Thank you for joining us for Economic Outlook 2025: Navigating the Future of Queen Anne’s County.
Thursday, January 9th, 2025 | 8:30am – 11:30am
Kent Island Resort
Queen Anne’s County Economic Development Commission presents a comprehensive look at the economic outlook for the coming year, where key leaders and local officials come together to reflect on the past year and unveil the vision for Queen Anne’s County in 2025. From economic growth and community development to public services and sustainability, this event will highlight the county’s progress, challenges, and plans for the future. Hear directly from county leadership about what’s on the horizon and how you can be part of shaping the county’s success.
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Event Resources
Agenda
8:30 am – 9:00 am: Registration and Buffet Breakfast
8:55 am – 9:00 am: Welcome
Heather Bacher, Chair, QAC Economic Development Commission
9:00 am – 9:10 am: Opening Remarks
Chris Corchiarino, Queen Anne’s County Commissioner
9:10 am – 9:30 am: The Big Picture – How State and Federal Legislative Sessions will Impact the Future of Queen Anne’s County
Jack Wilson, Queen Anne’s County Commissioner, President of Maryland Association of Counties
9:30 am – 9:50 am: Queen Anne’s County’s Fiscal Foundation & Future
Jeffrey Rank, Director of Finance, Queen Anne’s County
9:50 am – 10:00am: Setting the Stage – Economic Development Past, Present & Future
Heather Tinelli, Director, QACETD
This economic briefing will feature a look back at the evolution of Queen Anne’s County’s Economy from a local perspective, the current health of the county’s economy and projections for future growth. Discussion will include an overview of key economic indicators for Queen Anne’s County, a look ahead to upcoming projects and priorities and successes over the past year.
10:00 am – 10:20 am: EDC Strategic Plan – Priorities & Partnerships
Moderator: Patrick McLaughlin, Queen Anne’s County Commissioner
Heather Tinelli, Director, QACETD
April Plummer, Tourism Administrator, QACETD
Rebecca Clark, Economic Development Administrator, QACETD
Connie Dean, Workforce Development Administrator, QACETD
This roundtable discussion will provide an overview of the recently adopted Queen Anne’s County Economic Development Five Year Strategic Plan outlining the key priorities and the partnerships and community involvement needed to execute the economic vision for the county.
10:20 am – 10:40 am: Vision for Progress: Tackling Infrastructure, Housing, Health Care, and Education Challenges
Moderator: Todd Mohn, County Administrator, Queen Anne’s County
Jim Moran, Queen Anne’s County Commissioner
Lara Wilson, EDC Board Member, Director of Rural Health Care Transformation, UM Shore Regional Health
Tom Ayd, Principal, Green Street Housing
Matthew Kibler, Ed.D, Assistant Superintendent, QACPS
This session will include a brief overview of the County’s achievements, challenges and opportunities facing core economic development priorities in health care, housing, infrastructure and education. Hear from leaders from these various industry sectors about initiatives in 2025 to help tackle these important issues.
10:40 am – 11:00 am: Developers Roundtable: Outlook on Future Development in Queen Anne’s County
Barry Waterman, Waterman Realty
Shannon Smith, Reliable Contracting Kent Island Crossing
Mason Popham, Commercial Realtor, EDC Board Member
This panel will explore future development in Queen Anne’s County, with the goal of addressing the different types of development (commercial, residential, and real estate) and how they align with broader regional goals like infrastructure, housing, and economic growth.
11:00 am – 11:30 am Questions, Closing Remarks & Networking
About our Panelists
Tom Ayd
Principal, Green Street Housing
Thomas Ayd has been developing affordable housing for more than 10 years. Tom has a strong understanding of the LIHTC & USDA Rural Development programs, and other mechanisms for the new construction and preservation of affordable housing. Tom is focused on competitive analysis and the true evaluation of the likelihood of receiving competitive awards of 9% LIHTC. Tom has been instrumental in crafting policy and competitive scoring criteria in Maryland through his efforts with the Maryland Affordable Housing Coalition and is always fighting to ensure that funding preferences do not overlook rural areas. He is involved in every phase of the development process from prospecting, feasibility and planning, financing, construction oversight and asset management. Tom has built a systematic approach that ensures successful high quality results for Green Street Housing.
Christopher Corchiarino
Queen Anne’s County Commissioner
Christopher M. Corchiarino was elected November 8, 2022 and is serving his second term as a Queen Anne’s County Commissioner representing District 4. He was duly sworn and qualified as a Queen Anne’s County Commissioner on Tuesday, December 6, 2022.
Chris is a 1992 graduate of Queen Anne’s County High School, where his reverence for Queen Anne’s County was born. He now lives in Stevensville with his wife, Kelly (a small business owner in the County), and their three daughters
After graduating from high school, Chris lived in Belgium for a year, before returning to the United States to attend the University of Maryland at College Park, where he earned a BA in 1997. While in college and afterwards, Chris was a partner in the family food service business. There he learned the challenges that face small business owners. Later, Chris attended law school, earning a Juris Doctorate from the University of Baltimore School of Law. Chris is currently is licensed to practice law in Maryland, DC, Virginia, and Pennsylvania.
Over 30 years in the County, Chris had always looked for ways to give back to the County and ever since he was in student government at Queen Anne’s County High School, Chris imagined that one day he might run for County Commissioner. In 2018 and again in 2022 I was lucky to earn the trust and support of the County voters to make that dream a reality. He is forever grateful to the people of Queen Anne’ County for the trust they have placed in him.
Philip Dumenil
Queen Anne’s County Commissioner
Philip L. Dumenil was elected in November 8, 2022 and is serving his third, non-consecutive, term as a Queen Anne’s County Commissioner representing District 3. He was duly sworn and qualified as a Queen Anne’s County Commissioner on Tuesday, December 6, 2022.
Philip Dumenil was born on September 2, 1961, husband to Tammy Dumenil and father to Logan, Reagan, and Harrison. He was born and raised in California, and lived there till he graduated high school, at which time he moved to Annapolis, Maryland, and attended Anne Arundel Community College working towards an Associates Arts degree in Physical Education & Recreation.
He then joined the IBEW Local 26 and became an electrician working for Heller Electric. After spending five years in the electrical trade, He discovered his fondness for the Restaurant and Hotel Hospitality Business. Phil worked as a restaurant manager for Double Tree, Marriott, Ruby Tuesdays, and Pusser’s restaurant, where he had the opportunity to manage one of the British Virgin Island locations for a year, and where he met his now wife, Tammy.
After 20 years in the Hospitality industry, Phil decided to make a career change, that he and Tammy felt would be more conducive to raising a family, and got licensed as a Property and Casualty as well as Life insurance agent. It was at this point in time Tammy and Phil started their family in Annapolis, but eventually moved to the Eastern Shore in 2001 to raise their children and make a life on the Shore.
Phil was convinced by the business community in 2010 to run for County Commissioner in Queen Anne’s County and was elected to office for his first term in 2011. Phil has been very active in his Eastern Shore community, coaching youth baseball, and umpiring at the youth as well as high school levels for the last eight years. He spent three years as the Kent Island High School Athletic Boosters President, and enjoyed helping the student athletes, at Kent Island High School, enjoy their high school sports experience’s. Phil enjoys being active in the community he lives in, and embraces the opportunity that it gives him to meet the people of Queen Anne’s County.
Matthew Kibler, Ed.D
Assistant Superintendent, QACPS
Dr. Matthew Kibler is currently the Assistant Superintendent for Queen Anne’s County Public Schools (QACPS). His primary role includes overseeing curriculum and instruction in the district. Additionally, Dr. Kibler is the Implementation Coordinator for the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future in Queen Anne’s County where he has led initiatives like the expansion of pre-k from half day to full day in all QACPS elementary schools. Prior to joining QACPS, he worked at Washington College in Chestertown, MD. During his time at Washington College, Dr. Kibler was promoted to the position of Assistant Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness and Analytics, in which he oversaw the Institutional Research Department, the Registrar’s Office, and the Office of Information Technology. Prior to Washington College, his career started as a high school mathematics teacher in a Maryland public school system. Dr. Kibler holds a doctorate in Education from Wilmington University, a master’s of Applied Statistics from Penn State, and a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Washington College.
J. Patrick McLaughlin
Queen Anne’s County Commissioner
Patrick McLaughlin was elected November 8, 2022 and is serving his first term as a Queen Anne’s County Commissioner representing District 2. He was duly sworn and qualified as a Queen Anne’s County Commissioner on Tuesday, December 6, 2022
Patrick McLaughlin was born in Westfield, New York, and graduated from Schoharie High School. After High School he attended Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, New York, where he initially majored in Computer Operations and later changed to Business Administration and served as Vice President of the Student Government. Later he transferred to Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and graduated with his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.
After graduating college, Patrick began working for a local operating room medical distribution company as a sales representative where he covered hospitals in South Jersey, Delaware, and Eastern Pennsylvania. In early 1990 Patrick founded and started his own Specialty Medical Distribution company located in Montgomery County, Maryland, serving as the President and CEO. In mid-1997 he relocated to the Eastern Shore, purchased a home in Stevensville, and married Kary, who would become his wife of over twenty-three years. Patrick and Kary have enjoyed raising their two sons and daughter on Maryland’s beautiful Eastern Shore over the last two decades.
In 2001 Patrick sold his medical distributorship and continued to work in the medical field as an Advanced Wound Care as a Clinical Sales Specialist. In 2021, Patrick retired from his career in the medical field and changed career paths by becoming the Owner/Operator of a local Allstate Insurance Agency. Patrick serves on several boards and commissions to include the Board of Health, the Broadband Advisory Board, the Fire and EMS Commission, the Housing Authority, the Kent Narrows Development Foundation, the Liquor Board, the Social Services Board, and the Upper Shore Regional Council.
Todd Mohn
County Administrator, Queen Anne’s County
Todd R. Mohn, PE has over 30 years of experience working for the citizens of Queen Anne’s County. Todd was appointed as County Administrator in 2019. Prior to that he served as the Director of the County’s Department of Public Works beginning in 2008.
Before assuming the position as Director, he served as Deputy Director for nine years, Chief Roads Engineer for six years and as Civil Project Engineer for two years. As Director, Todd managed the departmental Administrative functions, the Engineering & General Services Division, the Roads & Solid Waste Division, and the Parks Division. Todd also serves as the Chief Administrative Officer for the County’s Sanitary District and their respective Water & Sewer Division.
Todd holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering and a Bachelor of Science degree in Land Surveying from Purdue University and an Associate’s degree in Engineering from Penn State. He is a registered professional engineer in the State of Maryland.
Todd is a two-time past President of the County Engineers Association of Maryland and was named County Engineer of the year in 2019. Todd has been a resident of Centreville since 1987 where he currently resides with his wife Lanise.
James J. Moran
Queen Anne’s County Commissioner
James J. Moran was appointed by the Queen Anne’s County Republican Central Committee to fill the vacant At-Large seat for the Queen Anne’s County Commissioners for the remainder of the 2010– 2014 term. He was then elected November 8, 2022 and is serving his third term as a Queen Anne’s County Commissioner representing At-Large. He was duly sworn and qualified as a Queen Anne’s County Commissioner on Tuesday, December 6, 2022.
My father was a 20-year Marine who married my mother, a French citizen from Algiers Algeria after WWII. I was born on a Marine Corps Base in Albany Georgia and then spent 4 years at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina before moving to Bowie, Maryland where I was raised.
I joined the Marine Corps, 35 years to the day after my father and spent 4 years serving my country and seeing the world. With the exception of my wife and the birth of my children, there has been no other event that has shaped my life more than the Marine Corps, with respect to my resolve, determination, and can-do attitude.
After the Marine Corps, I was attending Anne Arundel Community College and working in the concrete construction industry. After a few years in the concrete business, I started my own construction business in 1987 called James J. Moran Construction. In 1991, I devoted all of my time to the decorative concrete business and changed the name of my company to Increte of Maryland Inc., where I am currently the president. I started another business in 2007 called Mid-Atlantic pigments LLC, which supplies color used in concrete construction.
My dream was always to move to Queen Anne’s County, where I would come for the outdoors to crab, fish and hunt. That dream came true in 2004, when I completed the construction of my home in Queenstown, where I live with my beautiful wife Marybeth of 37 years. I have three children, Ashley 35, Kevin 33, and Michael 31, and five grandchildren. The twins, Hudson and Blakely 5, Ella and Bennett 3, and Brooks 1.
It was never my intention to get involved in politics, I had more than enough to do already in my life, but that’s life, politics found me. In 2013 I was asked to throw my name in the ring to fill the vacant At-Large seat vacated when Commissioner Arentz moved up to fill a vacant seat in the House of Delegates. Since being selected to fill that seat in December of 2013 I have won three consecutive elections. December of 2022 started my 10th year as the At-Large Commissioner for Queen Anne’s County. Before becoming a commissioner, I served on the Task Force for Government Sustainability, the Economic Development Committee, and almost three years on the Planning Commission. Since becoming a commissioner I have served on the Baltimore Metropolitan Council, Bay Bridge Reconstruction Advisory Group, Kent Narrows Development Foundation, Parks & Recreation Advisory Board, the Planning Commission Liaison, and the Drug Free Coalition.
It has always been an honor to serve the citizens of Queen Anne’s County. I do not take this responsibility lightly, and it is my dream to leave this office and county in far better shape than I found it. I have never raised the piggyback or property tax. As a matter of fact, we have lowered the property tax to the third lowest in the state of Maryland. We have also built a state of art new courthouse, and we are in the process of renovating the old courthouse so that it will again be the oldest courthouse in use. We are in the process of building a new Board of Education building along with a new detention center. I am also proud of our transformation in services to our citizens when it comes to our parks. From our Cross-Island trail, South Island Trail, and all the parks, not to mention the new synthetic ball fields at Batts Neck, Church Hill, Queen Anne’s HS, and Kent Island HS, and let’s not forget the new skate park coming in 2023!
Out of all the things I am engaged in I get the most satisfaction out of being involved in the Drug Free Coalition and the preservation of farmland, our rural heritage. There has never been anyone before me, or possibly after me, that has conserved as many acres of farmland in Queen Anne’s County as I have. I don’t know anyone that has ever driven thru our county that doesn’t get a sense of peace when driving by all of our majestic farms, and they will be farms forever. As far as our Drug Free Coalition goes, I have never been to a meeting where the room was not filled with all types of representation, county departments, municipalities, health officials, addiction organizations, churches, schools, and most of all citizens. Everyone is focused on saving lives, comforting those in need, and doing everything they can to keep all our residents safe. To include Queen Anne’s Goes Purple, a month-long awareness on all types of addictions, going out to speak to our young school students on the pitfalls of substance abuse, and the support we get from all the communities. Nothing is stronger than the heart of a volunteer, they will never stop, and they will never give up. May the good Lord watch over and bless Queen Anne’s County.
Mason Popham
Commercial Realtor, EDC Board Member
Mason began his real estate career at J.P. Morgan Asset Management, where he was an investment analyst on a $5.7B portfolio of multifamily and retail assets located across the United States. Subsequently, Mason was a Senior Real Estate Consultant at a boutique consulting firm in Annapolis before joining his current firm, Thomas Park. Mason spent his first 2 years at Thomas Park standing up the company’s asset and property management arms before launching their brokerage business, Thomas Park Commercial. As the head of Thomas Park Commercial, Mason represents tenants, landlords, buyers, and sellers around the state of Maryland for all of their leasing and investment sales needs. Mason graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of Virginia
Jeffrey Rank
Director of Finance, Queen Anne’s County
Jeff Rank is a seasoned public finance officer with over 15 years of experience in local government budgeting and finance. He has been with Queen Anne’s County Government for over 22 years and has held key positions such as Chief Budget Officer from 2010 to 2014, Chief Treasury Officer from 2016 to 2023, and is currently serving as Director of Budget and Finance. Between 2014 and 2016, Rank served as the Budget & Human Resources Manager for the Boulder County Public Health Department in Colorado.
As the Budget and Finance Director, Rank has worked on several initiatives for the Department, including the update of policies related to investment and debt management, cash management, and procurement. He also intends to conduct a comprehensive review of banking practices. Additionally, Rank aims to maintain the Department’s exceptional track record by continuing to earn awards and high ratings from esteemed organizations such as the Government Finance Officers’ Association and ratings agencies.
Rank holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Towson University and a Master of Public Administration in Public Finance from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Jeff is an adventure motorcycling enthusiast, has two grown children, and lives in Centreville with his black lab, Archer, who often accompanies him on various hiking and camping adventures.
Shannon Smith
Reliable Commercial Construction
With a 34-year engagement in Commercial Real Estate Development, Shannon Smith’s journey began at The Empire Corporation and Empire Management Services, spanning two decades. In 2008, they founded Arundel Property Management, serving as a Commercial Property Manager for a local developer overseeing 400,000 sq ft of office and retail space. While holding a General Contractors license, Shannon excelled in diverse commercial construction projects, specializing in tenant improvements. A pivotal merger in 2010 led to the establishment of Reliable Real Estate Services and Reliable Commercial Construction. This propelled remarkable growth in their Property Management portfolio and General Contracting endeavors, including $45,000,000 in new ground-up construction alongside their expertise in tenant fit-outs.
Barry Waterman
Barry Waterman, Associate Broker, Coldwell Banker
Barry Waterman is a real estate broker and residential developer. His career spans more than 40 years exclusively working in Queen Anne’s County. Barry’s father opened their brokerage in 1967, Barry joined in 1984, and his son Kevin joined in 2009.He is well recognized as an authority on local land use regulations and has previously served as Chair of the County Planning Commission and is currently serving on the Board of Appeals.
Jack Wilson
Queen Anne’s County Commissioner
Jack N. Wilson, Jr. was re-elected November 8, 2022 and is serving his third term as a Queen Anne’s County Commissioner representing District 1. He was duly sworn and qualified as a Queen Anne’s County Commissioner on Tuesday, December 6, 2022.
Jack was born March 17, 1966 in Baltimore, MD. Shortly after, his family moved to Arnold MD, where he lived until he was 19. Jack moved to Annapolis, MD until 1992, when he finally bought a house right outside of Price, where he has lived ever since.
Jack graduated Severna Park High School in 1984 and after high school he attended Community College. He applied and was accepted to the Steamfitters Local 438 Apprenticeship Program and began school in the fall of 1985 and graduated in the summer of 1990. After graduating, he worked in the H.V.A.C trade for 2 years for another company before starting a small union mechanical contracting business which only lasted for about 1-1/2 years, as the economy was very poor at this point.
Jack then started a family owned Building Automation Installation Business with his father that just celebrated their 20th year of service. The business is owned by his wife . Currently, Jack mostly works sales and in the field. He found working in the field helps with stress that goes along with the small business grind.
Jack decided in January 2015 to run for Commissioner. Since he and his family have lived in the county 22 years and his business is located here, he felt he could do some good for the citizens of Queen Anne’s County.
Lara Wilson
EDC Board Member
Director of Rural Health Care Transformation, UM Shore Regional Health
Lara Wilson is a proven health leader with experience in the non-profit, hospital and community health industries. Mrs. Wilson is currently the Director of Rural Health Care Transformation at the University of Maryland Shore Medical Center (UM SMC) at Chestertown leading the creation and implementation of programs that improve the health of the community with an emphasis on the aging population. She also develops and maintains collaborative relationships with local, regional and state agencies in support of rural transformation.
Prior to her position at UM SMC, she served as the Executive Director of the Maryland Rural Health Association. In that capacity, with the goal of improving the health and wellness of Maryland’s rural communities, Mrs. Wilson provided leadership and advocacy, program and strategic planning, financial and personnel management, communications and marketing, and membership development and services. Mrs. Wilson’s prior experiences include: Senior Director of Grant Development and Administrator for Hospital Owned Physician Practices at Garrett Regional Medical Center in Oakland, MD; Practice Manager for Maryland Primary Care Physicians in Annapolis, MD; and Project Director for the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C.
Mrs. Wilson holds a B.A. in psychology from the University of Maryland, College Park, a M.S. in Health Systems Administration from Georgetown University. Mrs. Wilson is a Member of the American College of Healthcare Executives; Board Member for the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Master of Public Health Advisory Council; Co-Chair of the Telehealth Work Group for the Mid-Shore Local Health Improvement Coalition; and Board Member for the Queen Anne’s County Economic Development Commission.