--- title: "Johns Hopkins’ Pava Center hires new leadership to support student entrepreneurship" url: https://technical.ly/workforce/pava-center-leadership-baltimore-power-moves/ published: 2025-07-30T06:45:00-04:00 modified: 2025-09-21T19:01:15-04:00 author: Maria Eberhart type: post categories: ["Workforce & Jobs of the Future"] tags: ["Baltimore", "Entrepreneurs", "Hiring", "Jobs", "Technology"] --- --- # Johns Hopkins’ Pava Center hires new leadership to support student entrepreneurship *[Power Moves](http://technical.ly/series/power-moves) is a recurring series where we chart the comings and goings of talent across the region. Got a new hire, gig or promotion? Email us at [baltimore@technical.ly](mailto:baltimore@technical.ly).*The Pava Marie LaPere Center for Entrepreneurship at Johns Hopkins University has added new leadership to support its growing student programs and initiatives. Plus, Baltimore’s Solar Gaines is strengthening its team with new hires in project management and cost estimation as the company continues to expand across the region.  Check out all the details and more power moves below the chart, where we break down the top 10 most in-demand job skills and how often they appear in current job postings.The Pava Marie LaPere Center for Entrepreneurship at Johns Hopkins University has added new senior staff to support its growing student programs and initiatives. **🔗 Chart/Visualization: What tech skills are companies looking for in Baltimore?** 🌐 **Interactive Link:** https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/1SETY/1/ _This content contains an interactive Chart/Visualization embed. Visit the link above to interact with the content._ ## Pava Center adds strategy and program leadership The [Pava Center](https://technical.ly/company/pava-marie-lapere-center-for-entrepreneurship/)’s new staff come with upper-level experience in both the federal government and the local ecosystem. Jake Drier joined the center as assistant director. He most recently served as vice president of growth and strategy at HiLabs, a Baltimore-based healthcare data company. In addition, Deja Robinson was hired in May as a student program administrator. She previously worked at the US Food and Drug Administration as [a medical device reviewer](https://www.linkedin.com/in/dejaarobinson/) on the vascular and endovascular team, according to her LinkedIn profile. Robinson has also participated in venture capital education programs, including VC University and Venture Institute. “We’re thrilled to welcome Deja and Jake to the team to work with early-stage and later-stage ventures (respectively),” said Josh Ambrose, director of the Pava Center. “Their experience is impressive and a testament to the exciting potential here in Baltimore that we’re committed to continuing to support.”  ## Local solar firm hires two renewable experts Solar Gaines, a commercial solar construction firm based in Hunt Valley, has hired Angeline Hannachi and Peter Molloy to bolster its staff.  Hannachi has more than 15 years of experience in construction project management, including nearly six in the solar industry. The new project manager most recently led a 130-megawatt, [large-scale project in Winchester, Virginia](https://myrenergyservices.com/news/myr-energy-services-wins-2024-governors-environmental-excellence-award-for-bartonsville-solar-project-in-virginia/), which earned her the governor’s Environmental Excellence Award. Molloy joined as a senior estimator with nearly two decades of experience in renewable energy. He has led preconstruction and cost estimation work for solar and battery storage projects across the US. “We are thrilled to welcome Angeline and Peter to our team, as their experience, skills and insights will immediately strengthen our company,” said Thomas Gaines, CEO of Solar Gaines, in a press release. “Both have extensive, well-established track records of overseeing and contributing to highly successful solar projects nationwide and throughout the region.” ## More power moves: - The Chesapeake Conservancy has [named Susan Shingledecker](https://www.chesapeakeconservancy.org/press-releases/chesapeake-conservancy-announces-susan-shingledecker-as-new-ceo) as its next CEO, starting in September. Shingledecker is the former executive director of Earth Science Information Partners and previously served as the conservancy’s director of programs.    - The Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts has appointed Robyn Murphy as its permanent CEO [following her service](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/robyn-murphy-1744455_createbaltimore-artsandculture-bopa-activity-7354975648102109184-DlaG/) as interim chief.  - Anne Arundel Medical Center has named Catherine Maloney as its new president, per the Baltimore Business Journal. A longtime executive at Atlanta-based Emory Healthcare, Maloney will also [serve as chief operating officer](https://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/news/2025/07/29/luminis-health-catherine-maloney-aamc-emory.html) and executive vice president of Luminis Health, the system formed by the 2019 merger of AAMC and Lantham’s Doctors Community Hospital. - After three years on its customer success team, Paige McDonald is the [new chief of staff ](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/activity-7350692560291467264-FS1i/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAASJPoQBgizLTAoNBHdrVwkIWKsv3-3s91g)at [EcoMap Technologies](https://technical.ly/company/ecomap-technologies/).  - The [University of Maryland Medical System](https://technical.ly/company/university-of-maryland-medical-system/) has [spun out Gallion Health](https://www.umms.org/news/news-releases/2025/university-of-maryland-medical-system-announces-spinout-of-gallion-health), a cloud-based supply chain software developed at its iHarbor Innovation Center. Gallion is now a standalone company led by health tech veteran Jeff Sopko and is designed to streamline hospital operations by automating supply chain processes. - WesBanco has appointed Kevin McCormack as [its mid‑Atlantic market president](https://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/news/2025/07/16/wesbanco-midatlantic-market-leader-kevin-mccormack.html). McCormack, formerly a commercial banking leader at Atlantic Union Bank, brings over 20 years of experience to his new role’s oversight of growth and client solutions in Maryland and DC, per the Baltimore Business Journal.  - The [Greater Baltimore Committee](https://technical.ly/company/greater-baltimore-committee/) has [assumed leadership ](https://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/news/2025/07/28/gbc-johns-hopkins-blocal-hiring-procurement.html)of the BLocal initiative from [Johns Hopkins University](https://technical.ly/company/johns-hopkins-university/) to expand local hiring, procurement and investment across the region, also according to the Baltimore Business Journal. The program was launched in response to the 2015 protests after Freddie Gray’s death in police custody; it remained active for five years before pausing during the COVID-19 pandemic. This article mentions EcoMap Technologies, a Technical.ly client. That relationship has no impact on this report. --- ## 📎 Interactive Content Summary _This article contains 1 interactive element(s):_ - **1 Interactive Content** _Visit the original article to interact with all embedded content._ --- **Word Count:** 874 **Estimated Reading Time:** 5 minutes **Source:** https://technical.ly/workforce/pava-center-leadership-baltimore-power-moves/ **Markdown URL:** https://technical.ly/workforce/pava-center-leadership-baltimore-power-moves.md