Women's HerStory Month: Highlighting Our Business Development Team
Meet some of the MCEDC business development professionals who make a big difference in supporting and cultivating businesses in Montgomery County.
LAURIE BOYER BABB, CEcD, Director of Economic Development
Laurie works to attract, retain and grow businesses in the County and focuses on the hospitality, finance, insurance and real estate industries. She works closely with the commercial real estate industry. Laurie also established and oversees MCEDC’s Accelerating Community Excellence (ACE) Loan Fund Program, funded through the State of Maryland’s Video Lottery Terminal Loan Fund program.
A nationally certified economic developer with over 22 years of economic development experience, Laurie loves working with partners to offer strategies and solutions for businesses as they are looking to start or grow a business.
Prior to joining MCEDC, Laurie worked as the Economic Development Manager for Montgomery County Government and held leadership positions at Rockville Economic Development, Inc. (REDI) and the Frederick County Office of Economic Development.
Every company is unique and that offers an opportunity for me to be creative when helping local businesses. The collaborative relationships that we at MCEDC have with our local and statewide partners is truly an asset! Being part of the solution for growing the economy is truly meaningful and has positive impacts for everyone in the community.
I have a passion for helping small, diverse, and minority businesses as I relate to them and their hard work, dreams and exciting minds. Making a difference with business professionals with unique ideas makes me want to partner with as many organizations as possible to provide them with resources to see our community thrive. Lockheed Martin, Marriott International, Verizon and other businesses started small and expanded to create many jobs for our community, becoming companies in Montgomery County.
NARBELI GALINDO, Business Community Engagement Manager, Diversity & Inclusion
Narbeli is a top resource for small, diverse and minority businesses and local community groups. She engages with business owners to help retain their workforce, expand their business, and provide key resources to promote growth in our community. She also promotes Montgomery County to other entities/businesses not yet in our county, looking to find the right place for their business.
Narbeli provides key incentives, demographics, and business programs to help entrepreneurs take advantage of relocating to Montgomery County. She helps build strong relationships and provides key business resources, including finding talent, partnerships, and more.
Formerly, Narbeli was an International Trade and Foreign Affairs Executive, having worked with global dignitaries, Foreign Direct Investors, and companies in over 50 countries; former business owner of two successful businesses with a passion for breaking perceived barriers; teaching International Trade and Entrepreneurship.
LYNNE STEIN BENZION, CEcD, Director of Economic Development
Lynne works to retain existing Montgomery County, Maryland businesses, attract new ones, and assist expanding companies. A nationally certified economic developer, Lynne is also a biohealth specialist and subject matter expert for MCEDC. Prior to her 19-year economic development career, Lynne’s experience included owning a home-based business and teaching public school.
Lynne also initiated and led an MCEDC team that worked with the International Economic Development Council for a year to develop MCEDC’s Equity Economic Development Plan. She is now leading the team executing the plan, which is focused on MCEDC’s internal systems and operations as well as strengthening Montgomery County’s entrepreneurial ecosystem for minorities via capacity building and increasing access to capital. She also initiated and coordinates a partnership with the National Disability Institute to increase and support entrepreneurs with disabilities.
I love my job because I learn something new every day. Montgomery County has a lot of very smart people doing extraordinary things, from gene therapy to American Sign Language-enabled notifications to remote monitoring solutions for utilities companies. I get to meet—and sometimes help—so many of them, plus I get to work with amazing colleagues at MCEDC!