with DBED to provide Queen Anne's businesses with resources that not only assist in growth and retention, but also enrich employees. In addition to the Paul Reed Smith Guitar $10 million private activity bond that was announced yesterday (see story above), Vapotherm and Miltec, located in the Chesapeake Bay Business Park, also received approximately $23,000 through DBED's Partnership for Workforce Quality program in 2007.
The County Commissioners recognize the need to increase their commercial tax base and are exploring several options to enhance their commercial and industrial development potential. A joint feasibility study is being conducted with DBED to determine the best use for the Matapeake site, a 51-acre site located on Romancoke Road (Rt. 8). The county is also accepting suggestions for the potential development of a 13-acre site near the Bay Bridge Airport. The county has an inventory of space and land as well as several other planning initiatives underway, including the Wye Mills Area Community Plan and Centreville Community Plan.
The department will be hosting its 2nd annual Job Fair at the Chesapeake Bay Business Park on October 15 from 4 to 7 p.m. The fair is designed to attract existing residents to well-paying jobs within the county.
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