Tom Sadowski

Vice Chancellor of Economic Development, University System of Maryland

Sadowski is the vice chancellor of economic development at the University System of Maryland. He serves as a university system liaison to the state, helping to recruit companies and trying to assist existing companies with growth. Prior to this role, Sadowski was the president and CEO of the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore. He led strategic marketing efforts reaching more than 20,000 defense/IT, cyber, and bio-health industry execs; executed sales missions to Austin, NYC, Palo Alto, and San Francisco; expanded business retention, expansion, and public/private partnership efforts; and published a new series of industry specific marketing reports, to include the emerging EdTech sector. Sadowski’s work has also helped foster new regional and state-wide initiatives in the areas of tech transfer and entrepreneurship, helping with the launch of the new $84 million InvestMaryland Venture Capital program and working with Johns Hopkins, the University of Maryland, and federal customers such as NIH, on a new entrepreneur-in-residence (EIR) initiative.

Melissa Lavinson

Senior VP of Government and External Affairs, PEPCO

Lavinson serves as the point person for designing and implementing Pepco Holdings’ stakeholder relations and issues management programs. She is also responsible for building, strengthening, and deepening ties with state and local officials, community leaders, business, consumer, and non-profit groups across the District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, and New Jersey.

Lavinson previously worked for PG&E, where she most recently served as vice president of federal affairs and chief sustainability officer. In that position, she led PG&E’s federal affairs office, where she engaged Congress and the administration on a host of energy, tax, and environmental policy issues. She was also responsible for developing and implementing PG&E’s company-wide sustainability strategy and climate change initiatives, as well as establishing connections at the national, state, and local level with NGOs, trade associations, advocacy organizations, and other key groups.

Blaine Shipler

Vice President & Commercial Banking Relationship Manager, PNC Bank

Shipler is a lifelong Marylander who currently is a relationship manager in commercial banking at PNC. He is a graduate of the University of Maryland, with a BS and MBA in finance. His volunteer experience includes leadership roles for the Howard County Chamber of Commerce, BBB of Greater Maryland, and University of Maryland’s Smith School Alumni Club. Blaine works with a variety of businesses with revenues from $5 million to $50 million. He is a resident of Montgomery County and works out of PNC’s regional office in Baltimore City.