Thank you to our presenting sponsor, Comcast, and platinum sponsor, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. Space for this event was provided by Community Use of Public Facilities (CUPF) and is sponsored by Montgomery County Government.

Continuing Education Opportunities

Attendees of the 2025 Maryland Digital Opportunity Summit are eligible to apply for 6 Health Education CECHs and 4 Social Work CEUs. Additional information can be found here.

Summit Speakers & Panelists

Download the Program Agenda for Session Information & Learning Objectives

Nicol Turner Lee, Ph.D.

Senior Fellow and Director

Center for Technology Innovation at the Brookings Institution

Author of Digitally Invisible

Jinhee Kim, Ph.D.

Professor, Associate Director, and Associate Dean, University of Maryland Extension (UME)

Ronnie Hammond

Director, Maryland Office of Statewide Broadband

Brooke Lierman, J.D.

34th Comptroller of the State of Maryland

Lo Smith, MLS

Executive Director, Baltimore Digital Equity Coalition

Teri Mumm

Digital Navigation Program Manager, UME Digital Literacy Project

Mike Knapp

Chief Executive Officer, SkillSmart

Devin Jackson

CEO, A Prosperous Tomorrow

Suja Joseph

Director of Reemployment Programs, Maryland Department of Labor

Moderator: Marokey Sawo

Research Associate, Urban Institute Research to Action Lab

Center for Equity and Community Impact

Ronnie Hammond Director, Maryland Office of Statewide Broadband

Kaori Hirakawa

Chief Executive Officer, One Language, LLC

Charlotte Davis

Executive Director, Rural Maryland Council

Moderator: Claudia Wilson Randall

Executive Director,

Community Development Network of Maryland

William Hegwood

Lead Career Coach, Rapid Rehousing Vocational Program, CareerCatchers

Ken Oldham

Chief Executive Officer, United Way of Frederick County

 Rev. Dr. Alfred Bailey II Minister of Mission and Outreach, New Psalmist Baptist Church

Moderator: Julie Slivka

Communications Manager,

University of Maryland Extension Digital Literacy Project

Recognize the outstanding work of Maryland’s digital equity champions in four categories: Navigator, Practitioner, Program, and Workforce. Three Digital Equity Champions and four Honorable Mentions will be recognized.

View the champions of past years.

A fast-paced, 40-minute networking session to connect attendees with potential partners and collaboration opportunities.

Transform networking connections from the Partnership Speed Dating session into actionable plans and regional coalitions that focus on fostering digital opportunities locally.

Tsion Tesfaye

Senior Research & Policy Manager, NDIA

Kris Fair

Maryland House of Delegates, District 3

Shae Gardner

Director of Policy & Research, LGBT Tech

Dhanaraj Thakur, Ph.D.

Research Director,

Center for Democracy & Technology

Ashley Lane, LMSW

Executive Director,  Housing Authority of the City of Frostburg

Demetrius Goodwin Chief Executive Officer, NPower

 Aziz Hurtado Olson

Tech Extension Educator, University of Maryland Extension 

Moderator: Liz Gabbitas, MLIS

Founder & Managing Director,

Libraries 4 Digital Equity

Gretchen LeGrand

Senior Program Manager for Digital Equity, Robert W. Deutsch Foundation

Mac McComas

Senior Program Manager, Johns Hopkins, 21st Century Cities Initiative

Vishnupriya Desai

Digital Equity Program Manager, Office of Statewide Broadband

John Horrigan, Ph.D.

Senior Fellow,

Benton Institute for Broadband & Society

Cheryl DeBerry

Broadband and Energy Manager, Garrett County Government

Kenya Asli

Executive Director, Baltimore City Information Technology

Isaias Tesfalidet

Project Director, University of Maryland Extension Digital Literacy Project

Mitsuko Herrara

Program Director,

Montgomery County Government

Molly Sherman

Executive Director, Carroll Technology & Innovation Council

Teri Mumm

Digital Navigation Program Manager, UME Digital Literacy Project

Moderator: Josh Bokee

Executive Director & Founder,

Connect for Broadband

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University programs, activities, and facilities are available to all without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, religion, protected veteran status, genetic information, personal appearance, or any other legally protected class. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in any event or activity, please contact your local University of Maryland Extension Office.