The Montgomery County Commerce Department team is growing! Meet the three newest members of the Commerce Department who will play key roles in driving growth, innovation, and community impact throughout Montgomery County.
Meet Mark Pateman: Deputy Director of Economic Development
Pateman brings over 25 years of experience across commercial real estate, law, and financial services. He’s a licensed Attorney in New York and Florida; is a Florida Broker and a Pennsylvania real estate licensee; and is a seasoned leader who has built teams and guided organizations through major growth and change.
With deep knowledge in commercial real estate, proptech, and capital markets, Pateman has led brokerage, title, and property management operations, advised on urban redevelopment and resiliency policy, and supported early-stage tech companies with enterprise sales strategies.
Pateman will leverage his extensive background in business, law, and urban planning to help Montgomery County businesses navigate growth, redevelopment, and innovation opportunities. His core focus will be on business retention, expansion, and acquisition.
Fun Facts: A dual UK/US citizen, Mark is a volunteer firefighter with Conshohocken Fire Company #2, a certified FORA travel advisor, lifelong Tottenham Hotspur supporter, and Tolkien fan who also loves old maps, motorcycles, and aviation.
Meet Shantall Polanco: Program Administrator
Polanco brings a dynamic blend of real estate and banking expertise to the Commerce Department. She joined the team from Impact Services, a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) serving the Kensington area of Philadelphia. Prior to that, she managed over 2,000 accounts as a Property Manager with Lindy Communities, gaining deep operational experience in property and client management.
Polanco specializes in program management and strategic planning. She is highly skilled in client relationship building and provides technical assistance to businesses across various sectors.
Polanco is driving several key initiatives to strengthen Montgomery County’s business community. She’s launching Norristown Restaurant Week, leading the Norristown Facade Program, and designing a new loan product to support business corridors and real estate development.
Fun Facts: Polanco is fluent in Spanish and a proud fur mom to Lulu, her lovable cavapoo.
Meet Omar Rafeh: Business Assistance Coordinator
Rafeh joins the Commerce Department from ACLAMO and brings valuable experience as a former tech business owner. His passion for empowering local communities led him to focus on supporting businesses in Montgomery County.
With a background in Business Psychology, Rafeh brings expertise in streamlining business operations, driving strategic planning, and fostering community engagement.
In his role, Rafeh will be helping local businesses grow and thrive by providing tailored support, resources, and guidance across Montgomery County.
Fun Facts: Rafeh is a lifelong tech enthusiast and enjoys exploring innovative ways to use technology to solve everyday business challenges.
Learn more about the Montgomery County Commerce Department and how it utilizes a unified approach to providing economic and workforce development services and assistance to individuals, entrepreneurs, investors, businesses, communities, and institutions.
