Maryland Agritourism Conference: Planning Committees
Special thanks to members of 2026 Agritourism Conference planning committees
Core Committee
- Moses T. Kairo, Dean, School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore
- Enrique N. Escobar, Associate Dean, UMES Extension
- Donna Price, UMES Extension
- Kingsley Ejiogu, UMES Extension
- Laura Sileo, Ag Communications Director, UMES
- Nicole Dancil, UMES Extension
- Erinn D. Tucker-Oluwole, UMES Hospitality and Tourism Management
- Prem Bhandari, UMES Extension
Planning Committee
- Stephen Alessi, Associate Director, Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development (NERCRD)
- Prem Bhandari, UMES Extension
- Jeb Burchick, Maryland Farm Bureau
- William Burke, Department of Agriculture, Food and Resource Sciences, UMES
- Nicole Dancil, UMES Extension
- Charlotte Davis, Executive Director, Rural Maryland Council
- Kamleshkumar Desai, UMES Ag Communications
- Kelly Dudeck, Cultivate + Crafts
- Rachel Eck, Horizon Farm Credit
- Kingsley Ejiogu, UMES Extension
- Enrique N. Escobar, Associate Dean, UMES Extension
- Holly Gilpin, Dorchester County Tourism
- Janna Howley, Cultivate + Crafts
- Moses T. Kairo, Dean, School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, UMES
- James Mathias, UMES Government Relations
- Ashley Mazer, Salisbury-Wicomico Economic Development, Inc.
- Donna Price, UMES Extension
- Martin Proulx, Maryland Department of Agriculture
- Lisa Purnell, USDA Office of Partnerships and Public EngagementMelanie Pursel, Worcester County Office of Tourism and Economic Development
- Jenny Rhodes, University of Maryland College Park
- Allison Roe, MARBIDCO
- David Ryan, Salisbury-Wicomico Economic Development, Inc.
- Natalia Salazar, Montgomery County Office of Agriculture, Business Development
- Claudia Schmidt, Associate Professor, NERCRD
- Cassie Shirk, Maryland Department of Agriculture
- Laura Sileo, UMES Ag Communications
- Paul Suplee, UMES Hospitality and Tourism
- Daniel Thompson, Somerset County Economic Development Commission
- Stephan L. Tubene, Department of Agriculture, Food and Resource Sciences, UMES
- Erinn D. Tucker-Oluwole, UMES Hospitality and Tourism Management
- Vagner Benedito, Associate Dean, UMES
- Dana Zucker, Sugar Water Manor
Program and Agenda Subcommittee
- Kingsley Ejiogu, UMES Extension
- Laura Sileo, UMES Ag Communications
- Erinn D. Tucker-Oluwole, UMES Hospitality and Tourism Management
- Dana Zucker, Sugar Water Manor
- Kelly Dudeck, Cultivate + Crafts
- Darlene Goehringer, Pop’s Old Place
- Kelly Jackson, Emily’s Produce
- Martin Proulx, Maryland Department of Agriculture
- Prem Bhandari, UMES Extension
- Enrique N. Escobar, Associate Dean, UMES Extension
- Melanie Pursel, Worcester County Office of Tourism and Economic Development
- David Ryan, Salisbury-Wicomico Economic Development, Inc.
- Daniel Thompson, Somerset County Economic Development Commission
- Tom Cunningham, Mary’s Land Farm, Ellicott City
- Natalia Salazar, Montgomery County Office of Agriculture, Business Development
- Claudia Schmidt, Associate Professor, NERCRD
Resources and Funding Subcommittee
- Dana Zucker, Sugar Water Manor
- Lisa Purnell, USDA Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement
- Erinn D. Tucker-Oluwole, UMES Hospitality and Tourism Management
- Prem Bhandari, UMES Extension
- Enrique N. Escobar, Associate Dean, UMES Extension
- Moses T. Kairo, Dean, School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, UMES
- Stephen Alessi, Associate Director, NERCRD
- Donna Price, UMES Extension
- Laura Sileo, UMES Ag Communications
- Nicole Dancil, UMES Extension
Logistics Management Subcommittee
- Enrique N. Escobar, Associate Dean, UMES Extension
- Prem Bhandari, UMES Extension
- Donna Price, UMES Extension
- Laura Sileo, UMES Ag Communications
- Nicole Dancil, UMES Extension
2023 Agritourism Conference Planning Committee
A.C. Alrey, City of Crisfield, Business Development Office
Dr. Nazia Arbab, UMES Extension
Dr. Prem Bhandari, UMES Extension
Dominic Butchko, Maryland Association of Counties
Nicole Cook, UMES Extension
N. Samantha Dancil, UMES Extension
Kelly Dudeck, Grow & Fortify
Dr. Kingsley Ejiougu, UMES Extension
Dr. Enrique Escobar, UMES Extension
Colby Ferguson, Maryland Farm Bureau
Kurt H. Fuchs, Farm Credit
Holly Gilpin, Dorchester County Tourism
Paul Goeringer, University of Maryland
Janna Howley, Grow & Fortify
Dr. Lila Karki, UMES Extension
LeeAnn Linton, Somerset County Economic Development Commission
Rachel Manning, Farm Credit
James Mathias, UMES Government Relations
Ashley Mazer, Salisbury-Wicomico Economic Development, Inc.
Dr. George Ojie-Ahamiojie, UMES Hospitality & Tourism Management
Donna Price, UMES Extension
Lisa Purnell, USDA Office of Partnerships & Public Engagement
Melanie Pursel, Worcester County Office of Tourism & Economic Development
David Ryan, Salisbury-Wicomico Economic Development, Inc.
Michael Sanderson, Maryland Association of Counties
Cassie Shirk, Maryland Department of Agriculture
Laura Sileo, UMES Agriculture Communications
Gail Stephens, UMES Agriculture Communications
Gregory Clint Sterling, Somerset County Government
Paul Suplee, Hospitality & Tourism
Daniel Thompson, Somerset County Economic Development Commission
Dr. Stephan L. Tubene, UMES Department of Agriculture, Food & Resource Sciences
