Ellen Flowers-Fields is the Southern Maryland Regional Director for the Small Business Development Center hosted by the College of Southern Maryland. The Small Business Development Center promotes and fosters entrepreneurship and business growth throughout Southern Maryland providing information and guidance for business owners to help them utilize effective strategies, initiate start-up or manage growth.

Ellen has over 25 years of progressive professional experience in the field of workforce development and human capital management. Her diverse background includes the implementation of various federal, state and local programs and initiatives that address community economic needs and challenges. Ellen is credentialed as Global Career Development Facilitator from the Center for Credentialing and Education. She a graduate 2009 Class of Leadership Southern Maryland, and a member of the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals and the Maryland Economic Development Association.

Prior to serving as the Director of the SBDC, Ellen served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Division of Workforce Development & Adult Learning at the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing & Regulation from 2011 – 2014; Regional Director of Economic Development at the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland from 2006 – 2011; and Executive Director for Southern Maryland Works from 2000 – 2006.

Affiliations include former Board Member Maryland Broadband Coordination Board; Past board chair, Bethel House Inc. Board chair, Community Foundation of Southern Maryland and Alumni of Leadership Southern Maryland’s inaugural class.

Recognitions include recipient of 2005 Charles County Minority Business of the Year; 2008 Woman of the Year award from Calvert County Concerned Black Women. Nominations for the 2006 Leadership Maryland class and 2006 Maryland’s Top 100 Women. Calvert County Commissioner’s Business owner appreciation recognition 2008 & 2014, and 2017 Excellence Award from the League for Innovation in the Community College.

Ellen is a resident of Charles County and attends New Life Church in La Plata, MD. She is co-owner of RE Fields, LLC operating an Edible Arrangements franchised location in Calvert County. She is married to her loving husband of 26 years, Ricky Fields. They have 3 children: Joice, Ricky II and Ross

As a Commercial and Industrial Loan Officer with Community Bank, Aaron focuses on generating small business lending opportunities while building total banking relationships with the business community. He has over 10 years of experience in banking, client management and commercial credit training. Aaron dedicates his time in the Community as a youth football coach and serves as a board member of the Community Foundation of Southern Maryland.

Delanta Brown is a resident of Calvert County. He started volunteering in the community since a young age, believing that it is everyone’s duty to give back to the community. Delanta is a graduate of Calvert High and is currently working on his BA degree in Health and Human Services. For 14 years he has worked for The Arc of Southern Maryland. Delanta loves working for and with the people he supports. He believes that working in the human services field is his professional calling. He can’t imagine doing anything more rewarding than making a difference in the lives of others.

Delanta received his state level ARCE Certification through the State of Maryland and his nationwide certification for Supported Employment form Virginia Commonwealth University. He’s also certified as a Subject Matter Expert in Discovery Personal Genius Process. This certification is for professionals who work extensively with individuals with different abilities to find employment in the community.

Delanta serves on the Board of Directors for Tri-County Youth Services Bureau, is a member of the Transitioning Youth Committee for the Calvert County Public Schools, and a host of other committees as well. In his spare time he likes to spend time with family, friends, and read a good book.  

Denise Foster is a native of St. Mary’s County and a graduate of Great Mills High School and the College of Southern Maryland. While supporting the Department of Defense at NAS Patuxent River for over 15 years, she received her BA Degree in Public Communications from American University. Soon after, she relocated and made a career shift to the nonprofit sector, going on to receive her Master’s Degree in Public Administration – Nonprofit Management Certification.

Denise has worked with nonprofits across several states to provide the best impact to the community. She spent three years as Associate Director of Development for K9s For Warriors, eventually returning to Southern Maryland. She is now the owner of DKFoster Services, LLC., a company dedicated to helping and educating nonprofits.

In her spare time, Denise is active in the community and currently serves on the Board for the Community Foundation of Southern Maryland. She is also an active duty spouse and a member of the Patuxent River Officer Spouses Club.

Kelly Williams is the Corporate Director of Human Resources for The Cherry Cove Group. Kelly began her career with Cherry Cove in November of 2007, and is responsible for bringing many of the practices being utilized in the company today that makes Cherry Cove a leader in management services.

Kelly grew up in Pittsburgh, PA and attended Norfolk State University in Norfolk, VA., majoring in Business Management. In 1999, Kelly moved to Los Angeles and then relocated to Southern MD in 2003. Kelly worked for the St. Mary’s County school district before transitioning to DOD contactor, Eagan, McAllister & Associates, Inc., operationally supporting NAVAIRHQ AIR 7.0 Corporate Operations and AIR 7.3 Total Force Strategy & Management Development Division (TFMD).

Kelly has played an avid role in the Southern Maryland community. She has held memberships and leadership roles in various organizations throughout St Mary’s County. Kelly has been an active member on the local, state and national levels of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) since 2008. She continues as a member of Human Resources Association of Southern Maryland (HRASM) since 2007, and has held Officer positions as the 2013-2014 Chapter President, and the 2015-2016 Past President. She volunteered in many conferences and other events as a Board Member of MD SHRM. Kelly currently serves on the Executive Board as Secretary for Southern Maryland Workforce Development Board since April of 2013. Kelly is a graduate of the Leadership of Southern Maryland Class of 2016 and also sits on the Community Foundation of Southern Maryland, Board of Directors.

Kelly has earned an AS degree in Management Development at the College of Southern Maryland. Kelly has continued her education and is now pursuing her BS in Human Resource Management at the University of Maryland University College and her PHR, HRCI Certification.

Southerland-Smith is a seasoned non-profit executive with more than 20 years of experience in the field of accounting, finance and operations. She possesses expertise in leading highly impactful nonprofits in advancing their mission and exceeding their goals. Southerland-Smith has been consistently rewarded for her leadership and accomplishments through promotions and increased responsibilities. During her 17 years tenure at the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), she’s served in several leadership roles to include the Director, Finance, Deputy Executive Director and the Senior Director, Operations. In her role as the Deputy Executive Director and Senior Director, Operations, she serves as the second in command and chief operation/staff executive. She supported the Executive Director with overall management of the staff as well provided support to the National Executive Board. She had an impeccable track record of ethical behavior and strived to make a positive impact on the members of NSBE.

An experienced Executive Consultant, the core of her expertise is in accounting and finance. She strengthened her knowledge in accounting and finance at the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), Fairfax, VA. IAFC provides leadership to career and volunteer chiefs, chief fire officers and managers of emergency service organizations throughout the international community. While at IAFC she progressed from the Accounting Assistant to the Director of Finance. Southerland-Smith has a demonstrated history organizational management, business process improvement, strategic planning and communications.