Howard Bank’s Mary Ann Scully joins board and Daniel Rizzo succeeds founding board chair Frank Knott who will continue to serve on the board
Innovation Works, a Baltimore resource network building sustainable neighborhood economies by connecting under-resourced entrepreneurs to social innovation assets and investors, announced that Howard Bank Chairman and CEO Mary Ann Scully is joining its Board.
At its November 3 meeting, the Innovation Works Board of Directors also approved new leadership with Inovalon Fellow of Innovation Daniel Rizzo appointed to serve as Chair of the Board and SAGE Dining Services Co-Founder Tina Rodriguez serving as Vice Chair. Both Rizzo and Rodriguez currently serve as members of the board.
Rizzo succeeds founding chair and IW founder Frank Knott who will continue to serve on the board. Knott, a Baltimore-based Jesuit-educated founder of the 26-year old community development social enterprise ViTAL Economy, spearheaded the launch of Innovation Works after 15 months of due diligence exploration of Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship and similar programs.
“We are very fortunate to have such a diverse, talented board of directors,” said Knott. “I look forward to working with Mary Ann and continuing to work with Dan and Tina to ensure long-term sustainable growth for Innovation Works and the social entrepreneurs that we serve. I’m excited to see how this organization will continue to grow in the future.”
“I’m grateful that my colleagues on the board trust me to serve as chair and I’m confident that we’ll continue to grow to enact more positive change in Baltimore,” said Rizzo. “Frank has helped establish a solid foundation and we’ll continue to work towards his vision by enacting systemic, meaningful change that builds strong, sustainable neighborhoods and communities.”
The goal of IW is to help launch and grow 250 social enterprises in 10 years that will employ 5,000 Baltimore residents and attract $100 million in capital to Baltimore’s under-resourced neighborhoods.
“Serving on the board has given me a front-row seat to the amazing array of talented social entrepreneurs launching businesses that seek to address issues caused by systemic inequalities,” said Rodriguez. “I look forward to building on these successes in my new role.”
“I’m excited to provide my expertise and to connect my network to this growing organization and collaborate with this exceptional board to maximize Innovation Works’ impact,” Scully said. “Seeing the local entrepreneurs mentored through the Innovation Works program and the amazing social enterprises they are launching is truly inspiring.”
The leadership changes and addition of Scully to the board are part of Innovation Works’ broader plan to ensure future sustainable growth both for the organization and the entrepreneurs working to strengthen their neighborhood economies.
