Five Years In: What Maryland’s Business Community Built Together

Dear Fellow Business Leaders,

Five years ago this week — on Oct. 11, 2021 — I stepped into the role of President & CEO of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce. The pandemic was still reshaping how we worked, Maryland's employers were navigating extraordinary challenges, and I saw an opportunity to strengthen the business community's voice in Annapolis.

I knew then what I know even more firmly today: Maryland has an extraordinary business community. Our employers create jobs, invest in people and contribute to the communities they call home. Yet their contributions haven't always been fully recognized in conversations shaping Maryland's policies, and their voices haven't always carried the weight they deserve.

I believed the Chamber could help change that.

Some of my most meaningful experiences over these five years have taken place outside Annapolis. Recently, I've celebrated milestones and new investments with Jamison Door and Holly Poultry, and spoken with employers like Bowman Trucking about the realities of operating and growing in Maryland.

But one experience that particularly stayed with me was a recent graduation ceremony at Pohanka. Watching people celebrate the skills they'd developed and the next steps in their careers was a reminder of how businesses invest in people and create opportunities that extend well beyond their own operations.

From longstanding industry leaders to the businesses expanding in our communities today, Maryland has remarkable stories to tell. These are the people and businesses behind the policies we debate in Annapolis. Their experiences should help inform the decisions that affect our state's future.

Five legislative sessions later, I'm proud of the progress we've made in strengthening their voice.

Two recent conversations illustrate how much has changed. A respected Annapolis lobbyist remarked that legislators now ask, "What does the Chamber think about this?" during meetings with clients. At a Nationals baseball game, another Annapolis leader thanked me for the Chamber's work representing Maryland's business community.

Those comments matter because they reflect what we've worked to build: a Chamber whose perspective is sought out, whose relationships are strong and whose members have a more influential voice.

As I mark this milestone, I want to reflect on what we've accomplished together and where we go next.

Building a Stronger Chamber

Over the past five years, we've strengthened the Chamber's financial and organizational foundation, sharpened our mission and expanded our reach.

We redefined our mission around a simple idea — a Maryland where all businesses and their communities thrive — launched a new website and member platform, and established a clear strategic direction. Having completed our first three-year strategic plan, we're now moving forward with a new plan that builds on that progress.

And we've grown. When I arrived, roughly 6,000 members stood with the Chamber. Today, more than 7,800 businesses are part of our coalition — employers of every size, across industries and communities throughout Maryland.

Our Board of Directors has become an increasingly engaged partner in this work, contributing expertise, relationships and leadership that have helped us expand our reach and strengthen our impact.

Through the Maryland Chamber Federation, we've also strengthened our connections with local chambers and business associations across the state, bringing more perspectives into our work and creating a more coordinated voice for Maryland employers.

Five Sessions in Annapolis

Each session brought its own challenges and opportunities — and each reinforced the importance of preparation, relationships and a business community willing to engage.

• 2022 — My first session coincided with passage of the Time to Care Act, which created the FAMLI paid leave program. Since then, we've worked consistently to ensure the program reflects the practical realities employers face, helping secure important changes and additional time for implementation.

• 2023 — A session of historic turnover brought a new Governor, Comptroller and Attorney General, along with many new legislators. We invested in relationships across the aisle and throughout the State House, and released our inaugural Competitiveness Index so conversations about Maryland's economy could begin with shared facts.

• 2024 — We supported 18 bills, including legislation addressing critical infrastructure, government transparency and economic competitiveness. We stood with employers affected by the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, called attention to Maryland's decline in CNBC's Top States for Business rankings and held the Maryland Chamber PAC's first fundraiser.

Reestablishing the PAC was a priority for me. Effective advocacy requires more than a strong presence during the legislative session. It requires relationships, engagement and a meaningful role in the political process. With support from our board and members, we've built the PAC into another important tool for strengthening the business community's voice and ensuring its perspective is part of conversations about Maryland's future.

• 2025 — Facing a budget gap of nearly $3 billion, lawmakers considered numerous proposals with significant consequences for employers. Together, we defeated a proposed 2.5% tax on business-to-business services, protected caps on non-economic damages and preserved scheduling flexibility and statewide consistency for employers. We tracked more than 200 bills and achieved an incredible success rate on business-relevant legislation, with more than 400 business leaders testifying and over 100,000 messages sent to lawmakers.

• 2026 — We engaged on more than 150 bills, bringing together major employers, technology firms, defense contractors, small businesses, local chambers and industry associations. Our coalition mobilized on labor and environmental regulations, taxes, dynamic pricing and other proposals affecting Maryland's competitiveness.

Across five sessions, we've built a strong record of stopping proposals that would make it harder to do business in Maryland while advocating for policies that support investment, jobs and economic growth. Just as importantly, we've seen more business leaders actively participate in the process and make their voices heard.

From Playing Defense to Setting the Agenda

Protecting employers from harmful legislation will always be part of our work. But over these five years, we've also become more proactive in shaping conversations about Maryland's economic future.

Taking our message beyond Annapolis. In 2025, we launched Fair Opportunity Maryland, the Chamber's first proactive public affairs and advocacy campaign. It was an important step in bringing the conversation about Maryland's business climate to a broader audience and engaging more Marylanders on the policies affecting our state's future.

Research that drives the debate. Our Competitiveness Index has brought economic data into policy conversations and helped establish a stronger foundation for discussions about Maryland's competitiveness.

Voices for Manufacturing. With the Regional Manufacturing Institute of Maryland, we've brought legislators onto factory floors across the state for firsthand conversations with the people making things in Maryland.

Bringing leaders and ideas together. Through our policy forums, signature events and programs like Small Business B(AI)sics, we're creating opportunities for business leaders, policymakers and experts to exchange perspectives, confront difficult issues and find practical ways to strengthen Maryland's economy.

And now, we're preparing to take that work to another level through two new initiatives.

The Maryland Competitiveness Institute, a new initiative of the Maryland Chamber Foundation, will deepen our research into the economic issues affecting Maryland's businesses, families and communities.

Accelerate Maryland is the Chamber's new, multiyear public engagement and advocacy initiative focused on strengthening Maryland's competitiveness and making our state a more affordable place to live, work and build a business. Building on the Institute's research, we'll bring together business leaders, community organizations and Marylanders from across the state to raise awareness of the challenges we face, share real-world stories and encourage more people to speak up and help shape Maryland's future.

These efforts reflect what we've learned over the past five years: strong advocacy requires good information, meaningful relationships and public engagement that extends well beyond Annapolis. You'll hear much more about both initiatives in the weeks ahead.

Investing in Maryland's Next Generation

Through the Maryland Chamber Foundation, our work reaches well beyond the State House.

This year, we hosted the fifth National Civics Bee®: Maryland State Finals — one for every year I've been here — in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Civic Trust and local chambers across the state.

It's been rewarding to see young Marylanders engage with the issues facing their communities and bring forward ideas for making them stronger.

A Seat at More Tables

Influence in Annapolis comes from being trusted, not just being loud.

Over these five years, the Chamber has become a partner policymakers increasingly turn to before decisions are made. I'm honored that Governor Moore appointed me to the Maryland Economic Council and to the advisory committee of the Commission on Transportation Revenue and Infrastructure Needs.

Those opportunities allow us to bring the perspectives of Maryland employers into important conversations about the state's future. They're also a reflection of the relationships and credibility our members and partners have helped build.

What Comes Next

In a few weeks, Marylanders will elect the General Assembly and Governor who will shape our economy for the next four years. Whatever the outcome, our role stays the same: to advocate, to engage and to lead.

Maryland faces significant challenges around affordability, competitiveness and economic growth. But I remain confident in the strength of our business community and what we can accomplish together.

As we begin this next chapter, we're committed to building on the progress of the past five years, expanding our reach and ensuring more Marylanders understand what's at stake in the decisions affecting our economy.

I hope you'll be part of that work. Join a policy committee. Share your story. Meet with your legislators. Help us make sure Maryland's business community is heard.

As I reflect on these five years, I especially want to recognize that our progress belongs to all of you.

When I started this job, I said I hoped to strengthen the Chamber's position as the leading voice for business in Maryland. Five years later, I'm proud of how far we've come — and confident in what we can accomplish together.

The Chamber's voice was never mine to give. It belongs to you. Because if business can't compete, Maryland can't compete.

With gratitude and determination,