With a 40-year legacy in public-private management, Shelly is a thought leader in economic development, business, and mission-driven finance. Throughout her career as a public servant, advocate, and financial leader, Shelly opened doors to capital for aspiring small businesses, improving access to capital for small, women, minority, and socially-disadvantaged businesses throughout the State of Maryland. At Bay Crossing Consulting Services, Shelly offers her breadth of expertise to clients in the economic development, business, and nonprofit sectors. Shelly was the first African American and the first woman to serve as President and CEO of FSC First, which provides creative financing solutions to small businesses in Maryland. During her 24 years of leadership, FSC First managed more than 10 distinct loan programs to support unbanked and under-banked small, women, minority, and socially-disadvantaged businesses and rapid growth companies. Passionate about entrepreneurship, Shelly led FSC to close over $100 million in loans for small, women, minority, and socially-disadvantaged businesses and attracted over $1.4 billion in public/private funds. 

Before joining FSC First, Shelly served as the Incentive Fund Manager and facilitated industrial revenue bond transactions at Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation for over a decade. In this capacity, she helped local businesses locate, expand, and invest in their local communities. A proud Maryland native, Shelly is a graduate of the University of Maryland University College and Anne Arundel Community College. She is also a graduate of Leadership Anne Arundel and Leadership Maryland. A nationally-certified Economic Development Finance Professional,Shelly continually deepens her skill sets and connects her clients with the tools for prosperity. Rooted in faith, community, and family, Shelly spends down time with her son, daughter-in-law, bonus daughter, grandchildren, and husband of 30-plus years. She loves entertaining, live jazz, crab feasts, and power boating on the Chesapeake Bay.