Aaron Miscenich
Executive Director
Aaron has worked with companies from the concept stage all the way through growth and maturity. On the economic development side, he has managed efforts that have created a knowledge-based economy in Louisiana through public and private funding including federal, state, and local sources, public/private partnerships, and straight development capital.
Stacy Aljabiry
Administrative Assistant II
Stacy is responsible for processing agreements and renewals for bwtech clients. She joined bwtech team over 22 years ago as a receptionist before transitioning to marketing. For the last 15 years, Stacy has been excelling on the facilities management team. Prior to joining bwtech, Stacy worked in the accounting, medical billing, and printing industries.
Jerry Bechler
Multi Trades Chief II
Jerry brings a wealth of experience and expertise in facilities maintenance to his role at bwtech, mostly gained while working in apartment maintenance. For the last three years, Jerry has been an integral member of bwtech’s South campus facilities team, where he is responsible for overseeing preventative and ongoing maintenance projects.
Marjorie Cota
Director of Entrepreneurial Services
Marjie brings over 25 years of hands-on entrepreneurial experience across a wide range of industries and company stages. She has cultivated a robust national network and has guided startups from early concept through second-stage growth and beyond. Marjie holds a Bachelor’s degree from Indiana State University and has spent much of her career working in the Baltimore/DC region. Her expertise and deep commitment to founder success make her a valuable asset to the bwtech community, helping our clients grow stronger, smarter, and faster.
Kristen Franklin
Director of Leasing and Facilities
Kristen oversees leasing and facilities operations for bwtech's North and South campuses. She also serves as the primary point of contact for those exploring collaborative opportunities with UMBC faculty and staff. Before joining bwtech, Kristen spent over 15 years managing university housing and facilities in the Baltimore/DC area. A Wisconsin native, she holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Marquette University.
Brenda Jackson
Program Management Specialist
Brenda has been with bwtech and UMBC since 2003 and is passionate about nurturing innovation. Brenda helps bwtech CEOs connect with critical resources in the community and coordinates annual reviews. She also helps to connect bwtech staff with key research teams at UMBC. Brenda has a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
Pamela Mandell
Executive Assistant
Pam provides administrative and organizational support for clients and staff at bwtech’s North campus. Before joining the team at bwtech, Pam worked in education, teen programming, and community engagement.
Maureen Pugh
Program Manager
Maureen supports bwtech’s programming initiatives that foster client growth and success. She plans and executes events that provide valuable educational content and meaningful networking opportunities within our community. Maureen also helps develop innovative programs tailored to the changing needs of our clients. Her background in medical publishing offers a thoughtful, detail-oriented approach that aligns well with bwtech’s mission to support cutting-edge innovation.
Casina Costley
Program Management Specialist
Casina manages and coordinates events at bwtech South, including rental and concierge services. Casina also manages tenant billing for the South campus. She is a member of the Baltimore Marketing Association and is the founder of two mission-driven companies, Faith Flos and BlankCanvas2Art.
Bobbie Soellner
Business Manager
Bobbie brings 20 years of experience in business operations and grant administration at UMBC to the bwtech team. She began her career in UMBC’s Financial Services department, went on to serve as a Human Resources Specialist, and later as a Senior Grant Specialist. A graduate of UMBC, Bobbie also completed her Master Certificate at UMB in Research Administration.
Rob Starr
Facilities Maintenance Manager
Rob is the Facilities and Maintenance Manager at bwtech South Campus, and has been with the building for 42 years. He oversees the maintenance team and works with third-party contractors to ensure that the building is well-maintained and meets all safety and operational standards. Rob is committed to providing a safe and comfortable environment for clients.
Lauren Weinberg
Marketing & Communications
Lauren leads strategic marketing and communications efforts to promote bwtech’s brand, programs, partnerships, and client successes. Her work supports community engagement and elevates bwtech as a hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, and business growth. A Tulane University graduate with over 25 years of marketing experience, Lauren is passionate about telling compelling stories that drive meaningful impact.
Richard Chipkin
Entrepreneur in Residence
Richard Chipkin (Bio- Life-Sciences) is a seasoned professional with over thirty-five years of experience in executive management, business development, and preclinical and clinical research at big pharma and biotech companies.
Hakim Dyer
Entrepreneur in Residence
Hakim brings 35+ years of experience in high-stakes finance, team leadership, and executive coaching. He works with founders, creatives, and executives who are ready to stop spinning and start scaling with clarity, control, and confidence.
Chris Ewing
Entrepreneur in Residence
Chris Ewing (Sales and Marketing) has cultivated a career in sales and marketing marked by a diverse range of experiences across several dynamic industry sectors, including aerospace, healthcare, product development, app development, drug design, aquaculture, and associations.
David J. Fink, PhD
Entrepreneur in Residence, MII Site Miner
David Fink (Bio- Life-Sciences) has worked in biotechnology and biomedical product development for over 40 years, serving as either the founder or top officer of seven startups, mentoring hundreds of aspiring entrepreneurs, authoring 41 scientific papers and book chapters, and securing 25 US patent awards. David also serves as a TEDCO UMBC MII Site Miner and I-Corps Mentor.
Hillel Glazer
Entrepreneur in Residence, MII Site Miner
Hillel Glazer (Operations) works with growing companies to enhance their operational efficiency and meet their performance targets. Hillel also serves as a TEDCO UMBC MII Site Miner, where he identifies groundbreaking technologies in the labs of university faculty members and helps translate their ideas into viable businesses.
Christina Holt
Entrepreneur in Residence
Christina Holt (Digital Product Strategy) brings over 25 years of experience as an executive-level growth advisor, specializing in digital product strategy for companies whose growth relies on broad, diverse, and growing adoption of their technology.
Fehmida Kapadia
Entrepreneur in Residence
Fehmida Kapadia (Bio- Life-Sciences) has over 20 years of experience in biomedical entrepreneurship, consulting, teaching and research, and has helped nearly 100 entrepreneurial projects successfully progress in their startup journey.
Chris White, UMBC '97
Entrepreneur in Residence
Chris White, UMBC ’97 (Health Tech) is an experienced health tech leader and startup founder with over 20 years of experience driving digital innovation and business growth in a variety of sectors, including health IT, Medicaid, state health agencies, academia, and entrepreneurship.
Will Anderson
Strategic Business Consultant
Will is a seasoned executive and trusted advisor to businesses, investors, foundations, and public-sector leaders, with a focus on initiatives that create public-private value. At bwtech, he helps organizations set, clarify, amplify, and execute complex strategies—from business modeling and funding to partnerships, performance, and innovation development. Previously, he led Baltimore County Economic & Workforce Development, served on bwtech’s board, and founded two tech companies. He is also an active civic leader, serving on multiple boards across the greater Baltimore region.
Rita Classen
Billing & Finance Advisor
Rita works in the business office at bwtech, handling tenant billings and financials at North Campus. She is a Baltimore native and a graduate of University of Baltimore. Prior to coming to bwtech, Rita worked with her brother to jointly own and operate a small business for 9 years.