Executive board members for the Maryland non-profit recognized
COLUMBIA, Md., (November 30, 2025) – The Institute for Women Entrepreneur Excellence, Inc. (IWEE), a Maryland non-profit dedicated to empowering and advancing women entrepreneurs across the state, announces the appointment of Teresa Payne-Nunn as the interim executive director, as well as the IWEE Board of Directors for fiscal year 2026 (FY26). The new leadership supports the strategic transformation, growth and innovation within IWEE through the diverse expertise of its members.
“I am honored to serve the IWEE during this transition,” said Payne-Nunn. “IWEE is uniquely positioned to uplift women entrepreneurs by addressing barriers and creating pathways for scalable growth. I look forward to working with the team and community partners to strengthen the Institute’s impact, preparing the way for its next chapter of leadership.”
Teresa Payne-Nunn is a seasoned executive with extensive experience driving strategic transformation, growth and innovation across the public, private and nonprofit sectors. She brings a strong record of executive leadership, governance and community engagement to every board she serves. Before she retired, Payne-Nunn served as senior vice president of the Americas at Xerox Corporation, where she led the company’s most profitable and highest-growth division globally. Prior to that, she held other high-impact roles, including senior vice president of U.S. Federal Operations, where she secured the largest contract wins in Xerox’s history, and senior vice president of U.S. East Sales at W.W. Grainger, where she managed $1 billion in revenue and over 600 employees. Payne-Nunn holds a bachelor’s of science degree from The Ohio State University, Fisher College of Business and an executive leadership certificate from Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business.
“The appointment of board leadership, along with a new interim executive director, marks an exciting new chapter for IWEE,” said Troy LeMaile-Stovall, CEO of TEDCO. “Together, this expanded leadership team will provide a strong foundation for the Institute’s continued growth and ensure it is well-positioned to empower the next generation of women entrepreneurs across Maryland.”
IWEE is an organization that dedicates its resources to empower women entrepreneurs through cohort-style programming, workshops, access to capital and ecosystem engagement. By addressing the specific challenges women face in an entrepreneurial ecosystem, IWEE fosters scalable and sustainable growth opportunities for women-led businesses.
The slate of FY26 board officers includes:
• Chair – Pamela Allison, University of Maryland, Eastern Shore
• Vice Chair – Gail Bassette, Bowie State University
• Secretary – Erica Anthony, Morgan State University
• Treasurer – Ann-Marie Waterman, Coppin State University
“I have served on the board as chair for the Institute of Women Entrepreneur Excellence for over two years,” said Allison. “Through this position, I have witnessed the organization’s evolution and impact to women entrepreneurs throughout Maryland, thereby supporting continued economic growth.”
The IWEE board currently consists of 8 members, many of whom have served on the board since the organization’s inception in 2022. IWEE was established in collaboration with four of Maryland’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), including Bowie State University, University of Maryland, Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, and Coppin State University. Each institution provides a professional to serve on the board, aiding in programmatic advisement and implementation.
A full list of the IWEE board members includes: chair Pamela Allison, University of Maryland, Eastern Shore; vice chair Gail Bassette, Bowie State University; secretary Erica Anthony, Morgan State University; treasurer Ann-Marie Waterman, Coppin State University; Allison Alexander, Marathon Fund; Farah Holder, Blue Fire Equity; Treava Hopkins-Lobby, EEO Services LLC; and Troy LeMaile-Stovall, TEDCO.
Pamela Allison is the endowed chair in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore where she teaches and serves as the point person for entrepreneurial ventures in the community. Prior to this role, Allison served as department chair for the university’s hospitality and tourism management program, and pursued her own entrepreneurial ventures, founding Fluffy Fizzies. She has a background in education and business, taught at the college level for the past 15 years and has been a higher education administrator since 2013. She holds a doctorate from the University of Central Florida.
Gail Bassette is the director of economic development and strategic engagement at Bowie State University, where she provides strategic leadership in cultivating partnerships and funding initiatives that strengthen the university’s research enterprise, expand its economic and community impact, enhance workforce readiness and fuel entrepreneurial growth. Prior to this role, Bassette held senior executive positions as the cabinet secretary for Maryland’s Department of General Services, where she oversaw the design, construction and leasing of more than 20 million square feet of state-owned real estate, managing a $1.6B annual operating and capital budget. As President and CEO of TCE Incorporated, she expanded the company into a 250-employee enterprise with revenues exceeding $45 million, and as executive director of the U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency’s Federal Procurement Center, Bassette helped secure over $400 million in contracts for minority-owned businesses, creating over 3500 jobs. She holds a master’s degree in Technology and Entrepreneurship from the University of Maryland and a bachelor’s degree in Communications Media from Bowie State University.
Erica Anthony is an associate professor of management and the chair of the Department of Business Administration at Morgan State University. Prior to joining Morgan State University, she worked in various roles at the telecommunications corporation, Sprint, and as a systems engineer for Honeywell. These experiences heightened her fondness for business and understanding the interactions facilitated within organizations, which led her to pursue a doctoral degree in Organizational Behavior Human Resources from Purdue University. In addition to her doctoral degree, she also holds an MBA from the University of Illinois and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology. Furthermore, she is a certified personal and executive coach, earned through the International Coach Federation (ICF)-Accredited Coach Training Program, College of Executive Coaching. Anthony is a member of the PhD Project, ICF, Southern Management Association and the Academy of Management (AoM).
Ann-Marie Waterman is a proven higher education professional with over 20 years of experience and knowledge of post-secondary policies, processes and procedures related to budget, accounting, human resources, information technology and student support services. As chief of staff at Coppin State University, she serves as an essential partner to the president and is charged with working across all campus sectors to allocate resources and manage day-to-day operations. Prior to this role, Waterman served as the assistant dean for Administration, Finance & Operations at Howard University School of Law, where she managed the overall administration, operations and implementation of initiatives. Waterman holds a doctorate, master’s, MBA and bachelor’s degree from Howard University.
Allison Alexander is a venture capital professional who is passionate about creating value for investors while helping to change the narrative for founders who lack access to startup capital. Alexander is a partner at The Marathon Fund, an early-stage investment firm that provides pre-seed and seed capital and expert guidance to emerging, high-growth technology companies. Prior to Marathon, Alexander was one of four managing directors in a middle market private equity firm with investments in the utilities and government services sectors. She is also a licensed attorney who previously served as vice president and general counsel for a private investment firm with nearly $2 billion under management and as senior vice president and general counsel for a global life sciences company, both headquartered in Maryland. Prior to that, she spent several years as an attorney in the Venture Capital and Emerging Growth Companies practice group at DLA Piper, where she also helped to lead mentoring and professional development programs for the firm's attorneys. Alexander holds a doctorate in law degree from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University.
Farah Holder is a founder and managing partner at Blue Fire Equity, where she brings over 25 years of experience in finance, strategy, marketing and business development. Over the course of her career, she has led more than $5.1 billion in transaction value across private equity, venture capital and investment banking. Holder partners with founders who are ready to accelerate growth through organic and inorganic strategies. Previously, she served as a managing director at IMB Partners, where she played a pivotal role in originating and closing five lower middle market acquisitions and developing the firm’s investment thesis in Defense & Government Technology. She led the firm’s rebranding and was instrumental in scaling the organization from four to 18 employees. Holder has authored or been featured in more than eight private equity publications and is a frequent speaker on industry panels. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia and an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Treava Hopkins-Lobby is an accomplished executive, educator and community advocate with over 36 years of service in the federal government, specializing in Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), conflict resolution, disability accommodations and diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) programs. She has held leadership positions across several federal agencies, including as director of the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Fairness at the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), deputy director of the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and director of the Division of EEO Compliance at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), where she also oversaw the Reasonable Accommodation Program and Conflict Prevention and Resolution Staff. Hopkins-Lobby is a certified mediator, EEO counselor and investigator, and she has spent over 20 years serving as a Federal Shared Neutrals Mediator, resolving workplace discrimination cases and facilitating conflict resolution to improve organizational culture. She holds two master’s degrees from the University of Maryland, a bachelor’s degree from American University and two associate’s degrees from Montgomery College, where she is also an alumna of their extensive fitness and wellness programs. She also received her EEO Studies certification from Cornell University's ILR School.
Troy LeMaile-Stovall currently serves as CEO for TEDCO, the economic engine for Maryland’s technology and life science-based startups, and Strategic Advisor for Hunter Lewis, LLC, an investment management advisory firm. An entrepreneur at heart, LeMaile-Stovall founded the management consulting firm LeMaile-Stovall, LLC and co-founded GulfSouth Capital where he was the first President and CEO. As he continued his career, LeMaile-Stovall became the accomplished and award-winning CEO he is today; he has led/co-led over $2B in debt and equity offerings with over a dozen exits with double digit returns. In addition to his role as TEDCO’s CEO, LeMaile-Stovall is a NACD Certified Director, serving on numerous Boards including University of Maryland School of Medicine, World Trade Center Institute, Parkway Properties, Archipelago Learning, Internet America, SchoolStatus, EpiCor Software, Harkins Builders, LIM College, Southern Methodist University Dept. of Electrical Engineering, UDC Foundation, and Landover, MD-based Zion Church, led by Sr. Pastor Keith Battle. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Southern Methodist University, a master’s degree from Stanford University (AT&T Bell Labs Fellowship) and an MBA from Harvard University.
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