TEDCO’s Entrepreneur Expo to Host “Growing Maryland’s Economy Through Innovation” Panel

Session will feature Comptroller Brooke Lierman, Sen. Cory McCray and Del. Marlon Amprey, moderated by TEDCO board member and former state Sen. Andrew Serafini

COLUMBIA, Md., (October 21, 2026) — TEDCO, Maryland’s economic engine for technology companies, announces the “Growing Maryland’s Economy Through Innovation” session at the upcoming 2026 Entrepreneur Expo taking place at the Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor on October 27, 2026. 

The session will bring together Brooke Lierman, comptroller of Maryland; Cory McCray, senator for District 45 in Baltimore City and a member of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee; and Marlon Amprey, delegate for District 40 in Baltimore City and a member of the House Economic Matters Committee. The conversation will be moderated by Andrew Serafini, a former Maryland state senator, a member of TEDCO’s board of directors and senior vice president and financial advisor at Wealth Enhancement Group.

Maryland enters this budget cycle with less room to maneuver than it has had in years. The question the State faces is not whether to support innovation and economic development but how to sustain that support when resources are constrained. Panelists will talk through the trade-offs directly: what earns a place in the budget and what doesn’t, how ecosystem-building holds up against demands with more immediate constituencies, and where they see common ground on growing Maryland’s economy.

“Every budget cycle forces choices, and the ones made in a tight year tend to shape the decade that follows,” said Serafini. “This conversation will feature leaders who are responsible for thinking long-term about the trade-offs of each choice and how those decisions will affect the years to come. Entrepreneurs who attend will have the chance to hear the discussion directly instead of waiting to read about it afterward.”

The session will also cover what role State investment plays alongside private capital and what entrepreneurs and investors should expect from the coming legislative session. Attendees will leave with a clearer view of the policy environment shaping the State’s technology and life science sectors, and a chance to put their own questions to the people making the calls.

The fiscal pressure is not abstract. Federal employment in Maryland fell by 31,100 jobs between January 2025 and January 2026, and the accompanying loss of grants and contracts affected employers across the State. Maryland has continued to invest through that period, including a $4 million commitment announced in February 2026 to prepare workers and employers for an economy shaped by AI and emerging technologies. How the State sustains that kind of investment against a tighter budget is the question this panel takes up.

TEDCO’s award-winning Entrepreneur Expo shines a spotlight on regional entrepreneurship. Attracting more than 1,170 attendees, the event collects some of the region’s top entrepreneurs, business owners, innovators, venture capital investors, legislators and resources for a day of celebration. This year, the event will take place in Baltimore, offering a full day of interactive workshops, insightful discussions and inspiring connections.

Don’t miss the opportunity to learn from the region’s top experts; secure your spot at this impactful event now at tedcomdexpo.com/event/2026/register.