Bluefin Strategies is a trusted advisory firm that provides leadership and guidance on issues related to access to capital, site selection, workforce issues, business development, community development, and marketing to economic development organizations, commercial real estate development firms, and corporations. We offer exceptional results with a passion for our clients' projects and respect for all of our partners.

MANAGING DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTLead HCEDA’s Business Development team in quest to grow Howard County’s economy through job creation and investment. Discovered and implemented innovative programs to market Howard County as a premier community in the United States.• Successfully drove 80 projects that have led to 1,600+ jobs and $700 million of capital investment in Howard County.• Served as a project lead on HCEDA’s cyber workforce expansion and diversification initiative to US EDA’s Build Back Better grant program. HCEDA was one of 60 Phase I winners out of 529 applications across the country.• Hired organization’s first Minority Business Officer to strengthen minority business community in Howard County.

Assisted private and public companies with short and long term location site selection strategy, supply chain optimization, and structuring/negotiation of various economic incentives (i.e. tax credits, abatements, grants, loans, etc.) with state and local governments, agencies, authorities, public/private programs and/or quasi-government entities related to capital investment and job creation. Clients included:• international manufacturer seeking locations in the United States and internationally• national multifamily developer seeking multiple projects in the Midwest• Regional mixed use developer looking to penetrate Southeast light industrial market

Led 8-person team dedicated to growth of Cecil County's economy through industry, agriculture, and tourism. Under my leadership and the team's relentless efforts, Cecil County had the highest GDP growth along the East Coast’s entire I-95 corridor and the 2nd highest job growth and 3rd highest wage growth in the State of Maryland.• Companies such as Amazon, Great Wolf Lodge, Lidl, Medline, Northrop Grumman, Smithfield, TRUAire, and WL Gore invested more than $1 billion dollars over three years• Attracted a development team to build a $850 million, 600+ acre mixed-use project named Southfields of Elkton• Attracted an international equestrian event, the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill, that will attract a worldwide audience and tens of thousands of visitors to Cecil County

Provided day-to-day leadership and oversaw sales, marketing, and account management functions to ensure growth and peak efficiency. Supervised 6-member team.• Successfully transitioned company from B2B to direct-to-consumer/retail sales model.• Led efforts on product development, branding, and advertising campaigns for B2B and retail product launches.

Led complex economic development and commercial real estate projects that exceeded $2 billion in value and resulted in approximately 11,000 jobs.• Fostered expansion of headquarters such as Carefirst, OneMain Financial, Pandora Jewelry, Transamerica, and Under Armour and technology companies such as AOL, CyberPoint International, Emergent Biosolutions, Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Mindgrub, and Paragon Bioservices.• Provided detailed analyses related to tenant-led real estate projects, including but-for, cash flow, cost benefit, and debt coverage to determine business creditworthiness and return to investor on deals.• Led various events to promote increased employment and investment in Baltimore City, including planning of and participation in local events, real estate and investor tours, and exhibits at international and regional technology conferences.• Partnered with leadership teams of Johns Hopkins and University of Maryland Baltimore, developers, and brokers to attract life sciences businesses to Science + Technology Park at Johns Hopkins and UMB BioPark throughout parks’ planning, construction, and development.• Worked in strategic alliance with Emerging Technology Center and regional partners such as Maryland Department of Commerce, TEDCO, and EAGB to promote growth of technology industries in economy.• Led outcome budgeting efforts for business retention, expansion and attraction using performance-based metrics and quantitative data to evaluate attainment of key milestones.• Managed complex projects such as downtown arena replacement RFP and Under Armour Locust Point campus tax increment financing (TIF).• Designed strategic marketing plans to promote Baltimore City as a cybersecurity, IT, and biotechnology destination.• Led outcome budgeting efforts for group using performance-based metrics and quantitative data to evaluate KPI attainment.

• Budgeted, forecasted, and tracked spending for firm’s retail marketing and advertising efforts.• Provided financial analysis and reports to influence senior management’s decisions regarding investment and spending.• Provided analysis of various television and print advertising opportunities to maximize corporate brand awareness. • Provided financial analysis on special projects, including reorganization of firm’s electronic publishing department and client management fee structures, saving the company $1.1 million annually.• Implemented cross-functional system for better single-source financial reporting system to communicate with corporate finance department and marketing managers.• Analyzed and invested in institutional and sub-advised accounts to ensure appropriate liquidity and optimal return on cash balance while ensuring compliance with corporate and client guidelines in an investment operations capacity.• Mentored and trained staff while implementing best practices for daily procedures.

• Initiated process improvements and implementation of new software, resulting in cost savings and an 83% decrease in accounting age of outstanding reconciliation items on general ledger.• Responsible for daily settlement with Visa and Master Card for cardholder activity and accounting reconciliation of multiple general ledger accounts.