Prince George’s County’s Next Economic Leaders Are Banking On A Technology-Driven Future

By Raoul Dennis

On an unseasonably warm January evening in Bowie, the Kenhill Center buzzed with conversation, ambition, and renewed purpose as nearly 150 people gathered for ConnectTech 2026, a growing technology and innovation convening hosted by Wala Blegay, Council Member At-Large for Prince George’s County. What began as a modest networking concept has quickly evolved into one of the county’s most anticipated grassroots tech forums—this year marking the third ConnectTech event, and the largest yet.

“We have a great ecosystem of businesses in Prince George’s County and we want to make sure that they feel supported,” Blegay said at the close of the event. “We have TedCo and other supportive institutions here, and people don’t know. A lot of these businesses head out to other jurisdictions to do work because they don’t feel supported in Prince George’s County. We are going to continue to do this.”

After introduction by At-Large County Councilmember Wala Blegay, TEDCO CEO Troy LeMaile-Stovall talks about investor readiness and tech industry basics.

The room reflected a changing regional workforce and a shifting economy. Former federal workers navigating career transitions mingled with early-stage founders, software developers, data scientists, creatives, and young professionals eager to build new-millennium businesses rooted in Maryland. For many attendees, ConnectTech was not just a networking event—it was a signal that Prince George’s County is intentionally positioning itself as a place where innovation, entrepreneurship, and opportunity converge.

Hosted in partnership with the Prince George’s County AI Taskforce, ConnectTech was designed to foster collaboration and spark action across the local tech ecosystem. Council Member Blegay framed the evening as both practical and aspirational: an effort to keep talent local, help ideas scale, and ensure that residents who live in the county also build, hire, and invest there.

“The goal is to let this start to rise on its own and for people to realize that Prince George’s County is a place where we are cultivating business,” Blegay says.

That message resonated strongly with a crowd shaped by recent federal workforce shifts. As agencies downsize or restructure, many highly skilled professionals are exploring entrepreneurship, consulting, and private-sector innovation. ConnectTech offered them a landing place—introductions, resources, and a sense of community—while also attracting younger professionals eager to launch startups in fields ranging from artificial intelligence and cybersecurity to digital media and advanced services.

A Platform for Practical Insight

Two featured speakers helped ground the evening’s energy in real-world pathways.

TEDCO, Maryland’s economic engine for technology and life-science entrepreneurship, was represented by its president and CEO, Troy LeMaile-Stovall. LeMaile-Stovall outlined how TEDCO supports innovators from concept to commercialization through seed funding, mentoring, and access to networks that help startups scale.

Under his leadership, TEDCO has sharpened its focus on inclusive innovation—ensuring entrepreneurs from historically underserved communities can access capital, technical assistance, and strategic guidance. His remarks underscored a central ConnectTech theme: the tools to build successful companies already exist in Maryland, and Prince George’s County is well-positioned to leverage them.

For aspiring founders in the room—particularly those newly navigating entrepreneurship after federal service—TEDCO’s model offered a roadmap. LeMaile-Stovall emphasized that innovation does not happen in isolation; it requires ecosystems, partnerships, and consistent engagement between government, industry, and academia.

Complementing that perspective was Vennard Wright, Director of the Prince George’s County Office of Information Technology. Wright spoke to the role of local government as both a technology user and a partner—highlighting opportunities for startups and tech professionals to collaborate with the county on modernization, cybersecurity, data systems, and digital service delivery.

His message was clear: Prince George’s County is not merely a consumer of technology but an active participant in shaping its future. For entrepreneurs, that translates into potential contracts, pilot programs, and long-term relationships that anchor companies locally while solving real public-sector challenges.

Momentum That’s Building

What distinguished this third ConnectTech event was its scale. Attendance has grown steadily with each iteration, reflecting pent-up demand for spaces where tech talent can connect across sectors and generations. Former federal employees seeking reinvention found common ground with recent graduates launching startups. Established professionals offered mentorship, while newcomers brought fresh ideas and urgency.

“A lot of former federal workers that are now into their own business are here, but there are also those who are going to other jurisdictions because they look at the county as [a bedroom community] but not as a place for collaboration for technology,” Blegay says.

The event’s growth also mirrors a broader shift in Prince George’s County’s economic narrative. Long recognized for its proximity to federal agencies and research institutions, the county is now actively cultivating its own innovation identity—one that emphasizes entrepreneurship, AI, emerging technologies, and homegrown businesses.

Councilmember Blegay’s role has been central to that momentum. By convening stakeholders and spotlighting resources, she has helped transform ConnectTech from a single event into an ongoing platform—one that reinforces the county’s message that innovation belongs here.

Looking Ahead

As conversations wound down and business cards changed hands, the mood was both optimistic and purposeful. ConnectTech 2026 did more than convene—it connected ambition with infrastructure, talent with opportunity, and ideas with action.

With attendance rising and interest deepening, ConnectTech is quickly becoming a cornerstone of Prince George’s County’s tech ecosystem. For job-seeking professionals, emerging founders, and seasoned innovators alike, the message was unmistakable: the future of Maryland’s tech economy is being built locally—and Prince George’s County intends to be at the center of it.

More video and audio to come. Watch this space.