Ms. Sheppard brings more than fifteen years of experience as an entrepreneur and business development consultant. She is responsible for overseeing the business incubation program, including the Incubator Development Fund, which provides funding for new and improved incubator facilities in Maryland and the Working Capital Loan Fund, which provides loans to technology-oriented companies throughout the state. Prior to joining TEDCO she was the Executive Director of the Loudoun County (VA) Small Business Development Center. She also served as the Assistant Director of the Small Business Development Center at the University of Southwestern Louisiana.

Ms. Sheppard has developed her own small business and served in marketing positions for educational services companies. She holds a B.S. and an M.B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.