In this episode of BioTalk with Rich Bendis, Jared Smith, MBA, CEcD, President and CEO of the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation, joins the conversation to discuss his new role leading economic development efforts in one of the nation’s most important biohealth markets.
Jared shares how his experience in Louisiana and Nevada shaped his approach to economic development, including the importance of diversification, business retention, workforce strategy, and bringing partners together around shared goals. He also explains MCEDC’s role as a public-private partnership and how the organization works with local government, chambers, business leaders, nonprofits, academic institutions, and other stakeholders to support companies across Montgomery County.
The discussion highlights the county’s deep talent base, global diversity, quality of life, and position as the center of a top U.S. biopharma hub. Jared also discusses MCEDC’s strategic planning process, the importance of reducing uncertainty for companies, and why economic development should be viewed as an investment in long-term community strength.
Throughout the episode, Jared emphasizes that MCEDC is focused on listening, connecting the right people, helping companies navigate available resources, and building a more competitive future for Montgomery County.
Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant. https://thepodcastconsultant.com/
Jared Smith serves as the President and CEO of the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation, where he leads economic development initiatives to attract, retain, and expand businesses within key industries in Montgomery County, Maryland.
Jared joined MCEDC in December 2025 after spending more than a decade in Nevada’s economic development ecosystem. As Director of Economic Development for the City of Henderson, he supported a community within the Las Vegas Metropolitan Statistical Area of more than two million residents. During his tenure, he played a key role in diversifying a tourism-driven regional economy and supported the creation of more than 20,000 jobs. Previously, as Chief Operating Officer of the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance, he helped deliver $17.2 billion in regional economic impact, the highest in the organization’s history.
His economic development and business experience spans business attraction, retention, and expansion, as well as workforce development and long-term strategic planning. He has collaborated with companies across a wide range of industries, from established businesses to high-growth sectors. Before moving to Nevada, Jared was Director of Business Development at the Baton Rouge Area Chamber and Manager of Business Retention and Expansion at Louisiana Economic Development, where he designed and deployed a comprehensive economic development strategy and outreach program to expand corporate businesses statewide.
Throughout his career, Jared has worked with elected officials at the local and state levels and led various international missions. A Certified Economic Developer, he is an active member of the International Economic Development Council and has been recognized twice, in 2024 and 2022, as one of North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers by Consultant Connect. Jared holds an MBA from Southeastern Louisiana University, a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University, and is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute.
In this episode of BioTalk with Rich Bendis, Ellen D. Harpel, Ph.D., Founder of Smart Incentives, joins the conversation to explore a topic that has shaped the growth of the BioHealth Capital Region but has rarely been discussed directly on the podcast: economic development incentives. Ellen explains why state and local governments use incentives, how they influence business location and expansion decisions, and why effective programs need clear goals, active management, performance measures, and public accountability.
This episode of the BioTalk with Rich Bendis Podcast brings together leaders from industry, academia, and economic development to unpack the vision behind a new life sciences Innovation District anchored in Prince William County. With introductions to NAUGEN, George Mason University’s Institute for Biohealth Innovation, and the Prince William County Department of Economic Development, setting the stage for how each organization contributes to the district’s foundation. The guests discuss the life science assets, research strengths, and translational capabilities that define the district and explain why it is well-positioned to support biotechnology and advanced R&D companies.
Secretary Juan Pablo Segura joins BioTalk for a conversation about Virginia’s growing position in the biohealth economy and the statewide strategy behind it. He outlines the significance of the new partnership with AstraZeneca, Lilly, and Merck, including up to $120 million in private investment to create a workforce development center and expand the Commonwealth’s life sciences capacity. Segura talks through how Virginia approaches company recruitment, what investors are responding to, and why the state is seeing increased interest from biomanufacturing and advanced R&D companies. He also discusses Virginia’s use of public-private partnerships to accelerate industry growth, strengthen the talent pipeline, and support emerging hubs across the Commonwealth. The conversation closes with a look at Virginia’s role in the BioHealth Capital Region and how the regional identity helps amplify the state’s message as it continues building a competitive biohealth ecosystem.
Getting a biotech company off the ground takes more than science; it takes strategy, funding, and the right network. 
In this episode of BioTalk, Rich Bendis welcomes Dr. Helen Sabzevari, President and CEO of Precigen, to discuss the company’s cutting-edge science in gene and cell therapy. Dr. Sabzevari shares how Precigen’s unique AdenoVerse® platform has powered the development of PRGN-2012, a potential first-in-class therapeutic currently under FDA priority review for the treatment of adults with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP), a rare and devastating disease. She also highlights advances across Precigen’s broader pipeline in immuno-oncology and autoimmune disease and reflects on how Maryland’s BioHealth Capital Region has supported the company’s innovation and growth.
