MORGAN WORTHAM

MWBC's Managing Director

She leads MWBC’s team of experienced counselors and trainers who provide essential services to women entrepreneurs and empower them to launch and grow successful, women-owned businesses in Maryland’s Capital Region.

Morgan joins MWBC with 20 years of experience in economic and workforce development projects and urban planning. Prior to enrolling in the University of Maryland’s Doctorate of Urban & Regional Planning and Design and working on a variety of area urban planning projects as a graduate research assistant, Wortham was the President/CEO of Envision Community Solutions in Iowa, where she managed multiple projects in economic and workforce development as well as consulted in nonprofit management, urban planning, affordable housing development and financial education. Prior to that, she was the Founder and Executive Director of New Waterloo Community Development Corporation in Waterloo, Iowa.

Morgan holds an MBA from the University of Northern Iowa and a MPA from Drake University. She has served on numerous boards & committees, including a chamber committed focused on diversity & inclusion, head start policy council, and city housing & community development commission. Morgan has also been recognized as a one of Iowa’s Cedar Valley “20 under 40,” which honors outstanding young leaders.

SEND A MESSAGE

Thomas Squire

Training & Events Manager-Special Projects for MWBC

Thomas Squire is the Training & Events Manager-Special Projects for MWBC. He was born and raised in Silver Spring, Maryland. From an early age, he’s had a love for serving people. He attended Coastal Carolina University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Communication with a minor in Journalism and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Special Education from Howard University.

Thomas is an experienced mass media professional with more than 10 years of experience in the television and radio industries, including his work with the branding solutions department during the 2019 BET Awards. He has previously worked on Democratic campaigns as a staffer; with Tom Hucker’s successful County Council bid in 2014 and with the Honorable Herman Taylor in 2007 and 2008. He currently serves on the advisory board for the Minority Business Economic Council and Adventure Theatre. Additionally, Thomas is a 2017 fellow and the co-director for NLC Maryland and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated where he mentors young men of color. Thomas is excited about community service and involvement and bridging the gap between services and access to communities in need.

SEND A MESSAGE

MARTHA JIMENEZ

Montgomery County Senior Business Counselor

A native of Colombia with more than 25 years of experience in business administration, Martha spent 10 years as an independent international consultant for various companies in Latin America. Throughout her career, she has built a reputation for developing successful business strategies and new channels for business development. Her priority is to focus on her client’s needs and provide innovative business ideas that will help them conquer professional and business success.

Martha holds a B.S. in Business Administration, an MBA in Management and she is also certified in Project Management. She has a special interest in the literature about success and leadership, and she enjoys developing training sessions for her clients about various areas of business.

SEND A MESSAGE

Karen Kalantzis

Associate Business Counselor for Frederick County

Karen Kalantzis is the new Associate Business Counselor for Frederick County. She is an experienced small business community builder with a demonstrated history of working in program development. Most recently, she was the Director, Community Programs for the Business Innovation Network, Montgomery County’s business incubator program where she created training classes and provided business technical assistance to members.

Prior to that, she worked for Montgomery County’s Department of Economic Development as a program manager for the Silver Spring and Wheaton Innovation Centers. She joined the small business ecosystem after starting an IT company called Corporate Network Services in 1993 with her business partner. The company was a Maryland Certified Woman Owned Small Business, named to the Inc. 5000 fastest growing businesses list, and a winner of numerous Best Place to Work awards.

A native Chicagoan, Karen earned a Bachelor of Science from the Kelly School of Business at Indiana University and an MBA from George Washington University. She is a graduate of Leadership Montgomery Core Class of 2018. On a personal note, Karen has three adult children, loves to travel and often visits our local beaches.

SEND A MESSAGE

KATE VENDEMIO

Training and Events Consultant for MWBC

As a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), certified ScrumMaster, and a Kirkpatrick Certified Evaluation Professional – Bronze Level, she brings a wealth of training and project management experience to the role. Kate has spent over thirteen years working with or for the federal government, the last six of which were spent with a large management consulting firm where she provided strategic guidance on federal training programs and curriculum design.

Kate is also Principal at Mt. Vernon Consulting, LLC, a small women-owned business providing training design, development, and delivery services to businesses. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from John Carroll University and a Masters Certificate in Project Management from the George Washington University School of Business. She and her family reside in Rockville.

SEND A MESSAGE