Patty is the executive director of innovation and entrepreneurship at the Howard County Economic Development Authority where she oversees the Maryland Innovation Center. Patty is an IEDC certified Entrepreneurship Development Professional (EDP) who considers herself to be a conscious capitalist and ecosystem builder. She has spent much of her career working to facilitate entrepreneurship to help build and strengthen resilient communities, fight climate change, and open up opportunities for individuals to change the world.
Patty brings extensive experience working with startups, social entrepreneurs and impact investors. Prior to joining the HCEDC team, Patty served as a strategic initiatives manager for the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation, where she worked to streamline the entrepreneurial journey. She was previously the director of the Be Green Business program at Bethesda Green, where she guided the Innovation Lab to become a federally recognized entrepreneurship support program, and the director of changemaker support for StartSomeGood, a global crowdfunding platform designed by and for social entrepreneurs.
Patty is proud to support Maryland's innovation ecosystem by serving as the current president of the Maryland Business Innovation Association. She is a long-time mentor and former community manager for the Mentor Capital Network, and an Activator for the Coralus community, where she invests in women and non-binary entrepreneurs working on the world’s to-do list.
Patty earned her degree in International Business from Georgetown University and an MBA from Johns Hopkins University. She has also earned certificates in Entrepreneurship Center Management from the International Business Innovation Association (InBIA) and Impact Measurement and Management for Sustainable Development Goals from Duke University.
Email: patty@mdinnovate.org
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