Margaret B. Penno, Ph.D.
Chairman and Founder
Margaret B. Penno, Ph.D. is the founder of the BioTechnical Institute of Maryland, Inc. Dr. Penno is Associate Professor of Medicine and Oncology, and Director of the Cell Center at the Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine. She earned her undergraduate degree in Biology from Pennsylvania State University, and a doctorate in Genetics from the Hershey Medical Center of The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Pharmacology. Dr. Penno held a post-doctoral fellowship in the Department of Pharmacology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and a second fellowship in Pediatric Genetics. She joined the Department of Medicine faculty at Johns Hopkins in 1985. She has authored numerous published papers, and has been awarded grants from the National Institutes of Health, the American Cancer Society, the Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing, and several institutional programs. Since 1987, Dr. Penno has been the Director of the Cell Center of the Genetics Resources Core Facility at Johns Hopkins University.

Michael A. Gaines, Sr.
Director
Mr. Gaines joined the Board of the BioTechnical Institute of Maryland, Inc. in September 2001. Prior to joining MCAT, Mr. Gaines served as Vice-President and General Manager of The Rouse Company's Harborplace, and The Gallery in Baltimore's Inner Harbor. Prior to his service at The Rouse Company, Mr. Gaines was the President and CEO of the Council for Economic Business Opportunity (CEBO). Mr. Gaines received his undergraduate degree in business from the University of Maryland, College Park, where he received a four-year football scholarship. He currently serves on numerous boards including the Soros Open Society Institution Foundation, the University of Maryland Foundation, and the Downtown Partnership.

Richard A. Grossi, M.B.A.
Director and Treasurer
Mr. Grossi joined the Board of the BioTechnical Institute of Maryland, Inc. in September 2001. Since 1996, he has served as the Chief Financial Officer of Johns Hopkins Medicine, and was previously Senior Associate Dean for Finance and Administration at the School. Prior to joining Johns Hopkins in 1978, Mr. Grossi was Special Assistant to the Dean, and Executive Director of the University Medical Services Association with Wright State University School of Medicine. Before joining Wright State, Mr. Grossi was the Financial Director of the University of Connecticut Health Center. Mr. Grossi received his undergraduate degree in accounting from Pace University in New York, and his M.B.A. in Financial Management also from Pace University.

Thomas E. Little, Ph.D.
Director
Dr. Little has been a Director of BTI since its inception and is currently with the college of Notre Dame of Maryland, where he directs the Weekend College and the Adult Education Programs. Previous to this appointment, Dr. Little provided learning services to businesses and organizations in Baltimore and throughout the country. He has also served as Director of Training at Baltimore City Community College, Director of the Institute of Continuing Education at St. Mary's Seminary and University, and Director of Towson University's Office of Executive and Extended Education. Dr. Little holds the Master's Degree of Theology from St. Mary's Seminary and University, and the Master's Degree in Education from Johns Hopkins University. He completed his doctorate in Adult and Community College Education at North Carolina State University. Dr. Little has also taught at Towson University, the College of Notre Dame of Maryland, Western Maryland College, and Johns Hopkins University. He writes and speaks often about learning and its connection to leadership, creativity, business development, customer care, and organizational effectiveness.

Harriette D. McPherson
Director and Secretary
Ms. McPherson has twenty-five years of experience working in the Baltimore business and non-profit community. She was Executive Director of the National Flag Day Foundation. For two years, Ms. McPherson served as President of the Board of Trustees of the Second Presbyterian Church, and was business manager for Gaines McHale Antiques and Home. As Executive Director of the Parks and People Foundation for seven years, she developed and implemented strategic plans, financial systems, fundraising and marketing efforts. Prior to her position with the Foundation, Ms. McPherson directed local and regional legislative and external affairs for Citicorp/Maryland. She performed additional professional and volunteer activities work with the Junior League of Baltimore, and the United Way.

James G. Rafferty, Esq.
Director
Mr. Rafferty is a Partner in the law firm of Harkins Cunningham in Washington, D.C. He specializes in advising commercial clients on a variety of business transactions, including numerous types of financings, corporate reorganizations, business formations, tax planning, and technology licensing. Prior to joining Harkins Cunningham as a founding partner, Mr. Rafferty was associated with Pepper, Hamilton LLP, and Piper Marbury. He was also legislative assistant to the Chairman of the Rules Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives. Mr. Rafferty is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia, and the State of Maryland. He is a member of the Bars of the Third and Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Tax Court. Mr. Rafferty is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center. He received a master's degree from Princeton University, and his undergraduate degree from Brown University.

James D. Tschechtelin, Ph.D.
Director and Vice President
Dr. Tschechtelin, recently retired President of Baltimore City Community College, joined the Board of the BioTechnical Institute of Maryland, Inc. in September 2002. While he served as President of BCCC, the community college experienced dramatic growth in several areas, including credit enrollment, state aid, new initiatives and program offerings, and the growth of the Liberty Campus. Dr. Tschechtelin's career has been focused on higher education in the State of Maryland, having served as Executive Director of the Maryland State Board for Community Colleges for 15 years prior to joining BCCC in 1990. A native of Indiana, he received his Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics, a Master of Arts degree from Ohio University, and his Doctor of Education degree from George Washington University. Currently a member of the Board of Directors of Maryland General Hospital, Dr. Tschechtelin has served on several boards in the Baltimore community.

John C. Weiss, III, M.B.A.
Mr. Weiss is an Assistant Professor and Executive Director of the Entrepreneurship Institute at the University of Baltimore's Merrick School of Business. Most recently, he served as the founding Executive Director (interim) of the City's newly formed Parking Authority, and earlier as President during the turnaround of Chesapeake Biological Laboratories, Inc. While President of Chesapeake Biological Laboratories in 1997, Mr. Weiss and his CBL staff partnered with Dr. Penno and others to establish the first BTI model program. This program successfully trained and placed laboratory technicians at CBL. Mr. Weiss has organized, raised and managed five venture capital funds over the past twenty years; the funds focused on emerging technologies, and early stage companies with a special emphasis on the Mid-Atlantic Region. Mr. Weiss earned his Bachelor¹s degree from Towson University, and an M.B.A. from Loyola College. He serves on several civic and community boards, including Towson's Board of Visitors, St. Agnes Healthcare, GBC Leadership, and Empower Baltimore Management Corporation. Mr. Weiss is also Chairman Emeritus of the Greater Baltimore Technology Council.