Film incentives are either championed or hotly contested. A panel of experts across all areas of the industry will provide their knowledge and experience concerning the impact of Maryland’s film industry and the film production tax credit.
Meet the Panelists
Jack Gerbes
Jack Gerbes joined the Maryland Film Office as its location and project manager in 1992. He was appointed Director of the Film Office in 2002. During the course of his career, Jack has worked on over 125 films or television series in Maryland. His credits include: “House of Cards”, “VEEP”, “The Wire”, “Ladder 49”, “Wedding Crashers”, “Enemy of the State”, “12 Monkeys” “Runaway Bride”, “Step Up” and “Step Up 2”, “Live Free or Die Hard” and “The Blair Witch Project”. He is on the advisory board of the Maryland Film Festival, Annapolis Film Festival and the Maryland chapter of Women in Film and Video. He has received the Guardian Angel Award from the DC Chapter of Women in Film and Video and has been named a Baltimorean of the Year by Baltimore Magazine.
Debbie Dorsey
Debbie Donaldson Dorsey is the Director of the Baltimore Film Office at the Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts. Born and raised in Anne Arundel County, Debbie graduated from Towson University in 1982 with a BA in Mass Communication. She went on to enjoy as successful career as a location manager for television and film productions working on projects such as "Avalon," "Homicide: Life on the Street," Sleepless in Seattle," "Home for the Holidays," "Washington Square," and many others. After joining the Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts as Director of the Film Office in 2007, she focused on efforts to bring major film production back to Baltimore after a decline due to a lack of a competitive incentive program.
Thomas B. Riford
Tom Riford is the President and CEO of the Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Riford is a graduate of Cornell University and a decorated veteran of the United States Marine Corps. Riford served as Marketing Director of the Hagerstown-Washington County Economic Development Commission, Associated Engineering Sciences, Inc., and Intrepid Technologies. Active in the business community, he was awarded the Washington County Chamber of Commerce’s highest award – the Business Volunteer of the Year Award
Wade Tyree
President of the Mid-Atlantic Theatrical and Stage
Employees Union (IATSE Local 487), Award-winning filmmaker,
and adjunct college professor; Wade has been in the
motion picture and television industry since 2003. Born
and raised in Towson, MD, Wade has built a respectable
career in the Mid-Atlantic area. Wade has been an adjunct professor at Towson University,
where he earned his undergraduate degree, since 2011 and
continues to educate and guide students in the EMF
program.
Moderator
Jeff Salkin Jeff Salkin joined Maryland Public Television in 1991 and has become one of the most respected and recognizable journalists on the local public affairs scene. At MPT, he has moderated political debates, and anchored live coverage of news events. At MPT, he has moderated political debates and anchored live coverage of news event. Jeff hosts MPT’s “Direct Connection” call-in program, “State Circle” political program, and “Your Money & Business.” He is also President and Publisher of WallStreetWeek.com, a new financial web site focused on individual investors. Jeff is a Baltimore native and Howard County resident. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Division of Innovation & Applied Research
Phone: 410-704-2678
E-mail: innovation@towson.edu
8000 York Road | Towson, MD 21252 | 410-704-2000
Jack Gerbes
Debbie Dorsey
Thomas B. Riford
Wade Tyree
Jeff Salkin
