Talbot County has named Eastern Shore native Stephanie Mervine as its new director of Economic Development and Tourism. She begins her new role on Aug. 31.
Mervine is an experienced economic development professional whose career includes regional economic development, business retention and expansion, tourism, destination marketing, and community development in Maryland, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.
“We are pleased to welcome Stephanie back to the Eastern Shore and look forward to the leadership she will bring to Talbot County,” said Talbot County Council President Chuck Callahan.
Mervine is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute, an intensive professional development program accredited by the International Economic Development Council.
Most recently, Mervine worked with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, where she led business retention and expansion efforts across multiple counties and supported projects generating local investment. Her career also includes economic development leadership in New Mexico and earlier work with Wicomico County Tourism on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
Mervine’s career also included hotel management and project management in New York City and Los Angeles. Her tourism experience includes managing Roswell, New Mexico’s nationally recognized UFO Festival, as well as work on destination branding initiatives.
“Stephanie brings the combination of economic development experience, tourism knowledge, and understanding of the Eastern Shore that Talbot County was looking for in our next director,” said Talbot County Councilmember Keasha Haythe, CEcD.
For Mervine, the position also represents a homecoming. Born and raised in the Ocean City-Berlin area, she has family ties to Talbot County and describes the Eastern Shore as the place that shaped her values, work ethic, and love of community.
“Coming home to Maryland to serve on the Eastern Shore is the final chapter I’ve hoped for,” Mervine said. “This is where my heart is rooted.”
“Talbot County’s identity, heritage, and sense of place are extraordinary,” she says, “and I’m honored to help protect what makes this community special while advancing its economic vitality.”
As director, Mervine will lead Talbot County’s economic development and tourism initiatives, including business retention and expansion, entrepreneurship, workforce development, investment, and efforts to strengthen the county’s visitor economy. The newly adopted Economic Development and Tourism Strategic Plan will serve as a guiding principle.
“Stephanie’s energy, experience, and love for the Eastern Shore position her well to build on the successes of Cassandra M. Vanhooser and her team to strengthen Talbot County’s economic vitality,” said Talbot County Manager Clay Stamp.
Talbot County Economic Development and Tourism works to strengthen Talbot County’s economy by supporting business retention and expansion, entrepreneurship, workforce development, investment, and a vibrant visitor economy. The department connects businesses and entrepreneurs with resources, partnerships, training, and opportunities designed to support long-term economic vitality. More is at www.TalbotWorks.org.
Welcome. Ms. Mervine has much to fix. Behind Talbot’s glossy brochures, most families and seniors struggle to afford food and housing.
Drop tourism as an economic-development priority. Talbot’s tourism fetish serves a few owners who profit from keeping the county pretentious, bougie, scarce and unaffordable. Seasonal wages suck. This is a rigged economy where politically favored capital profits while workers go hungry.
Talbot needs commerce, industry, services, unions, full-time high-paying jobs, and affordable family and senior housing. Now. Everywhere.