TEDCO Expands Influence with New Board Members for Maryland Innovation Initiative

TEDCO Welcomes New Members to the MII Board



On May 19, 2025, TEDCO (Maryland's Technology Development Corporation) made a significant announcement regarding its Maryland Innovation Initiative (MII) Board of Directors. The appointment of Carol Washington, the CEO of UTech Consulting LLC, and Francesca Ioffreda, the Chief Innovation Officer for the State, showcases a strategic move to enhance support for technology companies in Maryland. Washington was appointed by House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones, while Ioffreda's appointment came from Governor Wes Moore's administration, filling the board's capacity.

The Maryland Innovation Initiative is a robust collaboration between the State of Maryland and five of the state's leading academic research institutions, including Johns Hopkins University, Morgan State University, and the University of Maryland system. This initiative seeks to transform promising technologies developed in research labs into commercially viable ventures, fostering innovation through technology validation, market assessment, and startup creation.

Renée Winsky, the chair of the MII Board of Directors, expressed enthusiasm for the new appointments, emphasizing the importance of a full board in continuing the initiative's success. "MII has enjoyed nearly 13 years of fruitful development, and we believe that the knowledge and experience of Carol and Francesca will propel us further in our mission to drive innovation and research across Maryland," Winsky noted.

Further expanding the MII initiative's reach, two additional universities—Frostburg State University and Bowie State University—have recently joined the collaborative effort. Moreover, the MII has also initiated the Baltimore Innovation Initiative (BII) Pilot Program, which aims to broaden its impact and facilitate the entry of innovative research into the market.

Abi Kulshreshtha, the executive director of MII, welcomed the new board members, commenting on the initiative’s impressive track record: "With over $58 million invested in the Maryland ecosystem, nearly 400 jobs created, and $9 million in revenue generated in Fiscal Year 2024, we are excited about the contributions that Carol and Francesca will make to build on this success."

The full roster of the Maryland Innovation Initiative Board of Directors is now a stellar group, including:
  • - Renée Winsky, Bay One Group, LLC (Board Chair)
  • - Christina DeMur, Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures
  • - Francesca Ioffreda, State of Maryland
  • - Wendy Martin, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
  • - Mary Morris, University of Maryland, Baltimore
  • - Kenneth Porter, University of Maryland, College Park
  • - Wayne Swann, Morgan State University
  • - Carol Washington, UTech Consulting, LLC.

TEDCO continues to foster an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem, enhancing economic growth in Maryland through strategic investments and support for technology and life sciences companies. To learn more about TEDCO and its initiatives, visit their official website at www.tedcomd.com.

The inclusion of new board members reflects a concerted effort to maintain Maryland's status as a hub of technological innovation and research. With the right leadership and vision, TEDCO is poised to continue influencing the entrepreneurial landscape significantly in the years to come.

Topics Business Technology)

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