Meet the MIC Team

Chuck Bubeck

Executive Director

Passionate about turning knowledge into impact, Chuck is a serial entrepreneur and business leader who helps startups access the tools to accelerate change. His experiences founding, growing, and selling tech companies and his decade working for Apple position him as a person in-the-know. Chuck’s portfolio of startup successes include a digital stock trading system acquired by Reuters and a document management system for large legal firms. He recently sold his cloud services firm to one of the largest managed service providers in the country, and is always on the lookout for another great concept.  Enthusiastic about the innovation pulsing through the region, Chuck is a past two-term Chair of the Howard Technology Council. He serves as a board member for the Downtown Columbia Partnership, the Maryland Business Innovation Association, and the Maryland Small Business Development Center.

Tracy Deik

Community Engagement Manager

As the MIC’s outreach all-star, Tracy develops programs and events to engage people in our offerings. From promoting membership and focus groups to supporting communications strategy, Tracy’s creativity paves the way forward.

Tracy leads with a service-first attitude, which was praised throughout her tenure in Howard County Government. Her commitment to improving access to resources makes her a valued member of our team. Equipped with a background in administration, program coordination, marketing, and technical support, Tracy approaches every challenge with patience and professionalism. She received a BA degree in English with a concentration in Communication from the University of Maryland.

Aphaia Harper

Associate Director, Maryland Innovation Center

Aphaia is a connector with real charisma. She bridges the gaps between business, education, and government sectors and brings new opportunities to the MIC ecosystem.

Aphaia’s sincerity and skill help her develop client relationships that are value-added for everyone. Taking the lead on sponsor engagement, event management, and marketing across many platforms, Aphaia deepens relationships and expands the MIC’s sphere of influence.

With an eye toward the future, Aphaia administers HCEDA’s student internship program, attracting regional employers seeking young talent. She also co-leads the development of the Gateway Innovation District, helping transform the 900+acre business park into a mixed-use innovation community.

Jill Joubert

Director of Client Services

A maven of organizational management, Jill runs day-to-day operations at the MIC. As Director of Client Services, she keeps people smiling and systems on point.

Jill joins the dots for everyone at the MIC, directing communication, managing leases, and overseeing the MIC facility. An HCEDA team member for nearly 20 years, Jill began as an Administrative Assistant, became the Operations Manager for the Maryland Center of Entrepreneurship, then was promoted to her post at the MIC. A 2016 Leadership Howard County (LHC) Premier graduate, Jill develops the next generation of community leaders by volunteering on several LHC committees. She received a BS degree from Eastern Nazarene College and holds a Business Incubation Management Certificate from the International Business Incubator Association.

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