The Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Cristina Lopez as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Carter McClure as the organization’s first Regional Innovation Officer (RIO) supporting the Baltimore Region’s federal Tech Hub designation. Lopez will start her new role on May 13th while McClure will begin on April 22nd.
Lopez brings a wealth of experience in advancing philanthropy and strategic investments, particularly in the Baltimore region, both of which are key areas of GBC’s focused growth. Lopez most recently served as the Chief of Strategy & Operations at Last Mile Education Fund, where she led a $60 million growth plan. Her strategic vision and leadership were instrumental in rapidly scaling the organization, leading digital transformation and expanding human capital to ensure over 35,000 low-income students complete degrees and launch careers in tech and engineering.
Lopez has previously worked with well-known nonprofit foundations in Baltimore as a philanthropy consultant for the Richman Family Foundation, leading its early childhood strategy development, and for the Abell Foundation, conducting due diligence for a large investment in Greenlight Fund Baltimore and spending several years at the Baltimore Community Foundation. Previously, Lopez was the launch team facilitator of the Mayor’s Scholars Program, a last-dollar scholarship for Baltimore City Community College students. She also launched the Weiss Institute, a partnership of America’s Promise and the Say Yes to Education Foundation, which partnered with communities to create promise programs and improve K-12 college and career readiness.
“Cristina and Carter will continue to strengthen GBC’s capacity to provide leadership and drive the collaboration needed to maximize this important moment for the Baltimore Region,” said Mark Anthony Thomas, President & CEO of the Greater Baltimore Committee. “Both our private sector and public partners will find tremendous value in their proven track records in advancing economic impact in all the different ways the global economy demands of metropolitan regions committed to inclusive growth in a fiercely competitive landscape.”
Lopez holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brown University, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the Harvard Business School and a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from Harvard Kennedy School.
McClure joins GBC as the Regional Innovation Officer (RIO), bringing over 15 years of entrepreneurship, small business and technology startup assistance and incubation, including programming and supporting regional innovation and developing strategic partnerships. Most recently, McClure served as the Chief Strategy Officer at Compass Working Capital, where he led the expansion of the strategy team, resulting in a 25% increase in revenue and user engagement across their nationwide SaaS platform. He has held previous roles at the Johns Hopkins University leading strategic planning for the HopkinsLocal programs focused on increasing local hiring, procurement and investment in Baltimore and as the Managing Director for the Pennovation Center, a technology incubator collaborative that nurtured startups in artificial/machine learning and healthcare innovations. Under his leadership, the incubator expanded its membership by over 75% and saw significant growth in retention and revenue through improved marketing and business development.
Carter holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Southern University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Hampton University.
In their new roles, Lopez and McClure will work closely with the GBC Management Team, Board of Directors, Tech Hub consortium members and partners to pursue and manage funding opportunities and support GBC’s long-term economic development initiatives for the Baltimore Region. Lopez will provide operational leadership and manage key business functions, while McClure will oversee leadership, communications and strategy for the Baltimore Region’s Tech Hub Designation program.
ABOUT THE GREATER BALTIMORE COMMITTEE
The Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC) is the leading voice for the private sector in the Baltimore region, providing insightful economic and civic leadership to drive collective impact. Comprised of more than 400 organizations, including large, mid-size, and small companies, nonprofits, foundations, and educational and healthcare institutions, the GBC is dedicated to fostering the prosperity of the Greater Baltimore region. For more information, visit gbc.org.
