The Economic Development Department (EDD) announced today the hiring of Lucretia Freeman-Buster as Chief of Business Development. Freeman-Buster will begin her employment with the EDD on Monday, June 12.
As Chief of Business Development, Freeman-Buster will develop, implement, and manage day-to-day coordination of comprehensive business retention, expansion, and attraction programs. Freeman-Buster will oversee all business attraction and retention outreach, lead generation activities, and correspondence with site selectors and interested companies.
“We’re thrilled to have Lucretia bring her extensive business development and financial experience to our Economic Development team,” said Economic Development Department Director Darréll Brown. “I’m confident that her years of experience will benefit our business community and help us in our overall mission to drive economic development in the county.”
Freeman-Buster brings to EDD more than 20 years of experience in business development, commercial lending, and financial management. Prior to joining EDD, Freeman-Buster served as acting executive director of the District of Columbus Small Business Development Center (DC SBDC), where she directed the implementation of its vision and strategy, directed and monitored its programmatic activities, and managed the budget of the DC SBDC network. Freeman-Buster boasts years of experience in banking and finance, having served as the vice president of commercial lending for the Washington Savings Bank, and was the assistant vice president of business banking for BB&T Bank and SunTrust Bank. She provided professional consulting services to corporations and non-profit organizations with particular emphasis on financial management, business planning and risk management.
“Access to capital is always a challenge for businesses,” said Freeman-Buster. “I look forward to bringing my finance and commercial lending expertise to Charles County, and working closely with the area entrepreneurs and businesses.”
Freeman-Buster holds a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Maryland University College, a bachelor’s of science degree in management from Potomac College, a certificate in international business management from Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies, and other professional certifications.